The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-07-06

that got up by MIR. William Allen on Deering
street His residence was beautifully iilumn-
ated, and some two or three hundred of his
friends were collected on the ground in the
rear ( his hoase, where quite brilliant dis
play of fireworks was displayed. Songs from
Shaw and other vocalists enlivened the enter
tainment, and Allen made capital speech in
answer to the cries of the crowd. His house
was open to all, and fine time was enjoyed
by those present.
Laying OF the Corner stone o. she second
Parish PaysOn lem orlal Church.
The ceremony of laying the corner stone Of
the new church edifice erecting ~ the Second
Parish of this city ON the corner of Congress
md Pearl streets, in memory OF their former
castor, Edward Payson, and to replace the
church on Middle street destroyed during
the great confagfation July 4, 1866, took place
Saturday afternoon with the following exer-
cises:
HYMN-READ BY REV W. H. FEM.
I Tune Hebron.
When thou, our Saviour God alone
Did'st lay creations corner stone:
What strains OF joy and wonder ring,
From many lzng seraph's tongue.
+ We now our humber fabric raise, "a s
And NJ, the WHILE of love divine, g..
The service ours. the glory thine.
II thou thy helping hand restrain.
The builder toileth but in vain,
His labor bless, our offering own,
From undermost to topmost stone.
IT'S not for man this house we rear
DeIgn, gracious Lord, to meet us herr,
Here thy good Spirits power di play,
TO call to Heaven and point the way
And when earth's worship all is Ger,
10 Heavens clear vision Did soar
Before thy face in bliss to bow,
Our all-suficient temple, Thou.
scRIPrURE-READ BY REV. b. NJ. FRINK
PRAYER-BY REV, W. H. FEM.
lowing financial statement:
This enterprise was undertaken and has
been carried forward thus far amidst MANY
trialshnd discouragements. The Society hay
ing but little available means, and but very
few connected with it of sufficient ability to
contribute largely, they were obliged to solicit
aid from without 1t was soon found that in
order to meet the circumstances of our people
in their reduced condition, Caused ~ the fire
of July 4th, 1885, and the seeming demands
of the citizens OF our growing and prosperous
city, imposed most serious obstacle, and re-
quirei not little forttude ON the part of
those on whom fell the care and responsibility
to decide upon plan for the church edifice,
the architecture and material of which should
cOmport somewhat with the condition of our
people, and at the same time not disaDpont
the expectation and desire of our citizens, by
placing upon this beautiful lot. and in this To-
cality, building designed to add to the
beauty OF the city and take its place amongst
those already erected and standing in this vi
cinity. They therefore resolved to erect
building more costly than at first contempla-
ted, or otherwise would have done, although
= ,yrht riro oh oV,I all
complete the work. This decision, we hope will
appear to all concerned to be correct in due
time. -
Ane site on which this foundation for the
new church edfice stands, was purchased of
Charles Il. Barrett, ESQ.,, and John Loveitt,
ESQ.,, the rear portion Of the lot being a part
OF the estate of the late Hon. Eiphalet Gree
ly, who for a period of twenty-four years
watched with deep sohcitude over the inter
ests of this Parish, he being all that time
CT airman of the Parish Committee.
The size of the lot is ITO IL feet on Congress
street and 100 feet on Pearl street.
The price paid for the SINE was, $11762 90
The estimated cost eff the church,
exclusive OF the lot, not exceeding $4,000 90
$751; 62 90
This estimate is based upon the present
price of material and labor for that portion OF
the furnishing not contracted for. The stone is
furnished by contract; the brick work is also
done by contract. The inside of the building
and roof, as also the setting of the stone, is
not yet under contract.
The resources of our Society were by no
means large or adequate alone to Justify an
expendi ure such as has been cited; but trust
ing in Him for whose honor and glory We
tempted the work.
On our old house of worship there .
was an insurance of $4,000 90
Received collections and donations, I46OO 90
Subscriptions uncollected, 5000 90
Sale of land Middle and Deer streets,
about sf 10000 90
Making about $33, 600 90
We have added to the above about $500, be.
ing the proceeds and interest OF the sum from
the fair held by the ladies of the Parish at the
City Hall before the great fire. We have also
$1,000, donation from the late Mrs. Eliphalet
Greedy, to be applied to the payment of a new
church organ whenever placed in the church
the same given as memorial of her husband
Under these circumstances we do not despair
OF help to conn lete this much needed house
of worship. We do conf lently hope that the
good people of our city who desire the good
and prosperity of coming generations, will
come forward and aid US in this work and la
Dor of love. We do feel most deeply thankful
to the ladies and friends OF other societies in
t.iS city, for the very valuable and hearty aid
they have rendered us, and to all others who
have contributed their money or good wishes
and prayers to the object. We are hoping to
De so far prospered as to enable US this season
to rear the walls and put on the roof and COM
plete the vestry which is to be in the base
ment. If SO, we shall be provided with pl ce
for public worship of our own, where VIC may
devouty acknowledge the goodness of Col,
not only Tor the place provided, but for kind
and sympathizing friends who have and are
ship.
Inc committee are much indebted to L. III.
Fassett, Esq, the architect, tor the and he has
rendered them in arriving at plan, the cost
OF which with the material used is less than
would have been press brick and free stone
trimmings.
The front and towers are to be of granite.
the sides and rear end OF brick, with slated
roof. The architecture is of Rnmanesulte or
der. Entire length of the house, 10S feet; en-
tire breadth, II feet; entire height OF tower
and spire, ITO feet; size OF audience room, 80
by IS feet; will seat with side gallery LOCO
persons; size of vestry, 65 by 30 feet; suitable
committee and ante-rooms will be finished
s. w. LARRABEE, Chairman of CON-
Portland, July 4, 1868.
The Pastor OF the Church, Rev. DIR. Carruth-
ers, then delivered the following address:
Christian Brethren, Friends and FeHo,y Cti-
zenS:
We are assembled on this suspicious and
ever memorable birth day of our nation. to lay
devoted to the worsh; p and service of Almighty
God. We claim tor this spot OF earth and for
these materials. no other and no greater sane
tlty than that which comes from the gracious
presence of Him who said of old, "Iu all places
wnere record my name will come unto
taee and will bless thee" We devotedly in
yoke that record, and earnestly implore this
divine and, therefore, efectual benedctiou.
rms important enterprise was undertaken
IN circumstances which deman led no ordinary
measure of confidence in God. A desolating
lire sweeping with resistless force and tury
over large portion of our beautiful city. re-
duced to ashes nearly two thousand of our pri-
vate dwellings, all our State, county and mn
nio!pal edfices, save one, eight of our churches.
and amongst these last, that in which for near
~ three generations the Second Church and
Society had been wont to worship. The deem
and sudden poverty in which this calamity in
volved SO many OF the people, the Temporary
stagnatiOn of business, the necessity for the
immediate replacement as far as practic able
of the rninad habitations, rendered it impossi-
BILE forthwith 10 repair the injury sustained by
this society, and to erect another sanctuary OF
such dimensions and on such a site as might
comport with its social position, Its numerical
strength, and the prospective wants of an ever
increasing population. Yet such an enterprise
was almost instantly resolved upon.
AT special meeting of the male members
OF the Church and Society of the Second Par
lsh held in thu chapel of the State Street
Church, July 10, 1866, the following, amongst
other res OlutiOnS, were unanimously nassed.