The Portland daily press., 1866-07-02


ei," in memory of Mrs. Maria Williston Walk
er, late wife of the pastor Of State Street
Church, and is beautiful little building, erect
ed from design by F. FL. FasseIt, Architect,
and is calculated to seat comfortably 400 per-
sons.
The Chapel was crowded to excess on the
occasion. Vases of beautiful flowers adorned
the table, the wall back of it, and the front of
the singing gallery. The children of the Sab
bath School, which has heretofore been held in
the Walnut street school house, occupied the
centre of the house, and every other part was
filled, many persons being obliged to stand.
The services commenced by singing the sem
tence "Praise the Lord" by the State Street
Church Quartette, which was done beautiful
ly. Then followed the invocation and reading
OF the 122d Psalm by Rev. Mr.. Walker, pastor
of State Street Church. The "Pilsrim Band"
was then sung by the Sabbath School children
very handsomely.
Mr.. William W. Brown, chairman of the
Building Committee, then presented the keys
of the building and the deed of the lot to
Hon. Woodbury. Davis, Treasurer of the
Board of Trustees, accompanying the presen-
tation with few pertinent remarks.
Judge Davis, in response, gave succinct,
but clear account of the inception, progress
and completion of the work as follows:
1t is about fifteen years since the religious
wants OF theyoung In this part of our city be-
gan to be supplied by Mission Sabbath Schools.
As ic al in fIa-a al.<,l
at first brief, without regular organization or
established support. Generally suspended
during the winter they were not always start
ed again in the spring. cannot learn that
any Sabbath school was held in this vicinity
after the summer of 1850, until the spring of
1861, when Miss Anna A. Sweetser, who had
had considerable experience in similar en-
terprise in the neiehborhood of the present
West Chapel, gathered the children together
for Sabbath school in the Walnut street
school house. At her request, Deacon Thom-
as r. Hayes, of the State Street Congregation
al Church, took charge Of it as Superintend
ent
Since that time, the Walnut street Sabbath
school has been maintained, with one or two
brief Interruptions, under the patronage Of
the Sabbath School Association of the State
Street Church, by which it has been supplied
with books and papers, and, to large extent,
by that Association; and it has been main
tanned as branch or mission school. As
early as April, 1868, a committee was chosen
to take into consideration the question of
building chapel for the use of the school,
which should also be house for religious
worship But the disturbed condition Of the
country, in consequence of the civil war then
pending, prevented any immediate action.
In June 1866, the rebellion having been sub
dued, there was meeting of State St. Church
to consider whether the time had not come
to carry out the purpose which had been sus-
pended, but not abandoned. A committee to
raise the necessary funds was chosen, of which
Mr.. d. w. Clark was Chairman. Mr. Walker,
the pastor of the church, had taken deep in
terest in the enterprise; and the death OF his
wife occurring during the summer, there was
a general desire to make the chapel, if one
should be erected, memorial OF her. The
effort at once assumed this form; and it is
largely indebted to this for its success. Her
name before her marriage was Maria Willis
ton: and in pursuance of this dceisr, this
zil"llse is hereafter to be called the Williston
Chapel.
lne cost of the land and building was
originally estimated at Five Thousand Dol
lars. But in consequence of some changes
and expenses not anticipated, the whole cost,
not including the furniture has been
S6,500. Nearly all of this has been
paid, and funds enough are on hand, or prom
ised, to pay the balance; so that it may be
considered as virtually free from any debt
The entire amount has been contributed by
the henderson the State Street Parish 1t
is due to Francis Ell. Fassett, the architect, to
say that the committee were under oblisa-
tions to him for the beautiful design and plan,
which he offered without compensation.
OF the manner in which The Building Com
mittee- have performed their part of the SER
vice, need not speak. This beautiful room
itself, speaks their praise.
The elegant bible upon the desk Is the Gift
of Mr.. John G. Brooks. To whom we are to
be indebted for the musical instrument which
leads us In our songs of praise, will be made
known on another occasion.
The principal contributors of the funds, at
meeting called to consider the question,
voted to have the property decided to the off
GERS OF the State Street Church, in trust, for
such use as the CuIch should determine As
Treasurer of the Trustees, have been re-
requested to make this statement Of the ORR
gin, progress, and completion of the enter
prise. This Chapel stands to-day, the visible
expression of what we may do tor our Mas
ter, if we will. In behalf OF all who have aid
ed in its erection, the Trustees now offer it to
be dedicated to the worship and service of Al
mighty Cod.
luc OtsstO NotieSb &uditcltc tHeH San5 q
hymn.
The sermon was by the pastor of State ST.
Church, from the text, Luke 7th, 5th: For
he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a
synagogue" In his discourse the preacher
mentioned some of the aspects in which that
building stood as token of regard; Ist.-
That it was free will offering to Christ
ID. That it was erected out of regard for
men. The third and last one mentioned was
the name that had been given to it, and
which had melted many to come forward and
subscribe, who were not members of the
church, but who had deep affection for her
to whose memory this Chapel had been erect
ed. Mr.. Walker, in the few remarks he made
upon this point was deeply affected, and so
was every member of the congregation
They could not forget the loveliness and
virtues of her, who, the pastor said had +. tor
ten long, long months before, gone from him.
The dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev.
DR.. Walker, father of the pastor of State st.
Church. The children then sang "We1l stand
for the right" They were then briefly ad-
dressed by Rev. Mr.. Walker. The doxology,
Praise God from whom all blessings low,
was sung by the congregation, and the bene-
diction closed these interesting services.
Row.-There was general row in Union
street yesterday afternoon, between the Irish
residents in that vicinity and the police The
affray originated in a policemans attempting
to arrest boy for being disorderly. The lads
mother sailed in to the rescue and got her
hnllr rlnd SOpaa