Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-11-02
THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY.
,Cortinurd from page I'D

Mr.. Edr, continued rs pastor OF III,
Kenucbunt society. serving with great
acceptance. until ia. ON April of
ttat Wear IL was granted a TWO
rlon.hs' va .atiun on account Of his
health. but no relief came and he
died in Roston ON May 50. lNil. His
remains were brought back to kenne-
bunk and now lie buried in the old
cemetery near the church he loved 50
well.
After Mr. Edes' retirement the SO
tiety saw gloomy days. The causes
leading up to his resignation had en-
gendered some feeling, interest seemed
TO flag and indifference was increasing
because the flock was left without
shepherd. Again the way looked dark.
But 1t was the darkness that comes be
fore day. A brighter future was in
store fol this society. and it was due in
large measure to the character of the
man who was to lead them.
October 1, 1910, marks a new era in
our history, for on that day the Rev.
sylvester Judd. Jr.. was ordained as
pastor of this church and during the
next twelve years of its history, he so
stamped his own likeness upon It,
that his memory is as sweet and
gracious and revercd today as it was
half 4 century ago. Mr.. Judd was then
II young man of -. having been born
ut Wrst HAMPTON. Mass, July Is. lSl".
iIr graduated from Yale in the class OF
1876 and from III" Harvard Divinity
school in 1870. Fresh from his studies.
H., came Ia Augusta to supply simply
tui six weeks ana preached his first
sermon IN July q. The next morning
hr wrote /, his mother a letter such
Wy many Il >.,n has written after his
ur-t d3y a. real life work.
"a u,-v drt,. commences 4 ucW life.
(, is nov llrudaN morning after
r,v, taken IN" first stop III that ncn
life Here | am. away in novel part
Of the world. surrounded by strang"
faces. Yesterday | discharged III"
regular pulpit duties. How sue
,...c,ird it is hardly worth while 10 in
,rl.irr Ii any good is done | shall be-
sad. ear s1S but jitti" about tn"
i, orI,. vr, T,'nsr whom have seen
eve. l,ry intelligent ana serious men.
T:,y hrgju t. urge my staying with
,hym.
THAT first SERMON therefore seems t"
have ilirl, :u impression and - each
succeeding discourse revealed thu
breadth IT intellectual vision lS Wrll as
.hr depth ~ ais religious spiIi;. ii Is
n,, strange that the society turned t.
AIM With one accord ana plead with
Sin Ia h.cunr their leader ana teach
.r. H. a,c, ptod and ON October l.
$50 the ul,iinItion services We're held
,hc sermon being delivered hy the Key.
Doctor Peabody, then az PnwSm )Uth
y. II.
Th..n began what might well IT,
termed the Golden Age Of this So-
cictv. Its minister had come fully
equipped for the work before him and
with head ana heart consecratcd to
~ service he had sought.
iir had bc,.. born and reared under
calyiuistir influences and united with
the Calviuist church Of his HON" Will"
fitting for college. His college course
WAS intended to lit him for service III
that church but his whole nature re-
hcli"I against il: ana finally he CAV"
~ the old belief and thought himself
out into the new. This step meant the
breaking off Of many old associations
ana the sundering Of many ties that
were dcartoh him and it was not reck-
lcSsly taken. Liberty. light and love arr
my motto wrote he at this time. Tn
like many. however. who come from the
ulthodox form of belief to adopt our
own. h" did not swing over - ultra
ra'iicalism. His change was as much
with III" heart as with tho head. Til"
love Of God was ever his central
thought and the freedom which he had
gained was by no means license. II
meant to him III" union OF christian
believers on j broader platform for the
worship of God and the service of
man.
Such 4 Uaiun Was the inspiration Of
his life. He GAINED that the church
VS. our birthril,ft. as much as the
family and the state: ana ID til" in
,ulcatiun OF this EcW gospel h.. devoted
The host energies Of his life. His ideal
vas t" hav" the cptir. congrcSat ton, all
VINO Nci'" accustomed to worship to-
Ecth"r. united - brothers in the COM
non work ana bound together by a
common declaration Of principles.
Tine parish orra nizatinn Of 1876 was
still Ernt VI and tn" church covenant
OF lS:: was s.ill cNtanI. Til" Two or
:,aniza'ions were distinct.
Mn. Judd'S first step WAS tn. furma-
ton of new organization that
should in time embrace both. Ne
curduGIy IN August II. 1916, the re-
liGin1ig society known rs Christ Church
WAS "rSnuizei under the general laws
nf tn STATE. IL" fist officers Of The
n"W organization being rs follows.
J. =. Emery,
l.. ". IitdEoW
Edward i'cnun