Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-11-12
The "Unchurched.

You all noticed, perhaps. In last weeks
AMERICAN. the following item from the
Lewiston Journal; "A wealthy New York
merchant has employed minister TO labor
IN rural Maine. for year. among the 'un-
churched. People who have not investi-
gated the matter have little idea of the OPP
portnnities for such labor On cross roads
within ten miles of Lewiston, there il alb
solutely no observance of the Sabbath.
Men were in the fields pulling turnips. and
women were hanging out washings last
Sunday"
No better use for money can be found
and no better field of labor in rural
Maine" than Hancock County can be
FOUND, and let us make one strenuous appeal
tor the New York missionary to come to
Hancock county's "unchurched" They
are here and in goodly numbers too. There
are many villages where there is no preach
ing service during the entire year, and not
a few where there is no Sunday school
DO you wonder, then, that there is so lit
tie reverence: Do you wonder, then, that
men pull turnips and women wash! Do
you wonder that young men 90 cunning
ana fishing! In some Of the larger viii
lagos we ind minister during the months
OF July, August and September. but when
the leaves begin to turn" our clerical friends
silently steal away Where do they all
go and what are We to do during the re-
mainder of the year: Are We supposed to
absorb goodness enough in those short
months 10 last us through: Are we sup
posed To postpone our marriages and fu-
nerals until the next season: During the
past summer one of these warm weather
ministers was stationed in one of our most
prosperous villages. Two sermons on
md h
comprehended his labor He was asked to
go 10 an adjacent neighborhood two miles
distant, to preach 10 an old school house,
but was to be properly paid, however
But his health and labors would not per-
nit Not long ago my attention was
called TO notice worthy divine who de-
hyered one sermon on every Sab
bath morning and one on every alternate
Sabbath evening. One weekly PRAYER
meeting completed his work. He was
earnestly solicited to take the lead of a
chautauquan circle for the winter, but
had no time He was eagerly urged to
join the temperance lodge, which order
ever needs good and able men. which ever
needs the aid and support of Gods minis
ters. But again his labors would not per
init. Are the ministers of the gospel ply
>ically weak menI Are they all in such
work ten hours each day for six days of
the week or the equivalent of the same:
These two are doubtless exceptions, for /
know many active, working christian men,
who wear themselves out in Gods cause
On, that We had more of them,
Why do our religious services close in
the fall? Is it lack of funds? Is Hancock
county particularly poor county? Why
do the Sunday schools close as winter
comes on? The children attend the day
school throughout the winter months. l.
1t lack of funds to warm the buildings?
Money can be readily found in those same
districts TO warm the dance halls and other
places of amusement. II is not lack Of
funds. One of the best churches in this
county, situated in one of the moneyed
towns. has been without pastor for the
past year, Cannot an effort be made so
that We can hear Gods word out in the
by-ways? Y.
Hancock County, Nov. 9, 1891.