The Republican journal., 1914-01-22
Annals of Belfast for Half
a Century.
BY AN OLD SETTLER
(Hon. VIM. G. Crosby.)
CHAPTER L. (1852.)

IaAF tlooE.J
There are many still living who will re-
member with kindness and respect the
Rev. Edward D. Very, who but shore
time previous to this date was pastor of
the Baptist Church in this place. He
was drowned near Horton, N. S., on the
Sth of June He was on his return from
Cape Blomidon, where he had been with
party consisting of Prof. Chapman and
four students of Acadia college, for the
purpose of collecting specimens of the
minerals found in that locality, when the
boat in which they were was upset and
they were ALL with one of their two
boatmen, drowned. Mr.. Very was grad
uate of Dartmouth and studied theology
at Bangor. His untimely death was
much deplored by his numerous friends
here and elsewhere.
Rev. William rockingham, for TWEEN
ty-eight years pastor of the Unitarian
Society in this place, died on the oath of
June in his seventy-siXth year. He was
buried from the Unitarian Church. which
was draped with the emblems of mourn
ing, on the Sunday following; the fun
eral services were conducted by his sue
cessor in the pulpit, Rev. DIR. Palfry.
Mr.. rockingham was born in Cam
bridge, Mass, March IA, 1777, gradu-
ated at Harvard in 1899, and was first
settled at Saugus, Mass, about 1904.
He first came to this place as teacher
and missionary in 1917; at that time the
stated religious services of the society
to which he minstered were held in the
academy. In the spring Of 1918 he was
invited by the Society to become their
settled minister. That invitation he ac-
copied in the spring following, and on
the 21st of July he was duly installed.
He continued to be their pastor until the
spring of l947, when by reason of declin-
ing health he was compelled to relinquish
the duties of his office. The last sermon
he wrote was prepared for Fast Day.
April Sth, but was never preached. He
was not an eloquent preacher. but there
was a simplicity of style and sincerity of
purpose in his discourses which were far
more effective in producing permanent
results than any mere oratorical display
ever can be- He was not controver-
sialist, but sought rather to follow after
the things that Gfke for peace and
things wherewith one may edify another.
No breath of censure ever furnished his
character and his memory is cherished
with love and respect by all who knew
him.
On the 10Th of the same month Henry
Clay died in Washington. He also, like
the venerable clergyman above noticed,
was born in 1777, on the twelfth day of
April. On the receipt of the sad intelli
gence the Wing flag was displayed draped
with Grape, and the Democratic flag was
set at half mast. At sunset minute guns
were fred and the bells were tolled.
One more, and the list of those the ter
mination of whose earthly pilgrimage
this year we have to chronicle is ended.
Daniel Webster died in Marshfeld, Mass,
on the morning Of the oath of October.
On receipt of this intelligence, in the
morning of the day following, general
feeling of sadness seemed to pervade all
classes in our community. The flags on
the Democratic and Wing fag-staffs
foated at half-mast during the day; the
flag over the office of the Republican
Journal and the revenue ensign on the
Custom House were trimmed with Grape.
At half past twelve O'Clock minute guns
were fired and the bells on all the church.
es were tolled. The last words of the
diving statesman, 81 still live!' acquired
a new Significance; they became pro-
phetic. The universal expression of sor-
row at the announcement of his death
demonstrated that he still lived, as he
always will live, in the memory of his
countrymen.
Fourth of July being Sunday was
celebrated on the fifth. A national sa-
lutte was fired at sunrise, noon and SUM-
set The national ensign with the names
of the Wing candidates for the Presi-
dency and vice Presidency-Scott and
Graham attached, was displayed from
the Wing flagstaff erected on the Sat-
urday preceding at the foot of Franklin
street. The flagstaff was 12O feet in
height and stood, although like the party
erecting it sadly shorn in dimensions, un-
til May 5. 1874. Having "outlived its
usefulness and having come to be re-
garded dangerous in consequence of its
increasing tendency towards the north
it was then taken down. Hydrant Com
pany, No. 2, with full ranks, about sixty
men, and in full uniform, red shirts trim
med with blue, glazed hats and belts,
marched through the principal streets in
the forenoon, and at the termination of
their parade we're entertained at the