at once adjourned as a testimony of respect for him. Father Ballou indulged the following expression of his grief:

"In grief and sorrow low I bow

To the bereaving hand divine,

Which hath from earth and time removed

A well-beloved friend of mine.

"An intellect as clear and bright
As sun-beams when the noon displays
The glories of the earth and sea,
And over all things light conveys.

"A love of truth and human kind
Dwelt as God's image in the man,—
'Twas a benevolence so large

As could the vast creation span.

"Nor are the rocks which ocean bound
And stay the foaming waves that roll,
More firm than his integrity,
The righteous purpose of his soul.

"No partial creed of church or state
Could find acceptance in his heart;
The equal rights of all he prized,
And ever took the weak one's part.

"With steady and undaunted eye,
He looked oppression in the face;
And though a host against him rose,
Never forsook his rightful place.

"And as the rising beams of morn
Dispel the gloomy shades of night,
So the bright virtues of the man
Put all his enemies to flight.

"With his dear family and friends,
My sincere heart shall heave a sigh,
And pray for that consoling hope
Of glory in a world on high."

RE-INSTALLATION OF REV. 0. A. SKINNER.

On Sunday, twenty-fifth of March, Rev. O. A. Skinner, who had been invited to return to Boston, and resume the pastoral care of the Fifth Universalist Society, was re-installed. It was the earnest wish of both the pastor and his flock, that father Ballou should be present and take part in the exercises; but on that day the aged preacher was absent from the city, dispensing the word of life to the congregation at Concord, Mass. Let this circumstance explain his absence, should a reason for it ever be called for. There never was the slightest disaffection between him and his brother Skinner; no one honored him more sincerely than the pastor at Warren street.

SECTION VI.- INSTALLATION OF REV. E. A. EATON.

The installation of Rev. E. A. Eaton, as pastor of the Universalist Society at Cambridgeport, took place on Sunday, eighth of April of this year. The sermon was by Rev. T. S. King, of Hollis street, Boston; the installing prayer, by father Ballou; charge, by Rev. Hosea Ballou 2d, of Medford; fellowship, by Rev. J. G. Adams; and address to the society, by Rev. S. Streeter. An ordination or installation in any Universalist congregation in the vicinity of Boston, without the aid of father

Ballou, was a rare thing, and would not have been assented to unless some obstacles were in the way.

SECTION VII. ENTERS HIS SEVENTY-NINTH YEAR.

On the 30th April, father Ballou entered his seventyninth year. He was absent at the time in the State of New York, engaged in his customary employment of preaching the gospel. It was his meat and his drink to do the will of his Father, and to finish his work.

SECTION, VIII.

WILL HE VISIT OHIO?

The Universalists of Ohio were exceedingly desirous that father Ballou should be present at the session of the United States Convention at Cincinnati, in September of this year. There came out a call as early as May, in the Universalist paper of that State, in the following

terms:

"REV. H. BALLOU.-This great and venerable man entered upon his seventy-ninth year, April 30th. The Universalists in the West will experience very great disappointment if he does not attend the general convention next September. If he is in good health, we shall look for him with confidence. Will some brother please communicate to him the very great anxiety of our brethren West to see him on that interesting occasion? "

He feared it would not be in his power to attend that meeting. He had travelled much this summer. Cincinnati was a thousand miles from Boston, and he had numerous engagements in New England.

Subsequently, at a meeting of the Ohio Convention

of Universalists at Columbus, the desires above referred to took form; and were expressed to father Ballou in the following epistle, signed by the clerk of that body, and addressed to him by mail:

“Marietta, (Ohio,) June 17, 1849. "FATHER BALLOU: At the Ohio State Convention of Universalists,' held week before last, at Columbus, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That it is with pleasure we learn that, in compliance with an invitation, the United States Convention of Universalists' has adjourned to meet in the city of Cincinnati, in September

next.

“Resolved, That the ministers and delegates composing this council heartily unite with the general brotherhood in the great valley of the Mississippi, and hereby extend an affectionate and cordial invitation to our preaching and lay brethren and sisters in the Eastern and other States to meet with us on that occasion; and especially would it be a matter of gratitude to be able to welcome to the Queen City of the West, our aged, long-tried, and venerable father, Hosea Ballou, of Boston, Mass., and other aged servants of the good Master.

"There is a great desire on the part of thousands of good brethren in the West to see father Ballou among them at Cincinnati, next fall, at the convention, if it should be consistent with his health. They have long heard, and read, and talked of our aged pioneers of the East. They have a kindling enthusiasm to see them, hear them, and take them by the hand. It is not a vain, idolatrous desire; but a rising of an affectionate, fraternal feeling, occasioned by the bright sympathies nourished by the gospel of our common Father.

"Will it be consistent with your health and consonant with your feelings to meet with your brethren at Cincinnati? If we do not see you then, we cannot reasonably expect to see you on earth. Could you not come safely by short rides, taking a little more time than is occupied by the quickest conveyances? We

should be happy to learn your feelings and expectations upon the subject. Yours fraternally, G. S. WEAVER, Clerk."

He could not answer this affectionate epistle decisively; he did not know that his strength would permit him to go.*

SECTION IX. FESTIVAL OF 1849.

The festival of this year was holden, like the last, at Boylston Hall. The day was very stormy without, but beautiful within. Rev. Mr. Chapin said: "He had attended all these festivals. He could not help contrasting this day with that beautiful morning in June [1847] on which the first of these reform festivals was holden. It was then delightful to look out upon the heavens, this, however, is a day of clouds. But, sir, summer does not hang merely in the air; it may be in the heart." He made some very respectful references to father Ballou. Kind allusions were also made to the old soldier of Christ by Rev. A. A. Miner, and more especially by Rev. J. G. Adams. The last-named referred to the address of father

-

*The only preachers who attended the Convention at Cincinnati from Boston were Revs. J. M. Usher and T. Whittemore, - the former the substitute for father Ballou, and he bore father B.'s credentials. In an account of the journey, given by the latter, after his return, occurred the following passage: "There was a very strong desire among the people to see father Ballou, of Boston; and they had not abandoned all idea of his being at the meeting, until they were assured by the preachers present from Massachusetts that he had not come. One old gentleman, a preacher from Indiana [by the name of St. Johns], tall, venerable, with a head looking white for the grave, said, 'Tell Br. Ballou I did hope to see him before I died; I hoped to meet him here; but probably now I shall never see him this side of Jordan. Give him the assurance of my warmest regards.' These, in effect, were the sentiments of See Trumpet, vol. xxi., p. 74.

many.".