Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-21

After allusion to his birth and early associations
IN worcester county, reference was made to the vet
eran fathers of the denomination, Rev. Drs. Bans
croft OF w orcester and Thayer, of Lancaster Rev.
Isaac Allen of Bolton and Rev. Messrs. Damon, of
Lanenburg, and Alden, of Marlboro, among the
ten original members who Joined the association in
1920. Mr.. Wilson proceeded to say; When joined
the association think there were but twelve mem
bers. As but one of the twelve remains in the same
settlement which he then held-but most of the
twelve are living and known to .you-let me mem
tion their names that you may judge whether the
young man who came among you then was likely
to be kept from rusting in intellect and work, alive
in moral earnestness and spiritual warmth. Here
were Rev. Joseph Allen, of Northboro; CAL
yin Lincoln, of Fitchburg;, Alonzo Hill, of
Samuel May, Jrp of Leicesterj Il. z. Steb-
bins, of Leominster; Casneau Palfrey (who
Is stil living in Grafton( William Morse,
Il. Ii. Sears, of Lancaster; William Barry,
of birmingham; and Richard $. Edes, of Bolton.
BY early changes the association both gained and
lost; it only gained by the formation of new
cietes, which added to its members Mr. Hal, OF
the Church of the Unity, Worcesterj and Mr.,
Tenny and Mr.. Ball, of the Unitarian society," In
Upton
Of those who were living and active members of
the association when Joined it, or during my con-
necton with 1t, shall not trust myself to speak.
have but to say that can never forget to be
grateful for the kindness and encouraging welcome
with which was received by them. May | not
name one the only one of those belonging to the
association then, who is a member still; who had
been member quarter Of a century before;
member of one of the parent associations from
which this one sprung, know not how
long before that He presided over this
ssoclation seven and twenty years ago.
when first came into its fell0wshipt he presides
over it yet. He has been its careful historian. he
has been zealOusy watchfu that it should maintain
It's honorable standard and deserve the reputation
II mad gained for work, for scholarship, for frater-
nal sympathy and good feeling. 1t Is lie who has
set the example of habitual attendance as duty.
J received my earliest Sabbath school instruction
irom the manuals he was so well qualified to make.
| fDnn6 bnrn nThp roahNr
with counsel and aid to his younger brethren To
how many Of us has he been the same! And Is ii
not d0nable allegiance that has brought us here
to-day We gather about him with our first salus
tations and flal honors and only then turn to the
scenes, persOnages and "reminiscences of the WOr-
cester ASSOCIATION, whose beginning we commence
rate.
The moderator, Rev. DR.. Allen, then invited
Others to follow with REMARKS SUGGESTED By the
occasion. when Rev. Calvin Lincoln of bingham,
formerly for twenty-seven years pastor of the Uni
tartan church in Fitchburg tine predecessor of
Rev. VIM. 7. Tildenl arose. He referred to the
time when, in 1924, after leaving the divinity
school, at Cambridge, he was ordained at Fitch.
burg, over society where pastor of dlflereft
denomination had been settled. He referred to the
times when Rev. DR.. Bancroft presided at meetings
OF the association, with Rev. DR.. Thayer at his
right hand, and among the members were Rev.
Isaac Allen of Bolton, for forty years pastor of that
church, and whose life like portrait looked down
upon them from yOnder wall; Rev. Samuel Clarke
Of Princeton, Rev, Peter Osgood of Sterling. Rev,
Seth Alden of Marlboro, Rev. Alonzo Hill of Wor-
cester, and others, with the memory of whose
abors and sacrifices and fidelity it is pleasant to re-
fresh and invigorate ourselves.
Remarks in a, similar strain followed by Rev.
Washington Gilbert, formerly of Harvard, now of
Newton; Rev. Il. II. Sears, formerly of Lancaster
now of Weston. The latter made feeling allusion
to the last sermon he heard preached by Rev Isaac
Allen nearly thirty years ago, but short time be-
fore his death, which took place in March, 1874,
after having Oiiciated pastor there since 1903.
Kew. George S. Ball, of Upton, also recalled
many interesting "reminiscences of the last twenty
one years since his settlement in Upton, closing
with an eloquent reference to the astonishing pro-
gress of the last fifty years in the world of matter
and mind, of invention and discovery, tending TO
promote the civilization of brotherhood and chris
tianization of the human race He closed with
feeling reference to the death of Rev. Hiram
Wilmington, of LeOminster, and Rev. VIM. g.
Scandlin, of Grafton, both taken away in the
flower of their manhood and usefulness
Remarks BY Rev. MIR. Deland, from the West
and benedictOn by Rev. DIR. Allen, closed the eXer-
cises, which were of a most interesting nature
The pulpit was beautifully decorated with bouquets
of flowers, contributed by Misses Fidelia e. and
Carrie NJ Newton and Others.
The Rev. Isaac Allen, whose long pastOrate of
forty years endeared him to the congregation, left
at his deeease bequest of $4,000 to the church.
Rev. Il. S, Edes was the immediate successor OF
Father Allen.
dated with conveyance between the church and the
railroad depot by MIR. Geo. b. Newton, the oblig-
ing express and mail agent over that route