Rev. ISAAC DOWD WILLIAMSON was one of the ablest advocates of the Universalist faith. He was born in Pomfret, Vt., April 4, 1807, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1876. In early life he learned the clothier's trade, and had no other schooling than that of the common district school; but his ardent thirst for knowledge, his force of character and enthusiasm made amends for lack of external aid. He was troubled with many doubts in his thoughts about religion until, at about the age of fifteen, Ballou's "Treatise on the Atonement" was put into his hands. He read it with avidity, and was greatly enlightened and encouraged. He had hitherto thought that all sorrow and suffering were inflicted by God in anger upon his children for their sins. The first sermon from a Universalist to which he listened was delivered by Rev. Kittredge Haven, from the text, "Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Heb. xii. 6). It lifted him out of his doubts and sent him away rejoicing. He went into a solitary place and wept for joy, and upon his knees vowed that if God would spare his life, and he could ever be qualified, he would enter upon the work of the ministry, a purpose which he followed out most faithfully. He preached his first sermon Oct. 1, 1827, in Springfield, Vt. After supplying the pulpit a short time in Langdon, N. H., he settled in 1828 in Jaffrey, N. H., and was ordained by the Franklin Association, at Townsend, Vt., Sept. 10, 1829. In June of the same year he removed to Albany, N. Y., where he lived seven years. From 1837 to 1851 he resided as pastor in Poughkeepsie a year and a half, in Baltimore two years, in New York city three, in Philadelphia three, in Mobile two winters, in Memphis, Ky., in Lowell, Mass., one year. From Lowell he removed to Louisville, Ky., remaining there two years, from there to Philadelphia, where he spent three years, which was his last regular pastorate, although he supplied in Cincinnati after his return from Philadelphia. He was with Rev. C. F. Lefevre, editor of the "Gospel Anchor" at Troy, N. Y., about 1830, a paper afterwards merged in the "Religious Inquirer," published at Hartford, Conn., Mr. Williamson continuing to edit it. He was one of the editors of the "Herald and Era," published at Louisville, Ky., and was for about ten years connected with the "Star in the West" as joint proprietor and editor, though for several of his last years performing no editorial labor.