Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-09-30
HANCOCK COUNTY ASSOCIATION COM.
PLETES FIRST CENTURY
Interesting Historical Review of the Asso-
citation and Affiliated Churches
Published.

with two windows missing entirely
and sixty-seven squares broken out
of the others, and house neither
lathed nor plastered" but, redeeming
feature, "it has a good chimney and
cellar"
Another town voted to settle "a
learned Protestant minister, provided
he will preach for four dollars and
half week." while still another
voted to give the preacher ''the loose
contributions of money in addition
to salary Of seventy-two pounds"
and he was promised eighteen
pounds additional if he should
marry"
Other towns provided for dissatis-
faction with the preacher. One voted
to retain him until three-fifths of
the people are opposed to him." and
another stipulated that he should re-
main "onIy as long as he and they
could agree" One good pastor after
ten years of faithful service, re-
quested a vacation on account of I'LL
health The vacation was granted,
but to the vote was added the hope
that so long a period would not
generally be found to be necessary"
And these old ministers gave full
measure of religion and of help to
the communities to which they were
called. AS Mr.. Brookes records from
the diary of Parson Smith of Port
land, II was one hour and half in
prayer" Think of it, you modern
church-goers, who chafe under a
forty-minute sermon and a ten
minute prayer!
In the printed history of the Han
cock Association, Mr.. Brookes car
ries the history Of religious work in
| this county down to the present. The
wealth of material permits but bare
outline, but in the selection of facts
and records that ilIumine the senti-
ments of the times, skill has been
shown.
| The Hancock Church Conference
was formed at a meeting in Bucks
port on May 10, 1925. 1t was small
beginning-four churches and three
ministers comprised the whole as
ISOLATION The churches were Blue
hill, Bucksport, Frankfort and Bel
fast, and the ministers were Rev.
Jonathan Fisher, Rev. Mighill Blood
and Rev. Mr.. SouIe.
| In 1928, the association was
united with the Waldo county con-
ference, and the name became the
Hancock and Waldo County Confer
ence. This association was continued
until 1S4S, when the conference be-
came so enlarged, that it was de-
cided to separate, and the Hancock
organization became again ''The
Hancock Church Conference" This
name survived until 1910, when it
became "The Hancock Association of
Congregational Churches and Min
| isters," as it is to-day.
| The churches Of the past day had
| their problems, even as the churches
| of to-day, many of them the same.
! For instance, in 1928, it is recorded
at the meeting of the association:
Resolved that the widespread and
! awful dissertation of the Holy Sabbath,
by members of the Church of God in
this land in the form of worldly con-
versation and business, and by travel
ing both on the sea and land, calls for
deep and general repentance, and also
for the hand of vigorous Christian dis
| cip1ine.
And again in 1890:
/. That the running of stages, boats,
l
for purposes of worldly business.
amusement, or profit, and also, the
travelling in them. on the Christian
Sabbath, are in our view, immorali-
ties. and ought to be Immediately and
| universally abandoned.
@ That the patronizing of such
establishments, in any way, in their
violations of the Sabbath, is also, in
| viz Nv
be abandoned.
| g. That it is the duty of all persons.
especially of ministers of the gospel
and professed Christians, by precept
and example, by the diffusion of infor-
nation, the exertion of kind moral in
fuence, and in all suitable ways, to Sc
cure universally. and to perpetuate, the
proper observance of the Christian
| Sabbath.
What of those sinners who did not
attend church? Read this 1ndfct-
ment from the records of the associa-
ton:
Do they sanctify the Lords day at
home? Do they read the Word OF
God? Do they take in hand the writ
| ings of the Howes, the Bakers, the
Edwardes, the Wattses the Doddridges
that have illuminated the church and
the world? Do they not rather pore
over the folio of four pages, and that
one too, which gathers up merely the
froth and scum of trifling and excited
| minds? Do they not rather while
away the time with the foul narcotic
weed of Virginia? Do they not idle out
the day by calls or company, or sleep,
or some little amusing occupations!
Do they not drive on the business OF
the world, as though life was not long
enough for the drudgery of earth!
Think of the influence under whlch
children are growing up in famlhes
that do not sanctfy the Sabbath! u
what a blank are their souls! what
night of Paganism invests them!
| What unpromising citizens or the Pup-