The Portland daily press., 1883-08-14
BATH.
Of Winter Street Congregational
Church.


On Sunday morning last Mr.. Fiske took
leave of his church and society as their pastor
after forty years of consecutive service, in a
sermon OF intense interest. His resignation is
solely on account of ill-health, he having been
suffering with throat troubles for some years.
The high esteem in which this clergyman is
held in this city was shown in the crowded at
tendance to hear his farewell words. The au-
dience was from every denomination in the
city, and included some who have not been to
church for years. Those present were counted
and they numbered TAO.
The pulpit and platform were profusely dec
Grated with beautiful flowers. Immediately
in front of the pulpit were the figures '43 and
'83 wrought in flowers on an evergreen back
ground. The readings from the Scriptures,
the selections of the hymns, the prayers and
the sermon were exceedingly well adapted to
the occasion. In the course of the latter, it
was stated that he had preached 4140 sermons
more than 100 year; twice every Sunday
had taught a class in the Sabbath schools had
given a Bible lecture for fifteen years, and
during the winter months for fifteen more;
had made 10000 calls attended 1400 funerals;
oficiated at from 800 to 600 weddings; had
baptized 292 infants and So adults; 277 mem
bers OF the church and 60 absent when he be-
came its pastor; 354 have been added to the
church by confession and 140 by letter during
his pastorate; the present membership is 310
that his salary had been promptly paid, and to
the total amount of S57 900, and had feceived
$4,000 in presents; the society had paid $4,000
in expenses in all $4,000 had been paid for
missionary and benevolent purposes, $4,000
had been raised; $25 900 to $4,000 had been
donated or devised to the church; $103O0 had
been contributed for all purposes outside of
the church; and, besides, a church edifice and
chapel had been erected. He had attended
Ill different ecclesiastical councils, and no
council had been held for this church since
the dismissal of his predecessor and his own
ordination. he had kept up the long estab-
lishek custom of morning and afternoon pub
lie service and Sabbath evening prayer meet
ing, thus antagonizing the tendency of the
times to dispense with the afternoon sermon :
had been outspoken in adherence of the
growing inclination of irrelgious classes to
desecrate the Sabbath and making it holi-
day; had devoted himself solely to the duties
of his calling, coveting neither silver nor gold
nor apparel, and his greatest regret now is
that it is utterly impracticable to continue the
Work so precious TO MIN: mad been IN uninter-
rupted cordial and harmonious relations with
all people to the present time; and that he
has found it more pleasant to give than re-
ceive. Mr.. Fiske succeeded John w Elling-
wood who had been the pastor Of this church
81 years. To have filled the pulpit inst vacat-
ed by SO distinguished divine, at the age of
23, direct from a theological seminary, must
have been no small undertaking. Yet no
clergyman could have been more appreciated
by his society and grown more steadily in their
esteem. He held their affections to the last
An industrious student he has been an inde-
fatigable worker. Mr.. Fiske has always been
positive man, of strong convictions, outspok-
en- unexpressing his sentiments, his undoubt-
ed sincerity obtaining willing believers. He
is widely known as having always taken not
able part in the annual conferences and coun-
ellis of the denomination, and has ever taken a
lively and well-informed interest in secular
public matters, without undulyAmixing in pc
litical or public business affairs. He has been
the friend of every man, and every man is his
friend He has eminently lived for others.
His benevolence has been bounded only by his
means. Greatly missed as a pastor, he would
be as much SO as citizen, and 1t may be safe
ly said that it is the prayer OF every one who
knows him that his life may be long prolonged
among his neghbors and friends.
A successor to Mr.. Fiske has not yet been
selected. r.