| Grafton.---The new Unitarian church was dedicated on Friday last. The dedicatory prayer was by Rev. Dr. Hill of this city. Rev. Wm. G. Scandlin, pastor of the church, preached a sermon from the text “I am the bread of life.” Mr. Scandlin was recently a missionary of the Unitarian association to the Army of the Potomac. While in that capacity he was captured by Stuart’s cavalry after the battle of Gettysburg, and compelled to make a fourteen days journey on foot to Richmond. There he was incarcerated in the infamous Libby prison. He was liberated last Autumn. Mr. Scandlin has a rather remarkable personal history. He is an Englishman, stout; hearty, intelligent and plucky; of a middle size, weighing 160 pounds, with a Roman style of face, close rimmed beard, large vitality and vivacious manner, he impresses you with an idea of force. Every thing he does is forcible. If he talks, he does it with emphasis; if he walks, his boot heels come down with a resonant thump; if he laughs the merriment is infectious. He served in the British navy ten years, then came to the United States and shipped on board a whaler for three years more. He was on board the United States Ship Ohio for one year, and was finally caught in the streets of Boston by the famous Fr. Taylor, who was so impressed by his appearance that he dissuaded him from returning to a sea life, and sent him instead to the Theological Seminary at Meadville Pennsylvania, to be educated to the ministry. He was “settled’ in Grafton when the war broke out, and refusing the lieutenant colonelcy of the 36th regiment, went as chaplain of a Massachusetts regiment. Afterward the Unitarian association made him there missionary, as before stated. |