The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-01-20
The Congregationalists' Cen
tennial.

The issue of The CongregationaHst
and Christian World of Jan. 6, 1916. is
Centennial number. concentrating in
noteworthy fashion the completion of
one hundred years of continuous journal
istic life. The Congregationalist is not
only the first religious newspaper started
in the United States, but the oldest reli-
gious journal in the world. 1t had its be-
ginning IN the Boston Recorder, the first
number of which was issued Jan. 3,lS16,
by Nathaniel Willis, formerly of Port
land. The Recorder absorbed many pa
pers and in 1867 was consolidated with
in 1S49, and is the continuation of at
least a dozen other papers which -four
| ished for time in other parts of the
country. 1t has had from the first the
ablest editors and writer's of the day and
while published in Boston is Nation wide
in it's influence and has subscribers in all
S ates of the country and in many for
| eign lands. 1t is the recognized organ
/ of the 5000 churchessand $50, 900 COM
muncants that compose the Congrega-
| tional denomination in the United States.
| The Congregationalist is now owned by
/ the Congregational Sunday School and
| Publishing Society and controlled by a
! board of directors of which President M
! L. Burton of Smith College is chairman.
! Its editor-in chief is Rev. H. A. Bridg-
man, D. D., and the associate editors
are Rev. Isaac Ogden Rankin, Mr.. Rolfe
! Colbeigh and Rev. p T. Farwell.
This issue of The Congregatonalist is
of local interest because of the sixteen
years connection with the paper of Miss
! Frances j. Dyer of this city. In "Sixty
Years Memories of The Congregation
alist, writing of the business and edi-
torial stats, Rev. c. c. Carpenter speaks
of miss Dyer, the gifted home edi-
tor. - Her portrait appears with those
of Cyrus Hamlin, Nelson Dingley and
Harriet Prescott Spofford (all Maine
people, and other contributors; and her
name is in the Roll of Living Graduates,
with her term of service-1881-1S97
Miss Dyer contributes the following:
My first introduction to The Congre-
gationalist was when l entered the Ip-
switch Female Seminary. All the FIRST
families in town seemed to be among
its subscribers, and they had way Of
referring to it as an authority second
only to the Bible. When Lucy Larcom,
our literature teacher, contributed a
poem, or "Gail Hamilton" near neigh.
Dor, one of her trenchant essays, local
pride famed into a bright blaze. This
attitude of awe towards a mere newspa-
per, and the Difference paid to literary
achievements, made a deep impression
upon crude school girl. l vaguely won
! dered if my name would ever be consid-
cred ''worthie to be fyled'' on the "eter-
nal beadroll'' of The Congregationalist
contributors. A few years later l tim
| idly climbed the stairs of the Office on
! Cornhill and off cred my first manuscript
| to Ellen M. Stone. 1t was accepted and
| received a check for three dollars and
years subscription to the paper. In
due time | succeeded Mrs. Bolton as as
sociate editor, and spent sixteen years in
work which brought most enriching
friendships, greatly enlarged my hori-
ION of thought, and gave me new spir-
itual outlook
| May The Congregationalist long con-
tinue thus to minister to each new gen
! GRAFTON of young women.
| Brookline, Mass,