" Rev. SELAH ROOT ARMS died in Windham, Vt., of congestion of the lungs, after a sickness of only five days, Nov. 9, 1866. He was born in Deerfield, Mass., Feb. 21, 1789, a son of Phinehas and Lydia (Root) Arms. In common with all in the United States who bear the name of Arms, he is supposed to have descended from William Arms, who came in youth from the Island of Jersey, settled in Hatfield, Mass., and in 1676 married Joanna Hawks.
His father removed, in 1796, to Wilmington, Vt. He united with the church (of which his father was deacon) at the age of sixteen. He began to fit for college with Rev. William B. Stow, of Wilmington, completed his preparatory studies at Williamstown (Mass.) Academy, and entered Williams College, where he was graduated in 1818. He immediately entered Andover Theological Seminary, and was there graduated in 1821, having been licensed in April of that year by the Presbytery of Londonderry, N. H.
For two years after leaving the Seminary, he was in the service of the Vermont Juvenile (afterward Domestic) Missionary Society, chiefly in Windham and Cavendish, preaching alternately at the two places during the milder part of the year, and wholly at Cavendish in the winter. In December, 1823, he was employed by the churches in Grafton and Windham to preach to them on alternate Sabbaths, and this arrangement continued for eight years. He was ordained pastor of the two churches, at Grafton, in January, 1825. Rev. Charles Walker preached the sermon. During his pastorate of the two charges, he lived principally at Grafton. In November, 1831, he relinquished the"charge of the Grafton church, removed to Windham, and had that as his only charge till June, 1834, when he resigned his pastorate, and removed to Livingstonvile, N. Y., where he supplied for a year and a half. Then being invited again to Windham, he returned there in January, 1836, and was installed October 12, 1837. Rev. Uzziah C. Burnap, of Chester, preached the sermon.
About the first of January, 1849, he was again dismissed, and removed to Springfield, Vt., hoping to find the climate more congenial for himself and wife. He carried on a farm ; preaching, however, as stated or occasional supply, in various adjacent places in Vermont and New Hampshire, down to the very Sabbath before his death. He had been engaged to supply the pulpit in Windham few months during the absence of the pastor ; and the week before the first Sabbath in November, he visited on foot every family in the parish. On that Sabbath he preached twice, administered the Lord's Supper, and presided at the monthly concert in the evening, remarking in the course of the day that he had not felt better for years. The same evening he was attacked With the disease which terminated his life on the following Friday.
He married, February 28, 1825, Eliza Ames, of Chelmsford, Mass., by whom he had William James, born February 7, 1826; Maria Phoebe, born August 7, 1827 ; Eliza, born Dec. 28, 1828 ; George, born Dec. 12, 1829 ; Fanny, born January 14,1832 ; Emily, born November 13, 1883, died September 29, 1834 ; Emily Maxwell, born May 12, 1835 ; Nathan Peabody, born July 2, 1837, died October 13, 1850 ; Ebenezer Burgess, born March 13, 1839, enlisted in the Third Vermont Regiment, and died in the service, October 28, 1862 ; Henry Martyn, born August 17,1840 ; Ellen Amelia, born April 7, 1842. Mrs. Arms died December 22, 1861.
Says another: Mr. Arms finished his labors among the same people with whom he had commenced them forty-five years before, and had around him, in his last hours, those who had received from him the gospel in their infancy. His last sermon was on 1 John 2: 1 : " If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
He was a well-read theologian of the old school. He knew how to speculate, and was no mean antagonist in metaphysics ; but as a minister, he simply inquired what the Bible gave him to preach. As a preacher, he would not be regarded as eloquent, but he was earnest and impressive, always instructive. He was a kind and faithful pastor. He sough the improvement of his people in every respect.
He was familiar with the theological questions that have troubled or comforted the church, but he was not dogmatic. He was an honest man, — a hospitable man. His friends will never forget how he, with his not less hospitable wife, used to meet them at the gate. He was such a minister as every rural parish needs ; of a well cultivated mind and a heart warm with the love of Christ, and in full sympathy with his parish, and intended to improve it and all that lived in it. His ministerial life was mostly spent high upon the Green Mountains, where the summers were short and the winters long, and his name rarely appeared in connection with public movements. Yet his influence is felt for good in all parts of our land. Many a church at the West, and in the large towns and cities of New England, has been strengthened by the fruit of his labors in his quiet parish."
His father removed, in 1796, to Wilmington, Vt. He united with the church (of which his father was deacon) at the age of sixteen. He began to fit for college with Rev. William B. Stow, of Wilmington, completed his preparatory studies at Williamstown (Mass.) Academy, and entered Williams College, where he was graduated in 1818. He immediately entered Andover Theological Seminary, and was there graduated in 1821, having been licensed in April of that year by the Presbytery of Londonderry, N. H.
For two years after leaving the Seminary, he was in the service of the Vermont Juvenile (afterward Domestic) Missionary Society, chiefly in Windham and Cavendish, preaching alternately at the two places during the milder part of the year, and wholly at Cavendish in the winter. In December, 1823, he was employed by the churches in Grafton and Windham to preach to them on alternate Sabbaths, and this arrangement continued for eight years. He was ordained pastor of the two churches, at Grafton, in January, 1825. Rev. Charles Walker preached the sermon. During his pastorate of the two charges, he lived principally at Grafton. In November, 1831, he relinquished the"charge of the Grafton church, removed to Windham, and had that as his only charge till June, 1834, when he resigned his pastorate, and removed to Livingstonvile, N. Y., where he supplied for a year and a half. Then being invited again to Windham, he returned there in January, 1836, and was installed October 12, 1837. Rev. Uzziah C. Burnap, of Chester, preached the sermon.
About the first of January, 1849, he was again dismissed, and removed to Springfield, Vt., hoping to find the climate more congenial for himself and wife. He carried on a farm ; preaching, however, as stated or occasional supply, in various adjacent places in Vermont and New Hampshire, down to the very Sabbath before his death. He had been engaged to supply the pulpit in Windham few months during the absence of the pastor ; and the week before the first Sabbath in November, he visited on foot every family in the parish. On that Sabbath he preached twice, administered the Lord's Supper, and presided at the monthly concert in the evening, remarking in the course of the day that he had not felt better for years. The same evening he was attacked With the disease which terminated his life on the following Friday.
He married, February 28, 1825, Eliza Ames, of Chelmsford, Mass., by whom he had William James, born February 7, 1826; Maria Phoebe, born August 7, 1827 ; Eliza, born Dec. 28, 1828 ; George, born Dec. 12, 1829 ; Fanny, born January 14,1832 ; Emily, born November 13, 1883, died September 29, 1834 ; Emily Maxwell, born May 12, 1835 ; Nathan Peabody, born July 2, 1837, died October 13, 1850 ; Ebenezer Burgess, born March 13, 1839, enlisted in the Third Vermont Regiment, and died in the service, October 28, 1862 ; Henry Martyn, born August 17,1840 ; Ellen Amelia, born April 7, 1842. Mrs. Arms died December 22, 1861.
Says another: Mr. Arms finished his labors among the same people with whom he had commenced them forty-five years before, and had around him, in his last hours, those who had received from him the gospel in their infancy. His last sermon was on 1 John 2: 1 : " If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
He was a well-read theologian of the old school. He knew how to speculate, and was no mean antagonist in metaphysics ; but as a minister, he simply inquired what the Bible gave him to preach. As a preacher, he would not be regarded as eloquent, but he was earnest and impressive, always instructive. He was a kind and faithful pastor. He sough the improvement of his people in every respect.
He was familiar with the theological questions that have troubled or comforted the church, but he was not dogmatic. He was an honest man, — a hospitable man. His friends will never forget how he, with his not less hospitable wife, used to meet them at the gate. He was such a minister as every rural parish needs ; of a well cultivated mind and a heart warm with the love of Christ, and in full sympathy with his parish, and intended to improve it and all that lived in it. His ministerial life was mostly spent high upon the Green Mountains, where the summers were short and the winters long, and his name rarely appeared in connection with public movements. Yet his influence is felt for good in all parts of our land. Many a church at the West, and in the large towns and cities of New England, has been strengthened by the fruit of his labors in his quiet parish."
" Rev. SELAH ROOT ARMS died in Windham, Vt., of congestion of the lungs, after a sickness of only five days, Nov. 9, 1866. He was born in Deerfield, Mass., Feb. 21, 1789, a son of Phinehas and Lydia (Root) Arms. In common with all in the United States who bear the name of Arms, he is supposed to have descended from William Arms, who came in youth from the Island of Jersey, settled in Hatfield, Mass., and in 1676 married Joanna Hawks.
His father removed, in 1796, to Wilmington, Vt. He united with the church (of which his father was deacon) at the age of sixteen. He began to fit for college with Rev. William B. Stow, of Wilmington, completed his preparatory studies at Williamstown (Mass.) Academy, and entered Williams College, where he was graduated in 1818. He immediately entered Andover Theological Seminary, and was there graduated in 1821, having been licensed in April of that year by the Presbytery of Londonderry, N. H.
For two years after leaving the Seminary, he was in the service of the Vermont Juvenile (afterward Domestic) Missionary Society, chiefly in Windham and Cavendish, preaching alternately at the two places during the milder part of the year, and wholly at Cavendish in the winter. In December, 1823, he was employed by the churches in Grafton and Windham to preach to them on alternate Sabbaths, and this arrangement continued for eight years. He was ordained pastor of the two churches, at Grafton, in January, 1825. Rev. Charles Walker preached the sermon. During his pastorate of the two charges, he lived principally at Grafton. In November, 1831, he relinquished the"charge of the Grafton church, removed to Windham, and had that as his only charge till June, 1834, when he resigned his pastorate, and removed to Livingstonvile, N. Y., where he supplied for a year and a half. Then being invited again to Windham, he returned there in January, 1836, and was installed October 12, 1837. Rev. Uzziah C. Burnap, of Chester, preached the sermon.
About the first of January, 1849, he was again dismissed, and removed to Springfield, Vt., hoping to find the climate more congenial for himself and wife. He carried on a farm ; preaching, however, as stated or occasional supply, in various adjacent places in Vermont and New Hampshire, down to the very Sabbath before his death. He had been engaged to supply the pulpit in Windham few months during the absence of the pastor ; and the week before the first Sabbath in November, he visited on foot every family in the parish. On that Sabbath he preached twice, administered the Lord's Supper, and presided at the monthly concert in the evening, remarking in the course of the day that he had not felt better for years. The same evening he was attacked With the disease which terminated his life on the following Friday.
He married, February 28, 1825, Eliza Ames, of Chelmsford, Mass., by whom he had William James, born February 7, 1826; Maria Phoebe, born August 7, 1827 ; Eliza, born Dec. 28, 1828 ; George, born Dec. 12, 1829 ; Fanny, born January 14,1832 ; Emily, born November 13, 1883, died September 29, 1834 ; Emily Maxwell, born May 12, 1835 ; Nathan Peabody, born July 2, 1837, died October 13, 1850 ; Ebenezer Burgess, born March 13, 1839, enlisted in the Third Vermont Regiment, and died in the service, October 28, 1862 ; Henry Martyn, born August 17,1840 ; Ellen Amelia, born April 7, 1842. Mrs. Arms died December 22, 1861.
Says another: Mr. Arms finished his labors among the same people with whom he had commenced them forty-five years before, and had around him, in his last hours, those who had received from him the gospel in their infancy. His last sermon was on 1 John 2: 1 : " If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
He was a well-read theologian of the old school. He knew how to speculate, and was no mean antagonist in metaphysics ; but as a minister, he simply inquired what the Bible gave him to preach. As a preacher, he would not be regarded as eloquent, but he was earnest and impressive, always instructive. He was a kind and faithful pastor. He sough the improvement of his people in every respect.
He was familiar with the theological questions that have troubled or comforted the church, but he was not dogmatic. He was an honest man, — a hospitable man. His friends will never forget how he, with his not less hospitable wife, used to meet them at the gate. He was such a minister as every rural parish needs ; of a well cultivated mind and a heart warm with the love of Christ, and in full sympathy with his parish, and intended to improve it and all that lived in it. His ministerial life was mostly spent high upon the Green Mountains, where the summers were short and the winters long, and his name rarely appeared in connection with public movements. Yet his influence is felt for good in all parts of our land. Many a church at the West, and in the large towns and cities of New England, has been strengthened by the fruit of his labors in his quiet parish."
His father removed, in 1796, to Wilmington, Vt. He united with the church (of which his father was deacon) at the age of sixteen. He began to fit for college with Rev. William B. Stow, of Wilmington, completed his preparatory studies at Williamstown (Mass.) Academy, and entered Williams College, where he was graduated in 1818. He immediately entered Andover Theological Seminary, and was there graduated in 1821, having been licensed in April of that year by the Presbytery of Londonderry, N. H.
For two years after leaving the Seminary, he was in the service of the Vermont Juvenile (afterward Domestic) Missionary Society, chiefly in Windham and Cavendish, preaching alternately at the two places during the milder part of the year, and wholly at Cavendish in the winter. In December, 1823, he was employed by the churches in Grafton and Windham to preach to them on alternate Sabbaths, and this arrangement continued for eight years. He was ordained pastor of the two churches, at Grafton, in January, 1825. Rev. Charles Walker preached the sermon. During his pastorate of the two charges, he lived principally at Grafton. In November, 1831, he relinquished the"charge of the Grafton church, removed to Windham, and had that as his only charge till June, 1834, when he resigned his pastorate, and removed to Livingstonvile, N. Y., where he supplied for a year and a half. Then being invited again to Windham, he returned there in January, 1836, and was installed October 12, 1837. Rev. Uzziah C. Burnap, of Chester, preached the sermon.
About the first of January, 1849, he was again dismissed, and removed to Springfield, Vt., hoping to find the climate more congenial for himself and wife. He carried on a farm ; preaching, however, as stated or occasional supply, in various adjacent places in Vermont and New Hampshire, down to the very Sabbath before his death. He had been engaged to supply the pulpit in Windham few months during the absence of the pastor ; and the week before the first Sabbath in November, he visited on foot every family in the parish. On that Sabbath he preached twice, administered the Lord's Supper, and presided at the monthly concert in the evening, remarking in the course of the day that he had not felt better for years. The same evening he was attacked With the disease which terminated his life on the following Friday.
He married, February 28, 1825, Eliza Ames, of Chelmsford, Mass., by whom he had William James, born February 7, 1826; Maria Phoebe, born August 7, 1827 ; Eliza, born Dec. 28, 1828 ; George, born Dec. 12, 1829 ; Fanny, born January 14,1832 ; Emily, born November 13, 1883, died September 29, 1834 ; Emily Maxwell, born May 12, 1835 ; Nathan Peabody, born July 2, 1837, died October 13, 1850 ; Ebenezer Burgess, born March 13, 1839, enlisted in the Third Vermont Regiment, and died in the service, October 28, 1862 ; Henry Martyn, born August 17,1840 ; Ellen Amelia, born April 7, 1842. Mrs. Arms died December 22, 1861.
Says another: Mr. Arms finished his labors among the same people with whom he had commenced them forty-five years before, and had around him, in his last hours, those who had received from him the gospel in their infancy. His last sermon was on 1 John 2: 1 : " If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
He was a well-read theologian of the old school. He knew how to speculate, and was no mean antagonist in metaphysics ; but as a minister, he simply inquired what the Bible gave him to preach. As a preacher, he would not be regarded as eloquent, but he was earnest and impressive, always instructive. He was a kind and faithful pastor. He sough the improvement of his people in every respect.
He was familiar with the theological questions that have troubled or comforted the church, but he was not dogmatic. He was an honest man, — a hospitable man. His friends will never forget how he, with his not less hospitable wife, used to meet them at the gate. He was such a minister as every rural parish needs ; of a well cultivated mind and a heart warm with the love of Christ, and in full sympathy with his parish, and intended to improve it and all that lived in it. His ministerial life was mostly spent high upon the Green Mountains, where the summers were short and the winters long, and his name rarely appeared in connection with public movements. Yet his influence is felt for good in all parts of our land. Many a church at the West, and in the large towns and cities of New England, has been strengthened by the fruit of his labors in his quiet parish."
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