The Republican journal., 1897-03-04
In MemOriam.
Biographical Sketch Of Rev. B. +. Shaw, D. D.
BY REV. GEO. f, TUFTS.

Biographical Sketch Of Rev. B. F. Shaw, D. D.
BY REV. GEO. L. TUFTS.
The subject of this sketch was born at
Gorham, Maine, Oct. 26, 1914, and died in
Waterville, Feb. %, 1897. He entered Water
vile College (now Colby University in 1888,
remaining three years, and then went to
Dartmouth College, N. H., where he gradu-
! ated in 1887. In order to obtain means to
pursue his futuer studies, he taught the as
salboro Academy two years, and entered
the Newton Theological Institution in Sept.
1889, remaining one year Again he taught
the Vassalboro Academy two years, during
which time he often preached for some of
the small neighboring churches. In 1913,
he accepted the pastorate of the Baptist
church at China, where he was ordained.
he remained there ten years, during which
time there We're several extensive revivals,
and more than two hundred members added
to the church. Owing to impaired health
and the failure of his voice. he was compell-
ed to give up speaking in public. AT this
time he was offered and accepted the position
of cashier of bank at Damariscotta, and
also as agent of marine insurance company.
tie held these situations for seven years and
managed them with marked ability and sue
cess. During the latter part of this period
he regained his voice sufficiently to enable
hm to preach part of the time and
when able, he supplied the small churches at
Alma aud Damariscotta Mills. There were
extensive revivals in both places. As soon
as his health became restored he resigned
his lucrative positions at Damariscotta, and
accepted the pastorate of the little Baptist
church at Liberty, with small salary. He
renamed there five years, during which
time the meeting house was built and good
| ly numbers We're added to the church. This
| embraced the period of the civil war. His
next pastorate was at Thomaston where he
remained two and half years. An extern
| slve revlva brought large numbers into the
| church, many of whom were staunch bust
| ness men. Here his untring and self-sacri-
| hcing labors broke down his health again,
| and he was reluctantly compelled to take
years rest. He went to WaterviIle to re-
side. On recovering he accepted call to
the pastorate of the Waterville BAPTIST
church, which he served two and half
| years, adding goodly number to the men,
bershlp. Finding the work too heavy he
resigned, but continued to make the place
| his permanent home. He continued to
| preach as his strength permitted. He or
| ganized the church at Fairfield and supplied
| 1t for two years, when it became strong
enough to secure a pastor. For number
OF years he served the churches for longer
or shorter periods at Dexter, Houlton, Mon
son, Knox, Warren and at other places
Great success always attended his ministry
His splendid abilities, his refined taste, his
excellent tact and Judgment, his genial ma
eure and tender sympathy and warm heart
won host of friends, and all who had the
privilege of knowing him best, loved him
most. AS preacher he ranked among the
first in the Baptist ministry in Maine for
half century. He cared little for high or
lucrative positions, or for the applause of
men: he only desired to fill the position to
which God had appointed him. He knew it
was not the position that honored the man,
bat 1t was the man that honored the posi-
ton. An unseltish devotion to duty char
acterized his long and useful life.
To illustrate his lack of desire for person
al promotion, | will mention one incident
MI. Shaw and Martin b. Anderson (who for
more than thirty years was the distinguish
Ell president of Rochester University were
fellow-students and intimate friends during
Their courses OF study, both in college and in
the Theological Seminary. Both men had gifts
sufhclently conspicuous to place them in PC
sltlons in the larger cities of the land. On
leaving Newton, Mr.. Anderson was sought
Tor IN the city of Network Mr.. Shaw chose
TO locate IN non-p retentiouS town in Maine
During the early part of his pastorate in
emma, he noticed one pleasant Sunday
morning in summer, two strangers enter the |
church. In the afternoon he preached in a
school house few miles away, and he OBJ
served these strangers there. In the even
ing ne saw them at the social meeting On
Monday morning they called at the parson-
age and told him the object of their visit to |
China, Maine. They were members of one
OF the prominent churches in New York |
then without minister. They said: "Rev.
M. b. Anderson suggested that we visit YOU |
ana our church appointed us delegates for |
that purpose. We listened to you yesterday, |
and are empowered to extend to you d cali |
TO become our pastor at a salary of five |
thousand dollars In reply, Mr.. Shaw
marked that he felt incapable of occupying
so prominent pulpit, and that his health |
was not equal to the strain. The delegates !
said "lt you will give us such sermons as
you preached yesterday, our people will be
abundantly satisfied These men, on re- |
turning home. reported that Mr.. Shaw, as !
MIR. Anderson suggested, was just the man |
they wanted but he did not seem in
cllneo to accept. Some correspondence |
followed; and finally the church told him
that whenever his health required they
would give him a vacation of three months,
during which time they would supply the
pulpit and send him to Europe without ex-
pense to himself, his salary continuing. Mr..
Shaw did not leave his little Maine church.
For number of years prominent churches
IN Massachusetts, and elsewhere earnestly
sought his services, but he uniformly de-
cllned. And for nearly half a century a
number of the humber churches in his ma
tive State enjoyed his splendid gifts. He
w do d uohDeI Ol bHe BOARD OIL trustees OF |
Colby University since 1872
Owing to impaired health and severe bod
lily suffering he unable to preach for
several years prior to his decease During
the past summer he, with Mrs. Shaw, spent
four weeks at Islesboro, visiting the writer
who supplies the Baptist church at that
place. His health was better than it had
been for some time, and he was able to
give addresses at the social meetings in the
church on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
evenings. His remarkable gifts were great
ly enjoyed, not only by the regular mem bers
OF the society, but also by many summer
visitors from other States.
His last illness was short, but his suffer-
ings at times were severe. His funeral,
which took place in the Baptist church at
Waterville on Friday, Feb. Goth, was large
ly attended. The bearers were Rev. Dr. A.
I. Dunn, Rev. N. T. button, Rev H. B.
Mitchell, and Rev. Geo. E. tufts. The open
ing prayer was offered by Rev. H. B. Mitch
ell Scriptures read by Rev. N. T. button.
The first address was by Rev. DR. W. H.
Spencer, pastor of the church. The second
address by Rev DR.. Pepper, ex president of
Colby University. The closing address was
by Rev. Geo. E. Tufts; concluding prayer
by Rev. DR.. Dunn, and benediction by Rev.
DIR: G. V. Hanson. The large attendance,
and the solemnity of the service bore wit
ness to the esteem in which the deceased