Edwards, Justin, Dd

Edwards, Justin, D.D.

an eminent Congregational minister, was born at Westhampton, Massachusetts, April 25, 1787. He graduated at Williams College 1810; entered the Theological Seminary in Andover March 1811, and was installed pastor of the South Church in the same place December 2, 1812. In 1825 he was one of the sixteen who founded the "American Society for the Promotion of Temperance." He was installed pastor of the Salem- Street Church, Boston, January 1, 1828, but resigned August 20, 1829, and entered the service of the American Temperance Society as secretary. His zeal, wisdom, and activity contributed, perhaps more than any other agency, to diffuse the principles of the Temperance reform in the United States. He was elected Professor of Theology in the Seminary in New York in February 1836, and President of the Seminary at Andover, 1837. He accepted the latter appointment. In 1842 he was chosen secretary of the newly — formed American and Foreign Sabbath Union, and in this service he spent several laborious and eminently useful years. He died July 24,1853. He published An Address before the Rhetorical Society in the Theological Seminary at Andover (1824): — An Address at the laying of the corner-stone of the new meeting-house in Andover (1826): — A Letter to the friends of Temperance in Massachusetts (1836): — Permanent Temperance Documents, a series of papers (1830-36): — Permanent Documents, a series of papers on The Sabbath; and numerous tracts for the American Tract Society, and a compendious Commentary (N.T. and part of O.T.; Amer. Tract Society). His life was full of varied but always consecrated labor, and few men have contributed more largely to promote Christian ethics in America by laying their foundation wisely in true religion. See Halleek, Life of Justin Edwards (Amer. Tract Society); and Sprague, Annals, 2:572.