Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-08-22

TO the Church and Sunday School. Blue
hii, Maine, Greeting'
III could be with you in bodily form I
would greatly ENJOY myself. I am with you
in spirit and by your kind invitation am
bsnpy TO address you by letter. rejoice
with you in commemoration OF the past
and a portrayal OF the value OF the gospel
which the church and Sunday school OF
my heart maintains and perpetuates.
God bless you, one and all.
This Institution, the home OF my earlier
years, is very precious to me. Had ] the
wealth Of Rockefeller at my command,
its money value would not compensate for
its influence upon my life and character.
II was here that 1 learned to reverence
Gods house. Here | was taught the
sacredness of the Lords day. Here I
found the value OF the redemption through
the blood of Jesus Christ.
At the sufforance OF this church I was,
with eleven others, forty years ago the
the twelfth OF this month, buried with
Christ in Baptism. Some OF the number,
trest, will be, by my recountal, reminded
of that happy day and its significance
At the altar, Rev. Jared Eveleth extended,
in behalf OF the church, the right hand OF
fellowship. The years have passed, but
the fellowship can never die.
Here and then / partook for the first
time Of the emhlems OF the Lords memo
rial supper. What host OF memories rise
a. look by spiritual sight into the faces OF
that blessed company and hear, "Blest be
the tie that binds" from voices that now
know the biessedness OF kindred minds in
the Church triumphant. / should weary
you in recounting scenes OF earlier days II
followed my inclination. Therefore /
will mention only such facts as have be-
come part OF myself.
The church structure has undergone
many changes, but every part of the old
and new is a reminder OF sacred events.
nv FIRST Sunday school teacher was, at
that day, Mrs. Mehitabls osgooa. To her
recited for my lesson, instead of the
verse my mother taught me, "will you
walk into my psrior, said the spider to the
av." MY teacher was impressed and the
scholars convulsed. but that lesson have
repeated TO many a Sunday school since
that day and drawn thcrefrom many a
moral The spider and the fly game is too
much part Of humanity TO be lightly re-
garded.
The pastor and superintendent at that
day was Rev. Lyman Chase, and one Of mis-
Illustrations is fresh in my memory to-
day. On the cover OF the record book was
letter "Y'', which he used as a picture OF
the pathway OF life. All start on the same
path. At the juncture OF the letter is a
chance to choose the broad or the narrow
road. could not have been more than
four years old, but the impress is endur-
ing. In this pastor beheld my picture OF
Jesus Such tribute indicates the valse
Of early training.
The first pulpit was high, and TO me
seemed like the throne OF Solomon. And
such men as Lyman Chase and James Gil
patrick gave proverbial instruction. Since
their days heard the teaching of A.
Snyder, w. II. Kclton, Jared Eveleth, j.
II. Taylor, c. @. Harwood and Samuel
Woodbury.. The first pews were high,
with hinged doors. Families recalled by
the names Hinckiey, osgood, Holt, Gray
Stevens, Grindle, Cushing, Slower, Saun-
ders, Wood, Dodge, are before me in MEM
orys chain. The sexton, the chorister,
the descons, superintendents and teachers,
each and all recall influences and i'm
pressions OF value.
The choir loft or gallery served double
purpose. II was the seat Of authority in
music and was often used as a lecture room.
The vestibule below was sometimes used
for prayer and conference meetings. Here
asked the prayers of Gods people and
gave my life TO Christian living and serv-
ing. During my service as superintendent
had for helpers DR.. X. Z. Grindle, Ii. A.
Trip, Addie Hinckley, Rev. and Mrs.
Woodbury., J. Y. Grindle and Ella A.
Slower.
During the year 1885 the average at
tendance was ninety-one and collections
averaged sos. During this year Deacon
Jonah Dodge died, ON Feb. q, and on the
18th, one week later, his companion
Joined him in the better land. On the
day OF her death Theodore Stevens was
buried. In a single week three OF our
best workers were promoted.
My relations with the school are among
the hsppiest of my life experiences. The
resolutions OF the school sent to me while
seeking health in Florida have been cher
ished as token of love and appreciation.
The teachings of this institution are
part of myself.
One scene wish had the power to por-
tray as beheld it. In pew thirty-seven Is
group of happy faces. In the inner end
sits the sweetest woman ever knew l
call her mother. At the head OF the pew is
my foster-father, while between sit mem
bers of my family. From the pulpit see
halo of Joy about that mothers lace
while CLEAN of pride lights up the
fathers face. IT'S happy day for US ALL
Prayers are answered, and for the hrst
and last time they hear their boy preach
the word. .'God be merctful to me, sim