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 60
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Christians. A society was established here in 1810, which has borne the several names of Christians, Freewill Baptists, and the Union Society. Twelve persons on the eleventh of
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
January united themselves together and mutually agreed to drop all party names and to resume the ancient name of Christians, by which the disciples of Jesus were known in the times of the apostles. They adopted the most liberal princi- ples, admitting to their communion professed christians of all denominations. Having no formulary or creed, and under no ecclesiastical government, they take the scriptures for their sole rule of faith. Many of this society here and in other places having separated themselves from Calvinistic Baptist societies, and giving to their members the election of baptism by sprinkling or immersion, they have been called Freewill Baptists. The society here first united under the preach- ing of Elias Smith, who was formerly a Calvinistic Baptist preacher, and who acquired some celebrity as an itinerant preacher. His people did not embrace all the tenets of that singular man, but felt themselves at liberty to receive what they approved, and to reject what they believed to be error. He continued with them about a year, when he moved to Philadelphia.
Elder Samuel Rand was soon after invited to take the pasto- ral care of the church and congregation ; under his judicious and liberal administration the society increased and flourished for many years. After the Methodists moved into their new house, this society occupied the old Episcopal church until 1817, when they purchased the old court-house, which they moved to Court street and made of it a neat and convenient house of worship. In 1827 their society had increased so much that they required more spacious accommodations, and in that year they erected the large and convenient house with a tall and graceful spire, now occupied by them in Casco street. A bell was procured by a general subscription, and the town placed a clock in the tower. The house was dedicated Octo- ber 18, 1827. The society was now highly flourishing and gave promise of increasing numbers and usefulness. But un- fortunately in 1829, a division took place, which produced a
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CHRISTIANS-FREEWILL BAPTISTS.
separation of part of the parish and the formation of a new society. The seceders erected in 1830 a neat meeting-house in Temple street, called the "Christian Chapel" and settled Elder Shaw over them, who continued to be their minister un- til 1833, when he was succeeded by Elder Tobey.
Mr. Rand remained with the society in Casco street until his death, which took place October 10, 1830.' The Rev. Charles Morgridge took charge of the society as successor to Mr. Rand in 1831. At the time of the separation above noticed, the church consisted of about three hundred communicants, about half of whom seceded. The seed of this division had been some time maturing throughout the whole of this denomination; one part being much more strict than the other, were desirous of introducing narrow rules of discipline, and of excluding in- strumental music from their churches, and even unconverted persons from taking part in the singing. It is also the opinion of this party that their ministers have no peculiar privilege or authority in church discipline, but that any member may improve his gifts, as they term it, as he has inclination and op- portunity. They objected to Mr. Rand that he took too much lead in the meetings, and thought any other person should have as much liberty to speak as the minister. The liberal party took precisely opposite views of these subjects, and while they wished to be free from the trammels of creeds and eccle- siastical authority, they were desirous of having their meetings conducted by a regular preacher.
The oldest society in the Christian connection was formed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in March, 1803. The breth-
1 Mr. Rand was born in Chester, New Hampshire, September 17, 1,84; he joined the society of Christians in 1805, and commenced preaching in Gilman- town, New Hampshire, in 1807. He received ordination in Portsmouth in 1809. During the twenty years of his ministry in this town he acquired the friendship and esteem of persons of all denominations, who formed his acquaintance, and was a useful and faithful minister. While connected with this society he bap- tized three hundred and twenty-five persons.
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ren professed to renounce all impositions of mere human authority in matters of faith and conscience. A similar move- ment, not by concert, was made about the same time in other parts of the United States. The members composing this con- nection have been variously estimated at twenty-five thousand, thirty thousand, and one hundred and fifty thousand commu- nicants, with two hundred or three hundred ministers, and from one thousand to one thousand five hundred churches. The more correct estimate seems to be one hundred and fifty thousand communicants, and one thousand five hundred churches.
Mr. Morgridge retired from his labors here in 1833, and has since preached to large societies in New Bedford and Fall River. He subsequently changed his religious sentiments and took charge of an orthodox society in Essex county, Massachu- setts. His successor at Casco Street Church was the Rev. William Coe, who was followed in 1837 by Rev. L. D. Flem- ing, who officiated until March, 1841. Rev. David Millard supplied the pulpit from March to September of that year, and the Rev. Edward B. Rollins succeeded and continued until May, 1842. During the summer of that year the house was closed, and in November was sold to a new society which took the name of the "First Freewill Baptist Society," and March 6, 1843, the society of "Christians" was dissolved. On De- cember 5, 1842, Rev. A. K. Moulton commenced preaching to the new society and continued until September 22, 1847. On August 1, 1848, Rev. Benjamin D. Peck became the pastor, and continued his services until 1856, when he unfortunately engaged in political life and became treasurer of the State, which proved too strong a lure for his integrity. But new trials and difficulties occurred under the ministry of Rev. William P. Merrill, who in 1860 was charged by one of his church with immoral conduct. This led to a long examination before a council, which pronounced against the conduct of the pastor, and led to a division of the church; a portion of which with-
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CHRISTIANS-FREEWILL BAPTSTS.
drew with Mr. Merrill and had separate preaching in a hall. The society, both fractions, was excluded from the Quarterly meeting of the denomination in April, 1861, and therefore dis- solved. Measures of conciliation were subsequently adopted under the wise and moderate councils of the Rev. Daniel M. Graham, who came here from New York for the purpose, and on the 3d of April, 1852, a new church and society was organ- ized, which combined members of both divisions, and voted to adopt the covenant of the Freewill Baptist denomination. They adopted the name of the First Freewill Baptist Church of Port- land, and unanimously elected the Rev. Mr. Graham to be their pastor. Since this amicable arrangement, the church has been admitted to the conference and with the congregation has been constantly increasing under the efficient ministrations of its popular pastor. It is now in a very flourishing condition with a large church and Sunday school. Its creed is Trinitarian. Dr. Graham is a native of Milan in Ohio; was educated at Oberlin College, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1844, and came here after a twelve years' ministry in New York. After receiving his Master's degree, in 1847, he was placed at the head of Hinsdale College in Michigan, the chief institution of that denomination in the West. In 1863 he received from Bowdoin College the honorary degree of S. T. D.
In the "Christian Chapel," the religious sentiment of which was Unitarian, Elder Tobey was succeeded in 1835 by Rev. Samuel E. Brown, who labored successfully with them until 1847. Elder Guilford then presided two years, when Mr. Brown returned. The Chapel was burnt in 1856, and never rebuilt ; the society was afterward dissolved, some of its mem- bers going back to the Casco Street church, while others wor- shiped and still worship at the Preble Chapel.
Universalists. The society of Universalists was established and incorporated under the act concerning parishes, in 1821. The same year they erected their house of worship on the cor- ner of Pearl and Congress streets, which was finished by an ele-
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
vated spire ; it is constructed of wood, one story high, with long windows and without side galleries, is seventy-five feet in length and forty-four in width. It cost six thousand dollars, and was dedicated August 16, 1821. A bell was furnished for the tower, by subscription, weighing one thousand two hundred and thirty-six pounds.
In August, 1821, the Rev. Russell Streeter took the pastoral charge of the society and continued to discharge its duties un- til May, 1827, when at his request he received a dismission.' In July following he was succeeded by the Rev. John Bisbe. The society was in a flourishing condition under the preaching of Mr. Bisbe, who was a talented and popular minister; but they were doomed to a severe disappointment by the sudden death of their pastor in the midst of his duties and his days, March 8, 1829.2 After this, until the summer of 1831, the pulpit was principally supplied by Rev. William I. Reese, but the health of his family not permitting him to remain, he was dismissed at his own request, and the Rev. Menzies Rayner was invited to supply his place. He came from Hartford, Connecticut, and took charge of the society in September, 1831.
Mr. Rayner's connection was dissolved in 1835; he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. D. D. Smith, son of Elias Smith, who con- tinued with them three years, when, in 1838, the Rev. Charles C. Burr was installed and remained until 1842. The same year the Rev. L. L. Sadler of New Bedford was employed to preach to the society and continued to 1847, when the Rev. Russell Streeter returned to his former charge from Woodstock,
1 The installation services were performed by Rev. Mr. Ballou of Boston, and Rev. Mr. Streeter of Portsmouth. Mr. Streeter is a native of Vermont, and is now preaching in Shirley, Massachusetts.
2 Mr. Bisbe was born in Plympton, Massachusetts, in 1793, was graduated at Brown University, and commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Mor- ton of Massachusetts. Before completing his studies, he was attracted to the study of divinity, which he pursued with great ardor, embracing the doctrines of the final restoration. In 1824 he was settled in Hartford, Connecticut, from - which place he came here on the invitation of this society.
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UNIVERSALISTS.
Vermont, and was hired from year to year until 1854, when in January of that year the Rev. C. R. Moor of Watertown, accepted an invitation to become their pastor at a salary of one thousand dollars a year, which was raised to one thousand two hundred dollars in 1856, and in 1858 to one thousand four hundred, Mrs. Abigail Ilsley of Portland having given to the society a house and lot on Middle street, to form a fund for the use of the parish ; the property was sold in 1854 for one thou- sand eight hundred dollars. The society at their next annual meeting placed on record a vote of thanks to that lady for her generous gift and a pledge for its application as a perpetual "Ilsley Fund." In 1860, Jonathan Morgan, who had been clerk of the parish for thirty-one years, retired from the office and received the thanks of the society. In December, 1860, Mr. Moor was compelled by failing health to resign the pasto- ral office, to take effect on the first of next January : Where- upon the society voted, that his resignation "is received with sorrow and regret, and that we desire to convey to Brother Moor our full appreciation of the ever faithful, prompt, and christian fulfilment of the duties of his office for the seven years he has been ministering the word of God to us," etc. The Rev. Edwin C. Bolles was immediately employed as a candidate, and in March unanimously invited to a permanent settlement, with a salary of one thousand six hundred dollars ; having accepted the call he has continued their pastor to the present time. In 1864 his salary was raised to two thousand dollars.
The parish is in a flourishing condition and had become so numerous in 1864 as to encourage the erection of a new church. Accordingly several members of the old society with some other persons, in the spring of 1864, purchased a valuable and eligible lot on High street, and have erected on it an expensive and beautiful church which is an ornament to the city, and will not cost less than sixty thousand dollars, including the lot.
45
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It is not yet completed, nor is a society for it organized. The erection of this fine building, brings together in that immedi- ate neighborhood an unusual number of church edifices, viz : The Free Street Baptist, High Street, New Universalist, Cen- tral, Park Street, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, State Street, and Pine street. We know of no attraction for that particular locality, other than its elevated and beautiful situation.
Swedenborgians. In the winter of 1824-25, Dr. Timothy Little having met with the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, became deeply interested in them, and was convinced of their genuineness and truth. He led some others to their peru- sal, and in the following year, he, with three others, held regular meetings on Sabbath evenings to read and converse upon the doctrines of the New Church. Others successively attended the meetings, until the number had sufficiently in- creased to induce them to hold their services in public, which commenced in June, 1829. On Sunday, August 21, 1831, thirteen persons received baptism and were constituted a society in the New Jerusalem Church. The male mem- bers were Dr. Little, Samuel Colman, Oliver Gerrish, Dr. A. Rea, Ebenezer Mason, and William Hunnewell, Jr. Rev. Thomas Worcester and delegates from the Boston society as- sisted in the organization. Their meetings were first held in the vestry of the Methodist church in Cumberland street, and were conducted by prayer, reading selections from the bible and the works of Swedenborg ; Dr Little, the leader of the service, occasionally preached a discourse written by himself. They had occasional visits from regular preachers of their order, who officiated to the society.
In November, 1837, the Rev. Henry Worcester became their preacher and continued in the ministry until his lamented death May 24, 1841. He was succeeded by the Rev James Scott, who preached about three years and was followed suc- cessively by Rev. Mr. Colburn for three months, and Rev. Thomas D. Sturdevant until October, 1847. In the absence
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SWEDENBORGIANS.
of a preacher after that time, Dr. Little again officiated, as at first, until his death, which took place November 27, 1849, at the age of seventy-three years. This excellent man and found- er of this society, was son of Paul Little who came from New- bury to this town September 3, 1761, with John Butler, to pursue the trade of a silversmith ; our late worthy fellow citi- zen Joseph H. Ingraham, also served his time with Butler. He died in Windham, February 11, 1818. Dr. Little was born October 27, 1776 ; his mother, the second wife of his father, was a widow Souther, whose maiden name was Norton, from Ipswich. He practiced his medical profession several years at New Gloucester before coming to Portland, and was considered a careful, conscientious, and skillful physician. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. William B. Hayden, who was licensed to preach by the Maine association of the New Church, in August, 1850, and entered upon his ministry with this society the next month. He was ordained its pastor by the General Convention of the New Jerusalem Church, sitting in Boston, June 13, 1851, and gave himself faithfully and earnestly to his pastoral labors until September 14, 1864, when his connection with the society terminated. At the commencement of his ministry, his church consisted of forty-seven members ; during the fourteen years he presided over it he baptized one hundred and fifty-two per- sons, received to the society seventy-five, married forty couples, confirmed thirty-five, and attended twenty-five funerals, all within his own parish, except some of the marriages. Beside these services he attended some funerals and administered some baptisms outside of his own society.
Mr. Hayden married a daughter of the late Dr. Woods of the Andover Theological Seminary, and has now gone to Cin- cinnati to take charge of a parish there. He is a gentleman of cultivated mind and literary tastes, and has published several works in connection with his doctrinal system, which have given him a high reputation.
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
In 1837 the society erected the neat chapel or church on Congress street, in which they now worship, which was dedi- cated August 26, of that year. But the wants of the society demand more ample room, and they are seeking better accom- modations.
Roman Catholics. The number of emigrants, especially of the Irish nation, having become considerably numerous in town, they felt a desire of enjoying in their adopted country, the religious consolations of their own church. As soon as their situation and wishes were made known to the Rev. Mr. Cheverus, the late amiable and accomplished bishop of Boston, he came here in 1822, and established a society under the pat- ronage of the Roman See. The society was small and poor ; they held their meetings, until 1828, in a room in Haymarket row, and were visited every year by Bishop Cheverus, until his return to France.
A small brick church was crected in State street, in 1828 under the direction of the society, by subscriptions collected in Boston and other places, which were liberally aided by the protestants of this town, and was consecrated to the name of St. Dominic.
The society at its organization belonged to the Diocese of Boston, which then comprehended all New England. The earliest preaching they had was by the Rev. Dennis Ryan, who was established over a small society in Whitefield in the county of Lincoln, and the Rev. Mr. McNama, a missionary priest. In 1827 they were placed under the care of the Rev. Charles D. French, and were occasionally visited by Bishop Fenwick of Boston, who was a native of Maryland ; Mr. French was an em- igrant from Ireland and was a friar of the order of St. Dominic. They originally numbered about three hundred persons, mostly natives of Ireland or their descendants. They grew very rapidly, so that in 1850 the congregation had reached to nearly fifteen hundred and it had become necessary to enlarge the church, which was done in 1848. The denomination had become so
*
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ROMAN CATHOLIC.
numerous in Maine, that it was thought expedient to create a new diocese, and in 1855 the Right Rev. David W. Bacon was appointed its bisltop, embracing Maine and New Hampshire. This worthy and popular prelate has given a great impetus to the denomination in this city and throughout his diocese. In 1856 he purchased a fine estate on Cumberland street for a private residence and with sufficient vacant land on which to erect a cathedral ; he immediately proceeded to build a chapel for present convenience, which will seat six hundred or more persons, which is filled in seasons of worship, and he is gather- ing materials and means to carry his favorite project of a cathe- dral into effect. In 1863 he extended his lot southerly to Congress street embracing the fine house occupied by the late Hiram Covell, and has with excellent taste ornamented the grounds and by substantial improvements made a house worthy of a bishop to dwell in, and to which he has already transferred his residence. This dignitary has also established schools in different parts of the town, and is using his wide influence to elevate and improve the character of the large and increasing population which acknowledges his spiritual jurisdiction. The Rev. Eugene Muller officiates in the church of St. Dominic. The Bishop's church is called the church of the "Immaculate Conception," and connected with it is a convent in which are about a dozen ladies from the Notre Dame in Montreal. There are about two thousand children, boys and girls, gathered in the Catholic schools, and in the one on Munjoy's hill, is a chapel for a Sunday school and other services. Bishop Bacon is a native of the city of New York, was appointed a bishop in March, 1855, and came to his diocese in the May following. It is a striking fact showing the progress of Romanism in this country, that the two arch bishops and nearly all the bishops of that denomination are of American birth ; and not belonging to any of the religious European orders, are generally more liberal than the foreign clergy of that church.
CHAPTER XXIV.
SEPARATION OF MAINE FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
As Portland bore a conspicuous part in the history of the separation of this State from Massachusetts, and as we have in the first part of this work given an account of our earliest con- nection with that Commonwealth, we may be pardoned for introducing a chapter devoted to a summary view of the disso- lution of that ancient union.
After the close of the war, the separation of Maine, which then consisted of what were called the "three eastern coun- ties," viz., York, Cumberland, and Lincoln, from Massachusetts, early occupied the attention of people in the District. The first public suggestion made on the subject was in the following acrostic, published in the Falmouth Gazette, February 5, 1785.
F rom th' ashes of the old, a Town appears, A nd Phoenix like, her plumy head she rears. Long may she flourish ; be from war secure ; M ade rich by commerce and agriculture ; O 'er all her foes triumphant; be content Under our happy form of government ; Till (what no doubt will be her prosp'rous fate) Herself's the mistress of a rising State.
On this hint a writer over the signature of "A Farmer," en- tered at once on the discussion of the subject, and in his com- munication puts the following queries : "Have we not good
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SEPARATION.
harbors and well situated for fishery, and a foreign trade, and materials for ship building and the lumber business ? Have we not a great tract of uncultivated land with only a few roads into the wilderness ? If so, how are these natural advantages to be made useful to us, or to the public, but by giving the greatest encouragement possible to people to cultivate the wild land and bring the lumber to the markets ? And how is it pos- sible to accomplish these valuable ends in any other way so well as by restoring to the province of Maine its ancient privileges ?"1
The discussion thus opened was pursued with great spirit and considerable ability, in which the advantages contemplated from a local government in the District were fully set forth. The principal objections urged were, that it was too early to agitate the question, the people needed time to recover from the agitation and losses of war, and that the expenses of sup- porting a separate government would be greatly enhanced. A . writer, who adopted the signature Impartialis, and who wrote with much candor, estimated the difference of expense between an independent government and a continuation with Massa- chusetts two thousand five hundred pounds. He put the pro- portion then paid by this district to the treasury of Massachu- setts at one thousand pounds, being one-tenth of the whole amount, and the expense of supporting a separate government at three thousand five hundred pounds ; he was followed by another writer of much more sanguine temperament, who, admitting the correctness of much of the calculation of Im- partialis, yet by cutting off some items of expenditure and reducing others, made the excess for the maintenance of a local government to be but one thousand five hundred and thirty pounds .? This it will be perceived was more than double
¿ This writer in another communication remarks, that the separation "was contemplated before the war."
2 Both writers put down the governor's salary at two hundred pounds, the secretary's at one hundred and fifty pounds, four judges for the Supreme Court
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the actual expense the District was then paying for the bene- fits of a free representative system. This difference in expense was to be more than compensated, by the superior inducements held out for emigration, improvement of roads, and the better application of laws to the peculiar situation and wants of the territory.
Some laws had been enacted in Massachusetts, which were considered at the time by many people here injurious to our trade and oppressive in their operation, among these were the stamp, the lumber, the navigation, and excise acts; but the lumber and navigation acts, which were considerably com- plained of at the time, have been sanctioned by experience, and confessedly laid deep and strong the foundations of our prosperity. Before that time Britishi vessels were allowed to come to our ports and take lumber, upon the dimensions of which there were no restrictions. This act excluded British vessels, because ours were excluded from the colonies of Britain, and provided that no lumber should be shipped unless the differ- ent species corresponded with the standard fixed by law. These were at first felt to be grievances, and thought to be un- warrantable restraints upon trade, as is every regulation when first adopted, which interferes with our natural rights ; but they were measures of protection, and experience confirmed their wisdom.
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