Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-09-13
MiddletOwn's Serious Loss.

In the departure of Rev. M. L. Beard
and family for their future home at Thur
mont, this county, yesterday, Middletown
sustairs serious loss. No town can at
ford to lose family Of nine persons,
who have been as prominently identified
with the religious and social life Of the
community as has this one, and their de-
pa.rture is in the nature Of calamity.
! Their absence will be keonly felt for a
long while to come, in both religious and
social circlcs. There may be some enc
mics Of Rev. Beard who will not agree
with these assertions, but then a mans
enemies are not the proper ones to pass
| judgment upon him.
1t cannct be denied that Rev. Beard is
ore Of the ablest theologians that Mid
d!etown has ever had During the last
two years he seemed to preach with in
creased vigor and eloGuence and his dis
courses were commented upon most high
ly by people from distance who were
competent critics. For 13 years Rev.
BEARD has been faithful laborcr among
our people, rejoicing with them upon &C.
casicns of pleasure and sorrowing with
them in times Of grief. He had warm
friends in the other congregations and
wac held in the highest esteem by an ele-
| ment who never went to church, butwho
claimed that he was their friend in time
of need One of these, a young man,
left 50 bill at the Register office one day
last week, requesting that we give it
to Mr.. Beard because he WAS friend OF
the poor and because he did our family
many favor. would like to make it
IS, but / haven't got it." We could re-
cite several other like instances. In the
departure of Rev. Beard the Reg,s!erloses
warm friend and no one sorrows over
his leaving more than do we. He has
been comforter to US in the darkest
hours of distress and to the lately de-
parted editor of the Register he was clos
or and warmer in friendship than bro
Their. The Register, like all good newspa-
pers, has always been friend of the
Minister of God, no matter Of what de-
nomination and We will continue to be.
The press ard the pulpit go hand in hand
in upholding the right and denouncing the
wrong and both are assailed by enemies
on all sides.
The loss to the town and community is
not only in the departure Of Rev. Beard
himself, but in the leaving of his family.
Mrs. Beard is an accomplished lady, a
faithful church worker and took leading
part in many of the church societies.
Miss Grace Beard jsagraduate and teach
or in elocution of rare ability and Miss
Kathleen Beard, now organist at the Re-
formed church, this place, is musician
of acknowledged skill, being graduate
of the Boston Conservatory. She is also
fine elocutionist. Miss Nellie is also
splendid in elocution. Miss Maude is a
trained nurse at the Maryland University,
Baltimore, and Miss Haidee, is student
at the State Normal School, Baltimore.
Paul is lad of about Is and John is the
baby. All Of these are held in the high
est esteem by wide circle of friends
who are grieved over their departure.
AS entertainer, of the public In elocution
and music, Misses Grace and Kathleen
will be greatly missed. 1t will be thus
readily seen by all unbiased persons, that
their leaving is misfortune to the COM
munity, as would the departure Of any
other such family be.
The Register has all along felt it jour
nalistic duty to lay before our readers, in
the local columns, full and truthful re-
port Of the deplorable conditions existing
!. in the congregation, without fear or ia
vor to either side, but we confess that
we have been ashamed of it. That such
, condition should be permitted to grow
and spread in Christian body until it
, becomes public talk on the streets and
in the shops and finally becomes 80 no
: torious that the newspapers must take
cognizance of it, is burning shame to
> the cause of Christianity and wrong
that some one or some ones, must most
assuredly be responsible for. We sin.
t cerely hope, for the good name of oul
8 town, that we may never again be called
e upon to record such a shameful condition
in any Christian body. Such troubles
= should be settled by the governing bodie!
8 of churches before they grow to such pro
: portions that they become public proper
ty.- Valley Register.