USA > Maine > Knox County > Union > A history of the town of Union, in the county of Lincoln, Maine : to the middle of the nineteenth century, with a family register of the settlers before the year 1800, and of their descendants > Part 19
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"We earnestly pray that we and you may be made to see the errors of our steps, that if possible we may be delivered from persecution, and stand by our covenant without intimi- dation ; and, finally, that you may conduct with wisdom, and not be left to such measures as shall extend the mischiefs already created."
May 24, the church-records state : "Whereas the church has been charged with taking unlawfully certain articles of church-furniture, claimed as the property of Abijah Hawes, of Union, and are prosecuted by him for the same, -
"Voted that we consider the property ours; that we have a perfect right to it in law and equity ; that we feel no fear of being unable to substantiate our claims before a proper tribunal; but, considering that we are on both sides the professed disciples of Christ, brother going to law with brother, we are willing, for the sake of peace and to avoid throwing a stumbling-block before the world, to relinquish our just rights, to give up said property, and pay what cost has accrued. Provided, however, this act of ours shall not be construed into an acknowledgment of the claim [of] Deacon Abijah Hawes and others who unite with him to be a church in any form.
"Voted that a committee of three be appointed to com- municate the foregoing vote to Deacon Hawes, and en- deavor to effect a settlement on the principles avowed in said vote.
" Voted that Brothers Daniel Walker, Thomas Mitchell, and David Robbins, be this committee.
"June 16. The committee appointed at our last meeting to settle with Deacon Hawes report and return a receipt of the settlement.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Sept. 6. "The brethren who consider themselves the First Congregational Church in Union, being convened at the house of Rev. Henry True, voted they are willing to confer with the brethren, Seth Luce, John Gleason, James Rice, David Robbins, and the sisters similarly situated, upon matters of agreement existing between them, and, if deemed expedient, join in calling a council for advice."
"October. Voted [by the other party] that Brother William Daggett sign letters missive, on our part, for a mutual council."
"Nov. 15, a committee was chosen to confer with Rev. Henry True relative to a union. Voted to dismiss Brother Samuel Hills from this church, agreeably to his offer to withdraw. ... Dec. 19, after mutual confessions and for- giveness on both sides, it was simultaneously voted to be united in one body." The meeting was " closed with prayer by Rev. Mr. True."
Several persons now united, on condition that they might leave to join any other church within six months. The church-meetings held Dec. 26, 1821, and Jan. 10, 1822, were opened with prayer by Mr. True. But by the next church-meeting, Feb. 9, Mr. Hills had re- turned, claiming membership, and asserting that by his withdrawal he was to lose nothing but the privilege of voting. Accordingly, new dissatisfaction arose, and, at the church-meetings which followed, it would seem that Mr. True and Mr. Hills were absent; for the prayer was offered by Deacon Hawes.
After Mr. Hills's dismission, Nov. 15, there seems to have been a disposition to harmony and co-operation. At the next meeting, Dec. 19, Rev. Mr. True, Thomas Mitchell, and Daniel Walker, were chosen a commit- tee to regulate and adjust past records. But the sub- sequent prevarication and evasion of Hills disgusted some. Many very severe remarks had been made .against Mr. True. He had been falsely charged with want of piety, neglecting family worship, &c. June 13, Mr. True, in accordance with his request made June 8, and Mr. Jonathan Carriel, were dismissed from the church, and recommended to Mr. Huse's in War-
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RECONCILIATIONS.
ren ; and, Sept. 14, it was voted to dismiss Mary Bar- rett, Sibyl Carriel, Mary True, Harriet Harding, and George Wellington, to unite with any sister-church.
"June 12, 1824, voted, Whereas Brother Samuel Hills, on account of difficulties in the church of Christ of which he was a member, made a proposal to withdraw and unite with some sister-church, if said church would dismiss him and said proposals should be complied with, [and] the proposals were altered at the time the council were here and under the inspection of Brother Hills ; [and] therefore we, the church, . thought it our duty to dismiss Brother Hills, without the pledge specified in the first proposals, and we regret that any misunderstanding exists between Brother Hills and the church, - we ask forgiveness of Brother Hills and all con- cerned, wherein we have offended. We, therefore, the Con- gregational Church of Christ in Union, think[ing] it to be the duty of all Christians, especially of the same order, who live in the same town, to unite in worshipping God, move to invite Brother Samuel Hills to meet with us when he can make it convenient, that we may confess our faults one to another, and pray one for another that we may be healed. ... July 9, voted and chose a committee to visit Brother Hills, to consult further with him respecting his being reconciled with the church, and the church with him. ... Aug. 17, chose a committee to inquire and make report what personal objec- tion existed in the church against Brother Samuel Hills being received to the fellowship of this church."
Accordingly, Sept. 11, the motion made June 12 was accepted, with the modifications that he was persuaded to make a motion to withdraw, and that it was sup- posed the alteration by the council was made with Mr. Hills's knowledge and consent. And, Oct. 13, 1825, it was " voted to invite Brother Samuel Hills to withdraw his relation from the church in Waldo- borough, and unite with the church in this place." And, May 14, 1826, it was voted to receive Brother Samuel Hills into this church, agreeably to his dismis- sion from the church in Waldoborough.
Thus, at last, the two churches were united. Nearly all the members of each of them have since died. Mr. Hills, on his death-bed, sent for Mr. True, and told him
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
he should be glad " to talk with him half a day ; but his strength was not equal to it." He did not experience the composure which he had supposed his doctrines would inspire. He complained of the darkness and clouds that hung around the valley of death. The asperity of feeling between different individuals has sub- sided. Several who left the church at the time of the union returned to it. Of the members now composing it, none are more cordial and kind to each other than the few who belonged to the two before they were united.
CHAPTER XXII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, 1825-1850.
Preachers after the Union. - Freeman Parker. - George W. Fargo. - Ordination and Dismission of Oren Sikes. - Meeting-house. - Or- dination and Dismission of Uriah Balkam. - Samuel Bowker's Ordination.
THOUGH the First and Second Congregational Churches and Societies were united, they were not able to sup- port preaching constantly. Several persons officiated a few sabbaths, and some for a few months. Rev. Freeman Parker, of Dresden, preached two summers. After the lapse of ten years, the church, Nov. 13, 1830, gave an invitation to George W. Fargo to become the pastor, with a salary to be raised by taxation on pro- perty. Arrangements were made for an ordination ; but he was not settled. May 11, 1831, Mr. Oren Sikes 1 was " called," with a salary of four hundred dollars a year.
1 Mr. Sikes, son of Jonathan and Cyrena (Hoar) Sikes, was born at Ludlow, Mass., Aug. 26, 1805, and graduated at the Bangor Theologi- cal Seminary in 1830. He was installed at Mercer, Jan. 30, 1833, and dismissed May 2, 1846. He is now settled at Bedford, Mass., where he was installed June 3, 1846. His wife, Julia Knox, daughter of Hon. Ebenezer Thatcher, and granddaughter of Gen. Henry Knox, was born at Thomaston, Dec. 1805. Children, all born in Mercer : - 1. Oren Cornelius, Oct. 12, 1834; 2. Julia Cyrena, June 24, 1836; 3. Catharine Putnam, Dec. 14, 1838 ; 4. Henry Knox, May 8, 1841 ; 5. Caroline Holmes, Nov. 19, 1843, who died in Bedford, Sept. 9, 1846.
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PREACHERS AFTER THE UNION.
May 29, arrangements were made for the ordination. Invitations to form the council were sent to the Ortho- dox Congregational Churches and their ministers in Waldoborough, Newcastle, Warren, Thomaston, Cam- den, Belfast, Prospect, and Albion, and to the Rev. E. Gillett, D.D. and Rev. Amasa Smith. " Voted Rev. Henry True be invited to sit in the council." June 7, the " ecclesiastical council convened, organized, and examined Mr. Oren Sikes, the candidate, at Mr. John Little's ; and, on Wednesday the eighth day of June, 1831, the public services of the ordination were per- formed in the Old Meeting-house." Sept. 29, 1832, Mr. Sikes " requested the connection between him and the church to be dissolved." A council was convened, Oct. 18, 1832, in which were represented the churches in Waldoborough, Camden, and Bristol; and his request was confirmed. No other clergyman was ordained till after the erection of the meeting-house.
The meeting-house, containing fifty-two pews, was built between the Common and Seven Brook, on the north side of the road, in 1839. It cost about three thousand three hundred or three thousand four hun- dred dollars. At its dedication, Jan. 22, 1840, two hymns, composed for the occasion by Mr. Hannibal Hamlin, then a trader in town, were sung by the choir, under the direction of Dr. Dakin, of Hope. On the first Lord's Day after the dedication, the Rev. Horatio Ils- ley, from Portland, commenced preaching in it, and continued six months. Mr. Uriah Balkam, a graduate of the Bangor Theological Seminary, began on the last Sunday in October, 1840. Ere long, an agreement was made with him to preach one year for five hun- dred dollars ; there being an understanding, that if, at the expiration of that time, it should be agreeable to both parties, he should be ordained. In April, 1841, when but about one half of the year was gone, he was asked to be settled. He was ordained June 15, 1841, on a salary of five hundred dollars, after an examina- tion by a council consisting of pastors and delegates from the Hammond-street Church in Bangor, the First
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Church in Prospect, the Congregational Churches in Belfast, Waldoborough, Washington, Camden, Wal- ren, and the two in Thomaston. The introductory prayer and reading of the Scriptures were by J. G. Merrill, of Washington ; prayer by Mr. Woodhull, of Thomaston ; sermon by Prof. Shepard, of Bangor ; ordaining prayer by S. McKeen, of Belfast; charge by N. Chapman, of Camden ; right hand of fellow- ship by E. F. Cutter, of Warren ; address by Mr. Thurston, of Prospect ; concluding prayer by S. C. Fessenden, of East Thomaston; and benediction by the pastor. Mr. Balkam1 continued, to the entire satis- faction of the parish, till he preached his last sermon, Sept. 20, 1844, when, to their great regret, he was obliged to leave them for want of adequate support.
Dec. 7, 1844, Rev. Samuel Bowker,2 the present pastor, began to preach, under an engagement for six months. Oct. 21, 1845, the church voted to give Mr. Bowker a call to become their minister; and it was concurred in by the parish, Nov. 6. His letters of acceptance to the church and to the parish are dated Nov. 13, 1845. The ordination took place, Dec. 10, 1845. Churches in Waldoborough, Warren, Wash- ington, Camden, Searsport, and the two churches in Thomaston, were represented. The services were, in- vocation and reading of the Scriptures by R. Wood- hull; introductory prayer by J. G. Merrill ; sermon by S. Thurston ; consecrating prayer by N. Chapman ; charge to the pastor by E. F. Cutter; right hand of
1 Rev. Uriah Balkam, son of John and Abigail Balkam, was born at Robbinston, Washington County, Maine, March 27, 1812, and gra- duated at Amherst College, in 1837. He was installed, Jan. 21, 1845, over the First Parish, or Congregational Society, in Wiscasset. Aug. 23, 1841, he married Martha M., daughter of John M. and Eleanor Prince, of Guilford, in Piscataquis County. She was born at Portland, Maine, June 25, 1819, and died June, 1849.
2 Samuel Bowker, son of Lazarus and Agnes (Lennan) Bowker, born at Phipsburg, Maine, Sept. 20, 1812, was a member of Bowdoin College one year, and graduated at the Bangor Theological Seminary in 1843. He married, March 21, 1848, Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Frances (Tyler) Eaton, born at Harpswell, June 3, 1821, and has one son, Charles Irwin.
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METHODIST SOCIETY.
fellowship by J. Dodge; address to the church and people by S. C. Fessenden ; concluding prayer by R. Woodhull; benediction by the pastor.
CHAPTER XXIII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY .- METHODISTS AND BAPTISTS.
Methodist Church and Society .- First Methodist Preaching .- Circuits and Districts. - Organization. - Places of Worship. - Meeting- house. - Camp Meetings. - Parsonage. - Preachers. - Baptist Church and Society. - Central Baptist Church.
METHODIST SOCIETY.
SOME incidents in the history of the Methodist Church and Society have been noticed in connection with the ecclesiastical proceedings of the town. The records of the society are incomplete and obscure ; and from them but little can be gleaned. The first1 sermon in town, by a Methodist, was preached by Jesse Lee. It was probably in 1793, during his first journey into Maine. It was delivered in the barn of Rufus Gillmor, a short distance north of the Lower Bridge. At this time, the whole of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine constituted one district, called " Boston District," of which Mr. Lee was presiding elder. " In 1796 it was found expedient to form a circuit, near the mouth of the Kennebec, called Bath Circuit, ... extending as far east as Union. ... At this time, the members in the several societies in Maine amounted to three hundred and fifty-seven, having among them six preachers regularly travelling ..... At the annual conference in 1797, it was found expedient to divide Boston District, and to constitute the several circuits in Maine into one dis-
1 Mr. John Butler.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
trict."1 " February, 1804, Union Circuit, or a part of it at least, formerly belonged to what was called Bath and Union Circuit. But, at the annual conference held at Boston [ in 1803 ], it was agreed, as the work of reforma- tion had been great in different parts of the circuit, and the prospect was enlarged, it should be divided into two, of which Union Circuit is one, and Bristol the other." 2 In 1806, Maine was divided into the Portland and Ken- nebec Districts. In 1816, Union and Hampden were united ; but were divided again in 1819. In July, 1828, Union became a station, retaining still a class in Liber- ty, and another partly in Hope and partly in Appleton.
ORGANIZATION AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. - The Methodist Society in Union was organized by Aaron Humphrey, in the house of Jason Ware, in 1797. The first preaching in the Old Meeting-house was by a Methodist. Methodist meetings for a considerable time were held there on the Lord's Days. Money was raised in town-meeting to support the preaching. When a strong movement was made to settle a Con- gregational minister, the Methodists withdrew, and held meetings at the dwelling-houses of Jason Ware and Matthias Hawes, till the Round Pond School- house was built; after which they assembled there.
THE MEETING-HOUSE was built by subscription about 1810. At first the seats were loose. The sexes sat on different sides of the broad aisle. Wall-pews 3 were built, probably in 1811; the seats being still continued in the part designed for the body-pews. Subsequently, pews were substituted for the seats; and, at a later period, pews were built in the gallery. March 18,
1 Greenleaf's Sketches, p. 281. 2 Methodist Church Records.
3 The following note shows how one pew at least was to be paid for : "I, the subscriber, do promise to pay Matthias Hawes, Jason Ware, Cornelius Irish, and Nathan D. Rice, trustees for building a Methodist Meeting-house in Union, twenty-three dollars ; it being for pew No. 27, in the proposed house, and which is to be paid as follows, viz .: Three quarters of said sum to be paid in corn, grain, neat-stock, merchantable lumber, materials for building said house, or any pay that will suit a carpenter which may be employed in building said house, on demand ; and one quarter in cash in four months from this date. - Witness my hand, this 8th day of March, 1809. Edwd. Jones."
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METHODIST SOCIETY.
1830, the society was incorporated by the name of " The First Methodist Episcopal Society in Union."
CAMP-MEETINGS. - The first camp-meeting began June 29, 1826. It was on the hill in the woods, west by south of Round Pond. The only other camp- meeting was held June 28, 1827, west of the Methodist Meeting-house, on the knoll where now stands the house of Moses Luce.
PARSONAGE. - Aug. 30, 1834, a committee was chosen to raise subscriptions for a parsonage, for mak- ing a contract, &c. A building was erected a few rods west of the meeting-house. It is leased to the preacher for the time being.
PREACHERS. - There never has been any ordained lo- cal preacher in Union, except the Rev. Cornelius Irish.
The following list of all the ministers who have been stationed at Union, from the time of the organization of the church, has been furnished by Mr. Madison Hawes, now of California : -
1798. Robert Yellalee, Aaron Humphrey.
1799. John Finnegan, Comfort C. Smith.
1800. Timothy Merritt, Reuben Hubbard.
1801. Timothy Merritt, Comfort C. Smith.
1802. Joseph Baker, Daniel Ricker.
1803. Daniel Ricker. - 1804. David Stimson.
1805. Samuel Hillman, Pliny Brett.
1806. Samuel Hillman, Jonas Weston.
1807. Samuel Baker. - 1808. John Williamson.
1809. John Williamson, Benjamin Jones.
1810. David Stimson, George Gary.
1811. Nathan B. Ashcraft. - 1812. Amasa Taylor.
1813. John Jewett .- 1814. Jona. Cheney, Joseph B. White.
1815. Benjamin Jones.
1816. Benjamin Jones, Daniel Wentworth.
1817. William McGray, Jeremiah Marsh.
1818-19. Henry True. - 1820. John Briggs. 1821. John Lewis.
1822. John Lewis, Nathaniel Devereux.
1823-24. Sullivan Bray. - 1825-26. David Stimson.
1827. Ezra Kellogg, John Lewis.
1828. Ezra Kellogg. - 1829. Gorham Greeley.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
1830. Ezra Kellogg. - 1831. Cyrus Warren.
1832. Peter Burgess. - 1833. Benjamin Jones.
1834. Charles L. Browning. - 1835. Joshua Higgins. 1836-37. Daniel Cox. - 1838-39. Moses P. Webster.
1840-41. Rushworth J. Ayer.
1842-43. Paschal P. Morrill.
1844-45. Mark R. Hopkins. - 1846. James Thwing.
1847. H. K. W. Perkins. - 1848-49. Benjamin Bryant. 1850. M. Mitchell.
BAPTIST SOCIETIES.
The early Baptists, as well as the Methodists, have already been alluded to. But little remains to be added, except what is contained in the few items which follow. In 1801, a church was organized by Elders Snow, Hall, and Fuller. It was called the Second Baptist Church in Hope. The members lived in that town and in the east part of Union. Their meeting-house, which was very small, was in Hope. They had no pastor, but were occasionally supplied with preaching by the neighboring ministers. In this condition they continued till the year 1808, when "a revival of religion took place in this town and the towns adjoining; and the church was revived, and a number joined, under the administration of Elder An- drew Fuller."1 Daniel Pearson preached in 1809. " In July, 1809, the brethren in the town of Union and the Second Church in Hope met, and agreed to unite together, and alter the name, and call it Union Church. At this time, Elder James Steward was with us once a month, until 1813. . . . We had no regular preaching until 1815, when Elder S. A. Flagg preached once a month for upwards of a year." In January, 1816, a new interest was awakened. "Elder Lemuel Rich came amongst us, and preached the word with good success, so that about forty-seven were added to the church this year, which more than doubled our number .... In 1818, our church was well united; and, our places of worship [being] insufficient to commode the people,
1 The extracts are from manuscript-notices by one of the church.
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BAPTIST SOCIETIES.
it was thought best to build a meeting-house. This was accomplished in 1819."1 It was erected near Lermond's Mills. In 1820, the church numbered eighty-five members. Serious difficulties soon fol- lowed, and these continued for a long time. In Au- gust, 1821, Elder Rich left the society ; having preached " almost five years, one quarter of the time." In 1821, Elder Abiathar Richardson and others preached. In 1822, Elder Rich returned. In "1824, the church had some of the most singular trials with some of our most esteemed members, which racked the church from centre to circumference.2 ... In 1826, the con- nection between the church and Elder Rich, as pastor, was dissolved; [he] having preached about four years longer, one quarter of the time." In 1826, the church consisted of fifty-three members; sixteen of them be- longing to Hope, and a few to other towns. " In a few months, obtained Elder A. Richardson to labor with us one fourth of the time. About five years, the church, generally, travelled comfortably along the most of the time. March 3, 1830, set apart Brother Simon Fuller, by ordination, to the work of an evangelist." In the winter of 1833, the church was so small and the mem- bers so scattered, that there were no meetings. In the spring, Elder S. Fuller moved into town, and began to preach. The attendance was small; " but a general union prevailed amongst them, and quite happy sea- sons were enjoyed .... A sabbath-school was set up, and continued two summers; but there was so little interest felt upon the subject, and so much opposition and bigotry, that it could not be sustained. ... April,
1 Probably an error for 1818.
2 In the Congregational and Methodist Churches, as well as the Baptist, there were several cases of church-discipline. On inquiring into them, it was found that a transcript of the records would give accounts so brief that it would be unjust to the persons arraigned to publish them, without going into details impossible, in many of the cases, to be obtained. In the Congregational Church there was one ex- communication for Universalism. In some cases, the parties arraigned, if their own statements had been recorded, would be considered by many persons as " more sinned against than sinning ; " though there were other cases where, if ever, church-discipline was justifiable.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
1837, a Quarterly Meeting of the easterly part of the Lincoln Association was held with the church, and protracted a few days, which proved a blessing." Elder Samuel Baker was here this year. " In May, 1838, Elder Rich again administered to the church two years, a quarter of the time." September, 1840, Elder Nathaniel Copeland commenced preaching half the time for one year. About December, 1842, " Elder Amariah Kelloch was here occasionally for a short time; then we had no other preaching till 1835, when Elder Rich began another term of service, preaching one fourth of the time for two years." After this there was "no regular preaching."
The Central Baptist Church was organized Feb. 28, 1844. For some time, meetings were held on alternate Sundays, in the hall of the tavern. Subsequently the worship has been in the town-house. There have been different preachers, and the meetings have generally been held once a fortnight.
CHAPTER XXIV.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. - UNIVERSALISTS.
First Universalist Preaching. - Organization. - Maine Association. - John Bovee Dods. - Constitution. - Preachers. - Meeting-house. - Bell.
FIRST PREACHING. - The first sermon by an Univer- salist was preached, probably, at a third service on the Lord's Day, about the year 1814 or 1815, at the house of George W. West, on the place since owned by Calvin Gleason, Esq., about two miles north-west of the Common. There are no records respecting the early movements of the denomination, and conse- quently no satisfactory account of them can be given. It was several years before a second sermon was deliv-
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UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
ered. About the year 1820, perhaps a little later, there was preaching occasionally.
ORGANIZATION .- April 11, 1825, the following state- ment was addressed -
" To the Clerk of the First Congregational Society in the town of Union.
"The following is a list of persons who have organized themselves into a religious society by themselves, and wish to withdraw themselves from said First Congregational So- ciety : -
Nathaniel Bachelor
Elijah Gay
Herman Hawes
Nathan Hills
Samuel Stone
John Lermond
David Robbins, jun.
John Bachelder
Amariah Mero
Reuben Hills, jun.
Henry Fossett
Henry Blunt
David Bullen
Ebenezer Cobb
Phillips C. Harding
John Drake
Joseph Gleason
Walter Adams
Nathan Bachelder
Elisha Harding
George Cummings
Jesse Drake
Abiel Gay
John Fogler Ward Maxcy
Lewis Bachelder
Nathaniel Bachelder, jun.
Olney Titus
Charles Hichborn
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