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HOWARD  TOWNSEM). M. 1).
HI FIS AY. (LAHK. I). 1). 
 
DISCOURSE
ON THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
HOWARD  TOWNSEND,  M.  D.,

 Late Professor of Materia Medica and Physiology in the Albany Medical College;
PREACHED IN THE
NORTH DUTCH CHURCH, ALBANY,


     SUNDAY MORNING, JAN. 20TH, 18G7

Rev. RUFUS W.  CLARK,  D. D.
HTItARY.

              R <0

        ALBANY:
S. R. GRAY, PUBLISHER, 38 STATE ST.,
          1867. 
VAN BENTHUYSEN <fe SONS, PRINTERS, ALBANY. 
DISCOURSE.
              REVELATIONS XIV, 13.
" I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING UNTO ME WRITE, BLESSED
   ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD."
   During the past week a dark cloud has thrown
a  deep shadow over our city.  From the  cloud
the  lightning of affliction has struck not  one
family alone, but many.  Gazing upon  that light-
ning  flash  that has  taken the life  of the good
physician, the kind friend and the sincere Chris-
tian, I have studied to learn  its import.  Look-
ing upon the dark cloud, my thoughts have invol-
untarily striven to penetrate  its solemn myster-
ies, and  read  its  lessons, to me, to you, to  our
whole community.  For it has its lessons, impor-
tant,  earnest, pressing,  else   the  bereavement
would not have been sent.  The case is one that
has stirred my own spirit most deeply; that  has
at times bewildered me, and filled my heart with
mingled amazement and grief.  That one  in  the
meridian of life, and until recently, in apparently 
                       4
vigorous health; one in the full tide of scientific
and literary pursuits, and occupying a wide field
of usefulness;  one embosomed in the warm affec-
tions of a large circle of relatives and friends,
should be so suddenly snatched away, is a provi-
dence  that  has no  solution, viewed  from  the
earthly stand point.  But looking beyond  and
above the cloud to the  source of all life, and the
arbiter of all  destinies, " I heard a voice."   It
was the voice of him who overcame death  and
the grave ;  who brought life  and immortality to
light;  who can solve all mysteries to  the trust-
ing heart; who can make  all things clear to  the
eye of faith.  " I heard a voice from Heaven,
saying unto me write, Blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord."   The earthly form is  cold, still,
silent; but the spirit is blessed.  Having passed
away in the Lord, it is now happy in his presence;
happy in the peaceful realms  of everlasting felic-
ity.  Thus heaven alone can solve the import of
the death of  the saints.   From the  throne of
God comes the light that dissipates the darkness
of the tomb.  From all the dealings  of Provi-
dence we are taught the vital  connection between
the present and the future light.  We are taught 
')
the necessity of making adequate and  speedy
preparation to follow those who have gone before
us to the spirit land.   And when the lessons are
so marked, and the character so full of instruction,
as in the  case of the friend who has so recently
left us, we are impelled by every motive of inter-
est and affection to pause and read the  virtues,
and learn the lessons that are placed before us.
   Dr. Howard Townsend was born in this city,
on the 22d day of November, 1823.  He was early
dedicated to God, and  was reared amid the most
happy  domestic and  christian influences.   The
memory of his mother he cherished through life,
with enthusiastic devotion.  Her triumphant and
glorious death, he  often  thought  and spoke  of;
and the light from that scene seemed to illumine
his  own  pathway,  and nerve his  spirit for  the
struggles of  the last hour.  His early and warm
affection  for his brothers and sisters was never
displaced  by other  ties  and  interests,  but was
 retained  through  life.  His  heart was  large
 enough to contain two homes,  and,  I may add,
three ;  and the hallowed influences of his child-
hood home seemed ever to rest upon him, and to
aid him in reproducing in his own beautiful home 
                      6
the virtues and joys that attended his infant foot-
steps, and entered into the scenes of his early
years.
  Howard prosecuted his studies at the Albany
Academy and at Poughkeepsie.  Of his diligence
as a student; his retentive memory; his thirst
for  knowledge; and  his  rapid  progress  in the
various  branches,  to which he  gave his  atten-
tion, I need not speak, in the presence of those
who were familiar with his early history.  All
those characteristics  that marked his maturer
career as a scholar; his pure and delicate taste;
his  fondness for scientific research and classical
learning,  and his readiness to  explore  all the
departments of literature, may be traced to their
germs, in the studious and thoughtful boy.  At
this period too, he was equally distinguished for
his keen sense of honor, his moral integrity, and
his kind and benevolent disposition. That extreme
courteousness which belonged to his  nature, was
extended alike to all; and to please  and  benefit
others,  seemed to be his highest gratification.
This characteristic grew with  his  growth and
strengthened with his strength.  It became   a
habit, and, sanctified by divine  grace, it  became 
7
a bright  Christian virtue, that shed its light and
its benediction upon  all around him.   Whether
in youth or in manhood;  whether you met him
alone or in general society; at the festive board,
or in his family, he was  the  same kind, affable
and cheerful Christian  gentleman.   In this par-
ticular he is worthy of universal imitation; and
if universally imitated, we are confident that the
aggregate of human  happiness would be vastly
increased.   The  Creator has  made us  social
beings, and  we are mutually dependent upon each
other for a thousand sources of enjoyment.  A
look, a smile, a word,  a  grasp of the hand, has
in it a power for  good, that is too  often  over-
looked.  It  is not alone by  the  prosecution of
great enterprises,  and moving  in  conspicuous
public spheres,  that society is benefited.   It is
blessed, and, perhaps, mainly, by those private
courtesies and every day  attentions, that consti-
tute so large a portion of social life.  The Apos-
tolic  injunction is, " be  courteous;"  and  were
this  generally obeyed  we should have  more of
Christianity;  more of the spirit of  the  glorious
Gospel  of  the  blessed  God, diffused  through
society. 
8
   Having  completed  his  preparatory studies,
 Howard entered Union  College at Schenectady.
 Here he  won  golden  opinions by his accurate
 scholarship,  his  correct and honorable deport-
 ment, and his salutary influence over  his fellow
 students.
   Graduating with honor, he attended two full
 courses of lectures at  the Albany Medical Col-
 lege, in 1845-6; and also a third course at Phila-
 delphia.  Receiving there his Degree, he  sailed
 in 1847 for Europe, and spent several years in
 the medical schools of Paris, availing himself of
 the rare advantages in medical science, afforded
 by those institutions.  He spent  much time in
 the hospitals of Paris, studying the various forms
 of disease, and alleviating human suffering where-
 ever it was found.  As he spoke the French lan-
 guage with fluency, he  could minister to that
 people as easily as to his  own countrymen.
  Returning  to  his native city,  Dr.  Townsend
 opened  an office in  State  street,  and practiced
 successfully for several  years.  He  was  soon
 appointed one of the physicians  to the Albany
hospital.  Here he moved among the unfortunate
inmates as a messenger of  love  and  mercy__ 
                       9
ministering to the souls as well as the bodies of the
sufferers.   To his work he brought  his medical
knowledge, gathered from  two hemispheres, and
arranged and applied by his own skill and genius.
He brought a mind filled  with the principles of
the gospel, and a heart imbued with its benevolent
spirit.   To the poor also outside of  the College,
he delighted to minister, and from these he would
never receive any remuneration.  One of his asso-
ciate professors in  the  Medical  College   has
informed  me, that he never knew Dr. Townsend
to accept  of pay for services rendered to individ-
uals.  Thus was he eminent in a profession, itself
eminent for its noble benevolence and  its chari-
ties to  the poor.  Often, too, besides giving  his
services, he would pay for the medicines needed,
and contribute in other ways to relieve the wants
of the suffering.  Entertaining the most exalted
views of  the profession of his choice, his  aim
was to  reach his ideal of a Christian physician,
and to serve the Divine Master, to whom he had
consecrated his life.   And  we may imagine that
master,  whom he has already met in glory, say-
ing to him,  " I was hungry and you gave  me
meat, I was  thirsty and you gave me  drink, I
        2 
10
was sick and you visited me, and ministered unto
me;"  and he shall say to the master, "when did I
see thee hungry, or thirsty, or sick, and ministered
unto thee.   And he shall answer, "inasmuch  as
you did  it unto the least of these my brethren,
you did it unto me."
  In  the autumn  of  1852,  Dr. Townsend  was
appointed a Professor  in the  Albany Medical
College.   The chair  which he  at first occupied
not being entirely suited to his taste, he  was,  at
the death of Dr. Beck, appointed  Professor  of
Materia Medica and Physiology.   As a lecturer
he was distinguished for his clearness and accu-
racy, and his thorough knowledge of the subjects
that he treated. He succeeded not only in impart-
ing valuable knowledge, but in awakening in the
students  under his care an enthusiasm in their
pursuits; and at least an outward respect for the
principles of religion that he held.
  The affections of the  students he gained by a
personal  attention to their wants, and  by his
cordial response to any requests for favors that
it was  in his power to render them.  The books
in his library were  always at their command,
and whatever  aid  he  could privately give them 
                       11
in their studies,  was most  cheerfully rendered.
Not unfrequently he would be  applied  to  for
pecuniary assistance in the form of a loan, and
he was ready to grant it, and without any subse-
quent  anxiety as to the amount  being refunded
to him.  Against anything  bordering upon par-
simony, his nature revolted.
  In 1866, twenty years after his first connection,
as a student, with the  Albany Medical College,
he said to the Faculty:  "I have received most of
my medical education  in this institution, and
have always felt that I ought to  have graduated
here ; but at the time of my graduation, this insti-
tution was  not as well  known in Europe as the
University  of Pennsylvania,  and  I desired  to
take  a diploma  from  that  institution.  I wish
now to have a diploma from the Albany Medical
College, and to be a graduate of the Institution."
  This degree was  conferred by  the Trustees
with the  graduating class of 1866, dating back
to the year of his last attendance  at this College.
  By his associate professors, Dr. Townsend was
held in the highest esteem and  warmest  affec-
tion,  as appears  from the series of resolutions
adopted and published  by them.   The feelings 
12
also of the  Medical Faculty of the Albany Hos-

pital  are  expressed  in touching  resolutions,  of

which the following is one:
  " Resolved, That in sorrow we record his loss.  Vigilant and faith-
ful in the performance of his professional labors ; kind and unwearied
in his ministrations to the sick; courteous, conscientious and manly
in his intercourse with his professional associates, he combined in an
eminent  degree those elements which constitute the good physician
and the true gentleman."

   The  Board  of  Trustees of the  Albany  Acad-

emy,  and the  Board of Public  Instruction, have

also  in most appropriate  words  expressed their

sense  of  his  worth.   Of  the resolutions offered

by a member of the Board of Public  Instruction,

the following is one :
  " Resolved, That in his death, science has lost an able and success-
ful advocate; benevolent and religious institutions a practical sup-
porter ; the poor and needy a kind sympathiser and friend, and this
community one of its noblest citizens, ever ready to engage in every
enterprise calculated to advance its prosperity."

   The Albany County  Medical Society adopted

the following resolution:
  " Resolved, That we, the members of the Albany County Medical
Society, have assembled  to-day with feelings of no ordinary sorrow,
to express our respect  and affection for our departed brother, Dr.
Howard Townsend, who,  by his unspotted and most useful life, not
less than by his eminent, intellectual  and professional endowments,
has graced and honored our profession.  By  the  consenting judg-
ment of the whole of this community in which his life was passed,
no  one stood higher in all the qualities of mind and character which
inspire respect, confidence and affection.  With mental powers natu-
rally vigorous and carefully disciplined by every advantage of study
and culture at home and abroad, he combined unusual enthusiasm 
13
and diligence in the pursuit of his profession and of kindred sciences.
To these were added the most attractive and endearing personal
qualities, a gentle and benignant temper, a strong  sense of right and
duty, a high and generous feeling that ever manifested itself in all his
words and actions.  With a deep sense of the loss we have sustained,
we feel that in cherishing his memory and imitating his example we
shall best honor him, and ennoble our lives and profession."
  But if  our departed friend shone  in the public
walks of  life, his  virtues  shed even a purer and
brighter  lustre  upon his private and domestic
relations.   He  loved with  an enthusiastic  and
abiding  ardor,  his  home.   He had a  religious
regard  for  the  tender  relations of  husband  and
father.   As a father he sought the purest devel-
opment and highest happiness of  his children.
He made them  his companions, and  mingled gen-
tleness with firmness in  his intercourse  with
them.  His family government was in the heart,
and not in the rod. The atmosphere of that home
was love.   But his earthly home he will never
again enter.  In  our social  circles his cheerful
presence will be no more greeted.  He will return
to us no more.   But we may go to  him.  If we
love the Saviour in whom he trusted; if we catch
and reflect  as he did, the spirit of the gospel, we
may meet him in the realms of the blessed.  And
from his cold form, to-day lying motionless in the 
                      14
tomb,  there comes a voice  to  each  of us, " Be
ye  also ready, for in an hour when ye think not
the Son of Man cometh."
  It speaks to me, and the voice  rings through
the most secret  chambers of my soul.   I cannot
tell  when  the  death messenger has  seemed to
me so vivid, so mysterious, so startling, as in this
providence.  It has made to  me a new revelation
of the  extremely slender thread that holds  us to
this life.  If such an one can fall, who is  safe 1
I ask what is life ?  And the answer  comes from
this event  as well as  from  inspiration,  " It is
even a vapor, that appeareth for  a  little  time,
and then vanisheth away."  I ask about the days
of man, and the  answer comes,  " As for man his
days are  as grass; as a flower of the  field  so he
flourisheth.  For the wind passeth over it, and
it is gone; and the place  thereof  shall know it
no more."
  Standing in the centre  of this tragical scene
I look around me and I see nothing but shadows.
Wealth is a shadow; worldly positions and hon-
ors  are shadows.   The prices of life, after which
many so  earnestly strive, are shadows.   The ties
of friendship and kindred are frail as the spider's 
                      15
web.  We  lay our plans, and  pursue  our  avoca-
tions, and  fill the future  with ideal  prosperity,
and death comes and all here is as nothing.
  But what  shall we  do ?  Stand still, stunned
by calamities, and bewildered by mysteries ? No.
For  through the  calamity and through the mys-
tery there comes a voice  to  us  saying, " Work
while  the day  lasts,  for  the night  cometh  in
which no  man can work."  Work for God, for
Christ, for  souls, for Heaven.   Work  for  the
enduring, the immortal.   That voice  your pastor
would listen to, and work  by  the presentation of
divine truth to your  souls, by prayer for your
spiritual advancement, by a warm sympathy for
you in your struggles and aspirations.   For these
ends the pulpit is instituted, and churches organ-
ised, and the services of the sanctuary conducted.
And  if God will but  accept  this pulpit, as the
medium through which his  divine power  may
be felt, and his gracious  influences  reach  your
hearts, all will  be well.  Our  dependence is
entirely upon him.  Even a Paul may plant and
an Apollos water, but God must give the increase.
   This voice speaks to the professing Christian
before me.  " Work while the day lasts."  How 
                      16
much is to be done  to repair the damages that
the soul has suffered from the ravages of sin; to
cultivate  holy principles  of action, to form  a
character  that God will look upon with approba-
tion ;  to prove your loyalty to Heaven.  It is a
solemn and startling fact,  and one  that  should
arouse us  to the utmost diligence, and  the  most
intense activity, that such  great  duties and vast
responsibilities are crowded  within  this narrow
space of time.  We  are here, in  these few  brief
years, to study the most momentous themes that
can engage the  attention of  intelligent beings.
We cannot afford to waste a day or lose an hour.
We cannot afford  to allow  our affections and
energies to become entangled in the frivolities,
cares, and pursuits of this transient life.  Higher
ends and nobler objects demand our time and the
forces of our being.   We are here to make prepa-
ration to pass the portals of the grave; to stand
in the presence  of the great Judge;  to be fitted
for the duties and joys and glories of immortal
ages.  What then you have to. do for yourselves,
for the church, for the world, do quickly.  Would
you set an example of  Christian zeal,  devotion
and achievement, worthy of universal imitation, 
                      17
labor for  this;  labor  rapidly, for the night of
death cometh in which no man can work.  Would
you have the world better for your having lived
in it;  would  you deposit in  the ever working
moral  universe of God, influences  and forces
that will  survive  your death, and yield eternal
and heavenly  fruits; work for this with all your
might.
  This voice speaks to the impenitent before me.
It tells  you that now  is the accepted time, now
is the day of  salvation.  To-morrow repentance,
tears, resolutions, may be too late.  Will you not
accept of  the  offers and opportunities of to-day 1
Shall not  the angel messenger now hovering over
this congregation, and  about to carry  your deci-
sion to heaven, bear the tidings of your repent-
ance of sin, and faith in Christ ?
  We are  all hastening, pastor and people, to that
eternal world, so recently entered by our departed
brother.   The  deep,  rapid, irresistible tide of
time  is bearing us on.  That  tide  no  human
power can, in  the least degree, check.  The
great laws under which we live and move,  no
man can  reverse.  As  then  we  cannot escape
death, let  us  prepare  to meet  it.   Let us so live
         3 
18
that death shall be life, immortal life;  that the

fading  out of this  world  may be the opening  of

everlasting glory.

        " Beyond this flight of time,
            Beyond the reign of death,
          There surely is some blessed clime
            Where life is not a breath ;
          Nor life's affections transient fare,
          Whose sparks  ny upward and expire.

        " There is a world above,
            Where parting is unknown ;
          A long eternit}^ of love,
            Formed for the good alone ;
          And faith beholds the dying here,
          Translated to that glorious shpere.

        " Thus star by star declines,
            Till all are passed away,
          As morning high and higher shines
            To pure and perfect day ;
          Nor sink those stars in empty night,
          But hide themselves in Heaven's own liglit."