AMERICAN

QUARTERLY REGISTER.

VOL. XII.

MAY, 1840.

No. 4.

BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D.

PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN HATFIELD, MS.

JOSEPH LYMAN was the son of Jonathan and of Bethiah Lyman, of Lebanon, Ct., and was born April 14, 1749. Of his early years, we have no particular account. In the nineteenth year of his age, he was graduated at Yale College, where he sustained a high standing as a scholar.* In 1770, he entered on his duties as Tutor in that seminary, being associated in the government, with the president, Dr. Daggett, with the professor of mathematics, Nehemiah Strong, and with Buckingham St. John, a tutor. In this office, he remained but one year. He was ordained on the 4th of March, 1772, pastor of the Congregational church in Hatfield, Ms., being, at that time, under 23 years of age.t In October following, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Huntington, of Lebanon, the place of his nativity, with whom he continued to live in much conjugal happiness till his death, a period of more than fifty-five years. Mrs. Lyman has since deceased. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom only survive.

Dr. Lyman early took a deep interest in all that concerned the welfare of his country. In the war of the Revolution, he was one of the most ardent patriots, embarking, with his whole soul, in what he conceived to be the cause, not alone of his country, but of the human race. In all periods of his subsequent life, he adhered firmly to those doctrines and measures, which he regarded as favorable to the true interests of the United States and of the world. Some persons thought that he felt too strongly on these topics, but none can doubt the sincerity of his motives and the integrity of his heart. He felt on these subjects, as he viewed them to be connected with the interests of infidelity, or of Evangelical truth, with the disorganization of society, or the establishment of order, virtue and happiness among the nations of the earth. We well remember

*The class of 1767, to which he belonged, is the last on the Yale Triennial Catalogue which is not numbered alphabetically. The whole number is 24. Among his classmates are several honored names. Samuel Wales, D. D., Professor of Divinity at Yale, John Trumbull, LL. D., A. A. S., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Connecticut, John Treadwell, LL. D., Governor of Connecticut, and the venerable Nathanael Emmons, D. D. of Franklin, Ms., who is the oldest graduate of Yale living, except the Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D. of Greenwich, Ct.

†The predecessors of Dr. Lyman, at Hatfield, were the Rev. Messrs. Hope Atherton, who died in 1679, Nathanael Chauncy, 1685, William Williams, 1741, and Timothy Woodbridge, 1770. The year before Dr. Lyman's death, Rev. Jared B. Waterbury was ordained as colleague pastor. Mr. Waterbury is now settled in Hudson, N. Y. Rev. Levi Pratt, who died in Medford in 1837, was settled in Hatfield from 1830 to 1835. See Am. Quart. Reg. x. 262, 273.

his fervent discourses and impassioned thanksgivings on the final overthrow of Buonaparte.*

He took a prominent part in the formation and support of a number of the more important benevolent institutions of the day. He was one of those individuals, with whom originated that plan of union among the Evangelical ministers of this Commonwealth, which resulted in the organization of the General Association of Massachusetts. The fourth meeting of this body was held at Hatfield in 1806. Dr. Lyman was moderator of the meetings in 1809, 1815, and 1818. He preached the annual sermon in 1818. Of the Hampshire Missionary Society, he was one of the warmest friends and most efficient patrons. From an early date, he was chairman of the committee of trustees, and in 1812, was chosen president of the society. "To his wisdom and perseverance, are to be attributed, in no small degree, the favor it has continued to enjoy with the Christian community and the great good effected by its instrumentality, not only in communicating the Gospel to the destitute settlements in our country, but in preparing the public mind for those higher movements of philanthropy, which, at the time of its formation, had scarcely commenced." +

When the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was formed, Dr. Lyman was consituted one of the original members; and, at the decease of Governor Treadwell, in the year 1823, he was appointed president of that body; to which office he was annually reëlected, till feeble health induced him to resign. His feelings were warmly interested in the objects of the Board; and he watched all its operations with the most affectionate interest. He was in the habit of reading the principal papers devoted to the circulation of religious intelligence, particularly the Missionary Herald; and, after he was too weak to read himself, this publication was read to him from beginning to end, as each successive number arrived. The Auxiliary Society for Foreign Missions of Northampton and the neighboring towns, and the Hampshire Education Society, acknowledged him as one of their earliest, warmest, and most influential benefactors. He was president of both; and of the latter, chairman of the directors, till 1826, when he was induced, by his growing age and infirmities, to tender his resignation.‡

His religious sentiments were the same which were embraced by our Puritan ancestors, and which have been recognized in the Confessions of Faith of most of the Protestant churches. He regarded an open denial of the doctrines of the Gospel as a sufficient ground for withholding fellowship from men of otherwise the fairest professions. He deeply lamented the doctrinal errors which have prevailed in some parts of our land, and rejoiced in the increasing triumphs of Evangelical truth. As a divine, he was able, and as a preacher, he was instructive, spiritual, and highly acceptable. If he had not at command all those graces of composition, in which some modern preachers excel, still his style of writing was simple,

* Two sermons, which he wrote on this occasion, were published.

†The Hampshire Missionary Society originally embraced the three counties of Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden. It was organized near the beginning of the present century, and labored, as an independent society, for many years. with great energy and success. Among its founders, and steadfast friends were Governor Strong of Northampton, Rev. R. S. Storrs of Longmeadow, Elisha Billings, Esq. of Conway, Rev. Enoch Hale of Westhampton, Rev. H. Lord of Williamsburgh, Rev. Dr. Lathrop of West Springfield, besides many among the living.

The objects and plans of Education Societies had his most deliberate approbation, and the approbation of such a man is not to be undervalued, for his understanding was clear and searching, and his judgments remarkably independent of the opinions of others. As an instance of this, it may be mentioned, that he was from the first decidedly opposed to the projects of the American Jews' Society.