Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-09-07

| IT.
| generally lasted about ten months. The
rum for the balance of the year was
| bought by the gallon, and l was always
| sent TO the grog shop, three miles away, TO
| make the purchase.
| | heard of but few ministers who be-
| came intoxicated, but some of them did
| drink to excess, and were deposed from
| the ministry on account of their intem-
| perance! | never knew an individual of
either sex, who visited at my grandfather's,
| decline to take glass of liquor, when
Invited to do so. The social glass" was
Indispensable. BY some II was regarded
not only as "the staff Of life," but as life
itself"
How changed for the better Now, If
3 minister uses any Kind of liquor as y
beverage, and the fact is known, he would
not be invited into any New England pull
pit nor would he have regular standing in
any Christian church or conference The
change in Maine on this liquor question
has been very great and good also
Liquor is used in tina: State, but not by
ministers. or by any good Christian men
and women. II Is sold by the baser sort of
people, clandcsiinely, and drank by yerv
few, compared with seventy five years ago.
The man 10 Maine. who now refuses TO
precept aud example. l. regarded by the
best of people as lacking, not only in
spirituality, bul 10 N IL. principle as well.
Another change fsr tue better, in Maine
If not in all New Eag.aud, is a more
friendly denominat onai feeling than ex-
listed even three score years ago. There is
probably room for still more change Of
the same kind. | well remember when
Methodist ministers werc regarded as
rather dangerous class OF men 1t was
admitted that they preached some truth,
mixed with much error. | was advised,
when a boy. to keep away from their
meetings, aud for many years | did 50.
Finally, | joned the Methodist church,
and by them WAS licensed IN my twenty
sixth birthday to preach the gospel Of
Christ 70 The people
During The second year " my ministry,
white pastor of TIE NJ, L. chnrch In Cayr-
ryHe.d, was refused thr privilege Of CIV
inG lecture 10 the Baptist church ia an
adlolnIng town. thfce miles a~ay. because
| was Methodist preacher. | went into
an cid dilapidattd >chool-houSe and gave
my lecture 10 seven hearers. In one week
later iectured again 10 the same place to
a full house. / coninued tGc meeting
ih.rty days and evenings The second day
= 'f+HH- 'H''F aA'7S itt f41N'lN- tlCi
father. a deacon OF the church, was so of
tended that he tnck her ont Of the meeting
and kept her out. She became a deeply
ptaus young woman, and twenty hye years
after She Joined the Christian church III
Nti3ridge. aud gave her the right hand
of fellow ship.
While holding the meeting in that old
schoo! house. the deacon came in one ey-
cnng and ordered me to ''vaCate the
house. saying that he was agent Of the
district and had legal right ID control the
building" | gave no attention To his or
der, but continued the meetings every day
and evening through the month uf April
We had a glorious revival and that spring
a good working church OF fiftv i've mem
btrs was organized, a house Of worship
was built. and | was called 10 dedicate IL
Dec p, 1882 The church had a bell and
nice furniture and was dedicated free Of
debt II ha- been occupied ever since by a
devoted congregation. NOW the two
churches are On friendly terms. How
great and blessed change.
when look over the pas. ei.hty wears
the whole Of life ha, not seemed yerv long
Ia some respect. 1t has been like dream
to me. During the eighty wears past
many great events have occurred in ms
nation. a. well as in the church. For in.
stance, the second war with England wa.
closed and peace restored after nv hirta.
TIE war with Mexico occurred a, a later
date The war Of The Rebellion occurred
during the life time OF many Of YOU. and
il stll fresh Id Your memory. Tie emau-
cipAtion OF four million OF Slaves "a, an
event that will never be forgotten Nor
will the people ever forget The name OF
Lincoln.
All these events are past and are found
u the history of our nation. and am pass
ing with them, and very soon shall be
with the men that were, but are not am
passing on to the home of the fathers"
and vii soon be there.
This Is not Oyly my eightieth birthday,
but the fifty fourth anniversary of my
ministry. | was licensed and ordained BY
the VI. L. church, and remained in the
ministry In that church twenty-five years.
For reasons unnecessary for me to give,
but perfectly satisfactory to my self. then
joined the Christian church, in which
have la5ored twenty-uine years. Though