USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > The centennial history of Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, including the oration, the historical address and the poem presented at the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 23d, 1902 > Part 23
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about six feet, and the church will be in line with the house. The church will be a Gothic structure 50x120 feet, twenty-six feet posts. with a spire 120 feet in height and it will seat about 600 persons. The outside will be of brick with heavy buttresses and it will be an ornament to the street." There were apparently some changes of plan in its erection, for at its completion the height of the spire is given as 126 feet. The height of the Uni- tarian spire was given as 128 feet and of the Methodist as 133 feet, nine inches. Another Catholic fair, patronized by the "Amercan friends" netted $955.22. The name given to the church was that which it still bears, "St. Francis de Sales Church, Waterville," and it was dedicated (consecrated) on Sun- day, June 14, 1874. The sermon was by Bishop Bacon of Port- land. A service of confirmation was held in the church in the afternoon. The completion of this noble structure so admirably located and so perfectly adapted to its purposes was an event of great significance and a great joy to Father Halde and his flock. They deserved and received the hearty congratulation of their friends.
Another event of equal, if not greater, significance was the coming of Rev. Narcisse Charland in 1880 as the successor of Father Halde. For twenty-two years he has filled even to over- flowing this important and ever increasingly important pastorate. Abundant, tireless, faithful in his ministrations to his own people, he has also labored not a little for the Catholic church in North Vassalboro, Oakland and elsewhere and has always taken a deep interest in all that pertains to the city's welfare. He has shown great enterprise and sagacity in enlarging the plant of the church. In 1886 he bought of Mrs. Ingalls the McCaffrey property for $3,600 and expended upon it $1,000 additional to make of it a parochial residence. The next year he built in the rear of this property a parochial school which he completed in 1888 at a cost of $7,000. In 1891, at a cost of $8,788 he built and furnished for the Ursuline Nuns, whom he had previously brought from Canada, a convent building within which is a boarding school.
In the Ursuline community there are nineteen sisters who instruct 500 children. Father Charland in 1895 built at an expense of $8,000 the beautiful rectory in which he has lived since the beginning of 1896.
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There is need of more room for his schools and he is now erect- ing another building. Early in his ministry he found it neces- sary to associate with himself as assistant another priest, and still later a second. As nearly the entire French population of Waterville and vicinity and many besides are members of his church it is obvious that there are ample demands upon the time and strength of all three. The four successive services of each Sunday at which there is on the average an aggregate attend- ance of about 3,400, i. e., at the first and third services 1, 100 each and 600 at each of the other two. The constant succession of marriages and of funerals, and the personal care and counsel of the great multitude, a care which extends through all the days of all the weeks, involve an incalculable amount of labor and responsibility. No ordinary man could fill the pastoral office of this great church as Father Charland fills it, and discharge with signal success its multifarious duties as he discharges them. No wonder that his people revere and love him. Nor is it wonder that beyond the limits of his own parish his work and worth are so recognized as to confer upon him honor and impose upon him corresponding duties. Under Bishop Healy he was a member of the Diocesan Council, and he now holds for the Maine Diocese the two important positions of examiner of the younger clergy and defensor of the marriage tie. Only fifty-two years of age, with a strong constitution, robust health, and abounding vigor, he may well look around for new worlds to conquer.
THE UNITARIANS.
Rev. J. L. Seward, in a discourse preached at the dedication of the Ware parlors said: "In a very proper sense we may regard Rev. D. N. Sheldon, D. D., as the father of Unitarianism in Waterville." If, however, one were to seek for the father of that Unitarian thought which unorganized had before been diffused through the community and whose existence Mr. Seward recognizes, it might appear that Rev. Joshua Cushman, D. D., rather than any other could claim that distinction. The tenor of his public discourse was signally "liberal" and much more fitted to develop the faith of Unitarianism than that of the "standing order" to which he belonged. But a large part of
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those who by preference were Unitarians had identified them- selves with the Universalist society, had there found a congenial home and had been in all respects influential supporters of that cause. In the earlier years of organized religious life in Water- ville the lines were drawn sometimes rather sharply, between the Baptists and the Universalists and even at this late day we now and then hear an isolated echo of an old time conflict. Unques- tionably Dr. Sheldon was the supreme factor in the movement which on July 25, 1863, issued in the organization of the First Unitarian Society of Waterville. One may not perhaps say that no other man could have brought this event to pass as success- fully but for this work he had a rare combination of qualifica- tions. His previous life in the town, first as pastor of the Bap- tist church and then as president of the college, had brought him into close and influential relations with the community and espec- ially with those persons more or less closely affiliated with the Baptist cause who yet were somewhat inclined to Unitarianism. In natural and acquired ability he was a man of note, thinking clearly in religious and philosophical lines, and expressing his thought in pure idiomatic English; he was social and familiar with people of all religious preferences and connections and duly aggressive in his private as well as public advocacy of the prin- ciples then only recently professed by him, and his character and reputation were such as to command confidence in him as a leader in the proposed enterprise. Some of his personal friends secured him to preach two sermons in the town hall in the months of June and July respectively in 1859. They interested others to unite with them in the successful effort to secure his services for ten Sabbaths during 1860. These too were held in the town hall and usually at intervals of one month. The increase of interest and of the number interested was constant, so that at the close of 1860 Dr. Sheldon was engaged to preach during 1861 on the second Sabbath of each month, continuing, however, as pastor of the Unitarian church in Bath until the end of the year, when he resigned that pastorate to become the pastor of those people who, as yet not formally organized as either church or society, were united in attachment to him and his views and in readiness to give and work to plant here a Unitarian vine. His first sermon as their pastor was preached January 1, 1862. He
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moved his family from Bath to Waterville April 3, 1862, and resided here until his death. (See biog. ch.) The First Unita- rian Society of Waterville was organized in the town hall July 25, 1863, and its constitution adopted in the same place on the 27th of the same month. The formal application for a warrant directing the call for a meeting to organize was presented July 17 of the same month to E. L. Getchell, Esq., justice of the peace, signed by D. L. Milliken, John Ware, Wm. Dyer, Geo. Went- worth, L. E. Thayer, James P. Blunt, Ira H. Low, G. A. Phillips, and C. K. Mathews. The constitution adopted was brief and simple, consisting of five articles determining: (1) The name of the society ; (2) its officers; (3) their duties; (4) the condi- tions of membership (which were admission by vote of the society and signing of the articles) ; (5) the right to amend or add to the articles. To it was prefixed a statement of the pur- pose of the society as follows: For the public worship of God, the promotion of piety, the extension of religious knowledge, the aid of Christian charities, and, generally, for such objects as religious societies have in view. Rev. D. N. Sheldon, Franklin Smith, E. L. Getchell and Ephraim Maxham were elected as members on the evening of its adoption. Of subsequent addi- tions to membership there seems to be no record until December 27, 1894, when it was "voted that the following named persons be accepted as members of the society, said persons to become full members upon signing their names upon page 250 of these records."
In explanation of this somewhat peculiar action and its result one must take into consideration the formation of the church organization in distinction from that of the society of which an account is given below. It was evidently felt that the special ends which it was the purpose of the church to attain could be better realized without a separate organization. Accordingly, to the page on which were to be signed the names of those who would be full members of the society there was prefixed the fol- lowing "bond of fellowship:" "Recognizing no other test of fellowship than fraternity of spirit, we adopt the following state- ment as indicating the value of the tie that binds us together. In the love of truth and in the spirit of Jesus we unite for the worship of God and the service of man." This is an abbreviated
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repetition of the original statement of the object of the society, and in effect a declaration that the church organization was superfluous. Its functions as a distinct body had already been suspended and have not since been revived. Two hundred and fifty names, both men and women, make up the list of those who were accepted as members. Only thirty-three signed on the designated page. Many were both called and chosen but few heard and heeded. This was doubtless due, not to lack of sym- pathy with the cause, "but to an emphatic individualism which is comparatively independent of organization." Those not sign- ing have doubtless been as loyal supporters of the society as have the signers. The "accepted" members and the "full members" share alike in all the activities of the society. The purpose and effect of signing the bond was not to create an outward distinc- tive activity but to express the normal principle of the society life and so to develop it.
There was no church organization until September 2, 1888, when the pastor, Rev. J. L. Seward, advocated and secured one. In his record of its formation, Pastor Seward states that until that date "no church (Unitarian) in the proper sense had ever been organized (in Waterville)," and adds that its (covenant was composed by the venerable Rev. D. N. Sheldon, D. D., who took an active interest in the formation of the church." The "covenant," is in form a creed or "Declaration" of faith, with eight articles. 'They affirm belief in God as the supreme object of worship; in his Son Jesus Christ as the best manifestation of God ; in Christianity as a divine law of life ; in the Bible, especially the New Testament, as a product of divine inspiration and the best teaching ever given to the world; in personal immortality and the necessity of faith, hope and love as a condition of well- being; in the brotherhood of mankind and God's good pleasure "to bring them all through whatsoever discipline to final holiness and happiness ;" in public worship and the ordinances of "Bap- tism and the Memorial Supper; and finally in the duty not to make these articles an authoritative creed or test of church fel- lowship but to "respect and honor all earnest seekers after truth and righteousness." The constituent members or original "Cov- enanters" were twenty-four. There are now forty-six names on the rolls. These are all of whose admission to the church there
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is any record. The six covenanters whose names appear first on the list are those of Pastor Seward, Dr. and Mrs. Sheldon, Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Keith and Mr. H. D. Bates. The honor- able list of twenty-four is closed and crowned with the name: "Mrs. Sarah M. Ware, widow of John Ware, Sr." For the origination and maintenance of the church to the close of his ministry as also for the preservation of its records in the most complete and admirable form, great credit is due to Pastor Seward. The record book, to which little has been added since he left, is, for the time covered by his pastorate, in all respects a model.
Other organizations connected with the society have been or now are the following: Sunday school; Ladies' Circle, dating from 1880, with Mrs. Sarah Ware as president until her death ; Women's Auxiliary, the Waterville branch of the Unitarian Women's Auxiliary, having for its object religious study and missionary and denominational work; the Sorosis, a society of the young ladies of the Unitarian church, dating from 1889, and the Fatima Club, both having as their object work in the interest of the society.
The "house and home" of these organizations, the edifices in which they gather, are admirable and adequate alike in respect of the location, the buildings, and their furnishings. The Town Hall was the meeting-house of the Unitarians at the beginning. In 1865 a movement was made to raise money for a suitable house of their own. In October of that year the American Uni- tarian Association, through its secretary, promised to the society $2,000 toward the proposed house on condition that it should be erected free from debt, and a prescribed bond executed. At a meeting of the society, November II, the gift with its condi- tion was accepted, and thanks voted to the association and by name to seven men in Portland for aid in building. Its erection was vigorously pressed and in the summer of 1866 it was ready for the sale of pews. They were sold at auction, in August, some on the 13th, some on the 15th and some on the 18th, while a few remained unsold. Mr. G. A. Phillips was auctioneer, and the three sales together realized $2,664. There are recorded votes of thanks "to Alben Emery, Esq. of Waterville, for his munificent gift of a bell for our house of worship;" "to J. M.
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Crooker, Esq., for his valuable present of a clock;" "to Col. R. H. Greene of Winslow for a Bible; to Geo. F. Gilman, Esq., of New York, for a beautiful set of pulpit furniture and of gallery chairs and for his many other manifestations of interest in our welfare." We can well imagine the satisfaction with which the following sensible resolution was passed: "Resolved; that we look with delight upon the architectural beauty of our house of worship and feel justly proud that this fine edifice is the work of Waterville mechanics." Then was added a vote of thanks to James P. Blunt, Esq., the master mechanic, and "to the home talent employed by him." The house was dedicated, Septem- ber 4, 1866. The sermon was by Edward Everett Hale, D. D., of Boston, Mass., and the prayer of dedication by. Rev. C. C. Everett of Bangor. The clock in the tower was presented in 1869 by Samuel Appleton, Esq.
In 1889 the beautiful building known as "The Ware Parlors" was erected, furnished and presented to the society through the munificence of Madame Ware. This building was dedicated January 14, 1890. The principal address was by Pastor Seward and there were congratulatory addresses by other pastors. For Sunday school work, committee meetings, the social and kindred functions of the society and church the Ware Parlors have been constantly and greatly useful. Mrs. Ware gave the building without restriction as to its use, assured that there would be "the strictest observance of propriety in determining the right and expedient uses to which it should be put." Madame Ware had also, in 1881, made to the society a permanent loan, practically an outright gift, of "the sweet voiced organ" by which the church services have been so enriched, and "for a term of years" the fine residence by the Park, now owned by one of her sons, Mr. Edward Ware, was granted to the pastor, rent free. It was appropriate that "a very fine portrait of Madame Ware, in a heavy rich frame," and tablet recording the gift of the building were placed in the Ware Parlors before its dedication, in recognition of all that she had been and had done for the society.
There have been in all eight pastors of the society and church. David Newton Sheldon, D. D., 1862-1876; Rev. John Adams Bellows, 1878-1883; Rev. Daniel Rowe, 1884-'85, less than one
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year ; Rev. Albert Corydon White, 1885-1887; Rev. Josiah Lafayette Seward, B. D., 1888-1893; Rev. Thomas Jefferson Valentine, 1894-1897; Rev. John William Barker, November I, 1897-September 8, 1899; Rev. Arthur G. Pettengill, September, 1900 to the present, and still pastor. As has appeared from the record above given, the pastorates of Dr. Sheldon and Mr. Seward were specially significant. Under the former's able and prolonged leadership the society came not only to its birth but also to its full maturity, in a rapid and natural growth. Next in length were the pastorates of Mr. Seward and Pastor Bellows, each five years. Mr. Seward was a man well qualified for leader- ship. Whole-hearted and tireless in promoting the interests of his own people, he was scarcely less interested in all that affected the welfare of the city, and responded readily to calls for ser- vice as a member of the school board and in other ways. Young men were attracted to his public services and in large numbers came under his immediate personal influence. Pastor Bellows made his mark as a brilliant preacher. The other pastors have been educated men of high character and have contributed each his part to maintain and promote the cause. Pastor Pettengill is still making his record emphasizing the spiritual life, and his work goes forward with good promise.
While the efficiency of a church depends largely upon its pas- tors, it depends still more upon its members. The Unitarians of Waterville have from the beginning had at least their full share of men and women foremost in ability, culture and influ- ence. Whatever may be true as to the present relative standing of the society among the Unitarian societies of the State, there can be little doubt that to the Unitarians of Waterville belongs the possibility of making it rank among the foremost.
THE METHODISTS.
The early history of the Methodist church in Waterville is a story of struggle: Those who first tried, found it exceedingly hard soil for Methodism. While they received encouragement in adjoining towns, the early itinerants strangely avoided Water- ville. We have no accounts of any visits to this place by Metho- dist preachers until 1827 or 1828, when Rev. Ezekiel Robinson,
17
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then preacher in charge of Fairfield circuit, preached occasionally in Waterville, and organized a small class. This class was of brief continuance.
In 1832, Rev. Martin Ward preached for a while in Water- ville and organized a class of seven persons of which James Parker was leader. In 1833, Rev. P. P. Morrill preached here once in four weeks on the Sabbath. In 1835, Rev. Marcus Wight rendered the same service and the membership was increased to twenty-five. Because of discouragements, the meet- ings were discontinued, and the ground abandoned until 1843, when Waterville was made a mission station with Rev. Luther P. French preacher in charge. The Town Hall was secured for meetings-a good congregation gathered and a Sunday-school organized.
In 1844, Rev. Stephen Allen was appointed to this field with a missionary appropriation of $150. Incipient measures were taken for building a house of worship and a church site bar- gained for, but as Mr. Allen left at the close of the year, the building enterprise was abandoned. In 1845 Asahel Moore sup- plied the mission; in 1846, Rev. Chas. Munger. The society again became discouraged and the field was abandoned. In 1851, Rev. Stephen Allen was again appointed to preach in Waterville. He remained two years. Quite a revival occurred, and there was some talk about building a fine house of worship, but because of financial embarrassment the enterprise was not attempted.
During the years 1851-1856, Revs. Stephen Allen, D. Water- house and Caleb Fuller were the appointed preachers, the first and third serving two years each, the second, one. The question of building a meeting-house was again raised in connection with a revival under Mr. Allen, and was taken up anew under Mr. Fuller, when an eligible site was engaged and arrangments to build nearly matured. But nothing further was done. The society was broken up, the membership nominally transferred to Fairfield charge, and for the next twelve years the society was connected with that charge. In 1867 Waterville was again made a separate appointment with thirty members, and missionary funds were appropriated toward the support of the society. This was effected mainly, by the efforts of Rev. Hobart Richard- son, then a resident of Waterville. Rev. J. H. Movers was
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appointed preacher in charge. There were held regularly, a Sunday morning preaching service in the Town Hall, a Sunday evening preaching service in a 3d-story hall in Marston Block, and a Thursday evening social meeting in the same hall. A Sunday school was organized. This new development was largely due to a protracted meeting and revival in the previous year. In 1868 Rev. James W. Hathaway was appointed to the charge. The society decided to build a church, bought the lot on Pleasant street, made plans and contracts and went forward under the leadership of Mr. R. B. Dunn. The estimated cost was $16,000, the amount subscribed $4,375, of which Mr. R. B. Dunn had pledged $3,000. To appearance, the enterprise was, in the highest degree, reckless. The society was poor, Mr. Dunn was the only man of considerable financial ability. The build- ing, however, went on, Mr. Dunn assuming the responsibility, as the emergency required, until the house was finished and fur- nished in excellent style throughout, including an organ and bell, at a cost of about $18,000, Mr. Dunn paying $14,000. The dedi- cation was on the 23rd of March, 1870. The sermon was by Rev. J. A. M. Chapman, D. D., of Boston, from the words : "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." It was a masterly effort and made a deep impression upon the large audience. The pastors of sister churches, also several visiting clergymen, assisted in the services. Mr. Ladd, now presiding elder of Lewiston district, remained as pastor for three years, the full term under the rule of the church, during that time fifty-three persons united with the church. 1872-1874, Rev. A. W. Pottle was pastor. (A revival in which some forty were converted occurred during his minis- try.) In 1875 Rev. Wm. S. Jones was pastor and a gracious revival under the labors of the Lynn Praying Band, added one hundred new names to the list of members and probationers, while many who were converted united with other churches here and elsewhere. In 1877-1878 Rev. Roscoe Sanderson was pas- tor. The following is the list of subsequent pastors: Rev. Ezekiel Martin, A. W. Pottle, afterwards a presiding elder ; W. S. McIntire, Wm. M. Sterling, Geo. A. Crawford, C. I. Mills, H. A. Clifford, L. B. Codding, Israel Luce, W. F. Berry, (see biog. ch.), Geo. D. Lindsay, (see biog. ch.), Albert A. Lewis.
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During the year 1899 the church was enlarged and beautified, under the pastorate of Rev. Geo. D. Lindsay, at an expense of $5,000. Mr. Lindsay's health failed during the winter of 1901 and he was obliged to give up ministerial work. He died in Waterville, October 25, 1901, loved and respected by all who knew him.
The foregoing sketch is by the present pastor, who has also, by request, furnished the statistics for the following summary. At the permanent organization of the church in 1867, there were found less than thirty of those who had previously identified themselves with the cause here and who, in 1853, numbered 136. In 1873 there were 152; 230 in 1883; 262 in 1893; 275 in 1902. The total of baptisms is 529. A Sunday school was organized in :867, with forty members. There were 173 at the year's close, the attendance for the year averaging forty-six. Everett R. Drummond, Esq., was superintendent from the beginning until 1888 with a brief interruption in 1885. For the last ten years this important office has been successfully filled by Miss Sarah A. Copp. There are in the school about 300 members, and in its library 1, 100 volumes. For about fifteen years, 1880-'95, a Sun- day school, with an average attendance some of the time as high as fifty, was maintained by the church in the chapel on Sand Hill, Winslow, the chapel having been built and owned by the church. The church has also, for many years, had two of its members, Mr. James L. Corson and Miss Eda L. Fuller working through- out the State as missionaries of the Maine Bible Society. Miss May Grover became a missionary in Africa under Bishop Taylor in 1887. Although not organized until after the Civil War, of those who have belonged to it, twenty or more were in the Union army, while in the war for temperance, the church as a whole has been and is a valiant regiment. Indirectly, through its gifts, of money for Christian enterprises outside its own limits, it is represented in mission and reform work the world over. In only one year ( 1868) have its contributions for these fallen below $100. The highest sum was $970, in 1897. Since 1881 the amount has in only one year been less than $200, while the average for these years has been $479, and the average for all the years of the church's history has been $346.50. Surely the church has had a most honorable record and an enviable prospect speaks encouragement.
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