■Worcester, Samuel, D.D., an eminent Congre- gational ministor and author, was born at HoUis, N. H., Nov. 1, 1770. lie was of pious ancestry, being a de- scendant in the sixth generation of Kev. William, and in the third of Rev. Francis, Worcester. Every oppor- tunity for mental improvement was seized at the house of his father, who was a fiirmer, and at the age of twen- ty-one Samuel was possessed of an ardent desire for a tiiorough education. He therefore entered the New Ipswich Academy, working his own way, and afterwards Dartmouth College, graduating with the liighest hon- ors in 1795. He studied theology with Dr. Austin, of Worcester, taught school at Hollis, and was principal of the New Ipswich Academy, 1796. The following year he was ordained pastor of the Church at Fitch- burg, a society which was cursed by all the evils of the Half-way Covenant — including among its members Deists, Arians, Universalists, and the openly immoral. With decision, inflexible integriry, and solemn faithful- ness to truth and duty, Worcester opened the batteries of the Gospel upon the errors and sins that called for rebuke. As a result, in the ensuing spring, the cove- 'jint was revised and an orthodox creed adopted, and in 1799 an extensive revival occurred. A malignant spirit of opposition, however, was all the time de- veloped, and finally, under the leading of the Uni- versalists, was openly manifested. Under this influ- ence, the town voted a dissolution of their contract with the pastor, but a council of the Church unani- mously decided that he should remain. His opponents now conceived the design of organizing themselves into the First Church in Fitchburg. thus enabling them to take the place of the church of which Worcester was pastor, in the legal relations of the town to the minis- ter. Several esc parte councils were called for this pur- jicise, but they failed in accomplishing their designs. The point of contention ultimately arrived at was whether the town should control the Church with ref- erence to the selection or dismission of her ministers, or whether the Church should do this with the con- currence of the town acting as the parish, " according to the uniform ecclesiastical usage of New England." This, the biographer of Dr. Worcester remarks, was the first organized attempt in Massachusetts at such a sub- jection of the Church. The fearlessness, abilitj', pa- tience, and skill of the pastor foiled the efforts of the disaffected, and the Church was saved from civil bond- age. A mutual council was at length chosen accord- ing to ecclesiastical usage, the Church and pastor were sustained, and— at his own request — he was regularly dismissed, Aug. 29, 1802. The following year lie was installed over the Tabernacle Church, Salem, Mass., where he had an eminently happy, useful, and success- ful pastorate. In 1804 he declined a professorship of theology in Dartmouth College.
In promoting the cause of missions and the circida-
tion of the Scriptures, Dr. Worcester was very laborious. From 1803 to 1808, he was the editor of the Massachu- setts JJissionan/ Magazine, for live j'ears he was the sec- retary of the Massachusetts JMissionary Society, and on the death of Dr. Spring he was chosen its president. His duties were important and arduous. He aided in the for- mation of the jNIassachusctts Bible Society, its constitu- tion and the A ddress to the Public having been prepared chiefly by him. It was on a ride in a chaise with Dr. Spring from Andover to Bradford to attend the General Association of iNIassachusetts that the first idea of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in its form and administration, was suggested and devel- oped. The Association (1810) instituted the Board, Dr. Worcester being appointed one of the nine, and at the first meeting thereof he was chosen corresponding secre- tary. He came into his new office with resources of in- tellect and of heart which were equal to the great respon- sibilities and toils imposed upon him. " His plans of be- nevolent action were based upon fundamental principles, and would bear the most thorough analysis; and for the same reason, the measures of the American Board adopt- ed in the early years of its existence are marked by pre-eminent wisdom; and the distinguished men who have followed him in office have found little occasion to alter them." Dr. Worcester's constitution at length began to give way under the load of his exertions as pastor and secretarj'. A colleague pastor was installed in 1819, thus relieving him of three fourths of his min- isterial work. In 1821 he took a voyage to New Or- leans, with the intention of visiting the Choctaw and Cherokee nations for the double purpose of recruiting his health and promoting the Indian missions. The trip irritated rather than mitigated his disease. The weather during his stay in New Orleans and the jour- ney northward was unpropitious. After much suffer- ing, he reached May hew, in the Choctaw nation, and eighteen days after, Brainerd, Tenn. He was now so weak that he had to be carried into the mission-house. He lingered resignedly for a few days, and on June 7, 1821, passed peacefully away.
As a preacher, Dr. Worcester was doctrinal, faithful, and luminous, though his manner was neither easj' nor graceful; as a pastor, he was diligent, sympathetic, the poor and the sick sharing his special care. He had considerable musical talent, instructed in sacred music, and gave lectures on church psalmody and music. His influence was felt much in ecclesiastical councils, and he was often called upon to adjudicate disputes anil settle difficulties. He was a powerfid debater, and some of his speeches were seldom rivalled even in ju- dicial and legislative assemblies. Dr. Worcester ever sympathized with his ministerial brethren, and frater- nized with those of other denominations. In spite of his catholicity of sentiment and peace-loving disposi- tion, he was thrice drawn into controversy. The pub- lications resulting therefrom are considered to class with the ablest ever written in the history of religious dispute.