The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-05-29

May 90 brought the centenary of the
birth of Elijah Kellogg. 1t is a liter
AIRY anniversary that will have no
such general observance accorded it
as has been given the recent cen
tenaries of Dickens and Thackerdy,
for example, and yet in a few places
and in many hearts, 1t Is an anniyer-
sary of many cherished associations.
And 1t is far more than literary
anniversary, far more than the hum
dredth birthday of man who wrote
some 80 wholesome books for young
people and such declarations as
Spartacus to the Gladiators", Reg
illus to the Carthagenians' and others
that have been familiar to genera
ton after generation of American
schoolboys For Elijah Kellogg was
a great man as well as rare author
and wonderful orator, a man whose
life story is an inspiration.
He was great in his devotion to the
life work to which he consecrated
himself while still college boy, great
in the simplicity and saintlipess of
his busy life. and great in the un-
quenchable spirit of youth that burn
at the age of 8S. Over a period of
more than 60 years he was the be-
loved pastor of the Congregationalist
church at Harpswell, Me, and the
calls that came to him from the great
churches of the great cities could not
draw him from his work among the
fishermen, sailors and farmers of the
beautiful old coast town. He was
away for considerable periods, to be
sure, as pastor of the Seamen's
Friend Society in Boston and while
he was writing his books, but his
connection with his church never
ceased and he was with his people
at least through the summers of
these busiest years.
1t was as early as 1887 when he
was stiu in his sophomore year at
Bowdoif, that he formed the ties at
Harpswell that ended only with his
death in 1901. At that time his love
for the sea led him to spend most of
his Saturdays in a little cat-rigged
boat among the islands of Casco bay,
and particularly along the nearby
Harpswell shores. Though he was
the son of a Portland minister, he
10, and his experience fitted him for
his later work among sailors and gave
him that fund of nautical figures and
illusions that he always drew freely
upon in his writings and addresses.
He met Harpswell people in his wan
behring's along their shores, and they
came to love the sharp-eyed, brown,
wiry "colleger.' who was so earnest
and eloquent in the neighborhood
prayer meetings that he occasionally
attended. When they learned that
he was to study for the ministry they
begged him to become their pastor,
and he promised to do SO if they
would build a church. 1t was in
1874, after he had finished his courses
at Bowdoin and Andover Theologi-
cal Seminary that the church was
built and he was ordained there, and
became ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
whose fame and influence spread
across the whole land
The years spent later in Boston by
MIR. Kellogg form an important
chapter in the story of his career.
He came to Boston in 1855 to be-
come pastor of the Mariners Church
on summer street anu CDdpldlu Vi llc
Sailors Home on Purchase street, and
served in this position for 10 years,
though still regarding Harpswell as
home. Through his zeal. enthusiasm
and personal magnetism the efficien-
cy of Christian work among the sail
ors was vastly increased. and he be-
came a great power for good in the
city. Recognition of his remarkable
strength as a pastor was now coming
to him, recognition of his marvellous
eloquence as a speaker and his ex-
traordinary success in handling young
men, and one wealthy and prominent
church after another in this and
other large cities offered him its pull
pit, but he saw his duty and his
greater opportunities elsewhere; and
so the sailors Of Boston and the farm
ers and fishermen Of Harpswell con-
tinued to have the sermons and the
service that would have made Elijah
Kellogg a Beecher or a Talmage or
a Brooks in another environment.
ITO no continued npYt week.