4 66 PATTERSON. PATTERSON. business responsibilities which the death of his father involved, he was aided in his studies by a brother of his father, then a member of the family, who was a fine classical scholar. At the age of seventeen he was led by the death of a sister to study carefully the question of destiny, which resulted in a radical break with Calvinism, and his with- drawal from the Baptist church. Subse- quent investigation led him into affiliation with the Universalist church. ADONIRAM J. PATTERSON. Parts of each year for three or four years of his early manhood were devoted to teaching. Simultaneously with his work, he carried forward his special studies for the ministry, directed by professors of the Meadville Theological Seminary, and aided by Rev. B. F. Hitchcock and Rev. Ami Bond. In August, 185 1, he was married to Jane, daughter of Daniel and Catharine (Burch) Lippitt. His wife entering with cordial sympathy into his professional plan, was of great help to him by her fine literary taste and Christian co-operation. Declining a business partnership which promised almost certain wealth, he began to preach in the spring of 1S53, and was called soon afterward to the pastorate of the Universalist church in Girard, Pa. Here he remained two years, preaching also Sunday afternoons and evenings in many adjacent towns. These were happy and fruitful years. In August, 1855, Mr. Patterson removed to Portsmouth, N. H. His ministry of eleven years in that city covered the period of the war. His church was prominent in the interests of the loyal cause. The capa- cious edifice was filled with eager listeners. The times were exciting, and the preacher had the message of the Lord. Patriotism was a part of his religion, and it found ex- pression in sermon, prayer, and platform address, wherever an inspiring voice was needed during those awful years. As chaplain-at-large, he was with the army in Virginia during the campaign of 1864, aiding the sick and wounded in hos- pital, ambulance, and rifle-pit ; and dis- tributing in the trenches more than twenty- five tons of sanitary stores. As a member of the New Hampshire Legislature in 1866, he was not absent from a single session ; but he was also regularly in his pulpit. As a legislator, he attracted public notice, and there was a call for him to represent his district in Congress. Pie felt the full force of this temptation, but turned from the open door in loyalty to the higher duties of a minister of Christ. While in the Legislature he accepted a call to the Roxbury Universalist church, and began the work of his pastorate, September, 1866. Noble men had preceded him. He found a strong, united church. For twenty-two years he led it along those lines of endeavor which build character and make the church a family, active in all helpful ministries. Thirty-five years of unremitting toil broke down a not robust constitution. Rest became inevitable, and he resigned his pas- torate in the spring of 188S. The church elected him pastor emeritus, and, at his suggestion, called the Rev. E. L. Rexford, D. D., to the pastorate. Dr. Patterson passed the summer of 1878 in European travel, reporting his obser- vations in a series of letters which were widely read. He has published in book form "Centennial of the Portsmouth Uni- versalist Church," and "Semi-Centennial of the Roxbury Universalist Church." He has also published many essays, lectures, ser- mons and articles, in books, pamphlets, magazines and newspapers. His pulpit themes, always thoroughly Christian, cover a wide variety. He is not given to hobbies, never runs in ruts, is intensely in earnest, persuasive, magnetic.
