The Portland daily press., 1895-11-08

were among the nine preachers semi to
Portland circuit some OF the most able
mon in our denomination. Among these
we may mention Timothy Merritt. a
name especially interesting to us, for
What he was, and as the father-in-Iaw Of
tho well known Rev. Gersham Gov or
Merritt who served two years. 1898 90
we may say, ''He was scholar and a
rine and good one, exceeding wise. fair
snol,en and persuading. His thee LOGICAL
writings exhibit rare Intellectual vigor.
His Judgment Was clear and discrimin-
ating. penetrating to their depths the
great cardinal doctrines of Christianity.
His style was simple and direct. The
GREAT truths formulated by MIN in the
RConyerts' Guide, "The Preachers
Assistant and in the articles prepared
nv him while assistant editor of Zion's
Herald and assistant editor of the
New York Christian Advocate mani.
tested his great ability as writer.
The IA years he was located on a
farm in Bowdoinham We're no cessation
from active work in the gospel ministry.
His change of relation was made to re-
liaye the infant societies from the burden
of supporting his growing family. Be-
sides the arduous farm labors he filled
appointments in different towns, preach
inG every Sabbath, administering the
ordinances and attending quarterly meet.
ings for the presiding elder, from 90 to
100 miles from his home On these
Journeys he held meetings by the way
Tins supplying district settlements. He
,,r naac ,, in the towns on the Kennebeo
river. rowing in his canoe in the sum
mer from Hallowell to Bath or skating
in the winter on the frozen streams Re-
entering the travelling connection he was
stationed at Boston and other impor-
tant charges He closed we'll rounded
useful life in 1916 at Lynn at the age
of 70 years. In the second year of
Merritt's service in Portland cir
cult he had as an associate, Roy. Joshua
Soule. then q green, awkward youth of 1S
wears. who afterwards filled such promi-
neut positions in or history. Born in
Bristol, Me-, when young boy the
family moved to Avon, a frontier town
on Sandy River. Here the lad grew up
amid the toll and privatons of the hardy
pioneers. There were no schools he
could attend and few books he could pro-
cure Methodist ministers preached the
pospel to the sparse Inhabitants of these
remote regions. Under their ministra-
lions Joshua was converted. His mind
was stirred up to the active use of all
the means of acquiring knowledge he
could possibly obtain. He was intent on
securing intellectual culture. After the
toll of the day the Bible and every book
he could borrow were carefully studied
by the light of blazing pine knots on
others the glad tidings of the great saliva
ton he had obtained he accompanied
Joshua Taylor, the first presiding elder
of Maine, whose district was the
whole State, around thisReAtensive charge!
exhortin after the elders sermon and
sometimes preaching. The awkward
manners Of the tall lad and his rude I'M
grammatical, misprUnounced language
could not conceal the grandeur, of
thoughts expressed. He so improved un-
der the scholarly Taylor that the next
year he was received into the travelling
connection and at the age of Is was ap-
pointed with Timothy Merritt to Port
land circuit. I need not speak of his
subsequent history as preacher at Boston
and New York, publisher and editor of
the Methodist Book Concern, protector
and editor of the Methodist Magazine,
securing 900 subscribers the first
wear He was the one who planned the
constitution of the General Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church, was bis
hon of the church and senior bishop OF
the M. E. church South. 8
OF Phillip Munger, father of Rev.
Charles Munger, of the Maine Conference,
some OF the older members of this as
sembly may have q distinct recollection.
In his earlier days when on Portland
District he was a resolute defender of
Metho dist doctrines strong and logical
in his arguments be was conscious that
he was set for the defense of the truth,
and his vocation was to overthrow all
false doctrine. A fully equipped gospel
warrior, his sermons were a strong logl-
cal argument against some prevalent
error. His son may have inherited the
argumentative traits of the father
Asa Heath another of the Portland cir
cult preachers is we'll remembered for his
language, his regular gestures; as well
as for his genial conversation and his
pleasant social manners.
1t was not for lack of able preachers
on this circuit, that the little class in
Portland lived at such a poor dying rate
for nine years. AS we have already
stated, the bitter prejudice of the citizens
and the little labor that the preachers
could perform on this small fragment of
meagre fruits gathered here.
The real founder of the Methodist
church in Portland was Joshua Taylor,
who in 1904, on his way to conference,
stopped in this town. Learning that the
old St. Paul's Episcopal church situated
at the corner of Middle and Church streets
was for sale, he consulted with Samuel
Homer anu IdulGl lLcWlSy bilC Ouly Iltti6
members of the class, and by the aid of
major Enoch Ilsley, a generous friend of
the society, he purchased the house,
which was moved to a lot on Federal
street, opposite the head of Chestnut
street. The friends in town We're assisted
in paying for this building by subscrip-
tions taken up by Taylor at conference,
from friends in New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore Over this little band
of eleven members Taylor was appointed
as preacher in charge of Portland station,
Samuel Homer, Lemuel Gooding, Joshua
Emery and William True were constitute
ed the first Board of Stewards. Their little
house Of worship was crowded with at
tentive audiences. Taylor labored for two
years with such fidelity and success, that
he had the pleasure of increasing the
membership to forty six. He gained the
respect of the community for the sect
that had been everywhere spoken against
and despised. Rev. Joshua Taylor born
in Princeton, N. j., was an earnest de-
voted Christian. Trained up in childhood
by an intelligent and pious mother, he
was converted among the Methodists at
an early age When 81 years old he was
called into the ministry; and conseoreted
his well trained intellect and scholarly
attachments to the service of Christ in
the arduous labors of the itinerary He
travelled extensive circuits in his native
oat,