Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-09-06
A MEMORABLE EVENT.
Bluehill Congregational Church Cele-
brates its 15Oth Anniversary


The old village~of Bluehill has, in
these last days, experienced "show-
ers of blessing in the commemora-
ton of the founding of its Congraga-
tional church. This church, which is
one of the oldest in Maine, was or
ganized by the early settlers of Blue
hill in 1872. The anniversary was,
therefore, the 150th, and was OBJ
served by services both appropriate
and impressive.
These services began on Wednes-
day evening. Aug. %, with a pro-
gram given in the church, and ar
ranged by Dr.. John J. Martin, profess
sor in the Bangor theological semi
nary and officiating summer pastor
at Bluehill. DR.. Martin was assisted
in the services by Rev. Wayne
Robson, pastor of the sister Baptist
church, who, with his people, gladly
and helpfully joined in the ami
versary celebration.
The program, which began and
concluded with music by string
quartet composed of students of DR..
Franz Kneisel. was especially de-
signed to celebrate the history of the
church and the place it has made for
itself in the life of the community.
With the exception of the musicians,
! whose services were so much appre-
! ciated. and of Dr. H. T. Fowler of
| Brown university, a summer resident
of long standing, all those taking
part were direct descendants of the
! first settlers, who in 1852 and 1868
| landed from Beverley and Andover,
Mass, on the Tide Mill island at
Bluehill Falls, and began to clear the
wilderness and to make their homes.
The spirit which led Joseph Wood,
John Roundy, Nathan Parker,
! Ebenezer Hinckley, and others. to
these shores, and which kept them
true to the staunch Puritan ideals of
! their day, is appropriately expressed
in the following poem, written for
the occasion and read by Mrs. Mary
E. Mayo, all her life resident of
Bluehill and a descendant of Joseph
Wood:
Sometimes in life we reach the place
Where, looking back. we love to trace
Along the years, the winding way
Which others trod, who. in their day,
By simple faith and courage true,
Were Building better than they
knew"
Their inspiration from afar
Came from the light of Bethlehem's
star.
While from the Man of Galilee,
Who gave His followers this decree:
Go forth into the world and teach,
Go forth into the world and preach"
Ap ina
Responsive to this last command.
And thus the circle widened more
Till Pilgrims on the Atlantic shore
Founded their homes and sowed the
seeds
OF honest toll and righteous deeds
But latent in the heart of man.
Implanted by an all-wise plan,
Sooner or later there awake
Aims and ambitions. which will make
The world seem larger than before,
And men determined to explore.
Twas thus our ancestors, we learn,
Set sail in efforts to discern
A place where they home could build,
With comfort, peace, and plenty filled.
steer,
And who shall doubt, God led them
here.
When the time past had been ten
years,
And few souls with hopes and fears,
Had, by hard labor, settled down,
And formed themselves into a town,
They missed their church, and all
agreed
That was their present utmost need.
Which they had realized from the first,
For they We're trained in early days
In Christian work and prayer and
praise.
And fourteen souls, little band,
Upon the shores of this new land,
Together pledged themselves anew,
And formed a church of God, most true.
Through storms and stress and days of
shine,
They treasured still the spark divine,
With rugged faith and steadfast heart
Each member must have done his part.
TOT more IMAM twenty years tHeTe
came
A man to lead them in Gods name,
And when a pastor was ordained,
The church nine members had attained.
When Father Fishers labors ceased,
The number largely had increased,
And through the years that followed
. on,
The generations which have gone
Their quota gave, the ranks to fill,
Depleted as by Natures will.
A century and a half has passed,
And still that early church stands fast
For, through the intervening years,
With all their changes, there appears
The guiding hand of One who leads
This flock, according to it's needs.
And from these glimpses of the past,
We gather memories that shall last
To strengthen faith that He whose
power
Joc lrA oIxx SO -