The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-16
OLD PASTORS GREETED.
Pleasant Reunion at the West End
Methodist Church.

Reception to Former Pastors of the
| Church Now in the City--A- Large
Company Present.
The West End Methodist church Last
evening had one of the most enjoyable
social occasions which has fallen to their
lot for long time. Taking advantage
of the meeting of the Maine Conference
in this city, this members planned ban
quet and reception to their former pas
tors, and altogether not 50 many of these
clergymen wee present as had teen Ca
pectad. yet the exercises passed off most
successfully and were epjnyed by all
present.
At O'Clock bountiful supper was
served in the vestry and upwards of
serenity i've paItook of the Tepast. 1t was
a very sociable time and the old pastors
who were present seemed to enjoy it us
much as the ilemters CT the church.
After the allctsd time Mt the tables ths
company adjourned to tire church where
"a good sizsi audience had gathered to
listen to inc entertainment and I'D
dress.s from tne clerggmen who were
their former pastors.
Rev. Mr.. Leitch, the pastor of the
church. opened the exercises and intro
uuSCst "ti. LIZ 11ttuk, VIC oISnHloti Hbo
pIa, ed Hnely @ selection fion Lohengrin,
Prayer was offered by Rev. MIR. White
side. Reg. Mr. Leitch then made the
opening remarks, outlining the purpose
OF the mevting. He spoke of the grand
growth of MethodisIn and its wide extent
ana influence ali over the land. The
West End church. he said, is factor,
even though n small one in the great
system CT Methodisn, because the mem
bers are earnest men and women. He
spoke in turn of the men who had given
their energy TO the building up OF the
church, called to mind the time when
the meetings were held in Harmon's
hall and the earnest efforts, crowned
with success, to supply suitable and
permanent place of worship. he then
spoke of the early pastors, Rev Messrs.
Stroat, Hutchinson, Holmes, jacques,
J. Pilsbury, Williams, Plnmmer, KIM
ball, Merrill. Pratt, o. S. Pilsbury,
WhitesIde and Allen. The West End
church stands higher today than ever te-
fore and he predicted bright future for
it,
The Beethoven club composed of five
young ladiss under the eishIp OF
Miss Annie Swasey. then gave a most
artistic selection on two mandolins and
three guitars. Their excellent music
was much appreciated and the audience
gave them an enthusiastic encore.
Kew. L. Whiteside, who was pastor OF
the church in 1898, was tEen introduced
ard gaze an Interesting address. He
opened in "a pleasant vein and thop mazda
an earnest plea for conservatism in the
church. He predicted that the Metho-
dist church is to have great awakening
in the not distant future. He thought
the tendency of the Methodist Conference
In session here this week is to swing
back into the old lines ct the church.
E. IL A1 xx,l,; oh has
been more or less popular. He thought
that right would be recognized as right
not because it is new nor because it is
old, but because it ia always right He
ccntrasted the privileges of Christians
and their duties in Armenia and Ameri
ca. He spoke earnest words of advice to
the West End people to bs guided by
their consciences and to keep on in the
straight path they had so far followed.
He criticized the practice of churches
extending ''calis' to pastors and urged
all Methodists to get on the old lines of
Methodisn and keep there.
After another selection by the Bee
thoven club, Rev. ID. Pratt, who was
pastor in 1889, was introduced. lie said
address as MIR. Whites.de had given aud
told story that caused general smile.
Rev. MIR. Hughes, on one occasion, had
made a very lengthy address and at the
close Mir. Pratt was callsd upon to
AXE a very short prayer. Ho simply
returned thanks that s. We know enough
Of good thing when we get it. !" Mr..
mir. Pratt then feelinply renewed olG
memories and spoke very impressively.
He described thu sacrifices which had
been made by the members OF this
church to build their present handsome
place Of worship. He urged the n. en-
ters to praise their pastor at all times,
while he was with them, and not wait
until he had gone to say all tho pleasant
things they had in MIND about him.
This young ladies gave guitar
quartette after which touching and
cordial letter from Few. q. F. Allen,
ID. d., their pastor just Lefore MIR. Leitch
came to themwas read.
Invitations had 5een extended to va,i-
GUS city rasturs TO be present and make
adore sses hut none Of them had been
able t o accept the invitation.
The exercises closed with the doxology
and selection on The organ by Mrs.
Lang.
No Opposition Manifested.