This last is a work of very profound research; and, though the author's conclusions are open to grave doubt and serious discussion, the affluence of his learning, and his candor in the presentation of authorities adverse no less than favorable to his own opinions, will be admitted by none more readily than by his intelligent antagonists.

Besides these volumes, Dr. Lamson published very numerous occasional sermons, and was for many years a frequent contributor to the "Christian Examiner."

LIST OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF DR. LAMSON.

Sermons. 12mo. pp. 424. 1857.

The Church of the First Three Centuries: or, Notices of the Lives and Opinions of some of the Early Fathers, with special reference to the Doctrine of the Trinity: illustrating its late Origin and gradual Formation. 8vo. pp. 352. 1860.

Second Edition of the same, revised and enlarged; edited by Ezra Abbot. 8vo. pp. 410. 1865.

Pamphlets.

Sermon on the Adaptation of Christianity.

1825.

Remarks on the Genius and Writings of Soame Jenyns, and on the Internal Evidences of Christianity. 1826.

Sermon preached at the Ordination of Rev. Charles C. Sewall, at Danvers. 1827.

Discourse at the Dedication of Bethlehem Chapel, Augusta, Maine, 1827. Discourse on the Validity of Congregational Ordination, (Dudleian Lecture, 1834).

Sermon on the Sin against the Holy Ghost. 1835.

A History of the First Church and Parish in Dedham, in three Discourses, delivered Nov. 29, and Dec. 2, 1838; published in 1839.

A Discourse delivered on the day of the National Fast on occasion of the Death of President Harrison, 1841.

Congregationalism. A Discourse delivered before the Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers, 1846.

The Memory of John Robinson. A Discourse delivered at Dedham, Sunday, Dec. 21, 1851.

Impressions of Men and Things Abroad. A Sermon preached at Dedham, Sept. 11, 1853, after an absence of some months in Europe.

Agricultural Life in some of its Intellectual Aspects. An Address delivered before the Norfolk Agricultural Society, Sept. 30, 1857.

A Sermon preached Oct. 31, 1858, the Sunday after the Fortieth Anniversary of his Ordination.

A Discourse preached Oct. 28, 1860, on Resigning the Pastoral Charge of the First Church and Parish in Dedham, after a Ministry of Forty-two Years.

On the Doctrine of Two Natures in Jesus Christ. 1st Series, No. 20. (Reprinted in England.)

On the Foundation of our Confidence in the Saviour. 1st Series, No. 89. (Reprint of Sermon at Ordination of C. C. Sewall.)

On Earnestness in Religion. 1st Series, No. 188.

What is Unitarianism? 1st Series, No. 202. (Reprint, after revision, of the article on "Unitarian Congregationalists," in Rupp's "History of all the Religious Denominations in the United States.")

In 1830 and 1831, Dr. Lamson, with Rev. S. Barrett, edited the "Unitarian Advocate," Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, New Series.

In 1835, with Rev. Geo. Ripley, he edited the "Boston Observer."

From January, 1814, to May, 1849, with Rev. Dr. Gannett, he edited the "Christian Examiner."

MEMOIR

OF

CHARLES GREELY LORING.

BY THEOPHILUS PARSONS.

MR. LORING was born in Boston, on the second of May, 1794. His father, the Hon. Caleb Loring, was an eminent merchant. His mother, Anne Greely, was a daughter of Captain John Greely, who was killed while defending his ship, a letter-ofmarque, against an English frigate, near Marblehead, in the War of Independence. It may be mentioned as an interesting incident, that the commander of the frigate sent his body and his sword to his family, with a letter expressing admiration of his gallantry and courage. Mr. Loring's paternal ancestors were among the earliest settlers at Plymouth, whence they soon removed to Hull, and thence to Boston.

He was during his whole life a citizen of Boston. After attending some private schools, he went to the public Latin School, left it as a medal scholar, entered Harvard College as a Sophomore in 1809, and was graduated in 1812. His high position in his class was shown by his having assigned to him, at graduation, the Latin salutatory oration.

He went at once to Litchfield; and there, in the Law School in that town, prosecuted his legal studies. His room-mate was Peleg Sprague, who had been his classmate in college. Between Mr. Loring and this excellent and eminent man an affectionate friendship grew up, which never knew an interrup

tion.

Mr. Loring completed his professional studies in the office of the Hon. Samuel Hubbard, who was afterwards a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of this State. At that time three years of study were required in this State for admission as an attorney, who was not permitted to argue cases; after two years more the student became a counsellor of the court of Common Pleas, in which he could then act as advocate; and in two years more he became a counsellor of the Supreme Court. Mr. Hubbard was compelled to abandon his business for a time by the illness of his wife, while Mr. Loring was in his office; and, although only a student, he was selected by Mr. Hubbard and deputed to take charge of his business; and at his request, and with the consent of his clients, Mr. Loring argued several of Mr. Hubbard's cases before the Supreme Court.

He was admitted as an attorney in 1815, as counsellor below in 1817, and as full counsellor in 1819. In 1816 he formed a partnership with his classmate, Franklin Dexter, which continued until 1819, when Mr. Dexter was associated with the Hon. William Prescott, to whose daughter he was affianced.

Mr. Loring would sometimes speak of his early professional career, as if his progress had been slow. But I was admitted to the bar in 1819, four years after him; my office was near his, and I used to think that his office was full of business. Indeed it still seems to me that Mr. Loring came almost at once into a large business of the best kind. I have known no instance of a young man acquiring so soon and holding so firmly a wide clientage of the most valuable character. There were many causes for this, some of which lay outside of himself. His substitution for Mr. Hubbard was useful; and his family friendships gave him assistance. The coming into his hands, at an early stage of his career, of interesting cases in which he met with success, was very helpful. But none of these things can do more than help a young man. Often in the biographies of eminent lawyers we read of this or that "accident," as it seems and is called, which lifted them into

notice and began a long course of prosperity. But such accidents lie in wait for most men who are ready to profit by them. Life is full of these favorable circumstances; but it is not full of instances in which they are turned to the best account. If they are not, they pass out of notice and are forgotten. But, if they are used as they may be used, to lead not merely to an immediate result, but to a success which is not a fruit plucked for to-day but a seed sown to grow and bear its own fruits in long succession, then they are remembered by the man himself and by others, and are referred to as the cause of a prosperity of which they were only the occasion and the means. I do but present the same thought in other words, when I say that the most favorable circumstances can do no more for a young man than give him an opportunity of showing himself as he is. In fact they compel him to show himself as he is; for, if he fails to improve the opportunity, this failure shows him to be wanting in some of the elements of character which are needed to insure success.

How was it with Mr. Loring? He brought to the bar good sense; that kind and measure of learning which is the necessary result of patient, earnest, and intelligent study under good instruction; the capacity and the habit of industry, or rather of sustained, persistent energy; a strong and constant sense of fidelity to all duty; and unfailing courage. It was well for him that propitious circumstances came to him soon after his entrance into the profession. But if they had not come to him, he would have found them, or made them. To a man so well fitted for usefulness in his profession, the question of success was only a question of time and manner; at some time and in some way it was sure to come.

Mr. Loring was a clear and cogent reasoner. I do not say that he possessed remarkable logical power. But he saw with distinctness the reasons which had led him to a conclusion, and was able to present them to others with equal distinct

ness.