Griffen, Benjamin

Griffen, Benjamin, a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in Mamaroneck, New York, June 6, 1792. When about nineteen years of age he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. Soon after his conversion he was received into the New York Conference, and remained a member of that body (except for a short interval) for fifty years. In 1853 he was elected secretary of his Conference, and continued in that office until his death, which occurred at Rye, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1861. Among the members of his Conference he was the youngest man of his age; his cheeks had the freshness of youth; his step was firm and elastic; his voice retained its clearness and compass to the last; "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." His activity, his vigor, his sprightly humor, and his flow of spirits seemed as perfect at the last Conference he attended, as they had ever been. He grew more and more genial as life advanced, and his Christian graces shone out more clearly. He was remarkable for his punctuality as well as for his patient labor. Few men have performed more unrequited toil for the Church than he. He was treasurer for many years of the Board of Conference Trustees, and also of the Ministers' Mutual Assistance Society. He rendered his services with the strictest fidelity, and without any compensation. He had been appointed for the third time to Kingston, but never reached his field of labor. God had prepared for him a mansion in heaven, and he entered it suddenly. His Master kindly brought the season of earthly labor and eternal repose close to each other. — Methodist, No. 52; Minutes of Conferences, 1862. p. 71. (G. B. D.)