The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-09
Obituary.

Rev. Henry G. Leonard, who died last Sun
day at Pigeon Cove (Rockport) Massachusetts,,
was well known in this State and had large
number of friends in this vicinity He was
born of old Puritan stock in Haverhill, Mass.
about 90 years ago, and was educated for the
ministry of the Universalist church. He set
tied in Thomaston in this State not fan from
1912, and remained there nearly five years,
where he enjoyed (as he did afterwards wher-
ever he lived) the respect and friendship not
merely of his own people, but of the most Gull
tivated and worthy of all denominations, for
he was man of singular purity of character,
and of rare geniality. He was dear lover Of
nature, and his knowledge of birds and their
songs arose to an intimacy of acquaintance
that would have been delight to such orni-
biologists as the late DR.. Brewer of Boston, or
the Duke of Argyle. His love of music and
art, and his exquisite asthetic sense, may have
interfered to some extent with his labors as a
preacher. But to persons of intelligence and
refined taste his sermons were strongly COM
mended by their simplicity and chastity of
style. He published, several years ago, vol
ume of sermons which he called "a Sheaf
with especial favor by his friends. They were
not in any sense dogmatic but were pervaded
by an JUNCTION and beauty of spirituality which
will always keep them fresh and welcome. A
copy fell into the hands of an eminent minis
ter of the Established Church of Scotland, in
Edinburgh, and his earnest approval of their
thought and style was q source of sincere
pleasure to the modest author.
In the best days of the Knickerbocker mag
azine and of DIR. Bailey's National Era, Mr..
Leonard contributed to these periodicals some
entitled Lake Chemo," was thought by the
editor to be not unworthy of Wordsworth.
Mr.. Leonard's pastoral settlements in Maine,
after Thomaston. were at Orono, Waterville
and Deering. While at the latter place he
acted, for part of the time at least, as Pro-
lessor of English Literature in Westbrook
Seminary: In other States he was settled
over parishes in Albany, Philadelphia and
Rockport, Mass Early in the civil war he
was appointed chaplain of the Sd Regiment
Maine Volunteers, of which Col. o. o. How
ard was commander. Remaining a year or
two with that regiment, he was, after the pro-
motion of Col. Howard upon the earnest re-
quest of Col Chaplin of the LIST Maine Regi-
ment of Heavy Artillery, transferred by the
Secretary OF War to the latter, with which he
beloved by officers and soldiers.
During the proprietorship of Mr.. Homan of
Augusta of the Gospel Banner, he was for
season the editor of that paper, whose columns
bore ample testimony to the sound judgment
displayed in his selections and to the excellent
taste of his editorials.
For several years past Mr. Leonard has lived
in the old house at Pigeon Cove, acting as Su-
perintendent of the public schools of Rock
port, and as pastor of the Universalist church
in the neighboring parish of Annisqu am.
During this time he published a charming
little volume, beautifully illustrated, upon
Pigeon Cove and its Vicinity" in which not
alone the natural scenery of Cape Ann, in
Guiding its flora and fauna, has been most del
cately depicted, but in which is contained
pleasant "reminiscences of its people-the old
settlers like the Babronys, the Norwoods and
the recent summer habitues, such as Drs.
Chaplin, Thayer, Gannett, Bartol, Thomas
Starr King, A. D. Mayo, j. G. Adams c. J.
Foy and others to whom his companionship
was a source of real and unfailing pleasure.
He leaves widow and two daughters, one
of whom is unmarried. Prof. G. H. Leonard
of the divinity school of Tufts College is his
brOfhar w