The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-08
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AYear in the Life of a Parish.

ieSteIusty IuOrnulS9, IL DculS Iue urSC Sab
bath in the year, Rev. E. c. BoLLEs, pastor of
Congress Square Universalist Church, preached
sermon in which, standing on the narrow
lsthmus separating the past from the future, he
5ook occasion to state some facts in relation to
she last year of his parish and of his pastorate.
AS they possess interest beyond the limits of
the congregation to which they were adj
iressed,-the day being exceeding cold, and
the congregation, as a natural consequence,
not large,-and as We have been requested by
parties not connected with the parish to do
80, we give below some of his figures and state
ments as we noted them on the spot.
Among the "outward elements of growth,
the preacher stated that many new families
had become connected with the parish during
she year, as some old and loved ones had left
Of the ordinances of religion in another pulpit
N the city of the same faith. The parish, he
stated, had not been unmindful of the duty
ofgeneral Charity, of the claims of Reform, or
Of the cause of Education.
During the year the new church had been
dedicated, which, with the land, organ and
furniture had cost not less than $4,000. OF
this sum more than $4,000 has been paid,
leaving a debt, nearly two-thirds of which is on
The land, of from $4,000 to OOO,-much
bearer the former than the latter figure, we
ire assured. To meet this liability, besides
some other resources, are unsolc pews amount
ing to $4,000. Not less than 81 800 worth of
-hese pews have been disposed of-though not
yet transfered-within the last ten days. IN
During the year the Ladies of the parish, by
Fairs, Social Entertainments, etc, have raised
sS,S41, which has been paid towards the car
pets and upholstery, leaving as the part of the
obligation which they assumed in the start,
debt of about 5000 which they win see paid
During the year the congregation and parish
have contributed for the expenses of public
worship, including pastors salary, sexton,
music, and incidentals, the sum of $4,000; for
the Sabbath School, 1910; for general chart
ties, 5000, while members of the parish, during
the same time. have contributed to the funds
of Westbrook Seminary, IS, 700; making an ag-
5regate of $S,170 for the year, besides the ex-
penditure upon the church and its appoint
ments. - " ANi p
And this work, said the pastor, has been
done without single instance Of disaffection !;
with no unpleasant differences, and to-day the
parish is perfectly united, and has opened up
before it, apparently, a pleasant highway to
further prosperity and increased usefulness.
During the year, Mr.. Bodies said he had
preached 200 sermons; 10 on exchange, dur
ing vacation, and 1856 in the city, all but one Of
them-the last, Dec. 31st, in Chestnut Street
Methodist Church-in his own pulpit. He
had attended 80 funerals, majority of them
being Of persons not connected with his own
charge; had solemnized "a marriages, only six
OF them of his own people; had made 400 pas
toral calls, of which he had preserved record,
though for a few months he had no registry and
the number of families connected with his
egation-somewhat fluctuating-he esti-
mates at considerably above 200. -I mr.
During the year, of sixteen funerals In the
parish, two only were of active male members,
MIR. George t. Hedge and Mr.. William M.
Gould,- one active female members Mrs.
Geo. Durham. Several persons, venerable for
age, had departed, and the other deceased per-
ons were children or youth. rrar-., y.
He made very feeling reference to the ven
cradle Mr.. Churchill-so recently "gone home"
whose death, on such an occasion, though he
had Joined another parish, and his funeral was
attended by another pastor, could not be for
gotten, or the mention of it omitted by him
without making his review of the year appear
broken and imperfect. But one of Captain
ChurchilPs co-laborers in building. the old
church now survives, (Capt. Racklef,) and in
view of such proof that all that is mortal
must soon pass away, and that all work by
man or by a congregation of men, must soon be
done or remain unfinished, the preacher ex-
horted his hearers to be sup and doing" so
that when the Master shall call for them to go
hence, their work on earth may be found done
and well done. . aIuE3 " III