The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-11

In explanation it may be said that at
the time Of his ordination, by reason
of the impoverishment of the parishes
here, desirable settlements were not
open to young clergymen; and so an
invitation to Nova Scotia church,
made up of emigrants from New Eng
land, and by permission of the Com
mittee of Safety of Boston, was ac-
cepted till the great strife should be
decided. Then, as parish prospects
frightened, he came back to- seek a set
tlement in his own country. He came
to Worcester, and the society of the
Chambers, who had been outspoken
loyalists, but who had accepted in honor
the new order of things he found to
be congenial and with them he had
fellow sympathy. He also found in a
younger daughter a personal attrac-
tiveness that resulted in a lifelong
companionship as man and Vile,
broken by only few months separa-
ton by death in their ripe old age.
Had there been any faint of dlsloyalty
in the pastors position, such men as
Isaiah Thomas and his compatriot
would have discovered it. 'Nestor'
submits, however, that there is here
material for a f1rst-class old-fashioned
romance of the neutral grounds"
"Nestor' has kept somewhat in
touch with the Unitarian Church since
that first visit, by dropping into ser
vice occasionally. He knew DR.. Hill
DR.. Bancrofts colleague and successor
very well. He had some peculiar ways
of his own, as we'll as a sturdy figure
and a common sense diction. He knew
| Emory Perry, whose splendid baritone
, led the singing with the assistance OF
little roll of tobacco in his under
lip).
He knew S. r. Leland the organist,
afterward music dealer and umbrella
maker and founder of the Leland mu-
sic store of today.
OF the other churches of the town
which passed under the boys obser-
walton, perhaps "Nestor" will have
something to say in the future.
Time passes, the old church is
burned, the new church takes it's place,
war with it's horrors and its heroism
has come and passed into history.
"Nestor" has grown gray with years
eventful to others if not to himself,
and then there comes another exper-
fence at the Unitarian Church which
is ever to be remembered.
On his way to the church he usually
attended one Sunday morning in 1865
or 1866, he met an Unitarian friend
who said to him: Go with me, this
morning; we are to have Admiral Far
ragut with u.s. today. He is the guest
of Mr.. Messenger, of the firm of Mes
senger & Wright" "Nestor" went, of
course, for the sake of sight Of the
hero of Mobile Bay and the naval fight
at New Orleans,-the demigod of the
navy then. as Admiral Dewey has peen
since Manila.
The two reached the church just as
the carriage drove UP with the dis
tinguished visitor Upon the steps a
delegation of the prominent men of the
congregation, headed by Governor Lin
coin, were waiting to receive him.
Never can "Nestor" forget the grace
full, old-time courtesy, the easy, gen
tlemanly greeting of the old governor,
as he raised his hat and extended his
hand in welcome. 1t was simply mag
nificent. What the governor said is
not remembered, but what "Nestor"
saw dwells upon indelible records.
The sermon Of Dr. Hill was appro-
pirate, and at it's close the doctor made
a personal address to the admiral,
thanking him in the name of the people
for his patriotic and devoted service
to his country. The services closed in
a way that was general and salts
factory surprise, though an innovation
upon the CuSlOlliS u d lfAtS AO02 lAlNtN7
ing Mr. Stocking the choir master,
arose and sang as a solo, 1.-The Star
Spangled Banner" with chorus by the
choir. The effect was electric, as the
singers magnificent voice. supplement
ed with the organs deep tones, rang
out in richness and fulness upon the
scene. Tears rolled down the faces of
the admiral and governor and fell free
ly from the eyes of the great congre-
III. - DIV ava oh
ably, there,-all wept together with a
joyful weeping, that the old banner
that had been so violently and so per-
tinaciously assailed, still waved over
an undivided nation, THE land of the
free and the home Of the brave"
Another occasion of public interest at
this church was the funeral of Gov
ernor Lincoln. The old man, full of
years and of honors, was stricken with
paralysis, but was able to greet his
physician. DR.. Woodward, with smile
and to say, well, doctor, my dancing
days are over" and soon after passed
into the life where new activities be-
gin. Whether these were his last
words, "Nestor" is not able to say, but
Mr.. Salisbury, in a notice of his life.
makes them such, with some changes
to give them a more dignified and suit
able setting.
Governor Lincoln, in his long life,
had attained to and had enjoyed many
and great honors. In his youth he
purposed to achieve them, and he
achieved his purpose. 1t was told Mes
tor" by an old clergyman who pro-
fessed to know that, in an assembly Of
his college-mates. when they were talk
ing over the objects and aims of the
life before them after graduation, Gov
ernor Lincoln arose, reverently raised
his right hand and said, Il swear by
the Living God, that if He gives me
life. 1 will be governor Of Massachu-
sets before 1 die" If this story be