USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > The history of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: with a notice of previous settlements, colonial grants, and changes of government in Maine > Part 58
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Dr. Dwight continued a very able and successful ministry
1 The establishment of the new society in High street, has met the wishes of several of them, whose hearts yearned to accomplish the plan so dear to their beloved pastor of planting a church in the westerly part of the town.
2 The sermon was preached by Rev. S. E. Dwight of Boston and was pub- lished. Mr. Jenkins had been settled in Greenfield, Massachusetts, in 1820, but was dismissed in 1824 in consequence of some disagreement in the society.
3 Mr. Jenkins was an accomplished scholar and able preacher ; he had ac quired a firm and salutary influence over his people, which rendered his death a severe affliction to them. He graduated at Williamstown College in 1813; at the time of his death he was forty-three years old. He left a widow and three children. A posthumous volume of his sermons has been published to assist his family.
4 Rev. Dr. Tyler preached the sermon, the charge was delivered by Rev. Mr. Chapin of Pownal, the right hand of fellowship was given by Rev. Mr. Barstow of New Hampshire.
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
over this people of nearly thirty-two years, when having lost the cherished companion of his life, and suffering from loss of health, he resigned his pastoral office on the 17th of April, 1864, to the great regret of his united church and congregation to whom he was endeared by his devotion to their service. On his retirement a large number of citizens of Portland, without distinction of sect or party, addressed to lim a letter, express- ing "their deep and sincere regret" at his resignation, and that he was to leave the State. They say, "At this particular juncture, our town can ill afford to part with a citizen and our churches with a pastor, whose rich experience, long and faithful service, and exemplary walk in life have given ardor to hope and confidence to virtue."
Dr. Dwight, son of the late distinguished President of Yale College, was born in New Haven in 1795, and graduated at Yale College in 1813. He was a tutor in the college two years, and afterward commenced the practice of law in Phila- delphia. But this profession not meeting the higher aspira- tions of his spiritual nature, he turned himself to the study of divinity and entered the ministry, to which he became a most valued accession. He married a daughter of Mr. Bradford, a prominent lawyer of Philadelphia, whose death in 1863, de- prived him of a support and a friend, which no human arm can supply. She left four children, two sons and two daughters. Dr. Dwight received from Bowdoin College in 1846, the degree of S. T. D.
Since this parish purchased the meeting-house they now oc- cupy, they have made extensive improvements, which have rendered it handsome and convenient, and the society is in a flourishing condition. The house was thoroughly renovated and modernized in 1848, and is now one of our neatest and most convenient houses of worship.
The society in a few weeks after the retirement of Dr. Dwight invited the Rev. Jeremialı E. Walton, recently of Albany, New York, to settle over them. He accepted the call, and a coun-
669
HIGH STREET CHURCH.
cil was assembled July 7th, 1864, to install him. But after a critical and protracted examination, the council, on some tech- nical and doctrinal grounds of objections, not stated in their report, declined to proceed to the installation, to the great dis- appointment of the parish, and of the large concourse of people who had assembled to listen to the services. The society after- ward voted to employ Mr. Walton to preach to them one year, and he is engaged in that service. He was formerly settled at Rockford, Illinois.
In 1830 the Second Parish having become so large that its members could not be conveniently accommodated in their house of worship, and many of them living at a distance in the upper part of the town, a number of them held a meeting in December to take into consideration the expediency of forming a new society and erecting another church at the west end of the town. The plan met with general approbation, and committees were raised to carry the design into execution. In the following January a lot of land was purchased in High street, and the commodious building now occupied by the so- ciety, was erected in the ensuing season.1 The society was
l The corner stone was laid by Albion K. Parris, May 28, 1831, after some ap- propriate remarks by him, and an address by the Rev. Dr. Tyler of the second church. Several coins of the year were deposited beneath the stone, and a sil- ver plate bearing the following inscription : "This corner stone of the High Street Church in Portland, was laid by Albion K. Parris, May 28th, 1831. Build- ing committee, Nehemiah Cram, William Wood, John A. Smith, Mason Green- wood, Oliver B. Dorrance. Superintendent, Nathan How. Parish committee, Henry Goddard, John Bartells, Eben Steele. Treasurer, Ezekiel Day. Clerk, Wm. Cutter. Building contractors, Ebenezer Wilson, master mason, Eli Webb. master joiner." The building is constructed of brick, with one course of long windows; it is eighty-four feet by sixty-eight ; the front presents a beau- tiful pediment supported by six wooden columns of the Doric order, surmounted by a belfry, and a short spire. The whole cost of the building was fifteen thou- sand dollars. The parish procured a bell, and an excellent organ made by Edwards of Gorham, which cost fourteen hundred dollars. In 1864, all the members of the above committees and officers are dead but Messrs. Dorrance, Goddard, Steele, Cutter, and Webb.
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
incorporated under the general statute, February 11, 1831, by the name of the "High Street Church." In September a church was formed consisting of twenty-seven male and thirty- seven female members, set off from the second and third con- gregational churches, who were organized as a separate church by an ecclesiastical council. The house was dedicated in Jan- uary, 1832, on which occasion a sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Tyler, and prayers were offered by Rev. Messrs Cum- mings and Cox. In February the society invited Rev. Willard Child of Pittsford, Vermont, to take the pastoral charge over them, but he declined, and in June following the Rev. George C. Beckwith of Andover received a call to be their minister, which he accepted, and was installed August 8, 1832.1
Mr. Beckwith was dismissed January 5, 1835, and Rev. John W. Chickering, the present pastor, was installed April 2, 1835. Mr. Chickering was graduated at Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1826, and had been previously settled at Bolton, Massachu- setts. Dr. Chickering having been the useful and popular pastor of this society for nearly thirty years, in the spring of 1864, thought proper to resign the pastoral office. The resig- nation was accepted, and the society, parting with its faithful teacher and friend with much regret, liberally placed in his hands securities to the amount of ten thousand dollars, to assist him in his declining years; he is now employed as Secretary of the Suffolk Temperance Society. He continues to supply the pulpit until a successor shall be procured. He has received from Bowdoin College the degree of S. T. D.
Mr. Beckwith is now, and has for many years been, agent of the American Peace Society ; whose efforts, alas ! how in- effectual to stay the ruthless tide of war.
1 The introductory prayer on this occasion was offered by Rev. Mr. Riggs of Gray, sermon by Rev. Dr. Edwards of Andover, consecrating prayer by Rev. Mr. Chapin of Pownal, charge by Rev. Mr. Johnson of Saco, right hand of fel- lowship by Rev. Mr. Dwight of the third parish, address to the church and soci- ety by Rev. Dr. Tyler, and concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Pomeroy of Gorham.
671
STATE STREET CHURCH.
In 1847 the accessions to the High Street Church had so much increased, connected with a desire to have a church fur- ther westward, that Mr. Chickering was induced to propose to his society the formation of. a new church and the erection of another house of worship further westward. A meeting to consider the expediency of establishing a new parish in the upper part of the town was immediately held. The suggestion was favorably received, but the undertaking was postponed for various reasons, until the spring of 1851. At that time a suffi- cient sum having been subscribed, principally by members of the High street church and society, a lot of land was purchased on State street, and the church now standing upon it was com- menced and finished the next spring, The church was organ- ized in March, 1852, under the name of "State Street Church," consisting of fifty-eight members, of whom forty-eight were from the High Street Church, and four each from the second and third churches, and two from churches in Boston. In June the house was opened and consecrated, and on the 27th of April, 1853, the Rev. Hugh Smith Carpenter was installed its pastor. Mr. Carpenter was an eloquent and popular preacher, and many accessions were made to the church and congregation during the four years of his ministry. In March, 1857, he resigned the pastoral office and returned to New York. For more than a year and a half, the church was without a pastor, when hav- ing heard Mr. George Leon Walker, then a candidate for set- tlement, they promptly and with great unanimity invited him to become their pastor, who accepting the call, was ordained October 13, 1858, and continues their able and most acceptable minister. Mr. Walker was born in Brattleborough, Vermont; his father, the Rev. Charles Walker, afterward moved to Pitts- ford in that State. Mr. Walker entered Middleborough Col- lege, but was obliged to leave before graduation, on account of his health. Subsequently he pursued his theological studies at Andover Seminary, from which he was invited to this field of labor. His church and society have largely increased dur-
672
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
ing liis ministry, the church to three hundred and two members in 1864. Mr. Walker has published, by request, several ser- mons delivered on special occasions, which have added to his reputation as a scholar and patriot.
The Second Unitarian Society was formed in 1835. In March of that year, certain persons connected with the first parish purchased the brick church on the corner of Park and Pleasant streets, which had been erected in 1828 by the second Methodist society, and became incorporated under the name of the "Second Unitarian Society in Portland." The same year, the Rev. Jason Whitman, who had been previously settled in Saco, and was then General Agent of the American- Unitarian Association, was installed their pastor. He continued with them ten years, when his engagement being ended, the pastoral relation was dissolved, and he was soon after settled over the ancient society in Lexington, Massachusetts. He died on a visit to Portland, January 25, 1848, aged forty-nine. He was a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1825, and was an active, faithful, and devoted minister of the gospel. He was succeeded by the Rev. Rufus P. Cutler, who was ordained in 1846, and after a ministry of ten years was succeeded by the Rev. Frederick Frothingham, who continued with them five years. On the 2d of July, 1862, the Rev. J. F. Lovering of Boston was installed over the society, but continued with them a little more than a year, when being offered a commission in the army as chaplain, he resigned the pastoral charge and left the society, for the fourth time, destitute of a minister. This important station is again filled under cheering prospects of a useful and successful ministry. On June 23, 1864, the Rev. James T. Hewes, a native of Saco, and recently settled over a society in South Boston, was installed ; on which occa- sion the Rev. Cyrus A. Bartol of Boston, preached the sermon, the Rev. George H. Hepworth of Boston delivered the charge, Rev. Charles Lowe of Somerville addressed the society, and the Rev. Charles C. Everett of Bangor gave the fellowship of
673
MINISTRIES TO THE POOR.
the churches. Other parts in the interesting ceremony were taken by Rev. Messrs Swan of Kennebunk, De Normandie of Portsmouth, Nichols of Saco, and Wheeler of Topsham. Mr. Hewes graduated at Bowdoin College in 1857 and from Har- vard Theological School in 1861.
Ministries to the Poor. The first organized action toward the establishment of these valuable institutions took place in 1845. Sunday Schools for the instruction of children of the poor had been opened some time before, and it was felt that while the children were thus provided for, their parents ought not to be neglected. The Second, Third, and High Street Churches by a combined action, were the first to enter upon that field of useful labor, and in May, 1845, they employed the Rev. David M. Mitchell, who had been settled in Waldoborough, to take charge of this ministry, and raised by a voluntary subscription four hundred dollars a year for his salary, with the privilege of preaching in other places as occasion offered. No regular preaching was had in the city under this arrangement, the atten- tion of the missionary being principally turned to visiting the sick and destitute, ministering consolations in their sorrows, and supplies for their temporal wants. In 1848 the same soci- eties perceiving that these efforts were not equal to the wants of this class of people, formed an association under the name of the "Portland City Missionary Society," with a board of Direc- tors and other officers for the purpose of extending their wise and liberal design. Mr. Mitchell continued to officiate by preaching and otherwise, several years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas B. Ripley, whose steady, kind, and unwearied attention to the perplexing duties of his office have for many years been productive of most valuable effects.
In 1847 the Rev. Dr. Nichols, of the First Parish, stimulated by the above example, and the still more noble one of Dr. Tuckerman in Boston, induced members of his society to en- gage in a similar, but more extensive work. Aided by the ladies of his parish, and some members of the Second Unita-
674
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
rian Society, an association was formed for the purpose of com- municating religious instruction, as well as temporal comfort to the poor, by schools, by preaching, and pastoral visits. The la- dies formed a society under the name of "The Channing Cir- cle," and by their work, their levees, and private contributions, rendered substantial aid to the object. And at this time, Miss Martha Hall, a maiden lady, granddaughter of William Cotton, for many years deacon of the First Parish, died in the latter part of 1847, having bequeathed all her estate to that parish in trust, the income to be appropriated to religious and benevo- lent objects under direction of the "Trustees of the Charity Fund of the parish." The fund amounts to six thousand dol- lars, and has been carefully managed with very trifling ex- pense, and the income applied strictly according to the will of the donor in support of the "Ministry at Large," as estab- lished by the parish. In April, 1849, the Rev. William H. Hadley entered upon his duties as Minister at Large, opened a Sunday school which, in August of that year, numbered one hundred and seventy pupils, taken from the poorest families in the city; also an evening school for adults, and held regular religious services on Sunday free for the poor and those persons not able to hire seats in other places of worship. In 1850 the institution received another valuable donation from Madame Preble, the respected widow of the Commodore, of a lot of land worth two thousand dollars, for the purpose of having a chapel erected upon it to accommodate the various departments of this charity ; and the trustees appointed under an act of the legislature immediately took measures to carry forward the de- sign of this benevolent lady. Funds were obtained by sub- scription and the neat chapel now standing on the lot, corner of Preble and Cumberland streets, was erected, and dedicated to its pious uses, October 29, 1851. The Rev. Mr. Waterston of Boston, long an efficient minister to the poor in that city, preached an able sermon on the occasion, which with a brief history of the ministry and of the proceedings, was published.
675
MINISTRY AT LARGE.
Mr. Hadley after a faithful and energetic service of seven or eight years, retired from the post and was succeeded by the Rev. O. P. Tuckerman, who with his devoted wife, is successfully pursuing the objects of this truly benevolent work in which they are aided by the earnest labors of the Channing Circle. The Provident Institution has also stepped in and added its valuable services in promoting the comfort and welfare of the dependent poor.
The Central Congregational Church. The "Central," for- merly the "Union" Congregational Church, had its commence- ment in the withdrawal from "State Street Church" of twenty- two of its members, seven of whom were males, for the purpose of forming a new church, and for laying the foundation of a new religious society.
The first public religious services of the new church were held in Union Hall, Free street, on Sabbath, September 30, 1855, and were conducted by Rev. Henry D. Moore, who had been invited to become the preacher and pastor of the church.
On Thursday, January, 24, 1856, the new church was pub- licly recognized, by an ecclesiastical council, with interesting religious services which were held in the High Street Church. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. George E. Adams, D.D. of Brunswick. The church at this time num- bered thirty-three members.
In the month of April, 1856, the lot of ground on Congress street, west of High street, was purchased for the erection of the church edifice which the new society had determined to build. In the same month the ground was broken, and the foundations of the house were laid. In the following Decem- ber, just eight months from the time the lot was purchased, a handsome and spacious church was entirely completed, and a chime of bells placed in the tower at an expense of four thou- sand dollars.
On Thursday, December 18, 1856, the house was publicly
676
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, with appropriate religious services conducted by the pastor elect, assisted by the Rev. Drs. Dwight, Chickering, and Carruthers.
On January 29, 1857, Rev. Henry D. Moore, was installed pastor of the church, by a council, of which Rev. Dr. Dwight was moderator. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. Professor Phelps, of Andover Theological Seminary.
On Saturday night, March 15, 1862, the beautiful house of worship was destroyed by fire, said to have caught from a defec- tive flue connected with the furnaces for heating the church. The following day, being the Sabbath, many of the accustomed worshipers in that sanctuary repaired thither for worship, and found, instead of their welcoming temple, a mass of blackened ruins.
Policies of insurance, in sufficient amounts to rebuild the house, were paid into the boards of the trustees of the parish, for the use of the proprietors. The sum thus received was paid by the trustees toward liquidating the debt due by the parish for the land on which the church had been built, and other outstanding claims. Under these circumstances, to rebuild the house would require a kind and amount of sacrifice, which the proprietors did not feel themselves able to make. It was therefore voted, not to rebuild, but to sell the property. It is but proper, as a matter of history, and in justice to all con- cerned, to say, that this vote was largely influenced by propri- etors who had not worshiped with the congregation for years, and who would not be expected to venture pecuniary help in a matter with which they had no concern.
The property was accordingly sold, and was purchased by the congregation formerly worshiping in the house. In Au- gust, 1862, the work of rebuilding was commenced. The walls were taken down, and the house substantially rebuilt, and roofed according to the original plans of the building.
In the November following, the congregation, which in the meanwhile had been worshiping in Mechanics Hall, com-
677
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
menced religious services in the new and beautiful vestry of the church.
On Sabbath, April 26, 1863, the church was re-opened for Divine service. A large congregation hailed the day with great joy. The pastor preached on the occasion from the text : Haggai, II : 3, 9. "Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory ? The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former, and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts."
None of the pews in this church are sold. They are all owned by the society, and are rented annually to the worship- ers. Any person, statedly worshiping with the society, for a given period, and contributing to its support according to its usages, is a member of the parish, and entitled to vote at its business meetings. And when any person, from any cause whatever, leaves this society, to worship elsewhere, he leaves the property behind him, and all his relations to the society cease.
At the annual business meeting of the church, held in De- cember, 1862, it was unanimously voted, to change the name of the church, from the "Union Church," to the "Central Con- gregational Church."
The church has now been in existence for nine years, nearly. It has recorded the names of nearly four hundred members ; and is now in a united, happy, and prosperous condition.
Rev. Henry D. Moore, the pastor of the church, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1822. Prepared for the University of Pennsylvania, at its Academy, and was to have entered with the class in 1836, but was prevented by fee- ble health. He pursued the college course, and read theology under the direction of Rev. Samuel B. Wylie, D. D., Professor of Ancient Languages, and Emeritus Professor of Theology, in the University : Was ordained in 1842: Served for three years as minister at large under the auspices of the Christian Home Missionary Society of Philadelphia : Was pastor of the Second
678
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
Independent Church of Philadephia for eight years, having his ecclesiastical and ministerial connection with the New York Brooklyn Association. In July, 1853, he became pastor of the "North Church" Portsmouth, N. H., and in September, 1855, entered upon his labors in Portland.
St. Lawrence Street Church. This society originated in a want felt by the increasing population on Munjoy's hill for a congregational place of worship to accommodate that neighborhood. The efforts of those favorable to the measure were crowned with success. A neat church edifice was built on St. Lawrence street, and a society organized in February, 1858, and Edward Payson Thwing of Boston, a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1855, was ordained their pastor September 22, 1858. In 1862, Mr. Thwing having received an invitation to settle with the congregational society in Quincy, Massachusetts, resigned his charge over this society and was installed there November 19, of that year. His place is sup- plied by Rev. John H. Mordough, who is now the acting pas- tor. The number of church members is one hundred and eleven, and of the Sabbath school, two hundred and fifty.
West Congregational Chapel. While the city was spread- ing rapidly upon Munjoy's hill, it was also stretching its arms around the isthmus which unites the Neck at the west with the main body of the adjoining country. The people who had col- lected at this western extremity began to demand facilities for instruction, both by schools and the church. In 1857 the city met their first claim by the erection of a spacious brick school-house on Lowell street, and opened it in 1858, for the instruction of the children in that neighborhood. The church followed soon after through the unwearied exertions of the Rev. Dr. Chickering. A member of his church, Miss Eliza Hanson, left by will three thousand dollars to aid this object, and Dr. Chickering procured subscriptions sufficient to enable him to erect a neat and convenient chapel of brick, not far from the school-house, besides two thousand dollars funded ac-
679
THE BETHEL CHURCH.
cording to the provisions of the will. It was commenced in the spring of 1860 and dedicated January 17, 1861. A bell was placed in the tower July, 1861, and a church organized, the 9ih of the order in the city, September 17, 1862, consisting of sev- enteen persons. The Rev. Josiah W. Turner preached there for a short time and was succeeded by the Rev. Horatio Ilsley as the acting pastor. He continued to officiate until July, 1863. The Rev. George A. Tewksbury, the present pastor, was or- dained in December, 1863. The number of church members in May, 1864, was twenty-eight, and Sabbath school pupils one .. hundred and thirty. The chapel is well attended and with its auxiliary the school-house, meets a pressing want in that grow- ing section of the city. The chapel cost seven thousand dol- lars ; and two thousand dollars of Miss Hanson's bequest is a permanent fund for the use of the society.
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