The Portland daily press., 1875-07-05

Drs. Carruthcrs and Flskc, ETC., etc.
Yesterday occurred the formal dedication of
the Payson Memorial Church. Nine years ago
yesterday the church of this society was burned
to the ground, but through the persevering eff
forts of the members of the society and their
friends they were yesterday enabled to dedicate
their new church edifce to the worship of God.
services throughout the day yesterday were
very interesting, and the sister churches of all
denominations were well represented ia the
large audiences which filled the church at each
service.
The following sketch of the society may be
of interest:
HISTORIC SKETCH.
The formation of the Second Parish Society
was the result of dissensions in the old First
Parish in the year 1856. Having suffered Sc
verely by the burning of the town in 1856 by
the British, they felt the burden of supporting
two ministers, and some wanted Parson Smith
to relinquish his salary, while others were dis
satisfied with the location of the meeting house
anu WClO 1Oi d uCW OuC. 1A1 ldot, III
September, 1887, the disputes eliminated in a
separation of the disaffected, and the Second
Parish Society was formed. At that time the
two societies were in accord in their religious
views, and their ministers exchanged pupits
and were in perfect fellowship. The first pastor
of the Second Parish was the Rev. Elijah KEEL
log, who commenced his miniStrations in 1887,
and continued them for twenty years. He died
in.1S42 in the SD year of his age. In 1907, the
Rev. Edward Payson was settled with him as
colleague pastor. 1t was during his ministry
that the barrow breach between the religious
views Of the two societies wdened into gulf
Mr.. Payson refused to consent to the ordination
of DR.. Nichols of the First Parish on the ground
that he was propagating an error and was not
in fact Christian minister. From this period
fellowship between the two churches ceased
and the First Parish embraced Unitarianism,
while the Second became firmly Orthodox. Mr.
Payson died in 1927 Then followed the short
pastorates of Rev. Bennett Tyler, Rev. Joseph
Vail, and Rev. j. Condit, covering the years
from 1926 to 1916, when the Rev. John J. Car
ruthers, the present pastor of the church, was
installed. Many of the congregational socie-
ties have sprung directly from this church. In
1925, a number of members we've dismissed in
order to form the Third church. In 1881, fifty
seven members were dismissed and formed the
High Street church, now presided over by the
Rev. w. ii. Fem. In July, 1885, twenty-five
colored members were dismissed and formed
the Abyssnian society; since which the State
street, Plymouth, Bethel, and st. Lawrence
have been organized, the Second Parish con
tributing largely of its members to each. By
the fire of 1866 the socetys church building
was destroyed, and the members suffered Sc
verely In their private property. Yet with
wonderful pluck nine days after this disaster
they met and determined upon the erection of
the new edifce, which was dedicated yester-
day, and which is fitting monument to their
untiring energy and personal sacrifice.
THE CHURCH EDIFICE.
On passing up Congress street from the City
building, the new church on the left hand cor
ner of Pearl street is the first object to attract
the eye of the passer-by. 1t 10 of brick with a
fine granite front. The architecture is of Ro-
manesque order, and is considered very tasty
The building is 1903 feet in length, and II feet
wide. The tower and spre are $50 feet high,
and are models of grace and beatty.
Three doors admit to the entry, from the
street. From the centre of the entry broad
stairs lead to the vestry in the basement,
while on either side are spacious circular stairs
leading to the vestibule above. From here four
doors open to the auditorium while on either
side winding stairs run to the galleries. The
view of the inside of the church is very fine.
The walls are high and of pure white. There
are four aisles and 1913 pews. The pews are of
white ash, oiled and trimmed with black wal
nut. Each pew has cushion of light gray
color. The carpet covering the floor is of a
brown and drab color, the brown making a
fern leaf, and is very pretty. The ceiling is of
stucco panel work, and looks as tasty as could
be wished. Depending from the ceiling are
two large star gas burners, which light the
church finely, with the assistance of the gas
jets from the galleries.
In the rear of the church there is a recess IA
by feet, which is occupied for the desk of the
preacher. The desk itself is of plain black
walnut,and is of unusually small size. The plat
form is raised but little from the floor, and is
approached on either side by circular steps.
We have in former notice of the church
spoken of the memorial windows, but we will
say here that the windows are of colored glass.
and four of them are memorial windows. The
first one on the right of the pulpit is inscribed
presented by e. Payson Thwing" The Sec
ond, "From the Sabbath school. Prov 2, ~
and the third, Gin memory of Arthur Shirley;
died Jan. 20, 1864, aged 81 years" The first
one on the left of the pulpit is inscribed ''H. A.
r. hu n r, M % ba capopI of
Sarah Skllings; died Sept. 10, 1855, aged 60
years" and on the smaller windows on either
side are the inscriptions, "Lord, have loved
the habitation of thy house, and 'tFor We have
the poor with you always" The next window
is inscribed 6" E. G. L. and the fourth I" H.
c.
The galleries contain AZ pews and are very
pleasant sittings. The front of the gallery is
finished in course of arches supported by pill
| lars, and painted white. From the audience
| room below it looks very tasty.
In the rear of the gallery the organ is placed
! so as to face the pulpit. AS we have already
| stated the instrument was built by Geo. Stew
| ems of East Cambridge, and cost $500, Th,
| compass of manuals, &C to A is IS notes, Th,
compass of pedals CCC to d is q notes. Their
are % stops. 36 registers, and 1,434 pipes, al
| follows:
| Great Organ Open Dapason-5S pipes
Gambia, IS; Salcional, SO; Melodia, So; Flute
IS; Octave, IS; Twelfth, So; Fifteenth, IS
Mixture, 3 b. 174, Trumpet, 46.
| Swell Organ-Bandar B and T, IS pipes; Opel
Diapason. So; Viol D'Amour B and 7, So
Dalce, So Stops Diapason b and T. So
Principal IS; Valid Flute, So; Piccolo, IS
Cornet, 9 Il, 1l6; Coruopean B and T, So; Oboe
| 46.
| Peddls-Double Diapason and Vialcello.
Mechanical Register-Coupler, Cir. and Sw.
do CIR. and Sw., 8 o. TremoIo; Pedal Cuch
| Bellows Signal.
Combinal Pedals-No. draws on full organ
No. 2draws off all but No. 3 (salicionaD
The church will comfortably seat 1000 pei
SONS. Below the main audience roo m is spa
cious vestry seating upwards of 800 persons
For several years this room has been used fc
public worship by the society. 1t can be Ell
tered on either side of the building or from To
front. liz addition to the regular vestry room
there are several smaller apartments for com
mttee meetings, etc.