Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-28
NO. "a.
NEW PUBLICATIONS..

Memoir Of the Life of The Right Reverend
George Burgess, ID. d., First Bishop of
Maine, Edited by Rev. Alexander Burgess,
I u. ID. Philadelphia; Claxton, Remsen &
Haffielinger.
1t is now three and half years since the
1 decease of Bishop Burgess of this State, and
until the present time no memoir of his life
has appeared. This deficiency is however at
length supplied by the appearance of a goodly
sized volume, which contains contributions
OF various writers in relation to the subject of
the memoir, from which the reader NAV gath
er the important facts and events of his life
and the true character of the man. One des-
cribes his boyhood, another his college life.
others give accounts of him and his labors at
various places, and in certain directions, so
that he is viewed on many sides, and the pic
ture being drawn by those who were intimately
associated with him at the time and in the cir
cumstances in which he is represented is all
the more lifelike and truthful than if one pen
had written the whole, thus compensating for
the lack of unity in the work.
George Burgess was born at Providence,
Rhode Island, October 3lst, 1909. His child
hoodwas not eventful. He evinced remarka-
bic desire for reading, and dmade such progress
in his studies that at the early age of thirteen
he entered Brown University, and graduated at
the end of four year with the highest honors
In 1928 he became communicant in the
Episcopal Church and the next spring re-
ceived confirmation. After graduating from
college he entered his fathers office and COM
pleted the full course of student at law, but
never applied for admission to the bar, having
become satisfied that it was his duty to devote
himself to a religious life From 1929 to
1881 he discharged the duties of tutorship
| in the college whence he graduated, and at
the same time pursued his theological studies.
In 1881 he went abroad and spent two years
in attending lectures in the Universities of
Gottingen, Bonn, and Berlin, and one year in
travelling over parts of Europe. Notes
which he made at that time in his journal are
in this volume. After returning home in
1884 he received Deacon's Orders in Grace
Church, Providence, at the hands of Bishop
Griswold, and on the following Sunday
peached his first sermon.
Bishop Brownell Immediately invited him to
become assistant minister at Christ Church,
Hartford, and he accepted the invitation. In
1916 he received the degree of Doctor of Di-
vinity from Union College, Schenectady, also
from his Alma Mater, Brown University.
The same year he was married to Sophia,
daughter of Leonard Kip, Esq, formerly of
New York, but at thattime resident of Hart
ford. In ls47 the clergy of Maine invited him
to accept the Episcopate of this Diocese,
which after much hesitation he accepted and
was unanimously elected Bishop by special
| convention held at Portland Oct. 4th. On the
3lst of the same month he was ordained and
consecrated, in Hartford, by Bishop Chase,
| and on November eth he officiated for the first
time as Rector of Christ Church, Gardiner.
OF the manner in which Bishop Burgess per-
formed the duties of his high and responsible
office i'll Maine, the particulars are given by
Rev. Mr.. Armitage, in his own language and
IN letters and papers embodied in the volume.
Suffice it to say that his walk was consistent
with his calling, his sincerity as christian
never called in question, and his work unin-
termitting and full of good deeds and love to
man and his Maker. Rev. Dr. Ballard con-
tributes articles in relation to his historical
tastes and pursuits, and an account of some
of his latest labors in the Diocese. while other
pens furnish interesting facts concerning his
miscellaneous writings particularly as poet
and the Improvement of the hymns of the
church. In December 1865, on account of
failing health, Bishop Burgess left his home
in Maine to spend the winter in warmer
climate. He went to HAVANA, then to ST.
Thomas, Cape Haytien and Ports -au Prince,
but finding no improvement in his health en-
barked for home April 22d, 1866, and ON the
morning of the 23d, while resting on the deck,
died with almost no warning, the death of
Christian, lamented by all that knew him.
The volume noticed above is received from
Loring, Short & Harmon of Portland, who
have it for sale.
Blackwoods Magazine for January has the
following contents Earl's Dene, Part III;
The Farming and Peasantry of the Continent;
John, Part III; Lord Mayo and the Umballa
Durbar; Lord Lytton's Comedy. The Open
ing of the Suez Canal Mr.. Froude and
Queen Mary; Lord Byron andlEIis Calumina-
tors
The trio of magazines for February, pub
lished by T. s. Arthur and Sons, The Home
Magazine, Once Month"; and The Childrens
Hour, unexcelled in their sphere by any
other publication of the kind, are received.
Any person who desires good magazine for
wife, sister or child can be suited from these
three.