USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine v.I, 1770-1875 > Part 22
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" Mr. Price," says an obituary in the " Boston Recorder," " was eminently a good man and a Christian. As a preacher, he was earnest and direct in the presentation of truth, according to the old standards of New England theology. As a pastor, he was watchful, faithful, and affectionate; and, as a man, he was always cheerful, courteous, and irreproachable. Wherever he went, he never forgot that he was a Christian minister; and, however he might be employed, he never suffered others to forget it. Scrupu- lously exact in all the courtesies of life, yet easy and unaffected in his manners, he was a gentleman of the 'old school,' and a model for the new.
"Nearly sixty years he ' dwelt among his own people ' in cheer- ful and hallowed fellowship, not by asserting his clerical preroga- tives, but with Christian urbanity and an unselfish life ; winning the affections of all hearts, not by sharply defining his legal rights, but by showing himself ' their servant for Jesus' sake.'
1 Boston Recorder, Feb. 26, 1864. Sketches of Alumni of Dartmouth College, 70.
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" Mr. Price was habitually grave, but cheerful, and often among his friends and in his own family his conversation sparkled with wit and humor, but never degenerated into coarseness or frivolity. His lively disposition, chastened with thorough piety, made him at once and everywhere a welcome visitor, and an agreeable and instructive companion. 'Gentle toward all men,' yet decided and firm, he enjoyed to an unusual extent the con- fidence and respect of all classes in the community.
" The last year or two of his life his sight gradually failed till he became nearly blind. Still he retained his Christian cheerfulness, and greatly enjoyed the society of his friends. Then he could say with the Psalmist : 'Thy statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage.'" 1
To the close of his life he spoke frequently of his former resi- dence in Belfast, and always felt a deep interest in the religious and civil welfare of the people here.2 He published, in 1823, a History of Boscawen. He married Lucy, daughter of Humphrey Farrar, of Hanover, N. H., Jan. 20, 1799. Four of his five children survived him. The burial-place of Mr. Price is at Webster, where he passed the greater portion of his active years.
The inhabitants of Belfast became acquainted with Mr. Price in the spring of 1796, and were so well pleased with him that at the annual town meeting of that year they voted " Samuel Houston, Samuel Houston, Jr., and Alexander Clark, as a Committee, to Agree with Mr. Price to Get him to Preach this season on the best Terms they can." Two months afterwards, the town voted to employ him as " a candidate preacher," and chose Deacon John Tuft, Solon Stephenson, Samuel McKeen, Samuel Houston, John Cochran, James Patterson, Benjamin Nesmith, Tolford Durham, John Cochran, 2d, Robert Steele, and Alexander Clark "to treat with him on terms of settlement."8 A formal invitation soon followed ; and on the 29th of August, 1796, it was voted "to Give Mr. Ebenezer Price a call for Settlement as Preacher of the Gos- pel; to give 300 Dolars Settlement money; to Give 300 Dolars as a Sallery Pr. Annum, and that John Cochran, Tolford Durham, Samuel McKeen, Rob Steele, and Alex. McMillan be a Committee." This vote was reconsidered at an adjourned meeting held the next
1 Boston Recorder.
2 In 1847, the ladies of the First Church contributed a sufficient sum to constitute Mr. Price a life-member of the Maine Missionary Society.
8 Town records, June 27, 1796.
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week, and the following substituted : "to Give up the Lot No. 26 to the first Settled Minister without Reserve, except one Acre of Land where the Meeting house Stands, and a Sufficient Quantity of Land for a Burying Place. This vote carried by 33 to 10." " That we Give 200 Dolars to the first Settled Minister, viz., Mr. Ebenezer Price, if he Excepts of a Call from this Town." It was also voted " that the Salary shall be Raised 10 Dolars a year Annually, after the first year, (as an Addition to the 200 Dollars voted before) untill it reaches to 300 Dolars." 1
The committee elected to convey an invitation addressed the following letter to Mr. Price : -
To EBENEZER PRICE, A.B., PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL:
The People of the Town of Belfast, wish Health, Grace, & Peace.
We being fully sensible of our disconsolate and unhappy Situa- tion as a People while destitute of a Spiritual Guide, feeling our- selves and Offspring Deprived of rich and peculiar blessings so Long as we are Destitute of a regular Church of Christ, the Stated dispensation of the word, and the administration of the Ordinances of the Gospel, and viewing Ourselves Candidates for immortality, Duty Calls on us to use our ability and exert our most zealous endeavors to obtain those Spiritual privileges which Christ our Saviour hath Provided in the Gospel. We therefore make known to you, Dear Sir, our Situation. It is now a con- siderable time that you have labored with us in word and Doc- trine, and we view in the smiles of Providence that you have been led to this part of the vineyard of our Lord, to us who are scattered like sheep upon the mountains, without a Shepherd. You have, by your Public Labours, private walk, Doctrine, Ex- ample, & by the Testimonials of others, recommended yourself to us as a Faithful Ambassador of Christ, which demands our Affec- tion, respect, & Reverence. Ever since our first Acquaintance the Eyes of the People have been upon you, that you should be set over them in the Lord. And 'tis the General voice and united Desire & Prayer, that should there be a Church gethered here according to the Rules of Christ, you should take the Pastoral care of this Church and People, To be Ordained over them & Spend your Days for their Spiritual interest in the high & Holy Calling of a Gospel Minister, that we may no longer be as Sheep
1 Town records.
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going Astray, subject to be devoured by Wolves, but that in you we might find a faithfull Shepherd, a Spiritual guide, one who will Naturally care for us, who will deliver to us the Doctrines of the Gospel with plainness and simplicity, whose talents may be im- proved for our edifieation, Whose words a Balm for the wounded in spirit, Whose example our pattern, and whose Seasonable Ad- monition our preservation from error ; and that we may walk together while here on Earth in Love, enjoying the Ordinances of the Gospel, and be prepared to sit together in Christ's Kingdom forever. That you, Dear Sir, may see your way Clear to manifest your Acceptance of this Call to the Pastoral care of this Church when Gethered and Congregation in the Town of Belfast, is our General, Fervent, and Humbel Prayer to Almighty God.
But as we expect of you Spiritual things, we would in like manner Minister to Your wants in Carnal things. As Conditions of your Settlement with us, we would subjoin the Votes of the People of Belfast, in Town meeting Assembled, Sept. y" 8th, 1796.
[Here follow copies of the votes passed.]
We submit this Call and these Proposels to your Serious and Solemn Consideration, beseeching God to direet you in the Path of Duty, Particularly in this most Important Matter. And that he would Grant whatever be Your Determination we may Ac- quiesce in the Dispensation of his Providence.
SAMUEL M'KEEN, JOHN COCHRAN, TOLFORD DURHAM, ALEX" MCMILLEN,
Committee apointed to act in behalf of the Town of Bel- fast in Presenting a Call to M' Ebenezer Price.
This Call and these Proposels Signed and Presented by said Committee, to Mr. Ebenezer Price, Sept. ye. 19th, 1796.
Mr. Price's Answer to the Call of the Town of Belfast.
TO THE SOCIETY AND PEOPLE OF BELFAST:
DEAR & BELOVED, - "Tis now a considerable time since I re- ceived by the Hand of Your Committee A Call & Proposals to Settle with you in the Gospel Ministry. Sensible of Your situa- tion, I feel myself under obligation as soon as possible to make known to You the result of my reflections on this solemn and im- portant Subject. It is a Subject of the Greatest Moment both to
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you and Me, Because in it each of our Souls' eternal interest is materially Concerned.
On the decision I am called to give, much is depending, as it must be attended with endless consequences, & because from it the Glory and Honour of Christs Kingdom are inseparable. There- fore, with what Reverence, caution, & assurance of Duty ought I to Decide : Lest I wrong my own Soul & mar the Divine Glory.
According to the clearest light and helps I have been able to obtain, From a Prayerfull enquiry and the most mature Delibera- tion, Providence directs to receive the Call of the Society of Belfast, as the Call of God : -
I Do, therefore, relying on God, in obedience to what appears Duty, publickly, Cordially, & Cheerfully Accept Your Invitation and Proposals to be ordained over you in the work of the Gospel Ministry, - And that as soon as an Eclesiastical Council may be convened, & a Church of Christ Gathered, should the present Appearance Continue.
I am not insensible that this Decision is attended with things at Present disagreeable and self-denying. There is an opposition to my settlement. No Minister at hand with whom I might advise on emergent occasions, and I am far removed from my Kindred and Friends; but the Cross must be borne by the fol- lowers of Christ. I would feel submissive to God who disposeth all things according to infinite wisdom. The reasons influencing me to this my Answer : - Are, The peculiar operations of Prov- idence relative to you, since my first acquaintance with you. The repeated instances of your unanimity & apparent engaged- ness in the cause of the Redeemer, & especially your last General public Act. These, taking into view your critical situation, should your endeavors prove ineffectual with the Council of my Rever- end Fathers & Brethren in the Ministry, - are reasons which leave me no room to doubt the propriety of my Decision, not- withstanding what has appeared to the contrary.
But when I consider my unworthiness of so high and Holy a Calling, -my Youth, inexperience, liableness to err, and to be drawn aside by temptation, to have the care of immortal souls, - how terrifying the idea! Nothing but the Desire of promoting the Cause of the Redeemer in this Place would influence me to Settle with you.
Should this Proposed Union take place, much will depend on you as a Church and People : not only to make my Life Comfort-
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able, but to ease the burthens of my Ministerial Labors. Those of you who profess to be the children of God will, I trust, feel it a duty constantly to hear me to the Throne of Grace, -to strengthen my hands, and encourage my Heart. May I ever enjoy your Council, and since I am a Man, Subject to like Pas- sions with other men, when occasion calls, do not withold your seasonable and friendly Admonition. I shall expect from you Moderation, Candor, and Charity, In your conduct towards me, and may I towards you discharge the duty of the Ministerial Character, watching over the Lord's flock like a faithfull Shepherd, ministering to your spiritual wants, teaching the Commandments of God - preserve my Garments unspotted from the world, and my Soul free from the Blood of all Men. And may I increase in Grace, Knowledge, wisdom, Prudence, & Humility : that you may be profited by my Labors and Example.
Should we unite as Minister and people, Oh that it might be for our Mutual Comfort, joy and edification. May I go out and in before you in the fear of God, not Counting my Life Dear to me, but Manifesting a willing mind to spend the days God shall give me in the Service of Christ for your Sake. And may you in me receive a rich Blessing. May there be many souls from among you edified, Comforted and bro't to the Saving Knowl- edge of Christ thro' my Instrumentality.
The God of Peace Grant that we may walk together as Minis- ter and People, enjoying the Ordinances of the Gospel, in Love, Union, and Christian fellowship, until God in his own time shall Call us from this Scene of trial, to Spend an Eternity with the Spirits of the Just made perfect.
EBENEZER PRICE.
You have doubtless anticipated, that as my Parents and Friends live at a Great Distance, a few Sabbaths yearly will be Necessarily taken visiting them.
Previously to the Revolution, Mr. Willis, the learned historian of Portland, says " there was no part of New England so strongly imbued with Presbyterian principles as that portion of Maine which lies between the Kennebec and the Penobscot. In fact, the population at one time was nearly all Presbyterian, from the circumstance that the Scotch immigrants from Ireland had taken possession of the prominent points of that territory."1 The early
1 Coll. Maine Hist. Soc., VI. 32.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
settlers of Belfast had been educated in this faith, and many of them " slowly and reluctantly yielded their Presbyterian usages for the Congregational form of worship," although there is little or no difference between the two sects, except in the form of gov- ernment. Presbyterianism in Maine became almost superseded at the commencement of the present century, and there is not now a single vestige of the denomination within our limits, which once contained a presbytery of twelve flourishing churches. The Rev. Mr. Price was a Congregationalist, and many of those compelled to pay taxes towards his support, whose tenets were formed at Londonderry, under the instructions of MacGregor and Morrison, the beloved ministers of that town, refused to subscribe to his doctrines, or to unite in the invitation extended for his settle- ment. They were, however, in a minority; and on the twenty- second day of November, 1796, soon after the acceptance of Mr. Price was communicated, a vote selected Benjamin Nesmith, John Cochran, Tolford Durham, Samuel McKeen, and John Brown as a committee to consult with the candidate "for a Council of Minis- ters to carry on an ordination," and that the committee "be im- powered to carry on the business of the ordination." Against this vote, on the day of its passage, the following protest was made : -
To the People of the Town of Belfast that are in favor of Settling of Mr. Ebenezer Price as a Preacher of the Gospel in this Town :
Know Ye, that We the Subscribers are opposa to the Settle- ment of the said Ebenezer Price, and that we Protest Against Paying any money to defray any Charges of Ordination or Settle- ment or Sallary, and that we have enterd into a Resolution to Abide by each other and try it out to the end of the Law.
NATHANIEL PATTERSON.
SOLON STEPHENSON.
WILLIAM PATTERSON.
ROBERT PATTERSON.
ZENAS STEPHENSON.
JEROME STEPHENSON.
JOHN YOUNG.
GEORGE COCHRAN.
JOHN OSBORN.
ELISHA CLARK.1
ROBERT COCHRAN.
ROBERT STEEL.
PETER COCHRAN. ICHABOD CLARK.
JOHN COCHRAN. ROBERT MILLER.
JOSIAH DILLINGHAM.
JAMES PATTERSON.
JOB YOUNG. JAMES GAMMON.
WILLIAM PATTERSON.
NATHANIEL EELLS.
CALEB STEPHENSON.
JONATHAN WHITE.
1 Town records.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The remonstrants continued their opposition, and requested the selectmen to call a town meeting to reconsider the vote of settlement. This request was denied, and was immediately fol- lowed by an application for the same purpose, made by ten legal voters to George Ulmer, Esq., of Lincolnville, a justice of the peace. Pursuant to his warrant, the inhabitants voted upon the following articles on the twenty-third day of December.
"2. To see if the Town will set off all those inhabitants (to- gether with their Estates, into a seperate Society) who have been and are in Opposition to the Settlement of Mr. Price,
" 3. and if not set off, to see if the Town will Reconsider a vote that hath been Passed, Giving Mr. Price a Call as a Preacher in this Town.
"Voted, Not to act upon the 2ª article by 38 Voters. Voted for to act by 16 Voters. Voted to pass the 3ª Article."
In accordance with previous arrangement, an ecclesiastical council assembled on the twenty-eighth day of December, 1796, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Price and organizing a church. The ministers present were Messrs. Eliphalet Gillet, of Hallowell, Jonathan Powers, of Penobscot, William Riddel, of Bristol, and Jonathan Huse, of Warren. No account of the part which each took in the exercises has been preserved. The following tran- script of the proceedings of the council appears on the town records : -
The minutes of the Ecclesiastical Council convened at Belfast, Dec" 28th, 1796.
Agreeable to Letters missive from the Christian Society in Belfast, convened in said Town, on this 28th of December, A.D. 1796, the following Persons, viz., the Revª Eliphalet Gillet, Rev.ª Jonathan Powers, Revª Jonathan Huse, Revª William Riddel, Mr. Moses Copeland, Col. Thos. Sterrot, Mr. John Andrews, Mr. Jason Livermore, Mr. John Wasson, and Mr. David Hawes, said Ministers and Delegates as an Ecclesiastical Council, chose the Revª Eliphalet Gillet for their moderator, and Rev. William Rid- del for scribe, and then opened the Council with prayer.
Voted, to attend to the votes of the Town of Belfast, inviting Mr. Ebenezer Price to Settel with them as their Gospel Minister, and Likewise to Mr. Price's Answer. Voted, to Attend to the examination of the candidate as to his ministerial Qualifications.
Voted, to Adjourn until eight o'clock to morrow morning.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
Thursday morning, December 29th Met according to Adjourn- . ment. Proceeded to examine the Candidates who are desirous of being constituted a Church of Christ in this Town.
The Council were requested to hear a number of men making opposition to Mr. Price's Settlement, who were accordingly admitted and heard.
Voted, to Proceed to day to the Ordination of Mr. Price.
Voted, to Receive as members of the Church in this Town the following Persons, viz., John Tuft, Samuel Houston, Sam. M'Keen, John Brown, John Cochran, John Alexander, who voted Mr. Price a Call to take the Pastoral charge of them.
Thursday evening, six o'clock. Having put the above votes into execution, and finished all the Business of the Council, it was adjourned without Day.
Attest : WH RIDDEL, Scribe.
The organization of the First Church with seven members, including Mr. Price, was completed, therefore, on the twenty- ninth day of December, 1796. Six additional members were soon after received by profession. The church continued to flourish ; and on June 16, 1797, the rite of baptism was first solemnized by the pastor, " ten children of Mr. Nathaniel French being offered up by their parent." July 12, 1797, it was voted " That Elders be appointed in the Church, whose office should be to assist the pastor in visiting the sick, healing disaffection among brethren, reproving and admonishing, &c., and that Deacon J. Tuft and Samuel McKeen be appointed." June 12, 1800, Tolford Dur- ham was chosen Deacon.1
As will be fully explained hereafter, the First Church formally separated from the First Parish in 1819.
Up to the settlement of Mr. Price, no legal transfer of Lot No. 26 had been made. It is true that the town had voted to give up the lot to the first settled minister, but this vote was simply nugatory and void. In a municipal capacity the town had no authority over the matter. The fee of the land was in the original proprietors and their assigns, who, on the twenty-first
1 The first deacon was John Tuft, elected Dec. 29, 1796. He died March 3, 1802, aged seventy-eight. Deacon Durham died Nov. 14, 1836, aged ninety-two. John Gilmore, chosen May 27, 1801, died April 16, 1845, aged eighty-four. Henry Godard, chosen May 27, 1801, was dismissed March 1, 1835, to the church in Royalston, Mass. Edwin Beaman and Luther Smith were elected Sept. 29, 1838. The latter died April 17, 1863, aged eighty.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
day of August, 1797, at a meeting duly called, chose John Cochran, Tolford Durham, and John Cochran, 2d, a committee "to give a deed of the lot to the Rev. Eben! Price." The proprietors' records show that Robert Patterson, Robert Steele, James Pat- terson, Joram Stephenson, Solon Stephenson, Nathaniel Patter- son, William Patterson, Robert Miller, and Elisha Clark protested against this vote. At a subsequent meeting, held March 7, 1798, at which thirty-five and a half of the original fifty-one original shares were represented by the owners or their attorneys, it was voted "To Confirm and Ratify a former vote of the Said Proprietors in Granting and appropriating Lot No. 26 in the First Division to the first Settled Gospel minister in the said town of Belfast, with the reserve only of one acre of land where the meeting-house stands, and a Suficient quantity of land for a bury- ing-yard."1 Against this proceeding, Solon Stephenson, Jerome Stephenson, Nathaniel Patterson, Robert Patterson, Elisha Clark, James Patterson, William Patterson, and Robert Steele, the hold- ers of ten shares, protested. The vote was a test one, however, and confirmed the right of Mr. Price to the minister's lot, although a deed was not given to him for several years. "The remon- strance being disregarded," says Mr. White, "served no other purpose than to embitter the sentiments of an opposition already exasperated. The minority did not permit themselves to slumber. Solon Stephenson, a man memorable for his sincerity of heart, sound judgment, and constancy of purpose, and twenty-two others with him, carried the subject before the Legislature, and as a relief prayed to be incorporated as a separate religious society."2 The following is a copy of their petition : -
To the Honorable the Senate & House of Representatives in General Court assembled at Boston, A.D. 1798 : -
The Subscribers, Inhabitants of Belfast, in the County of Han- cock, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, humbly show that there is Settled within said Town of Belfast a Minister, who, tho' approved by a Majority of the inhabitants of s'd Town, holds Tenets and Preaches Doctrines which your Petitioners cannot counsciously receive. That having the Happiness to live under a Constitution which secures to Each Citizen perfect Liberty to worship the Supreme being in the mode most Satisfactory to their own Minds, your Petitioners are Desirous to pursue such
1 Proprietors' records.
2. White's Hist. 68.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
measures under the Sanction of the Laws as shall Enable them to Profit from that inestimable Privilege. We wish not to Avoid paying our full proportion according to our several Estates to the Support of Public Protestant Teachers, Ministers of the Gospel, but we claim a right According to the Principles of the Constitu- tion of appropriating our Money to the Payment of such Persons on whose Ministry we can Conscientiously attend. For this pur- pose we have imployed a Minister to preach to us, not because we want to create schisms, or excite divisions, but Solely because we sincerely and Honestly believe that the Principles approved and Doctrines inculcated by the Minister of the Town are Unscriptural, Immoral, and Destructive to the order and Interest of Society. Being determined to associate among ourselves for the purpose of continuing to imploy as our Pastor a Clergyman under whose Ministry we can be profited, our application to your Hon" now is, that we may be invested with authority to Lay and Collect taxes for the purpose aforesaid, and that we may be effectually separated from that part of the inhabitants of the Town of Bel- fast, who feel satisfied with the Minister of said Town, believing that the only way to ensure peace and harmony in the Town is by the measure we now pray for. We do earnestly intreat that we, our polls and Estates, together with such others as may join ns, and their polls and Estates may be incorporated by the Name of the Religious Society in the Town of Belfast, with all the pow- ers given by former Laws to Similar Corporations, and as in duty bound shall ever Pray.
BELFAST, May 8th, 1798.
WILLIAM PATTERSON ye
SOLON STEPHENSON.
ZENAS STEPHENSON.
JAMES PATTERSON.
ICHABOD CLARK.
JEROME STEPHENSON.
ELISHA CLARK.
WILLIAM GRIFFIN.
ROBERT PATTERSON.
GEORGE COCHRAN.
JONA. WHITE.
ROB! STEELE.
JAS. WEYMOUTH.
ROBT COCHRAN.
WILLIAM PATTERSON.
JOHN COCHRAN.
ROBERT MILLER.
PETER COCHRAN.
CHARLES STEPHENSON.
NATHANIEL EELLS.
THOS STEPHENSON.
NATHANIEL MUNSEY.
EBENEZER WILLIAMS.
On this petition, notice was ordered to be given to the town in the usual manner; and at a meeting held Nov. 26, 1798, Robert
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Houston, John Cochran, 2d, and Tolford Durham were chosen a committee in behalf of the town, to show cause why the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted.
MEMORIAL OF THE COMMITTEE.
COMMONWEALTH To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representa-
OF tives in General Court assembled at Boston, A.D.
MASSACHUSETTS. 1799: -
The Inhabitants of Belfast, in the County of Hancock, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, convened in Town meeting, November 26th, 1798, by virtue of a Warrant issued by Order of the Selectmen, for the special purpose of taking into consideration and acting on the Petition of Solon Stephenson and Others, In- habitants of said Belfast, to the number of Twenty Three, pray- ing to be incorporated under the Name of the Religious Society in Belfast. Due notice being given that an attested Copy of said Petition with the Order of Court thereon had been served on the Town Clerk : Conformable to the above-named Warrant, the Inbabitants of Belfast passed the following Votes : Viz. :
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