USA > Maine > History of the Baptists in Maine > Part 38
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But a debt, which, though not large, was exceedingly burdensome and troublesome, hung over the institution. Apparently it only lacked relief from this burden and ade- quate financial resources in order to meet the high expec-
1 Rev. T. B. Robinson, in a discourse delivered at the semi-centennial of Penobscot Association, at Charleston, Sept. 5, 1876, referred to a resolution adopted by the associa- tion in 1838, in which reference was made to "the encouraging prospects of the Theolog- ical Institution, now commenced in this State," and adds : "It had been in operation, in connection with the academy, under the leadership of Prof. Calvin Newton, late of Waterville College. But its trustees had decided to locate it permanently at Thomaston, as that was easier of access, and surrounded by wealthy churches, and it was removed there late that fall." In the Minutes for 1838, Rev. C. Newton is reported as connected with the church in Charleston, and in the abstract of the Charleston letter to the asso- ciation we have the statement, "Destitute of a pastor, but are seeking one-have been supplied from the Theological Institution." It should be added, also, that Rev. T. B. Rob- inson was at the time pastor of the Baptist church in Levant, and was present at the meeting of the association in 1838.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
tation of its founders. But the money did not come, the institution languished, and at length it lost its influence and ceased to exist.
Rev. John H. Higgins in his boyhood was a student in the academy. After a successful business career in New York he returned to Maine in 1874, and made for himself a home in Charleston. During his residence in New York he was converted, and on his return to Maine he brought with him an earnest purpose to be helpful to the religious interest of the community and of the surrounding towns. He possessed in a marked degree an evangelistic spirit and loved to preach the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Recalling his own school life at Charleston, he was impressed with the importance of reviving the academy and of bringing to it the bright boys and girls of Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties. He accordingly bought the academy property, and for quite a number of years he maintained a school in the old academy building, under the instruction of Mr. and Mrs. William Rideout, who opened the academy in 1881 with sixteen pupils. Mr. Rideout was a popular teacher, and Mrs. Rideout, a graduate of the Farmington Normal School, had been preceptress of the Maine Central Institute and head of its normal department. By their united efforts the work of the academy was brought to such a degree of efficiency as to receive merited patronage. In 1888 and 1889 Mr. Hig- gins made known to the trustees of Colby University his desire that the academy might become one of Colby's pre- paratory schools, and in 1890 he made an offer to convey to the college the old academy building and the land on which it stood, and to place in the hands of the treasurer of the college as an endowment of the academy $25,000, provided that within ten years thereafter the college would secure from outside sources an equal amount for the construction of a suitable academy building, and of this amount Mr. Higgins offered to give $5,000. At the same time Mr. H. H. Norcross of Somerville, Mass., a native of Charleston, and deeply interested in the welfare
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
of the town and the academy, offered to deed to the col- lege a half dozen acres of land regarded as a better loca- tion for the academy. The college accepted Mr. Higgins, generous offer,1 also that of Mr. Norcross, and made an appropriation of $1,000 to be used in removing and repair- ing the old academy building. The name Higgins Classi- cal Institute was given to the institution in recognition of Mr. Higgins' generous gift.
A charter for the institution was obtained from the Legislature in 1891. In August of that year, Hon. Perci- val Bonney and Mr. Arad Thompson, a committee of the board of trustees of Colby University, visited Charleston. "A glance at the real estate proposed to be conveyed to the college," writes Judge Bonney, "convinced us at once that neither the lot upon which the academy building then stood, nor the Norcross lot, was suitable for the location of school buildings. Upon examining the adjacent lands, we advised Mr. Higgins to purchase what was known as the Tibbetts farm, which adjoined the lot upon which the academy then stood, and was directly across the street from the Norcross lot."
This was done at a cost of $3,000, which sum was deducted from the $25,000 which Mr. Higgins had pro- posed to deposit with the treasurer of the college as an endowment of the institute. The old academy building was at once removed to its new location, and put in con- dition for use. -
The institute was opened in the spring of 1891, under the principalship of Mr. C. C. Richardson, Colby, 1887. Associated with him were Mr. and Mrs. Rideout, who for ten years had stood at the head of Charleston Academy, preparing the way for the new order of things now insti- tuted. Dr. Dunn visited Charleston soon after the close of the first term of the Higgins Classical Institute in May, 1891, and wrote : "Its location is unsurpassed. It stands at the brow of a hill, overlooking a wide extent of most
1 The $25,000 was given by Rev. J. H. Higgins, Fanny E. Perley Higgins, Emma L. Perley Higgins, Mr. A. H. Higgins and H. H. Norcross.
HIGGINS CLASSICAL INSTITUTE, CHARLESTON.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
beautiful country. Standing at the front entrance, look- ing toward the south, one can see the fertile farms of sev- eral townships, and in the distance can be seen plainly the blue hills of Hancock County, while yet farther on may be descried the mountains of Mt. Desert. No grander outlook can be found from any point in this grand old State."
Soon after the institution was opened, Mr. H. L. Tib- betts of Lowell, Mass., a native of Charleston, gave the institute $1,700 for library purposes. Of this amount $700 was expended in the purchase of books, and the remain- ing $1,000 was held as a fund, the income to be used for the support of the library. Later Mr. D. S. Humphrey of Charleston, treasurer of the institute, contributed $200 to establish a fund, the income of which should be devoted to prizes for excellence in public reading and speaking.
In 1896, Mr. Richardson was succeeded in the princi- palship by Mr. H. W. Foss, and with him came an entire new corps of instructors. The number of students con- tinued to increase. In 1902-3 new buildings were erected for the institute. The principal building is of brick, and is a handsome, well-arranged structure, in every way adapted to its use. It contains a chapel, convenient and well-equipped class rooms, society rooms, chemical labo- ratories and a library room. The basement is devoted to a model school. The new dormitory is for both sexes, and is provided with the various modern conveniences, having bath rooms, liberally supplied with hot and cold water, is heated by steam and lighted with acetylene gas throughout. The kitchen and laundries are provided with the latest labor-saving devices. The expense of erecting these buildings was borne for the most part by Rev. J. H. Higgins and his brother, Mr. Hamilton Higgins of New York.
The institute, in its new home, was opened in Septem- ber, 1903, with an enrollment of students about double that of the first year of its affiliation with Colby College. Mr. Foss, who had so successfully conducted the affairs
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
of the institute hitherto, had retired at the close of the preceding term, and was succeeded by Mr. A. M. Thomas, so long connected with the Ricker Classical Institute at Houlton.
As yet the trustees of Colby have not deemed it wise to attempt to meet the conditions which were accepted when the institute became affiliated with the college. Other financial obligations seemed to require attention first. It is to be hoped, however, that the favorable opportunity for securing the needed funds will appear at an early day.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE CHURCHES FROM THE CLOSE OF THE CIVIL WAR.
With the close of the Civil War the Baptist churches in Maine entered upon a new period of activity and develop- ment. The reports for 1866 showed that the number of baptisms for the year following the close of the war (704) was the largest of any year following the great revival of 1858, but this number was not again reached until 1874, when 774 baptisms were reported. The membership of the churches in 1866 was 19,870. This was the year of the great fire in Portland, which occurred on July 4th. In that disastrous conflagration the First Baptist church lost its house of worship, the homes of more than ninety families connected with the church and congregation were destroyed, and some of the members were obliged to seek homes elsewhere. Under the leadership of the pastor, Rev. W. H. Shailer, D. D., the church, liberally aided by other churches in and without the State, entered upon the erection of a new house of worship. The fellowship of the churches at the time of this loss is illustrated in the action taken Sept. 6, 1866, by the Saco River Association. "Resolved, That in view of the very serious loss sustained by the First Baptist church in Portland by the late deso- lating fire, in which their pastor very largely shares, we tender them our most hearty sympathy, and recommend that all our churches be requested to take up a collec- tion as soon as convenient, to aid the church in erecting for themselves another house of worship, and that it be sent forthwith to Dr. Shailer, chairman of the committee for raising funds.
At Augusta, another important point in the State, Dr. Ricker was endeavoring to place the church on a solid
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
foundation. For various reasons the Baptist cause at the capital had languished, and there was need of wise, vigor- ous leadership. This was found in Dr. Ricker, whose efforts, both in Augusta and elsewhere, resulted in the rebuilding of the church's house of worship. At Houlton a Baptist church had been organized in 1863, and Jan. 31, 1867, a house of worship was dedicated. Rev. C. G. Porter was now on this field doing missionary service, and laying the foundations of a strong, prosperous church.
The church in Lewiston, which was organized in 1847, but which now had a membership exceeded only by that of either of the churches in Portland, also felt the inspira- tion of the era of business prosperity that followed the Civil War and entered upon the erection of a new house of worship, which was dedicated May 17, 1870. The churches in Camden and Belfast were also of the number which, between 1865 and 1870, rebuilt their houses of worship.
January 16, 1871, Rev. Adam Wilson, D. D., died at his home in Waterville, aged seventy-seven years. For a long time he had been at the front in the general interests of the Baptists of Maine. He was the founder of the State denominational paper ; he had served in the pastorate in Bangor, and other places ; he had been active in the State missionary work of the denomination throughout his min- istry ; and in the discharge of his many public services he had had the confidence of his brethren in the largest pos- sible degree. He closed his long and useful life honored and beloved as a faithful man of God.
At the semi-centennial of the Maine Baptist Mission- ary Convention, held at East Winthrop June 16, 17 and 18, 1874, Rev. F. T. Hazlewood of Bangor suggested the organization of a society for the aid of aged and needy clergymen of the Baptist denomination in Maine, and also of the widows and orphans of deceased Baptist ministers, and the following resolution which he offered was adopted : "Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to report upon the subject in full
BAPTIST CHURCH, HOULTON.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
at the next meeting of the Convention, with power to ask of the Legislature a charter for such a society." Such a committee was appointed, consisting of George F. Emery of Portland, E. Rowell of Hallowell, and Rev. A. V. Tilton of Augusta. In 1876, at the next meeting of the Con- vention, this committee reported progress. Rev. W. H. Shailer, D. D., of Portland, was added to the committee, and the committee was continued. At the meeting of the Convention, in 1876, Dr. Shailer, for this committee, reported the organization of the Maine Baptist Charitable Society, and it was voted that money which the Conven- tion held in trust for the aid of needy Baptist ministers and the widows of such ministers be transferred to the treasurer of the Charitable Society. This money came to the Convention from a bequest by the late Byron Green- ough of Portland. The Society was incorporated May 8, 1876, and held its first annual meeting in Hallowell, June 21, 1876, in connection with other Maine Baptist organiza- tions. Rev. J. T. Champlin, D. D., was elected president ; Hon. P. Bonney, vice president ; Rev. H. S. Burrage, sec- retary ; Dea. J. C. Phenix, treasurer, and Rev. W. H. Shailer, D. D., Rev. J. McWhinnie and George F. Emery, Esq., executive committee. The Cumberland Association, at its meeting in Lisbon Falls, Aug. 30, 1876, voted to transfer its indigent ministers' fund of $626.50 to the Charitable Society, also the Kennebec Association made a like transfer of its fund of $66.17, and the Charitable Society, at its annual meeting in 1877, after making appro- priations to the amount of $55, reported funds in hand to the amount of $1,446.77. The Hancock Association, in 1877, transferred its widows' fund, amounting to $90, to the Charitable Society. Thus organized and furnished with the beginnings of a fund the Maine Baptist Chari- table Society entered upon its beneficent work. Its funds in October, 1903, amounted to $4,275.06, and each year since its organization the Society has rendered a much needed service; but the suggestion has been made that those whom the Society seeks to aid could be reached
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
much more readily through the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention, and that by means of the Convention a deeper interest in the objects of the Society would be secured.
The semi-centennial of the Penobscot Association, at Charleston, Sept. 5, 1876, the centennial year of the nation's history, afforded an opportunity for a review of the work which had been accomplished in connection with the association during the preceding half century. Rev. T. B. Robinson, who had been pastor at Kenduskeag about thirty years, commencing his work there in 1835, deliv- ered the historical discourse. He was the only person living who as a minister was present at the organization of the association. Dea. J. C. White of Bangor, treasurer of the association, presented a statement concerning the benevolent contributions of the churches in the associa- tion. For the first eighteen years there was contributed to foreign missions through Levi Morrill, treasurer for sixteen years, and Dea. John Hunting, treasurer for two years, $2,410.86. Deacon White became treasurer in 1844, and endeavored to have all the benevolent funds of the churches in the association pass through his hands. Dur- ing the thirty-two years from 1844 he had received for the American Baptist Missionary Union $20,141.13, making a total of $22,551.99 for foreign missions during the fifty years. During the preceding twenty-one years he had received for the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention $18,977.54; during twelve years for Bible distribution upwards of $1,300; during twelve years for home mis- sions, upwards of $1,190.73; and for ministerial education $1,750, making, with $7,500 which he believed had passed through other hands, an aggregate of upwards of $50,000.
The Kennebec Association came to its semi-centennial in 1879. The session was held with the Baptist church at Norridgewock, Sept. 2, 1879. An historical discourse was delivered by Rev. W. H. Shailer, D. D., of Portland. This was one of the last of the public services performed by Dr. Shailer, who had closed his pastorate of the First Baptist church in Portland in August, 1877. He came to
WILLIAM H. SHAILER, D. D.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
Portland in March, 1854. At once he identified himself with the various denominational interests in the city and State. He was editor and publisher of Zion's Advocate about sixteen years. For twenty-seven years he never failed to attend the meetings of the State Convention, and for several years he was its president. For twenty-five years he was a trustee of Colby College. In all matters pertaining to the denomination his judgment was sought, and there was no movement, religious or educational, in which the Baptists of Maine were interested during his residence in the State in which he did not have a con- spicuous part. He was often called upon for service on public occasions, and always performed the task to which he was assigned with ability and dignity. He died in Portland, Feb. 23, 1881, and in October following, at the annual meeting of the Maine Baptist Missionary Con- vention at Skowhegan, his friend, Rev. A. K. Potter, D. D., of Springfield, Mass., paid a fitting tribute to his memory.
Another Maine pastor, Rev. R. C. Spaulding, who had served the denomination in the State even through a longer period than Dr. Shailer, died in Houlton, Sept. 1, 1880. He was one of the earlier students in Waterville College, but did not finish his course, and was ordained May 2, 1826, Dr. Chapin preaching the sermon. He served the churches in Levant and East Corinth, and in 1843 was sent by the Maine Baptist Missionary Soci- ety to Aroostook County. In 1844, he removed his fam- ily to Houlton, which henceforward was his home until his death. His labors, and also those of Mrs. Spaulding, were abundant and most successful, extending over a large extent of territory, and resulting in the organization of churches in not a few of the new, growing towns of the county. In pioneer work he took especial delight. With Bibles and tracts he made his way to the scattered settle- ments, called together the people in schoolhouses and log cabins, and preached the gospel with an earnestness and simplicity which made for it an entrance into many hearts.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
Our churches in Aroostook County are as many monu- ments to his memory.
Another life, likewise devoted to the interests of the denomination in the State, but in a different sphere of action, came to a close when James T. Champlin, D. D., died at his home in Portland, March 15, 1882. He was ordained in Portland May 3, 1838, as pastor of the First Baptist church. Here he had a most successful pastorate, but a bronchial trouble compelled him in 1841 to abandon his pulpit labors, and he accepted a position as professor of ancient languages in Waterville College. Here his life- work was accomplished, a work heroically prosecuted, and which has secured for him a prominent place in our Maine educational history.
One by one those who had been active in church or educational work were passing away. Ex-Gov. Abner Coburn died Jan. 4, 1885, a few weeks before his eighty- second birthday. His father, Eleazer Coburn, was a native of Dracut, Mass., and came to Somerset County, Maine, in 1792, when fifteen years of age. Here he made for himself a home and an honorable name as a farmer and a land surveyor. On his mother's side Governor Coburn's ancestors were prominent in the early history of the State. His grandfather Weston guided Benedict Arnold's expedi- tion through Maine on its way to Canada, and died in con- sequence of exposure on the way. His father was engaged in extensive lumber operations on the Kennebec, and the sons, Abner and Philander, were associated with him, under the firm name of E. Coburn & Sons. In 1845, the father died, and the firm of A. & P. Coburn was formed. For two score years nearly this firm enjoyed a reputa- tion for business sagacity and integrity which was sec- ond to none in the State. The firm increased largely its land-holdings, at one time owning 450,000 acres in Maine and many thousand acres in the western States. The Coburns also became interested in some of our railroads in Maine, especially the Somerset & Kennebec, and subse- quently the Portland & Kennebec and the Maine Central.
HON. ABNER COBURN.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
Of the former and the latter Abner Coburn was president. He was elected a member of the Legislature in 1838, 1840 and in 1844. In 1855, he was a member of Gov. A. P. Morrill's council, and in 1857, of Governor Hamlin's coun- cil. In 1860, he was an elector on the Lincoln ticket. In 1862, he was elected governor of Maine, and faithfully he served the State in that strenuous period. Governor Coburn's large and increasing wealth gave him the means of contributing generously to many benevolent and educa- tional institutions and to many private charities. Not a few of the Baptist churches in Maine found in him a gen- erous helper, and for many years previous to his death he was a constant contributor to the work of the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention. He was elected a trustee of the college in 1845, and from 1874 until his death he was president of its board of trustees.
At the meeting of the Maine Baptist Missionary Conven- tion in South Berwick, in 1883, Rev. James McWhinnie, pastor of the Free St. church, Portland, called attention to the claims of the Maine General Hospital in Portland, and suggested that the Baptists of Maine annually secure for the denomination a free bed in the hospital. The sugges- tion was favorably received, a large number of pledges were made and the bed was secured. At the meeting of the Convention in Houlton, in 1884, an announcement to this effect was made, and the recording secretary of the Convention was requested to solicit and receive contribu- tions for this purpose. This he has done in each succeed- ing year since that time, and in all these years the Baptist free bed in the Maine General Hospital has been of untold value.
At the meeting of the Maine Baptist Missionary Con- vention in Portland, in 1885, Rev. A. K. P. Small, D. D., referred to the pioneer labors of Rev. Isaac Case, and sug- gested that from a daguerreotype, taken late in Father Case's life, an oil portrait should be painted and placed in Memorial Hall, Colby University. A committee of ladies, one from each association in the State, was appointed to
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
raise the necessary funds, and the portrait was presented to the college at the commencement in 1886.
The life and work of Rev. Isaac Case were recalled much more fully, however, at the centennial of the Bowdoinham Association, Sept. 13, 14 and 15, 1887. The meeting was held in Bowdoinham, the birthplace of the association. Maj. E. Rowell of Hallowell was moderator of the associa- tion, and the session was opened with prayer by Rev. J. Ricker, D. D. The historical discourse was by Rev. E. S. Small, pastor of the Baptist church in Livermore Falls, and was the result of an extended and most careful study of the sources. A paper on Rev. Isaac Case was read by Rev. Henry S. Burrage, D. D., of Portland. In the his- torical discourse and in the paper on Rev. Isaac Case, the value of Mr. Case's services in the pioneer period of our Maine Baptist churches was very fully presented. Both the discourse and the paper on Mr. Case were published in full in connection with the Convention Minutes for 1887.
In many of the churches, for quite a number of years, various methods had been adopted in the endeavor to secure from the entire membership of the churches as largely as possible contributions for benevolent objects. While the membership of the churches had remained about the same, there had not been such a gain in benev- olent contributions as the better financial condition of the country would seem to warrant. The membership of the churches and the total benevolent contributions for twenty years previous to 1887, as reported in the Minutes, are here given :
1868,
19,833
$19,151.88
1878,
20,954
$13,331.78
1869,
19,488
16,311.98
1879,
21,165
11,954.48
1870,
19,351
13,236.00
1880,
21,013
17,702.04
1871,
19,593
14,785.00
1881,
20,637
13,270.52
1872,
19.511
13,278.00
1882,
20,247
14,060.77
1873,
19,245
15,973.31
1883,
20,039
13,430.64
1874,
19,303
17,259.91
1884,
19,942
13,959.82
1875,
19,490
16,590.02
1885,
19, 744
13,823.99
1876,
19,712
15,676.80
1886,
19,871
18,241.54
1877,
20,523
16,537.82
1887,
19,613
18,959.62
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
During this period the subject of systematic and propor- tionate giving for benevolent objects received increased attention. At the meeting of the Maine Baptist Mission- ary Convention in South Berwick, in 1883, Rev. W. S. Roberts of Rockland read a paper on "Systematic Benevo- lence." An earnest discussion followed. Rev. E. S. Small of Livermore Falls at the same meeting offered the follow- ing resolution, which was adopted: "Resolved, That the missionaries of this Convention be instructed to make it plain to all our pastorless churches which they may be well able to reach, that if the preponderating influence in any church shall be opposed to the scriptural principle of regular offerings of property to the Lord, proportionately to every one's prosperity, after a reasonable amount of exhortation, this Convention will not be expected to make further appropriations to such a church."
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