Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-07


school superintendent, Mr. Jones, who has
done so much in behalf OF education i'll our
schools. Only one of the committee happen
ed 10 know the parentage OF the boy, at the
time the award was made.
IIalf-Ccntury Sermon and G OIden Wedding
in LeIcester.
The celebration OF the ftteth anniversary
of the ordination of Rev. John Nelson, d. D.,
as pastor of the First Congregational society
in Leicester, and also The golden wedding of
DIR. and Mrs. Nelson, called together, yester-
day, one OF the largest assemblages ever con.
venod in that ancient town, and it was alto
gether one of the most novel and interesting
occasions OF the time. The day was auspic.
ious, and multitudes appeared determined to
improve and enjoy it. Many distinguished
persons, clergymen and others, were present,
from various sections of the commonwealth.
The first exercises were those in the church,
in commemoration of the ordination The
house was crowded to its utmost capacity in
every part. The exercises commenced with
invocation and reading OF scriptures by Rev.
a. II. Coolidge, colleague pastor with Dr.
Nelson. followed by an anthem from the choir,
prayer by Rev. DR.. Sweetser OF Worcester,
and hymn. Then followed the
SERMON BY DIR. NELSON.
from Job 32:7; 81 said days should speak :;
and multitude Of years should teach wisdom. !"
The venerable pastor commence by saving
that when he thought OF his long liie-begin
ning IN the last and continuing through more
! than half the present century, ut period OF
| great activity, OF wonderful developments, of
stirring events, OF fifty years OF professional
| life which brings Ole in connection with books
and men and lhingS-he could not but hone
| he would escape the Charge of egotlsm IT.
upon an occasion like this, he undertook to
teach LIST, by brief review Of his ministry,
and u, by some Of its results
His labors in this church, he said. com
menced as Il candidate tor settlement, in the
autumn of 1911. The population OF the town
was at that time less than one half lis present
population; but manufacturing soon com
menced ana effected change SO that a da-
guerreOtype OF the town as it was fifty wears
ago would scarce be recognized now. The
Old houses have disappeared and new and
thriving villages have sprung up where
there were no houses at all. The old men
and women are passed away, and those
in middle life soon grew old and are mostly
gone, and The young Of that day are now
grown old. lie then proceeded to speak more
particularly of his ministry, commencing with
tile sGlemnity OF his ordination, which occurr-
ed March Attn, 1872, when he was 26 wears
OF age. lie remembrance OF that day could
not be eftaced. Not one of those who took
art in the ceremonies OF that day now lived
but himself; the thought was truly an affect
ing one. And the parish, too, had nearly all
passed. away, while, probably, the same might
be sand OF most OF the multitude who Assem-.
bled to witness the then untre uuent ceremony.
Seventy members Of the church at the com.
mencement Of his ministry, he could now
thlnk OF but two living. There have been
not less than five hundred added since that
time, two hundred and forty OF whom now re
main as members.
DIR. N. then proceeded to speak more mar
| hcularly OF his personal .abors. lie had been
called nearly every year during the greater
| part OF bis ministry to sit in council for the
| ordalnlng or dlsmissiOn of members. and the
settlement OF difficulties in some of The
| churches lie had preached ten ordination
| sermons, and had preached before the AIassa-
| chusettS llome Missionary Society, before the
| General Association, before the Pastoral Asso.
| cation, and before the convention OF Conore.
| gational ministers. At home he had ALWAYS
| intended TO be active in the establishment of
Sunday schools, and these coming into exist
ence some years after his ordination, the sub.
| ject required much thought, especially as he
was impressed with their great Importance.
| Still later the temperance reform commenced
AT time when it required courage and
seil-dehlal 10 assist tins cause, he entered into
II heartily, ana he Is glad to know that the
movement resulted in great benefits.
The evils of slavery soon after began to
engage attention, and the subject was one
upon whch he was never silent, it being in
the highest degree moral question The
foreign mission enterprise and the many kin.
dred enterprises which followed in its train all
engaged his most earnest thought and atten.
ton. In all these great movements of the
day he had taken great interest. Aside from
visiting from house to house, which he con-
sldered an essential part Of ministers dutv.
he hau during forty consecutive years devoted
much time to visiting the-public schools
making to these at least twenty-five visits
yearly. lie had oiiiClated at something like
iouF hundred marriages, and probably at dou.
Die tue number OF funerals. lie has written
enough sermons during the fifty wears to ay-
erage one for each matchmaking two thou.
sand six hundred in all
He spoke Of the harmony which had ALWAYS
| prevailed in his church, and his pleasant reia-
tons with his people with great qualification
This day was to him one of great interest.
and filed his heart with gratitude to God for
his goodness to his family and people lie
| closed with some practical conclusions as TO
tho value Of Christianity and tie christian
church, to which he was led by the experience
of his loug ministry.
The sermon occupied about an hour in its
delivery, and was listened to with the deepest
interest and attention. The venerable doctor
seems to have lost none of his mental vigor
and his discourse was delivered with a degree
of physical vigor remarkable in person of
70 years. lie made appropriate reference to
the recent death OF DIR. Smell of North Brook
field, whose funeral takes place TO day. The