The Republican journal., 1904-09-22
REV. A. !. RACKLIFFE
Respected by all Creeds, Passes on to High
err Life.

Sometimes it is the good fortune of a
city ortown to have among its citizens
one of those rare spirits of whom it is
truthfully said that they are of such
large natures that they can't be limited
by the claim of any set or sect OF men,
and so belong to the entire community
in which they dwell.
Such an one was Rev. A. j. Racklltfe,
formerly pastor OF the First Congrega-
tional church, whose recent death we
regret to announce. He has lived
among us some II or II years, and by
the unostentatious goodness of his &C
tive efforts for the good of others, he
has won the esteem and affection of all
with whom he mingled, until he num-
bered among his friends and admirers,
men OF all religious denominations, and
of all shades of opinion in every depart
ment of thought.
Rev. Almon J. Rackliffe was born in
Searsport, Me-, Dec. 3, 1855. He re-
ceived his earlier education in the pub
lie schools of his native town, and then,
being ambitious to secure a more lib
eral educa ton, he resolved to enter
BowGoin college, but was seriously dis
| appointed to find that the condition of
his health would prevent his complet-
ing the entire course,
He had, however, become convinced
| that it was his duty to enter the minis
try, and refusing to be turned aside
from this purpose, he took a special
course of study and prepared to enter
Bangor Theological seminary, from
which institution he graduated in 1881.
He followed this by taking post
graduate course in Andover Theological
seminary, supplying various pulpits
during his vacations.
Among the churches thus supplied by
him was Island Avenue Congregational
church, Skowhegan, Me-, and the i'm
preston made by him was such that he
returned to the seminary with the un-
Outstanding that at the expiration of
his course of study the Skowhegan
church was to receive his first consld-
Grafton as field of labor.
Their call to the pastorate was ac-
cepted by him and during period of
ten years he devoted himself to the
cause of his Master in that town.
He not only had very great success
in adding to the membership of his
church and in stimulating its religious
life, but he also interested himself
somewhat in town affairs, and served
on the school committee for several
years.
In 1892 he was called to become pas
tor of the Union Congregational
church, Marlboro, Mass, but the con-
dition of his health which had hamper
ed him all his life, convinced him that
it would be unwise to undertake the
care of that church, and was compelled
to decline.
In 1894 he was invited to become pas
tor OF the First Congregational church
in Hudson, and as this promised to
make less demand upon his stength he
accepted the call and again took up the
work he loved.
This pastorate, which proved to be
his last, continued during the following
nine years, when his increasing i'll
health compelled him to relinquish his
work, and on July 2, 1903, he preached
his farewell sermon.
his time in Hudson, hoping to the last
| that he might so far recover his health
| as to enable him to resume the work of
the ministry.
This was not to be, however, and on
p. M, his struggle with disease ended
and he was called to his reward.
While pastor of the Hudson church
he had many opportunities to accept
similar position in much large churches
in the cities of New England, the Paci-
fic coast and elsewhere, and, but for
his ill health he would undoubtedly
have long ago filled a larger place than
he was restricted to.
His career in Hudson is one that may
we'll give the greatest satisfaction to
his friends. During his pastOrate here
his church enjoyed the greatest pros.
perity in its history, gaining largely in
numbers and influence, and under his
leadership it erected a beautiful church
ediice, and from what was sometimes
thought to be only an experiment il
has taken it's place as permanent in
stitution along with the other churches
of Hudson.
As a preacher Mr.. Rackliffe held the
closest attention of his audience, moi
by oratorical display, but by the clear.
ness of his, logic, the earnestness of his
manner, his evident sincerity, and the
fact which has often been remarked,
that it seemed to each listener that the
sermon was specially designed to help
him individually.
On other occasions he was favOrite
speaker, his keen sense of humor and
his inexhaustible store of anecdotes
and illustrations making him an unus
ually entertaining and at the same
! <ip,o onookor