gift. This noble man stands out in those early days as a beacon of
godliness, for education, and for trust in philanthropy. Perhaps, in no
sphere of his remarkable life does he more command our admiration and
reverence that as the friend of the Indian and the Negro. His untiring
zeal and self-denying labors on their behalf entitle him to be called
"the Apostle."

In a letter to a friend in 1659, he writes: "Pity for the poor Indian,
and desire to make the name of Christ chief in these dark ends of the
earth, and not the rewards of men, were the very first and chief movers
in my heart." Nor can we question that these were the all controlling
motives, when we consider that after acquiring their language, by the aid
of a young Pequot, he translated the entire Bible into their tongue,
besides a Psalter, primers, grammars, a and other useful books; and all
this in addition to faithfully fulfilling the duties of minister of the
First Church in Roxbury for fifty-eight years, a record of devotion,
diligence, and scholarship almost unequaled.

One has beautifully summed up his life in these words: "His missionary
zeal was not less that Saint Paul's, his charity was as sweet as that of
Saint Francis d'Assisi, and his whole life a testimony that the call to
saintliness has not ceased and the possibility of it has not died out."
Eliot lived to see the fruits of his devoted work in the changed
character and life of many Indians. More than two centuries have elapsed
since this leader on the Indian cause went to his reward, but his mantle
rests to-day on some here who deeply feel the need and love that work in
behalf of the poor Indian.

In 1663 our Centre Street was laid out and called the Dedham road or
highway, being a direct route from Boston, by way of "the Neck" and