'Thomas Stubbs' by Rev. Samuel Gregg

A short story about Rev. Thomas Stubbs from "History of Methodism : Erie Conference, Vol. I, Page 293" by Rev. Samuel Gregg.

"Rev. Thomas Stubbs, second preacher on the Chardon Circuit, was born, educated, converted to God, and licensed to preach in England.

On coming to this country he moved west to Ohio, where he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and being recommended to the Pittsburgh Conference, was admitted on trial in 1832, and into full connection and ordained a deacon in 1834, and an elder by the Erie Conference in 1836.

Mr. Stubbs was a middling sized man, well proportioned, very gentlemanly and agreeable, and possessed a fine imagination, with a warm, glowing heart, which enabled him to move the feelings of an audience sometimes to tears and at others to joy, and generally leaving them both interested and profited.

In 1848 he was stationed at the First M.E. church, located on the corner of St. Clair and Wood streets. During his two years' ministry, the church was greatly prospered. There, as everywhere, large revivals prevailed.

From 1854 to 1857 he had charge of the Erie street church, which has since removed to another part of the city, and the Mission located on East St. Clair.

In 1866, on account of his wife's health, he located in Cleveland, West Side, where he resided the remainder of his life. During this time he served East Cleveland, Ashtabula and the Bethel. For a few years he was not in charge, yet he was vigorous in body and mind, preaching in various pulpits to the delight of the people. He was catholic in spirit, and beloved by all denominations. He was a man of rare mental gifts--of a poetical temperament--of noble thought--a great lover of nature and his fellow men. In his prime no man in his conference surpassed him in eloquence.
He was a most ardent lover of his adopted country, and his voice rung out for the slave when it took nerve and courage, and when the applause often came in rotten eggs and stones. The war for the Union waked his eloquence and enthusiasm, and in the darkest hours his inspiring voice gave hope to the people. He had great power over men in attaching them to him personally. Friends once, friends always. Beloved by all who knew him; a man of remarkable purity of character and life, traits that shone in his benevolent and winning face, and exemplified in his walk and conversation. Of more than ordinary ability, clear and vigorous in mind, original as a thinker, fluent, graceful and powerful as a speaker, his discourses abounded in beautiful figures and bright, poetic fancies. Coupled with a brilliant mind was a big heart, that found expression in charity and kindness, which will endear him to thousands all over his extensive field of labor.

When eighty, he was able to walk ten miles. When eighty-one, he preached a sermon in his son's pulpit that, for enthusiasm and buoyancy, would have done credit to a young man--that for noble thought and elevation of sentiment would have honored a man in his prime. The grasp of his mind ceased only as he ceased to breathe."

[Transcribed by Mary Lewis/Gr Gr Granddaughter]