Memoir of Elder Benjamin Taylor; A Minister of the Christian Connexion, and Pastor of the Bethel Church in Providence, R. I.

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1850. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. An account of hia birth--Family--His conversion--Voyages to sea--Call to the ministry. Benjamin, the second .son of James and Anna Taylor, was born in Beverly, Massachusetts; July 22d, 1786. His parents had a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom lived to grow up and be settled in life. Of nine sons, four became preachers, three in the Christian Connexion, and one in the Baptist. A daughter also married a minister ; and a grandson studied with a view to the ministry, but died before completing his education. Of the parents we are informed, they both professed religion and joined the Baptist Church in Sutton, N. H., whither they moved while Benjamin was young. Subsequently on removing to Salem, Massachusetts, they became members of the Christian Church in that place, under the care of Elder Jones. They were pious, exemplary people, and are still spoken of with respect and affection by brethren who knew them forty years ago. The father deceased May 30, 1811, aged forty-six years--before his departure, he requested that devout men, as in the case of Stephen, might carry him to his burial. The mother is still living (January, 1850), with her son Elder James Taylor, in Rhode Island, at the advanced age of eightythree years. Her devotion and piety was of that character that she never took up her children to feed them even, without secretly asking the blessing of God upon them. Of the childhood and early life of Benjamin, the subject of this Memoir, the eldest brother, William,* writes me as follows:--" Benjamin and myself were born in Beverly, Massachusetts. The first recollection I have concerning him, is connected with the following circumstance. There was a well in the back part of my father's house, into which Benjamin fell, the c...