Obituary - Rev. John Temple Goodrich

 Rev. John Temple Goodrich

by Rev. J.J. Austin, Morrison, Ill.

Oxford Times, Oxford, NY, May 15, 1872

It is feared that Rev. J.T. Goodrich, formerly pastor of the Universalist Church in Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], met with his death at the late Chicago fire.  His family are visiting friends in Guilford; and knowing that he was to be in Chicago about the time the conflagration occurred, he being engaged in business connected with the Chenango Silver Mining Company of Colorado, and not receiving any tidings from him since, his family and friends naturally became alarmed.  Mr. Bradley, a relative, has visited Chicago, and learned that Mr. Goodrich had stopped at one of the hotels on the afternoon previous to the fire, his name appearing upon the register, with bill unpaid.  The hotel was burned, but it is thought that the inmates escaped.  Mr. G. had quite an amount of money upon his person, and may have escaped from the burning building, to fall into the clutches of the bands of robbers who infested the streets on that terrible night.  The distressed family have the sympathies of the entire community.  [Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, Nov. 1, 1871]

Many hearts were made sad, not only, but shocked, on hearing of the awful fate of this long-tried, faithful, talented and beloved brother - my own not less deeply than any, always excepting his own devoted wife and children.  For a time, I could not realize that it was so, and I looked anxiously every week for intelligence that he had been heard from, alive and well.  At length the deepening gloom seemed to add confirmation to the fear that it must be so, and the scanty facts in the case - that his name was on the hotel register, and his bill unpaid-would be almost certain proof to those who knew him best, that he could not be in the same world with the obligation to pay.  The probability now is that no clue will ever be obtained of his lost form, or of his last moments in this world, when the devouring element was surging in mad billows about him, and his freed spirit was pluming its wings, like Elijah, for its upward and heavenly flight.

The notices of his life, thus far, are very inadequate and unsatisfactory to one who knew him well in the early years of his ministry.  I am not fully prepared with facts to give a detailed account of his life, for the earliest and the latest facts are not within the scope of my knowledge.  But I wish to indicate the kind and quality of his power and influence, within the period of my most intimate acquaintance, from about 1840 to 1850, and especially in the region of Oxford, Chenango County, N.Y.

I first saw and heard him preach in the Court House at Binghamton, whither I had gone sixteen miles to hear him.  The room was well filled, and there seemed to be an air of eager expectancy on the faces of the people.  Soon a fine looking, slim, nervous young man arose and commenced the services.  The first impression was favorable, for he had the appearance of a man of talent and energy.  Standing straight in the desk, with few and rather uniform gestures, he preached as was his almost uniform custom from brief notes, with an easy fluency, and sometimes earnest eloquence, that carried his thoughts and illustrations to the minds and hearts of his bearers.  I heard him again the same day at Vestal, some nine miles from Binghamton, with even more pleasure then in the morning, and I then felt certain I should like him as a friend and religious associate.  Once after that he preached in the schoolhouse where I was teaching, only to deepen the impression already made.

Mr. Goodrich was born in Middlefield, Otsego Co. N.Y., May 28th, 1815.  In childhood and youth, he resided in Cooperstown and Middlefield; labored on a farm in summer and studied and taught school in winter.  His more advanced opportunities for study were at Hartwick Seminary and at Clinton Liberal Institute.  He studied theology with Rev. Stephen R. Smith, then in the zenith of his power and influence.  He was settled in Oxford about 1836, being then less than twenty-one years old, where he remined some twelve years.  He preached his first sermon in public at Oxford, and soon after received a call to become the pastor of the Society.  He declined on account of his youth and want of fuller preparation, but was finally induced to accept, through the persistent efforts of the parish and the earnest advice of his patrons and friends. Revs. S.R. Smith and D. Skinner.  Revs W.H. Griswold and H.B. Soule, then fellow students with Mr. Goodrich, accompanied him to Oxford, and remained with him a year or two, and were lifelong friends.

Mr. Goodrich was called to the parish in Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y., about 1849 or 1850, I am not quite certain as to the date, where he remained about five years.  During his pastorate at Canton, I had occasion to visit him, and was rejoiced to observe the confidence and affection which greeted him at every turn by young and old in the village and all the region around.  He organized the Church in Canton and assisted in the formation of those at Potsdam and Madrid, as he had before in Oxford.  He preached at funerals and conferences, and by special appointments, in many parts of St. Lawrence County, as before in Chenango.

About this time his throat became affected, and he was induced to accept a call to Reading, Pa, where he remained two years, and where his influence was strong and extended as before.

About this time, by the urgent solicitation of Dr. Sawyer and the Universalists of St. Lawrence County, he was persuaded to return to Canton and take the charge of the Theological School and St. Lawrence university, then in embryo.  He served in that city about five years successfully, preaching in Canton and elsewhere as occasion required.  It was largely through his efforts the Legislature appropriated $25,000 to the Canton schools, he spending time in Albany and "lobbying" the bill through.  Released from this work, he accepted a call from the Eighth Street Church, Philadelphia, where he remained some three or four years; finding the Church largely in debt, and by raising subscriptions and holding fairs and festivals, leaving them out of debt with money in the treasury.  His health becoming seriously impaired in consequence of excessive labor and the death of his son, Everett, he resigned his pastorship, and for some months traveled and attended to secular business, preaching only occasionally.  Then he was induced to go to Wilmington, Del., and supply the missionary station in that city, which duty he discharged with his usual faithfulness and zeal about two years.

In domestic life, Mr. Goodrich was fortunate and happy.  He married Miss Margaret M. Bolles, daughter of Deacon Elias Bolles, of Oxford, formerly of the Baptist Church, but then with his family earnest Universalists.  Mrs. G. was a "helpmate" indeed, affectionate, self-sacrificing, and attentive to his wants in all things. They have lost three of their five children, Sarah Temple at the age of twelve, John Temple between one and two, and Everett at the age of twenty-one.  They had drank of the bitter waters of Marah, and consoled each other with thoughts and hope of heaven, but now who shall console the stricken wife and the two remaining children?  The same thoughts of God and hopes of heaven, from the lips of the Saviour of our race.

Mr. G. was in earnest sympathy with all of our young men, assisting them in their educational projects, making them feel that he was a friend indeed, and paying liberally for the erection of Churches, and in every possible way thoughtful and active for the cause he loved.  His missionary efforts were untiring in Chenango and St. Lawrence Counties, over hills and through storms, never shrinking, and never disappointing a congregation, if possible, to get through, however severe the storm or dark the night.  He had the largest hope, always looking on the bright side, and always cheerful.  he was strongly attached to his friends, and though sometimes severe on those he believed in the wrong, he was ready to forgive an injury, if asked, and seemed more strongly attached to such a man than before.  He was charitable and generous, thinking others honest and sincere, and sometimes suffering from his own confidence in the honor of others.  He was prompt to all engagements, seldom or never failing to meet his promises, pecuniary or otherwise, no matter how large or small the pledge involved.  This was a ruling trait in him, and the finances of the family have been seriously crippled by using his own means in behalf of others, whom he had trusted, and by whom he had been deceived.  No one can say he ever deliberately falsified his word or failed to meet his obligations.

While in Canton, he held a discussion with Rev. Mr. Wheeler, Baptist, which continued several evenings, and which was a marked success for our cause, our people being more than satisfied, delighted, in the matter and manner of their defender.  In Wilmington he held a written controversy with a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Mr. Hoffman, through the papers of the city, Mr. H. refusing a public oral discussion.  This was a success also.  Years before this, he had held a written and oral discussion with Rev. Mr. Dyer, Presbyterian, in Preston, which gave the cause an impetus in that place. The old Magazine and Advocate had some account of it at that time.  My own impression is that Mr. Goodrich was not combative, and would not seek a controversy, but would not shrink form one if duty called.

Mr. G. was devotedly attached to his family and was anxious to close up all his secular concerns, and settle down over some parish, where he would have to preach only once each Sunday, a task he felt himself able to endure. With this purpose in view, he left home on the 25th of September 1871; went to Fulton, thence to Watertown, thence to Rochester, thence to Chicago, where he was seen by several who knew him, and where his name was entered on the register of the Metropolitan Hotel for room 36, on the 5th of October, and where it remains with bill unpaid. The most diligent search by friends and relations has developed nothing further and probably never will.  With many others, every vestige of mortality must have gone up in smoke and flame, in that terrible sea of fire.

Mr. Goodrich was a most devoted husband and father and confiding and abiding friend.  He generally wrote or telegraphed twice a week, and always kept his family posted as to his whereabouts when away.  I knew him so well, that I feel assured nothing but the impassible barrier of death, or something quite as insurmountable, could keep him away, or his voice silent so long.  The devoted wife writes "I try to think he never left the hotel or his room, and I do trust in God he suffocated before he suffered much.  But O, the nights and days of anguish I have spent since that awful fire!  It is burned into my brain and will never leave me."

In April 1842, I entered the Academy at Oxford, and found a home with Brother Goodrich for the greater part of two years.  His uniform kindness to me, and that of Mrs. Goodrich also, opened a fountain of gratitude and love in my heart, which wells up today as fresh and vigorous as ever.  I commenced the definite study of theology in his study, and by his warmest advice and assistance, entered the ministry, while making my home with him. preaching my first sermon for him at North Norwich, he being on exchange with Rev. C.L. Shipman.  His kindness to me is mentioned for the purpose of showing one of his leading and most lovable traits of character, and one which the early graduates at Canton knew and felt, as well as Rev. H.B. Soule, W.H. Griswold, and others of earlier times.

As a man, he was modest and somewhat diffident, exceedingly cautious that no work nor action could be turned to his personal discredit, nor to that of the cause.  As a minister, he was clear, earnest, fluent, and at times exceedingly eloquent.  He was sent for, far and near, to officiate at funerals and weddings, and he was by far the most popular Universalist minister in that part of the State.  He seemed to delight in doing missionary work, and largely through his efforts the old Chenango Association was one of the most active and vigorous in those early days.  The same influence went with him to Canton, and I think it doubtful if the St. Lawrence University and Theological School would have arisen as they did, if his active and widespread influence had not preceded and accompanied the movement.

In later times, his usefulness in the ministry may have been impaired by a hacking cough, with a tendency to trouble of the lungs.  I know little of his business operations in late years, but it would be hard for me to believe that he would knowingly engage in any business that he did not believe to be strictly honest.  If he saw his voice or lungs failing and believed he must do something for the support of his family outside the ministry, it was nothing more than others have done and may do, and he is to be honored and not censured for it.  His heart was in the cause, and I think he could do nothing to its injury, knowingly, while he lived.

The only serious disagreement in sentiment between him and his brethren in the ministry, occurred during the rebellion and war.  From early education and influence, he was not in sympathy with Mr. Lincoln and the government, and he may at times have expressed himself too strongly on that subject. I am told he was once in nomination for congress in St Lawrence County, by the opposition, when, though defeated, he outran his ticket, which shows the estimation in which he was held by some of the leading men of the times.  But I knew him too well to think unkindly of him, even then, or to believe that he was not honest in his political views.

The following "Sonnet" was addressed to Bro. Goodrich in about 1845 and is copied from the Magazine and Advocate of that period. The prefatory remarks were written by Rev. Dolphus Skinner, D.D., then the editor of that paper, and contain a high compliment to the modesty and worth of Bro. Goodrich.

[The following Sonnet is good and dictated no doubt by the purest and best of feeling, but we must confess we hesitate ot publish these laudatory addresses to the living especially to young men, having frequently declined the publication of similar ones addressed to others and to us, and were this addressed to almost any other young man than Bro. G. we should decline inserting it in our columns.  But though Br. G. is yet young, we believe him to be one of those few at his age, who will not allow themselves to be flattered.  There Bro. G., if that last sentence is not flattery we cannot commit that sin - editor]

Sonnett - To J.Y.G. of Oxford

We hail thee, brother, as among the number / Who tread the course of God and truth above! / Given-the while earth's vesture doth encumber / Thy spirit's loner life, thy spirit's love- / To guide earth's erring children by the stream / Where flow the waters of a free salvation; / Thyself a guiding star of stars, I ween, / Which deck the spirit dome of God's creation! / We hail thee, brother, firm and tried, and true, / As worthy of a niche in Heaven's high temple! / Whose mind doth pierce beyond the deepening blue, / Whose heart no tyrant heart could ever trample! / Goodrich! the great and good throng round thy name / And Heaven's high meed of praise, "Well Done," / Shall crown thy rising fame!  Lebanon, N.Y., J.J.A.

Of course in this brief sketch I aim at nothing but an affectionate statement of my appreciation of his talents, character and worth.  My heart is sad at the heavy burden of sorrow that has fallen upon this beloved wife and children.  I know they have the sympathy of a multitude of friends in their great bereavement, and I pray God's blessing of hope and consolation upon each and all of them.

Morrison, Ill., March 1872.