Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-19

tensely loyal to the young republic,
breathing the atmosphere of Washing
ton and Adams, seeing about him Il
great wilderness soon ~ be the habita-
ton of vast multitude of men and
ere long TO be the scene of the growth
of mighty civilization, and holding
the convictions and sentiments eX-
pressed in the extracts which L have
given you from some of his sermons,
should have become an enthusiastic
leader in a movement to extend the
kingdom of God and a knowledge of
Jesus Christ throughout the regions
soon to become a great commonwealth
and an important state of the Union.
We need not De surprised to find young
Gillett excrting his influence to have
ministers of the Gospel settled over the
communities scattered along the Ken
nebec and the PenObscOt and by the
sea. 1t is not surprising that largely
through his influence the Maine MIS-
sionary Society came into existence, or
that he was chosen its first secretary.
For twenty years he served as its sec
rotary without pecuniary compensation,
and when his relations as pastor OF the
Hallowell church were dissolved, he
gave his whole time to the work of the
society. and continued in its service
until his death, at the advanced age
of eighty years. Four months before
his death, at the annual meeting of the
Society, he made his appeal to the
conscience and heart of every 1ndlvld-
ual present, and to the whole body or
Christians in our Commonwealth l
am quoting his language on that occa-
sion, to awake 10 ;Inwonted effort, and
to render a willing and ready obedl-
encc to the Savior's command, so ye
into all the world and preacllRthe Cos
pei to every creature, BEGINNING AT
MAINE
1t is evident that DR.. Gillett was a
Christian statesman. He easily ranks
with the men who have been the build
ers of states and empires. To him was
given large vision. great wisdom, and
splendid administrative abilities Even
when an old man he made perilous
JOURNEYS through the wilderness, CRATE
fully shared the rude hospitality of the
settlers cabin and the campfire, and
hy public address and private con-
yarSation labored to Ivy for many gem
eratinns to come The foundations of a
Christian society and stable govern
ment. Few. George B. Little, pastor of
the First Congregational Church or
Ranger. i'm a sermon delivered at the
50th anniversary of the Maine Mission
ary Society, makes this reference t.
DIR. Ciuctt: THE Society was singh
larly favored, during the first forty-cne
wears of its existence "a very brief
period excepted. during which the same
post was ably occupied by Rev. Samuel
Jnhnscn) in the lorS Cor.inucd ana
emintntly useful and acceptable ser
vices of its chief executive officer, DR.
Gillctt His wisdom, zeal. ana fidelity
in advancing it's interests were known
and read of all men, and eXerted no
sr;all influence in conciliating for the
Society favor and patronage.
Among Dr. Gilletts printed sermons,
preserved in the Hubbard Free Libra
~ of this city, is one on the Evils OF
JrtempCrance, preached at HalloWcll on
the day of the annual Fast in Maine,
April II. 1921 / do not know where
Won VIII find an ADLER or more cXhauS-
tive treatment of the evils Of intemper-
ancc than this sermon. | can easily
ir,arinc that DR.. Gillett had much to
do by his preaching and attitude on the
subject &C temperance with the growth
ne thar nublic conscience and sentiment
in this State that finally led to the
enactment of our present prohibitory
law. 1t is gratifying to US here IN
IIaIIowoll. who revere the character
and memory of Dr. Gillett, to believe
that he was influential, with others, in
nI5cirr our beloved State in the very
front in the war that Is being WaSed
against the drink evil and in giving to
md
legislation ever enacted by any people
for the overthrow Of the saloon ana tle
do,truction of its perncious influence
in society.
Among DR.. GiIlett's printed sermons
that have attracted my attention Is
ore on Infant Baptism. preached at
Winthrop. Nc, Nov. 4. 1904, at the pap
tism of Rev Mr.. Eelden's child. IL IS
a most exhaustive and convincing
treatise on the subject, giving ample
proof of the preachers studlous haplts
and wide reading. | do not remember
of having ever read anything IN DOCK
or pamphlet more satisfactory as an
argument in defence of infant baptism
than this sermon by DR.. Giiiet''
prcaChed when he was still a young
man. ,
am profoundly impressed with me
great worth. The extraordinary ablilty
and eminent services to both state ana
Church of the man who is 50 CLOSELY
idt utificd with the first half century OF
the Maine Missionary Society. whose
onp hundredth anniversary We are eel
ebrating today. | am sure that ne
revival Of the memory of this man ana
his labors will have upon those OF US
who are assembled here for this ann
versarv occasion a most Salutatory IN
nuencc. Not only shall we be Impressed
with Il sense of our great obllgatlonS
IN him for his interchangeable laoors IN
behalf of our Lords kingdom. nut we
shall be stimulated to carry on I" per-
fection the work so we'll begun by MN
and his co-laborers. He and others by
their faith and untiring efforts gave 10
rs Of the present time this Common
wealth with it's Christian institutions
and it's refined social order and hlgh
degree of intelligence. Upon these
things AS a sure foundation rest our
spIendid material prosperity and all
orr spiritual blessings. Shall we not
no faithful and interchangeable in our
In future genera