Usage Date: May 25, 1864

Usage Location: Boston, Mass.

Recipient: Rev. H. A. Hazen

While the handwriting can be difficult to read, Reverend Henry Allen Hazen was a prominent minister in Plymouth at the time of this writing.  Rev. Henry Allen Hazen began preaching in Plymouth in October, 1862. The ministry of Mr. Hazen in Plymouth began in the gloom and depression of the Civil War and ended amid the triumph of victory and the smile of peace. He was dismissed, at his request, July 15, 1868. Mr. Hazen was a diligent pastor and an efficient supporter of every laudable enterprise in church and in town affairs. His sermons were carefully prepared and every duty of a pastor was faithfully performed.

Rev. Henry Allen Hazen, D.D., son of Allen and Hannah Putnam (Dana) Hazen, was born in Hartford, Vt., Dec. 27, 1832. He pursued a preparatory course of study at Danville, Vt., and at Kimball Union Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth College, 1854, and Andover Theological Seminary, 1857. He was ordained as an Evangelist at St. Johnsbury, Vt., Feb. 17, 1858.

Dr. Hazen died by apoplexy (stroke or cerebral hemorrhage), Aug. 4, 1900, while visiting his native town.

Author: Charles Demond

Unlike most of the USCC leadership, Charles Demond was not a minister.  He was a lawyer and served not only as the head of the Boston branch of the USCC but also on the Executive Committee of the national USCC organization.  He was born in 1822, married Ada B Campbell in 1858 and died in 1889.

On August 1, 1865, Charles Demond gave a speech to the alumni at his alma mater, WIlliams College. He reflected on lessons learned during the Civil War.  The speech can be read online or here.  In it he talks about how the US became a country and not just a collection of states, and also about how love of country and patriotism became strong for the first time.  He relates many stories of the work of the USCC and how Christian benevolence flourished during that difficult time. And finally, how the Christian life and values shown in the example of the USCC delegates affected the lives of soldiers during the war. It's a very interesting speech to understand the thinking immediately following the war.