MEMOIR OF JOHN PIERCE, D.D.

COMMUNICATED BY CHARLES LOWELL, D. D.

Two extended notices of the late Dr. Pierce appeared in print soon after his decease ; one of them by a near relative and friend,* who, from being admitted to the closest intimacy in domestic life, had the fullest and best opportunity of knowing his character; the other by a brother in the ministry, a near neighbor, eminently qualified to do him justice. So full, so just and discriminating, were these notices, that little or nothing else seemed to remain for him who had been appointed to prepare a Memoir for the Collections, than to mould into another form the materials so abundantly supplied. Happily, however, he has been enabled to furnish an original article, in a beautiful tribute of filial piety from the youngest daughter of our lamented associate. It was freely given, but not without expressions of self-distrust, which, however honorable, will be deemed by every reader as entirely superfluous.

Another member of the family, ‡ whose writings have acquired for him an honorable fame, has also kindly furnished a sketch of some of the prominent features in the character of his father-in-law.

It is most grateful to the writer of these lines to be allowed even to perform the humble office of Editor, in commemoration of one whose friendship he enjoyed for nearly half a century, and whose memory he cherishes with fond and reverential affection. C. L.

MY DEAR SIR:

In preparing, according to your request, a notice of my father's life, I shall endeavor to delineate him rather as a pastor and a father, than as a public man. I feel that his published remains do not bear an adequate impression of his strong, loving heart. It was his genial social nature, his remarkable memory, his fondness for antiquarian lore, his devotion to the interests of Harvard College, his labors

* Rev. Thomas B. Fox.

4TH S. - VOL. I.

† George Putnam, D. D. † Rev. Frederic H. Hedge.

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in the cause of temperance, his singular purity of heart and life, and his unaffected piety towards God, that distinguished him, rather than deep research as a scholar, or fervid eloquence as a speaker. It was his true, hearty soul, that shed around him a sphere of goodness which made him loved and honored while he lived, and lamented when he died, as few men are loved or lamented.

My father, John Pierce, was born in Dorchester, Mass., 14th July, 1773. He was descended through both parents from Puritan ancestors, who came over from Dorchester, England, at an early period, and were among the first settlers of the town of Dorchester, Mass., so that most of the old families of that place were in some way connected with him.

Perhaps a few words about his parents will help to show from what sources, with the blessing of God, some of the best affections of his nature, as well as its solid principles, sprung.

His mother was a gentle, loving being, whose influence over him was strengthened by her early death, after which she was to him a guardian angel, and her memory was ever present to shield from temptation, and to win him to walk in the paths of virtue and peace. His desire to grow up to be a minister might in part have arisen from her fondness for talking to him about his uncle Blake, a young minister of considerable promise who died soon after his settlement in the ministry, and whose memory she taught him to reverence. She was a religious woman, and my father has often been heard to say, "I believe, if ever there was a Christian, my mother was one." Our idea of her, formed from conversations with our father and his sisters, is of a quiet, gentle woman, with an intense fondness for her children, which led her to be exceedingly indulgent.

A strong sympathy seems to have existed between this mother and son. He was her first-born, and so youthful in appearance was she, as to be mistaken for his sister by strangers. She died, suddenly, when he was at home during a college vacation, at the age of seventeen, and from that event he dates his determination to devote his life and energies to the service of Christ.

His father, a hard-working, simple-hearted, truth-loving man, also did much to form the character of his son. From him he learned the frugality, temperance, and honesty for which he was always distinguished. This good old man had a fixed rule never to allow a debt of a cent to go unpaid over the Sabbath, and on one occasion he rode around Boston till a late hour on Saturday night, to find a man to whom he owed a trifling sum. This example, to keep out of debt, was strictly followed by the son; and the consequent freedom from carking cares may have had more to do with his long and happy life, than one who has had no experience of the happy results of this system would believe.

His love for this excellent parent grew with his growth, and strengthened with his strength. He never omitted visiting him monthly, usually taking with him his wife, and one or more of his children, and, as the beloved father grew in years, and his head was whitened by the snows of ninety winters, it was a beautiful picture to see the father and son together, so perfect was the tie of love and sympathy that bound them to each other. A large portion of these interviews was spent in the practice of sacred music, of which both were exceedingly fond; generally standing, for my grandfather was wont to say, "I cannot sing the praises of my Maker sitting down." His rich, mellow notes led the strain, while my father, whose voice was more remarkable for strength and accuracy than sweetness of tone, took the bass, and such singers as happened to be present joined in the chorus. He enjoyed these visits from his dearly loved child, and I shall not soon forgot the calm happiness of that expectant face, as we drove into the yard on such occasions, - a look that seemed to say, "Am I not blessed to have so good a son?" How could the son of such parents be otherwise?*

The religious element in his nature seems to have developed itself at an early age, and we were told by his sisters that he was fond, when very young, of " playing meeting." Standing in a chair, with his earnest face looking over the back, and his young brothers and sisters ranged before him on stools, for an audience, he would go through with a mimic service, and sing, pray, and preach, for hours. So hasty was his temper, however, that he was roused to a violent passion by any appearance of weariness or fun in his congregation, and, descending from his imaginary pulpit, would punish the little offender with a blow, and then return to his preaching. This excitable temperament was in after life brought under remarkable control, and this dominant will, to which his playmates yielded implicitly, was in later years exerted to bring every impulse and passion of his own nature under the guidance of strict religious principle. Few were aware of the effort it cost him to render the "soft answer " that "turneth away wrath," or realized the severe self-discipline he practised in order to study always "the things that make for peace." Malice and revenge were ever contrary to his nature, but he was hasty, and to him belongs the glory of having ruled his own spirit. His memory was so strong that he could name every schoolfellow of his early days, even to those who learned with him their ABC's of the venerable dame who had, years before, gone over the same ground with his mother. He loved to keep up a knowledge of their history; and, as one after another passed away from earth, he learned a lesson on the instability of human life, - the certainty of death.

His boyhood was singularly pure. He never used a profane expression in his life, and I do not believe he was ever guilty of a deliberate falsehood.

The favorite playfellow of his childhood, the constant associate of his youth, his dearest college companion and life-long friend, was his cousin, James Blake Howe, a pure and true soul, who became, like him, a minister of the Gospel, and passed a long life in duty and usefulness. Doubtless this friendship was sometimes the means of keeping him from company that might have been an injury to him, which his social nature might have led him to seek, had it not found full satisfaction in the society of this congenial companion.

Though fitted for college in a common school, he took a high rank as a scholar, and was second only to Judge Charles Jackson, who has since held a distinguished posi

tion in the legal profession.* He was graduated in 1793, when the second English oration was assigned to him. The College government proved their confidence in his learning and abilities by electing him to the office of Tutor. Among those whom he instructed were Dr. Channing and Judge Story. He studied for the ministry with the Rev. Dr. Harris, who was then pastor of the church his father attended. In 1797 he received a unanimous call from the church in Brookline, Mass., to settle as minister over the town; for in those days there was but one fold and one shepherd in the place, and this happy state of things continued for a period of thirty-one years, when a Baptist society was formed. He was ordained March 15th, 1797.‡

In the earlier days of his ministry, before the introduction of Sunday schools into this country, being deeply impressed with the importance of the religious culture of youth, it was his custom to assemble all the children of the town once a month during eight months of the year, to attend what was in those times called "a catechizing." The meeting was opened with prayer, and then all gathered around him to repeat the catechism, and such passages of Scripture and hymns as they had learned. Then he addressed them familiarly and impressively upon spiritual things, and many men and women, who have since been active in their Master's service, have dated their first religious impressions from these occasions. On the last catechizing before Thanksgiving, it was his custom to present each child with a little book, as a token of his interest in their welfare.

Children instinctively felt his love for them, and wher