South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 31

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MINISTRY  OB'  DR.  STILES.  23
his  voice  in  prayer  or  praise, — to  do  or  to  suffer  for
liis  Divine  Master, — and  is  now  an  officer,  as  well  as
a  most  efficient  member,  of  the  South  Cburcli.  Lest
it  should  be  thought  that  this  statement  is  too  high-
ly colored,  we  here  present  his  own  account  of  the
'•'  great  change"  which  took  place  in  his  views  and
feelings,  as  published  in  a  little  Tract,  not  very  long
after  the  date  of  his  conversion.  In  that  Tract  he
says,—
"  From  early  boyhood,  say  for  the  last  thirty  six  years  of
my  life,  I  was  a  disbeliever  in  the  Bible,  the  day  of  judg-
ment, and  even  in  the  existence  of  God  himself.  I  saw  a
controlling  power  all  aroimd  me,  but  never  connected  it  with
a  divine  person.  My  creed  looked  to  this  world  as  the  end
of  all  things,  and  taught  me,  if  happiness  was  to  be  found
at  all,  it  must  be  reached  in  thi.s  life.  The  fact  is,  at  the
age  of  thirteen  years  I  discarded  all  the  influence  of  ray
pious  parents  and  friends,  and  claimed  the  right  to  control
my  own  acts.
"As  I  advanced  in  life  I  denounced  the  clergy,  closed  my
ears  to  all  Christian  advice,  and  my  eyes  to  all  the  provi-
dences of  God.  I  seldom  entered  a  church.  My  Sabbaths
were  desecrated  by  devotion  to  boating,  fishing,  hunting,
nay,  to  all  sorts  of  amusements,  which  I  took  great  pleasure
in  boldly  prosecuting  before  the  eyes  of  the  i)ublic.  I
ridiculed  and  even  abused  those  who  were  disposed  to  ob-
serve the  Sabbath.  I  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  pre-
vailing state  of  my  mind  when  I  heard  the  Sabbath  bells,
and  looked  upon  the  multitudes  repairing  to  the  house  of
God.  I  said  in  my  heart,  'You  fools,  I  never  saw  God,  and
you  never  did ;  why  not  act  as  sensible  beings,  and  enjoy
yourselves  as  i  do?'  In  a  word,  I  determined  'to  sail  the
ship  myself,'  and  for  thirty-six  years  I  did  so.  Was  I
happy  1  No ;  all  was  dark  and  gloomy  in  the  prospect.
Death  and  the  grave  were  constantly  before  me,  and  though
in  perfect  health,  yet  when  tliinking  of  the  future  1  was
always  disturbed.

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Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0031. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 31. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n33/mode/1up Accessed September 8, 2026.

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