The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-12-27
tPa the vssrfvAL Asvrsnssa
rccLEsLxsrICAL ITEMS.

fPa the rssuvAL Asvnnssal
EccLEsLAsTIcAL ITEMS.
trbs N. r. Society Of South Berwick are to
have grand New Years Festival at tnM pIscs'
and among other sstrAssioua tbsy vii issss
iarrs, Veil Allied sheet called the Fssftssl ~.
vsrii,sr. W. W. Krays, ESq., EDITOR, eontatn-
ing many items Of local interest, social sud re
litious, and also historical, besides N sr:
ticls Of Machine Poetry, which - unique Apd
interesting. We have been permitted 10 use
the following historical sketch, In advance OF
its regular publication, for which Bro. hesys
has our thanks. En-. JouRSALl l
The ancient Piscataqua territory Includes
tho following towns: Kirery. incorporated
1886, Berwick, l7l3. South Berwick, la4.
North Berwick, 1881. Scattered settle.
ments were made within these limits very
early. and the territory was formerly grant,
cd by Walter Neal. agent for Gorgcs aud
Mason from 1852 and onward. The
early settlers made commendable effort for
religious worship, YET on account Of tro''b.
les with the Indians, and tho few inhsbit.
ants. no permanent religious society wss
formed until the commencement Of the 18Th
century.
The first religious establishment within
the bounds Of this territory was at Guam.
pegan Landing, embracing what 10 now
called South Berwick. Mr.. John Wade
was employed to preach there about the
year 100, and received regular salary ns
minister OF the town. The 6pt Meeting
ho,,se was l,uilt somewhere near Yea,on's
sillls. There was some special attention to
r.livion, a church was formed and Mr..
Wmle, wn, orlained over Il Nov. II, 1902.
lie lived but short time, and died Nov
IS, 1908. aged q. The people were lef
destitute some over three years and Rev
jeremiah Wise was ordained over then
Nov. 26. 1907. His ministry was long AM
peaceiul.-his pastorate more than 4SyeaIs
He died Jan. 90, l756, nged II.
Soon after bis death the people employed
Mr.. Jacob Foster to preach as candidate
and l,e was ordained. Sept. ], l756 Rev
Mr.. Foster remained twenty.one years
and in TIT. finding It difficult to supper
his family, he solicited a dismission whicl
WINS granted, and he became Chaplain II
the Revolutionary army. Tie died at Mel
son, N. H., Dec. 3, 1893. aged &C. Duinl
The remainder Of the war the church re
maincd destitute Of a stated pastor Rev
John Thompson received a call and wa
installed May 7, 1888. He had previonsl!
been settled a, Standish from 1868 to 1871
lie died at South Berwick, Dec. ~, 1873
George w. Campbell ordained Nov. "
1924. During his ministry the old Meeting
House was vacated, and the Society bull
the present Congregational House at th'
Village, 1895, under the general supervision
| of Mr.. Benj. Nason. Mr.. Campbell dis
missed Dec. q, 1923 resides now a
Bradford, Mass. Seth II. Kceler ordaine'
Oct IS, 1899 (; dismissed Apr. ls, 1886
Resides now at Reading. Mass. Andrew
Rankin installed March ], 1887; dismissed
April IA, 1910 died at Danlury N. u.
Oct 81, 1862, aged 66. William Is. Ito
mer, ordained Nov. II, Is40; died at s
Berwick. March %, ls4l. aged "a. Benz
X. Allen, installed Oct. l2, 1912; dismissed
Oct. 10, 1854; pastor now at Marblehead
Mass. Alfred Emerson. installed Feb. Is
1857; dismissed May l2, 1858; pastor a
Fitchl,urg. Mass. Ephmim W. Allen in
stalled Dec. 30. 1858 dismissed May 10
1866; pastor West Church, llaverhill, Mass
Sylvanus Haywood. present pastor, installe,
May 10. 1866.
The South Berwick Village Baptis
Church is the offspring Of the first and old
est church in Berwick, which last wn'
formed in 1868. There were few mem
hers in the villugo and vicinity connected
with the church in Madbury, N. II.
as branch Of the same, as early as l776
The church in this village was orgnninct
Nov. l3. 1893. Of thirteen members under
the counsel Of the Rev. Gideon Cook nnt
Rev. William Hooper, and the latter preach
ed for them until January 1924.
Christopher 8. Hale. a licen,inie. preach
ed in tie old meeting. .house on the plain'
til April when they lefl for q schoOlhous'
and the same year built vestry capable o
seating 800 persons, located in The centre I,
the village. Mr.. Hale left in the Spring o
1925. Rev. Duncan Dunbar commences
his labos In July 1928. and was greatl..
blessed In tho salva,ion Of souls. Tn
present place Of worship was built 1926
Rev. Charles Miller, pastor, Oct. T., 1897
continued iii 1870. Rev. Joseph Balar'
entered upon his duties as pas,or, July !
1890, and dismissed Nov. Is, 1887. Rev
Lewis Colby, Jan. 4, 1887. and was sue
ceeded by Rev. John Richardson, July ls43
who continued his pnstoraie II yeas. Rev
A. X. Potter followed. Oct ], 1860, and
was followed by Rev. s l. Holman, Oct. ]
1865. The latter was dismissed Oct ]
1867. A call has been given to Rev. G. N,
Gle, who Is expected to commence his Ia
bors Jan. !. 1868. This church has had
sren, prosperity in years past, and i' ono ol
the most numerous IN The county Of York.