USA > Maine > Cumberland County > North Yarmouth > Confession of Faith and covenant of the First Church in North Yarmouth, Me. : with a catalogue of its members and brief historical notices. April 1848 > Part 8
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Rev. Joseph Waite Curtis, of Windsor, St., was ordained the sixth pastor of the church June 5, 1816. Prager, by Dr. Jenks of Bath ; Sermon, by Dr. Payson of Portland ; Ordain- ing Prayer, by Mr. Lancaster of Scarborough; Charge, by Mr. Eaton of Hopewell ; Right Hliad of Fellowship, by Mr. Scott of Minut ; Prager, by Mr. Thurston of Winthrop. Jan 2, 1817, in depressed spirits and ill health, though beloved by the people, Mr. Curtis resigned his pastoral charge. He has since been a useful laborer in the vineyard of the Land, in the State of Ohio.
After a vacancy of less than a year, Mr. Samuel Woodbury, of Acworth. N. I. v.a ondain- ed, Nov. 5. 1817. Prayer, by Mr. Merrill of Freeport ; Sermon, by Dr. Appleton of Bowdoin College . Holdning Prayer, by Mr Scott of Minet ; Charge. by Me. Pruh of Cant . 11. Right Hand of feflow -bip, ty Sh Mitchell of Wal loborough ; Prayer, by Me Thus an et Winthrop. Me Woodbury's health soon begun to fail ; and duty 6, 1219, he died at timo; n. where he was spending a time with his friends, in the hope of recovering vigor w return to his labors.
The Rev. As Cunnnings, eighth pastor, a native of Andover, Me. was ordained Felgmary 14, 1821. Prayer, by Mr. Thurston of Winthrop; Sermon, by Dr. Allen of Bowdoin Colle c; Ordaining Prayer, by Dr. Payson of Portland ; Charge, Io Mr. Morley of Rer difence ter ; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Mr. Whiton of 24 church ; Prayer, by Ar Merrill of farport Mr. Cummings, laboring nuder physical disabilities which reader I it hasadon for him to continue to preach, atol having already. for almat two years, been employed in talin the Christian Mirror, the religions newspaper of Maine, February 17, 1.99, remaining sue und- ted affections of the people, fully resigned his pasford chose. and on the day following, Feb. 18. 1:29, the present pastor was ordained. Prayer, by Mr. Midtimme of Falmouth ; For- mon, by Mr. Feet of Nordingewoon : Opleiding Prayer, by De Syke of Portland : Change by Mr. Commings, late pastar : Right Hand of Fellowship by Mr Merrill of Freeport ; I'm er. by Mr Beckham of listy
For many years, the people were gathered in one place for your hip. some of them travelling by land or water five and menten and we've nies. Occasionally preaching w - provited in diferent : actions of the territory; the parter sometimes preaching at different places and . times low ing at assi tant furnished him, the expense being d frayed from the common trees. ury. At length, however, new and important churches and parishes came into existence. With these there have been, for the most part, entirely friendly re! tions. If the original church was not, in one or two instances, so ready to part with its members, as could have been wished, there may have been cire una-tances tending to create temporary reluctant, and palliating it ; while the wisdom of the measure of forming new surieties was laquestion.ble It has not been all los to the anerest church. The cherche have been, and art. mutually helpers of each other Names of mini tots of the new congregations, baby of the departed soll of the living, will be transmitted with reverence and affection. in the original Parish. torchil. dren and children's children ; some of them to be readled with surely De interet the there of their own pastore. Many percations will have far el ami het re die young, will course to befeld of the fearlessness, the integrity and the fifty of the Patriarch of harp-well ; ild who shall attempt to make an estimate of the value; to the wine le region, of the hle ant labors of the remarkable first pastar of Found.
In Herpsteel, incorporated as a Second Pari-h in North Yarmouth. in the year 1750, and, as a town in 175%, a church was gathered in 1155, and Rer. Elida Han finnerly R in ter of the Third Paride in Braintice, was installed its Pastor. He died of a cancer on the lip in 1761, and the same year vis sureceded by his son. the Rev. Samuel Latou. Bei. Thers. Loring of North Varmonth, Smith of Falconth and Allen of the Highest, ve. the cell- stituting council of the church in Hupowell. The elder Madan pregled his own in tallation sermon. Samuel Eaton. born in Braintree, was fixed for College by "Enter " Body," of York, and graduated at Harvard College in 1768. He was employed que ger in teaching in the town of Scarborough, where the Hon. Rufus King, was his pupil. Betise . ettling at Harp well he had preached at New Gloucester, and been invited to become the minister of that town. At Harpswell his salary was fixed at .LGG 15: 1, and there he went in and out before the peagde blessing them and leading them for about fifty-eight years, till hi orth in 1-2, at the age of 8 years. He was never married. In the winter ot 1521, the year press- ing that of his death. he was living with a nephew brought up by him, attending to all his ministerial duties, and taking the exclusive care of eleven head of cattle, invariably till by him before the thing of the sun. Rev. Elijah Kellogg is the present pastor at Harp-well.
Freeport In the year lidl, a meeting-house was created in the X. B. part of the town In 19, Freeport va- incorporated. De. 21. of that year a church was argandadl ; and even
minister of Freeport, Mitted in . He wa some und to le da prey of le pele- cell- sumption, that scourge of New England and Feb. 5. 15 2, " while confined to hi dranker, in the house of Mrs. Vedrie's mother, the beaver part of the home aus discovered to be in flames. Ile was with difficulty removed to the house of Mr. Bartol, his brother-in-law, in one of the rust severe snow stormus known for many 5. 08. The expedie was that ht to have accelerated his exit, which took place the next day." A.c. Veazie var Followed by Res Renben Nason, 1: 10 ; Rev. Buos Mond; Isig; Rev. Cephas 11. heat, 1832, and in 1887, by Key. Ebenezer G. Parsons, the present the tour.
Cumberland. In the year 1991 the ". North West Concrenational Society ? vas incorpora- fed. and a church having been formed, E.G. Ratus And SON was of Li Lit peter Det tors have been Biev. Andsa Smith, seuted 146; Ben. . anlatan, PH; Hoy. ...... ...
In the year IS To Bude Swing was Here, the dich All out Thomas Green settled in the ministry 'Their meeting hed da de comer wy with him
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HISTORICAL NOTICES.
Year earlier. The pastors of that church following Mr. Green have been Res Shivanus Boardman, settled in 1810, Rev. Gas Bringt, 151; Her Dr. Stephen Chapin, 1819 ; Rev. Soloon Peek, 1825; Rev. Alonzo King, 1996 ; Rev. John Butler, 1531 ; Hier Zabiliel Brad- ford, 1897 ; and Rey. Win. Jacobs, the present your.
Second Church. The present Second Church in North Yarmouth was gatheral, Oct. 1, leng, and the same day; Rev. John Daten was installed Factor. He was dismissed in hall, and subsequently settled in Pomfret, Vt Mr. Dutton was succeede I by Rev. Otis C. Whitm. in 1519. The Rev. Caleb Hobart, third pastor of the Second Church, whose installation was Dec. 3, 1826, sustains a pastoral relation of greater age, with a single exception, than any other minister in the Conference of Cumberland.
l'oraal. In ISli, a church was gathered in Townal, which was set off from North har- mouth as a part of Freeport, and incorporated as a separate town in 1899. Rev. Perez Cha- pia, from Ranson. It., and a graduate of Middlebury College, was pastor of this church from the time of its organization, till bis kodented death in the year 1889. Rev. Arich P Chute afterwards became its pastor ; and his surce zor is Blev. Win. V. Jordan.
The Carpet Church, organized in 1924, and whose pestor, settle lia 1521, was Rev. Noah Cressey: 1833, became extinct, its members uniting with other churches.
The Universeist Chape! was created in 131; and the society organized about that period have had sneces ively the ministrations of Her. Messrs. Zeuns Thompson, B. R. Tasher, George W. Quinby, James Whittier and Henry f. Walworth, the last being the present in- cumbent. There are several other churches, particularly of the Baptist and Methodist de- nominations, with.in the limits of the ancient town.
STATE OF KIMIGIUN
The inhabitants, per vious to the Indian wars, do not appear to have been govern 1 by re- ligivas of high moral aims. but at the permanent re-settlement, about 1729, the town received an accession to its inhabitants from the south allore of Massachusetts, whose intinence became predominant, and was as beneficial as it was detlive. Among them were direct descendants of Miles Standish, John Alden, Stephen Hopkins, Frais Cooke, John Carver, LAward Wins- low, War. Bradford. George Sonle, Win. Brewster, and others, who were landed at My mouth from the Mayflower.
There has not been the absence of circumstances adverse to the prosperity of religion. Among these may be mentioned the fart, that before the town became permanently settled, vital godliness had much decayed in New England. Many ministers, if correct in sentiment, were only speculatively correct; and in many churches, if the forms of religion were still maintained, the power of it was well nich lost. In a mitigated form or degree, the rhuren in North Yaranath undoubtedly like the huluence of this state of things, during the greater part of the first fifty years of its existence. Again, the half-way covenant in use generally, at that period, was adhered to by this church for about righty years. This usage could not but have a tendency to rause the most solemn acts of religion to be regarded as uumeaning ceremonies, and was extensively one of the causes of the passing away of the distinctness and fervor of piety possessed by the first Pilgrims, though from causes to be adverted to in the sequel, in North Yarmouth, there is not evidence of evil consequences to the extent that might have been anticipated. There have been, also, short perinils of " strite among brethren." Such in a degree, was the period at which the church in the part of the town, now Cumberland, was formed, when considerable unpleasant feeling existed ; which was increased by a shade of chifference in the philosophical views of the excellent Pastor of the new church, and the ven- erable pastor of the old church ; and which was augmented, so as to occasion the temporary suspension of the usual expres ions of fellowship, as a consequence of a reception, by the First Church, on the advice of an ex-parte council, of two members of the Second Church, who were under its discipline. And when, in 182, the New Meeting House was built, and the worship was removed, from the Foreside to the Falls, and the " Chapel Church" was formed by those members who reside in the vicinity of the old meeting-house, there was a degree of excitement produced inconsistent with the highest spiritual comfort of Christians,
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HISTORICAL NOTICES.
and with the best religions prosperity. Onlar difficulties have been less considerable and less emturing. At some periods, in Divine providence, and without fault on the part of n.inis ters of people; the change of pastors has been a frequent occurrence ; and during the time of their incumbency from in health the lalars of the posters have been frequently either car. tailer in amount, or rendered less vigorous.
These, and other things, have excite lion influence arising the naturally powerful tenden- cies of human nature to resist the gospel of the grace of food. sull the church originally planted in North Yarmouth has been signally blessed ; and it might be found difficult to dis- prove the truth of a sevement in relation to it, mote by the Rev. bre tillieit, in the Americans Quarterly Register, of the year 1800 :- " No rtarch in the State has been mure constantty blessed with the means of religion, or has more uninterruptedly enjoyed prosperity." The conditions on which the Heart of the Church hay bestowed this prosperity, the means and elements of it. it is not at all impracticable to discover.
The fact is not to be disregarded, that Christian institutions and the permanent settlement, in the town, had a shanltancons commencement. The ecclesiastical even preceded the mu- nicipal organization ; and la tore the church was formed, the preaching of the gospel was reg- ularly sustainod ly the people.
the founders of the church, and the leading men who speedily became connected with is were truly pions men. Puritanism, as planted in the town, had experienced the chills of a evvere winter, but it was still a living things. Hence usages, naturally tending in that direc- tion, did not, in this church, produce all the evils which was their usual effect; hence the time never was, when the church conkt be satisfied with other than an evangelical ministry ; and hence the principle has ever been recognized, that a church is to consist of regenerate members.
The church at North Yarmouth was founded also on the fundamental principles ot Congee- nationalism, that a church is a body of believers who meet in one place for religious worship, bound together by a covenant embodying what they believe to be the laws of Christ's king- dom ; that they have full power to regulate and determine every thing pertaining to the gov- ernment of their own body ; that nothing relating to the discipline of the church can be made a law, nor can a pastor be imposed on them, or be wrested from them. without their own causent ; nevertheless, that in cases of discipline involving ditiiculty, and in transacting business of importance, especially in the ordaining and dismissing of pastors, obligation exists to invite the advice of neighboring churches ; whose advier, as being the counsels of wisdom and piety, is not to be deviated from, except for substantial and obvious reasons. On these principles the altairs of the church have been managed for one hundred and eighteen years. It has Been the established policy to leave the written states, and dispensing even with standing comunittees, to have att bour-ine's brought before the whole body of the church, and disposed of according to the laws of Christ's kingdom. the whole number of brethren being the judiciary. Owing to a variety of causes, this church has had an unusual share of ceclesi- astical business to transact; and it, at any time when difficulties have been protracted, and ultimate decisions have been of slow altainment, any have been tempted to wish for au cecle- siastical head, separate from the particular church, ultimate results have, in all cases, beeu such as to demonstrate that the precepts of the gospel with the established usages of the churches, are sufficient for every emergency ; that the sarest way to secure the purity and parce of the church, is to have the members themselves responsible for decisions ; that it is as expedient as it is scriptural, to guard the church from cocreion, permitting no foreign earthly influence, save that which can be obtained by reason, scripture und prayer.
Instruction has been held to be an essential characteristic in Sermons. Preaching has leen generally of an intellectual as well as doctrinal character. The doctrines of the gospel have been exhibiled with distinctness, plainness and much of reiteration-not a few doctrines lo the neglect of others, but the whole system of the religion of Christ. Few congregations have, probably, been called to listen to a less amount of controversial preaching, in the prop- er sense of that term ; while at the same time, few have for to lung a period, had a succession
HISTORICAL NOTICES.
of factors, feeding them with the sincere milk of the word The sermons of woman Brown and others, as derived from the scriptures, and monk time in a naked mander dois var h ing, olan truths, were elighed with a majority above that of the production of more it . ricians and craters ; and produced effets, which may: anders to pension en hever pe- duer. The results of uch prowling leve lem. det brand stalilas in cleunter charity and energy in spiritand movement, the : hoe, what to markle, of deductive mente, together with the turning of the inner from the error of his way.
Je was a specific engagement of the founders of the church : " He do givenpour off-prin- with ourselves, and put them under the blessings of God's covenant, perpostag with his helt. to da our part in the wellich oft thi tham education, that they may be the lon ."
In past years the children of the numbers have been generally implical in cructed, For- «rued, and made subjects of . peris! prayer. And the real que exhibits a repetition, often, et the same nazie, down three, four, tive and six generations. There are in times in alich a early member has had, in the church, a peterity of more then a hundred, and even of more than two hundred and Buy conls. Wiele and large families of children have been given, at the prayers of parents, who have in faith dedicated them to God. And if, in the town, the gospel has not langai bed for want of support even in times of monetary depassion it the church has not been visited with that worst case with v Fick God ever visits his pali, the disruption of its own lody by the defection of its members to another pa pil. if the faith once delivered to the saints has Been more generally adhered to by the people than is cool- mon, if they have been marked as exhibiting an allectionate department towards their pa- tors, attending upon the ministrations of the sametuary, and sustaining religions institution : at home and el. ewhere; it is doubtless to be attributed. in great part, to impressions mal. and habits formed, through the influence of parent upon child, from age to are. " This with the lord of how to, the God of Israel, because ye have aheged the commun udment of don adab, your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he lish com manded you; therefore, thus saith the lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Jonadal the con Rechab, shall not want a man to stand before me forever.""
The number of members whitled to the church by profession during Mr Cutter's mind try was not inconsiderable. Mr. Loring received front the world, and from other churche., from one to twelve per year ; except in the year 1795, when it is mand at the town was, in is degree, a partaker in the shower of Divine influence with which the churches of the country were about that period refreshed During the ministry of Mr. Brooks, and the first part i that of Mr. Gilman, the annual a huissions ranged from our to nine. The year I was di tingui-hed by a remarkable revival of religion in the town, the influcuer of y luch lars 1 u " sent to have been distinguished for great inattention to religion." In legs, there was an- vival of religion in the North-west Society, (Cumberland ated a degree of annual ath ion in the first parish. During the whole term of De. Brown's ministry; relig ion was in a prosper. ous state. The year 1522 was one of merey under the mini try of Mr. Cummings, Dming the progress of the interest that year, Rev. John Crosby, then a student in How loin College, at terwards pastor at lastine, whose early death the churches had cause to mourn, spent Bottle months in the town, and on his return to Brunswi k, to the question whether the people at North Yarmouth were animated, replied : " Preaching there is very solemn, and is itte und t with a sobaun interest."
More recently, the years 1890 and 1891 constituted an era not soon to be forgotten In JaIT, a number of youth were made hopefully the cul jects of renewing graver ; and in Ismo 11. things of the eternal world, for some mouths, a re made to occupy the arrestalatt ation of a large portion of the intendent of the town
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