Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-18
Correspondence.
LETTER FROM IT4LDOBORO.
WALposoEo'. March 10Th 1870

LETTER FROM W4LDOBORO.
WALpoBoHo', March, 18th, 1870.
10 the Editor Of the Kennelee Journal:
Although our coast towns here in Maine
cannot boast Of the historical associations
attached to those towns on the French
and English coasts. yet there is speck of
tine past SO intimately connected with them
that one can almost imagine himself living
in the eighteenth century rather than in
the nineteenth, and especially is this so Of
the town Of Waldoboro' Settled as it was
at an carly period of our States history,
and by colony direct from the mother
country, it is not at all strange that it
should differ some from towns settled
later and further inland, and these, by
immigrants not foreign but from the older
States (then provinces) of our union.
Nor is this all. Although not wholly
century behind hand there are yet many
things here which smack considerably of
the last century's customs. Here you find
still the old stage-coach in all its pristine
glory; horse and OK teams. for the trans
portation of goods from town to town.
are still in vogue. many of the buildings
are of the last century's pattern. and even
few years ago, before they had a steam
boat here, people visiting Boston went in
sailing packets, coasting schooners of
small tonnage.
There is still standing about a mile be-
low the village on the western bank of the
river, but in rather secluded spot, a
relict of ''ye olden time" in the shape of
''meetin' house" This church edifice,
commonly called the old German Meeting
House, was built by the earliest German
settlers in this section, and is now about
a century and a quarter old. Its external
appearance, however, bears but little re-
semblance to what is now-a-days called a
church. 1t is large, square, two story
building, weather stained, dingy and black
from age, with here and there clapboard
torn off and window pane cracked and
broken. 1t has no towering spire point
ing heavenward from its ponderous roof,
no cross caps its gable end, and even the
green blinds which we are so accustomed
to see are absent. The interior CORE
spends in measure with the exterior
You see no circular pews finished in but
ternut, chesnut and black walnut woods,
no stained windows with biblical symbols.
no chancel with its baptismal font, no pas
G of spripfurn in iatfnrr .,f cold ~,
Raphaers ascension" or the thousand
and one other designs which adorn a
modern church. But instead pews plain
and unpainted, without cushions. and
large enough to hold families such as they
used to have; queer looking arrange
ment, called a pulpit. is conspicuously
placed on the wall ut one end half way to
the ceiling, and is reached by spiral
stairway; the walls have perhaps never
seen white wash, and certainly not fresco:
the floor is carpetless; a gallery eneireles
the whole and this so low that n six footer
could easily draw himself up into it. Yet
here in this plain Old fashioned auditory
have congYcgated, Sunday after Sunday
for the past one hundred years and up
words, the staunch old German stock of
this town, fathers, mothers, sisters, and
brothers, one generation after another, to
listen to the word of God rs preached to
them in their own language by those
chosen and educated to the ministry.
Perhaps Il brief mention of few of the
clergymen, who have presided over this
church, may not come amiss i'll this place.
Having no settled minister at first. Charles
Leisnor, an agent of Gen. Waldo, otliciat-
ed as religious teacher till his death which
occurred in 1900 Some time after this
rather queer specimen of the Reverend
Mr.. was settled over the parish. one John
Martin Shaetfer by name. He agreed with
the society on condition of having Il lot of
land as a settlement and f3 and two days
work yearly from each settler. He was a
smart preacher and a good singer and was
thought to be man Of great learning,
although this is some what doubted. Not
satisfied with his income as preacher he
practiccd as physician also, and gained
much fame as well rs wealth by blood let
ting and dealing out medicine. He made
many of his people believe it was neces-
sary to be bled every spring for which he
received regular fee of fifty cents from
each individual of adult age. AS wealth
increased restraint was thrown off and
his vices appeared without "a blush. He
was very proiane, grew Incorporate and
though a stirring preacher gradually lost
all influence Us 4 minister and man.
In 1875 Frederick Augustus Rodolphus
Benedictus Ritz, native of Germany,
was settled over the church as its pastor.
He was educated in his native country at
the University of Ielmstadt, and remain
ed with the people OF Waldoboro', till
his death, which occurred in 1911.
have not been able To ascertain when