The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-03-01
Rev. w. E. Barton.


large and somewhat expectant audience
convened in the Congregational church to
hear minister, the rumoi Of whose pop
ularity in q neighboring town had come
to the ears of q few. Last Sunday the
same audience, largely increased, met TO
hear him for the last time as their pastor.
This time the audience room could not
contain the numbers, and large overflow
took refuge in the gallery. Curiosity had
long since given place to loving admira-
tlon and expectancy to more than satisiac-
tion. 1t seemed very appropriate that the
farewell words of our pastor should be
spoken on such an occasion-the celebra-
tion of the Lords supper, the admission
into the church OF nine members, and the
always solemn and beautiful rite Of bapt-
! tism of children.
, The text was a sermon in itself, worthy,
like the sermon which followed it, TO be
held in remembrance by every one present,
IT'LL we all come in the unity Of the faith
and OF the knowledge of the Son Of God,
unto perfect man, unto the measure Of
the stature Of the fullness of Christ"
The name of Rev. W. E. Barton will be
household word in Wellington for years
to come, and will always stand preeminent
in its list Of ministers. Since his coming
large numbers have been added to the
church and to the various societies con-
nected with it, and the amount given by
them for benevolent purposes has in
creased each year, He has also enabled
the church 10 cancel its indebtedness and,
the receipts are now sufficient to coYer the
expenses. So rare and versatile are his
gifts that his influence has been felt not
only in every department Of the church,
but In the moral, literary, social and pollt-
lcal life Of the place. He not only leaves
a valuable history in pamphlet form Of the
First Congregational church of yelling.
ton, but has at great pains collected items
in relation to the history of the town.
These, with other valuable documents, he
has placed IN safe keeping In the Sunday
school library, which ne has also enriched
by many volumes.
At the close Of such happy church
life the term "funereal rites" may be ap-
propriately used in connection with the
'last time" we met in the church, the
prayer meeting, the Sunday school, the
social and family circle. The last social
was held in the church parlors Friday
evening, at which more than two hundred
persons were assembled. In presence OF
the well filled tables, where Mr.. Barton
and his highly esteemed wife have dis
pensed SO much good cheer, they were
presented with gifts TO spread" the table
in their Boston home and 10 make II
"shine" with the loYe Of their Wellington
friends.
In view of all this IL seems little re.
markable that not a voice has been raised
to oppose Mr. Barton's removal to Boston.
So thoroughly has he been appreciated
that II was long since felt that this garden
spot could not long claim the work Of one
to whom wide spreading fields were con-
stantly opening, and when his resignation
was read to the large number Of church
members assembled, there seems no irrey-
erence in saying that "as a sheep before
her shearers is dumb" so they opened not
their mouths. 1t was Gods call TO work
In larger vineyard, and no man dared
gainsay it.