THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 151 



REV. EDWARD SUMNER ATWOOD, minister of the South 

 church, Salem, died at the parsonage on Federal street on 

 Sunday morning May 13, 1888. His death was very 

 sudden and unexpected to the community, though his fail- 

 ing health for the past year indicated that his life would 

 thus terminate. 



Mr. Atwood was the son of George B. and Eliza (Sum- 

 ner) Atwood and was born at Taunton, Mass., June 4, 

 1833, graduated at Brown University, 1852, at Audover 

 Theological Seminary in 1856 ; in 1883 his alma mater con- 

 ferred upon him the honorary degree of D.D. ; ordained 

 pastor of the church in Grantville, Wellesley Hills, Oct. 

 23, 1856, where he continued until 1864. On the 13th of 

 October, 1864, he was installed over the South church as 

 colleague pastor with the late Rev. Dr. Brown Emerson, 

 succeeding in that capacity Rev. I. E. Dwinell now of 

 Oakland, Cal. Since Dr. Emerson's death, July 25, 1872, 

 he had been the sole pastor. 



As a pulpit orator, Dr. Atwood had few equals : a terse, 

 forcible and effective speaker. Gifted with a wonderful 

 command of language, and keeping abreast with all the 

 progressive knowledge of the day, he clothed his thoughts 

 with striking beauty and wealth of felicitous illustrations, 

 and was equally ready on all occasions. As a citizen, he 

 was foremost in every good word and work and especially 

 in the cause of education and advanced culture. As a mem- 

 ber of the prudential committee of the A. B, C. F. M., 

 he was very devoted, and wherever his services were 

 needed he was ever ready, willing and energetic. 



Soon after coming to this city he connected himself with 

 several of our local scientific, literary and educational in- 

 stitutions. He was elected a member of the school board 

 and half of the years of his residence here he contributed 

 by his labors to its educational interests. In this work 



