since his resignation.
The large company that gathered at the simple and impressive burial service in First Parish Church on Wednesday, January 12, is a testimony to the worth of the loved minister, and a mark of the esteem in which he was held throughout our city.
When at a recent gathering of the ministers of
Medford I was addressed as the ‘
Dean,’ I found myself almost shocked at the fact that by reason of being the longest in residence of the active pastors of the city I was entitled to that honorable name and office.
But for many years the subject of this sketch bore the name and filled the office with dignity and grace, and I can only suppose that it is because of the fact of my extended service that I have been asked to write an appreciation of the man who for nearly half a century ministered in this community.
Yet I have felt honored by the invitation, and only too glad to write something as to my own feeling about him and the place which I think he filled among us. And may I be pardoned for first giving my personal appreciation, for he was both my friend and colleague for the now nearly twelve years of my residence in
Medford.
I well recall the very cordial and friendly way in which, after he had, I think, gotten assurance of my good will for a Unitarian minister (which he had not always experienced) he welcomed me to the religious life of the city and to his own esteem.
This latter I was most glad to return.
Shortly after my settlement as the pastor of the
Mystic Church, I took the opportunity of arranging an exchange of pulpits with
Mr. DeLong, as I did also with the then minister of the Universalist Church,
Rev. Clarence L. Eaton.
This was the first time in the long history of these three churches that their respective ministers had thus exchanged.
It was also the first time that
Mr. De-
