The Portland daily press., 1882-07-18
REV. CHARLES E. STOWE.
The Only Son of Mrs. Harriet Beecher
Stowe-His Difficulties in Becoming
Settled Over Maine Church.


Boston Globe.)
In personal appearance, perhaps, the most
pleasant-leoking clergyman in York county,
Maine, is the pastor of the Congregational or
Trinitarian Church at Saco. He is somewhat
b,low the medium height, very well formed,
with light hair, beard, side-whiskers and mus
tache remarkably intelligent face and decid-
eddy pleasing address. This is Rev. Charles e.
Stowe, the only son of the author of "Uncle
Toms Cabin. He is about so 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 crises that must have
seemed to him anything but agreeable.
The new minister did not discover until he
administered his first sacrament that his con-
gregation held ideas not usually held about
the wine of the last supper. They believe, in
common with many New England churches,
that the Saviour dispensed on that occasion an
unfermented wine. and accordingly have thus
commemorated the occasion for years. When
he administered fermented wine at the first
communion service he held with hislnew charge
they were somewhat Mortified, and it was fol-
lowed by trouble and ominous murmurs. At
the next communion Mr.. Stowe announced
that he could not conscientiously administer
the sacrament otherwise, and the result was
that it was not administered at all. But in the
interest of harmony he finally consented to
abandon his innovation, which even his ene-
mics conceded was a manly sacrifice. Not
withstanding this concession portion of the
church remained unfrisndly toward him, and
at one time rupture seemed imminent. Many
thought that his views were rather too liberal.
He had not yet been installed, he had been
married in the meantime, and was very anx-
ious to be settled over his congregation, many
of whom were warmly attached to him. The
salary it is quite certain was no temptation to
him, for his predecessor left on account of its
smallness Whatever may have been Mr.
Stoves religious views since then it cannot be
doubted he was about as liberal at 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. According
last November Mr.. Stowe passed the examina-
ton and before the council read lengthy &C
count of his life, vicisstudes, spiritual sexpe-
riences," ETC.. winding up with clear state
ment of his belief. This was perfectly salts
factory to the church authorities present, and
he was installed, though ten OF the foremost
deacons voted against him.
In his discourse the young clergyman stat
cd that he had been of rowing disposition,
and his first incinations were for the sea.
While at Harvard College he read Herbert
Spencer, became deeply interested in that au-
thor's theories, and, to use his own words, his
mind became filled with the poison of doubt.
As these doubts increased and filled his moth
or with the keenest anguish, he determined to
try travel. He went to Bonn in Germany.
Here he met with an experience which he
never forgot, to quote his own words again,
and came back firm Christian. just what
this experience was he did not state, though
| his hearers and others would have been highly
| gratifed to know what extraordinary. thing
| happened to change his views SO suddenly.
| Mr. Stowe has very little oratorical power.
| He would suffer by comparison with clergy
| men far inferior to his renowned unc!e. In
| the pulpit his appearance is rather against
| him, and he is devoid of personal magnetism.
] He reads his sermons, and is at his weakes1
/ when extemporizing, for the moment his eyes
| leave the manuscript all coherency seems 70
| leave his speech. But it is only fair to add
| that his ideas have an originality that clergy
| men of more oratorical ability might well en-
| w. Moreover, his voice does not have that
sanctimonious twang which SO many clergy
| men affect The moment they enter the pulpit,
| nor does he ever drift off into the cheap drlvel
| of meaningless, cant phrases.
| Mr.. Stowe is a firm believer in the theory OF
| evolution, but he appears to adopt the very
| modified form, which can be made not to con-
| flict with the fundamental principles OF the
| Christian religion. He does not accept the
| views of such advanced thinkers as Heckel,
| or even Tyndall and Huxley. He IS gentle
| man of culture and refinement, has the advan'
tage of highly finished education, and is
good German scholar. He has great liking
for the somewhat unclerical pastime of horse
riding. He is thoroughly conscientious. Ills
| most bgoted opponents have never questioned
the honest sincerity of his motives in the mat,
ter of the fermented wine. 1t may be added
that since his first appearance before Saco
congregation, he has SO far improved as
preacher that it is quite probable the future
may see such additional development as to Jus
tify any expectations stranger would form on
hearing the name of this young clergyman.