Prentiss, Erastus L

Prentiss, Erastus L.

a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born at New London, Conn., in 1825, was converted at the age of fifteen, and, after joining the Methodists, was licensed to preach in 1848. Seeing the necessity of thorough educational training for the great work of the Gospel, he prepared for college at Amenia Seminary, and then entered Wesleyan University. Failing health interrupted his studies for a time, but he finally graduated at Amherst College in 1855. The following year he entered New York Conference, and took a position from the first which he ever maintained, as will be seen in reviewing his fields of labor. His first appointment, 1856, was the Second Methodist Church in Kingston; the next year, 1857, at St. Paul's, New York City, as assistant to the lamented Dr. John M'Clintock, the late editor of this Cyclopaedia. In 1858 and the following year Prentiss was stationed at the Second Methodist Church in Newburgh; in 1860 and 1861 at Chester; in 1862 and 1863 at Matteawan; in 1864, 1865, and 1866 at Tuckahoe; in 1869 and 1870, Cannon Street Church, Poughkeepsie; in 1870 and 1871, St. Paul's Church at Peekskill. In the spring of 1872 he received his last appointment, which was Warwick. There he was received with open arms, engaged in his ministerial duties with great delight, and was exceedingly useful, as his name was "like ointment poured forth," until the day of his death, Feb. 28, 1873. Prentiss possessed rare outward attractions. His fine and delicate form, his noble brow, his bright eye, and his genial features made him a beautiful specimen of humanity that ii was refreshing to behold; but they were far surpassed by the inward adorning, his childlike spirit, the kindness of his heart, the gentleness of his disposition, the warmth of his affections, and his pure and unspotted life. His ministry was evangelical and practical in its character to a pre-eminent degree, and was a success. Heaven put the broad seal of its approbation upon his labors. See Christian Advocate (N. Y. May 8, 1873); Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1873.