USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 27
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In 1859. the house was again repaired. In 1871, the lofty gallery and pulpit were brought down to a moderate elevation.
Finally, in 1879, the "old meeting-house " was sold, and a new and comely church was erected in its place ; dedicated March 19, 1880.
Until 1841, Lisbon formed a part of Durham Circuit In 1842, it became a separate charge, and has, most of the time, been supplied by preachers from Conference.8
Statistics, 1886 : Members, 86 ; Probationers, 18 ; value of Church, $2.500 ; value of Parsonage, $1,200 ; Officers and Teachers in Sunday School, 12 ; Scholars, 90.
RICHMOND.
Richmond was formerly part of the old Bowdoinham Circuit. Methodist preachers occasionally held meetings in the Union Meeting- house. at Richmond Landing, as the village was then called. Different denominations occupied this church. The Methodist time was once in four weeks.
In 1835, Rev. John Young, the stationed preacher on the circuit, lived at Richmond ; and he is remembered by the older members, as the first resident Methodist minister.
Rev. Joseph Hawkes was appointed in 1842, to Richmond Circuit, which was separated from the Bowdoinham charge. There were Sabbath services, held in the upper part of the town, on the Island, and at Bowdoinham Point, as well as at the village.
The Methodists and Congregationalists in Richmond and the vicinity, in 1846, united to form a parish, under the name of "The Richmond Village Chapel Society." A house of worship was built, and occupied on alternate Sabbaths, for nine years, by these two denomi- nations.
In 1853, the class at the Point having been set off to Bowdoinham charge, and the village rapidly increasing in population, there seemed to be an urgent necessity for better church accommodations for the Methodists in Richmond. They therefore availed themselves of a
8 By Rev. E. S. Stackpole.
268
CHURCH BOUGHT. REPAIRED).
provision in the constitution of the Chapel Society, by which citlicr denomination might purchase the right of the other in the meeting- house, and they bought the claim of the Congregationalists ; thus becoming the sole occupants. The vestry, standing on the meeting- house lot, owned by the Congregationalists was used by them as a place of worship until their church was built. Subsequently the vestry was purchased by the Methodists.
About this time a parsonage was built by the society in the south part of the village.
In 1873 the church was repaired and repainted, at an expense of $1000, and a fine organ was procured and set up at a cost of $1,050, the munificent gift of Carlton Houdlette and Harmon Smith.
Again the church was repainted and repaired in 1885, at an expense of $650. An elegant and convenient chapel for lectures and social meetings was built at the same time, on the site of the old vestry, at an expense of $1,200; and presented to the society through the munificent generosity of Carlton Houdlette and James Decker. The furnishing of the chapel was paid for by the Ladies' Circle, which has been an efficient aid to the social and financial interests of the church.
The Richmond society has been favored with the ministry of some of the most able and pious preachers in the Maine Conference. Extensive revivals of religion have been enjoyed at different times, especially during the ministry of C. C. Cone, J. McMillan, M. C. Pendexter and F. W. Smith. Rev. Z. H. Blair, for some time a member of the Maine Conference, was raised up and converted in this place.
Statistics, 1886 : on Probation, 25; Members, 140; valuc of Church, $4,000 ; Parsonage, $1,000 ; Officers and Teachers in Sunday School, 18; scholars, 170.
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269
HALLOWELL.
CHAPTER XXI.
HALLOWELL, 1793. E. KIBBY, 1800. M. B. AND G. F. Cox. Z. GIBSON. CHURCH BUILT. AUGUSTA. FIRST SERMON. J. BEALE. E. ROBINSON. CHURCH BUILT, 1828. PARSONAGE BUILT, 1846. CHURCH ENLARGED, 1848. GREATLY IMPROVED, 1869. EARLY MEMBERS. GARDINER. MEETING HOUSE AT BOWMAN'S POINT, 1802. "YELLOW MEETING HOUSE," 1822. GARDINER SET OFF, 1827. OVER SCRUPULOUS MEMBERS. CHURCHI IMPROVED, 1854. 1867. PARSONAGE, 1873. SIDNEY. MEETING HOUSE AT BACON'S CORNER, 1815. MEETING HOUSE AT SIDNEY CENTER, 1829. CHAPEL AT NORTH SIDNEY, 1881. NORTH AUGUSTA. FIRST CLASS, 1802. NORTHI METHODIST SOCIETY, 1861. CHAPEL BUILT. WINTHROP. J. LEE, 1793. N. BISHIOP. METHODIST SOCIETY INCORPORATED, 1811. CHURCH DEDICATED, 1825. CHURCH ENLARGED, 1855. NEW PARSONAGE BOUGHT, 1882. TOWER BUILT AND BELL PROCURED, 1886. FAIRFIELD CIRCUIT. J. LEE, 1794. GREAT REVIVAL, 1809. OAKLAND. CHURCH BUILT. FAIRFIELD. KENDALL'S MILLS. REV. J. NYE. CHURCHI BUILT. EBEN DAVIS. WATERVILLE. FIRST CLASS, 1823. SOCIETY SMALL AND FEEBLE. ABORTIVE EFFORTS TO BUILD A CHURCH. CHURCHI BUILT, THROUGH LIBERALITY OF R. B. DUNN.
HALLOWELL.
In the year 1793, October 13, Jesse Lee came to Hallowell and preached in the Academy, the first Methodist sermon ever heard in the Kennebec region.
Two days afterward he was at Farmington. He returned from Sandy River to Hallowell, and on the 20th of October, preached again in the Academy.
While at Hallowell he planned the first circuit in Maine, thus taking possession of the Province for Methodism. From this place, after his hurried reconnoisance of Maine, he set out on his return to Lynn.
In the year 1800, Epaphras Kibby, preacher in charge of Readfield Circuit, by invitation, visited Hallowell, and preached in the school- house, on the east side of the river, to a crowded audience. At the close of his discourse, the people all retired, forgetting to invite the preacher to any of their homes. Mr. Kibby mounted his horse and rode to Augusta for his supper. On a second invitation, he visited the place again in four weeks, and preached to a crowded house. The man who invited him, was awakened by the first sermon, and had been converted. The preacher was now embarrassed by numerous invitations to hospitable homes. He spent the next day
270
OPPOSITION. DISTURBANCE OF MEETINGS.
in visiting from house to house, and found nearly every family he called upon, under awakening influence.
A revival commenced, which spread through the community. The first two persons converted in this revival, a man and his wife, presented their two sons for baptism. The children were twins, and scareely distinguishable. One of these, Melville B. Cox, was subse- quently converted, entered the ministry and became the first Foreign Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died at his post, in Liberia, July 21, 1833. The other, Gershom F. Cox, was for many years, a member of Maine Conference, and subsequently of the New England Conference.
Stated preaching was continued, on the east side of the river, and at Bowman's Point, by Mr. Kibby and his colleague, C. C. Smith, during the year.
The Methodists encountered mneh opposition. The school-house, in which they were assembled for worship, was often assaulted by a erowd of the "baser sort." The windows were broken by stones and brick-bats, and the congregation often seriously alarmed.
Hallowell Cireuit was set off from Readfield Cireuit in 1802, and for many years ineluded most of the towns on the Kennebec, from Gardiner to Bloomfield.
The Methodists received mueh opposition from the adherents of the "Standing Order," but they received the sympathy of many of the people.
In 1806, two districts were formed in Maine,-Portland and Kennebee districts.
In 1808, Henry Martin, preacher in charge of Hallowell Circnit, while proseenting his labors with excessive zeal, beyond the limits of his eireuit, died in holy triumph, at Georgetown, in December of this year. A elass was formed this year at the Hook, so called (Hallowell village), Elihu Robinson of Augusta, leader. The members were : Sullivan Kendall, Samuel Burgess, Samuel Dollar, Eliza Yallalee, Mary Pratt, Joanna Gilman, Theodati Bennett and Deborah Kendall.
In 1809, at the third Quarterly meeting, held in a barn, at Augusta, the sacrament was administered, on the green, in front of the barn. After this service, seekers of religion were invited to come forward and bow at the same altar. Twenty or thirty persons responded to the invitation ; a season of prayer was held and many of the seekers obtained a sense of forgiveness before they left the place. A revival
271
Z. GIBSON. CHAPEL BUILT POLITICAL EXCITEMENT.
followed, which spread through the circuit. Many persons in Hallowell were converted.
In 1810. Zechariah Gibson was appointed to this charge. He was received with great favor at first ; but he soon committed a grave offense, in the opinion of some of the members, by selecting for a wife. Miss Theodati Bennett, a member of the first class in the village. It was not alleged that the young lady was not a suitable person for a preacher's wife. but the preacher had not consulted the society in the matter ; and in those times, it was deemed an impropriety, by many, for an itinerant minister, to burden the societies, by marrying a wife. Bishop Asbury regarded the marriage of a minister with a sort of pious horror - as the grave of a minister's usefulness.
About this time, efforts were commenced to build a house of worship. At length. after many trials, and much delay, through the efforts, mainly, of Sullivan Kendall and John Hasketh, a small chapel was erected on Academy street. on the lot now, (1886,) occupied by Thomas Hovey's house. This chapel served for many years, as a house of worship. This building was afterwards removed and transformed into a dwelling house, now occupied by Augustine Lord.
1811 and 1812 was a time of high political excitement, on account of the embargo and the declaration of war with Great Britain. The preacher, S. Hillman, was a Republican, decided and outspoken in his convictions. Some of his hearers were Federalists, and were much offended that the preacher should " meddle with politics."
In consequence of this strife, and the disastrous effects of the war upon business. the society declined in numbers ; one hundred and fifty-three members only, being reported, at the ensuing Conference.
In 1814 and 1815, the pastor, John Atwell, found one small class in Hallowell village ; one in Augusta village, and one in the north part of Augusta.
A gracious revival commenced this year in Gardiner, and spread through Hallowell and Augusta, resulting in a large accession to the church ; the number reported being two hundred and thirty.
In 1818, the chapel on Academy street was finished, and soon after, a plan was adopted for heating it. An old potash kettle inverted, was made to serve the purpose of a stove.
In 1821, the evening meetings being seriously disturbed by evil- minded persons, a number of persons not professors of religion, organized themselves into a police force, for the protection of the Methodists in their worship. Many of these well-disposed persons were afterwards converted, and became active members of the church.
272
NEW CHURCHI BUILT. CHURCH RECONSTRUCTED.
In 1826, the " meeting-house" on Academy street, being too small, and inconveniently located, thic site now occupied, (1886) was secured and a new church completed this year. The dedicatory sermon was by Rev. S. Lovell, from Haggai 2:9.
In 1829, Hallowell became a separate charge.
In 1841 and 1842, under the labors of Henry Butler, preacher in charge, there was an extensive revival. The subject of holiness was made prominent, and presented in such form as to excite a fanatical spirit, resulting, as fanaticismn always does, in a serious disturbance of harmony., A spirit of harshi denunciation rather than a spirit of love, appeared on the part of some, who made high professions. The second advent doctrine also came in, and after a while, tlie disturbers withdrew from the church, greatly to its relief. Some good people, as usual, were drawn into this movement.
The underground vestry became increasingly unsatisfactory and at length, the ground was graded, and in 1873, the church was thorougly reconstructed, and a very neat and comfortable vestry was built in the basement, entirely above ground. The church now affords excellent accommodations. A few years sinee, a bell was placed in the tower ; the gift of the late Charles Johnson of New York, a native of Hallowell.1
Statisties, 1886: Probationers, 50; Members, 161; value of Church, $7,500 ; Parsonage, $1,700 ; Officers and Teachers in Sunday School, 16 ; Scholars, 135.
Preachers raised up in Hallowell : Melville B. and Gersham F. Cox, Comfort L. Haskell, Leonard H. Bean, Isaae Lord, Josiah Bean.
AUGUSTA.
The first Methodist sermon preached in Augusta, was by Epaphras Kibby in 1800. Mr. Kibby was the preacher in charge of Readfield Circuit, then including Augusta, and other neighboring towns. The sermon, by invitation of some prominent people of Augusta, was in a hall, in the "Thomas House," on the east side of the river.
At the elose of the sermon, a gentleman2 arose, expressed his reproval of the sermon and of the preacher, and throwing a silver dollar upon the table, requested others to follow the example. A
1 From Sketch by Rev. C. F. Allen.
2 This gentleman was Judge Cony. So the writer was informed by Mr. Kibby, many years ago.
HALLOWELL CIRCUIT. FIRST QUARTERLY MEETING IN AUGUSTA. 273
shower of silver dollars followed. The preacher protested against this profuse liberality ; but was constrained to accept the generous bounty.
In 1802, Hallowell Circuit including the towns on the Kennebec river from Gardiner to Bloomfield, was set off from Readfield Circuit. Comfort C. Smith and Aaron Humphrey were the preachers in charge and Ralph Williston Presiding Elder. A class had been formed in the north part of the town, about four miles above the village, consisting of about twenty members. This was the entire member- ship in Augusta at that time.
In 1803, Japheth Beale, a native of Bridgewater, Mass., removed to Augusta, joined the little class and became its leader, living part of the time at North Augusta, and part of the time in the village.
The second class was formed in the village in 1807, Elihu Robinson, leader. For several years, Mr. Robinson was leader of two classes, one at the "Hook" so called (Hallowell village) .
1809, the class at Augusta village consisted of E. Robinson, leader, Susanna Robinson, Timothy Page and wife, and Sally Hayward.
In 1810, Japheth Beale and family removed from North Augusta to the village, and the class soon increased to sixteen members. Mr. Beale and Mr. Robinson took turn as leaders.
The next class formed in Augusta was in the neighborhood of James Wade, about four miles from the village, Mr. Robinson, leader. Previous to 1810, there had been only occasional Methodist preaching in Augusta, and that in the evening.
The first Quarterly meeting, in the village, was held in the old court house, November 30th and December 1st, 1810. The Love- feast was held in Robinson and Beale's cabinet shop. Zacheriah Gibson, preacher in charge and Oliver Beale, Presiding Elder.
- From this time till 1827, the society was supplied with preaching part of the time, mostly evenings, by the preachers of Hallowell Circuit. The meetings were held, for several years, in the old town house, on Winthrop street. Though there was but little preaching, the social meetings were well sustained, and the society continued to prosper and there were frequent conversions.
Among the efficient workers was Mrs. Susanna Robinson, wife of Elihu Robinson, a woman of rare gifts and deep piety. Among the converts was James Thwing, a journeyman hatter, a young man of great energy and of an ardent temperament, who soon received license
18
274
METHODIST CHURCHI AT AUGUSTA. PARSONAGE BUILT.
to preach and afterwards was, for many years, a member of Maine Conference.
In 1827, measures were taken, to build a house of worship. An eligible site was procured on Green street; a plan was drawn, and the pews sold in advance, at auction, January 17, 1828, to raise money for building. In November following, the church was com- pleted and dedicated. The house was of moderate dimensions, neatly finished without basement. The dedicatory sermon was by Rev. J. N. Maffit, other preachers assisting in the services ; Rev. Dr. Tappan, of the Congregational Church, offering the concluding prayer. Mr. Maffit preached several times in other houses of worship in the place, causing a great sensation by his eloquence.
This year, 1828, Augusta was made a station, and Rev. D. B. Randall was appointed preacher in charge, but remained only a short time, and Rev. James Warren supplied his place.
In 1829, Rev. Oliver Beale was preacher in charge.
In 1830 and 1831, Rev. J. B. Husted was the preacher. Under his labors there was a revival, and the number of members increased to one hundred and thirty-six. From that time to the present, the church has been regularly supplied by preachers appointed from Conference.
In 1838, the class in the north part of the town was transferred to Sidney charge and the membership of the society at Augusta, was reduced to one hundred and five. The church, however, continued to increase.
In 1841, under the pastorate of A. F. Barnard, there was an extensive revival, resulting in an accession of one hundred members. Revivals have occurred from time to time, under the labors of faithful pastors, generally without the aid of so called evangelists, especially in 1848, 1852, 1856, 1865, 1868, 1869 and 1877. Since that time there have been more gradual accessions.
In 1846, a small parsonage was built upon the church grounds. In 1848, the church was enlarged by lengthening, and inserting sixteen additional pews ; the whole cost being covered by the sale of the pews.
In 1857, a basement vestry was built. Repairs were also made in 1866.
In 1868 and 1869, the church was greatly improved by increasing the height of the audience room, building an elegant tower in front, purchasing an organ and a fine toned bell. These improvements left a heavy debt upon the society which was finally extinguished in 1880.
275
J. BEALE. FIRST CLASS AT GARDINER.
In 1883, an important improvement was made, by reconstructing the vestry, increasing its height and by other improvements, which render it remarkably inviting and convenient for the social meetings of the church.
Among the early members, long identified with the church in Augusta, was Japheth Beale, a native of Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
In 1803, he was married to Miss Mehitable Lincoln, of the same town. He removed, the same year, to Augusta, and settled in the north part of the town, living part of the time in the village. He joined the Methodist class and became leader and Steward.
In 1814, he removed to Sidney, upon a farm ; while in that place he became deeply involved, in the building of a union church, suffering much embarrassment, from this enterprise, for many years.
In 1833. Mr. Beale removed to Augusta, where he remained to the close of life, February 19, 1863. He had nine children, all of whom were converted in early life, and became active members of the Methodist church.
One son. Rev. S. H. Beale, has, for many years, been a prominent member of the East Maine Conference. Chandler Beale, his son, who resides at Augusta, has long been an official member of the church. Other members of the family, in other places, have been higlily esteemed members of the church.
Mr. Beale was a remarkably honest and kind-hearted man, ardent in his attachment to the church and of fervent piety. Elihu Robinson and family will be noticed in another part of this volume.
Statistics, 1886 : Members, 266 ; Probationers, 18 ; value of Church, $12,000; value of Parsonage, $1,000; Sunday School, 1; Officers and Teachers, 17; Scholars, 120.
Preachers from Augusta : James Thwing, C. C. Whitney, A. S. Ladd, Hezekiah Chase. Local preachers : E. H. W. Smith, Joseph Williams, E. K. Kennison.
GARDINER.
The first Methodist class in Gardiner was formed at Bowman's Point, in 1802; where, in the following year, a meeting-house was erected. This house was never finished, but continued to be used occasionally, for worship, till 1830, when it was taken down.
The early Methodists in Gardiner, were, Moses Springer, Eleazar Crowell, Ichabod Plaisted, James McCurdy, William Springer, Daniel Plummer, James Miller, Nathan Sweatland, Harlow Harden, and their families.
Gardiner, for many years, formed a part of Hallowell Circuit.
'276 CHURCH BUILT AT GARDINER. OVER CONSCIENTIOUS MEMBERS.
In 1822, Mr. Richard Clay built the "Yellow Meeting-house, " on Plaisted Hill, at his own expense, and informed the pastor, (D. Hutchinson, ) that he " had given the house to the Lord, and the key to father Plaisted." This house was occupied for worship till November, 1828, when the new church was completed, at a cost of $3,500, and dedicated by Rev. J. N. Maffit3.
In 1827, Gardiner was set off from Hallowell Circuit, as a separate charge, and has been regularly served by preachers of the Conference.
There were frequent and extensive revivals under the ministry of faithful preachers, and the society soon became one of the strongest in the Conference, characterized by great simplicity and religious fervor, adhering strongly to primitive Methodist usages.
Many years ago, a standing invitation, by vote of the Quarterly Conference of the Gardiner Society, was given to the Maine Confer- ence, to hold its annual sessions in that place. This generous spirit of hospitality has been somewhat offset by excessive conscientiousness, on the part of some of the older members, in the past history of the ·society.
When the ladies of the society had procured a carpet for the aisles .of the church, some over-scrupulous members, though they indulged in the luxury of carpets in their own homes, protested against this extravagance in the house of God. and actually refused to step upon the new laid carpet. Still later, when the ladies of the society had raised the funds for the purchase of a cabinet organ, this enterprise encountered so decided a protest, on the part of some over-conscien- tious members, against instrumental music, that the purchase of the ·organ was deferred several years, from deference to these conscientious scruples. 4
These scruples have disappeared, and the worshippers of the Gardiner church now enjoy, without protest, the luxury of carpeted floors, and the sweet tones of the organ.
In the year 1854, a belfry was built upon the church, in which was hung a fine toned bell.
In 1867, the church was thoroughly reconstructed. A spire was placed upon the belfry. The ancient, high-backed pews were replaced with pews of a more modern and comfortable style, - the whole finished in ash. So thorough was the repairing, that not much
& Rev. Mr. Springer in History of Gardiner,
4 It is a question whether the introduction of organs into our churches, had not tended to make the organ a substitute for the human voice, and thus drive from our public worship, the grand singing of old time Methodism.
277
FIRST METHODIST MEETING-HOUSE IN SIDNEY.
more than the frame of the original house now remains. The cost of these repairs was $7,000.
In 1873. a new parsonage was built at a cost of $4,500, largely through the generous enthusiasm of one member of the congregation, who has always manifested a great interest in the welfare of the society. Frequent revivals have occurred in this church, and as a result it is strong and flourishing and exerts a strong influence in the community. The house of worship and parsonage compare favorably with any in the State, and are entirely free from debt.5
The Methodist church, is the strongest religious denomination in Gardiner.
The ministers raised up in Gardiner have been : Moses Springer, Converse McCurdy, Rufus Day, Asahel Moore, S. W. Russell, W. C. Stevens, Charles E. Springer.
Statistics, 1886: Probationers, 68; Members, 248; value of Church, $14,000 ; Parsonage, $4,000; Officers and Teachers in Sunday School, 26 ; Scholars, 275 ; Pastor's salary, $1,200.
SIDNEY.
The first Methodist sermon preached in Sidney, was by Jesse Lee, on the twenty-ninth of January, 1794. This town was at first included in Readfield Circuit, and was probably visited by the preachers, but no account was given of their labors. The first circuit preacher now remembered, who regularly visited Sidney, was Ebenezer F. Newell, in 1809, then preacher in charge of Hallowell Circuit. Here he became acquainted with Miss Nancy Butterfield, a young lady of ardent piety. who became his wife.
A Methodist meeting-house was built at Bacon's Corner, in 1815, and a parsonage in immediate vicinity. was built or purchased, about the same time.
In 1828, a Methodist house of worship, was built above Sidney Centre. mostly by Japheth Beale, greatly to his financial embarrassment. This house was moved to the Centre in 1842, and became a Union house. It has been unoccupied for religious worship, for a long time, and for two or three years past, has been used as a barn for storing hay.
Sidney appears in the minutes for the first time in 1829, E. Robinson preacher in charge. Preachers were appointed to this charge till 1837, when Fairfield and Sidney were put together,
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