USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > The semi-centennial anniversary of the Free Street Baptist Church, Portland, Me. September 26-27, 1886 > Part 5
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When I asked the senior deacon to put his name to the subscrip- tion, he said, " You can never do it. The young men would not help pay the debt, and will not pay for this." I replied, You have borne the burden and heat of the first day, now do a mod- erate thing to encourage them, and if they will not bear the chief burden of this enterprise, I will drop it. The good deacon yielded, subscribed, and then increased his subscription. So the house was remodeled and enlarged.
The most precious memory of my pastorate with this church was the great revival in 1857-58. It was largely the fruit of the morning prayer-meetings, which began in the vestry of this church. This wonderful movement, which was started Septem-
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ber 23, 1857, in Fulton Street, New York, by Mr. Lanphier, had extended far, and gathered great momentum. I had said to one of the brethren, When you think there are ten who will stick in sustaining such a meeting, let me know, and I will appoint one. He came round one Saturday morning, and gave me the desired word. I resolved to move; requested the pastors near us to unite; gave the notice the next day.
On Monday our vestry was well filled. I opened the meeting, announced the Fulton Street rules, that opening exercises should occupy but ten minutes, and that no one should speak or pray over five minutes. These meetings continued for more than fif- teen months, with remarkable results. For a long time our churches were (alternately) filled, from eight to nine o'clock A.M., from all classes, the aisles often crowded. The exercises were characterized by great freedom, promptness, and spiritual earnest- ness. The tone of piety and religious conviction in the city was greatly elevated. More than one hundred were added to the church during 1858, three-fourths of them by baptism.
That blessed work of grace prepared the people for the tremen- dous excitements of the dreadful war which followed so soon after. This congregation was represented in the field of conflict by some fifty men in arms. Some of her women were in the hos- pitals here, and one of them with the soldiers in the camps and on the battle-fields. The fortunes of war reached our homes, our sanctuary, and every department of life in our city. The strain upon brain and heart was incessant and exhausting.
The period of my ministry with this church, of ten years and a half, was one of the most pleasant in my public life. The peo- ple treated me, as they have all their pastors, with magnificent generosity. The unity and co-operation of the church were ex- traordinary. Their sympathy with, and support of, our denomi- national and missionary enterprises were cordial and liberal. The pastor of such a people cannot but feel highly favored and richly blessed. May their prosperity be even more abundant and richer in the future.
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REV. JOHN C. STOCKBRIDGE D.D.
Deemed it a privilege, beside a great pleasure, to participate in the jubilee of this beloved church. Alluded to the call that was sent to him while he was temporarily engaged in the service of the Missionary Union in the State of Pennsylvania. He recalled the welcome that was given him when he entered upon his labors, and the religious interest that, soon after he commenced his pas- toral work, was manifested in the church and congregation. No one rejoiced more sincerely in the hopeful state of things than his predecessor, Rev. Dr. Bosworth, an extract from a letter writ- ten by him, indicating how heartily he rejoiced in the evident tokens of the divine favor which had followed the new pastorate being read. Tender reference was made to the departed who were prominent in the church during the term of service of the pastor. The great event which brought such desolation to Portland -the sweeping fire in July, 1866 - was referred to, and some incidents connected with the sad catastrophe were recited. The remarks were closed with the expression of pleasant memories in the review of the past, and of earnest prayers for the prosperity of the church in all coming time.
At this point the choir and congregation sung hymn 698 from the Hymnal to " Luther's Chant."
REV. A. K. P. SMALL, D.D.
Since churches have human elements, a mingling of wisdom and imperfection, subject to the varied experiences of prosperity and adversity, it may seem to those not in the secret, quite myste- rious that there should be such a conspicuous exception to the general rule; that there can be, in this world, such a church as Free Street, admitted to be at the head of everything good and substantial -the model par excellence -of only best life and perpetual prosperity. Why is it ? Is there anything in parentage? It was not an offence to Israel to be reminded by the good prophet of the "rock whence they were hewn, and the hole of the pit
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whence they were digged." The stock growers have a saying that " blood tells." Whence came Free Street ? Of what stock is it the branch ? On this beautiful scroll, are these the names of the original members of the church ? You will not forget that fifty-four of the fifty-seven we gave to you fifty years ago, from the Old First Baptist homestead. You the best family in the world ? How could it be otherwise coming from such a house- hold ? Does your creed discard the idea that " blood tells," in the gospel church, teaching that it is " born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God ?" Ah ! These were all born again, of God, down at the good paternal gospel home; and came in with regenerated, almost divine power to show what could be done with this old theater. What difficulty there has sometimes been about amusements, some declaring it to be impossible to Christianize the theater,-all because they have not had a delegation from the First Baptist Church to show how to take hold of it. It really seems to be a misfortune that all the churches of this region, of all denominations, did not have their primary instruction in the same family with Free Street, so cer- tainly would they have been saved from all little irregularities of the sects, growing up in the delightful oneness of the true church. As present patriarch of the homestead, mine must be the excusable apostolic privilege, above you all, of saying "I have no greater joy than to see my children so walking in the truth." "As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them." Happy indeed the family that hath such a child as Free Street, to be such a support when infirmities of age come on - such a helper when flames sweep over the paternal mansion. Gladly would we have settled such families all over the State. This special occasion may perhaps allow so much for mere pleasantry.
Personal reminiscences connected with this sacred place, I hardly dare enter upon. Reference has been made to the departed worthies who seem to be looking upon us from these portraits. It
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was mine to catch the parting benediction and to witness the departure of all these, and so many others of the church and society; to know the great vacancies made, and also to see such goodly numbers rise up into the places of the departed, whose career of growth and development it has been such a gratification to watch, till some of them now stand in your foremost ranks of service and responsibility, and others are in prominent positions of usefulness elsewhere.
Seldom has it fallen to the lot of any one to have such interest- ing connections with such a church as have been mine with this. Pastor, son, (my children have delighted to be reckoned your children) now, officially,- strange to say,- father, and constantly welcomed as brother, and most kindly and cordially treated neighbor -relations prized beyond any possible expression of mine, the joy and blessing of which may the Divine Head of the church perpetuate, till we reach that of which this most delightful anniversary must be a foretaste, the perfect, perpetual union of the triumphant church in heaven.
REV. JAMES MCWHINNIE, D.D.
Expressed great pleasure in being permitted to be present on this occasion. When he came to the church he was taken almost a stranger and upon trust, and throughout his pastorate had been the recipient of kindness never to be forgotten, and here had formed friendships time nor distance could never sever. He had here enjoyed preaching the Gospel as nowhere else, and as never in the future hardly to be anticipated. But pleasant as is the retrospect, the future of this church and people is a matter of prayerful interest. An important field is open before them, and to its proper culture "lend a hand " should be the watchword for all who occupy it, for it is only by hearty and united co-operation of the church with the pastor however gifted and earnest, that the kingdom can be enlarged and its blessings here be multiplied.
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ECHOES HOMEWARD.
HOLMAN S. MELCHER, Chairman of the Committee on Invitations then read extracts from letters from the absent to which reference is made as follows : -
FRANCIS BARNES, Houlton, most sincerely regrets his inability to attend, for next to the swift turn of memory to his boyhood home, always come the pleasing and tender recollections of Free Street Church and its associations. Three occasions are remem- bered with special interest - First, the baptismal scene by the water side near the point now occupied by the gas works, conducted by Rev. Mr. Eaton. "With boyish inattention and heedlessness," he says, " I was poking the pebbles with my shoe, when over the water came the earnest words of the pastor, 'Clara Barnes (the late Mrs. Martin) wishes this whole audience to know that she is not ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ.' That avowal of the dear sister's faith in a personal Saviour was the instru- mentality in bringing home to myself the thought of personal con- secration and duty." The second was another baptismal occasion conducted by his uncle, Rev. N. Butler, D.D., near what was then known as Emery's wharf, where a large number were baptized, when "the sky was again clear, but the wind was fresh and the waves broke upon the beach." Third, " Mr. Eaton's farewell ser- mon, in particular his words, 'I do not know but what it would have been better had I resigned before my journey to Florida, but if I had, I should not have gone through this blessed revival which we had after I came back.' I looked over to where Deacon Greenough sat, and saw the tears rolling down his cheeks. In a boy's superficial view of things I wondered what could cause a man like him to weep. My prayer for you is that you may go on in the possession and development of the sturdy faith of the fathers, and in the years to come, show the vitality of Baptist faith and practice, by the establishment of new churches in your own city and vicinity."
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FREE STREET SEMI-CENTENNIAL.
NANCY E. BERRY, West Boylston, responds with gratitude for the invitation which she is unable to accept, with much pleasure recalls many interesting and profitable occasions with us, and with her dear husband here, who " died in hope four years ago, aged eighty,"- hopes the occasion will be a pleasant one, and invokes God's blessing upon all.
MRS. SARAH B. BUCK, Chattanooga, regrets her inability to be present, but with her husband, E. A. Buck, joins in kindest regards to friends, and expresses thanks for kind remembrance.
REV. JOSEPH F. ELDER, D.D., New York, telegraphs as fol- lows : " With pleasant memories of the spiritual home of his youth, a grateful son sends greetings and congratulations to the jubilee gathering today."
STEPHEN A. EMERY, Newton Centre, thanks the committee for remembrance of him, assures them it would give him great pleasure to attend, and to meet old friends whom he will always hold in warm remembrance, but circumstances unavoidable would prevent meeting them on this occasion much to his regret.
JAMES H. MORSE and I. HENRY FARNHAM telegraph from Boston an invocation of God's abundant blessing on Free Street, regretting inability to participate in this occasion.
FRED S. PALMER, Bangor, will be unable to be present by reason of pressing business, but trusts the occasion will be a pleasant one, thinks of us often, and prays for our prosperity.
REV. A. F. PALMER, Eden, was prevented by uncontrollable circumstances from carrying his intention to be present into effect. "I owe," he writes, "so much to Free Street, that I do not know how to express my obligations to her. She took me in when a boy, partially alone in a strange city, and friendless, ' prone to leave the God I loved,' and gave me the shelter of a home, and threw around me helpful influences for which I am
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under such obligations. Whatever of Christian manhood I pos- sess, or of strength, or of ability to do good to my fellow-men, I feel that under God I am indebted, in large measure, to the relig- ious training and discipline there attained." He pays a special and warm tribute to the wife of Dea. Charles A. B. Morse, whose home was always open to him, and whose influence could but inspire nobler efforts and higher aims. Desiring ever to be held worthy of the Free Street boys, he expresses hope that the occa- sion will prove the prelude to " a richer and fuller existence as a church, in which the trophies of Christian manhood and woman- hood will be more abundant even than the past fifty years have afforded."
KATE PUTNAM, Milbridge, regrets her inability to attend, often thinks she would like to attend Free Street Church once more, trusts she is not forgotten, and that she may be remembered in its prayers.
MARY R. PRINCE, Melrose, although absent many years, and unable to be present, says there is a very warm place in her heart for this church, whose prosperity, when she hears of it, excites pride that it was her first Christian home.
MRS. MARGARET (BARNES) ROGERS, New Britain, Conn., always thought of her church home with greatest affection, the place of her birth and baptism into the kingdom of her blessed Master and Saviour. Was glad to know of her continuous strength and prosperity, regrets her inability to participate in this occasion, which she hopes will be successful, and a source of help and blessing to all the people.
PROF. ALBION W. SMALL, Waterville, after tendering thanks for kind remembrance, and regret at his necessary absence, writes: "I could not think with indifference or coldness of the church where the most decisive step of my life was taken; or of the people with whom I was first associated in the most sacred
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relations. The recollections of my membership at Free Street Church are a continual incentive to zeal in the service for which I enlisted with you. I have never been able to transfer to another church my affection for Free Street. I often remember with satisfaction that the relations with you, to which I was admitted by baptism, were not severed by my own request." Invokes for our future, like the past, steadfastness in the faith and traditions which we have been taught, and a warm and apos- tolic benediction.
The exercises closed by singing the Benediction from the Handel and Hayden collection.
THE FESTIVAL.
The closing feature of the anniversary was a festival at the hall of the Mechanic's Association, on Monday even- ing of September 27th. Tables were spread to accommo- date nearly five hundred persons, and the seats were early occupied by members of the church, parish, and invited guests. The repast, under the skillful supervision of the executive committee, was provided by George D. Robin- son, whose father, David Robinson, was long a respected member of the church. Liberal contributions of viands, fruit, and flowers furnished and graced the tables, for which the ladies of the committee merited cordial recognition.
George F. Emery, appointed to preside, invited Rev. William Hurlin, formerly a Maine pastor, but then Secre- tary of the New Hampshire Baptist Convention, to invoke a blessing upon the company, and upon what should fol- low. What did next follow his response may be too easily conjectured to require relating.
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After an hour's enjoyment at the social and festal board, the President tendered his thanks for the honor conferred on him, referred to the fact that much of the success of the church and society was due to cultivation of the social element, and invited all to listen to the remaining portion of the entertainment. Before entering upon the programme arranged for the occasion, he expressed grati- fication that up to that point all the proceedings had been characterized by perfect harmony, but he felt constrained to say one of our ex-pastors present was amenable to the charge of having practiced a notable fraud on us by hav- ing withheld, while settled over us, the full measure of his gifts. It was, therefore, but just to all concerned that he should now be called upon to vindicate himself. Ref- erence was made to Dr. Mc Whinnie, who, as usual, was quick to see the point, and responded by reciting the following poem: -
SEMI-CENTENNIAL AT FREE STREET.
'T is not for me to claim, or even aspire To catch the faintest scintillation of poetic fire, To venture near the heavenly muse's shrine, And ask her to inspire this rhyme of mine. That claim I freely yield to Brother E.,
Whose smoother measures every one can see, Flow from the spring beneath Olympus's shade, And prove once more the poet born, not made.
Were you to rise and ask me to explain Just why I should attempt the task so vain, Of holding your attention by my rhyme, 5
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Instead of prosing to you as in former time, I beg you will have patience now, as then, And let the parson have his way again.
Perhaps it is the coming on of days, When age turns fondly to its youthful lays, Glows with the warmth of long forgotten fire, And tries once more to strike the sounding lyre, Perhaps 't will be as when we seek the spring, Round which the memories of our childhood cling. We look for crystal waters and the flowing rill, Where once we laughed and played and drank our fill; The rill has gone, the waters are no more, A dampness only marks the spring of yore!
But what of that! The time's come round When once again the silent harp must sound, When hidden springs must from their depths come forth, To celebrate an hour of so much worth, The risk I'll take, and, minstrel, sing my lay, Though, " Pray it be his last ! " I hear you say.
My thoughts go back across the years, Since first you called me from another State,
When full of questionings and fears,
I thought you summoned me to cares too great; I sought to close the open door You threw so wide before my lingering feet, I asked the Lord to let me hear no more Of work for which I seemed so poorly meet, But when I came and looked into your eyes, And felt the welcome inspiration of your presence, I saw my questionings and fears arise And melt as clouds melt in the sunbeam's essence.
The words you spoke, so full of cheer,
Made each day's work a round of pleasure,
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Sowing or reaping each new year,
Its meed of service brought in joyful measure.
Trials there were, for none of us were perfect, You found old Adam in the young man's mold, And lest the shepherd be too much exalted, He found sometimes the sheep would jump the fold. Not even in Free Street crooked sticks were wanting, Yet these, quite unlike some I mention not, When handled right, however slanting, At last, would nestle, somehow, round the pot.
Rare is the people where the pastor's lines Are cast by Heaven in so pleasant places, Who know so well to give the ready signs Of kind appreciation in their faces, To catch from him his own enthusiasm And make it stronger by their quick response,
To overlook the sometimes awful chasm Between his subject and his eloquence. Happy the man whose cabinet of deacons Is such as met me here ten years ago, The pastor's courage seldom faints or weakens, With men like Morse and Phenix, Curtis, Lynch, & Co.
How shall I fail to speak of one who takes In all good words and works the generous part, Whose name I must speak out for all our sakes, The name we love to honor, Hanson Hart.
To her I bring my willing tribute now, Whose presence gives our feast its chiefest grace, Mother in Israel, we crown her brow, And look with gratitude upon her face, We gladly honor her for what she is, As well as for the honored name she bears,
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And with her children's children would make this The crowning glory of her eighty years.
May he who now goes in and out before you Be helped in counsel by as faithful friends, And through his word the Lord in grace restore you The fullest blessing which the Spirit sends.
Blessed old Free Street! How trivial seem All trials which the flesh or spirit brought, How sink beneath time's onward flowing stream The petty cares with which our life is fraught: So shall it be in yonder blest Elysian, The hardest things which life had brought us here Shall sink forever 'neath the eternal vision That fills and satisfies the spirit there.
How memories halls are thronged tonight With faces we shall see on earth no more, All now transfigured in the heavenly light Of beauty never seen of us before.
The deacons twain so staunch and true, Aaron and Hur, the prophet's constant aid, Whose names unspoken bring before our view The strong foundations which the fathers laid.
The honored teacher from the classic shades, Who gave to us his ripe declining years, Whose monument of cultured men was made Nobler than warrior's glory bought with blood and tears.
Him too we see, who heard in early prime The call to leave the fold so lately entered, On whom, so rich'in promise of a coming time, Our ardent hopes of noblest fruit were centered.
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And yet another rises to our view, Whose voice so oft was heard in word or prayer,
The pastor's ready help, the teacher true,
The widow and distressed his constant care.
Others there are, whose memories are as dear, Whose names are spoken low with many a sigh
By some who say, " Ah ! If they were but here,
Our joy were then complete, and Heaven nigh! "
But comfort, comfort ye my people, saith the Lord, Bid them now hush the sigh, and cease the moan forlorn,
Nor eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard the word,
That tells the glory of the coming morn.
Hark to their voices through the pearly gates, Familiar yet, as once in earthly song,
Their music sweeter than all carthly choirs, The diapason of the ransomed throng.
We hail you, brothers of the Church Immortal, With yours we join our feebler mortal strain,
And praising Him who for us passed death's portal, Responsive, echo back your loud Amen.
The President then remarked that in as much as our present pastor, the Sunday-school, and ex-pastors had all had their day, it seemed most fitting to close the anniver- sary by giving the body itself an opportunity to be heard, and end with what from a military standpoint might be styled a dress parade.
Hanson M. Hart, characterized as one of the eldest of brethren beloved, and representing a name hallowed in the history of the church, was called out, and made a happy response as to the general impression left upon
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his mind by his long experience and observation while connected with it.
It was then observed that the history of the parish would always survive, because, for other reasons, for nearly thirty years its records had been admirably kept and attested by one of the immortals named "Smith." This elicited an appropriate response from Lewis B. Smith on the past attitude of the parish toward the church.
The next organization, and fundamental to success in any society, was said to be the Sunday-school, which called up Supt. Henry Wallace Noyes, who was listened to with pleasure as to past, present, and future.
John Lynch was then invited to present a diagnosis of the pulse of our past church life, as indicated by our prayer and conference meetings, which he proceeded to do as becoming one who had earned "a good degree " as deacon.
To a sentiment from the chair complimentary to the intelligent and devoted women of the Free Street Church and Society, Mrs. Joseph A. King responded with a dig- nity and grace worthy of her sex and of the occasion.
It was then observed that in days of degeneracy it was pleasant to see a treasurer who could look every honest man in the face without a blink or blush. John C. Phenix, long treasurer of the church and parish, then paid a handsome compliment to both, as respects their responses to all demands upon them.
It had been our privilege, it was then remarked, to show the falsity of the maxim, at least in one instance,
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