Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-19
DR., Merriam Surnr;eaI

II, compliment of having received
the honorary degree of Doctor of
Divinity by Colby College of which
ne was graduated in 1879, Rev.
George. Merriam, d. D. was given
a surprise party by members of the
parish of the Bethany Baptist
church which he has served most
, faithfully and we'll for over 20 years.
AT the hour appointed for the mid
week prayer service at Bethany on
Thursday evening at 100 o'clock
about 100 members Of the church
and congregation assembled at the
church and were nearly all there
when DR.. and Mrs. Merriam and
their daughter Miss Marion A. Mer-
ram, who has been teaching at
Union High school and is at home
on short vacation arrived at the
church. Mr.. Merriam and family
were greatly surprised to fine so
many apparently attending the mid
week service. There were several
beautiful boquets of summer flow
ers arranged about the church and
on the serving table in the Phila-
thea room. arranged by Miss EGfie
M. Nye and Mrs. Eugene S. Collins
OF the Flower Committee. The first
part of the evening was taken I'D hv
, 49, ~ ENi WIG ItcpI ny MI. M eT
rlam, who expressed his pleasure of
so many being in attendance and
also OF the sympathy and coopera-
ton of the Bethany people during
ms pastorate. The meeting opened
with singing 'Blest Be the Tie"
with the church organist, Mrs. Ethel
whittier Ames at the piano. DR..
Merriam read a scripture lesson
| from the 18th chapter of Luke and
gave brief talk on the Desire for
ana value of the Thing which Is
Lost, and offered prayer. The
hymns, Its Just Like His Great
Love- and Pass Me Not" were
sung. Mrs. George Otis Smith.
graduate Of Colby college and who
was instrumental in the arrange
ments Tor the evening, was the first
speaker. She told Of the honor
which had been bestower upon
Bethany pastor and described the
comforting of the degree and gave
the address of DR.. C. E. White
more, at the time Mr.. Merriam's
name was presented for the degree
and also read a greetings from DR.,
Whittemore written for the occasion
in which he said that there was no
pastor In Maine upon whom tho
whole ministry would be happier to
have this honorary degree bestowed
than Mr.. Merriam. Miss Louise II.
Coburn, graduate from Colby COL
iege and a member of the board of
trustees. spoke briefly expressing
her pleasure in the honor that had
come to the Methany pastor and
ilkew1se to the church and pledged
her allegiance anew to the church
and its pastor. Mrs. Angie B. Stew
ard most cordially voiced the appre-
citation of the Ella f. Mitchell class
OF which she is the president for the
love and interest of DR.. Merriam in
all that the class undertakes and
stated that the future would hold
more earnest endeavor on the part
of the class to be of service to the
church and its pastor Ex-Sheriff
John A. Mooers spoke from a neigh
Dor and fellow citizens standpoint
and said that the whole community
appreciated DR.. Merriam's faithful
ness and splendid service, which he
hand rendered here not only to
Bethany church and its congrega-
ton but to the community and said
to have the honorary degree of Doc
tor OF Divinity conferred upon one
OF the town pastors was aNdistinc-
tive honor. which should be treas
ured. John L. Fish, former edi-
tor Of the Independent Reporter,
spoke most earnestly In apprecia.
ton of the work done by DR.. and
Mrs. Merriam during all the years
they have resided and especially of
DIR. Merriam's friendliness to the
denomination to which he belonged,
the Universalist. which have now
only few members. and also the
great value Mr.. Merriam was to him
when he met the greatest sorrow of
his life, in the death of his mother,
Mrs. Everett T. Goodrich, who has
long wished that DR.. Merriam might
be given the honorary degree, ex-
pressed her great pleasure when she
saw the announcement in the morn
ing papers. She recalled the time
when BethanNis first pastor the
Rev. Charles V. Hanson, d. D.. re-