The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-12-31

! luoIo uSCl vi ts Iut years ron Uy.
Rev. r. G. Harbutt spoke for the Con-
gregational church of Waldo county.
expressing great pleasure in being able to
extent their congratulations and to wish
to the Belfast church another century of
prosperity. There has always been close
connection between the churches in Bel
fast and Searsport, and strong personal
friendship between the pastors. He
spoke in high terms of the pastors he has
known, Messrs. Ross, Hack and Mills, and
expressed a wish that the blank now ap-
pearing in the printed list of pastors at
the foot of the column marked ''dismis-
sed, and opposite the name of the pres
ent pastor may long remain untitled. May
the influence of his work be felt down to
the end of the new century.
The pastor then called upon the visit
ing pastors from Hancock county, stating
that Hancock and Waldo Conferences
were once one, and are now one in spirit
Rev William Forsyth of Bucksport
illustrated the relations between the two
conferences by the letter written by the
old Christian to his wife, in which he
said, 1.-The first reason why love you is
because you love my Cod" He had
pleasant personal recollections of Mr.
Parker and of each of his successors, and
q " al LII 1CSdlh lCl buC pItStLU pdSlOl.
Hancock unites with you in the hope
for the future as she rejoices with you in
the vision of the past
Rev. j. p. Cushman of Castne referred
to the previous speaker as fitting repre-
sentative of the Hancock conference he
would speak for his own church in Cas-
tine, i'll words of love and fellowship. He
felt special interest in this church on
account of the work here of Rev Woos-
ter Parker, who labored in Castine prior
to coming here. The history of the church
in Castine is similar to that in Belfast.
1t was organized in 1920, its Unitarian
and Trinitarian members taking different
organizations. He echoed the sentiments
OF the previous speakers in congratula-
tions on the past and good wishes for the
| future.
Rev. j. &. Merrill spoke briefly. He
believes in the State of Maine He came
here to participate in the exercises and
thus obtain a better idea by which to re-
fleet back through the Mirror the report
of this celehrat ion.
A few years ago he organized church
in Kansas, in a place as sparsely settled
and under conditions as unfavorable as
was the case in the early history of the
church in Belfast. There is u romance
newly married couple setting up at house
keeping. This church prospers because
of the prayers and labors of those who
have gone before and will prosper in the
| future because of the progress OF the faith
full workers of to-day.
The pastor then read the letters from
several clergymen and others who had
been invited to be present, but We're I'M
able to come. We make the following
brief extracts:
From Rev. j. NJ. Leighton, Unitarian,
Belfast, who was unable to be present on
account of the illness of his brother in
Biddeford. PLEASE make known to
your people the reason of my absence, and
my regrets. Also my greetings to the
church on its one hundredth birthday.
The First Parish and North church had a
common origin and though separated long
ago on account of differences of belief may
we not rejoice that they are drawing to-
gether again in the true spirit, AMI hope
that they may feel this true bond of
Christian fellowship binding them yet
more closely to each other until they be-
come one in motive and work for the
moral and spiritual welfare of the com
munity?'
From Rev. j. A. Ross, Hampton, n
| CRY plododHC dIO my lCIoilCSlltIo
of my pastorate in Belfast. Some of the
happiest years of my life were spent in
your city. Many dear and valued friends,
whom / shall not forget while life lasts,
are there. Some are now members Of the
church triumphant. | trust l shall meet
them over wonder. A thoughtful and for
bearing, kind and atfectionate people
made my pastorate a delightful one. And,
my dear brother, | congratulate you on
being pastor of the Congregational church
in Belfast. And | can wish nothing bet
ter for you than that your stay there may
be in every way just as pleasant as mine
has BEEN
From Rev. R. X. Harlow, Midway,
Mass-'9I recall with pleasure my CON
nection with your church, brief though it
was, and the kind and considerate treat
ment that | uniformly received. How
well | remember Bros Beaman, Palmer,
Poor, Havener, Mansfield and Caldwell,
the little book man who used to take the
bueing out OF my Mondays by bringing
to me the weekly comic papers and, with
a chuckle and a nudge, point out some
, rich bit of satire or wit These brothers
, have all passed to their reward. May
their descendants be as faithful to the
church as they were"
From Rev. Il. Henry Davis, Olivet,
Mich -''Be assured it would give me the
, greatest pleasure to be present and say a
word for the dear old church and the
names of many of its members have dwelt
, in my heart all these years since 1872.
Let the brethren and sisters be assured
that | shall be with you in spirit While
t shall not be able to commune with them
) as they shall be gathered together on that
/ day, yet shall commune at least in mem
ory with the members of the church as it
: was constituted a quarter of century
ago, with Deacons Field and Palmer and
Beaman and Brothers Poor and Perry and
Parker, with other brothers and sisters
D To all l send my most earnest congratu-
Iations on the life and prosperity of the
good old church, and assure them of my
| most earnest and hearty Christian fellow
r ship"
a From Rev. E. B. Palmer, Boston. .-''It
| is with great regret that | forego the
: pleasure which your courtesy has made