The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-16
In a Clinton Church
Much Regretted.
EFFORT TO BE MADE
To Retain Rev. Fir. Gilfillan
as Pastor OF St. Johns.

Clinton, Jan. 1.-THE people of st.
Johns parish were surprised this morn
ing, when it was announced by Rev.
FIR. R. J. Patterson that Rev. FIR. Will
liam F. Gilfllan had been transferred
to Chicopee, and Rev. FIR E. J. Fitz-
gerald from Chicopee to Clinton. FIR.
Gilf1lan came to st. Johns two years
ago this month.
He has endeared himself greatly to
the people. He is especially popular
among the members of Gibraltar Coun-
Gil, K. of c. So greatly is his loss felt
that the council will take steps to APP
peal TO Bishop Thomas Beaver, in the
hope that the. bishop can be induced
to keep FIR. Gillian at his post in Clin-
ton. They will join forces with other
members of st. Johns parish who feel
as they do. FIR Gilfllan is chaplain
of Gibraltar Council
A committee of the council called
upon FIR. Gilfllan today TO express
their regret at his transfer The COM
mittee was composed of G. X, w. G.
McGlinchey. D. D. G. X, T. L. Walsh
P. G. x. P. H. Mcintyre, NJ. A. Muir
rhy, W. A. Ford and w H. Dietzman.
1t is proposed to tender FIR. GilhlIan
a farewell banquet some evening in the
early part of the week
Fir. Fitzgerald arrived last night. He
read the mass at 10. 50 o'clock this
morning. FIR. Gilfllan will not leave
for Chicopee before Thursday.
Rev. James H. Moorehead preached
his first sermon as pastor of the Pres
byterlan church at the 10 80 service this
morning. A large congregation was
present, anxious to greet their min
lister. Mr.. Moorehead received the call
to this church two months ago. His
coming had been several times delayed
He has been in charge of a church in
Scottdale, Pa
His sermon this morning was from
Hebrews xii, /: Seeing we also are
comprised about with a great cloud of
Witnesses
The text was directly apropos to his
opening remarks. He said: In this my
opening service in that which was to
me a short time ago simply a beautiful
c1ty-lA Massachusetts,, l extend to YOU
my heartiest salutation. l come here to
preach mo gospel different from that
preached by my predecessors. I trust
come with the same gospel of the
same blessed Lord and Redeemer of
us all; the simple gospel of Jesus
Christ, upon whom you have believed
Tor life everlasting as his salvation is
made plain in the sacred scriptures.
L point you to the same man and to
the same grand old volume of 66 books
and l come to preach the same Jesus
Christ. l come to join you in all Chris
Llan work and labor and effort for the
benefiting of this congregation and of
this community. I come to join you and
work hand in hand with you. come to
visit all of you in your homes. 1 hope
all OF you will come and see me. Now
without any preliminary as to what
want TO do and without enumerating a
set list of discourses which will tell YOU
what l want to inaugurate and how
want you to respond, without any more
preliminary as to this, l want you to
think about one thing with me this
morning. 1t is to think that there are
many eyes upon us. There are many
witnesses listening to what is being
said. There are many surrounding us as
also surrounded Paul in the ages in
which he lived
With this introduction Mr. Moore
head launched into his sermon, an elo-
quent exposition from the standpoint
that the Christian is in the arena with
many eyes upon him. Mr.. Moorehead
SGDOGI
and spoke briefly to the children.
The record of deaths for the calendar
year was completed late last evening
IN the office Of the town clerk. Samuel
W. FyIer. Two hundred and thirty
three persons Joined the majority from
uhlS uoWni consumption in its several
Iorns was deaths instrument in the
greatest number of cases. In some 20
cases the victims had reached or PASS
go the biblical three-score and ten
Elght were octogenarians and several
had passed the three quarter century
Mary Ann Parker and James Cameron
were each - years old. Jerome E. Sage
was ~ years old. John DoWney SO. viii
lam Clifford SO, Charles b. Brewer 90
ana Bridget Gavenan &c. The record of
plfths is not compiled. Few Of the phv
sicia1ls have sent in their lists. II is
their custom to be somewhat behind in
making these returns.
William Trimble is credited with a
conversion under unusual circumstan-
ces, a conversion that would not have
been at this time had he been less zeal
Gus. AS Mr. Trimble was on his way
to class meeting in the Methodist
church Friday evening, he met a man
VINO. had formerly taken the pledge,
but who had forgotten the circum-
stance.
By much pleading Mr. Trimble in
duced the backslidar to accompany
him to class meeting. There, in com
pany with other good people, Mr. Trim
BILE labored to save the man. He was
urged to repent and to give some pub
lie expression of his repentance. For
half an hour it looked ike bad Job.
When everybody except ]. w.
Powell, president Of the Epworth
League, was all bet despairing, the
man. rose to his feet and talked for IL
minutes. He gave Indications, as Mr.
Powell believes, Of a genuine change
of heart. He promised to lead a bet
ter life. Tears rolled down his cheeks
as he talked his voice was broken and