The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-12-29

Halfway Creek around Fish Cove to the WescOtt
Stream, and from Little River to Sandy Beach,
where the railroad buildings stand. Near Sandy
Beach, around the 'town landing was the princi-
pal places of business until about 1885, and the
western part Of the town was better known as
1.-The Beach," than by another title. As this part
increased in population, the truth Of James Millers
prediction, which he made to John Mitchell, in
ITO, that the village would be upon this side, be-
gan to ne realized The earliest recognition Of the
claims of the Beach people appears by the record
OF 1i9l when ii was vOled that future warrants for
town meetings ''bc posted on the other side of the
river as well as this The next year, ths growing
tinctly acknowledged, by vote "that town meet
ngs shall be held on both Sides according to taxes.
and Ito build two meeting houses, one on each
side
FIRST MEETING HOUSES.
In accordance with the latter vote. two meeting
houses We're erected in the summer of 1892 That
on the eastern side stood the Searsport road, on
lot No. %, nearly opposite the old grave yard Its
dimensions were about fifty by forty feet. IT was
unfinished inside, and contained no regular pews.
No means for warming were provided, and in cold
weather, services took place in the neighboring
school-house. 1t was demolished in 1890. The
west meeting house was framed at the entrance of
the old buryng ground on High street That loca~
ton being Objectionable, the building committee re-
moved the frame to opposite tie house Of Asa
Ezuncc. The editce was one story high. aud furn-
ished with pews. Ii was purchased by the Baptist
society in 1922, aud removed to Bridge street. At
ter being occupied AS church until 1S31, ii was
converted into stable, and is now owned by Mrs.
Phebe {. Berry Neither of the old meeting houses
had steeples.
AS has been before stated, lot No. 2G, containing,
as originally surveyed, one hundred and ten acres
was set apart by the proprietors, in 1863, for the
first settled minister, viz. hundred acres OFT
the north end and the remainder, on the south end,
to build Westinghouse on, and fol grave yard
and training field In 11I9 the town having con
cuded to settle the Rev Ebenezer Prce, voted him
salary Of 800, to be increased annually, until it
reached $500, and also to give up the whole lot with
out reserve. excepting one acre where the meeting
house stands, and sufficient quantity Of land for
burylng place. The town had no right to make
this conveyance. but the vote afterwards con-
firmed by majority of the proprietors under pro
test OF Il minority
PREsBYrERIANIsM IN MAINE. SETTLEMENT oF
MIR. PRICE.
Previously to the revolution, Mr. Willis the learn
ed historian of Portland, says there was no part
Of New England so strongly imbued with Preshy-
terian principles, as that portion Of Maine which
lies between the kennebec and the PnnohScot In
fact the population at one time was nearly all
Presbyterian, from the circumstance that the Scotch
immigrants from Ireland had taken possession OF
the prominent points OF that territory The early
settlers of Belfast had been educated in this faith,
and many of them "sloWly and reluctantly yielded
their Presbyterian usages for the Congregational
form of worship, although there is little or no diff
ference between the two sectS. except III the form
of government. Presbyteriallism in Maine became
almost superseded at the commencement Of the
present century, and there is not now single yes
tige of the denomination within our limits, which
once contained preSbvttry OF twelve HUurShlng
churches. The Rev. Mr.. Price a Nongrega-
tionast, and many Of those compelled to pay tax
eS towards his support, whose tenets We're formed
at Londonderry, under the instructions Of Mac
Gregor and Morrison, the beloved ministers OF that
town, refused to subscribe to his doctrines, to
unite in the invitation extended for his settlement.
They We're, however, in q minority, and on the
twenty-Second day of November. 1876, soon after
the acceptance of Mr.. Price communicated, i
vote selected Benjamin Ncsmth, John Cochran.
Tolforl Durham, Samuel Mckeen and John Brown
as committee to consult with the candidate "for a
Council of Ministers to carry on an ordination.
and that the committee ''bc Empowered to carry on
the business Of the ordination Against this
vote on the day of its passage, protest WAS made
Mr.. Price, however, was ordained, Dee. - lI9G,
and the next day the first church, consisting OF
seven members, became organized. The disatlec-
ton towards the new minister rendered his position
unpleasant, and his services unproiitabe. The OS-
I tensbe reason OF the remonStrants was Disagree
ment with the doctrines OF Mr. Price, but his sup
porters claimed that the real cause was the land,
which, having became valuable, the malcontents
wished to have divided Some of them commenced
a suit for possession against him. and his peace
frequently disturbed. The opposing elements
finally far increased, that in lS0i, The town voted
to withhold his salary. The town was wrong.
By settling him. they had not only became liable to
pay the stipulated compensation, but TO absolutely
convey lot No. 26, upon which he had built IN eN
pensivc house for the times, still known as the old
parsonage house. The original intention undouht-
edly was to make the land transmissable as glebe
or parsonage insesd of yestng tbe fee in the first
minister bit this should have been understood at
the time of the ORIGINAL agreement Mr. Price very
properlv sought a remedy Mt law, and the inhah-
tants soon pcrceiying the ilegay of their course
Appo'h,e' I1h.nt,'c ~ tt'', "tW "I''
terms ne "ouiu uisSolVe tht cn!ltiWI. ihty ilSo
voted to reconsider the vote, which repndiatcd con-
tinuIng his salary and to pay all arrearages. His re-
plv was dgnitied but firm. After alluiin@ to the
liifr,Ilties which had occurred and that when an
o,o,;n ,,,ra,,or ,,,t,,,,,,laI n,.;s+oJ al.ai,,t i
ollootio n'o,.t u.,..'i" ". ~; pAi." 'T.
hii,Stei tn" tio'aniii'. vi MS usei'ntss tNl''t,N
he stated thit upon receiving S2o, ana WHrfahtet
deed from the proprietors Of lot No. 26, he would
meeting house stands and one mere and half in
| rlnvoI Inr d. bnrvlng rrnunJ sn1 rolna.e ali ,ou-
na frn, f,rtthn7 iial,;i;tv Thosn tor,,. ,vor.
teihei iioii iui .u'i l''pintl' oiiii "'to
promptly acccp'eu, ana ny request oi t'l' Fopis'
Warranice deed OF the whole lot, bounded rs orSl-
naly surveyed, was given him. Mr.. Price made
the STIPULATED reservations and took dismissal in
W., n"suTa now ,rohstnr IT ,yhnrn hS
"tst posIhmon' my w w 'potei - ~ WIZ III ~
remained lor over q nan century, 2ielly peloNtu
and respected. His death occurred IN lS6i, al the
age of o. TO the close of his long and useful life.
he continued to take deep interest in the religious
and civil welfare of Relf:lst
''' "
VISIT OF fALLEYfANp ANp LiANo"'F III.
Among those who escaped to this country from
the terrible scenes of the French Revolution of 1888
and who found temporary asylum in Maine were
Louis phiiippe the celebrated Tailevrand and the
Dnke de Iiancourt. The two latter were here.
thn nnLa in nnn,nsnv with General knoy. Ipon
returning 10 ne gave ;ttl account