Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 15.

[p. 21] temper, in the broad sense of the word evangelical. Some years ago, at the time of the Chapman revival meetings in Boston, I was very desirous that special union gospel meetings of all the Protestant churches of Medford might be held in this city. To do this, the basis of union would have to be simple and broad, and I thought that if we could just preach the gospel of discipleship to Jesus as the essential call of Christianity, leaving out the various merely theological notations, we could all get together with one accord in one place. And it seemed to me that the whole community must hear and heed this kind of an appeal. I voiced this thought of mine in the local papers, and I knew that Mr. DeLong was greatly interested in it and would have co-operated, as would have the Rev. Mr. Eaton of the Universalist Church. But alas it was not to be, and our evangelistic services, when they came, were of the old divisive kind. But I speak of this merely to show Mr. DeLong's broad Christian sympathy and his really evangelical feeling.

Closely akin to this spiritual quality of his life was his reverence for God and man. He approached Deity always in the spirit of vast awe, and was also respectful of the soul of a fellow-man. You could never think of him as trying to ram the gospel down the throat of a man, as I have often seen it done by ministers and others. I well recall his introductory address to God in prayer. How unusually filled with awe were his words! He would not even lead in public prayer on an instant's notice, as so many ministers are obliged to do, and which so often develops the easy pious phrases and formal, almost superficial speech. Mr. DeLong wanted to know beforehand, to be prepared in mood and word, as indeed every minister has the right to do, before addressing the Deity in public prayer. But in his case it was entirely in keeping with his reverent mind and sincere temper, without possible pretense or cant.

But I must pass from this more personal appreciation of my friend and colleague to speak of what I think he