The Portland daily press., 1872-05-24

church, for nearly three-quaISeie VI ." y
the sacred shrine of many worthy family G.
that good old town.
! The day was beautiful, the rain of Tuesday
having laid the dust, invigorated and purified
the air, and rendered more delightful the YER
dure of spring; in fact it was one of the lowell
est days of the season, thus adding greatly to
the success of the occasion. 1t is well amid the
din and rush of this busy life to stop for awhile
and refresh the soul with inspiration from
events superior to traffic and trade, above the
sordid things of existence and thus "renew the
inward man." .. .. .3-,.a --a frr..
! HISTORICAL.
| The Baptist church was first built in June
1902 on the same site as the present one. The
lot was secured by Major Thomas Harmon and
! by him sold to Committee of the parish, con-
sisting of Brice Boothby and others, for $40.
The deed was signed May 20, 1902, and record
| ed April 81, 1907. The first house was larger
than the present one, being some so feet long
and 60 feet wide with some 60 to 70 pews,
deacons' seat, high pulpit and sounding
board not quite as large as ''Noah's Ark
Some parts of the house have been dedicated
and re-dedcated to the service of God three
times. -. ... -fsr-l-5 II # .1s l.l - j
This ediice was built in 1881 and cost from
$4,000 to $4,000 1t is about so feet long with an
alcove for the pulpit recess, and 40 feet wide,
with projecting vestibule in front. The building
committee and leading spirits in the erection of
the church in 1881, were Deacon Appleton
Samuel Parker Thomas Emery, Samuel Dun
nell and Phinehas Hanson, the latter pres
ent on this occasion, in vigorous old age. In
the spring of 1S45, a steeple and bell were add
ed, calling the worshipers to the house of God
with tones of inspiration. Other improve
ments were made and the house furnished with
needed articles, the ladies, as usual, being first
and foremost in the good work. -. ...-.-...,
Decades came and passed away and the desc
lating hand of time caused the church to be-
come unpleasant to the eye, and uncomfortable
generally. The wear and tear of years worked
a sad change in this, as in many another good
ly temple Things material perish and such was
the inevitable experience of this time honored
| sanctuary.
l. THE REBUILDING. -f 10 -l-i
/ Last summer the idea was preached that the
church should be rebuilt, reconstructed and
made modern and attractive. The new and
excellent minister, Rev.. j. M. Burt, at once
earnestly led off in the worthy cause, and the
work began early in September. 1t was ex-
! pected that some few Improvements would be
| made at moderate cost and that the place
would be re-opened Thanksgivingiday, but un-
| der the inspiration of the enterprise, other and
more extensive alterations and improvements
were decided upon. The members and their
friends at home, in Portland, Boston, Cam
bridge and elsewhere, sons and daughters of
good old Buxton, were prompt to respond and
the result is that the church, now completed, is
one of the pleasantest without and most de-
| ightful and attractive within of any village
church in the State.
The church has been raised so as to give
brick basement some 8 #. high, (which has
been constructed at the expense of two worthy
sons of honored mothers, of sainted memory in
the church) the vestry room, the prayer-meet-
ing room, the library, the minister's study and
other rooms, making most welcome place for
religious and social meetings. The main audi
torium is nearly the size Of the church, 4Ox5O
and is very pleasant room. The walls have
been painted whiteI and slightly drab tinted;
the ceiling gently straw tinted ground) and
cornices are tastefully and beautifully frescoed,
the pulpit recess also frescoed into arch, col
umn and relief imitation. ALI these improve
ments are gifts of the same large-hearted sons
of Buxton-one now in Portland. The old
fashioned windows have given way to new ones
OF stained glass of very neat design, with yell
low, blue, red and purple border. A new and
elegant light bronze large 12-lamp chandeliers
pendant from the centre piece, with four small
er three burner lights on each side of the pulpit
and organ gallery, and three single burner
vid H.. hoe; IN,
entries and vestry rooms, and the gifts of two
esteemed sons of the town, one in Portland and
the other in Cambridge, Mass. The pews are
removed and new slips substituted, and painted
in imitation chestnut with black walnut trim
mings, as also is the lower wooden portion of
the four walls and also the organ gallery front,
all corresponding and in good taste Upon the.
entire floor, pews and all, is a new and cosy red
and black figured carpet, and all the seats are
green cushioned provided by the Ladies Social
Improvement Society. The handsome black
walnut pulpit the large red plush chairs, altar
table and chairs, the elegant new Bible and
pastors hymn book, are also gifts from the same
liberal gentlemen as the basement frescoeing
and other work. The black walnut book racks
were furnished by the children whose young
hearts opened large and wide to add to the
goodly contributions. The fine Appleton organ
recently at Free Street Baptist church in Port
land, 1.-THE mutual gift of another worthy son of
the church, now in Portland, and the Young
Peoples Mutual improvement Society has
been set up in the organ recess and suits the
niche capitally. 1t has been renovated and
looks as bright and cheerful as the sunbeams of
perfect day. Upon the walls left of the pull
pit recess is a tasty tablet with the inscription
How amiable arelthy tabernacles o Lord God
of Hosts. Upon the wall to the right of the
pulpit is smaller one, with the inscription,
Il was glad when they said unto me, Let us go
into the house of the Lord The fresco work
was by w. L. Keller of Portland The whole
house, above and below, is heated by a large
furnace, making it warm and comfortable.
The lot ON which the church stands is fenced
and the front is to be made attractive, trees be-
ing planted and grass cultivated.
Such is the new Buxton Centre Baptist
Church and its reconstruction. The cost of the
Improvements is some $4,000 or $4,000, all of
which is provided for, thus making the church
free of debt. With their excellent pastor their
progress will be sure and steadfast
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
At 2 p. m, the services of dedication began
line cnurcn was soon nlled TO completion, IN
Guiding members and friends from adjoining
towns and Portland. The services were very
interesting, and the First Church Congrega-
tional choir of Saco, furnished the music, which
was of a superior character. The choir was
composed as follows: Mrs William Abbott
and Mrs. C. w. Shannon, soprani; Mrs. B. M.
Frink, alto; Mr.. George Grant tenor; Mr.. Al
bert Sawyer, basso; Mr.. c. w. Shannon, organ
list. The exercises were as follows:
Voluntary (Heavenly thoughts); invocation
by Rev. j. A. Ferguson of Alfred; anthem
"Praise the Lord o My SOUP; reading of the
Scriptures Q32d Psalm) by Rev. b. M. Frink of
Saco, (Congregationalst); prayer by Rev. HI.
M Sawtelle of South WATERFORD response by
choir; Hymn $50, 80 God the Father, Christ
the Son.; Sermon by the pastor, Rev. j. NJ.
Burt; dedicatory prayer, by Rev. DR.. w. II.
Smaller of First Baptist church, Portland; ad-
dress by Rev. A X. p. Small of Free Street
Baptist church, Portland; doxology, "Praise
God from whom all blessings flow" benediction
by the pastor.
The sermon by Rev. J. NJ. Burt (pastor) was
from the text, Chronicles, 221-"This is the
house of the Lord God.
In commencing he alluded to the house of
the Lord as being the chief of human struc-
lures, an exponent of the measure of mans
sense of obligation to God and of the acuteness
Of hot of q of