The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-09-29
LETTER FROM GLOUCESTER.
Correspondence of the Journal.
The Murray Centennial Celebration.

the Murray Centennial Celebration at this enter
prisng little seaport during the middle days of this
week, has given it a notoriety heretofore confined
to coasters and Cape Ann fishermen.
GLOUCESTER,
in its business relations has possibly great claims
upon public attention aside from its fisheries, which
have an extensive reputation. But in its scenery
it at attracts the eye of the most unobscrving.
Situated upon the brow of the Cape, with its many
bold, overhanging cliffs and sharp promontories
making projections into the broad waters of the
bay-with its high hills and numbelless trees,
producing outlines irregular upon the bright
blue of the sky-with its rising spires and shining
cottages doting here and there the falling slopes
it forms at once Il picture pleasing and grand Add
to this the associations clustering around the town
from its having witnessed the first landing and
first preaching of the revered Father Murray, and
you haye the why it is the best chosen of al
spots for the celebration of the Murray Centennial.
THE MODES OF CONVEYANCE
| We're numerous In carriages antique and modern,
| in carts, baggage-wagons, hay-racks and coaches
horseback and atoo, came this vast asSembage of
weconductcd believers in the eternal salvation of
all mankind-;, Jolly, jubilant crowd. Looking
into their happy, beaming countenances. one could
not help feeling certain, that TO them the belief in Il
sure ticket to Heaven no mockery. OF dream
of icusion. BY the cars, that usually rapidi and
| comfortable method of travelling, arrived 4 large
proportion of the multitude. Tired and worn seem
ed this part of the congregation on their arrival
owing to the great length of time occupied in their
transportation, caused by the crowded state and
numerous dctcntons of the trains. Your CORE
spondent jots down novel ride upon the steps of
/ hn,, .,I,ni, hot,y
| going or staying behind.
| THE WEATHER
has been all that could be desired. AS if the good
Father himself hat smiled upon the occasion has
seemed these three perfect lays,-fair, fresh and
fragrant. Gloriously glad in the soft simmer of
the sunlight, that stretched down from the arched
blue of the Universe; cool from the refreshing
hreezes that swept up from the gray waters around
delightful in the gorgeous tints, the blended har-
monies, the restfu hush of the fast fading year.
! THE CAMP
is located in the extreme western part of the town.
at what is known as Stage Fort Point, very near
| the old Fort AMI about mile from the railroad
depot. 1t was laid out under the direction of
Major Low of Gloucester, who has made of it n
very picturesque and attractive encampment.
Murray Avenue runs through the centre of the
camp. and from tas DIVORCES several other avenues
to which are given the names of skinner, Ralou,
King, Jones, Stacy, Winchester, Whttemore and
Bovden--all of them distinguished clergymen of
this denomination in their day. Around these
! Avenues are arranged the tents of the various
societies. the names over the entrance indicating to
which they be ong. Small and large, and snowy
white, they may be seen from afar of, pretty
picture glistening in the sunlight. Iale's mann
moth tent, capable of seating five or six thousand,
has been pitched Il little oil from Murray Avenue
for the accommodation Of the meeting OF the ConVen
ton and another large tent at the end of the same
| Avenue is under the charge of Mr.. f. ID. COOK
the Boston caterer, with arrangements for feeding
eleven hundred persons ut the same time. Here
for the small sum of $50, persons may get their
breakfast, dinner and supper. Single meats are
served for Is cents, except dinners which is placed
at $780, These two tents, as we'll as two smaller
ones occupied by the Committees, are prosely
decorated with flags and bunting. much 50, As
10 give ntnl Il very gay appearance, which lohe't
with the sweet sounds of the band in attendance
presents II one the idea of joyous jubilee rather
than grave religious gathering.
THE CONVENTION,
which is composed of two lay delegates and one
clergyman from each State having denomination
al Convention, was permanently organized OF
Tuesday forenoon, with the following named gen
tlcmen as officers: Hon. Sidney Perham, Governor
elect of Maine, as President; Rev. DR.. Weston OF
Illinois, Vice President; Secretary, Hon. n. II
IIemmp of Minnesota Assistant Secretaries, Rev
f. l.. Rextord of Ohio, and j. Smith Dodge o
Connecticut. Almost the whole Of the first day
was consumed in organizing the Convention, IN
listening to reports, discussions and making bust
ness arr mgementS. On Tuesday evening the
Baptist Unitarian ana Universalist churches were
opened to large audiences. that addressed by
distinguished clergymen from different parts o
the Union The "Wednesday morning services
commenced with conference and prayer meeting
at the ITniNersalist Church. conducted by the Rev
| Miss A. j. Chaplin OF Iowa City, an ordained minis
ter of the church. Immediately following this oc
cured ut the same place Il business meeting of the
Convention, which went along peaceaby enough
until the proposition of an amendment relating tt
the admission of State Conventions to this tonNeh
ton came up. The amendment was that no STATE
Convention should be admitted to this Convention
that did not adopt the confession of faith made q
Winchester, n. H., i'll 1903, including the article
"There is one God, whose nature is revealed in thu
Lord Jesus Christi who will finally restore thu
whole family Of mankind to holiness and happiness
This rather put stopper on the peace basis, and
warm discussion followed. in which the war 0
words was carried on by Horace Greeley, Drs
Fisher, Mason, Brooks and others At ten oclocl
the occasional sermon WAS delivered in the tent by
| Dr. Miner, President of Tufts College and senior
Ipastor of the School Street Church i'll Boston
Wednesday afternoon WAS occupied by the reading
of the reports of the committees on education am
{ the state of the Church-short addresses beins
made upon the same by well known clergymen o
the denomination, including Prof. Fiskc, Prcslden
of the st. Lawrence University at Canton, n \.
Prof. Shipman of Tufts College Rev. }. Z. SNOW
of the Westbrook Seminary, Me, and others. IN
emblage had by this time swelled to such vas
numbers, that it found necessary, soon atte
the commencement of the afternoon services in tn
tent to organize other meetings in the open air
This was promptly done, and large and attcntiv
audiences were addressed from impromptu stand
by some of the best speakers in attendance at tn
Cony enton. Soon after night-tall as on the even
ing previous. the various churches in Glouceste
were thrown open to the eager multitude VIII
were refreshed with more prayers, addresses am
doctrinal sermons.
The Old Murray Meeting House, situated away Il
? the opposite end of the town from that at Whcl
the camn was located formed the chief point of in