USA > Maine > Washington County > Milltown > Annals of Calais, Maine, and St. Stephen, New Brunswick; including the village of Milltown, Me., and the present town of Milltown, N.B. > Part 8
USA > Maine > Washington County > Calais > Annals of Calais, Maine, and St. Stephen, New Brunswick; including the village of Milltown, Me., and the present town of Milltown, N.B. > Part 8
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122
UNITARIAN CHURCH.
Col. Joseph Whitney, President.
Geo. I. Galvin,
Dr. S. S. Whipple, Isaac Poole,
Directors.
Joshua Veasey, Clerk.
Joseph Granger, Collector and Treasurer.
The erection of a church was the first business in order, for the new Society, and the work immediately began. $5000 were raised in stock at $50 per share ; a site was purchased at the cost of $500; and soon was heard the sound of the carpenter's saw, plane and ham- mer. And so vigorously was the work pushed forward, that at a meeting of the Society, Sept. 11, 1833, Messrs. Joseph Granger, P. H. Glover, and Theo. Jellison were appointed a committee "to arrange for the approaching Dedication, and to secure a pastor." The pastor se- lected and "secured." was Rev. Wm. A. Whitwell of Boston, who filled the office fromn Nov. 1, 1833 to July 2, 1839, with a salary of $600 the first year, and after that $800 per annum. A better man for the place could not have been found. He was a graduate of Harvard University, a ripe scholar, a fine writer, a good speak- er, and above all, a Christian gentleman. A portion of his time he employed in teaching ; and he invariably gave entire satisfaction to his patrons. In religion, literature, and moral reform, he constantly led his peo- ple up and on. He delivered fine sermons. He trans- lated and published Paul's Epistle to the Romans. In 1836, he was chosen President of the Franklin Temper- ance Association, which at that time had 922 members. During all his pastorate, his society was united and prosperous. He has long since "departed to be with Christ."
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UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The church was at last finished. It was dedica- ted and Mr. Whitwell formally installed, May 15, 1834. The services were-Prayer by Rev. E. H. Edes, of Eastport,-Sermon by E. S. Gannett, D. D., of Boston, -Dedication by Rev. Dr. Barrett, of Boston,-Bene- diction by the pastor. In the afternoon, the pews were sold, and Miss Moore engaged as organist. The con- dition and prospects of the Society were now excellent. It had an attractive church, a large, wealthy and intel- ligent congregation, and a pastor in every respect ad- mirably fitted for his position. The choir under the skilful direction of P. H. Glover, discoursed sweet music ; and all the people were glad and grateful. A Sunday-school was soon after organized, and the entire machinery of a well regulated parish, was set in motion.
There is no record of any formal organization or recognition of a Church, but there was a Communion ser- vice, July 13, 1834. There were then just two com- municants ; Geo. F., and Mary Wadsworth. Soon after. Fanny Whipple and Martha Ann G. Jones joined Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth in inaugurating a Church. In April, 1836, Henry P. Pratt, Mary W. Lambe and Sophia Whitney, were added to the Church ; and in the following August, Abba C. Pilsbury. Meanwhile, Mr. Whitwell drew up the following "Church Covenant," which was adopted and ever after retained as the creed and faith of the church :
CHURCH COVENANT.
"We, whose names are underwritten, present our- selves for admission into the church of Jesus Christ, in testimony of our faith in him, our acceptance of his re- ligion and subjection to his laws.
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UNITARIAN CHURCH.
We regard this transaction as an expression of our earnest desire to obtain the salvation proposed in the Gospel ; and our serious purpose to endeavor to comply with the terms on which it is offered.
We desire to commemorate the Author and Finish- er of our faith, in the manner established in his church.
In a humble and grateful reliance on God for the pardon of sin and assistance in duty, we solemnly take upon ourselves the vows of the Christian profession.
We will, as we have opportunity, acknowledge our relation to this Christian community, by attendance on the services of religion, by offices of Christian affection, and by submission to the laws of Christian order ;- beseeching the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being faithful to each other and to our common Master, we may enjoy the consolations of our holy re- ligion here, and be accepted to its rewards hereafter, through the riches of divine mercy in Jesus Christ."
It is worthy of notice that while this carefully word- ed covenant ignores all the vexed questions of theology, it acknowledges the great practical facts of Christian- ity, and is fragrant with the sweet perfume of the Gos- pel. The meaning which Mr. Whitwell intended, may be gathered from the following record written by his own hand.
"April 24, 1835,-Mrs. Maria Sibley being very sick and not expecting to recover, desired to receive the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Having conversed with her and found that she understood their object, and was resolved to live a Christian life if she recovered, I, in the presence of a member of the church, (Mrs. Wadsworth,) baptized her and administered to her the Lord's Supper, this day. God grant that
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UNITARIAN CHURCH.
whether she lives or dies, she may be a worthy follower of Jesus." She died about six weeks after.
The Church slowly grew till sixty-two names were on its list. Either it has not been the policy of the parish to build up its Church, or its efforts in that di- rection have not been very successful.
After the resignation of Mr. Whitwell, Rev. Ed- ward Stone supplied the pulpit from Oct. 5, 1839 to Mar. 13, 1840 ; and Rev. Wm. Cushing, a brother of Judge L. S. Cushing of Mass., from Mar. 20, to Sept. 6, 1840. Mr. Cushing was a young man of culture and ability, but not liking the arduous and often perplexing duties of a clergyman, he abandoned the profession soon after leaving Calais, and engaged in teaching. After he left, Rev. Jacob Caldwell preached for the Society from Oct. 27, 1840, to May 1, 1841.
The next pastor was Rev. Nathaniel Whitman, a native of Bridgewater, Mass., and an older brother of those great and good men, Revs. Jason and Bernard Whitman. He was a devout Christian, a pleasant speaker and a popular man in the town. Prosperity characterized his entire pastorate. He faithfully served God and the parish from Nov. 16, 1841, to May 12, 1844. He has since gone to the "long home."
Next came Rev. Edward Stone, a native of Fram- ingham, Mass., where in a good old age and full of peace, he still resides. He was a graduate of Brown University and Harvard Divinity School, and therefore "thoroughly furnished" for a pastor's position. His in- fluence in community was always for the right. In the pulpit he was persuasive and convincing ; in the Sun- day-school, skilful and efficient. He got up and ar- ranged the first Christmas Tree ever seen in Calais ; and
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UNITARIAN CHURCH.
his large, outline maps of Palestine, drawn by his own hand, greatly facilitated the study of the Scriptures by the Bible class. Under his ministry, the Church grew "in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord." But there was "a lion in the way." Mr. Stone clearly saw the great sin of slavery, and deeply sympathized with its helpless victims ; and in his every public prayer, be- sought the help of God in their behalf. This displeas- ed the politicians, and resulted in his losing some in- fluential friends ; and having occupied the pulpit from July 6, 1844, to May 13, 1849, he resigned and left town.
The eloquent Rev. Henry Giles then preached for the Society for six months, to the great edification of a large congregation, though he too was an Abolitionist. Other clergymen came and went until the Autumn of 1850, when Rev. Thomas S. Lathrop was settled as pastor. Mr. Lathrop was born in Bridgewater, Mass., and educated in Meadville Theological Seminary. He came to Calais from Northumberland, Pa. He was a popular preacher, a pleasant, active citizen, and for several years an efficient member of the School Commit- tee. During his ministry, the church was generally well filled and the Society prosperous. He remained here from Sept. 1, 1850, to Oct. 1856. He then moved to Walpole, N. H., and from thence to Connecticut, where he married the widow of a Universalist clergyman, (Rev. Henry Bacon,) and soon after formally affiliated with that Denomination, with which he is still laboring as an acceptable minister.
Rev. Hiram C. Duganne, at present, minister at large in Lowell, Mass. supplied the pulpit from Nov. 1, 1856, to May 1, 1857. But the next pastor was Rev.
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UNITARIAN CHURCH.
Jacob Caldwell, a native of Lunenburg, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard. He was a man of fervent piety and spotless purity. Being a deep, clear thinker and a ready writer, it is said he never delivered a sermon that was not fit for the press and worthy of publication. Possessing considerable property. he labored for a nom- inal salary, and was satisfied with his wages. He great- ly disliked deadheadism ; always preferring to pay for what he received, and to be treated as a man and not as a poor preacher. Of course he was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Although absent a part of the time, he was the nominal pastor from June 1, 1857, to Nov. 1, 1867. After leaving Calais he declined to take charge of any parish ; and he has preached but little since. He now resides in Elmira, N. Y. During 1859 and 60, Rev. H. A. Philbrook, then of Milltown, St. Stephen, preached one sermon on Sunday, for the So- ciety, for a year or more, with great acceptance.
Rev. Wm. G. Nowell, a native of Portsmouth, N. H. and a graduate of Bowdoin College and Harvard Divinity School, began a pastorate Jan. 1, 1868, and continued about two years. He manifested the quali- ties of a profound scholar, fine writer, easy speaker and excellent manager of the Sunday-school. Since 1870, he has devoted his talents almost exclusively to teach- ing.
A change now came. For many years the Society had been growing weaker and weaker by the death or removal of many of its prominent members. The church also was getting old and sadly in need of extensive re- pairs. Under these circumstances, in 1870, one half the building and lot was sold to the Universalist Society. The two Societies then conjointly remodelled and re-
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UNITARIAN CHURCH.
paired the house, at a cost of nearly $10,000, and made it a very pleasant and handsome church. It was re- dedicated Dec. 28, 1870. Sermon by Rev. H. A Phil- brook. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Crafts of Eastport. It now received the name of "Union Church."
In June, 1871, Rev. I. C. Knowlton from New Bed- ford, Mass., became pastor of both Societies. Since then. the members of the united societies, though still , retaining their respective names, have worked and wor- shipped together in peace and affection ; and the parish It is true is now enjoying a fair share of prosperity.
the Unitarian organization though intact, has become dor- mant ; but the principles which it was formed to promul- gate and defend, have never held a more general or firm belief in town, than at the present time. Thus abundant success has crowned the efforts of those who started and so long and faithfully supported the Unita- rian movement in Calais.
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NEWSPAPERS.
XVIII.
NEWSPAPERS.
Knowledge is power, and a village newspaper is knowledge minced and diluted for popular use. Dur- ing the first quarter of the present century, either be- cause there was not a burning thirst for knowledge, or because there were not so many important, party pur- poses to serve, newspapers were not so numerous as they are in this enlightened and patriotic age. True, in 1822 and perhaps long before, the enterprising peo- ple of St. Andrews enjoyed the blessing of a weekly paper printed by themselves ; but Calais and St. Ste- phen did not indulge in this luxury until ten years later. Since then, however, the early dearth has been compen- sated by a superabundant supply. Sixteen or more hebdo- matical sheets have arisen in this vicinity and like literary suns radiated their mental light among the people. Four of them still shine with brilliant lustre ; the others have gone down, to rise no more forever. Lack of patronage was probably the cause of their early and melancholy decline ; and the ungrateful public has been so indiffer- ent about their fate, that not a single copy of them has been preserved to give us an idea of their sizes or mer- its. All that I have been able to learn respecting them. is contained in the following chronological sketch list :
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NEWSPAPERS.
The first one that appeared was the TIMES & ST. CROIX ADVOCATE ; John Stubbs, editor and printer ; St. Stephen, 1832. In politics it was radical and re- formatory. It languished about a year, and then quiet- ly died.
The ST. CROIX COURIER, a Democratic sheet ; Ham- let Bates, editor and publisher ; Calais, 1833. It ran well for a time, but unfortunately, in Dec. 1834, while Gen. Jackson's annual message was in type, the entire establishment was burned, and no Phoenix ever arose from its sacred ashes.
The BOUNDARY GAZETTE, a Whig organ ; Henry P. Pratt, manager ; Calais, 1833. It was owned, as a kind of stock concern, by Noah Smith, Wm. Deming, J. S. Pike and others. It reached and passed the boundary of its existence, in about three years.
The PLOW AND ANVIL, an Agricultural and Handi- craft paper ; John K. Laskey, manager ; St. Stephen, 1835. After plowing and hammering a few months, Laskey became weary, and retired. John Campbell then took charge, removed the implements of industry, and christened the sheet, the ST. STEPHEN COURANT. In 1837, the types and press were carried to St. An- drews, and the two-year-old paper disappeared. "No blame was attached to any one." A newspaper mania had broken out. The American people were intensely excited by political questions, and each party and clique ventilated its principles and feelings in an "organ." But the newly started papers in Calais were so destitute of sterling merit, and they so clashed against and crowd- ed each other, that though brilliant as rockets, many of them were obliged to submit to something like a rock- et's fate.
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NEWSPAPERS.
The GAZETTE AND ADVERTISER, a Whig paper ; Snow and Jackson, publishers ; Calais, 1836. This sheet contained the withered remains of the Boundary Ga- zette and the incipient germ of the Calais Advertiser ; but neither could save it from dissolution. Snow soon melted away from the concern ; and Jackson after run- ning it alone for some two years, let it be shut down.
The EASTERN DEMOCRAT, a Democratic paper ; John Bent, publisher ; Calais, 1836. For a time, O. L. Bridges, Esq., did the editing. It was a Pilsbury pa- per ; and after Mr. Pilsbury failed of an election to Con- gress, there being no further need of the paper, it went to sleep.
The TOCSIN, a Democratic, campaign paper ; Hou. Bion Bradbury and Hon. A. G. Chandler, editors ; Cal- ais, 1836. This year there was a fearful split in the Democratic party. Both Mr. Pilsbury and Mr. Chand- ler desired to represent their District in Congress ; and for several months the Tocsin sounded incessant peals of alarm. But the election of a Whig, in November, quieted the anxiety, and the ominous bell never rang again.
The DOWN EASTER, an echo from the Tocsin ; Benj. Williams, editor, W. K. Snow, Publisher ; Milltown, Calais, 1837. It was prolonged, though continually growing fainter, over a year. It was issued "under the direction of Jeremiah Curtis, Seth Emerson and Joseph N. Prescott, for the proprietors." It was Democratic.
The FRONTIER JOURNAL, Democratic ; J. C. Wash- burn and son ; Calais, 1838. A year or two after its birth, it passed into the hands of Gen. Rendol Whid- den, and Lucius Bradbury became editor. In 1841, W. K. Snow took charge of it. He kept its head above
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NEWSPAPERS.
water about two years, when he and the paper died to- gether. And since that mournful day. no Democratic paper has been published in Calais.
The CHRISTIAN WATCHMAN, a Baptist paper ; J. C. Washburn and Son ; Calais, 1838. The Baptists in the vicinity not desiring a watchman over their fold, the only pious paper ever issued in the Schoodic valley, died at the tender age of one year.
The CALAIS ADVERTISER, Whig and afterwards Re- publican ; John Jackson, editor and publisher ; Calais, 1841. Since then, every week for thirty-four long years, this paper has advertised its existence and given a sum- mary of the current news ; and Mr. Jackson is still its veteran owner and manager. From time to time, va- rious gentlemen have let their light shine in its editorial columns, and helped on some good cause ; and no doubt it will long continue to radiate the wisdom of the East.
A paper called the PROVINCIAL PATRIOT was born, spent its ephemeral existence and perished, some ten or fifteen years ago ; but sufficient data do not remain to frame for it an elaborate epitaph.
The CHARLOTTE ADVOCATE, managed by Mr. Clinch, and subsequently by J. G. Lorimer, a spicy sheet, was published in St. Stephen for several years, beginning prior to 1860. But, unhappy Charlotte was called to mourn her witty advocate deceased.
The ST. CROIX HERALD was started in St. Stephen by J. S. Hay. In 1861, some depraved animals that did not like that kind of hay, broke into his office and distributed his type and press in a very unartistic man- ner. Mr. Hay gathered the debris, brought them to Cal- ais, and resumed the publication of his paper. In 1864, he enlisted in the U. S. army ; after which John Sears
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NEWSPAPERS.
continued the paper for a few months, when the Herald departed to return no more.
In 1865 David Main, Esq., purchased the types and press of the Herald, moved it again to St. Stephen and commenced publishing the ST. CROIX COURIER. Mr. Main's tact, skill and energy has made the COURIER ever since the main paper in St. Stephen.
In 1869 or 70, S. G. Ames started a small paper in St. Stephen, called the SCHOODIC TIMES. But not prospering overmuch, in 1871, the types and press found their way across the river, and were set up in Pool's Block. Soon after, C. R. Whidden, Jr., purchased them and issued the CALAIS TIMES, a wide-awake, newsy, in- dependent paper, that bids fair to enjoy a prolonged continuance of good times.
The ST. STEPHEN JOURNAL; James Dow, editor and proprietor ; St. Stephen, 1871. This is the last, but by no means the least, of our many papers. Having now four, well conducted journals, though as yet desti- tute of a daily, our citizens feel safe and happy in the conviction that all their news and business, trials and triumphs, will be made known to the world.
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,-CALAIS.
XIX. 1st. BAPTIST CHURCH,-CALAIS.
To Dea. Samuel Kelley, under Divine Providence, the Baptist churches in Calais and vicinity owe their ori- gin and much of their prosperity. He and his devoted wife were the first Baptists in town. When he came here in 1821, there was no living Church of any kind, in Calais. A Methodist Class of some twenty zealous members were holding weekly evening meetings for prayer and mutual edification, but no clergyman resid- ed in the place, and no regular service was held on the Sabbath day. For more than thirty years, the widely separated and perhaps not over pious settlers had . wor- shipped without any resident priest or suitable sanctuary, except during the brief excitement under Mr. Asbury ; and even then the meeting-house was a second-hand and shabby affair. But better days were coming, and while patiently waiting, Dea. Kelley earnestly prayed for their advent. In 1825, an angel came down and troubled the waters, but the Congregationalists first stepped into its energizing influence, and resolved to erect a meeting-house adequate to the need of the town. Seeing no immediate prospect of gathering a Church of his own faith, the unselfish Deacon generously opened his purse and lent his influence to the Congregational
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,-CALAIS.
movement. He gave half the land for the new meet- ing-house, bought one of its highest priced pews, help- ed organize its Sunday-school and served as its first Superintendent. He did all he conscientiously could ; but he still retained his original religious sentiments, and longed to work and worship among brothers and sisters of his own cherished faith.
At length. in 1832, God's good time came, and the many prayers of his pious children began to be answer- ed. Early in that year, under the faithful and power- fully persuasive preaching of Rev. Samuel Robinson, a great revival of religious interest began in Calais ; and within a year, scores of people publicly professed faith in Christ and hope of salvation through his grace. Mr. Robinson was a Baptist, and of course many of the new converts adopted his peculiar views. As a result, May 18, 1832, in the Congregational meeting-house, to the great joy of those interested, the 1st. Baptist Church in Calais was duly organized. It contained eleven mem- bers, viz :- Samuel Kelley and wife, Elijah Stearns, Christopher C. Farrar, Dexter H. Woodcock, James Sargent, Mercy Todd, Elizabeth Veasey, Hannah Hoyt, Mary Hamlin and Isaac Hamlin, a brother of Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, the Vice President of the U. S. under Abraham Lincoln. Only two of these persons, S. Kel- ley and C. C. Farrar of Topsfield, are now living. It was a small Church, but its faith, hope and zeal were great ; and hence its ultimate growth and fruit far ex- ceeded the expectation of the most sanguine. Many people came five or six miles to attend its meetings, and so great was the excitement, and so numerous the additions, that Aug., 1832, only three months after its first start, forty of its members residing near the Ledge
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,-CALAIS.
in St. Stephen, were set off and organized into a sepa- rate Church, in that place. Soon after, Dea. A. D). Thompson, whose widow is now the wife of Dea. S. Kelley, was ordained as a minister and installed as the pastor of the Ledge Society. Subsequently a comfort- able meeting-house was erected for its accommodation, and the faithful little Church is still alive and busily at work in the Master's Vineyard.
The great need of a meeting-house for the parent Society soon became apparent, and the steps necessary to supply the want, were soon taken. The selection of a location was judicious. The Congregational house was large enough to accommodate all the church-going people in that part of the town. Milltown, though a large and thriving village, had no church edifice. It was therefore decided that Milltown was the proper place for the new house. A site centrally and pleas- antly located was given to the Society by the late Benj. F. Waite. and the work of building at once commenc- ed. The day on which the corner stone was laid, in 1833, was very fine, a large audience assembled to wit- ness the ceremony, an appropriate and stirring address was delivered by Rev. Mr. Robinson, and the heart of every Baptist present throbbed with hope and gladness. The building was erected under the supervision of Dea. Kelley. It was dedicated in June, 1834. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Curtis of St. John, N. B. ; and thus the 1st. Baptist Church in Calais wheeled into line ; young, strong, active, and "thoroughly furnished for every good work."
A Church must work or die, and a genuine Christ- ian will work. The Master said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature ;" and
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,-CALAIS.
moved by these considerations, Sept. 14, 1834, the Church resolved itself into a missionary society called the "Eastern Baptist Quarterly Conference ;" whose objects were to disseminate the Gospel and awaken an interest in religion wherever a hearing could be obtain- ed. This society has held many meetings in all the region round about Calais, and added not a little to the prosperity of the Baptist Denomination. It still exists and works, vigorous as ever.
The first pastor of the Society was Rev. W. H. Beckwith, who is now residing in Nashwaak, N. B. He was a good man and a faithful worker; but realizing that he did not fully satisfy the expectation of the peo- ple, he retired from the field soon after the dedication of the meeting-house.
The second pastor was Rev. Edward N. Harris. He appears to have been a preacher of marked ability ; but being discouraged by the general apathy in religious affairs and the small number of conversions, he resign- ed, April 10, 1835. Soon after, he took charge of a So- ciety in Haverhill, Mass. He now resides in Rhode Is- land.
The third pastor was Rev. James Huckins, to whom a call was given in Oct. 1835. The tide of religious interest that flooded the whole country the next year, was already rising, and Mr. Huckins was just the man for the emergency. He entered into the work with all his glowing soul. He was earnest, eloquent and untir- ing ; and the fruit of his labors was the addition to the Church of 150 new members. So great was the prosper- ity and at length so full and crowded became the Fold, that May 23, 1838, thirty-seven members were set off and organized into a separate Church, in Baring. This
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,-CALAIS.
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