USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > Centennial history of The First Baptist Church of Waterville, Maine > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019
https://archive.org/details/centennialhistor00phil
GEN
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02079 2682
To um
Gc 974.102 W31p Philbrick, Minnie Smith. Centennial history of The First Baptist Church of Waterville, Me. she loved.
this book is given. Frank . Pilerick
-
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH WATERVILLE, MAINE
НОЯШНО ТИТЧАЯ ТЕЯН АНТ ANIAM AJJIVANTAW
12 90
1818 1918
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WATERVILLE, MAINE
By MINNIE SMITH PHILBRICK
WATERVILLE, MAINE. FRANK B. PHILBRICK 1 925
Allen County Public Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Copyright, 1925 By Frank B. Philbrick
FOREWORD
When the First Baptist Church of Waterville, Maine, arranged for the celebration of its Centennial, it selected Mrs. Minnie Smith Philbrick, wife of Deacon Frank B. Philbrick, as Church Historian to write its Centen- nial story. It was a fitting choice. To the church she had given a lifetime of enthusiastic service, and in the same spirit she entered upon her task.
Minnie L. Smith was the daughter of Professor Samuel King Smith, D.D., forty-two years Professor of Rhetoric in Colby College. Of masterly mind, elo- quent tongue, and tender heart, Professor Smith is held in grateful memory by a throng of men who have travelled farthest in life's attainment since student days.
In a home enriched by culture, love, loyalty, and religion, the children grew up; one, George W., to be President of Colgate University, another, William Abbot, to be teacher, editor, and pastor; the three daughters to be teachers all, one subsequently becoming the efficient Librarian of the Waterville Public Library.
For several years Miss Smith was a teacher in the Waterville High School, proving herself a real teacher by her mastery of her theme, her quick discernment of her pupils' powers, and her devoted endeavor to impart not only instruction, but inspiration.
In 1898 she became the wife of Deacon Frank B. Philbrick, and their ideal home soon came to be a center of Christian social life and of rare hospitality.
FOREWORD
She held influential place in the many organizations of the women of the city who sought to minister to its higher life, to abate its evils, and to relieve its poor and suffering.
"The best loved woman in the city"-one who knew her best said, "she was a wonderful friend."
This quality appeared in her relations with every one of the great Sunday School class of over 100 members that she had gathered and taught as a glad ministry. The church has had no member who loved it more or was more ready to labor for its good and its extending interests.
To the Christian World Kingdom and its work of missions she gave love, prayer, effort, and money, with generous hand.
Her sudden death, Feb. 26, 1924, brought sorrow to the church and the entire city and made it necessary that another hand should carry this work through the press.
Deacon Philbrick makes this publication possible, but while the last work of her pen so clearly reveals the spirit of her life, the real memorial of Minnie Smith Philbrick is in the lives that she enriched by her friend- ship and brought to clearer faith and hope and joy.
EDWIN C. WHITTEMORE.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, WATERVILLE, MAINE
ITS CENTENNIAL HISTORY
NE day a little over a hundred years ago (Aug. 27, 1818) a small company of men and women gathered together in a house where the Elmwood Hotel now stands. There were among these the President of the new "Maine Literary and Theological Institution"-now Colby College, his wife and five students just come to Waterville with them for study. These twenty had come to the house of President Chaplin for the purpose of forming them- selves into a Baptist Church, and came bringing letters of dismission and recommendation from their respective churches, Sidney and Bath in the District of Maine (Maine did not become a state until 1820) and from Massachusetts and Connecticut.
They chose Rev. Asa Wilbur of Sidney, Moderator, and Rev. Otis Briggs of North Yarmouth, Scribe. The letters were presented and accepted. Articles of Faith, others of Church Discipline, and a Covenant had been prepared beforehand and were read and unanimously voted to be the Constitution of the Church.
After this had been done adjournment was made to the (Town) Meeting House, and recognition services were held, Rev. Otis Briggs preaching the sermon, and
5
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
Rev. Mr. Wilbur giving the right hand of fellowship. The report closes thus-"It was a pleasant and solemn occasion." Thus a single page and scant words are the record of an eventful day for the Waterville of that time, equally so for the Waterville of today, and of largest significance to its entire future; the record of a transaction fraught with greater moment to many souls than any earthly tongue can tell, or any mind can fathom. This took place not quite two months after Dr. Chaplin, his family and his students arrived in town and started the Institution. They found here no organized church and the only Meeting House in the village was used alike for all secular purposes and occasionally for religious services. It was on the 25th of June that they reached Waterville, and soon after Mrs. Chaplin wrote a friend in Danvers, Massachu- setts, from which place they had come-"We have not been destitute of Christian company, quite a number have been to the house, although but a few reside in the village, nor are they destitute of places of public worship. We were so happy as to find that Waterville contained two, though neither of them elegant or com- pletely furnished. The one in the village is about as large as the one at Danvers. The frame is good, the floor pews finished, but the upper part is yet without pews. Some think it will be finished, others think after a while another and better one will be built in a more eligible spot and this one then taken for some other purpose." This church was the one in which the recog-
6
BAPTIST CHURCH OF WATERVILLE, MAINE
nition services of the new church were held and is now the armory, standing at that time where the City Hall stands at the present time. Mrs. Chaplin goes on to say: "This people seem as though they had been as sheep without a shepherd. The man who formerly preached to them (and to the people at Winslow) is said not to favor experimental religion and two years ago they agreed to give him $1200 not to preach to them any more. $800 of the money is already paid. They now generally seem pleased with the idea of having preaching constantly, and we hope that the de- sire will continue and increase. Before the Sabbath a number of gentlemen waited upon Mr. Chaplin and requested him to preach in the Meeting House, he accordingly did and began his preaching among them by discoursing upon the love of God to sinners, John 3, verse 16. On the second Sabbath more people at- tended than on the first and more it is said than have been in the house for three years past. Christian friends from a distance of two, four and six miles attended. We have been pleased to observe the atten- tion with which the congregation listen to the solemn services of the day, and were also gratified to observe the almost perfect stillness in the streets on the Sabbath. One man has been to converse with Mr. Chaplin and wishes to be baptized. Mr. Chaplin told him he would rather wait until he could make inquiries relative to his character, as he was a stranger to him. The man acquiesced, and thought it for the best. Upon inquiry
7
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
it is found that his character is very good, and his religion not doubted. Probably he will soon be bap- tized. Since we have come a weekly meeting has been established on Thursday evenings which is held part of the time at our house and the other part at the schoolhouse, which is more in the center of the village. There is also a monthly prayer meeting established. Last evening, which was July 16, the meeting was at our house. Quite a number of people attended."
The house which witnessed the forming of the church, and in which so many prayer and business meetings were held those first few years was known as the "Wood's House" and was situated where now the Elmwood Hotel stands.
The Church Covenant is not materially different from that of the present time. The Articles of Faith adopted by the new church are eleven in number, writ- ten in very dignified English and being much the same as those of today. But the articles of Church Dis- cipline, number 25, which they voted and subscribed to, are such as no church of the present day would allow. They are rather interesting, although in some parts somewhat appalling. Thus:
Art. 5. "The officers of the church are Elders and Deacons. The former are appointed to superintend its spiritual concerns, the latter its temporal."
Art. 6. "Elders are of two sorts, such as rule only and such as not only rule but also labour in word and doctrine. The latter for distinction's sake and in com- pliance with custom may be called 'Pastors.'"
8
.
BAPTIST CHURCH OF WATERVILLE, MAINE
Art. II. "It is incumbent on the Pastor and other Ruling Elders to watch over the church as those who must give account to God. They should visit the mem- bers as often as is practicable, converse with them on spiritual subjects, especially on the state of their souls, and should labour to reclaim such as have gone astray, to comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, confirm the wavering, enlighten the ignorant, and exhort all the members to be steadfast, unmovable, always abound- ing in the work of the Lord, etc."
Art. 14. "It is the duty of the deacons to take charge of the church's stock, to provide the sacred ele- ments and serve at the Lord's table, to inquire into the situation of the indigent members and supply their wants as far as may be, to visit the Pastor once, at least, in three months, to inquire into his temporal cir- cumstances and proffer him their assistance in the management of his secular concerns. They should also endeavor to ascertain whether the members of the church do as much for the support of the Gospel as their ability will permit."
Art. 20. "No person ought to be received into the church when application is first made unless the mem- bers are unanimously in favor of his admission. If there be one or more dissenting voices, the matter should be postponed for a month, at the expiration of which, the candidate may be admitted if three fourths of the members are in favor of it."
Art. 21. "If when the question is first put relative
9
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
to the exclusion of a member, the members are not unanimous in voting for it, a decision ought to be de- layed for one month, at the expiration of which, the said person may be excluded if two thirds of the mem- bers present are in favor of it."
Art. 22. "The following are some of the offences for which a member, if guilty of them, ought to be considered as worthy of censure and (if satisfaction is not obtained in a reasonable time) of exclusion from the church."
First: The holding of any fundamental error, or denial of any of the essential doctrines of the Gospel.
Second: This second set of offences are those out- standing sins for which all churches of all times would exclude members.
Third: Again quoting, "The neglect of religious duties, such as family worship, daily" (would all pres- ent day members hold their membership if this article were still enforced?) "public worship on Lord's Days; an attendance on the various meetings of the church whether for business or devotion, and contributing with becoming liberality to the support of those who preach the Gospel.
Fourth: Offences against church order, such as divulging the secrets of the church, violating the rule laid down in Matt. 18: 15-17 (Moreover if thy brother trespass against thee, etc.) in relation to private affairs, joining another church without a regular dismission, etc."
IO
BAPTIST CHURCH OF WATERVILLE, MAINE
Art. 24. "No person while a subject of discipline should be permitted to approach the Lord's table, or take an active part in the business or devotions of the church."
Art. 25. "When a person has been excluded from the church, he ought, for his conviction and humilia- tion, to be treated with coolness and reserve; and to treat such a person as if he were a member in good and regular standing is unscriptural and pernicious. Nothing in this article should, however, be construed as to justify a disregard of the claim of humanity, or of those obligations which result from marriage or consanguinity."
These are extracts from the Articles of Faith and Church Discipline, which everyone wishing to join the church was expected to sign, and individuals were voted and received into membership only after they had examined and assented to them all. One of the earliest rulings of the church was that no person was to be considered a member of the church until he had received the right hand of fellowship.
In those early days the church was very strict about receiving members. In many cases they put off can- didates from month to month while their character and reputation were inquired into. At the end of this time they sometimes allowed, sometimes refused, member- ship. Some candidates took this treatment meekly, others resented it, and withdrew their application. For example, very early in the annals of the church, they
II
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
delayed "receiving Mr. M- for one month, on account of some difficulty existing between him and Elder C." Mrs. M. also for the same reason was not received. At the next conference the record runs, "The case of Mr. and Mrs. M. was brought forward, who sent word by our Pastor that they wished to be considered no longer as candidates. The church granted their request."
It was at this same meeting that another candidate presented herself. The following is recorded: "The church, not obtaining satisfactory evidence of her piety and also some difficulty pre-existing between her and our Sister S-, thought best to delay receiving her for a month." This case was continued for several months and as her name is not included in the church list, we conclude she was refused membership at the last, though this may not be the case as the church clerks of those days were sometimes remiss about entering the names of persons accepted. Several cases similar to these are recorded. Persons bringing letters from other churches were, notwithstanding, obliged to relate also their re- ligious experiences before they could be received.
On the other hand, although taking up misdemeanors which today would be considered insufficient for dis- ciplining or excluding members, they were just as care- ful to labor with and try to bring a refractory person to a condition where they might judge it right to con- tinue his membership. They would continue cases for months before finally excluding them.
Such extreme, and perhaps excessive, measures in
12
BAPTIST CHURCH OF WATERVILLE, MAINE
regard to receiving new members or keeping them after admission, and the seeming ease with which they ex- cluded them, at a time when it would be supposed that the church would wish to increase its membership by every proper means, and every candidate would be quickly received, warmly welcomed, and carefully hoarded, certainly show the cautious watchfulness and prudent foresight of those early pastors.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin, D.D., president of the newly formed Maine Literary and Theological Institute, a man of whom Henry W. Paine, LL.D., could say, "No man I have known is dearer to me." He had come from Danvers, Mass., where he had been the pastor of the Baptist church, and as many ministers did in those days, had had in his household young men in training for the ministry, and in this he was so successful that the eyes of searchers for a suitable head to the Institution the Baptists of Maine wished to establish, "to furnish to candidates for the ministry more extensive means of education," were attracted to him. It took time and urging, but at last he consented and came, bringing several young men with him who were under his train- ing at the time. He was born in Rowley, Mass., and was one of the fifth generation of the same name who had lived in that town, being one of sixty "godly men and mostly of good estate" who commenced the settle- ment of the town in 1639. In 1799, he had been grad- uated from Brown University with the first honors of
I3
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
his class, and was well qualified for the purpose for which he came to Waterville.
All the while he was carrying on his college activi- ties, he preached two sermons every Sunday, attended nearly all the Conference meetings, aiding in all busi- ness and having many of the meetings at his own house. As to his sermons, Hon. James Brooks, the accom- plished Editor of the New York Express, characterized Dr. Chaplin's discourse as "clear, cogent and as irre- sistibly convincing as problems in Euclid," and Dr. Wm. Lamson, years after hearing them, remembered them as in style, "chaste, simple, suited to the subject, and remarkable for their purity; also as enlivened with striking illustrations." Another speaks of them as "replete with valuable instruction."
For some time Dr. Chaplin served alone as Pastor, and then because he was to be away from the village much of the time, he advised that "consequently it would be expedient that a substitute should be appointed to officiate in the Pastor's office during his absence." Ac- cordingly, the Ruling Elders were chosen to the Pas- tor's Associates and Dr. Stephen Chapin became Senior Associate Pastor and Professor Briggs, Junior Asso- ciate Pastor. From this time we find these three act- ing as Pastor seemingly as convenient, sometimes one, sometimes another, baptizing candidates, preaching, leading conferences, giving the right hand of fellow- ship to new members, and administering the Lord's Supper.
I4
BAPTIST CHURCH OF WATERVILLE, MAINE
At the annual meeting of 1824 Dr. Chapin was elected Pastor and held the office as long as he re- mained in Waterville, and Dr. Chaplin and Professor Briggs were made First and Second Elders respectively. Dr. Stephen Chapin had graduated with distinction from Harvard University in 1804 and studied theology with the famous Dr. Nathaniel Emmons of Franklin, Mass., who was the teacher of some of the ablest clergymen in New England.
During his early life he had been a Congregationalist and in 181I had witnessed the sailing of the first mis- sionaries of the American Board. Later, he had occu- pied a prominent position among the ministerial breth- ren of that faith and order in New Hampshire and Vermont, and when he changed his views he published articles called "A Series of Letters on Mode and Sub- jects of Baptism" addressed to the Christian public, to which there is prefixed a brief account of the com- mencement and progress of the author's trial of those points which terminated in his embracing "Believer's Baptism." The preface is dated "Mount Vernon, Vt., by the late Pastor of the Congregational Church." Leaving that denomination, because of his change of views, he was called to the pastorate of the Baptist church at North Yarmouth, Maine. They "considered themselves fortunate in having secured the services of one who had occupied a prominent position among his Congregationalist ministerial brethren in New Hamp- shire, and from conscientious conviction had become a
15
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
Baptist." At his ordination (Sept. 8, 1819) Dr. Chap- lin preached the sermon. "His ministry was a very green spot in the history of the church," and when he left to come to Waterville, "The severing the tie which united Pastor and people was an event which was ac- complished with great sadness on the part of the whole society. He was regarded by the church and congre- gation with profound respect and sincere affection."
During his pastorate at North Yarmouth and the six years he was Professor at Waterville, he preached around in the State at ordinations of Pastors, dedica- tions of churches, and once, at least, before the Baptist Education Society, besides publishing sermons. His discourses were from an hour to an hour and a quarter long, but they were listened to with great attention and were referred to thirty years after, so great an impres- sion had they made on some of his audience. When he left Waterville, he left to become President of Co- lumbian College in Washington, D. C., where he was on terms of intimate acquaintance with the great states- men of the day and "everywhere was recognized as a man of the highest character."
Rev. Avery Briggs, a Professor of languages in the Institution, was received into church membership in the early part of 1820 and from the first was prominent in all functions of the church. He was soon made Junior Ruling Elder, and often the church conferences or business meetings were held at his house. One amusing story is told of him. Dr. J. C. Stockbridge in his "Reminiscences" writes :
I6
BAPTIST CHURCH OF WATERVILLE, MAINE
"My father's house, in those days, was a 'Baptist tavern' and our ministerial guests always found the latchstring out. A good deal of domestic care fell to the lot of my not over strong mother, but the united heads of the Christian family were of one heart and mind and were never wanting in fidelity to Zion and good works for her welfare. The hospitable mansion was a very convenient stopping place for more than one pilgrim, journeying up and down the state as a servant of the Lord. One good brother, Rev. Avery Briggs, of Waterville College, was wont to avail him- self of the long winter vacation to take a trip west, which meant in those days, Boston and its neighbor- hood. In the depth of the bleak season of one year he made his appearance one day at our house, with his wife, and I think four, possibly six, children packed in a sleigh. His plan was to pass the night with us and proceed on his way the next morning. As Provi- dence would have it, one of those tremendous snow- storms came up in the night and morning's light re- vealed a state of things in the outside world which was anything but propitious to the hopes of the travellers. It was evident they were snow-bound,-had gone lit- erally into winter quarters. For two or three days, if my memory does not mislead me, the storm continued with but little occasional abatement. The managers of the domestic affairs of the household with all patience and good nature possible bore the strain on the nerves, which the influx of two or three grown people and
17
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
four or six healthy, boisterous, romping youngsters produced. But I am sure they welcomed the morning which ushered in brighter skies and a cloudless sun, and heard with not many pangs of regret that the storm-bound party would leave the quiet harbor which for two or three days had been their haven of rest, with their faces again set to the west. After they had left, my mother sat down, and heaving a sigh of relief gave vent to her satisfaction that now, at last, a day of undisturbed repose was before her, and the home life would move on in its customary channels. In the course of an hour or two the tinkling of sleighbells was heard. Looking out of the windows what was her con- sternation as she saw the good Professor, wife and children riding up to the front door. Their story was soon told. They had struggled and done their best to plough their way through the hard, compact masses of drifted snow, but it was no use, and from sheer neces- sity they were forced to return to the hospitable roof, which had so recently sheltered them from the winter's storm."
The two men, Drs. Chaplin and Chapin, served the church for a long time without any remuneration at all, it evidently being thought that their salaries as President and Professor of the College would amply cover any work they might do for the church. This made not the slightest difference in the quality or quan- tity of service rendered by them, which was of the best. Certain it is that the church had from them preaching
18
BAPTIST CHURCH OF WATERVILLE, MAINE
of a calibre that a new, young church situated far away from large centers, seldom has, and fortunate was it to have men of deep piety, great consecration, large ability and well trained in matters of church polity, to lay so firm and strong and deep the founda- tions of which a hundred years afterward it is still reaping the fruits.
After a time it seems to have dawned upon the members of the church that they should do something toward the support of their pastor, and a vote to that effect was taken and the Deacons requested "to circu- late a subscription paper among the members for that purpose." There is no record as to the result, but after that, from time to time there are to be found indica- tions that more or less (generally less) monies were gathered for the minister. Later on, regular salaries, beginning with $400 and gradually, very gradually, in- creased, were paid their pastor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.