Essex County, Massachusetts - Biographical sketches (6 of 8 so headed), 1888

Rev. Isaac Braman was born of God-fearing parents in Norton, Bristol County, Mass., July 5, 1770. His father died when he was twelve years of age. He always dwelt with peculiar satisfaction upon the fact that his mother continued family worship as long as her children remained with her, and he often exl^ressed gratitude to that Providence that, upon their separation after her second marriage, cast his lot in a family where the voice of daily prayer was heard.

The date of his birth, being but five years before the beginning of the Revolutionary War, his memory was full of the struggles and hardships preceding and following this contest, of which he gave many interesting anecdotes in his jubilee sermon. He had a great desire, in early life, for a collegiate education, but, his guardian refusing, the matter was deferred. At length he says, "I was determined to break through all obstacles, and accomplish my object. I commenced my studies near the close of my eighteenth year, entered Harvard University in the year 1790, graduated in 1794, being, of course, twenty -four years old." Mr. Braman's modesty prevented any allusion to his scholarship and social standing which were so remarkable that the senior class considered it an honor to associate with him while he was still a junior.

" Having, with prayerful consideration," continued Mr. Braman, in his jubilee discourse, "chosen the Gospel ministry for my profession, though sensible of great unworthiness, I did not long neglect to seek a place where -I might study to prepare myself for the work. It is doubtless known to most of my hearers that there were no theological institutions, at that day, in which young men might be educated for the ministry. Those who sought the employment were necessitated to put themselves under the tuition of some individual minister for the purpose. There were several clergymen in the vicinity of my residence, who were in the habit of taking pupils. But there was no small difficulty in making a choice. Some were called Hopkinsians, some Calvinists, some moderate Calvinists and some Arminians. Between the last two of these, moderate Calvinists and Arminians, there was no essential difference. They both held that men were to be saved by their virtuous deeds without any radical change except whpt they could effect in their own strength. The other two sects - Hopkinsians and real Calvinists - held to what are called the doctrines of grace, though there were some shades of difference in their manner of explaining them. But against Hopkinsianism there was a strong prejudice .... I freely confess that I partook of the prejudices of the time and place in which I lived, though I am now convinced that the more intelligent part of the Hopkinsian order understood the doctrines of the Gospel as well as did the most who opposed them."

These are noble words of strength and liberality. " In memory's sunset air," the points over which there had been such angry contention, seemed to the good old man only the " prejudices of the time and place " in which he lived. " I did not," Mr. Braman continued, " study Avith a Hopkinsian, but with several distinguished men who did not harmonize in all things with that denomination."

Mr. Braman was ordained and married the same year, in Georgetown, June 7, 1797, in a new meetinghouse, which had the honor, before it was finished, of a dedication sermon by the great Whitefield, from the text, " The glory of the Lord hath filled the house of the Lord." 1 Kings 8 : 11. It was delivered less than a month before his death at Newburyport. It was probably one of his latest efforts, and singularly enough it was preached the very year the future pastor was born. The church was organized in 1732 without a creed, but with a beautiful covenant of duties Godward and manward. This identical covenant is still in use at the present day. The church had but one pastor, Rev. James Chandler, before Mr. Braman's settlement. But in the sis years' interval, between Mr. Chandler's death and that event there were sixty-four candidates, Mr. Braman being the last and the final choice of the majority of a divided people.

"Do you inquire," said Mr. Braman, "what got this people into this divided state and led them to think so differently on the subject of religion? I will mention one thing which tended greatly to produce this unhappy effect. There was in the vicinity a theological controversy between two divines of distinction, the one called a Calvinist, the other a Hopkinsian. The dispute was somewhat Avarm, a,nd the people here, as well as in other places, took sides. Some were Hopkinsians, and some were Calvinists. None of the people were willing to be thought deserving a lower name than one of these ; and, having no minister, each party was determined to obtain one of their own stamp. As for myself, I had not studied divinity systematically, and consequently was not particularly well versed in the issues which prevailed here, nor in any other theological ism of the day. My object was to exhibit the Gospel in its purity without considering whom it might please or displease. The consequence was that they knew not on which side to place me, and some of the more prominent persona of both sexes favored my settlement, and some of both were opposed. Among the latter, as well as the former, were respectable men and women also."

This candid statement gives a hint of the troubles that met the young minister at the beginning of his career. Indeed, he said in his jubilee sermon that he had " waded through a sea of troubles." Yet they -were only the troubles incident to human nature. He survived them all, celebrated his jubilee with honor, lived harmoniously with three successive colleagues, retained his office sixty-one years and died still the senior pastor of the church he loved so well.

There stands in the old cemetery in Georgetown a marble desk, on which rests a Bible open at the words " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." On one side are the dates of Mr- Braman's birth, collegiate course, settlement and death, December 26, 1858, and the statement that the monument is erected by his parishioners and friends. On the other side are words which tell the story of his success in the ministry as follows :

"Rev. Mr. Braman was a man of decided piety, of great amiability and much beloved. He possessed a strong mind, sound judgment, uncommon moral courage and remarkable discretion. He was well versed in theological learning, a firm believer in the entire inspiration of the Scriptures, and an able and strenuous advocate of the primitive orthodox institutions and general principles of the New England churches. In his preaching he presented divine truth with clearness and a close application to the consciences of his hearers. In giving counsel, both public and private^ he was conspicuous for integrity and wisdom. His love for his people, his friends, his country and the whole church of Christ was strong and sincere."

" In the pangs of his last sickness he was patient and submissive to the divine will, and if not in triumph yet in hope he peacefully yielded up his soul to the God who gave it."

I gained an intimate knowledge of Mr. Braman's blameless and consistent life from the feet that I was born and lived twenty-two years in the house next to the home of his later years, in such close neighborhood that the two families could speak across the small separating yards. Punctually at 2 o'clock every Monday afternoon Mr. Braman, in long flowing gown, left the side door of his house, crossed the yards and appeared at the side door of our house for an informal call on my mother. Great was the awe of the young children on these occasions, often repeated though they were, especially when he was asked to offer prayer.

The engraving accompanying this sketch is a strikingly exact likeness of Mr. Braman, who was a person of very imposing presence, though his clear blue eye always had a kindly gleam for children and young people.

His reticent manner was the result of a shy and sensitive temperament. Those who knew him well found beneath it a fund of wit, humor, appreciation, and all engaging attributes, while his sarcasm, when he considered it merited, was of a fine and keen quality. It obtained for him in college the name of " Razor."

Mr. Braman's punctuality in a neighborly call, to which I have referred, was the habit of his life in all things. It was developed in a severe school.

. For many years after his settlement he was without a time-piece. The rigid economy that he was obliged to practice to meet the demands of an increasing family and the hospitality expected in his profession, forbade the possession of such a luxury. Living then as he said, "a large mile" from his church, he was guided by the movements of a neighbor, who was always in season, as to the time of starting, and he was never known to be late at church or on any other occasion. His promptness in opening and closing meetings established a precedent that is still followed in the town, while the tradition of his brevity at weddings and funerals has descended from parents to children.

Mr. Braman was a true conservative. He walked in the safe and beaten paths of the fathers of the church. He disliked controversy. He did not favor speculation. His answer to questions from those who had projected their imagination beyond the written word was, " The Scriptures are silent upon those points." Their silence was to his reverent nature as impressive as were their affirmations.

He shrank from changes. Yet when a new enterprise commended itself to his mind as in the order of Gospel progress he welcomed it. Among the changes of this description in his time was the awakening of interest in foreign missions and the formation of the American Board. The first copy of The Missionary Herald was taken in Georgetown. Women, in their zeal, saved money for the cause of missions by denying themselves sugar in their tea and coffee, while little children, before they could speak plainly, were taught to save their pennies for the help of heathen babes.

Mr. Braman, on a farm of about forty acres and on a salary of about three hundred and fifty dollars (then reckoned in British currency) and ten cords of wood, kept his carriage, his cow and other domestic animals.

One son, James Chandler, named by Mr. Braman with a pleasant bit of sentiment for the predecessor whom he never saw, died in his youth. His father could never mention his name without emotion. One daughter died in early womanhood. Two sons, Milton P. and Isaac G., became eminent in their respective professions of divinity and medicine. A dautjhter, the widow of Rev. John Boardman, of East Douglas, returned to her native town, where she became, for many years, an efficient helper in the church, and joined with her step-mother, to whom she was tenderly united by sympathy in the care of her father, whom she survived twenty years. She inherited her mother's beautiful voice and her father's discretion. She was noted for fine conversational powers, and was an ornament to every circle in which she moved.

Mr. Braman was very fortunate in his domestic relations. The wife of his youth, Hannah Palmer, of his native town of Norton, was a woman of beauty, energy, demonstrative manners and great executive ability. She had a high sense of the importance of the pastoral office and gladly assumed all family burdens to allow Mr. Braman time for the preparation of the two sermons a week which were then demanded. Mr. Braman wrote his sermons carefully, and was closely confined to his notes in their delivery, which was with rapid but distinct utterance.

Mrs. Braman's domestic generalship enabled her husband to accomplish in the pulpit, the family, the parish and at his hospitable table great results with small means.

She died in 1835, and in tender appreciation of her worth, Mr. Braman placed on her burial stone the tribute Proverbs 31 : 10, 11, from King Solomon's description of " the virtuous woman," in whom the " heart of her husband doth safely trust."

Mr. Braman married, in 1837, Miss Sarah Balch, a lady of wealth, gentle birth and breeding, from the historic old city of Newburyport. She was as well adapted to the emergencies of his declining powers, when the burdens of life began to fall heavily upon him, as was her predecessor for the pioneer period of his ministry. She was many years his junior, and still lives, after a residence in the town of fifty years, during which her course has been so wise, winning and beneficent, that no person was ever known to criticise her. This unprecedented record makes her jubilee of residence in the town as noteworthy as was Mr. Braman's jubilee of service in the sanctuary.

Her face retains much of the comeliness of her prime when she came to the people. It has also the added charm of that beauty which sometimes comes to the aged. It never passes away, for it is the result of a life of sweetness and purity. It reminds one of the heavenly peace which Toemer has made to rest upon the brow of the "Lady Abbess," in his exquisite picture of " The Last Hours."