The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-09-08

The Son Of Mrs. III. ID. Stowe is too Liberal
For His Flock.

FLOCK.
Boston Gldbe.
SAco, July 15.-In personal appearance,
perhaps, the pleasantest looking man in
New York county, Maine, Is the pastor Of
the Congregational or Trinitarian church at
Saco. He Is somewhat below the medium
height, very we'll formed, with light hair,
beard, side whisken aud mustsche, q re-
markably Intelligent face and pleasing ad-
dress. This Is the Rev. Charles E. Stowe,
the only son Of the author Of "Uncle Toms
Cabin" He is about thirty years old, and
came to the church alluded to three years ago
on trial. Before being duly installed, which
ceremony occurred last winter, Mr.. Stowe
had to pass through some crisis that must
have seemed to him anything but agree
able.
The new minister did not discover until
he administered his first sacrament that his
congregation held ideas not usually held
about the wine of the last supper. They
believe, In common with many New Eng
land churches, that the Savior dispensed on
that occasion an unfermented wine, and
accordingly have thus commemorated that
occasion for years. When he administered
fermented wine at the first communion
service he held with his new charge they
were somewhat Mortified, and 1t was followed
by trouble Aad ominous murmurs. At the
next communion Mr.. Stowe announced that
he could not conscientiously administer the
sacrament otherwise, and the result was
that 1t was not administered ut all. But in
the interest Of harmony he finally consented
TO abandon his innovation, which even his
enemies conceded was . manly sacrifice.
Notwithstanding this concessisn portion Of
the church remained unfriendly toward
him, and at one time rupture seemed i'm
minent. Many thought that his views were
rather too liberal. He had not yet been in
stalled, had been married In the mean time,
and was very anxious to be settled over this
congregation, many Of whom were warmly
attached to him. The salary, 1t Is quite
certain, was no temptation to him, for his
PCdC1SoSVA ACAb oh AISShhs va Ass 0AASAthSoSs
Whatever may have been Mr.. Stoves re-
ligious views since then, 1t cannot be doubted
he was about as liberal ut that time as his
relative of Plymouth Church. The only
way to silence the faction that opposed him
was to have him examined before . sort Of
test committee before being installed. Ac-
cordingly In November last Mr.. Stowe passed
the examination, and before which
council he read lengthy account Of his life,
vicissitudes, and spiritual experiences"
winding up with clear statement of his be-
lief. This was perfectly satisfactory to the
church authorities present, and he was in
stalled. though ten of the foremost deacons
voted against him.
In his discourse the young clergyman
stated that he had been of . rowing DISPOSE
| tion, and his first inclinations were for the
sea. While at Harvard College he read
Herbert Spencer, became deeply interested
In that authors theories, and, to use his own
words, his mind became filled with the
poison of doubt. As these doubts incres ssed
and filed his mother with the deepest
anguish, he determined to try travel. He
went to Bonn, In Germany, where he met
with an experience which he never forgot, to
quote his own words again, and came back
3 firm Christian. Just what this experience
was he did not state, though his hearers and
others would have been highly gratiied to
know what extraordinary thing happened to
change his views 80 suddenly.
Mr.. Stowe has very little oratorical power.
In the pulpit his appearancei Is rather against
him, and he Is devoid ofpersonal magnetism.
He reads his sermons, and 10 at his weakest
when extemporising, for the moment his
eyes leave the manuscript all conference
seems to leave his speech. But 1t Is only
fair to add that his ideas have an originality
that clergymen Of more oratorical sbility
might we'll envy. Moreover, his voice does
not have that sanctimonious twang which so
many clergymen affect the moment they
enter the pulpit, nor does he ever drift of
into the cheap drival Of meaningless cant
phrases.
Mr.. Stowe 10 = firm believer In the theory
of evolution, but he appears to adopt the
very modified form, which can be made not
to conflict with the fundamental principles
OF the Christian religion. He does not
accept the views Of such advanced thinkers
As Haeckel, Tyndall and Huxley. He Is .
gentleman Of culture and refinement, has
the advantage Of = highly finished education,
and Is . good German scholar. His mos,
bigoted opponents have never questioned the
honest sincerity Of his motives In the m after
Of fermented wine.