The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-27
THE GOLDEN WEDDING.
Celebrated by DR.. Charles f. and
Mrs. Allen, Saturday.

l.
lege.
All Ma inc Methodists were interested i'll
an event that occurred here Saturday after
noon, the celebration of the golden wedding
of Rev. DR.. and Mrs. Charles E. Allen, at
the West End Methodist church ,ofswhich DR..
Allen is pastor. The church was handsome
~ decorated, with flowers and vines, the
golden rod being the most common, and per-
baps the most apr opriate.
The platform was almost hidden from
sight by the mass OF potted plants, flowers
and ferns, aLd the honored pastor and his
wife sat in the midst of what was for the
time real flower garden. DR.. Alien and
his wife received friends at the church
from three until seven, and many beautiful
1emembrances were presented to the aged
couple.
Rev. DR.. Charles E. Allen was born in
NoIridgewock Me-, January 20, 1916, was
converted at Pennington in 1882 while
teaching school at that place Joined the
church at Norridgewock in December the
same year. He graduated at Bowdoin col
lege, being second in his class in 1889. The
only other surviving member of this class is
the Hon. John G. Talbot of Thomaston. Nj.
Allen taught school in st. Adams academy
and at the Maine Wesleyan university for
two or three years. He was licensed to
preach at Kent's Hill in 1912, and was Ie-
ceived on trial in the Maine Conference in
1913, received the deacons and elders Or
ders in regular course.
His first charge was at Kent's Hill, and
he continued an itinerant several years. be-
ing appointed to several of the most import
ant charges in the conference till 1859,
when he was appointed to the East Maine
Conference and settled in Bangor. After
remaining at this charge for three years he
was elected president of the State Agricul-
tural college at Orono.
Ie was the first president of this college,
and it was largely due to his efforts that ii
became something more than a technical
school. 1t was also largely due to him that
ex-Gov. Abner Colburn became interested in
the college to which he made at his death
a large bequest. He held this position for
seven years, during which time the institu-
tion prospered greatly. the attendance in
creasing from forty to one hundred and
forty.
He resigned in 1879 to once more enter
the ministry, was appointed to the Maine
Conference where he has remained until
the present time. He has held the Office of
presiding elder of the Lewiston district
for four years, has been delegate to the
general conference twice, and was a men,
Der ofdhe committee appointed to revise
the hymn book. He has also served for
seven years as secretary of the conference.
In 1872 he received the degree of D. D. from
Bowdoin college and also fl ON the Wesleyan
university. He has been for many years
member of the board of trustees of the
Wesleyan seminary, August rs, 1874, he was
married to Miss Ruth s. Morse and four
children have blessed this union. Mrs. Mary
Elizabeth Brown of Pasadena. CAL, Miss
Isabel Sibley Allen, William Albert Allen
chief engineer of the Maine Central and
Charles Morse Allen. teacher at the Pratt
institute. Brooklyn, N. Y.
Dr. Allen was stationed at the Chestnut
street church in this city during the war,
he was reappointed while pastor and is the
first of two ministers who have served two
terms at that church at different times, the
other being Rev. l. Luce.
The exercises were very simple the
various ministers and personal friends of
the doctor and his wife extending their con-
CALCULATIONS. Rev. +. W. Rogers, of the
Pine street church acting as master of cere-
monies and calling for a speech from those
who least expected to be called upon.
ssssRev. E. A. Rand of WateItown, Mass,
nephew of DR.. Aliens read paper entitled
1.-THE Golden Wedding" his wife followed
with d poem on the same subject.
Hon. John E. Abbott of Boston said he
never heard but one man make joke on
the life of his father abut the son of Camp
meeting John Allen relative of the doctor
once said Il don't know what would have
becom of me if l had not had a good
Christian mother as for my father everyone
knows what he isl He said that DR.. Allen
had inspired many young man to obtain
thorough education. 'You have worked
hard for the benefit of the poor wherever
you have.been stationed and we can but
hope that whatever life may have in store
tor you you will know that you have warm
place in the hearts of your friends.'' DR.,
Allen is an uncle of Mr.. Abbott.
Rev. Charles Munger of Old Orchard an
other of the venerable Methodist ministers
of the state was next called upon by Mr.
Rogers. He said he married his late
lamented wife about the time Mr.. ard Mrs.
Allen were married. II am very glad that
God has permitted you to walk side by side
together through life while some of us have
been called to walk alone.'' Mr.. Munger
made very affecting address speaking of
the varied reoollections of the past.
John Pea1ley Of Unity spoke of his recol-
lections of DR.. Allen. He first met him at
Kent's Hill while student. Later he met
DR.. Allen at Bangor and while he was
president of the State college he saw much
of him, and grew to admire him as man
and as a minister. He spoke of his good
work, and then spoke of Mrs. Allen, as one
who had done much and good work among
the poor where ever her husband had been
stationed. He spoke in high terms of the
aged couple.
Rev. l. Luce congratulated himself on be-
ing present. and congratulated Dl. and
Mrs. Allen on being together after fifty
| years of married life. He spoke of the in
| teresting fact that DR.. Allen and himself
| were the only two pastors who had returned
a second time to the Chestnut street
| church. DR.. Allen he said is still warmly
| remembered by the people of his former
charge and as slight proof Of that remem-
| bIaEce te haudad him a scaled nacket ga