The Republican journal., 1905-09-28
A CHURCH CENTENNIAL.
Rev. Alfred johnson Installed Pastor of the
Congregational Church Sept 26. 1905.

Rev. Alfred johnson Installed Pastor of the
Congregational Church Sept. 25. 1905.
At the North Congregational Church last
| Sunday morning the pastor, Rev. D. L.
Wilson, spoke of the fact that Monday,
September 25th, was the centennial ami
versary of the installation into the pastor
ate OF the church of Rev. Alfred johnson,
who continued in the charge for seven
years. Mr.. Wilson said that the event was
especially noteworthy as members of the
family had been in attendance at the
church up to the present time. William
sons History says: "For nearly three years
after the dismissal of Mr.. Price (1S02) no
! regular preaching was maintained, although
an annual appropriation for the purpose
continued to be made. In 1905 the Rev.
Alfred johnson passed a season here, with
so much satisfaction to the people that, in
August OF that year, the town, by vote of
fifty to five, cOncurred with the church in
giving him call. 1t was voted to give him
a salary of 500 per annum SO long as he
shall remain their gospel minister. Will
liam Crosby, William Moody and Jonathan
Wilson were appointed to communicate the
wish of the town to Mr.. johnson, who ac-
cepted the invitation, and was duly in
stalled September 25, 1905. John Huse,
Samuel Brown, Asa Edmunds, James Mil
ler and James Badger were chosen by the
town to act as marshals on the occasion.
The services took place in the west meet
ing-houSe. No record of them or of the
proceedings of the installing council are to
be found" An account of Mr. JOhnson's
life and family history follows. He was
descended in the fifth generation from
Captain Edward johnson, who arrived at
Salem, June u, 1880, in company with Gov
ernor Winthrop and others. Obadiah, one
of the great grandsons of Edward, moved
to Plaintield, where Alfred was born, July
%, 1866. After graduating with the high
est honors at Dartmouth college in 1855 he
studied divinity with different ministers
and was ordained at Freeport, Me-, Decem-
Der 29, 1889, where he lived until he came
to Belfast. He represented Freeport in the
General Court of Massachusetts in 1871,
and was one of the founders of Bowdoin
College, and for seventeen years member
of its board of government; position
which has since been filled by his son and
grandson of the same name He resigned
from the ministry in 1918, but he remained
here, preaching occasionally until he died
on January II, 1887, aged seventy He
married Sarah, daughter of Gen. Ralph
Cross of Newburyport, May %, 17SS Their
only children were Judge Alfred johnson
and Ralph c. johnson. Wiliamson's His
tory again says: "'Mr. johnson, remarks
Crosby's Annals, was no ordinary man.
In other circumstances, in some broader
field, he would have been recognized as a
power He was a bold, strong thinker,
thoroughly fearless and independent man.
He was man of commanding presence, Of
great physical power, ami endowed with a
voice which, when occasion called, rang
like trumpet. Mr.. johnson was learned
man in his profession, too learned, prob
ably, for the congregation to which he
miniStered. He was Il man of stubborn
facts, and though he had not the art to
make his bearers weep, he had the power
to make them trembe''