The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-05-23

From The Christian Register. !


1t seems fitting that the many readers Of
The Register should know the high esteem
in which the late pastor of the Unitarian
church in this city was held, not only by the
members of his own parish, but by the citi-
zens universally.
About eight years ago, Rev. James Mon
roe Leighton came among u.s.. q perfect
stranger. To-day he is mOurned by the en-
tire community. He came to fill a pulpit
that had been occupied by such able Unita-
rianS as Rev. William rockingham, Cazneau
Palfrey, David Utter, James j. Bixby, Ed
ward Crowninshield and j. A. Savage; and
it is due him to say that he well sustained
the high standard set by his predecessors.
/ we'll remember the first Sunday he
preached. Before closing his service, he
said that he and his wife had come among
us to live and be one OF us, and that he
wanted to know us all as soon as possible,
and wanted us to know him and his, and he
church and let him get acquainted with us
and we with him. His request was COM
piled with, and from that day on he knew
us and We knew him; and every Sum
day during the eight years of his past0rate
he has been at the door of the church to
and a pleasant word every one who came:
In this way. he broke through a crust of
rigid formality which had previously ex-
listed in the parish, and made the cOngrega-
tiOn more social, and, not only better &C
quainted with him, but with each other.
Mr.. Leighton was a most lOvable man.
Educated, refined, modest and talented, a
| keen observer and gifted with ready tact,
with faculty of reading and understand
ing men, he endeared himself to all with
| whom he came in contact His whole life
| and being was full of kindness and love.
the sea, and the mountains and bills, the
little children and all mankind; and he
| loved God and loving all, was loved by ALL
| No man could come in contact with him
but to be made better. His people wanted
him with them in all their social gatherings
| without him. In time of trouble the sad
dened heart could go to him and come away,
feeling that part of its burden had been
lightened. His sermons appealed to the
heart and taught kindness, goodness, and
love of God and love of man. He had the
happy faculty of not antagonizing men, and
was therefore able to get near to them and
reach them; and still he was firm in his ad-
vOcacy of what he believed to be right, and
spoke freely and ably his views To a
great degree, he was instrumental in bring
ing other churches into a better feeling with
each other; and he had no stronger friends
in his own parish than many in other de-
nominations, and, without single eXcep-
| ton, every clergyman in our city loved and
| respected him, and was his stanch friend.
lie was most fortunate in having for his
helpmeet a charming wife, who seconded
| and ably assisted him in all his duties, and
| worked with him and for him and for his
church increasingly.
For year or more his health had been
failing but he never complained, always
wore cheerful countenance, and met his
friends with a pleasant word. On Tuesday,
April %, he had an i'll turn that terminated
fatally. He died of heart failure after only
a few hours sickness. His funeral took
place from his church on Friday last His
remains were laid in front of the altar
which with the casket was covered with a
profusion of the flowers he loved SO well,
placed there by loving hands. The seats
were filled with friends from all denomina-
tiOns. The schools were closed as token
of respect, and general feeling of sadness
prevailed in our city. The services were
conducted by Rev. H. II. Woude of Castine,
who delivered very touching address, in
which he paid a heartfelt tribute to his
friend Rev. S. c. Beach of Bangor made
the closing prayer, and Rev. Geo. S. Mills of
the Congregational and Rev. A. A. Smith of
the UniverSalist church assisted in the
ceremonies. In Mr.. Leighton's death the
church, his friends, the city, and the com
munity in general have met with an ire
parable loss. His character may be we'll
summed up in these Words
ellis life was gentle and the elements
80 mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, This was man,"
GEORGE A. QUIMBY.
Belfast Me