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office. But his zealous course was soon checked by a dangerous illness from which it was feared he would never be able to recover. Of this trying event in his life Mr. Smith thus speaks: Early in September, after preaching to a very crowded house while it was kept closed during a heavy shower, he rode several miles in a carriage literally soaked with rain and partly filled with water-and the following day returned to Clinton with all the fearful elements of Typhus Fever. Still he kept about, only anxious to get to his appointment some forty miles distant, on the next Sunday. After going to Utica, about ten, he probably became partially deranged, and Rev. D. Skinner, with characteristic kindness, induced a friend to accompany him back to Clinton. Here for forty days he languished under the severest form of Typhus Fever. Only one or two brief moments of that period were ever known to him—the rest being a blank in the course of his existence.

"But during this period of almost continual derangement in all else, his whole soul was intent upon the business of his profession, and he literally preached and prayed without intermission. We could not refrain from the application of the passage, that being "dead he yet speaketh." He was constantly talking Universalism-while as unconscious of the world around him, as he can be supposed to be at the present moment.

"He recovered the child-like state in which returning reason found him, soon gave place to the manhood of intellect,—and again he entered

upon the duties and labors of the ministry. But he had now new difficulties to encounter. Originally with few means, he was now involved in debt a severe Winter was now around him, and he was alike destitute of the requisite apparel and the means of supplying it—a stranger among strangers. The wind was however" tempered to the shorn lamb," and as early as March, 1831, he was located with a young society in Boonville, New York, where though his support was incompetent, he received the kindest attentions and engaged the warmest sympathies of his new friends."

Mr. Fuller recovered very slowly from the effects of this dangerous illness, and no doubt engaged in the active duties of his calling before his strength was sufficient for the labor.

His

constitution was thus enfeebled at that time, and certainly at a later period in the history of his ministerial toils. While the flesh was weak his spirit was too willing. And he expressed the belief in his last illness, that his zeal had destroyed his health; and that if he had been more cautious to heed the symptoms of approaching disease, and had refrained from wearisome exertions when he was admonished by his own feebleness, his life might have been spared and his usefulness prolonged. His brethren in the ministry of Christ should think of this early fall; and while they are faithful in labor, endeavor to guard against all dangerous exposures of health and life.

The sickness of Mr. Fuller in Clinton, and his recovery to health, deeply impressed his mind with feelings of gratitude to the Preserver

of life and the Giver of health. And he realized his obligations to the excellent friends, who, with the care of parents, watched over him and supplied his need. In his "Pastoral Register," designed merely to record the times and places of his public labors, he has given expression to the feelings which possessed his mind when he found himself raised up from the very gates of death. "Under the power of this fell disease, (he says,) I lay in dark and gloomy delirium for nearly six weeks, not knowing the things I said and did, nor what was done to ine. By the untiring attention of my beloved brother in the ministry, Stephen R. Smith, at whose house I was providentially cast in my illness, I was at length raised from my delirium, restored to tolerable health, and enabled once more to sound the Gospel of glad tidings of 'great joy which shall be unto all people;' ever thankful to God for his great mercy, and grateful to my friends for their lovingkindness."

Resuming his public labors early in January, 1831, he continued to preach through the Winter at such places as he could obtain a hearing and find friends to receive him. The success of his efforts was no less manifest than the zeal with which he labored. Wherever he became known he was admired for his talents and loved for his excellent worth of character. And I may truly say, in the language of another, "that in every place his talents and his worth have ever been subjects of respect and admiration-and that I have loved him with more than fraternal affection."

CHAPTER IV.

His Settlement as Pastor.-Receives Fellowship and Ordination.-Controversy.

It appears from all that I can learn of Mr. Fuller's history, that he preached nearly two years before he became connected with any society in the relation of Pastor. A part of that time, however, was occupied in teaching school, and a part in studies with Mr. Smith. At first he preached only occasionally; but he must have been constantly engaged in the ministry at least one year before he assumed the regular charge of any society. Having proved himself worthy of all confidence, and shown that he was a workman that need not be ashamed, he was invited to settle in Boonville, New York, and removed to that place in March, 1831. His whole time was now occupied in regular labors at this place, Leyden, Collinsville and West Turin. At these several places he found kind and faithful friends, and though they were few in number and feeble in means, they were attentive to his wants, and his abiding place was made comfortable and happy.

In the following May, having gained the approbation and esteem of the denomination, he received a Letter of Fellowship from the New York Convention of Universalists, and was cor

dially recommended to all of like precious faith an an able minister of the New Covenant and a preacher of the everlasting Gospel. This act of the Convention was not a grant to preach, but a mere official recognition of one who had in fact already assumed the ministerial office, and received the fellowship of his brethren. In this particular case no evil resulted from disregard of an important regulation concerning the entrance of preachers into our ministry; but it is hoped that the example will never be imitated. If a candidate for the ministry is found worthy and capable after a fair trial, we can think of no reason why the fellowship of the denomination should be withheld from him. And if he is known to be unworthy or incompetent, it would be manifestly improper to give him any encouragement to continue his labors without the sanction of the denomination.

On the 14th day of July, in the same year, Mr. Fuller received the solemn rite of Ordination. Of this important event in his history, Mr. Smith says: "In July, 1831, he received Ordination at the hands of a council composed of members of the Central Association of Universalists, New York, and called at the special request of the Congregations in Boonville, Leyden and West Turin. With these he continued to minister with great and deserved success for several years, down to the period when his need of a less laborious life rendered it expedient that his duties should be more circumscribed; and the voice of the Callowhill Street Society, placed him in the city of Philadelphia."