The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-20
Interesting Parish History.
YARMOUTH, April II, 1872.

YARMOUTH, April II, 1872.
To the Editor of the Press: l,t a
A few lines relating to the history of the
"Old Parish and Church in Yarmouth" may
not be altogether without interest to some Of
the readers of the Press. The church was
organized in 1870, being the tenth in Maine.
The first pastor was Rev. Ammi R. Cutter,
and among the male members, the beauty Of
whose lives commands the admiration of
many of the present time, were Samuel Sea-
bury, Jacob Mitchell, Joseph Chandler and
Benjamin Prince:-fathers of many families
of those names now living in this and other
towns of New England. There were others
of equal note but space viii not allow the
mention of their names. All were men Of
pluck and endurance, and worthless of undy-
ing fame. a
"The first meeting house was raised, as
says history" in 1929, and was boarded the
same year. In this state it was used as a
house of worship through two severe winters
much to the grief Of the people. 1t was not
clapboarded till five years after, and not till
1889, ten year after were the pews put in and
divided among the proprietors." The site OH
place now known as the cold meeting house
lot below the ledge" spot yet sacred to
many as place where happened some of
.'The mighty deeds olT- g
7.a Which God performed Of DID," Avn +
Among the many trials that they had to
endure, the Indians were not the least. Self
protection required that the men should 60
armed, as well on the Sabbath, as on week
days. Hence, often it was that the Bible
and the musket went to the house of God to-
gether. And the old house showed by the
bullet holes in its sides, that there had been
troublous times. --s., -s...-. ..'t.. n
A ''horse block" was thought to be a nee
essary fixture by church-goers in those times,
which be it known, was block sawed off
from large log of sufficient length, which
when set up on end would be high enough to
make it easy for the women, who rode to
meeting on horseback seated on a ''pillion'
behind the man to step off on. Carriages
were an unknown convenience then, and
those who rode at all, had to ride on horse
back. The husband, wife, and one or more
children. -a H,E I -aa lra l.9 aa
After the close of the services, the process
of "taking on" were to be gone through with.
In order to avoid confusion, each man on his
horse, in turn, would ride up to the block !;
and while devoutly meditating on the subject
of the sermon from the "frstly" to the '1ast-
ly'-"conclusion and application would by
crooked paths seek the home miles away, for
the limits of the old parish were not contract
ed by narrow bounds. What are now the
towns Harpswell, Freeport, Pownal, Cumber-
land, and North Yarmouth, were once the
territory of this parish. aa- 'ft --1
Let those now enjoying the comforts OF
furnacc-warmed churches, with cushioned
pews, carpeted floor, short prayers and short
and aaay-rsdinn II,
mind that such were not known in primitive
times of the new world. 4.-.E ..........r
Prosperous, and a shining light, the old
church and parish continued on for the space
of ninety years under the several ministerial
charges of the Rev. Messrs. Loring, Brooks,
Gilman, Brown, and Curtis, till 1917, Decem-
Der 18th, when meeting of the "Freeholders
and other inhabitants of said parish, qualified
by law to vote in parish meetings was called
to consider the expediency of removing the
place of public worship. At which meeting
it was voted THAT it is expedient to remove
the place of worship. a.-f .-t4.s ..-.
At an adjourned meeting, Jan. s, 1918. af-
ter good deal of hard talk and show OF
bad feeling and long protest from the mi
nority, vote was had by polling the house,
on adopting the following resolve: "That this
parish do approve the lot adjoining the south
erly side of the Academy lot, as a suitable site
for new meeting house. That provided in
dividuals will at their own cost and charge
erect decent and convenient meeting house
on said site, at cost not exceeding $1,000
the same when finished shall be accepted and
improved as house of public worship 70,
this parish" The vote was SO in favor ani
43 opposed. e.e s-...
The meeting house was built, and on ac
cepting the same, agreeable to the resolve. 81
voted for, and % against it,
The dedication took place Oct. 18th, 1918
The minority was large and stubborn, anC
did not fall into line, but still worshipped in
the old house, under the name of the Chapel
congregational society, with Rev. Noah Cres-
sey pastor, until 1888, when it became ex'
tinct, its members uniting with other
churches.
After this little ''unpleasantness" the old
church and parish enjoyed many seasons Of
refreshing and prosperity-till the spring o.
| 1859, when a large number OF the wealthy
and influential left and organized the Central
| Church and society. Severe and Gripping as
| This blow seemed for a season, the effect up
On those remaining was only good. A more
nerfect union was asestablished, and in 1867, on
= lot purchased of Ammi Storer, they built q
new Westinghouse, at a cost together with
the lot of more than $25, 200.
From the date of the organization, previ
GUS to 1870, this old parish has continued ar
unbroken organization; unaffected by any O
the ''isms" that have come and gone durin.
this time. Its influence for good, for the flu
ture, appears as bright as its record shows /
to have been in the past.
At the annual meeting held on the 9th inst
the Treasurer reported that all the debts hat
been paid, including the ministers salary, ane
handsome little sum left in the treasury