Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-16
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsPArcHI

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIgPArcHi
WORCESTER, MASS, September 15.-The
Rev. Obed Eldridge, the popular pastor of
the Unitarian Society in Northboro, has
rendered his resignation, to take effect on
November 1. But this is not what has
stirred up the quiet shell-jewelry makers
and farmers of the town. The parson
has been getting too coltish for the staid old
town, and he does not take himself out of
the way voluntarily. He goes with hint,
which is almost positive enough in its char
acter to be called kick.
The cause of such action on his part was
letter signed by half score of his church
members and sent to the Parish Committee.
In which it was asserted that the minister
was not setting good example to the young
by attending horse trots, visiting a pool
room and by smoking. The Rev. Mr. Ell
bridge is native of Sandwich, Mass, that
part OF 1t now known as Bourne. He was
during his earlier years a hard working
mechanic there, but ambitious and studious.
and prepared himself for the ministry. Be-
lore coming here he preached in Dighton.
A SUCCESSFUL PASTOR.
For about years he has labored success
fully and established himself as a general
faVorite without as well as within the
parish. He is broad and liberal in
his views, and has made it a Gus
tom 20 show special attention to those
in the humber walks of life. His friends
say that had he toadied more to and made
more OF what is termed the upper social
scale the spirit of discomfort now so mani
fest would not have been engendered.
George Wood keeps a little store where
tooles, peanuts, candy, fruit, cigars and
pastry are served, and in the store is a pool
table. This is resort for many of the
townspeople. Mr.. Wood, an exemplary
citizen, attends the Unitarian Church, and
Mr.. Wood has been a member of the parish
committee. 1t is here that the Rev Mr..
Eldridge has made, as far as known, two
calls o short duration each.
During his vacation he attended trot at
the Clinton-Lancaster PARK, resort fire.
quented by more recognized society leaders
than any similar place in this part of the
State. The millionaire Thayers. of Lancaster,
are the particular patrons of this particular
trotting course. The minister went there
and saw trot thereby ineurring the dis
pleasure of some of his parishioners, who
expressed their sentiments on paper and
presented them to the committee in charge
Of the parish.
HE SMOKED PUBLICLY
Then the clergyman has had the courage
of his convictions and been seen smoking in
semi-public places instead of resortlng to
some sequestered nook. Said a stanch
friend OF the minister: "If his bows could
come here summers wearing barber's pole,
striped cap and blazer. custard-colored
shoes and racquet, that would meet all the
requirements OF the 'sassiety folks"
The Rev. Mr.. Eldridge says that when he
took charge of the parish he told the society
that when he heard the first word of dissat-
isfaction he should resign, and that having
heard, he has done as he said he should. It
is automatically stated that the original
intention of the signers OF the papers pre-
sented to the trustees was that it should not
be known outside that body, but that
committee should approach the minister
about his faults, and that because OF the
publicity of the affair some of the signers to
the document are not quite satisfied that
their names should appear thereon.