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ment, at this date a vital constituent, — and the trophies are scattered over the land, extending to Texas, the Pacific Slope, and the distant Northwest. It cannot be said that these organic expressions of the missionary spirit, always active in Universalist hearts, are to be credited to any one man. Dr. Miner's record is that of early and commanding leadership and cooperation. Possibly, had there been no Luther, his equivalent would have appeared. The Protestant Revolution in England might have been a reality even had there been no Cromwell. If God has a purpose, He provides the needful instrumentality. But history takes the fact as it comes, and A. A. Miner was a very conspicuous agent in developing the missionary enterprises of his church.

Early in its history, the Woman's Centenary Association began a missionary enterprise in Scotland, which it followed up with great determination. About ten years ago the denomination was led to feel that while all the other churches were operating missions in pagan lands, it must not stand out as an exception; and hence the Japan Mission began about seven years ago, its most active and efficient agent being the Rev. H. W. Rugg, D. D., of Rhode Island; its first missionary in the field, Rev. G. L. Perin, D.D. In regard to the Scottish and the Japan missions, Dr. Miner was somewhat tardy in his sympathy, he certainly took no leading part; but are not both historic and logical outcomes of the first effective missionary movement?

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Nearly forty years ago, leading ministers and laymen in Massachusetts-Rev. T. J. Sawyer, of New York, in

earnest sympathy and co-operation - began an earnest agitation looking towards the consolidation of the many periodicals, which in dividing the patronage made less efficient and less meritorious the literary agency for advancing the cause. The number of weekly papers was very great, out of all proportion to their support. The agitation soon took a more comprehensive form,- that of a Publishing House, to be operated exclusively in the interests of the denomination, the profits, whatever they might be or might become, to inure to the benefit of the cause, and not to any individual, except as employment was given to agents, editors, and clerks. It was hoped that by fair purchase an equitable arrangement could be made whereby existing plates and books and papers could be purchased, and the "good-will" of existing publishers be secured. The writer was present at several meetings of ministers and laymen held in an upper story on Washington Street, in which "ways and means" were carefully considered. Every plan included the forming of a stock company of a certain number of shares. The question was natural whether those who subscribed for stock would find it a safe investment. Nothing above the simple interest was desired or to be expected; the profits in excess were to be exclusively for the benefit of the denomination. Mr. Metcalf said truly: "This Society [the Boston Second] furnished the men who started and raised and backed the money to build up that Publishing House." If, however, the question is pressed, "What person in particular made the movement successful?" it can be answered; and the pivot

on which it turns was an utterance of just eight words. After long and careful discussion, in which the probability of escaping loss was considered, A. A. Miner arose and said: "Every dollar may be lost, but who cares?" The movement was successful from that moment.

CHAPTER XXVI.

SERVICE IN DEVELOPING DENOMINATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.

IT

would take a long chapter to give the particulars of Dr. Miner's work, next to that of his ministry his greatest, pertaining to the interests of education under the auspices of the Universalist denomination. What he did in this regard was, under the circumstances, truly vast. Of itself alone it would place him in the category of great men. In truth, had he no other record, if every particular given in the preceding pages were to be cancelled, his biography should still be written, and the chapters could be easily made to fill an octavo.

At the outset, justice to others requires the statement that his services as a leader in the starting and operating the Universalist institutions of learning do not include the work of pioneer. In the earlier records of the agitation which finally led to the endowing academies, colleges, and theological schools, his name does not appear, could not appear, for at the date of the initial endeavors he was a youth. When, however, the time came for him to put his "shoulder to the wheel" there was unmistakable evidence that a new and mighty agency had come to the rescue. The symmetry of literary form might seem to require that Dr. Miner's achieve

ments in the field of education as integral in the development of the Universalist church, should have a distinctive place in his biography unmixed with other matter. But, as appears, his pastorate in Boston and his offices in connection with certain Universalist academies and by great pre-eminence with Tufts College, make a strictly isolated sketch impossible. When it was seriously suggested that surgical skill should, if possible, separate the Siamese twins, a New York surgeon pronounced the separating not simply a physical impossibility, but added: "You cannot even think of them as apart." Generous gifts came from individuals in New York and in other places, in aid of the proposed college; but under the resistless influence of A. A. Miner the Second Universalist Society of Boston came to the great enterprise in no small degree as a society. The pastor infused his own spirit into his people, and in various ways of contribution and sympathy that Society gave the infant institution its official help. For at least a quarter of a century the college and the Society were in important regards a common interest. This record purposes to give the twofold history in separate statements as far as practicable, but the canons of "literary symmetry will not be allowed to separate what the true history puts together.

It has been stated that the history of the Second Society has no place in this work save as respects the many particulars in which that history serves to set and exhibit the career of A. A. Miner as its minister. Even so, the history of the Education movement and achievement under Universalist auspices has no

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