Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-01-25

but little reaping.
About a year ago when Rev. Mr.. "a
vary of Ellsworth was called to La
moiEe to preach funeral discourse, h
found both churches without a paste
and both very much enfcebled throucl
internal strife. He suggested TO on
or two with whom he conycrsed ,ba
they should try Unitarian preaching
The experiment was considered doubt.
ful. Nevertheless it was agreed tha
The vacant pulpit in the lower dis,ric
would be occupied four Sabbaths. i
The people would give him his board
AT the end of that time if dissatisf,c
ton was expressed he would leave. but
II otherwise, new arrangements would
| he made. Through the American
Unitarian Association NJ. Wilson OF
the cambridge Divinity School was in.
formed OF the arrangements and ac.
cepted them. He preached four Sab
baths and then further arrangements
were made, The people had never
heard anything but close Baptist
preaching many, as we have intimatcd.
were dissatisfied with it and gladly
welcomed something more congepial.
others were desirous of hearing fur
thcr, and so Mr.. Wilson remained n
long as his vacation permitted, draw
ins around him congregation ayerap
Ing about l2j. During the same be-
tiod Mr.. Tilden Of Colby University
was engaged BY the Baptis,s to occupy
tlc pulpit IN the upper district. Thith
er the Baptist pushed. with the excep-
ton of few in the lower district who
dld not like 10 pass their own house
and who we're liberal enough to listen
!" another faith. 50 it may be rca-
spnably inferred that the maiori,, of
ar. iisons hearers denied Unitarian
preaching. | noted most OF the Ban.
usts never attended the Unitarian ser.
wees but once, and then only by mis-
take, As they expected a preacher Of
Their own denomination would be pres
cnt. When Mr.. Wilson's vacation had
expired his friends would gladly and
freely have contributed TO his further
stay had that been possible.
Now one of the statements made in
the Adrocate's columns is tha, per.
mission was not asked" 10 use the Bap-
.iis tii, 4422SsMl 4422 ,Rtlttsis Z 6igsrlan. were
but taking steps 10 initiate the dishon-
est practices OF others in their dcnon
ination who endeavored to enlarge their
borders. "by stealing the meeting
house of otner denominations" Or
whom should they have asked permis-
sion: They themselves were pew hold
ers in the house they used, and the
Baptist proprietors made not the
slightest objection, but freely granted
the use of the house so far as their
share was concerned During the
succeeding winter several parish meet
ings were held and largely attended
and 40 one ever called in question, or
objected 10. Unitarian services being
held in the house
When Mr.. Wilson returned this year
he found tina his friends had increased
in numbers and we're hopeful of the
permanent establishment of a Liberal
society. He also found the now thor
oushly-awakened Baptists in possession
Of the field. Mr.. Downie "A student OF
Rochester Theological University, had
been engaged four weeks previously
and was now preaching in both houses,
in the upper one in the morning and in
the lower one in the afternoon. He
had been invited TO preach il the lower
house by a committee in whose ap-
pointment the Unitarians had taken
no share, yet they made no objection,
but on the contrary attended his ser
vices regularly. Mr.. Wilson occupied
the church in the morning. The Sab
bath school was convened Immediately
after services in the afternoon and was
governed by the Baptists, although
fully one-half of the pupils were chill
dren of liberal parents. The preced-
ing year Mr.. Wilson had had full con-
troll Of it, yet to the new arrangement
he made no objection, but quietly took
. class Of grown persons.
Very shortly after his return Mr..
Wilson was informed by Mr.. Downie
that he did not act morally in occupy.
ing the church, because he (Mr. Dow.
nie) pre-occupied it and because he
had received the only authoritative in.
vitation. The answer to that is tha,
he preoccupied it upon invitation Of q
committee which did not represent the
Unitarian proprietors as they had moth
ing to do with its appointment. Thi:
was the first intimation that Mr.. vii
son or his friends had received thai
they we're acting irregularly, and i,
came most ungraciously from stran
ger, who if supported at all in this act
was supported by mere fraction o
the lower church proprietors. Indeed
as to that matter no proprietor, to thu
knowledge of the writer of this article
has yet made objections. So much fo
unssked occupation.
A.