The Republican journal., 1914-12-03

from their ancestors. II lesser evil ten
denotes can be suppressed by forming
good habits, it is worth while to note thu
effect of good habits on every class o.
human beings, even to the worst.
GEO. M. COLE.
Midway, Mass, Nov. %, 1914.
"reminiscences of Rev. Eben'
ezer Knowlton,
And Some Very Interesting bits of Loca
History.
Citypoint, Me-, Nov. 81, 1914
MY DEAR JOURNAL: In my family
there was intense interest when oul
eyes fell upon the article in this week s
Journal, written by F. F. Phillips, and
it was read with keen appreciation. 1t
was so full of comprehensive and con-
dersed information, woven upon foun-
dation of that religious principle which,
alas! we too often hear termed old fash
Toned, yet which appeals to something
that exists in every human heart like
"'lost chord" awaiting master hand to
bring forth from it the true ring OF Its
wonderful music We were Interested
also in the reference to EbeneZer knoWl-
! ton, whose name was once household
word in our home. He was one OF the
4 leaders of that band of Christian work.
ers who in early New England days
! laid the foundation for that strength and
integrity of character which will always
be the pride of her sons and daughters,
wherever throughout the length and
breadth of the world they may be locat-
ed. My father and mother in old Mont
vile days knew and honored the man
who, as Mr.. Phillips says, was
"preacher at South Montville, prefer
ring to be such to being Governor OF
Maine" and who, as l have been told,
refused to be returned to Washington as
a member of Congress. because he felt
that political life interferred with his
religious work.
Mr.. Phillips further says of Ebenezer
Knowlton: ''He was man of rare and
comm: nding gift of speech, rare graces
of heart, clear and positive in his con-
ception of ethics and the spiritual side OF
existence" He was man of power
full physique. The following story, which
may be we'll known, will illustrate his
uuickness of thought and ability to cope
with any situation, as we'll as show his
self restraint AS nearly as l can re-
member, it was told to me as follows:
Driving one day on a narrow country
road he met team, the driver OF which
did not turn out at all, but insultingly
crowded him into the ditch. When he
had done this to his satisfaction the man
stopped his horses and said: "Your name
is Ebenezer Knowlton, believe. " THAT
is nv name, sir" "And you pretend to
be a Christian, and to preach the gos-
pel?" 81 try to do that, SIR" "Well, :"
said the man, shaking belligerent list
in Mr.. Knowlton's face, ''I'm going to
tell you right now, there amt nothin' in
it. There amt nothin' in this religion.
It's all fraud and humbug." "My
friend" said Mr.. Knowlton, 'Let me
tell you this, if there was nothing in the
religion of Jesus Christ, you wouldn't be
sitting up there in the road now, and
down here in the ditch" and the narra-
tor of the story added that the man
seemed to be convinced of Mr.. Knowl-
TONS sincerity. This story serves, it
seems to me, as an example of the way
in which ignorance and materialism,
striving to crowd out of the road and
into the ditch the fine graces of spirit
ual and intellectual mind, are always
baffled by the shining forth in all its
brightness of that light which no earth
ly circumstance can dim; the light of
conscious strength and grandeur of soul
before which the materialist's cry of
"there amt nothin' in it" must grow
faint and falter on his lips.
/ Today l spent delightful hour at the
home of Capt. George 7. Osborne at the
Upper Bridge. In the days of my faith
er's business prosperity, before the fate
full time when Jay Gould cornered the
gold market and in the panic which fol-
lowed, sent him and so many others
crashing toward their financial downfall,
Capt. Osborne was one of the captains
who sailed for him out of Belfast. Not
only this but he was my fathers staunch
friend, and l think 1 may be forgiven
for saying that of all the interesting
"reminiscences to which l listened dur
ing my call today, that which pleased
me most was a story illustrating my
fathers firm principle and business hon.
or.
Of the ancient landmarks at the Up
per Bridge and on Patterson Hill, about
which it was my desire to gain informa-
ton the Osborne family gave me many
interesting facts. The discontinued,
prass-proWn road, leading east from Pat