USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 44
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 44
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
society except the meeting-house, which is owned by the pew holders. On Sept. 10, 11 and 12, 1905, the church celebrated its centennial with three days of appropriate and interesting exercises. The historical address on this occassion was delivered by the pastor, from which we learn that the whole number of persons who had united with the church during its 100 years of existence was 575 ; that the Sabbath School, including the Home Department and Cradle Roll, had a membership of 354, the church a member- ship of 193, and that in all its departments the church is in a most prosperous condition.1 On this occasion the following former pastors were present : Rev. F. P. Chapin and Rev. Ebenezer Bean. Rev. Daniel E. Adams, son of Rev. Darwin Adams, the second pastor of the church was also present.
In 1854, a portion of the church was dismissed and with others organized into the Rockport Congregational Church at Rockport village. The organization was effected on June 12, with 13 members. In December, 1854, the Congregational chapel at Rockport was completed and the Rev. James B. Howard was ordained pastor. The pastor shortly afterwards died and the next minister was Rev. Alfred L. Skinner, who began a successful pastorate, but at the end of 20 months was obliged to leave on account of feeble health. He was succeeded by Rev. John E. M. Wright, who was installed, Sept. 29, 1857, and who remained with the society until February, 1864, when he was granted a leave of absence for one year, he having accepted a chaplaincy in the army. During his absence the pulpit was supplied by Rev. T. E. Brastow and others. The pastor returned in the spring of 1865, and in the following June was dismissed on account of the pecuniary inability of the church to support a pastor. The pulpit was again supplied a part of the time until Nov. 7, 1866, when Rev. A. J. Smith was ordained. From 1868 to 1884, the records of the church are a blank, but we learn that
1. For a more detailed history of the church, see "Centennial First Congre- gational Church " Page 27, Historical Address by Rev. L. D. Evans.
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during the early part of that period the Rev. Mr. Davis was for a time the settled pastor of the church, and that for a time in the seventies, the Rev. Mr. McCloud also served the church in that capacity. At other times the pulpit was supplied by students, and both Mr. Bean and Mr. Cross, during their pastorates at Camden, preached at the Rockport church on Sunday afternoons. This condition obtained until October, 1891, when Rev. R. J. Naughton was ordained pastor, who was dismissed at his own re- quest in 1892. In the summer of 1894, Rev. Edward M. Ken- nison was ordained. He resigned in the spring of 1895, and the following summer Rev. C. W. Fisher was called. He remained until June, 1898, since which time the church has had no settled pastor and hardly any preaching. In 1896 the church member- ship was 39. At the present time it has been reduced to less than 20.
Baptist.
The First Baptist Church was organized at West Camden in 1808. This church "was gathered by the occasional labors of Elder Snow and Elder Jno. Still, and had in September, 25 mem- bers. Elder Still soon became their stated minister, if not pastor, and was with them until 1815. In 1816 the church was increased and encouraged by a pleasant revival, but remaining destitute of the stated ministry of the gospel, it became much enfeebled in a few years by a loss of members. In 1824 this church licensed N. Copeland by whom they were assisted until 1828. Still they were a small and inefficient church. In 1831, Elder A. Kalloch rendered them important aid, and in 1832, Elder A. Bedel became their pastor. He tarried but one year, leaving the church with- out increase. In 1837 and '38 this church enjoyed some revival. Elders Samuel Baker and S. N. Rice then labored with them. This harvest season increased the number to 90 members. Since that time the church has been in a tried, divided and un-
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happy state, principally the result of the inability of Mr. Baker."1 In 1843 the church numbered 72 members. In 1850 Rev. W. O. Thomas was pastor ; in 1852 Rev. Job Washburn. At that time the membership was 46. In 1853 the house of worship at Ingra- ham's Corner was erected. This is a "Union" Church, but is now used by this Baptist society. In 1858 the pastor was Rev. L. M. Mayo. In May 1859, Rev. John Hemenway began preaching for the church and was ordained Oct. 22, 1859. At this time there was a large awakening and many joined the church by baptism. The next minister was Rev. Alexander Copeland who was called in 1862, and during the four years following, many new members were admitted. On March 31, 1866, Rev. J. R. Bowler became pastor. He was succeeded in 1869 by Rev. J. Sanborn, at which time the church enjoyed one of the greatest revivals in its history. Rev. R. A. Potter became pastor in 1870 and in 1873, there was another large revival. Rev. D. C. Bixby was called in 1874, and in 1876 Rev. F. W. Ryder labored with this church in connection with the Baptist Church at Rockport. Much interest in religious matters was manifested at this period and many new members were admitted to the church. In Feb- ruary, 1878, Rev. Levi Copeland was ordained pastor, which ordination was followed by another revival. In 1879 Rev. W. H. Hathorn was called but remained only a short time, the pulpit being supplied from 1880 to 1882 by Rev. A. G. Hemingway. Rev. G. A. Chapman was ordained Aug. 20, 1882, and in 1883 there was another revival in the church. The pulpit was supplied by Albert Leach in 1886 and 1887, and on Jan. 20, 1888, Rev. A. Snyder became pastor of this church and the one at South Hope. A revival in April of that year, through the efforts of the pastor and the Evangeliest Rev. Mr. Noyes resulted in many conversions. The next pastor was Rev. Uriah Drew, who began his labors in 1890. He was succeeded in 1894 by Rev. W. C. Wescott but
1. Joseph Millett's History of the Baptists of Maine, Page 285. Locke's Sketches, Page 196.
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returned again as pastor in 1896. In March, 1900, Rev. Humphrey Small began his labors as pastor of this church also serving the Rockville Church in the same capacity. In December, 1902, Rev. A. E. Bradford also began to serve both this and the Rockville Church, and during his pastorate there was another large revival. Rev. David Webster was called in 1903. He was much loved by his parishioners but passed to a higher life on the following Easter night, "peacefully as one who falls asleep." In November, 1904, the present pastor Rev. W. P. Richardson was called. Like his immediate predecessors he labored with both this and the Rockville Church. Among those who might be mentioned as strong supporters of this church was Deacon Albert Tolman, who died Oct. 18, 1905. The resident membership is 52, while the total membership is 83 at the present time.
The Second Baptist Church is located at Camden village. It is now known as the "Chestnut Street Baptist Church." It was "gathered soon after the First (in 1808) and by the same in- strumentality. It had, in September, 16 members, and thus began with a smaller number than the First Church, and for a few years its prosperity hardly encouraged exertion. But, aided by occasional preaching, it maintained its existence till 1816, when, like the First, it was increased by revival. It, however, gained but a small advancement till within a few years. In 1827, Elder N. Hooper became its first pastor, but continued only one year. Now followed a series of sojournings for eight years, during which they were made to drink of a mixed cup of good and evil. The Convention considered their situation and sent Elder H. Kendall to them, who was successful in gathering together this scattered flock and of introducing to their number 25 new members. En- couraged by this success, the Convention in October, made an- other appropriation, and Elder K's labors were continued. The church, quickened by their prosperity, and animated to the work, by the advice and successful efforts of Elder K. in collecting aid
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from abroad, set about building a house of worship in the village, which was completed and opened in 1837. In 1838, Elder E. Freeman commenced his labors with the church, and administered to its prosperity till 1842, when he was succeeded by the valuable efforts of Elder A. Dunbar, one year."1 Prior to the building of the church edifice the society held its meetings in private dwelling and schoolhouses. It also held them in the hall of Amity Lodge, F. & A. M.2 This brings the history of the church down to 1843 when it had 112 members. This year Elder Daniel Bartlett acted as pastor and after him Elder Geo. W. Stickney for a time. There was no regular preaching for several years until 1851, but meetings were sustained on the Sabbath by the reading of sermons and an occasional supply. In 1851, Elder David Perry was ordained pastor and continued that relation until 1855 when the membership numbered only 56. Elder L. M. Mayo then preached for about one year, after which there was no regular preaching until 1864, bringing the church into a condition of decline which was emphasized by a lack of harmony resulting from a disagreement among some of its members. In 1864, Rev. Nathaniel Butler became the settled pastor of the church and re- mained with it until 1868, excepting during the winter of 1864 - 65, which he spent in Washington, D. C., as private secretary of Vice President Hamlin. In his absence the pulpit was supplied by S. L. B. Chase, a student from Newton. Mr. Butler did much to revive the dropping interest of the members and to increase the church membership. In 1867 - 68 the church edifice was rebuilt and enlarged and the name changed to "The Chestnut Street Baptist Church" and on March 22, 1868, it was re-dedicated. Rev. J. F. Eveleth occupied the pulpit of the church in 1869, and Rev. E. F. Strickland from 1870 to 1872. Beginning in 1873 Rev. G. W. Bower was its pastor for some four years. Dur- E
1. Com. of H. Bass, Esq., in Millet's History of the Baptist, Pages 285-86. Locke's Sketches, Page 196.
2, Robinson's History of Amity Lodge, No. 6, Chapter VII,
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ing this pastorate there was a revival resulting from the efforts of the pastor and W. S. DeWitt which materially added to the church membership. In 1878, Mr. Bower was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Cox who remained with the society until 1881, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. M. G. Harwood whose labors con- tinued for some three years. It was during this pastorate that the present pipe organ was installed in the church. Rev. W. C. Goucher was the next pastor and proved a most popular and valuable one. He remained with the church until 1888, when he left to accept a call to St. Stephen, N. B., where he is still located. Rev. Fred M. Preble, D. D., then became the settled pastor and remained here for some nine years. Dr. Preble is a graduate of Colby and Newton, and is a most scholarly and able man. He was popular with his parishioners and is one of the strongest pulpit orators ever settled over a Camden church. In 1898 he retired to accept the pastorate of the church in Auburn, Maine, where he still remains, and was succeeded by Rev. W. E. Lombard who remained the faithful and conscientious pastor of the church until 1905. During his pastorare the church received valuable accessions to its membership through an interesting revival conducted by Messrs. Taylor and Hatch. After Mr. Lombard left and accepted a pastorate in Andover, Mass., the church after being a short time without a regular pastor, called Rev. W. D. Plummer in April, 1906. Mr. Plummer at once became very popular and was working hard for the prosperity of the society when his sad death of appendicitis cut him off on Sept. 28, 1906, in the midst of his successful labors and to the grief of his parishioners and all the people of the town. The church has recently called Rev. S. E. Frohock of Concord, N. H. In 1887 the beautiful spire of the church was cut down, to the sorrow of all who admire the graceful heavenward pointing finger of a New England church. In 1896 the present fine parsonage on Belmont avenue was built, principally from legacies left for that purpose by Darius Sherman and Mary Thomas, widow of Rev. W. O. Thomas,
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a Baptist clergyman. In 1903 - 4 the church was again repaired and enlarged and the organ moved to its present position. The society has been incorporated under the name of Chestnut Street Baptist Church Corporation which owns the church property and conducts the business of the society. The present member- ship of the church is 193. Sunday School, including' Home Department and Cradle Roll, numbers 341, and the church in all its departments, is exceedingly prosperous.
The Third Baptist Church was organized at Rockport village, May 18,1842,and was composed mostly of members dismissed from the First Church. It started with a membership of 12, which the same year increased to 16, through the efforts of Elder Daniel McMaster. The two original deacons were Capt. Jacob Graffam and Capt. Jabez A. Amsbury. C. C. Long, an Evangelist, was ordained the day after the organization and continued to act as pastor for about two years. He was succeeded by Rev. W. O. Thomas and he by Rev. James Williams. Holmes Chipman then preached for a year and gave place to his predecessor, Mr. Williams, who filled the church's pulpit until 1859. This pastor- ate, although short was eminently successful, some 16 new members being added. There had been intervals when the church had no regular pastor and the pulpit at such times was supplied by Elders Washburn and Freeman. In 1852 the church had 61 members. The present house of worship of the society was erected in 1854 at a cost of $3,000, the meetings prior to that time being held in the little red schoolhouse near where the Hoboken schoolhouse now stands. Following the departure of Mr. Williams was a year of supplies, when, in 1860, Rev. Asa Perkins, a graduate of Newton, became the pastor. His pastorate lasted three years, and during the time 119 were added to the church membership. Then followed several short pastorates, those of Rev. W. O. Thomas, Rev. Mr. Emerson, Rev. Mr. Le- roy and Rev. Mr. Holman. The short pastorates and other causes greatly weakened the church at this time. In 1872 Rev.
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Baptist Church, Rockport
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D. C. Bixby became the pastor. Mr. Bixby was an indefatigable worker, and did much to build up the church. During the three years of his pastorate, twenty-five new members joined the church,
the church building was . repaired within and without, the organ purchased and other improvements made, costing in all some $1700. Six months after his resignation Rev. F. W. Ryder, having completed his course at Newton was called to the pastorate. He also had three years of successful labor, under which 27 were added to the church membership. From October, 1879 to August, 1881, the church again had to depend upon having its pulpit supplied. there being no regular pastor, but in August, 1881, Rev. C. M. G. Harwood of the Camden village church, also became pastor of this church. Dur- ing Mr. Harwood's pastorate the church was remodelled, the result being the present fine edifice, costing with furnishings, $5,000. It was dedicated June 7, 1888, Mr. Harwood preaching the dedicatory sermon. On July first, 1888, Rev. F. A. Snow, who that year had graduated from Newton, became the pastor. He served the church with great success until the spring of 1892, when he retired to accept a call to Park
Rapids, Minn. Some 28 new members were added to the church during his term of labor. Just before he left, in May, 1892, the semi-centennial of the church was celebrated at which a fine history of the organization was read by Deacon Chas. F. Richards. The next pastor was Rev. Henry B. Woods, who re- mained with the church from 1892 to 1897, which time saw a large increase in the church membership. In 1897, Rev. S. E. Packard began his labors as pastor, but was dismissed in the fall of 1900 to accept a position in the church at Johnson, Vermont, and in the summer of 1901, Rev. Geo. S. Bennett of Newton Theological School was ordained. Mr. Bennett was doing ex- cellent work for the church when in 1903, he received a call to the First Baptist Church in Detroit, Mich., and resigned. He was followed by Rev. W. R. Bartlett, who after three years of
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service resigned in July, 1906, leaving the church at the present time without a pastor. The church is in an exceedingly healthy condition having a membership of about 100.
Universalist.
The First Universalist Church was organized in 1824. Prior to that time there had been preaching in Camden by ministers of the denomination upon several occasions, the first being in 1806 by Rev. Samuel Baker. Rev. Sylvanus Cobb (afterwards Editor of the Christian Freeman) is said to have preached here in 1815 - 16 and Rev. W. A. Drew (afterwards Editor of the Rural Intelli- gencer) in 1821- 24. The warrant for the formation of the society was signed by Lemuel Dillingham, Lewis Ogier and 25 others. Lot No. 54 which the "Twenty Associates" had donated to the town, for the use of regular ordained ministers of the second parish that should be formed, was still unclaimed (although Baptist Churches had been organized, but not as corporate bodies capable of transacting business.) The Universalist society when incorporated by the Legislature also took the name of " Second Parish" and became legally entitled to said Lot No. 54, the Congregational Church having obtained possession of the first ministerial lot, No. 57. The society held its meetings in Masonic hall. The early records do not contain the names of the preachers employed from year to year. "The recollections of some of the members say that Rev. James W. Hoskins was employed about the year 1827 - 28, and the Rev. Messrs. Mc- Farland and Farrar occasionally. The minister's board in the year 1830, we find, amounted to $8."1 Although preaching by regular pastors has been spasmodic, the society has regularly met as a corporation to transact necessary business. March 13, 1843, the Legislature empowered the society to sell its ministerial lot, which it did. On June 5, 1864, it was voted " that the funds of this parish be appropriated towards building a meeting-house
1. Locke's Sketches, Page 199.
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in such a manner as not to conflict with the original grant of the '20 Associates'." This appears to have been done as the church was begun the following year, the estimated cost to be $2200. It was completed in January, 1848, and the same month Rev. N. C. Fletcher, preached the dedicatory sermon. Rev. John L. Tuttle was then employed as pastor, who remained two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Francis W. Baxter who alter- nated between Camden and Rockport villages, as did his successor Rev. Leander Hussey, who remained about two years. From 1853 there was no regular preaching by ministers of the society at Cam- den until 1879. In 1856 the meeting house was sold to the Episcopalian society and the proceeds of the sale put at interest. From this time, although the business organization of the society was kept up, the annual meetings being regularly held, there was no regular preaching for years, although there was occasional preaching by some minister of the denomination in some hall during the most of this time. In 1879, on Easter Sunday, Rev. Charles P. Nash preached his first sermon as pastor of the society and remained with it for four and one half years. Mr. Nash proved to be a fine speaker and an earnest and tireless worker and under his ministrations the church began to flourish. During his pastorate and largely through his efforts the new church edifice of the society was built on Central street at an expense of some $2700. Mr. Nash retired in 1883 and from that time to 1891 there was no regular pastor, when Rev. Clark L. Paddock was called. He remained with the society two years. Since then the society has been without regular preaching although as at other times when the church has had no pastor, there has been occasional preaching by different ministers of the denomination, among them being Rev. Fred L. Payson who at one time occupied the pulpit for several months. Since June, 1899, the church has been leased to the Christian Science society. The Parish is now a small one, its membership being much reduced.
The Second Universalist Church was organized at Rockport in
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1843 and its early history is practically identical with that of the church at Camden.1 In 1844 the society erected a meeting house "on one of the most comanding sites in the village " and after- wards had alternately the same preaching as the Camden church Rev.Francis W. Baxter being the first preacher. The church was dedicated in 1845 by Rev. N. C. Fletcher. The other early preachers were Rev. Elbridge Willington, Rev. J. L. Tuttle and Rev. M. Sawyer. In 1855 Rev. N. C. Fletcher supplied the pulpit for about six months, after which there was no regular preaching. The church building was leased to the Episcopalians in 1867. It was sold to that society in 1869 and the church or- ganization went out of existence.
Methodist.
We know of no records of the early operations of the Metho- dist denomination in Camden, and we are unable to give any definite details of the early history of the organizations and preach- ers of the persuasion. As has been stated in a preceding chapter, Rev. Joshua Hall preached here in 1801. "At this time where a Methodist itinerant preacher had to travel a six weeks circuit of seventy miles, his equipment was of the simplest kind. It consisted of a horse, on which was a pair of saddlebags, con- taining a lighter apparel and books. Such was the appearance of the ' circuit rider' until this territory was divided into charges of smaller compass."2 It is said that Mr. Hall's circuit, when he first visited this section in 1794, extended from Union to Orono. It is therefore no wonder that he did not get to Camden until 1801. Daniel Barrett and his wife were the earliest members of the church here. They joined the church in Lincolnville before one was organized in Camden. From 1801 to 1826, the meet- ings of the denomination were usually held in Mr. Barrett's house and on the occasion of quarterly meetings which lasted several
1. Locke's Sketches, Page 200.
2. Locke's Sketches, Page_201.
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days, he used to throw open his house and entertain the people coming from a distance with generous hospitality. Mr. Locke gives the following list of early preachers of this persuasion in Camden : 1802, Joseph Baker and Daniel Ricker; 1803, Daniel Ricker; 1804, David Stimson ; 1805, Samuel Hillman and Phiny Brett ; 1806, .S. Hillman and Jonas Weston ; 1807, Samuel Baker ; 1808, John Williamson ; 1809, Benjamin Jones ; 1810, D. Stimson and George Gary ; 1811, Nathan B. Ashcraft ; 1812, Amasa Taylor ; 1813, John Jewett; 1814, Jno. Cheney and Joseph B. White ; 1815, Benjamin Jones ; 1816, Daniel Went- worth ; 1817, Wm. McGray and Jeremiah Marsh ; 1818 - 19, Henry True ; 1820, Jno. Briggs ; 1821, Jno. Lewis; 1822, Nathaniel Devereaux ; 1823 - 24, Sullivan Bray ; 1825 - 26, D. Stimson ; 1827, Ezra Kellogg. In 1828 Camden became em- praced in the Thomaston circuit, it having been previously in a circuit extending from Waldoboro to Belfast. After this we learn that Phillip Munger, Ezekiel Robinson, James Warren, Jesse Stone, E. Brackett and C. Kendall were among the preachers at this place, the meetings being then held at Goose River in private houses until the brick school house was built there when they were held in that. They sometimes, however, held meetings at the Harbor in private houses, at Masonic Hall and in the second story of the old brick building now belonging to the Anchor Works, then a woolen factory, Mr. John Swan was a class leader and for a long time he and his wife are said to have been almost the only Methodists in Camden village. From 1828 to 1838 the society was in a very feeble condition and had little preaching. In the latter year some new members uniting with the society an effort was made to have a stationed preacher at the Harbor and the services of Rev. Charles Munger were procured. Later he had a colleague, the Rev. Wm. McDonald, who preached at the River. The society growing at the Harbor it was decided to build a house of worship. " When Mr. Swan began alone in digging the cellar and laying the foundation, there were but three male members at
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