Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-04-11

I
sometimes even under what would have
been serious hindrances and discourage
ments to other men.
When he was ordained the church had
twenty~three members, and steadily grew
in influence for the next ten years until
the number had reached nearly hundred.
I In the beginning Of 1903, Mr.. Fisher
noted in his record 'srhat much exertion
Z was made by the itinerant Methudists 10
I Introduce their peculiar tenents. much re-
cmbling those of the Ancient Pelagians.
Numbers iiecked after them. The pastor
felt u TO be his daty to attend their meet
ings and pub sIy state what he believed
to be the tru., in opposition to error dis
semminaso The result was favorable
beyond ~6pectation, and the current
toward. The Methodists subsidized
"Ai.-r this, till near the close of 1904, the
church was quiet except some trying
cases OF discipline, but in the close of
this year it began to be manifest that the
Rev. Mr.. Merrill, Of sedgwick, was falling
away to the Anti Redo Baptist senti-
ments. This led the way to division of
the church In Sedgwick and Blue Hin.
Dec. 9Th, 1901, one Of the sisters OF the
church in Blue Hill requested dismission
from the church on account Of being dis
satisfied with her baptism, which was the
first instance OF the kind that had occurred
ia the place. It was agreed generally thae
dismission in sEch case could not be
granted.
"Msreh nth, 1905, Brother and Sister
offered reasons and withdrew from the COM
munion OF the church; their reasons were
that they considered baptism to be the
only door OF admission to the church and
that immersion after believing Is essential
TO baptism. During this year other
Brothers and Sisters followed this ex-
ample, until the number amounted to n.
''Feb. 10, 1906, Seventeen OF those who
had thus withdrawn were formed into a
Baptist church, and after this generally
held meetings by themselves. April LIST,
isii, the whole number which had with
drawn themselves from the Redo Baptists
and joined the Baptist church in Blue
Nm previous to this date was forty-one;
| four Of these after withdrawing returned"
| This left a membership TO MIR. Fishers
church OF thirteen males and twenty
eight females; total forty-one.
several OF those Withdrawn to the
Baptists have removed from the town, two
OF them have been ordained as Baptist
ministers, men Of good character but OF
small education"
At the close OF the year 1870, the number
OF members In Mr.. Fishers church was
lightweight; residing out OF town thir-
sevcnty-five.
This was q. trying time to Mr.. Fisher,
but notwithstanding what his thoughts
might have been he never said an UNI
Christian word against those who went
out from his communion to form the
Baptist church OF the iowa. On the con-
trary, he has left on record his estimate of
them As OF being of good character.
Mr.. Fisher was OF unblemished Chris
tian character, and he tried to carry his
own standard into the church OF which he
was the houored pastor for so many years.
The records OF the church were written
out by him, beginning August IL, l7s6,
and ending August %, 1887, in full, and
show how carefully he attended to every
detail, and how, with unfiinching recti-
tude, he sought TO correct the errors OF err
ing members. In SONS particulars the
record is too minute, and might well have
been abridged TO the benefit OF the church
and its membership, but that was not his
way of dealing with facts. Hts way was
to record all that took place in the church
meetings in the plainest language, where
matters of discipline were being consid-
cred, whatever reader. in after time might
think or infer therefrom.
He was Just as particular TO record any
| matter concerning himself or family that
was called IN question, as OF matters per-
tanning to others. The writer, by way of
illustration, quotes from the record as fol-
| lows:
"March ., 1880. The Brethren of the
church met at the Meeting house to make
inquiry concerning an alleged contradIc-
ton between Mr.. and Mrs. Fisher on the
subject OF some cherry rum thrown away
| between them. Mrs. Savage states that at
the church fast, speaking about the diff
cuities in the church, she mentioned re-
ports concerning cherry rum thrown away.
Mrs. Fisher said we had demijohn in the
cellar. / brought it up and asked Mr..
Fisher what should do with it? He said,
"what / was a mind to-" emptied it out.
That she asked Mrs. Fisher If MIR. Fisher
did not dig hole and help her empty it.
She said, ''no, l emptied it myself. Mr..
Fisher had no hand in it, In this con-
versation Mrs. F. said she had heard that
she had been Obliged to empty 1t.
"Mrs. Edith Hinckley stated the same
in substance more briefly. Dea. Seth
Hewins stated that Mrs. Fisher had said
10 him that there was story in circula-
ton that Mr.. F. made her empty the
cherry rum, but she said the empting OF
il was a voluntary thing, but does not re-
| v,a,,, I,er xybather she said ghe emDtied ii