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Elias Vanderlip was born at Carl's Neck, on Staten Island, February 10, 1765. His father, who was an Episcopalian, was drowned when Elias was very young. His mother was a Methodist for some thirty or forty years. He was brought up to the trade of a shoemaker, in the city of New York, and was an eye witness of many interesting incidents which occurred in and about that city, connected with the revolutionary struggle. These he used to relate in his old age with great complacency. His early religious and educational advantages were not the most favorable. The general laxity of morals always attendant upon that scourge of humanity, war, was prevalent in his early associations. He was awakened and converted to God, in the cradle of American Methodism, the John street church, in 1787, under the preaching of John Dickens. This was then, and for several years afterwards, our only house of worship in that city. His first public efforts in the cause of Christ, were in the little settlements near New York, where his labors were owned of God. "About 1792, my mind," he says, "began to be exercised about my duty to preach. I stated my feelings to Thomas Morrell, then stationed in the city. He said, 'Go and preach,' which constituted my only commission for some time thereafter. Accordingly I went to Bull's Ferry and exhorted the people, under the rocks there, to repentance and faith; and, blessed be God, I saw some fruits of my toil. Occasionally, also, I preached, in my stammering way, to the people in the suburbs of the city." In 1796, he left New York, where he had been in business for some years, and opened a shoe store in the city of Albany, which, however, was soon destroyed by fire. He then removed to Niskayuna, a few miles north-west of Albany, where he engaged in farming, officiating as he had opportunity as a local preacher.

His efforts in that place were the means of the conversion of many souls, of the formation of a society, and of the erection of the first Methodist Episcopal church in that region. In 1802 he was received on trial as a traveling preacher, in company with Andrew McKain, Samuel Howe, Nathan Bangs, and a number of others. His first appointment was to the old Pittsfield circuit, as the colleague of Moses Morgan. The latter withdrew, and Samuel Howe filled his place. At this time the entire membership in the United States was less than eighty-seven thousand. In those days the large circuits required the utmost energies of a robust constitution. What conceivable motive, but the love of souls, could have induced the preachers of those days to perform the labors, and endure the obloquy, to which they were subjected, for which, so far as their temporal interests were concerned, they received the most meagre pecuniary compensation.

Mr. Vanderlip was returned to Pittsfield a second year, during which he received a youth into the church, who has since served at her altars for more than forty years, with uncommon fidelity, has held a prominent place in her councils, and contributed to her useful literature. That youth was Tobias Spicer. In 1804, Mr. Vanderlip was admitted, in company with Robert R. Roberts, William Ryland, and others of precious memory, into full connection, and ordained by Bishop Asbury to the office of a deacon. He was stationed on Cambridge circuit, Phineas Cook being his assistant, and God gave them great success, especially on that part of the circuit then known as Thurman's Patent. In 1805 he was stationed in Albany, our only house of worship in that city then being the small building standing on the corner of Pearl and Orange streets. Serious divisions had existed in that society, and it is said this ap

pointment was made in view of that fact. During the early history of Methodism, the provision for the support of the ministry was so utterly inadequate to meet the wants of a large family, that hundreds of most worthy men were compelled to locate in order to avoid the condemnation of those who fail to "provide for those of their own house;" and as Mr. Vanderlip's family had become large, he was induced, much against his inclination, to locate at the close of his term of service in Albany. In 1807 he was readmitted, and traveled Ulster circuit, but in 1808, for the same reasons that influenced him two years before, he again located.

From 1808 to 1838 he resided in Albany, preaching frequently in and around the city, as he had calls and opportunities, and identifying himself with all the interests of the church of his early choice. Mrs. Vanderlip having died in 1836, and his sons and daughters being all married and settled in life, he, in 1838, entered the itinerant ranks in the Troy Conference, in the seventyfourth year of his age. It could not, of course, be expected that he could do much service at that advanced period of life, but his heart was greatly set upon the work, from which he had been driven by uncontrollable circumstances. He was anxious to die in the harness. He was appointed to the Johnstown circuit; but before the year closed, the infirmities of age compelled him again to retire from the field. The next year he was returned supernumerary, and the following year, 1840, superannuated, in which relation he died.

During the last years of his life, he patiently suffered much. Some five months before his death, he had the misfortune to break his thigh, which greatly aggravated his sufferings. In a short account of himself, which he dictated to his family, about four months previous to his death, he says: "I am now, in my eighty-fourth year,

stretched on my couch with a broken thigh. I expect no more to mingle in the busy scenes of life. The sinners whom I have invited to repent, and believe in Jesus, will hear my voice no more. My soul, however, is happy, very happy. I have no fears of death. I am prepared, through the riches of divine grace and the blood of the atonement, for my great change. I am anxious to leave these sublunary scenes, this world of trial and change, and be with my blessed Jesus. I long for the messenger to come. Glory to God! come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" He died at the residence of his son, Mr. George R. Vanderlip, with whom he had lived for some years, in the city of Albany, September 3, 1848, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

Father Vanderlip made no pretensions to superior intellectual endowments, or literary acquirement, or to being a great preacher. He was a cheerful, lively, zealous Christian. He loved to talk on religious subjects. Prayer and praise were his delight. His preaching was practical, and calculated to cheer and encourage the Christian to the exercise of faith and hope in God. He dwelt, with great frequency and pleasure, on the love of the Savior to a ruined world. His exhortations were often productive of the most happy effects. To Methodism, he was ardently and unwaveringly attached, during his long life.

In his old age, he was remarkably pleasant and agreeable. As he advanced in years, he evidently grew in grace, so that for some time previous to his death, he was very happy in God his Savior. He loved the means of grace, and delighted to work in the cause of Christ. He was no croaker. He did not imagine that the spirit of God had left the church, nor that vital piety had died with the fathers. There was a cheerful simplicity and godly sincerity about him, that won the hearts of young

and old. During his last sickness, he was patient and joyful in hope of his appointed change, often shouting aloud the praises of God. When worldly matters were the topics of coversation, he seemed to take no notice of it; but when the subject of religion was introduced, he exhibited a lively interest in all that was said. He used to say that, "he was pluming his wings for his flight;" and at other times, that he was all "packed up, and waiting to go when the Master should call him.” He died peacefully, in a good old age, and was gathered to his fathers.

REV. JOHN D. MORIARTY.

BY REV. JOHN E. BOWEN.

John D. Moriarty, the subject of the following memoir, was born in the town of Bedford, Westchester county, N. Y., Aug. 1st, 1793. He was a son of Peter Moriarty, one of the early Methodist preachers, and "another example of that powerful influence which Methodism exerted, in its early days, over the popular mind; subduing the prejudices of education, and smiting with resistless religious convictions, all classes of men. who came within reach of its ministrations." (Memorials of Meth. 2d s. p. 114.)

His father was born of Roman Catholic parents, and had his early education and religious training under that system of error. At the age of sixteen, he providentially heard the gospel preached by a Methodist itinerant, who found his way to the neighborhood where his father resided, when it pleased the Lord to open his

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