THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 155 



terial life there. While there he wrote his Question Books 

 for his own school and many of his other books for children 

 and young people. 



He remained in Salem about eleven years until March 

 7, 1846, when he resigned to accept the pastorate of the 

 Harvard Street church in Boston, where he continued five 

 years. He afterwards filled pastorates in West Cambridge, 

 New York City, Pawtucket, R. I., Worcester, Mass., Pat- 

 erson, N. J., and Neponset. 



In 1866, he was chosen President of the National The- 

 ological Institute, District of Columbia, for the education 



o 



of colored teachers and preachers, a position which he re- 

 signed when the work was assumed by the American 

 Baptist Home Missionary Society. 



Columbian college, Washington, conferred upon him 

 the honorary degree of A.M. in 1845 ; Shurtleff college 

 that of D.D. in 1861. 



His love for his profession increased with years ; its du- 

 ties were pleasant, and he was ready for any call upon his 

 time. He loved to preach, and said that he never had "a 

 good Sabbath when he did not ;" he regarded the visiting 

 of his people and their personal friendships as essential to 

 his usefulness. His pastoral visits were to him as impor- 

 tant a part of his duties as preaching and he was as faithful 

 in the performance of them. 



His recreation from professional labor was the study of 

 natural history. He had learned from his mother, when a 

 boy, to " love all growing things " and he shared her love 

 of flowers fully. He made a collection of the plants of 

 Massachusetts, while he was living in Salem. His mother 

 shared his enthusiasm and her interest added much to his 

 pleasure in the work. He became a member of the Essex 

 County Natural History Society, June 16, 1841. 



