The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-03-26

] 1ue ucbSu VI tnis WoTtuy phsbOr OI tne
Un!versalist church on Sunday last In the
prime Of his manhood. came like shock
both to his parish and to the community
at large. He preached for the last time
on Sunday forenoon, Feb. %, 10 his pull
pit here In town. He had eeveTe cold
at the time, and SO felt unable to attend
his usual service at North Arson In the
afternoon. lie grew worse rapidly, and
II was soon found that he had teen pros
tra,ed by pneunol il. II p 5 we're cher
| shcd of his recovery unln within a few
days Stiious c Implications, however,
arose. and TN Sunday forenoon last he
entered into rest
| He was born in Bingham Feb. ,. 1916.
ard was the son of Benz amin and Mary
Smith The father survives him. In his
early manhood he went TO Augusta and
learned the printers trade in tie Office of
the Gospel Banner, the well known Irg4D
o the Unversalsts in the State. lie re
msincd there five years. The wish To
enter the ministry at last dominated him
and changed his course in life lie went
to Canton, y. Y, and fitted himself for
his chosen work at the St. Lawrence
University. On July, 4, 1871, he was
united in marriage to Miss Mary +.
Quimby, of Gardiner. There were two
children, a son and a daughter, by this
marriage.
He began his pastoral work in Clare
mont, N. IL, pleasant town in one OF
the most picturesque regions OF New
England. His other settlements in their
or er were as follows: Peabody, Mas,
uich'stown. N. j., Winthrop, Me, Mar
blehead and East Boston, Mass, Thomp-
~onville, Conn. and kowhegan and
North Arson. While in Boston he was
Secretary of the Cuiversalist Ministers
Club Of that city. During The past year
he was Secretary of the UnlversaliSt Con
yentiun, missionary society, and dld
efficient service In all Of the above nam
e1 pastorates ne was prominent in tenn
perauce work and cheerfuily allied him
self with those sgercie- which sought to
9en, it, aud help his fellows. Here III
town. although his residence lasted hut q
single wear, he found favor with tue peo-
ole both In and out Of his parish, and by
his manly, pure, and devout fe was con-
staully eniarging the sphere OF his IN
lluence and usefulness.
The funeral took place on Tuesday
noon. There was u brief 'ervice at the
house, which was conducted by the Rev.
S g. Davis Of Fairfield At the church
where the public exercises took place,
there was large attendance. The pulpit,
the chair of the late pastor, the chancel,
the organ and choir rail were all draped
On one side of the pulpit was a large
number of Gala lilies, these with other
floral offerings, were the gifts of the
friends in the Skowhegan parish On the
other side was large broken column of
small n flowers, the loving remembrance
of the friends in North Arson.
Rev. S. & Davis, who presided, read
selections from the Scriptures. and made
the openiup address. He based his re
marks ON the heatitude of Christ, "Bless.
ed are they that mourn, for they shall be
comforted,p He slluded feelingly to the
loss which the church. the denomination.
and the family had sustained. He spoke
of the departed as tender and helpful
nastor an able and eloquent preacher
a man of rood executive ability. and an
excellent oreauiz4r of work i'm his parish
lilo had h,en loug and favorably known
IN the Denomination throuoh the columns
of lis ionrnals Nv his prominepce in the
SIMMER assemblies at Weirs N H nv
his activity In state gatherings. and Nv
his lead, rship in song in revival services.
He referred TO his love of preaching. and
to the spiritual charac' err of his ministry.
He said also that the fallen pastor had
been nv nature reformer. one who
s,uoht 10 rinht wrongs and to mitigate
the evils that .t,l ct men.
Mr. Davi. was follov.d Inv Rav | I
Mead. of Augusta. Editor of the G0spel
Banner. He spoke tenderly of the friend
whom he lad known for ,wpntv.tv,
years. He bsd esteemed him because h.
ia fo,,,i IT., =, b., N ,r,a mn, IL.
sincerity too was beyond question. He
certainty of The future life. He onoted
some of the utterances of his friend in
this direction. which showed both the
strength and net4i.tence of his belief
that The unseen things were the real ana
abiding things.
The last speaker was Rev. ]. II. Lite.
of Putsarld. former pastor of the
church. and an intimate friend of the
deceased from his student DAYS in Canton.
lie spoke of the Impression which Mr..
Smith made upon his associates in study
by the dignity of his character and by the
nobility of his purpose. He made a tender
appeal to the parish so bereaved to hnd
in their sorrow an iuspiration to greater
eudeavor. and to an earnest effort to catch
the spirit of their fallen leader Mr. Lit
tie then offered PRAYER. and Mr.. Davis
closed the impressive service with the
bere fiction.
A ouartette composed of NJ. T. Pooler,
DR.. Mari, Mrs. A. Withee, and Miss l.
Witbee. sang "My faith looks up to
Thee" ard "Softly the daylight fadeth "
Miss Ella NJ. Hight acted as oIganist.
Tn. pail bearers were Samuel l.. Whit
tier, and L. Vaughan, who represented