The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-11-19
OBITUARY..

The Reverend SAMUEL EATON the second n,if-
iser OF Harpswell, died November 8 1922 In the Both
year OF ms age and the 59th year Of ms nlnistrvl
His father was the Reverend Elisha Eaton the frst
minister Of that town. being the pastor Of the church,
then the second church OF Norh-Y arnouth from l75s
till his deatn April p, 1854 in tire CID wear of his
age ; he was graduated at Harvard College in 1923.
and previously to his installation at Harpswel had
been for several years the minister OF that Parish az
BraIntree, Massachusetts, which now constitutes the
town OF Quincy. in that town, tie Reverend = Eaton
was born April 3, 1857. He also received bis educax
ton at Harvard College, where he graduated ia 1863
in about SIX mouths after the death Of his father ne
ordained his successor in the ministry Octobef
"a, 1854, salary OF sixty six pounds yeav !
sum. which, during his long ministry of IS wears yss
not increased bur which ceased be paid frr the Inst
twelve or hfteen years OF ms lie, although his abors
in the gospel continued until few DAYS hnf,rc
his death Ii ought to be mentioned as an Instance az
generosity OF Mr. Eaton bis people, that abou, tho
year 1913, ne relnquished them the sum Of eleven
hundred dollars in which they were INDEBTED to him
for salary unpaid.
When Mr. E. settled at Harpswen: there yvere
thirty or forty members Of the church. which VA,
Increased IN tine years 1865 and 1866, by the addtot
OF iory seven members-ailer this period the churchs
from various causes, declined usl al the present time
u i nearly extinct AS Mr.. f. baptized the children
OF parents, who took what is called the halfway Cow
enant, he was frequently called upon to administer
the ordinance OF baptism. In two missions Of three
and two months, performed in the years 1894 and 1872
IN the eastern counties OF Hancock and Washington
ne baptized between two and three hundred Children
AT iarpswell some inconvenience being found u
spring from the half way Covenant it was resolved To-
subject the persons, who proposed to take III ID al
examination by the church, and to require OF them the
maintenance Of family worship, as well AZ 10 eninin
II upon them plain duty earnestly to seek God.
that they may see their way clear 20 come to the
Lords table"
II is believed, that there has been no minister in
Name who has preached for SO many wears and ".
such an advanced age, Mr.. Eaton Tor although
several ministers have been longer nOuiinaity in the
sacred Office yet their powers failed them sooner nan
those OF Mr. Eaton, and they were assisted w c1l-
leagues. Yet it is fact worthy of remembrance
that twenty other ministers in Maine have been e7ctf
forty years or upwards 10 the office III pastor ~ one
church Mr.. Eaton one of the early members ol
the Missionary Society Of Maine and after Ire two
hrst years OF its existence he was its President six
years from 1909 10 1915 He Was also one Of the
/ original Overseers of Bowdon College over whose
interests ne watched with palernal solcude for manv
years.
As preacher he was not deficient in the mowers
OF fancy, which enabled him Illustrate the snhiec,x
OF his discourse and 70 present them in striking nons
OF view. His gestures and manner were rather epar-
geuc and Imprcs slve, IN old age In praver I'd
was on some occasions highly pathetic and interestr-,
| Inc doctrines, which he mcucated during his loiFs
lie, were not variable. bet uniform aud cUnsiS.-.
| He early embraced those truths which bpnhlA ~.
PRIDE Of man and exalt the grace Of God and thry
were the foundation of his hope as he went down -
the grave In his last lonrs lie assigned AZ tho
son OF ms hope the prec0uS blood ~ Christ Sav;ns
also, He IS all nay saipgtion and al mn desire.
/ fls only publication is excellent Seru,o. 64t.,i
cred at the interment Of the Hon. Jacob Abbot, N
brunswick, printed ia 1890.
Communicated