USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. II > Part 71
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OF MAINE.
to a clergyman. From the church-session an appeal of right, is A. D. 1623, allowable to the presbytery, which consists of the pastors and a 1€ 1820. single delegate from each of three churches at least, and from such others, if any, as have associated. Here are also decided all controversies and questions between ministers and their peo- ple ; and it is the presbytery, that examines, licenses and ordains candidates, and embodies churches. The Synod is the superior tribunal, and is formed of all the ministers and one ruling elder, from the several churches in the presbyteries united, which form that synodial body. By this ecclesiastical tribunal, are heard all the appeals from the several presbyteries within its jurisdic- tion. The highest court of appeals in the last resort, is the Gen- eral Assembly ;- and it consists of Commissioners from all the Presbyteries associated. It sits annually in Philadelphia .*
The Congregationalistst are a numerous sect of christians in Congrega- this State ; having at the time of the Separation, 136 churches, tionalists. and by estimation, 6,000 professors. They are as ancient as the settlement of the country ; and their very name implies a volun- tary association for religious purposes, independent of all exterior paramount control. By usage, all persons, who have been admit- ted into a church, may associate and form a new and separate one of this order, provided they have the approbation, at least, of two other churches. The one first formed in England, upon this foundation, was in 1616. It is always a democratical body ; having no other officers than a minister, who is ex officio Moder- ator and Clerk, and two, three, or four Deacons, elected by the members, whose principal duty it is to distribute the sacramental elements in the ministration of the holy supper. The Church in session has power, by a major vote, to admit members, and to admonish, suspend, or excommunicate them : yet the party ag- grieved may, if he please, have a rehearing, by way of an appeal to a Council. This is formed by the pastors of such churches and their delegates, chosen for the occasion, as are in fellowship, or have formed an Association ; and when in session, the Council license candidates to preach,-embody churches,-ordain minis-
* MS. Letter of Hon. and Rev. Samuel Taggart. D. D.
t The Congregationalists are divided into two classes, the Trinitarians and Unitarians, who in tenets greatly and essentially differ, though in their church polity there is great similarity .- See vol. I, p. 378.
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A. D. 1623, ters, or pastors, and evangelists,-and determine controversies to 1820.
and appeals submitted to its consideration ; though it belongs ex- clusively to the ministers, in fact, to lincense and to ordain, as it does likewise, to administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper. In this denomination, none but settled ordained ministers were authorized to solemnize marriages, till by an act, passed since the Separation, commissions from the Executive were ordered to be given out for that purpose, none being allow- ed to join parties in marriage, till both commissioned and sworn.
Though the power, originally, of choosing a minister rested with the church ; yet by the law of 1693, whenever a town, acting as a parish, disapprove of the minister chosen and presented by the church, a council, consisting of elders from three or five neighboring churches, should determine the controversy. In later times the matter is usually settled by the Council selected for the purpose of ordination .*
Baptists.
The Baptists are obviously the largest religious denomination in the State ; they having at the time of the Separation 9,328 professors, and 109 ordained Elders, besides several licensed itinerant preachers. (They believe none other baptism apostolical, than that of adults by immersion.) The Baptists appeared in Luther's reformation ; and by the legislative acts of 1644 & 6, they were severely persecuted, in Massachusetts, for mere oppo- sition to infant baptism. The General Assembly of Maine, in 1682, partially partook of the same spirit, and endeavored to crush the sect by fining Elder Screven, £10,-ordering him to desist from preaching,-and laying him under bonds to be of good behavior.+ There is happily no other instance of persecu- tion in this State, unless the parish taxes collected of the Baptist order were of that character. The ministers of the Baptists, called Elders, are supported by voluntary contributions ; in other respects their ecclesiastical usages coincide with those of the Con- gregationalists in the admission and discipline of members ; in the
* A Council, mutually chosen by the minister, parish, and church, may dismiss him .- 3 and 9 Mass. Rep. p. 182, 286, 299 .- Prov. Laws, p. 255 .- Ree's Cyclopedia, " Independents."-5 Hume, p. 192 .- But no ecclesiastical tribunal in this country can impose a fine, nor deprive a person of his civil rights. The prerequisites to church-membership, among the orthodox Con- gregationalists and Baptists, are evangelical faith, and the reception of bap- tism. t Greenleaf's Ecc. Sk. p. 239 .- See ante, vol. I, p. 379.
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ordination of ministers ; in church government, and in the article A. D. 1623, of association, and fellowship of sister churches .* to 1820.
The next are the Methodists ; who are probably superior in Methodists. numbers to the Congregationalists, if not to the Baptists. For at the time of the Separation, they had in Maine, 73 located min- isters, a large number of circuit preachers, and 6,192 church professors. They were known in England as a sect, about the year 1729. Their ecclesiastical constitution resembles that of the Episcopalians. Their clerical order consists of Bishops, who are at the head of the Methodist connexion ;- Elders, who must have been in deacon's orders two years before consecration ; and Deacons, who must be local licentiates four years, or itinerant preachers two years before ordination. Baptism and the Supper may be administered by Bishops and Elders, but Bishops only have authority to ordain. A " Preacher" is such a probationary exhorter, as the annual Conference thinks fit to license, and the Bishop to appoint on a circuit, two years. A Class is a volunta- ry association of twelve or more, at whose head is a class-leader chosen by themselves, who is next below an exhorter; and the third part of a class is called a Band. Two or more Stewards are appointed in each circuit, who attend all quarterly meetings, keep accounts of all monies collected, and report to the General Conference all expenditures. They also provide the sacramental elements for the Supper, and register all marriages and baptisms.
The General Conference embraces all the Methodists within the United States. It is composed of delegates from the Annual Conferences and meets annually at New-York ; having power to elect Bishops, and govern the whole Methodist church. There are seven Annual Conferences, composed only of those who are in full " connexion," that is, those who are in Elders' or Deacons' orders. These meet several times in a year, and have authority to license preachers, nominate elders and deacons, and enquire
* There are three classes of Baptists, the Calvinists, the Freewill, and the Christian Baptists. Of the Freewill order, there were seven Church- es formed in Maine, A. D. 1781; and the number in 1820, was 25. The Christians originating in 1803, have in this State 26 Churches and 15 or- dained Elders .- See 3 .Milner's Ch. Hist. p. 277-8. A sect appeared in Flanders, A. D. 1017-1025, who would not baptise infants .- 1 Hutch. Hist. p. 208 .- In 1793, there were in the United States, 45 Baptist associations : 1,032 Churches; 1,291 Elders, and 73,471 professors .- Ante, vol. I, p. 380, 569.
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A. D. 1623, into the number, means and conduct of all located and travelling to 1820. ministers within its jurisdiction. They also send deputies and a report of their proceedings to the General Conference. Each annual conference is divided into Districts, of which Maine forms three,-denominated the Portland, Kennebeck and Pe- nobscot Districts ; over which a Bishop appoints three resident Presiding Elders. These several districts are divided into Cir- cuits ; within each of which the Elder convenes, quarterly, the preachers, stewards, exhorters and class-leaders of the circuit, and holds a kind of court to hear complaints, and decide appeals arising therein.
The Methodists have a Chartered Fund, originally formed and occasionally increased by donations and contributions, vested in stock funded under the direction of Trustees, appointed by the General Conference. Their houses of public worship and glebes are owned by the Society, the deeds of which run to certain Trustees by name .. Every travelling preacher is allowed annu- ally eighty dollars besides his travelling expenses, and is paid out of the collections by the stewards, or out of the general fund .*
Friends or Quakers.
The number of Friends or Quakers in this State, is perhaps about 2,000, formed into 30 societies. At the head of this sect stands John Fox, born in England, A. D. 1624. By the Massachu- setts' law of 1653, several were imprisoned and otherwise perse- cuted, and some put to death. Their first meeting in Maine, was Dec. 1662, at Newichawannock. They also met on the other side of the Piscataqua ; when Richard Waldron, of Dover, issu- ed a warrant, commanding three Quakeresses to be whipped out of that Province. But it is not known that this persecution did in fact extend into Maine.
The Friends, who are united by the strongest social ties, have their monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings for business as well as worship. At the monthly meetings, they record births and deaths-provide for their poor-hear banns published or de- clared-approbate marriages-certify memberships, and disci- pline, or even " disown" such as walk disorderly. All attend, if possible, these meetings. The Quarterly meetings are consti- tuted of representatives chosen by the preceding, and vested with power to determine appeals from any of them. There are usu- ally eight delegates, four of each sex, chosen at every quarterly
* Doctrine and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 211 pages.
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meeting, all of whom collectively when convened, form the A. I). 1623, yearly meeting-the two sexes sitting apart, in different rooms. to 1820. They hear appeals ; enquire into the sufferings of individuals ; establish rules, and attend to the affairs of the whole body. Each society has at least four Overseers, two males and two fe- males. Both sexes are allowed to speak in meetings ; and if they possess gifts and godliness, and are approved by a monthly meet- ing, they may enter upon the ministry of the word. Their form of marriages is expressly recognized by our laws, though in it- self peculiar; for after the intentions of the nuptial union are approved in a monthly meeting, the parties are attended by their friends on a week day to their house of public worship,-then rising together, they join hands, and say, "we take each other as husband and wife :"-and then put their signatures to a paper, to perpetuate the evidence of the sacred relation formed .*
There are a few societies of Universalists in this State, who Universal. formed and adopted an ecclesiastical Constitution, A. D. 1789. ists. Their church-officers consist of their Minister, Deacon, Treas- urer, and Clerk. Each church is a body by itself; yet several churches sometimes, like those of congregationalists, form Asso- ciations.
The Shakers in this State have societies at Alfred, New-Glou- Shakers. cester, and Gorham. Persecuted in England soon after their appearance, in 1706, several of them with their spiritual mother, Ann Lee, emigrated to New-York, in 1774, and settled at Water Vliet, west of Albany. The Shakers live in families, having a community of goods, or all things common ;- also Leaders whom they call Elders, and a house of public worship, which they call their Temple. Here both sexes join in acts and exer- cises of devotion, which they denominate " labor." They have little connexion or intercourse with the world ; their government is patriarchcal ; they provide for their sick, maintain their poor, and religiously educate all children cast upon them by Divine Providence ; while they themselves acknowledge no outward or- dinance, not even marriage; requiring of every member, a life of celibacy. A book of records is kept by a Ruling Elder ;
* Clarkson's portraiture of Quakerism-3 vols .-- Also Mr. Barclay's works. Quakers believe in no outward ordinance ;- are foes to lotteries ; games; wagers; theatres; change of fashions; and even music, as acting too much on the senses.
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A. D. 1623, and should any one wish to join the Society, he signs a request to 1820. and is put upon probation. If he be admitted, and afterwards withdraw, he may retire, taking his property, without interest, and receiving no pecuniary emolument for his labor.
Employ- ments.
Next to education and religion, Industry and Employment have been esteemed, in every age, as the vital arteries of society. Yes, there have always been statute laws in force with us, for the pun- ishment of idlers and spendthrifts. Hunting, fishing, lumbering, seafaring, ship-building, and in the present age, agriculture and manufactures, have been and are the objects of business and pursuit. The best age for hunting, was between the capture of Quebec, and the close of the Revolution ; the Indians being re- duced to peace, and game plenty. The cod and mackerel fish- eries have been pursued with great profit, on our coasts, as the salmon, shad, and alewife fisheries have been in our rivers. Lum- bering has, through a period of two centuries, employed an im- mense number of mill-wrights, axe-men, sawyers and other la- borers ;- such have been the infinite quantities of it, taken from our forests and exported from our harbors. As a seafaring life offers generous rewards to labor, risque, and enterprize ; and skil- ful seamanship is an art which commands a ready employ as well as great wages ; the greater part of our young men upon our 'Tonnage. extensive seaboard, are mariners. Our tonnage* has always been beyond proportion large, compared with our population ; and our shipping, which consists principally of brigs, schooners, and sloops,t is the workmanship of our own builders and artisans, Exports and great numbers being sent to other States. Our articles of ex- Imports.
port,¿ lumber, fish, and furs, have always been of superior qual-
* Shipping in Maine was, in 1800, 87,390 tons; in 1804, 100,939 tons.
in 1805, 117,622 in 1810, 141,057 "
in 1811, 139,727 in 1813, 135,056 "
in 1814, 125,006 " in 1820, 140,373 "
For the years 1820-5 :- See Greenleaf's Survey, p. 220-6. t There were built in Maine, in 1820, 2 ships ; 29 brigs; 101 schooners, and 17 sloops.
¿ Exports from Maine ---
in 1810, domestic $763,285, foreign $40,334= $803,619 total.
1811, " 981,708, " 92,922 == 1,074,630 "
1813, 169,763, " 18,959 == 188,722 "
1820, total, 1,041,148, in 1821,=1,036,642 "
For the years from 1822-6 .- See Greenleaf's Survey, p. 242. N. B .- It has been estimated that the exports from Maine, coastwise,
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CHAP. XXVIII.]
ity ;- in return for which, we have received provisions, West- A. D. 1623, India products, cloths of European fabric, and commodities, of- to 1820. tentimes of inferior quality. The employments of the people necessarily render them great consumers ;* and the barter and domestic trade with them have often, and perhaps generally, yield- ed to the dealer a profit, both in the articles sold them, and pur- chased of them.+
Our tonnage was the highest in 1810, before our difficulties with England assumed a serious character. In 1820, our fishe- ries were very flourishing, as it appears by the comparative boun- ties disbursed in different years. Also the large sums paid into the seaman's fund by the mariners of this District, exhibit proofs of the great numbers engaged in a seafaring life ; while the small amount, drawn therefrom by our seamen, is incontestible testimony in favor of their constitutions, habits, and healths.
Agriculture, subsequent to the Revolution, and especially since Agricul-
ture.
not registered, are about three or four times more than what appears above, by the custom-house registry, to have been entered .- So that the coast- wise exports for 1820, may have been $3,500,000.
* The Imports into Maine, in 1320, in Foreign and American vessels were $980,294; and yet probably the imports coastwise, were equal to 3 millions of dollars, the same year; allowing the balance of trade to be in our favor proportionably in the coastwise as in the registered commerce. The duties were secured elsewhere, yet the consumer pays them.
t The amount of Duties which accrued to the United States from Maine, " on merchandise, tonage, passports, and clearances," after deducting de- bentures issued on the exportation of foreign merchandise, bounties and allowances made, stands thus, viz :-
in 1815, $456,837 18 in 1818, $252,278 60 in 1821, $378,852 21 in 1816, 316,787 37 in 1819, 310,734 40 in 1822, 369,466 96 in 1817, 254,936 00 in 1820, 337,989 67 in 1825, 466,819 18 The preceding is the gross amount (each year,) of the Revenue ; from which are to be deducted drawbacks on exports ; bounties ; and allowances to vessels employed in the fisheries ; duties refunded ; and expenses of prose- cution and collection ;- leaving the net revenue about a third part less than the gross revenue.
The Bounties or allowances paid out principally to Fishermen in Maine, were in 1815, none.
in 1816, $7,989 25 in 1818, $17,748 04 in 1820, $42,345 86
[in 1817, 12,174 47
in 1819, 28,117 94
in 1821, 45,730 01
Amount received under the Act for the relief of sick and disabled sea- men in Maine, was in 1817-$2,592 04; in 1818, $2,743 92 ; in 1819, $2,854 84 ; in 1820, $3,168 40 :- making in four years, $11,359 20 :- in which time there were paid out for their relief only, $3,236 10.
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A. D. 1623, the last war, has been both encouraged and advanced. Large to 1820.
and numerous orchards have been planted ; the breed or stock of domestic animals improved ; and soils have been made to submit to better culture under a management of more skill and care. Through an inspiring zeal to promote a taste and love for hus- bandry, agricultural societies have been formed ; and on their anniversaries, there have been exhibitions of cattle, and home manufactures ; and premiums have been awarded and paid to successful competitors .*
Manufac- tures.
Though we have great numbers and varieties of mechanics and artificers, our articles manufactured are chiefly from wood, iron, wool and leather :- Such as agricultural implements, house- hold stuff, and the tools of handicraftsmen : also nails and augers, cloths, hats, cordage, paper, saddlery and shoes. In 1810, there were in this State, 16,057 looms, 22 furnaces, for- ges and naileries, and 11 ropewalks.+
Institutions.
Our Institutions are numerous, and of these descriptions, viz. religious, literary, benevolent, monied and masonic. For in- stance, there were in the State, at the time of Separation, besides two Colleges, and the " Maine Charity School," twelve missionary and education Societies ;- nine Bible Societies ;- nine Charitable Societies ;- sixteen Banks ; and several Insurance Companies. To these may be subjoined as charitable or benevolent establish- ments, a Grand Chapter of Masons, four Arch Chapters, and thirty-three Lodges. The Grand Lodge of Maine was estab- lished at Portland, during the first Session of the State Legis- lature.±
* In 1820, there were in Maine, 78,964 acres of tillage; 301,394 acres of mowing ; ,272,717 of pasturage ; 31,019 barns ; 17,849 horses; 48,224 oxen ; 66,639 swine; and the Indian corn raised, was 508,143 bushels; wheat, 202,161 bushels ; rye, 45,679 bushels ; oats, 102,605 bushels ; barley, 74,972 bushels ; peas and beans, 34,443 bushels ; and 240,741 tons of hay cut and secured.
t There were manufactured in this State, during the year 1810, 1,265,594 lbs. of nails ; the value of $2,000 in augers ; $478,000 worth of shoes and boots ; 2,285,369 yards of woollen and cotton cloth ; 60,123 hats ; $16,500 worth of paper; and $234,600 worth of cordage .- In 1820, there were in this State, 1,768 mechanic workshops ; 24S tanneries ; 85 pot and pearlash works; 524 gristmills ; 746 sawmills; 210 carding machines; 149 fulling mills, and 17 spinning machines.
# The first Masonic Lodge in America, called St. John's Lodge, was holden at Boston, July 30, 1733, by commission from LORD VISCOUNT
703
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Man is a creature of expense ; and in this particular, the dwel- A. D. 1623, linghouses, furniture, dress and habits of the people, within a to 1820. century past, have undergone essential changes. When pecuni- and present 'The former ary circumstances favor or permit, men consult convenience, times. taste, and even elegance. A dwellinghouse of a single story, with its inside well ceiled, one hundred years ago, would proba- bly compare to advantage with one of two, perhaps three stories, at the present time, finished in the best modern style of architec- ture .* Throughout new countries, families first dwell in cotta- ges, oftentimes constructed of logs ; and there is equal simpli- city in their food and furniture. For anciently it was the second or succeeding generation, that built framed houses, and used pewter instead of the primary wooden vessels of their parents. The spirit of economy, it is true, attended the people through the Revolution, regardless of fashion and unambitious of orna- ment and display. But that period was succeeded by an over- flowing influx of foreign fabrics ; and when a passion for finery pervaded the community, families aspired to destinction by means of luxury and extravagance. Our indigenous cherry, black- birch, and curl maple, which received so fair a polish in the ser- vice of our grandmothers, were shoved from the parlour and set- ting-room, to admit articles of foreign mahogany, and perhaps of foreign workmanship. To cloths, manufactured in families,- the creditable specimens of female ingenuity, which a single age
MONTAGUE, Grand Master of England. The next was St. Andrew's Lodge, instituted there, Nov. 30, 1732, by a ' dispensation' from Lord Aber- dowr, Grand Master of Scotland. His successor, the Earl of Dalhousie, March 3, 1772, commissioned Doct. Joseph Warren, Grand Master of all the Masonic Lodges in America. After General Warren fell on Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, Joseph Webb, Esq. succeeded him as Grand Master. The first Lodge in Maine was Portland Lodge, chartered in 1762, and es- tablished in March, 1769 .- The oldest Chapter, was Portland Chapter, in- stituted in 1805; and the G. R. A. CHAPTER, was established in 1797. The number of Masons in this State, might possibly be, in 1820, fifteen hundred; and their funds fifteen or twenty thousand dollars, including masonic halls and other property. The Masonic are reckoned among the Charitable Institutions, and many are said to be relieved from their funds, who must otherwise suffer, or make applications to their towns for assistance.
* Numbers of our meeting-houses are commodious and some are splendid. As many as 60 or 70, in 1830, were furnished with church bells.
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A. D. 1623, ago, formed the apparel of our worthiest people,* has succeeded to : 820.
an excessive use of silks and muslins; so that the best bridal dress of that day, would be wholly eclipsed now, by a young female's usual sabbath habit. Yes, a young man, too, whose grandfather's timepiece, might probably have been a leaden dial, by the well or the garden side, supposes he has not attained to the modern standard of fashion and elegance, without a golden watch and silken underclothes. At the table, likewise, instead of the nutritious milk and simple viands, which gave vigor, health and cheerfulness, are teas, luxuries and surfeits,-the effects of which, too often undermine the constitution. If these customs are not the fruits and evidences of a deterioration from puritan principles ; it is well that a radical reform, for instance, has been undertaken in the excessive use of spiritous liquors, which as- sures the promise of ultimate triumph, over the fell destroyer. In the former age, the amusements of the men were athletic, as wrestling, hunting and foot-races,-dancing being the favorite of both sexes. All these were harmless, and though the young have lost nothing of their passion for this exercise ; the others have yield- ed to sedentary diversions, such as chequers, backgammon, chess, and even cards. Nor has the last very unfrequently been perverted to baser purposes than the simplicity of diversion,- if not sometimes made productive of the saddest consequences. -Facilities and comforts in travelling, have in late years, been greatly promoted by the improved models of carriages, and supe- rior art acquired in building them.t The chaise is of com- mon use ;- and many are finished with a taste and elegance, to which our artisans of the former age were entire strangers .- In short the powers of ingenuity are not only great, but we live in a most favored age for improvement. In the present aspect of this State, there is presented every motive to excite patriotic sensibility and enthusiastic emulation. The prodigious vicissi- tudes within sixty years, next before Separation, through which
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