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Gc 974.1 B94h 1560664
GENEALOGY
COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01085 7412
GENEALOGY 974.1 B94H
HENRY S. BURRAGE, D. D.
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS
IN MAINE.
BY HENRY S. BURRAGE, D. D.
GC 974.1 B89h
PORTLAND, ME .: MARKS PRINTING HOUSE, PRINTERS. 1904.
٠
1560664
PREFACE.
The preparation of this history of the Baptists in Maine was commenced many years ago, and the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention, at its meeting in Bath, Oct. 7, 1891, expressed its approval of the undertaking ; but when the task was only about half completed other literary labor claimed the attention of the writer, and the work on that account was suspended. With the approach of the centen- nial of the Convention, it was suggested that the cen- tennial year would be a fitting one for the publication of such a work, and early in 1903 the writer returned to his task, and has now carried it forward to completion.
When the work was resumed, the scope of the under- taking was widened, and it was decided to add a com- panion volume. The secretary of the Convention, Rev. A. T. Dunn, D. D., was asked to prepare an account of each minister hitherto connected with our Maine Baptist churches; and the secretary of the executive commit- tee, Rev. E. C. Whittemore, D. D., was asked to prepare an account of each Baptist church in the State from the beginning of our history. The death of Dr. Dunn occurred soon after this plan was formulated. It was then found that the time remaining for such an undertak- ing was insufficient, and the plan was reluctantly aban- doned. The preparation of the proposed work, however, is one that should be entered upon at an early day, in order that it may be brought to a successful issue.
For the materials of his history the writer is indebted very largely to the Minutes of the Convention and of the various associations in the State. Much material, also, has been obtained from the files of Zion's Advocate. The only complete file of the Advocate is in the library of
iv
PREFACE.
Colby College, and to the courtesy of Dr. Edward W. Hall, the accomplished librarian of the college, the writer is indebted for assistance always promptly rendered. He is also indebted to the library of the Maine Historical Society and to that of the Newton Theological Institution for the use of such books as could not be found in his own collec- tion of books and pamphlets pertaining to the Baptists of Maine. His indebtedness to others is acknowledged in the foot-notes.
Special mention should be made of the service ren- dered by Rev. E. C. Whittemore, D. D., of Waterville, in the preparation of the illustrations which are scattered throughout the volume. Much time has been given by him to this part of the work, and the very great excellence of the illustrations will readily be acknowledged. We are confident that Dr. Whittemore's faithful, intelligent ser- vice will be greatly appreciated by all of our readers. Portraits of many who have been prominent in making Baptist history in Maine will be missed, but only a limited number could be selected, and it was decided to find a place only for those who are no longer with us. The publishing committee of the Convention decided that the frontispiece should be a portrait of the author.
Since the chapter on Colby College was printed, Mrs. Eliza A. (Foss) Dexter of Worcester, Mass., has made a gift to the college of a woman's dormitory, not to cost more than $40,000, and to be known as Foss Hall. As mention of this generous gift could not otherwise be made in this volume, it is made here. The gift is one that means much to the giver and to the young women of her native State.
The action of the Maine Baptist Missionary Conven- tion in assuming the financial obligation imposed by the publication of this volume is characteristic of the broad, progressive spirit animating an organization which has become so powerful an instrument in promoting our vari- ous denominational interests in the State. The Conven- tion in this way has a part in honoring the memory of the good men in all of our churches who have toiled so heroic-
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PREFACE.
ally in the making of this history of the Baptists in Maine. At the same time, however, it may very confidently look to this record for inspiration to larger, nobler achievement as it enters upon its second century of missionary activity.
HENRY S. BURRAGE.
PORTLAND, July 18, 1904.
CONTENTS.
-
PAGES. 1-11
CHAPTER I. Civil and Ecclesiastical Beginnings in Maine. .
CHAPTER II. Rev. William Screven and the Baptists at Kittery. 12-27
CHAPTER III. The Reappearance of Baptist Views
28-46
CHAPTER IV. The Freewill Baptist Movement 47-61
CHAPTER V. Potter, Macomber, Case.
62-74
CHAPTER VI. The New Hampshire Association
75-85
CHAPTER VII. Beginnings of the Bowdoinham Association.
86-106
CHAPTER VIII. Missionary Activity 107-132
CHAPTER IX. Better Days. 133-148
CHAPTER X. Further Expansion 149-161
CHAPTER XI. Educational Beginnings 162-175
CHAPTER XII. Beginnings of Foreign Missionary Work ... 176-187
CHAPTER XIII. Progress of the Churches
188-204
CHAPTER XIV. Waterville College
205-219
CHAPTER XV. The Maine Baptist Missionary Society and the Maine Baptist Convention. 220-238
CHAPTER XVI. Maine Baptist Education Society
239-255
CHAPTER XVII. Zion's Advocate
256-267
CHAPTER XVIII. Sunday Schools .
268-282
CHAPTER XIX. Temperance Reform.
283-302
CHAPTER XX. Anti-Slavery Agitation
303-327
CHAPTER XXI. Maine Baptist Missionary Convention
328-354
CHAPTER XXII. Maine Baptist Education Society
355-367
CHAPTER XXIII. Colby College.
368-384
CHAPTER XXIV. Increasing Interest in Foreign Missions.
385-405
CHAPTER XXV. The Baptists of Maine and Home Mis- sions
406-420
CHAPTER XXVI. The Academies.
421-440
CHAPTER XXVII. The Churches from the Close of the Civil War 441-465
CHAPTER XXVIII. A Glance Backward and Forward. 466-472
APPENDICES 473-483
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
REV. ISAAC CASE,
66
THE OLD MEETING HOUSE, YARMOUTH, 102
FIRST CHURCH, BANGOR, 131
REV. BENJAMIN TITCOMB,
139
FIRST CHURCH, SEDGWICK, 146
FIRST CHURCH, PORTLAND, 152
BOARDMAN WILLOWS (so called), COLBY COLLEGE,
184
BAPTIST CHURCH, CALAIS, . .
195
FREE ST. CHURCH, PORTLAND,
196
JAMES T. CHAMPLIN, D. D., LL. D.,
215
REV. L. B. ALLEN, D. D., .
236
RIPLEY, WILSON, SARGENT, WORTH AND ROBINSON, 238 . BAPTIST CHURCH, THOMASTON, . 249
REV. C. G. PORTER, . 254 .
REV. ADAM WILSON, D. D.,
258 265
PROF. JOHN B. FOSTER, LL. D.,
.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, AUGUSTA, 314 BAPTIST CHURCH, DAMARISCOTTA, . 320 325
REV. GEORGE KNOX,
REV. N. M. WOOD, D. D.,
329 331
SARGENT, BOWLER, HARDEN AND KELLEY,
BYRON GREENOUGH, . 333
342
DANIEL S. FORD, 351
352
MEMORIAL HALL, COLBY COLLEGE,
369
CHEMICAL BUILDING, COLBY COLLEGE,
381
COURT ST. BAPTIST CHURCH, AUBURN,
384
FIRST CHURCH, WATERVILLE,
391
FIRST CHURCH, SKOWHEGAN, .
409
JAMES H. HANSON, LL. D.,
421
BENJAMIN F. STURTEVANT, 423 .
STURTEVANT HALL, HEBRON ACADEMY, 424
MRS. B. F. STURTEVANT, .
.
426
·
217
DEA. J. C. WHITE,
GARDNER COLBY, 233
REV. JOSEPH RICKER, D. D.,
REV. ALBERT T. DUNN, D. D.,
.
viii
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
STURTEVANT HOME, HEBRON ACADEMY,
426
WATERVILLE CLASSICAL INSTITUTE, 428
COBURN CLASSICAL INSTITUTE,
430
WORDING HALL, RICKER CLASSICAL INSTITUTE, .
432
MRS. CATHERINE L. WORDING, 434
HIGGINS CLASSICAL INSTITUTE, 439 .
BAPTIST CHURCH, HOULTON,
442
REV. W. H. SHAILER, D. D.,
444
Gov. ABNER COBURN,
446
BETHANY CHURCH, SKOWHEGAN,
.
452
BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW SWEDEN,
455
BATES ST. CHURCH, LEWISTON, 456
BAPTIST CHURCH, RUMFORD FALLS,
461
SECOND CHURCH, BANGOR, . 463
BAPTIST CHURCH, MILLINOCKET, 465
.
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
CHAPTER I.
CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL BEGINNINGS IN MAINE.
At the opening of the seventeenth century not a single English settler was to be found at any point on the Amer- ican coast from Newfoundland to Florida. For quite a number of years, however, Englishmen had busied them- selves with western colonization schemes, which, in the end, for one reason or another, had proved fruitless. But hope had not been crushed. Others might be successful where good men had failed. Gosnold was on the coast of Maine in 1602, Pring in 1603, and Waymouth in 1605. The promoters of these voyages were unquestionably moved in their successive endeavors by reports that had come to them from the new world concerning the great fertility of the country, and also concerning the large private gains they might reasonably expect from the required financial outlay. But these promoters, we are told, had also higher ends in view. Rosier, in his "True Relation" of Way- mouth's voyage, says that the "honorable setters forth" of that expedition had in view "a public good," and they were also moved by a "true zeal of promulgating God's holy church by planting Christianity."1
In the first Letters Patent, dated April 10, 1606, granted by James I. for the plantation of Virginia, lying between the 34th and 45th degrees of north latitude, and compris- ing North and South Virginia, it is expressly stated that the desire of the Patentees was granted by the King, that
1 Rosier's True Relation. The Gorges Society, 1887, p. 150.
2
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
"so noble a work may by the Providence of Almighty God hereafter tend to the glory of his Divine Majesty, in prop- agating of Christian religion to such people as live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God, and may in time bring the infidels and savages (living in those parts) to human civility and to a settled and quiet government." An ordinance, under the sign-manual of the King and the Privy Seal, explana- tory of these Letters Patent, and passed Nov. 20, 1606, before any expedition under either of these grants had sailed, contained this added declaration : "That the said presidents, councils, and the ministers, should provide that the word and service of God be preached, planted and used, not only in the said colonies, but also as much as might be, among them, according to the rites and doctrine of the church of England."
When the Popham colonists came hither in the sum- mer of 1607, they brought with them a clergyman of the church of England, Rev. Richard Seymour,1 who on Sunday, August 9, on one of the islands forming St. Georges Harbor, -the rendezvous of the two vessels that brought the colonists from England, -held a religious service, preaching a sermon, and "giving God thanks" for the safe arrival of the ships.2 There can be no doubt as to "the Episcopal character of both preacher and peo- ple." Everything points in that direction. "Popham's brother, holding office under the crown, and Raleigh's
1 An ingenious conjecture has been advanced that Rev. Richard Seymour was a great grandson of Sir Edward Seymour, who in the minority of his nephew, Edward VI., was created Duke of Somerset and governed the realm as Lord Protector. See the Popham Memorial Volume, pp. 101-103. If so he "was related to Gorges, the projector of the colony ; to Popham, its patron ; to Popham, its president; and to Gilbert, its admiral, all through the common link of the family of his mother. When they sought a chaplain, they found one in Richard Seymour; and no other Richard Seymour is known except this relative of theirs."
2 The claim has frequently been made that this religious service was on Monhegan, and it has been proposed to erect a monument on Monhegan to commemorate this first religious service by the colonists on American soil. But there is no evidence whatever that the Popham colonists landed on Monhegan. On the other hand the narrative which has preserved to us the facts concerning the Popham colony makes it plain "that Popham's ship did make landfall at Monhegan, but without tarrying sailed directly by to the Georges." See Thayer's Sagadahoc Colony, published by the Gorges Society, p. 56.
3
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
nephew and Gilbert's son"-prominently connected with the expedition-"would hardly be found linked in with the 'separatists' from the English church at so early a date as this."1
But the colony was doomed to speedy failure. The char- acter of the colonists, as indicated in the narratives that have come down to us, was not that of men who could be counted upon for energy and endurance in such an enter- prise. George Popham, brother of Sir John and governor of the colony, is described by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the chief promoter of the enterprise, as "an honest man, but old and of an unwieldly body, and timorously fearful to offend or contest with others that will or do oppose him, but otherwise a discreet careful man," while Raleigh Gilbert, a son of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, and second in authority in the colony, is spoken of as "desirous of supremacy and rule," of a "loose life, prompt to sensu- ality," with "little zeal for religion, humorous, headstrong, and of small judgment and experience, otherwise valiant enough."2 All but forty-five of the colonists-doubtless the most undesirable-returned to England on the Gift of God (one of the vessels that brought the colonists from England) which left the Kennebec on the return voyage, Dec. 15, 1607. George Popham died Feb. 5, 1608, and in the following summer, when Raleigh Gilbert heard of the death of his elder brother, Sir John Gilbert, and announced his purpose to return to England, the rest of the colonists decided to accompany him, and the settlement at the mouth of the Kennebec was abandoned. "All our former hopes were frozen to death," wrote Gorges years after- ward, when referring to the failure of this initial effort at colonization at the mouth of the Sagadahoc, and all thought of further colonial undertaking was "wholly given over by the body of the adventurers." Gorges himself, however, did not lose heart, "not doubting," he said,
1 Memorial Volume of the Popham Colony, published by the Maine Historical Society, p. 327.
3 The Sagadahoc Colony. Thayer p. 32, and p. 135.
4
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
"but God would effect that which men despaired of ;" and so he "became owner of a ship-fit for that employment," and "under color of fishing and trading" sent her across the Atlantic. Others fitted out vessels for fishing and for traffic with the Indians, and the number of such vessels increased year by year. In 1614, Capt. John Smith was at Monhegan, and on his return to England he visited Gorges, who listened with interest to his glowing report concerning the country and at once entered into negotia- tions with him to establish a colony on these western shores. The year following, after many disappointments, Smith with his two vessels left England for the coast of Maine. But the expedition proved a failure. One vessel was obliged to put back for repairs, and the other, with Smith, was captured by a French cruiser. In 1616, Richard Vines, who is supposed to have been on the coast in earlier years, landed with other voyagers at the mouth of the Saco in one of Gorges' ships and there spent the winter. But Gorges' scheme of colonization still failed of realization.
An ardent Episcopalian, Gorges had no sympathy with the "separatists" at Plymouth. Indeed the presence of the Pilgrims on the shores of Massachusetts Bay only served to quicken in Gorges the hope of establishing in the same general locality a colony in close relation to the crown, and in which the church of England should have what Gorges regarded as its rightful place. August 10, 1622, Gorges and Capt. John Mason obtained a patent for the territory between the Merrimac and Kennebec rivers, and extending inland sixty miles. This territory they named the Province of Maine, and Robert Gorges, the younger son of Sir Ferdinando, as Governor and Lieu- tenant General of the entire country, came over to New England in 1623, bringing with him, as his chaplain, Rev. William Morrell, a clergyman of the church of England, who was commissioned to superintend the setting up of the established church throughout the country. "There was to be a public plantation at the mouth of the Sagada-
5
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
hoc, to which was devoted forty square miles of territory ; and this was to be called the 'State County.' A city was to be erected in it named by the king, and both the county and city were to be divided by lot among Sir Ferdinando and his associates."1 But Governor Gorges met with oppo- sition to his government, and soon returned to England.
Richard Vines, however, a trusted friend of Gorges, established himself ere long at the mouth of the Saco. Other settlements were made at Cape Porpoise, Rich- mond's Island, Black Point, New Harbor, etc. Those most interested in these various settlements were devout members of the church of England, and efforts were made from time to time to establish in connection with these set- tlements the forms of worship belonging to that church. Edward Trelawney, writing to his brother Robert, Oct. 10, 1635, concerning the state of affairs at Richmond's Island, said : "Touching the manner of our proceedings here, I praise the Lord we go on contentedly, but should do more comfortably if we enjoyed those sweet means which draw a blessing on all things, even those holy ordinances and heavenly manna of our souls which in other parts of this land flow abundantly, even to the great rejoicing and comforting of the people of God."? Writing on the 10th of January following, he added : "But above all I earnestly requested you for a religious, able minister, for it's a most pitiful to behold what a most heathen life we live; it's without God in the world. To feed the body and starve the soul is above all things most unwarrantable and detest- able; and that for which the Lord hath threatened the pouring down of his judgments upon us."3
Rev. Richard Gibson, who had just taken his degree at Magdalen College, Oxford, answered this call. He reached Richmond's Island, it is thought, May 24, 1636.
1 Sir Ferdinando Gorges and his Province of Maine. By James P. Baxter. Published by the Prince Society, Vol. 1, p. 131.
2 The Trelawney Papers. Edited by James P. Baxter and published by the Maine His- torical Society, p. 72.
3 The Trelawney Papers, p. 79.
6
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
John Winter, writing to Robert Trelawney from Rich- mond's Island, June 23, 1636, says : "Our minister is a very fair condition man, and one that doth keep himself in very good order and instructs our people well, if please God to give us the grace to follow his instruction." Gibson remained at Richmond's Island a little more than three years,1 and was succeeded by Rev. Robert Jordan,2 of Baliol College, Oxford, also a clergyman of the church of England.
But the various colonization schemes in which Gorges and others were interested in New England did not flour- ish as did the Puritan settlements of Massachusetts Bay, whither colonists in such great numbers were making their way that King Charles, early in 1634, issued a proc- lamation forbidding any man to leave the kingdom who had not a certificate "of his having taken the oaths of supremacy and allegiance and likewise from the minister of the parish, of his conversation and conformity to the orders and discipline of the church of England."" At the same time a plan was formed for placing over New Eng- land a viceregal government, wielding not only royal but
1 See The Trelawney Papers, pp. 86, 87, note. When he left Richmond's Island, Rev. Richard Gibson went to Portsmouth, where he became rector of the Episcopal church. While at Richmond's Island he married a daughter of Thomas Lewis of Saco. "Though Winthrop called him a scholar, he did not like his zeal in behalf of the Episcopacy, and he was summoned to Massachusetts on the charge of marrying and baptizing at the Isles of Shoals, a practice the Colony forbade to the clergy of the English church. For this, and alleged disrespectful comments upon the Massachusetts government, he was held in custody in Boston for several days; but, says Winthrop, as 'he was a stranger, and was to depart the country in a few days, he was discharged without any fine or other pun- ishment.'" See also Cleveland, Sketches of the Ecclesiastical History of the State of Maine, p. 223.
2 Rev. Robert Jordan came to New England-he was a native of Worcester, England- in 1639. "He was a man of ability, and under other conditions might have perhaps ranked among the leading divines of the New World ; but at this time the church for which he labored found an unkindly soil in New England, and would not take root, toiled the husbandman never so faithful. Hence, discouraged by opposition, and the word within him perhaps becoming 'choked by the deceitfulness of riches,' he finally gave up the ministry and devoted himself to his private affairs." Hon. James P. Baxter, The Trelawney Papers, p. 270. Jordan married Sarah, daughter of John Winter, and by this alliance became at length the sole proprietor of Robert Trelawney's large estate in New England.
8 Rymer's Foedera, Vol. 20, p. 143. Letter of Henry Dade to the Archbishop of Canter- bury, dated Feb. 4, 1634. Council Register, Colonial Papers, Charles I., Public Records Office.
e
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
ecclesiastical powers.1 Sir Ferdinando Gorges was promi- nent in this movement, and prepared "considerations nec- essary to be resolved upon in settling the Governor for New England," one of which was whether persons going to New England should not "be bound to be conformable to the rites and ceremonies of the church."2 Such was the influence of Gorges with the king that it seemed as if the entire control of New England was about to pass into the hands of Gorges, as Governor General. Indeed his appointment to that office was announced, but the plans of Sir Ferdinando and his associates miscarried. "The Lord," said Winthrop, "frustrated their designs."3
So it seemed to the Puritan settlers of Massachusetts Bay. Otherwise, however, it seemed to the members of the church of England in the scattered and less flourishing settlements north of the Piscataqua. They saw only the grasping designs of their forceful neighbors, "whose emu- lous aspirations, arising from a colonization of unexampled energy, had reached even to Pegypscot."4 But not in the least did they abandon heart or hope. Gorges, who had now secured for himself the country from the Piscataqua to the Sagadahoc, which he called New Somersetshire, sent over, as governor of this territory, his nephew William Gorges, who March 21, 1636, soon after his arrival in the country, opened his court at Saco. His administration of the government was in a measure satisfactory to the peo- ple, but he was not pleased with his position, and he returned to England in 1637.
In July of that year the king, still intent upon establish- ing a general government for New England with Gorges as governor, issued a manifesto to this end, which was followed Jan. 23, 1638, with an order from the Privy Coun- cil to the Attorney General for drawing a patent for the Province of Maine in favor of Gorges. This was finally
1 Sir Ferdinando Gorges and his Province of Maine, by James P. Baxter, Vol. 1, p. 164.
2 Sir Ferdinando Gorges and his Province of Maine, by James P. Baxter, Vol. 1, p. 165.
8 The History of New England, by John Winthrop, Esq., Boston, 1853, Vol. 1, p. 192.
Collections of the Maine Historical Society, First Series, Vol. 6, p. 183.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
granted April 3, 1639. By it Gorges was clothed with almost unlimited powers. "Under it he controlled the patronage of all churches erected in the Province ; could build, dedicate and consecrate churches according to the ecclesiastical laws of England, with all the rights, privi- leges, prerogatives, etc. as were exercised by the Bishop of Durham within his bishopric."1 The purpose of the king in this could not be misunderstood. "Our will and pleasure," he said, "is that the religion now possessed in the church of England and ecclesiastical government now used in the same, shall be ever hereafter professed, and with as much convenient speed as may be settled and established in and throughout the said Province." In har- mony with this purpose of the king, at the first session of the court convened at Saco under the new charter, an order was passed that all the inhabitants, who have any children unbaptized, should have them baptized as soon as any minister is settled in any of their plantations. Refusal to obey this order subjected one to punishment by the civil authorities.2
It was Gorges' purpose, although he was now an old man, to go to New England ere long and work out in per- son the realization of his long cherished hopes. Enjoying in such a high degree royal favor, he might reasonably regard it as possible to build up on his possessions a colony which should at length overshadow the Puritan colony of Massachusetts Bay. But other and stronger influences were already at work in opposition to Gorges' hopes and aims. The long struggle between the king and parliament commenced in 1640, threatening not only the existence of the government, but that of the established church as well. On this side of the sea, also, events were occurring that were hostile to Gorges' interests. It could not be otherwise while the mother country was engaged in civil war, and the colonists of Massachusetts Bay were alive to their opportunity. Settlers more and more made their
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