Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-08-13

The following article was found among the
papers of the late Rev. II. NJ. Eaton, who was
formerly located in this county, and well
known here. The paper records his own early
struggles in the ministry in Washington county
and Is of historical interest. 1t is sent to THE
AMERICAN by Amos H. Eaton, son of the
writer.
| was licensed to preach the gospel at a
Methodist quarterly meeting he third day
Of Sept, 1899. After preac hing six month
to my own neigh bors, at the request of
the church committee, was sent by my
presiding elder to hold series OF re-
vival meetings in the villages of Cherry
field and Columbia. After being there
three weeks, they wanted to hire me to
be their pastor till the annual conference
in August, which would be six months
| consented, and was to preach half the
time in each village.
In Cherrytield was a large Calvin
Baptist church. There We're a few
Congregational members aud a mum Der
Of Universalists. In that village We're
fourteen Methodists two male members
both of them poor, Financially, and
twelve females. My meetings We're
held in a large school house The CON
gregat ton gradually increased ill the
house was filled on the Sabbath. We had
quite a revival and many Joined the
church. The hotei-keeper was converted,
removed his bar and we had his bar
room for Il class room!
The Baptsts didn't want me in the viii
lage. They called a meeting of their
church, to adopt measures to compel me
to leave the town. They claimed that
Cherryfeld was "Baptist ground" and
that had no right there. They were to-
gether several hours; the church was
completely filled. The people were much
excited. defended myself as best /
could. | seemed to have the sympathy
of nearly all the people except the Bap-
fists.
| decided to test the sincerity of their
friendship, hy proceeding at once TO raise
money to build house in hich to wor-
ship God y subscription paper was
drawn up by a lawyer IN due form, and in
very few days had money enough
subscribed to build tirst-class house,
for the times, and to pay FOR a bell and
ali The upholstered furniture needed.
One man, not a church member, gave
y 300; the hotel-keeper who had been
converted gave $500 They employed u
Baptist deacon for master builder
The house was finished, bell placed i'll
position, the furniture put in its proper
place, and all bills paid, and | preached
the dedleatory sermon April !, 1913, just
two days after the world was to be de-
Il !
preached i'll Cherry field TWO and one
half years before the house was COM
pleted. The delay WAS on account of
their not being able to procure the lot
that they desired.
In the summer of 1872, the bishop sent
me 10 Camden, Maine. | had been in
Cherry field Il, long as the Methodist law
would allow. The spring before
left berry Yield, decided to 20 to Har-
riugtOn locality, three miles from Cher
ryheld, and do Il little missionary work,
provided could see an opening tor such
work, They were all baptists in that
town, and on account OF some trouble
the pastor had left. / asked the privilege
of preaching IN the BAPTIST church but
was denied.
| WAS not aware that the Methodists
had a church member III the town Of ilar-
rmgIOn, Every minister of the Metno-
dist church, " no mad attempted to estab-
~
ana from ii SENSE OF duty had left the
town.
The first meeting was held the first
Wednesday IN March, 1872. Twas a
stormy night and | had only eight
hearers. The meeting was held in the
old school house. | left an appointment
tor he next Wednesday evening. To my
surprise THE house was full OF uuCon-
verified people. then decided h hold a
series OF meetings to commence the next
day. | preached twice every day and held
an inquiry meeting at the close of the
afternoon sermon, for thirty consecutive
days. The Lord was my only helper. No
minister or church member put IN an APP
pearance to speak or pray during those
thirty days,
On the third day of my meeting young
lady rose for prayers. Her father was u
Baptist deacon, and was so offended be-
cause she rose for prayers in my meeting,
that he forbade her going any more.
Twenty five years after, | gave her the
right hand of fellowship in the Christian
church i'll Milbridge.
Our meeting i'll Harrington was great
success. In the month of April, | bap-
tized twenty-five converts at one time.
Afterwards | baptized many others, and
a short time later a church was organized
with tifty-tiVe members. The converts
were true disciples and after ! left Hair
rington they raised money to build a
church and to buy bell and church fur
niture. The WorK was all completed and
paid for, and | dedicated tine church
building Dec. 25, 1913 / was away one
year-from July, 1912 to July, 1S43-and
was re-appointed to Cherryteld and Har-
rington, at the request of the church.
overworked during my last year there
and my hGaItA hncame imna irel ,IhH