The Press., 1904-12-28
WELLINGTON

! 1eaTS a&O, SUOA a4U0A UuO GOAOAOAa ministers revival at the Congregational church, a Young Mems Christian association was formed. We remem- ber coming out here from Hartford once when the organization was in full blast That soon went down. Then there was a Reading Circle y founded, and it was in successful op- eration when we returned to this town to live. That, too, went out. Later another literary enterprise was started, meeting at the G. A. R. hall, Dea. Eli Hayes being the first presi- dent. That soon went into innocuous desuetude. Subsequently G. A. R. post, W. R. O. and a grange were formed. They also went into bank ruptcy. What we are driving at is this: Saturday evening, 17th, meet ing was called to organize "Peo- ple's Forum" at the post office. But one person came. Now what we want to say is that we personally are through with any attempt to elevate the people in the line last indicated. The "young folks' can now go where they please for recreation. The pro- posed Peoples Forum" or a read together club, or a reading circle, would have cost nothing, compara- lively, to run, meeting. as was pro- posed, at the homes of those interest ed, or at the chapels of the two churches. We and ours have tried to do some good in this line since our re-residence and residence in town, but we might as well give up. Appropo of a former highly esteem- ed pastor hera:-
 Personal Recollection of Pastor. David Bancroft at Wilmington, Conas
 My early }fecoliections If Pastgl Bancroft are rather indistinct, as I could have been but a mere lad when he became the pastor of the Congrega- tional church at Wilmington, as I re- call it about 1885 to '3S. He came there young man, and my impression is that Wilmington was his first pastor
 
 ed over near 20 years. He lived many years in the house built near the Haskell Thomas place, and occupied for many years by M. l. Dimock. MT. Bancroft early became interested in the great temperance reform, the Washingtonian movement, and was an earnest advocate of total abstinence and later of prohibition. Iwish I could recall the answer that he gave to one who interrupted him in his remarks one Sunday pm. at the Peck school house. He was speaking es- pecially upon the temperance question, when a man somewhat adicted to his cups remarked that they came to hear the gospel, not politics. You may be sure his reply we'll fitted the occasion and that he was not interrupted again. I always attended the Baptist church, but was not member till after MT. Bancroft left Wilmington, but my &C., quaintance with him was always pleasant, and held him in high re- gard. In the spring of 1859 business called me up over the hills of Prescott, Mass, where he had his last pastor ate, and called at his home and he gave me very cordial welcome. MT. B. loved good horse and for some | years he kept one, buckskin color, a ! square trotter ill harness, but veryl nice under the saddle. In the sum- mer of 1859, when E. P. Williams, with number of men, of which num- Der was one, had occasion to go | over the hills to Ashford Town, and l Mir. B. kindly loaned me his bucksk in | for a saddle ride. remember the | incident as one of the pleasantest and longest horseback rides of my life. |
 J. Merrick.
 Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 5.