He determined to remove. And although the friends with whom he was connected felt grieved at the thought of parting, they could not withhold their approbation of the course which he meant to pursue. When about to leave Boonville, a friend presented him the following tribute of respect, with which we shall close this chapter :

FAREWELL TO S. W. FULLER.

BY L. C. B.

"Adieu to thee, brother: for brother thou art;

By ties of sweet friendship endeared to my heart;
And though for a season I bid thec adieu,
Still onward thy calling of glory pursue;
The soft silver trump of the Gospel still blow,
Unmixed with the tidings of terror or woe.
Farewell to thee, brother; peace hallow thy soul,
The billows of care o'er thy breast never roll;
And if on the borders of life's rocky shore,
Should fortune decree that we never meet more,
O! soft as the zephyr or turtle dove's breath
Be the evening of life and the pillow of death.”

CHAPTER VI.

Removes to Philadelphia.-His Labors in
this City.

HAVING accepted the call of the Second Universalist Church of Philadelphia, Mr. Fuller removed here in the beginning of November, 1833. His engagements in New York, and the

state of affairs there would not allow an earlier removal. And during the time between his first visit and final settlement here, the Church, not knowing that they should ever succeed in obtaining his services, made choice of another Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Andrews. The connexion thus formed was of short continuance. Mr. A. desiring to travel, voluntarily withdrew from the Church in less than a year from the time of his location; and the place was now open for the entrance of another. Being left in this destitute condition, the Church renewed their efforts to engage the labors of Mr. Fuller. His favorable answer to their invitation was gladly received ; and they impatiently awaited the time when they should again behold his smiling countenance, and listen with delight to his earnest ministrations of the word of life.

Mr. Fuller was agreeably situated in Boonville and Leyden; and there is good reason to believe that he was much beloved by the people

of those places. His labors were highly acceptable wherever he preached; and his character as a man and a Christian was above all reproach. To the revilers of his faith he was no doubt a terror; for he wielded "the sword of the spirit" with a skilful hand; and if he did not convince his opposer, he always repelled him with invincible arguments. Fearless and intrepid, confident and sincere, he shrunk from no encounter with the hosts of the adversary; and his bow never turned back, nor his sword returned empty. It was no lack of success nor want of sufficient encouragement that induced him to remove. But he aspired to greater usefulness in the world, and panted for a broader field of labor. That he was ambitious is a fact which I shall not attempt to conceal. He aimed to distinguish himself; and he was by no means unsuccessful in his efforts. He constantly rose in the scale of society; and his usefulness increased as rapidly as his strength was exhausted and his life worn away with active service. His ambition was of that noble and generous kind, without which no man ever became honorably distinguished among his fellows. He set up no false pretences, and knew no low tricks of art. With no faith in the notion that Christian ministers are called by the direct voice of God from one place to a better for themselves, he was governed by his own sense of duty, and the prospect of greater happiness for himself in his increasing usefulness in behalf of the world. Such a call is quite suf

lover of truth and the

ficient for the sincere devoted servant of Christ. And the minister

who claims any higher authority as an inducement to change the place of his location, and especially when there is a prospect of personal gain, justly exposes himself to the suspicion of worldly craft and cunning policy!

After preaching his Farewell Sermon in Leyden on the last Sunday of October, 1833, Mr. Fuller was ready to depart for the scene of his future labors. His text on that occasion was Heb. xiii. 1: "Let brotherly love continue." The great blessings of fraternal affection had doubtless been realized and richly enjoyed between himself and the people of his charge; and we may well suppose that he zealously urged them to continue of "one mind and one spirit, striving together for the faith of the Gospel." The separation of minister and people, where mutual love and Christian friendship have united them together, is a severe trial to both parties. And the deep feelings of attachment and love with which he left his faithful and longtried friends, may be learned from the following record in his private journal:-"Oct 27, 1833. Left the United Societies of Universalists in Leyden, Lewis Co., and Boonville, Oneida Co., N. Y., for the 2d Independent Church of Christ, called Universalists, in Philadelphia.

"The strength and purity of the attachments created by religious association, furnish to my feelings a forcible argument in favor of a future and immortal union of the human race. When under the influence of religious attachments, I forget all intervening feelings, and only wish I

could live forever in such enjoyment.

Blessed

be the name of the Lord, he has promised it. Amen."

Such were the pure and holy feelings of his soul when he bade adieu to the beloved scenes of his earliest labors in the ministry of reconciliation. Leaving behind the good fruits of his toils and the remembrance of a spotless reputation, he directed his steps to the place of his last efforts on earth. He reached Philadelphia. in a few days, and commenced his pastoral duties on the following Sunday, Nov. 3d. Here a wide field opened before him; his virtuous ambition was enkindled anew; and he saw every inducement to put forth all his powers in the great work to which he had been called. The Church with which he had become united was not at that time in the most prosperous condition; and he was far from being satisfied with the want of spirituality which he conceived to be the prevailing fault of Universalists in this city. The blessings of the Gospel were not duly prized; and there were many indications of culpable indifference to the good things of the kingdom of God. His heart was pained that in a large city, where Universalism had long been preached, and where there were many avowed believers, so few were seen in the temple of praise. The battle against error had been fought with success; but the champions of truth were little disposed to avail themselves of the blessings of peace. He saw that great and persevering efforts were necessary to bring his Church into a healthy and flourishing condition; and to