MAGLJGoing

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JONATHAN GOING 1786-1844

JonathanGoing.gif

  • Masonic record unknown; but there is a John Newton Going 1843-1921 raised 1876 in Saint Paul (Ayer).
  • Grand Chaplain 1831

BIOGRAPHY

From Proceedings, Page 1873-297:

REV. JONATHAN GOING, D.D., WORCESTER. Baptist, 1831.

JONATHAN GOING was a descendant of Robert Going (or Gowing), who came from Edinburgh, and settled in Lynn, Mass., at an early period, and was admitted freeman in Dedham in 1644. He was the son of Jonathan and Sarah (Kendall) Going, and was born at Reading, Windsor County, Vt., on the 7th of March, 1786.

After being kept for some years at a common school, he was sent to an academy at New Salem, Mass., where he was fitted for college by the assistance of his uncle, the Rev. Ezra Kendall, of Kingston. He entered Brown University in 1805. During the first year of his collegiate life the subject of religion deeply impressed his mind, and from that time he gave evidence of habitually living under its power. Contemporaneous with this change of feeling and character was the purpose to devote himself to the ministry of the Gospel; and while he was yet an undergraduate, he presented himself for examination, and was licensed to preach by the Baptist Church in Providence.

Mr. Going graduated in the year 1809, and immediately after entered upon the study of theology, under the direction of the Rev. Asa Messer, D.D., then President of the college. At this time his mind seems to have been unsettled in respect to some of the doctrines of Christianity, and there were times when even its Divine authority was not entirely clear to him; but on his return to Vermont, he became thoroughly established in what are usually termed the "Doctrines of the Reformation." He was ordained in 1811, and became the pastor of the Baptist Church in Cavendish, within the limits of his native county. His settlement marked an epoch in the history of his denomination in that region; for, though there were forty-five ordained Baptist ministers in the State of Vermont, he was the only one who had enjoyed the benefit of a collegiate education. His preaching commanded great attention, and was followed with important results. It is related of him that, on a dark evening, he stopped at an academy in Brandon, where one of his brethren was preaching on a difficult subject in a very confused and unedifying manner. As the people had evidently grown weary of the discourse, another minister, who was present, suggested that it was time that the services should come to a close. Mr. Going, who, until now, had been unobserved, arose and begged the privilege of making a few remarks. He immediately took up the subject which had been suffering so much in the hands of his rather feeble brother, and presented it in a fresh and convincing light; and then brought it home by an impressive appeal to the hearts and consciences of the hearers.

Mr. Going continued his labors at Cavendish until near the close of 1815, when he accepted a call from a church in Worcester, Mass. It was a young and comparatively feeble church with which he now became connected; but he addressed himself to his work with great vigor, and the effects of his labors were soon visible and palpable. For one year, soon after he assumed this charge, he instructed the Latin Grammar School in Worcester. He was untiring in his efforts to promote the cause of education, and especially in endeavoring to elevate the character and increase the efficiency of Common Schools. One of the first Sabbath Schools in Worcester County was organized in his church, and its exercises were for a season conducted by himself. He had much to do also in the establishment of the Theological Seminary at Newton; for he felt deeply the importance of an educated ministry, and responded heartily to any effort that was made for the promotion of that object. In' less than five years his influence had succeeded to the building up, from few and scattered materials, of an efficient and well-ordered church. His course was marked by great activity and increasing usefulness, during the whole period of his ministry in Worcester, sixteen years. In 1831 Mr. Going made a journey [to the West, partly to recruit his health, which had become somewhat enfeebled, and partly to look at the country as opening a field for missionary labor. He came back so deeply impressed with the wants of the West, that he felt constrained to ask a dismission from his pastoral charge in order to engage more directly in the cause of home missions. His request was granted, though not without expressions of the warmest attachment and the deepest regret.

On leaving Worcester he took up his residence at Brooklyn, N. Y. When the American Baptist Home Mission Society was formed, in 1832, he became its Corresponding Secretary; and perhaps no one exerted more influence than he in securing to it the favorable regard of the churches. With a view to the promotion of its interests, he established a weekly paper entitled The American Baptist and Home Mission Record; and, notwithstanding his manifold engagements as Secretary of the society, he conducted this periodical, personally, a number of years. He continued laboriously occupied in this field five years; and perhaps there was no period of his life, of the same length, in which ho accomplished more for the advancement of the cause of Christ. In 1832, he received the Degree of Doctor of Divinity from Waterville College, Me.

In the journey which he made to the West, in 1831, besides helping to form the Ohio Baptist Education Society, he assisted in laying the foundation of Granville College. In 1836, he was invited by the Trustees of that institution to become its President and Theological Professor. He was disposed to accept the appointment, and, accordingly, resigned his secretaryship in the society of Home Missions with a view to doing so. The Executive Committee, in accepting his resignation, rendered the strongest testimony to his fidelity and diligence during the period of his connection with the society.

He now removed his residence to Granville, and entered upon the duties of the offices to which he had been appointed. In his Inaugural Address, delivered August 8, 1838, he promised his " best endeavors, in conjunction with his learned and respected colleagues in the Board of Instruction, to make the institution what its public-spirited projectors designed." And well did he fulfill his promise. Both in the literary and theological departments he labored to the extent of his ability; while at the same time he lost no opportunity of promoting the interests of learning and religion in the State at large. In January, 1844, he attended the Sabbath Convention held at Columbus, and spoke earnestly and eloquently on the importance of the right observance of this Divine Institution to our national prosperity. The various State Associations designed to promote the cause of education or to extend the knowledge and influence of Christianity found in him a cordial and efficient supporter.

Early in the summer of 1844, Dr. Going found himself under the necessity of intermitting his labors for a season,'on account of declining health. He accordingly journeyed to the East, spent a little time among his friends, and returned to Ohio with his health apparently improved by the journey. He presided at the Commencement in July, and his appearance was such as seemed to justify the hope of his entire recovery. Shortly after, however, his disease returned upon him with increased power, and it came to a fatal termination, November 9, 1844. Dr. Going was married to Lucy Thorndike, of Dunstable, Mass., in August, 1811. She was a lady of uncommon excellence, and remarkably well fitted to be a minister's wife; but, during much of the time after her marriage, was the subject of mental derangement. She died in the Lunatic Asylum of Ohio some years after the death of her husband.

Dr. Going published a Discourse delivered at Belchertown, 1816, and a Discourse delivered at Worcester, the Sabbath after the execution of Horace Carter, 1825.
— Annals of American Pulpits.


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