The Somerset reporter., 1905-05-04
Welcomed Mr.. LeIfch.


portance at the Centenery Methodist
church and the ladies' Of that society ar
ranged reception and elaborate vel
come for the new pastor aud his vile.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick A. Leitch, at
their yestties, Wednesday evening Of
last week. Under the care IF the com
mt'ee On decorations, Mrs NJ swain,
Miss Olive Bussey, Miss Helen steward
and Miss Maud Merrill; the vestfes
were transformed into a reception bail
by the addition of rugs, dTaperies, potted
plants aud cut flowers. Mr. aud Mrs
W. B Steward Mr.. and Mrs J y Her-
ril, Mr.. and Mrs. r. 7. Penuell and Mr.
and Mrs. II A. Dinsmore were the re-
ception committee and W. Il Emery of
ficiated as master of ceremonies
Formal welcome u as extended to Mr..
ard MIS- Leitch by prominent members
of the society, Colonel Isaac Dyer speak.
ing for the church, II A. Dinsmore for
the Official Board and l. J. Smith voic-
L.
The pastors of the other churches OF
the town were also present, Rev. Il. F.
HuSe, Rev. B. Merrill and Rev. Geo.
Merriam and made remarks appropriate
to the occasion, indicating the pleasure
with which they welcomed Mr Leitch
to this community as a coworker with
them.
The musical program provided added
much to the enjoyment of the evening
In this, the quartet of the church, Al
bert Watson, Fred Nye. Mrs F. o. Saw
yer and Mrs, n. {. Bragg. rendered a
selection, Miss Maud Merrill sang a solo,
being accompanied on the piano by her
mother, Mrs J. y, Merrill and a song
was rendered by Miss Rose Coombs,
Miss Clara Vosmus playing the accom-
paniment. There was also reading by
Miss Marion Brainerd.
Delightful refreshments of ice cream
and cake were served, Mrs. W. C. En-
cry, Mrs. Fred French and Mrs. John
Nutting having charge of this important
department.
The reception was planned to afford
the people of the Methodist parish and
others an opportunity to make the ac
quaintance of their new pastor and this
result was most delightfully."- accomplish
ed. A large proportion of the members
of the society were present, all having
an opportunity to hear Mr. Leitch's very
apt and pleasing response to the several
gentlemen, who made the speeches of
welcome, and most of the company were
personally presented to their new pastor
and his wife.
PERSONAL NOTE.
Rev. Fred A. Leitoh, who comes from
the Old Orchard NJ K. church to serve
the Centenary NJ. E church, has been in
the Maine Conference ten years. He
was formerly Private Secretary for Su.
perintendent Van Zile on the Canadian
Pacific Railway. Leaving there to study
for the ministry he fitted at Bellevile
College, then at McGill University and
Wesleyan Theological College, Montreal
A post graduate course in political and
social science leading to the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy has been taken
and completed at the Wesleyan Univer-
sity of Illinois, his major thesis on
Morality as a Fundamental Factor in
Social Progress" being well received by
the University Senate. While student
in Montreal, Mr.. Leitoh served one of
the Congregational churches as a supply
for four years and then received a call to
a church of that denomination in Otta-
wa, the capitol of the Dominion of Cana
da.
In 1898 he was recommended by Rev.
DR. Matt Hughes of Chestnut, st. Port
land to Presiding Elder Palmer as good
fit for the West End NJ. e church, Port
land, and much TO the regret of many of
the ministers of the Canadian Confer
ence, the Rev. Mr.. Leitch transferred
his relations to Maine Methodism.