Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-18
WINTHROP.
Semi-AnnuaI Meeting Of
KennebecCong'| Churches,
Rev. Francis H. Bate Ordained
/ Pastor Of Local Church.
Interesting Services Both Afternoon
And Evening, Wednesday.

The semi-annual meeting of Ken
nebec Association of congregational
churches began at p, NJ, Nednes-
day. at the Winthrop congregational
church. The exercises were presided
over by the moderator, Rev. Langdon
Quimby, d. D., of Gardiner and the
program included fine address by
Rev. Quimby, talks by other preach
ers, fine conference sermon BY Rev.
David Jack. communion and the eX
animation of Francis II. Bates, pas
tor-elect of the church, who was or
dained at the evening session.
A large audience was present, in the
evening. The church was beautifully
decorated, the altar banked IN ny
drangea blossoms and the choir gallery
| in green and red. Bouquets of cut
| flowers were used with good effect.
The musical numbers by the double
quartet were very fine and The trio
Art Thou Weary and the solo by
Mrs MeIlroy were much appreciated.
The reading of Scriptures was by
Rev II. y. Clifford, pastor Of the
Methodist church, and Thomas Bither
gave the Invocation.
| Reports of various committees were
| heard and resolutions of thanks sub
| mitted. Minutes of the council We're
read. reporting favorably upon the
examination of Mr.. Bates.
The ordination sermon was preach
| ed by Rev. David n. Beach, president
| of Bangor Theological Seminary. and
| his text was: we Cannot But Speak
| the Things We Have Seen and Heard.
The speaker went back to the story
of the early disciples and the life of
| Christ. and pointed out the fact THAI
| they did good deeds without observ-
| ing formal rules of conduct. He laid
before his hearers in an earnest. i'm
| pressive manner the story of the life
of Christ, the things they had seen -
his life, his death. and his resurrec-
ton. He quoted many of the words
of Christ. the things they HAD heard,
and quoted the. text Il am the Vine,
we are the Branches" He spoke fine
words of appreciation of the eharac-
| ter of Mr.. Bates and called Mr.. Bates
to the platform, where the ordination
prayer by Rev. William MousIey u
Portland invoked the Divine blessine
upon the new pastor and his work
Then followed the ceremony of layins
on Of hands. The charge to the pas
tor was delivered by Rev Glaytol
Boothby. and the charge to the PEG
pie by Rev. c. +. Sargent Both wer.
! earnestly given and contained muef
good advice to pastor and people. The
| ceremonies closed with the benedic-
ton by the pastor.
Francis H. Bate is a native of Ticon-
deroga, \. Y, and got his early educa-
: ton in the school of that place. He i.
the son of humble but pious parents
and early in life felt a desire to bt
of USE and turned to the Christian
ministry. After completing his course
in the school of his home town, he en-.
tered the Bangor Theological school
from which he graduated. last June
! He accepted a call to the Congrega
tional church at Winthrop, last April
and by his ordination, last night, i:
now the pastor of this church. Fl,
will continue his studies, this fall, a
Bowdoin College.
The church of which he is pastor is
one of the oldest in the State, and has
had many able pastors, among them
being Rev. David Thurston. who pass.
led 40 years of his fruitful ministry
here. However, since his day new
edifice has been erected and was dedi-
Gated, in 1904. in connection with the
ordination of Rev a. X. Baldwin
who was pastor at the time.
Mr.. Bate since coming to Winthrop
| has made many friends by his earn
estness and his unfailing good humor
| He is,a favorte with both old and
young and his pastorate promises
| to be exceedingly successful. He is an
earnest and forceful speaker.
The quartet was composed of Mrs.
| c. w. Taggart Miss Emma Cochrane,
sopranos; Mrs. r. c. Mcllroy, Mrs. a.
II. Webb, altos; NJ. c. Edwards. r,