The Republican journal., 1921-05-05
Rev. A. E, Wilson Resigns

The annual meeting of the First Parish,
Unitarian, church and parish was held at
the church Monday afternoon, when the
following officers and committees were
elected: Moderator, Arthur Ritchie; clerk,
Charles S. Bickford; treasurer, James H.
Howes; standing committee, Elmer A.
Sherman, Arthur Ritchie, j. w. Blais-
dell, Charles R. Coombs, Irving T. Dins-
more, Giles G.. Abbott, Mrs. James H.
Howes, Mrs. Fred T. Chase; ushers,
Frank /. Wilson and c. S. Bickford; !;
trustees, Charles W. Frederick, Elmer A.
Sherman and James H. Howes; commit
tee on church property, Elmer A. Sher-
man, Arthur Ritchie and James C. Dur
ham; music, Miss Charlotte w Colburn,
Mrs W. B. Swan, Mrs. B. H. Conant,
Miss E. Maude Barker and c. w. Fred
erick; collector, Mrs. Geo. l. keating
The following letter was received:
Belfast, Maine, May 2, 1921.
hereby hand you my resignation as
minister of the First Parish of Belfast,
to take effect August first, this year.
| give you this three months notice so
that you may know my intentions and
act upon them at the annual meeting of
the parish.
On August first l shall have served
six and half years, time full of in
teresting experiences and many pleasant
memories and always with only the
friendliest relations between parish and
minister. 1t is not easy to sever such
relations with the parish and the COM
munity, YET | feel that it should be done.
With all best wishes for the welfare of
the First Parish and with kindliest re-
CARDS toward all of its members, l am,
Sincerely yours,
ARTHUR E. WILSON
After reading the letter committee
consisting of Mr.. James H. Howes, Mrs.
James C. Durham and Miss Charlotte w.
Colburn was appointed to confer with
MI. Wilson and ask him to reconsider
and remain as pastor of the First Parish
feeling that prompted the endeavor Mr..
Wilson very courteo usly declined to re-
main.
His pastorate here will close August
first and his new pastorate at the Third
Religious church of Dorchester, Mass
will begin September list.
Mr.. and Mrs Wilson will leave Belfast
with the love and esteem of many out
side their own church circle and will take
with them the best wishes of all. Both
have had part in the city's public life
since coming here. Mrs. Wilson has es-
pecially endeared herself to the children
and young people. Mr.. Wilson has been
for some time known as "Belfast's Bird
Man" and more recently has been callec
to larger cities for lectures. The Worces.
ter, Mass, Telegram of April 23rd in par
says of his visit:
Listeners at the lecture of the Bird Fes.
tival yesterday afternoon and evening at
| The North High sch2ci could have shut
! their eyes and believed they were far Out
| in the country. When Arthur E. Wilson
whistler, gave limitations of various birc
songs and calls one was tempted to think
the birds were concealed on the platform
| Il be meadow lark, the red winged black
bird, the flicker, the song sparrow, the
gold finch, the .chewink followed in quick
| succession. The robin and the bluebird
/ the chickadee and white throated sparrow
were among the most friendly. MIR. VIII
son spoke of the sand piper. as the rag
time walker among birds, because of it
queer patter along the sands. Its call h,
suggested, might be translated as 1--WE
feet, wet feet"
In the afternoon the enthusiasm of tn
children over the bird calls knew n
bounds, and during the moving pictur
most of the small boys in the hall had al
ready begun to practice.