USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > Centennial history of The First Baptist Church of Waterville, Maine > Part 6
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A reading and concert, February 15, 1878, furnished shades to the church and a second lamp outside the vestry, one having already been provided at the other door by the generosity of one of our members. The Loan Exhibition in November, 1880, from which we realized $133.00, gave us the vestry chandelier and the beginning of a fund for lamps for the church. In the spring of '83 the additions we had made to this fund and some generous donations from friends at home and abroad enabled us to see the church for the first time in its history thoroughly lighted."
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This Loan Exhibition which Miss Plaisted only men- tions was really a remarkable affair. The ladies had borrowed all kinds of beautiful, rare and unusual arti- cles in Waterville and vicinity and they were not few, and had sent away to get still others. Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Philbrick contributed many curios from east- ern heathen countries, far more seldom seen then than now.
Several persons in the church and congregation were artists of much talent, or owned fine paintings of a generation back. The best of these were collected and carefully hung on the vestry walls, one of the Colby professors spending much thought in arranging them to the best advantage and placing the numerous lamps necessary to give the proper light for the best effects. Every morning three or four of the most prominent women of the church spent the time which was needed to trim them. Great pains was taken to make the ves- try look as attractive as possible and to give a good impression as soon as one entered the door. When the exhibition was ready to open, it was well worth inspect- ing, and many were the compliments bestowed upon the ladies as the guests wandered among the counters filled with laces or other beautiful things, or visited the booths built up for the purpose of showing off objects in the best possible manner. The laces were so valuable that two of the ladies took them home every night to be sure of their safety, although someone was on guard each night of the exhibition.
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These monthly sociables which Miss Plaisted speaks of were continued for some years with entertainments of high character. In 1879 Mrs. Spencer was added to the corps of ladies before spoken of, and having a fine, trained mind and excellent judgment, together with ideas, was an additional factor in their success.
One sociable particularly remains in the mind of one of those who took a large part in this phase of the work. This had for its subject "The French Revolu- tion." Dr. Shailer Mathews, then Professor of His- tory in the college, gave a popular talk on the causes and events of the Revolution, and it was illustrated by living pictures in costumes, among others Rev. Charles Sawtelle, then a college student, represented Rousseau. Mrs. P. H. Plaisted as Josephine, was gorgeous in her jewelled crown and dress. Mrs. Spencer had looked up the songs and music sung by the rabble on the streets during the Revolution and Dr. Spencer had copied the music so that a chorus of college men could sing them. This is a sample of the kind of entertain- ment given in those winters.
An apron sale was held, one of the pretty girls rep- resented Rebecca at the well (of lemonade) and other interesting things took place. This one netted the ladies about $50. Afterward, as they were planning another of like kind, one of the gentlemen of the church asked one of the ladies how much they expected to make from the sale. When told that they needed $60 more to accomplish what they set out to do, he offered them
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$25 and said a friend of his would give a like sum if they would not hold the sale. Needless to say, they didn't.
From that time to this the organization has lived and thrived and done blessed work. In the last changes which have made the church and vestries a much better and larger instrument for doing the business of Chris- tian men and women for the world of today, the L. B. S. U. has lived quite up to its former reputation. Bazaars and apron sales to which were added food, candies and things for household use or ornament, Christmas sales where just the right things for Christ- mas presents were to be obtained, and suppers where willing workers toiled and slaved, and from which toil sometimes suffered sad results personally. From all these the dollars and cents piled up for the repairs until their pledge of $2500 was raised.
The Ladies' Baptist Social Union members have been unceasingly busy in the interests of the church and town, helping the poor, holding up the hands of all those who have tried to make the world better through the ministries of the Baptist Church-nay, more- through the ministries of the Red Cross, Associated Charities, Y. W. C. A., Missions, they seek to send out Christian influence through the wide, wide world by every possible channel. Barrels for Home or Foreign Missionaries, socials for all who will, suppers for an- nual meetings (and what so prolific of pleasant inter- course and friendship as eating together), women's
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weekly prayer meetings, bearing the church before God and asking his blessing on all its activities, sewing that children may come to Sunday School and older mem- bers of families get to church services, sewing also for Good Will Home Association, getting money and buy- ing church silver, church and vestry carpets, buying the cabinet organ for a Department of the Sunday School, buying table linen to be used for the Communion table, on which the initials W. B. C. were beautifully em- broidered by one of its members; in short, helping in every way possible, endeavoring always to do a Chris- tian woman's full work in the church. Read the reports of their annual meetings with the work summed up, and let your hearts burn within you with thankfulness and proper pride.
The Sunday School really antedates the church, but as it was at first a union school and started by a Con- gregationalist missionary, perhaps it ought not to be classed as a school that belonged to the Baptists. How- ever, Baptists superintended it, cared for it, and taught in it to a great extent.
A young man, Mr. David M. Mitchell, a Congrega- tionalist, who had come to Waterville and was remain- ing eight or ten weeks as a missionary worker, had become interested in the Sunday School enterprise and while he was here gathered the children together on Sunday for "religious instruction." An historical ad- dress on the Bible School was delivered by Dr. Burrage
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July 9, 1871, and was written at the instigation of Deacon Stevens, at that time Superintendent of the School. Many quotations will give an idea of it up to that time. In 1871, when Dr. Burrage wrote the ad- dress, there were still living those who had been among that number, "the first Sunday School in the town of Waterville." "One especially remembers the little tract which she received from the missionary. It was to be read and then returned, but she was so choice of it that on reaching home she folded it up very carefully and laid it away, and on the next Sunday brought it back to the Missionary with the leaves uncut." After giving this little incident Dr. Burrage goes on-"Not long afterwards, but precisely at what time I cannot say, Deacon John Partridge took up the work which had been commenced by Rev. Mr. Mitchell. Deacon Par- tridge was at that time proprietor of the hotel after- ward known as the Williams House, and to use the language of one of his scholars, 'when the good man opened his heart for the school he opened his doors also.' The children were assembled in an upper hall in the hotel, where they recited to the Deacon and his assistants, Mrs. Partridge and Miss Nancy Dingley, passages of scripture, Watts' Hymns and the Assem- bly's Catechism. Rewards were given for the scripture recitations. Thus, for every ten verses the scholars received a blue ticket, and when one had received four blue tickets a white one was given in exchange for the blue. 'We had no library books,' writes one of these
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scholars, 'and we were much pleased with the rewards.' How long Deacon Partridge continued his school I am not able to say, but probably for some time. After a while he left the Williams House, and henceforward for several years the school seems to have held its serv- ices either in the Town House or in the school house that stood near. Mr. Aaron Healy of New York is of the impression that the missionary Boardman was a teacher in the school when he entered it. This is not only possible, but highly probable. 'The impressions made upon my mind by the teachers of that school,' writes one of the scholars, 'were very good and very lasting, and have never ceased to exert a powerful in- fluence heavenward.' "
After the church was built, "it was thought best that they should have a school under their own direction. In those days there was no session of the school during winter months. Accordingly, the organization of the school did not take place until May or June, 1827. So far as can now be ascertained, Mr. C. A. Thomas was the first superintendent of the school. He entered col- lege in 1828, and probably commenced his labors with the next annual session of the school. Concerning the number of teachers and scholars in the school at this time I have no means of information. In 1832 Mr. Thomas was graduated, and Mr. Wm. Howe, also a student, who had been a teacher in the school two years, was appointed his successor. The kindly bearing and winning words of Mr. Howe endeared him to all hearts,
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and he was a great favorite with teachers and scholars. Like his predecessor, though having the superintend- ency of the school he retained his place as a teacher. Mr. Howe was graduated in 1833. His successor in the office of superintendent was Mr. S. B. Page. Mr. Page had not only been a teacher in the school, but he had had charge of a Sabbath School in Fairfield during the previous season."
In June, 1835, Mr. Forbush writes his mother from Waterville: "Next Saturday, being the anniversary of American Independence, the Sabbath Schools in this vicinity, to the number of fourteen or fifteen, will as- semble in this village to celebrate the day. The schools will meet at nine o'clock A. M. and move in procession to a grove near the village, where seats are to be pro- vided, and listen to an address from the Rev. George Shepard of Hallowell, after which they will partake of a collation, furnished at the grove by the people of the village. The celebration which was held last year in- creased the interest in Sabbath schools here very much and it is hoped the one this year will have a like effect. The students connected with the 'United Brethren' so- ciety, which embraces nearly all the students in the col- lege who are pious, have under their charge as many as twenty-five or thirty Sabbath schools, at different distances from the college, from two to fifteen miles.
"The influence of these efforts is very happy. The prejudices, which the surrounding inhabitants had so long cherished against learning and students are now
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breaking away, and their labors are sought for and ap- preciated. Mr. M- is now employed to preach statedly at a village five miles distant, where two years ago they would not hear a student preach or speak on any subject."
Dr. Burrage's history goes on-"At that time there were no adult classes in the school. 'The nearest ap- proach to it,' writes Dr. Smith, then pastor of the church, 'was a class of young ladies whose station was about five pews from the door, on the north side of the broad aisle. My wife, then young, took that class soon after she went to Waterville; when she was unable to be present I took the pleasant burden in her stead. I believe most, if not all the class-I do not recall an exception-trod with me the baptismal waters, and as- sumed the vows of the Christian covenant.'
"In the spring of 1834 a deep, religious interest per- vaded the school. On the first Sabbath in June one teacher and eight of the scholars were baptized. Says Mr. Page, 'I think that not less than thirty of the schol- ars were converted at that time.'
"In the fall of 1834, a plan of taking monthly col- lections for benevolent objects was presented to the school and accepted. A teachers' meeting was held once in two weeks. The Sabbath school concert was observed on the second Monday evening in the month. 'It was no more than a teachers' prayer meeting,' writes Dr. Smith, 'but doubtless had its fruits.' In 1836 a weekly Sabbath School prayer meeting was established.
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This was held on Friday evening and was attended by many of the scholars." Three consecutive years the July 4th celebration took place. The last in 1836, occurred just at the end of Mr. Page's superintendency. Dr. Smith says of him, "Mr. Page was my efficient helper, and taking up the work for the love of it, he labored unceasingly for its success, and all parted from him with sincere regret."
Mr. Page, while in Waterville, prepared sketches of six members of the Sunday School who died while he was Superintendent, and these were published in a small book, "The Cluster." The only names which have meaning for the church today are Jonathan Forbush, Artemas L. Boutelle, son of Timothy Boutelle, one of the two who gave the land for the church, and Olivia S. Dunbar, aunt of Mr. Albert Dunbar and sisters, now members of this church.
"In 1836 Waterville reported to the Kennebec Bap- tist Sabbath School Union two schools of which L. B. Allen and M. L. Bickford, both students in the college, were the superintendents. These schools had 26 teach- ers and 170 scholars.
"In the following year Mr. Mylon Merriam was elected superintendent." He also was a college student, and "retained the position until his graduation in 1839." Dr. Smith says of him, "He was ready to do good at every point, faithful, earnest, beloved. He was with us during the most extensive revival I saw, when in the year 1838, I baptized, if I remember rightly, between
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fifty or sixty believers. Of this number twenty-five were from the Sabbath School. The interest was such that extra meetings were held during the week. On the following Sunday Mr. Merriam felt that a word of caution as a guard against undue excitement would not be inappropriate; and accordingly he reminded the teachers of the fearful responsibility of their position. 'I was fearful at the close of my remarks,' writes Mr. Merriam, 'that I had made a fatal mistake, and trem- blingly told the school that they could proceed with their lessons. For four or five minutes I was busy with the routine of the work of my office, but at the first leisure moment looked up to see how things were progressing, and what a thrill went through my soul. Many of the teachers were so affected by the first utterances of the class that they could not proceed with the lesson. The Spirit was quietly and mightily work- ing in many hearts. So deep and intense was the feel- ing that the teachers sat down and silently wept with their classes and commended them in earnest prayer to the direct power of the Spirit. Professor Loomis, re- markable for his firm, resolute self-control, wept like a child, and he and his whole class were completely overcome. And so it was with a large part of the school. All that was heard was suppressed weeping. It was God's time to work, and by the overwhelming sense of His presence He had silenced human effort and given the work directly into the hands of the Spirit.'
"After the resignation of Mr. Merriam there was no
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regular superintendent for some time and the duties of the office were performed by Mr. Moses M. Smith, Prof. Loomis, Prof. Drury and others. In the spring or summer of 1840, Mr. Charles H. Wheeler, then a student in college, was elected Superintendent, and re- mained in charge of the school until his graduation in August, 1841. Previous to this time, in connection with a few ladies in the school he had organized a mission school on the Plains. The session was held immediately after the afternoon church service, and usually there were from forty to sixty scholars present. 'The visiting and other work in connection with this branch school,' writes Mr. Wheeler, 'are among the pleasantest memories of my Sabbath School life in Waterville.'
"After the resignation of Mr. Wheeler, until the year 1848, there were frequent changes in the office of super- intendent. Among those who occupied this position were Mr. James Caper of the class of 1845, Mr. Henry V. Dexter of the class of 1842, and Mr. A. K. P. Small of the class of 1849. During this period the school did not make that progress which it had made in earlier years. Indeed, in 1848 it could report only eighty-five scholars and twelve teachers. This decline in the Sab- bath School interest could not but be deplored by those who had the welfare of the church at heart. Accord- ingly at a church conference held on the 4th of March, 1848, the attention of the members of the church was directed to the state of affairs in the Sabbath School.
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Resolutions, setting forth the relation of the church to this work and making it the duty of the church to elect annually a superintendent of the school, were presented and accepted. Hitherto the superintendents of the school were students in the college. It was now thought best that the position should be filled by a member of the church, residing in the place. Therefore, at an election held that afternoon, Mr. C. F. Hathaway was elected Superintendent. He resigned not long after and Deacon W. A. F. Stevens was made his successor. On the 27th of March following, at a church meeting for business, Mr. J. H. Hanson was called to the super- intendency of the school and means were adopted for securing a larger number of scholars, also for the in- crease of the library."
The next year the school reported 175 scholars and 20 teachers. Mr. Hanson retained the position of superintendency until June 3, 1854, when Deacon W. A. F. Stevens was made his successor and he remained in that office until his death in February, 1873.
"In 1852, 1858, 1868, there were seasons of especial interest, when a deep solemnity pervaded all hearts and many were led to ask the all-important question, 'what must I do to be saved?' Then, as in former times, the usual exercises of the school were omitted, and teachers and scholars bowed together in earnest, humble suppli- cation to the throne of the Heavenly grace. These were days forever memorable because of the manifes- tation of the Spirit."
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For some time previous to the year 1858 the Sabbath School concert seems to have been omitted. In that year it was again observed. It was held in the chapel, an hour and a half before the morning service. It was simply a meeting for prayer. About the year 1860, Rev. N. M. Wood proposed that the concert be held on Sunday evening, and that the recitation of passages of Scripture be added to the exercises of that occasion.
"About the year 1858, by vote of the church another attempt was made to establish a mission school on the Plains. Mr. C. F. Hathaway had charge of the school, and for twelve years, amid many discouragements, and beset with many hindrances, he prosecuted the work with great zeal and fidelity."
"In the winter of 1864-5 the morning service in the church was shortened in order to give more time to the Sabbath School. After about a year the morning church service was omitted altogether and the forenoon was given up to the Sabbath School." In the fall of 1890 the present arrangement of services was voted "by an overwhelming majority" at a "large meeting of the church after the Lord's Supper."
"In 1865 an infant department was organized and placed under the charge of Miss Emily Cogswell, as- sisted by Miss Fannie Barrett. Two years later, on the removal of Miss Cogswell from the town, the scholars in this department were brought into the large school and placed in classes." In the spring of 1871 the infant department was reorganized and placed un-
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der the care of Mrs. Professor Hamlin. Mrs. Presi- dent Robins, Mrs. Dr. Dunn, Mrs. Hall, and Mrs. Pep- per are of those who have had charge of this depart- ment before the present teacher, Miss Alice Purinton, who has thorough preparation and marked ability for this work.
"For many years the money given by the school in penny contributions was appropriated to different benevolent objects. The entire contributions for one year were given to the Classical Institute. January 10, 1869, the Adiram Missionary Society was organized. Deacon Stevens was appointed President, Dr. G. S. Palmer Treasurer, and Mrs. J. W. Philbrick Corre- sponding Secretary. The money which every Sunday is paid by the school into the treasury is appropriated for the support of Adiram, a native preacher in As- sam," and always Mr. J. W. Philbrick made up any deficiency in the promised $100 a year which there might be at the end of each quarter. Some years as much as $83 was raised for this purpose.
We must remember that Dr. Burrage is writing in 1871. He goes on to say: "In this review of the his- tory of our school one thing you cannot have failed to notice,-the indebtedness of the school to the members of the college, both professors and students. During the first years after the organization of the school the college furnished the superintendents while during the forty-four years which include the entire period of its history many of its teachers have come from the same
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ranks. We have no means of ascertaining the precise number of teachers supplied by the college except dur- ing the last ten years. In this time four professors and thirty-six students have given instruction in our school. Of this number ten have become ministers of the Gospel, one is a missionary in Burmah, one is about to go forth to the foreign field, and two are students in the Theological Institution at Newton."
Deacon Stevens did a great work for the school. It was never out of his mind for a waking minute. He knew every child who attended by name, and during the week as he was driving about on his business, every now and then he would be seen to turn toward the sidewalk and call to some passing boy, "Oh, you were not at Sabbath School, Sunday, were you? What was the trouble ?" His wife and daughter were always his willing aids; if any child lacked the necessary clothes to go to Sunday School, nothing was said about it, but soon he reappeared in the ranks, properly clad through their generosity.
Deacon Stevens died just before he had completed nineteen years of service as Superintendent and Dr. G. S. Palmer was chosen to care for the school. A remarkable thing about his tenure of office was the few times he was absent from his post. Taking infrequent trips away from home for business or pleasure, he al- ways went away Monday morning and returned Sat- urday night. This he did even when on his wedding trip. For fourteen years he stood at the helm and
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quietly and carefully guided the Sunday School. He died October, 1888, and Mr. C. R. Caswell was ap- pointed to take the place. After holding the position only one year, he resigned and Mr. Lincoln Owen, Principal of the Waterville High School, was chosen to take his place and was superintendent until he left town.
It was about this time that Professor Shailer Math- ews had a class of young boys of the age when boys are hardest to teach and hardest to keep. He made this rule,-the first ten minutes after the opening exer- cises, he talked baseball, (he had been himself a base- ball player and on the college nine when in college), or anything they wanted to talk about, with them, at the end of which time they were to attend strictly to the lesson for the rest of the hour. Needless to say, his class was full and very regular in attendance.
It was, too, about this same time that Professor Elder, a very fine Sunday School teacher, had a large class of ladies who, never being willing to act as substitute teachers, fairly earned the name which was given the class, that of the "Saints' Rest." Professor L. E. War- ren was elected Superintendent to follow Mr. Owen. He revived the committing of scripture by the school, and part of the opening or closing exercises was usually the recitation of some passage that the school was sup- posed to have learned. He did not serve long and December, 1895, Deacon Purinton became his suc- cessor. Soon after Dr. Whittemore became pastor,
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