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Rev. Thomas Seelye This good man, after a ministry of over fifty-one years in the conferences of Michigan, was translated on Thursday, the 3d inst., from his home in Ann Arbor. The wonder is that with his frail constitution he tarried on earth so long, and wrought so much. As a child he was sickly, and his parents had little expectation of keeping him long, and if he should survive, they anticipated his becoming a confirmed invalid. Several times he passed through ordeals of illness, twice or thrice was given up as dying. Despite expectation and appearances he attained to seventy-two years and eleven months of life, spending a third of a century as a pastor, and preaching at times during the eighteen years he was on the superannuate list.
Bro. Seelye was born in Oneida county, at Westmoreland, N.Y., Feb. 3, 1822. His father's name was Cornelius, and his mother's maiden name Rachel Smith. They moved to Lorain county, Ohio, when Thomas was just past his first year. His conversion occurred in 1837. Between then and 1843 he came to Michigan, and began his ministry in the early part of 1843 as a supply on the Dundee circuit, Josiah Brakeman being presiding elder of the district. In the fall of that year he united with the conference on trial. Three years later he was ordained deacon by Bishop Morris, and two years later still elder by Bishop Hamline. His pastorates have been at Hillsdale, Brooklyn, Almont, Lexington, New Haven, Washington, Oxford, Hadley, South Flint, Grand Blanc, Flushing, Hartland, Richmond, Brandon, Swartz Creek, Romeo, Dixboro, and Augusta. The years of respite from pastoral labors were spent upon his farm near Armada, and latterly at Dexter and Ann Arbor. He was married at Romeo in 1848 to Miss Naomi D. Sutherland, by his former colleague, Rev. Caleb A. Bruce. Of six children, five are still living: Rev. M. T. Seelye, pastor of Leoni; Prof. O.C. Seelye, of Racine, Wis.; Mrs. S. A. Kendrick, widow of the late Dr. Warren Kendrick, of Plymouth; and Misses Carrie and Jennie Seelye.
Bro. Seelye was of a very retiring nature, unassuming, quiet, diligent, devoted, sensitive in conscience, pure in motive and character, and spotless in his life. Because of his modest bearing and simplicity of tastes he did not press himself upon the attention of others, nor manifest at conference gatherings his worth and abilities as fully as some would have done. These virtues, however, endeared him all the more to the people of his charges, and to his friends. As a preacher he was clear and faithful, rather than showy. Revivals attended his ministry. At Hadley the conversions during his pastorate numbered some 300. At Lexington the meetings roused such universal interest that all the usual amusements of the season had to be abandoned. A man who had just built a new hotel arranged for a brilliant ball in his new dance hall, even sending to a neighboring city for his musicians. But when the night came the musicians were all who were present, as the young people had flocked to the revival meetings. The proprietor was so angry that he threatened to prosecute Mr. Seelye for interfering with his business, but venturing one night into the meetings he himself was convicted and gloriously converted, and invited Mr. Seelye to transfer his meetings from the little schoolhouse to his large dance hall.
His early educational advantages had been in the district school and in the Norwalk seminary at the time when Bishop Thompson was principal. Infirm health, however, interrupted his seminary studies, and did not permit a completion of the course. He had a fondness for learning, and pursued his studies alone with diligence. His self-distrust led him to resist the call to the ministry, which came to him when about nineteen years old. He thought he would be unable to preach, and declared that he would not consent to becoming a minister, let the consequences be what they might. While in this state of rebellion a very remarkable experience came to him, and he thought it a providence intended to save him from the mistake and sin of final refusal to preach the gospel. He was taken very ill, and all his friends supposed him to be dying. At this time he had a vision, or seemed to be passing through a spiritual transportation. Two angels came and escorted him to the other world. He was borne by them upward along a pathway of light. Supreme peace and the most exquisite joy filled his soul, brightness ineffable shone down from above; he was drawn by an attraction of delight toward the celestial world. The glory of heaven was within and without. Suddenly he was stayed in his approach to heaven, and his angel companions were told that he must return, as his life-work was not done. Back from the brightness he receded to the darkness of earth, and was re-established in his physical tenement. Even then his will did not bend to the divine all.
In a second illness, some time after, a disclosure of hell was made to him, and a voice seemed to say that it was his to choose between that place of final abode and obedience to the call of duty. Then he surrendered and the prolonged controversy ended. His religious experience exemplified childhood religion, and a later conversion. From very early years he prayed, read the Bible, and cultivated friendship with God. In his teens this early fervor was chilled, and at the age of fifteen he was clearly converted during a great revival which, in 1837 swept through Ohio. Bro. Seelye was deeply religious. Inheritance and environment contributed to it. His grandfather was a prominent local preacher in New York, and his parents among the first members of the little church in Lorain county, Ohio. Of his wife's family, four brothers were ministers, sons of Col. Andrew Sutherland, of Cambria, Niagara County, N.Y. He transmitted to his own family the lessons and benedictions of piety that he received, and his five children are all devoted members of the church, one being in the ministry. Of two institutions he cherished the same estimate as the Puritans – the church and the schoolhouse. Religion and education were, to his mind, the greatest wealth a parent could lead his children into. Hence he not only sought the conversion of all his children, but afforded them the means of this higher education.
His domestic life was one of unusual beauty and blessedness. At family prayers on New Year's day, after singing, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee," he said to the family: "Now let us repeat some texts of Scripture that give our experience, and I want to say for myself, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits to me.'"
At the church New Year's service that same evening this singularly sweet testimony was given by him, and has been sent to us by his pastor, Rev. Dr. Cobern. This is the substance of it:
"This is the happiest New Year of my life. I am all the Lord's. He directs my steps. Whether I live the entire year or but two days of it, I am determined to make each day the best day of my life. I cannot only say that I do not fear death, but I can say that I shall be glad to depart when it is the Lord's will, for while to live is Christ, to die is gain." It is remarkable that it was just two days later that he died, the cause of his decease not being very clear.
The funeral services were held in the First M.E. church, Ann Arbor, Sunday afternoon, Jan. 6, Rev. J. W. Crippen, Rev. F. Ohlinger, Rev. E. Steele, and Rev. F. A. Soule assisting the pastor. The remarks of our aged Brother Steele, who had been long associated with Brother Seelye, being particularly affecting."
Published unknown
[Son of SGS # 3439 - Thomas; Cornelius (# 3439); Daniel (# 1554); David; Charles; Samuel; Jonas; Obadiah]
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