AMES SMITH BUSH, the eldest son of Obadiah and Harriet
(Smith) Bush, was born in Rochester, N. Y., June 15, 1825, and
entered the Sophomore Class in 1841.
On graduation he studied law in Rochester, where he was
admitted to the bar in July, 1847, and settled in the practice of
his profession His marriage in 1851 to Sarah, daughter of Dr.
James Freeman, of Saratoga Springs, N Y, took him frequently
to Saratoga, and on the death of his wife, eighteen months after
marriage, with her infant child, he began to study for the ministry
of the Episcopal Church under the direction of the Rev.
John S Kedney, then rector of the church in that place He
was ordained deacon by Bishop Horatio Potter on June 10, 1855,
and immediately took charge of Grace Church, Orange, N J.,
winch had just been organized He was advanced to the priesthood
by Bishop Doane at Oiange, January 20, 1856, and there ht
lemamed for twelve years. On February 24, 1859, he married,
m New York City, Harriet Eleanor Fay, granddaughter of Judge
Samuel P. P Fay, a native of Concord, Mass. In 1865-66 be
accompanied Commodoie John Rodgers in his cruise on the
Monadnock from New York City through the straits of Magellan
to San Francisco This visit led to a call, in October, 1867, from
Grace Church, San Francisco, which he accepted, entering on his
duties there m December. He became much attached to California,
but for domestic reasons was compelled to give up his charge
there after nearly five years. In September, 1872, he took charge
of the Church of the Ascension, Staten Island, N. Y , where he
remained for twelve years. A growing change of opinions disinclined
him to continue in the care of a parish, and in 1884 he
removed to Concord, Mass Moved by many influences and
much thought and reading, and by strong conscientiousness, he
withdrew from the ministry of the Episcopal Church in November,
1888, and identified himself with the Unitarians This step
was a severe strain to his health, from which he never recovered.
For the education of his younger children he removed to Ithaca,
N Y, in August, 1889, and he died there suddenly, on the 11th
of the following November, in the 65th year of his age. His
wife survives him, with their three sons and one daughter
Mr Bush had a clear, vigorous style as a writer, a fine presence,
and strong personal magnetism. He had the courage of his convictions
as a teacher of religious truth, and continued to the last
an ardent student of philosophy and religion He published two
volumes of sermons. "More Words about the Bible" (1883),
called out by the Rev Heber Newton's book on the Uses of the
Bible ; and "The Evidence of Faith" (1885),