The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-05
The Ministry at Large.

The Ministry at Large.
was glad to notice in your paper that this
ministry is to hold public Levee at the City
Hall, on this Tuesday evening. Apart from
the benefit which the Society will derive from
the profits of that occasion, the reunion will be
happy and an agreeable one, both to the old
friends and the new of this time-honored pub
lie servant and general almoner.
This ministry is portion, and not small
one, Of the golden chain Of charities which en-
circles and adorns our fair city. 1t was COM
menced by the exertions and wise counsels Of
the late DIR. Nichols, in 1916, and Fair, then
almost a new thing. was held TO raise funds to
put the useful machinery in motion. 1t but
followed the example of that admirable insti-
tuition in Boston, established by the efforts of
DIR. Tuckerman, aided by those of DIR. Chan
ming, and is still most successfully conducted
by Mr. Barnard and numerous coadutors,
spreading like the branches of the green bay
tree, giving shelter and refreshment to thou
sands of the depressed and wretched in that
city.
The exertions of DIR. Nichols aud his wife
were largely promoted by ladies of the two
Unitarian parishes, who assumed the name Of
the Claiming Circle, and devoted themselves
to ministering to the spiritual as well as tenn
poral wants of the poor. They established
school to teach girls to sew; they made gar
ments and provided shoes for poor children,
to enable them TO attend the Sunday school;
they became teachers In both schools, and
watched with generous care over the numer-
Gus persons who were destitute of religious
instruction, as we'll as the common necessaries
of life.
The judicious and earnest efforts of these
generous persons were crowned with success.
In 1s49 they were able to employ minister,
the Rev. Mr. Hadley, who labored earnestly
in the establishment of Sunday school, and
in preaching to and visiting adults for period
of seven years. He had the whole poor of the
city as his parishioners, or at least his doors
were open to them all free of charge. In 1880,
Madame Preble presented a lot of land to the
trustees of the ministry, and they, by the lib
eral subscriptions of our citizens, were enabled
to erect the neat and commodious chapel which
now stands thereon. 1t was dedicated Oct.
20, 1851, and has ever since furnished conyen-
lent accommodations for public worship, and
the various schools and uses of the institu-
ton.
One of the most valuable portions of the
work is in finding places for vagrant children
of the poor, which Mr. Hadley, in one of his
reports, thus describes: "More than 100 chill
dren have been sent from this city during the
year. Between 80 and 4Oof these have found
permanent homes, where they will be well
brought up, receive a common school educa-
ton, and be trained to an honorable and re-
spectacle calling Again he says: "a truly
catholic spirit seems to prevail among the va
rious religious denominations of the city. Cen
erous contributions have been received Tor the
benefit of those in whose behalf have been
laboring, some from those of different relg-
ious faith from that of the founder and chief
supporters of this institution"
The services of the Chapel and the schools
have always been well attended; the poor, who
before had no place Of worship or instruction,
have here found an appropriate place, many
OF whom partake of their benefits with salts
faction and Improvement. The whole plane
OF their existence has been elevated, their self
respect and selfexertions are encouraged, and
the comfort of their lives has been greatly adj
vanced by the untiring exertions of the friends
and supporters of this quiet, unpretendng
ministry.
But it must be apparent TO all that these ef-
forts and labors need the pectiniary hand, as
well as the working brain and arm. Money
must come TO supply the machinery which is
doing this great work. Those who love the
wcll-being and advancement of the honest
poor, and cannot give their personal efforts,
must put their hands in their pockets, and give
the material aid which sustains and WHITES all
charitable undertakings. Mr.. Tuckerman, the
present devoted minister, with his indefatiga-
BILE wife, and the noble Claiming Circle, still
hold on their steady, unvarying way, working,
watching, praying; they ask of their fellow
people, who are equally interested with them
in promoting the welfare of our good city. to
come over and help them. Let the people be-
gin the year by doing work of charity in
this behalf which will live TO the years end
and be recorded where it will live forever.
The Leree and Promenade Concert which will
be held this evening at the City Hall, will give
most agreeable opportunity to mingle the
pleasant and the useful in a social reunion for
this noble ministry of benevolence. w.
Communicated 10 the Press