The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-04-19

sEMI-CENTENNrAL ANNIVERSARY OF CONGRESS
SQUARE CHURCH.

UniveFsnlism I'm Portland.
| sEMI-CENTENNrAL ANNIvERsARY OF CONGRESS
SQUARE CHURCH.
The pastor and parish of Congress Square
Universalist Church we're blessed with glo-
riors Spring day yesterday, in which to ee'e-
brste the fftieth anniversary of the birth OF
Universalism in.this city, and the formation Of
that church. The sun shone brilliantly, the At
mosphere was temperate, and by o'clock IN
the afternoon the people began to wend their
way to the church which they completely filled
by the hour announced for the services to COM
mence, viz, $3.50 o'clock, there being many
strangers in attendance. The sacred edifce
inside presented q pleasing spectacle in its gay
ly attired congregation, the galleries occupied
at one poiat by the Sabbath School children
and the pulpit recess which still retained so'no
of its Easter decorations. The evergreen
trimming remained upon the arcn' tue 'u''o,
| fy--emblem of immortality-supphed WIN
fresh flowers. retained its place above the pull
nit, and from its point was suspended an ele-
| CANT floral crown. The festoons OF evergreens
| were eau zht up at either side OF the recess
with flowers with 1921, In evergreen letters on
| the wall ON one side, and 1871 on the other A
large cross of evergreen adorned the wall back
of the pulpit, two large bouquets of May. flow-
ers sont forth their fragrance from the sacred
desk, in front Of which was placed large vase
OF callas. while an alabaster vase ON either
side held handsome bouquet. ....'
On the platform with the pastor, Rev. w.
X. Gibbs, We recognized Rev. B. h. Bailey Of
the First Parish 10 nitarian) Church, Rev. G.
W. Buck Of the Park street (Unitarian)
Church, Rev. j. G. Snow of Westbrook Semi
nary, Rev. G. r. Moor, Rev. e. O. Bolles Of
Brooklyn, N. Y, Rev. E. Thompson, Mechanic
Falls, Rev. G.. w. Quinby of the Gospel Ban
ner, and Geo. w. Bazin, 30 years ago the pub
Usher of the tristan Intelligenosr The SER
vices commenced with very pleasing volun-
tary ON the organ by G. w. Marston, the
organist, after which the choir sang an anthem
with taste and feeling Then followed the re-
sponses by pastor and people, and the reading
OF the Scriptures by Rev. C. w. Buck. A
very earnest and impressive prayer was offered
by the Rev. j. @. Snow, after which the hymn
WAS sung "Let children hear the Mighty
Deeds" Next came the Historical Address
by Rev. w. e. Gibbs, Of which the following
10 an abstract that necessarily does great in.
justice to tho graceful composition Of the
preacher.
The speaker commenced by saying that the
history Of the rise and progress of Universal
ism 10 but another illustration Of the power of
prejudice to resist the operation of the truth,
tor since the time when John Murray sought
to give form and organization to his interpre-
tati0n of the Scriptures Universalism has
found its most bitter enemies in those whose
professed love for God should have made them
acceptors Of its doctrines. Few now living
have any idea of the bitter opposition to Uni
halls, and public buildings being closed to Its
disciples and they were glad to secure work.
shop or private Office in which to proclaim the
boundless love of God. In spite, however, of
social ostracisn and ssctsrian opposition they
welcomed every opportunity which gave the
assurance of the final victory Of good over evil
and the fnal reconciliation OF all souls, in
Christ, to God.
Tho FIRST gathering Of Universalists in Port
land was in o0oper's shop on MountfOrt
or probably being Thomas Barnes. who came
from Connecticut to Poland in 1877. He was
called the Father of Universalsm and his text
was taken from Rev. 1872 A goodly congrs-
CATION we're present, but Mountfort thought
the preacher TOOL, talking about "his sea of
glass" Still his opinion no doubt strengthen
ed those that heard him. Father Hosea Bal
lou probably preached here between 1809-14,
- he was then residing In Portsmouth, N. H.
Application for q church was made for him to
preach IN but not place could be procured q
Baptist deacon saying he would rather see
the devil march up the aisle.' A lawyer
named Freeman lent his Office, opposite the
1st Parish church, and as the crowd could not
dows so the crowd outside might hear.
text was "the charitableness of the
sects:" Ths date of the coming Of Rev. John
Brooks is not exactly known: He preached
for . time in the Episcopal church situated
in School, now Pearl street. After Mr..
Brooks departure the congregation met in
sch00l-house opposite the Sd Parish church in
Back, now Congress street, there being only
occasional aJ gts sSa Rev Russell s:rssssr
the Sd Parish (CongregationaD church. but It
WAS defeated by the I'd Parish, who disapprov-
ed of sister society's selling it for such an
ungodly purpose. 1t was then decided to
was formed and the articles OF Faith were
signed BY the following nineteen names: Ho-
ratio G. Quincy, hosea Hartford, VIM. Polleys,
Nath'l. Shaw, John Pritchard, Joshua Pit
man, James Racklif, w. 8. Quincy, Jonas
Freeman Smith, Caleb Dyer, John Richard
son, L. Dyer, Jr., John Pickett, Danl. Her
rick, Calvin Jordan, Ebenr. Dyer. On the
18th of April a warrant was issued to perfect
an organization. The corporators met and
w
Smith Clerk. They adopted the name Of the
First Universaist Society. Horatio G. Quln-
CT was Treasurer. The parish committee, j.
9. Churchill, Nathan Nutter Henry a. Body,
ed lot for . building on the corner OF Back
street and Pearl streets. or all these only
Capt. James Rackliff, now over 80 years Of
age, survives and 1t is due to their energy, per-
severance and generosity in the face OF perse-
oution and great opposition that their works
live after them to bless them. So zealously did
they work that on the 16tb of August the build
ing was ready for dedication. 1t was one sto-
ry in height, A feet in breadth, furnished with
spire and bell, containing 50 psws capable of
the 11th Of August Rev. Russell Strsster was
called with salary of 5000, and ON the 14th be
accepted, and on the 10Th the church was ded-
icated, prayer being offered by Rev. FL. Ballou
Of Boston, the dedicatory sermon BY Rey; s.
Streetsr of Portsmouth, on tho text from Hag-
gal II q and 8, in which he spoke of the sue
cess which had crowned their exertions, of the
fact that only SO days before the sound Of the
hammer was heard on the building, and con-
cludes sand cow to the futuresand solemn wor-
ship of Almighty God, and the preaching of
the pure gospel Of eternal life We dsvoutly con-
secrate this housed May He ever fill 1t with
the glory Of His boundless love and mercy and
give that Peace which the world can neither
was by Rev. 8. Cobb of waterville. In the alter
noon Mr.. Strester was installed and Rev. H.
Ballou preached the sermon from Jer. HAS,
delivered the charge to the. pastor, offered the
installingi prayer, andl gave the fellowship Of
the church. About this time the feeling
against the sect seems to have changed some
what since the selectmen offered thesuse of the
Town Hall - long as wanted, and the EbeI al
citizens of Portland contributed for bell for
the church. This latter the society accepted
with thanks and stated it WAS their desire to
DO ON terms of friendship with all. But though
the wandering band of Christians had become
an organized society with their own church
and settled pastor it was not plain sailing.
Payson, one of the most powerful preachers Of
austere of his faith with his graphic descrip-
tion of gloomy terrors and eloquent appeals to
their fear Of eternal torment. Deane* admins.
tered from the First Parish (Unitsrian) pulpit
alukewarm orthodoxy to such ~ could not bear
the tuil glare of literal fire. Both turned their
backs to Father Streeter and let him fight
alone. But the young preacher had ability
and power and although the pew-d0Ors of or
thodoxy were closed against the young war
pointed against him he was unmOved In his
faith. Not yet in middle life he established the
"Christian Intslligencer," first quarterly, af-
forwards weekly, which fairly bristled with
warlike articles in his attack upon Calvinsm
and defence of Universalism. He would have
beenlwanting in manliness if he had permit
tod the intolerance OF his times to ride ever
was kept always on the watch against the foes
of his faith. His talents and his journal gained
adherents and influence over tho whole. State
to the faith that it has never lost, and the So
| cety fOhrished. On April 18th 1927 after
six years pastorate Father Streeter resigned
| and went to Boston with the assurance ''that
no pastor ever left sincerer friends behind