Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-08-04
sURRY "REMINISCENCES.
Another Letter on Religious Discus
sion Of Old Days.

sion Of Old Days.
| (By DR.. r. L. Grindle, Mt. Desert, for
thirty years chairman of the Han
cock County Republican committee.)
In a former letter I made the
statement that in Surry, seventy
years ago, every man, woman and
child was either Baptist, a
Methodist, Universalist, or an Ad-
ventist, and wrote something
about the Adventists. In this letter.
will write of the sayings and doings
| of people of the other denomina-
tions.
The Universalists were few in
number, but very active. They had
no church or preacher, but they all
took the Gospel Banner. This was
a Universalist paper published in
Augusta by man named Quimby.
The good Christians of other de-
nominations used to call him "Old
| pug-nosed Quimby." The Universal
lists read this paper much more than
their bibles, for they said cit gives
spiritual food to our hungry SOULS
They meant, is gives us material for
argument, for they were always go
| ing for those who believed in future
punishment, or "etfrnal torment"
as they called it,
| Their argument was this: "GOd Is
( love, and a loving God cannot tor
ment those whom he loves" But
the others were ready with an
answer. They said: 1.-The word of
God says He will punish the wicked
and we believe it is better to believe
| kr,,th than vOnr lies ~
The Baptists and Methodists had
| churches, and always supported
their local preacher, and so it was
between these two denominations
that the warmest discussions took
place. They sometimes complimented
each other. TIE Methodists called
their rivals "Hard-shell Baptists"
and the Baptists retorted with the
compliment, ignorant, shouting
Methodists."
They discussed such subjects as
election, REORGANIZATION, total de-
pravity, and future punishment, but
oftener it was a dispute about bap-
tism. Men, women and very young
people participated in these discus
siOns.
A Baptist boy was trying to con-
vince a Methodist boy, and he said:
Seth, the Baptist is the best, be-
cause it is religion which will hold
water and stand fire. Now fire is a
good thing to bring sinners to re-
pentance, and when it has done its
work, put on the water and wash
them clean. Seth, the Methodists
have plenty of fire, but don't use
enough water, and so, it keeps grow
ing hotter and hotter, and the result
will be that all will become Uni
versalists to escape too much fire."
Seth made no reply, but it did not
convert him. 1 know that, for later
in life I went to sea with him and
he was still a Methodist. He once
said to me: "My favorite is that
hymn which begins I love to steal
while away and the best part OF
it is the first four words, love to
steal. -" 1 said, "Why, Seth, is that
the kind of Christian you are?'
'No. but it is the kind of Methodist |
1 am"
On some of our voyages Seth's
father. Uncle Jake" sailed with us. |
He was a Methodist and consistent |
Christian. He read his bible and
prayed and lived Christian life. !
He had on board an old singing
hook. the American Vocalist, and
on pleasant days would sit on the
deck-load of lumber and sing bass.
There was no melody, but ne called
it singing.
He picked UP newspaper con-
tanning an advertisement OF mar
dye. The advertisement read: This
hair dye will change gray hair to
beautiful, glossy black"
Uncle Jake said: 81 don't believe
a word of it, for the bible says you
can't make one hair white or
black, and what the bible says is
true"
There are those to-day who say
that what the bible says is not true,
but that is nothing new. There
have always been such. 1t will be In
the future as in the past. They Will !
make little noise and amuse some |
people with their silly talk, but on
the great ocean of consistent and
conservative Christian belief, they |
will not make perceptible ripple.
knew a young man in Shrry who
was fitting for college at Bucksport |
SEMINARY AuOIc was 4ui'0
ligious atmosphere at the school.
The teachers were all very religious,
and this young student became in
terested and told the principal of the
school that he wanted to be bap-
tized. Mr. Crawford said "Well,
we can baptize you in our church"
"But l want to be immersed"
Mr.. Crawford asked: What are
your parents?" He said: my
father is a Congregationalist and my
mother a Methodist, but I have al
ways attended the Baptist church,
and II once heard Deacon
Frederick Jarvis say: They went
down into the water and they came
up out of the water, and were buried
in baptism, and 1 think that is the
kind I need"