The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-01

At the hour appointed for the morning ser
vice yesterday, Free street church was nhed
with large congregation. 1t was the oeoa-
sion of the recognition by the churcn anu So
c;ety of their new pastor, Rev. James Nc
Winnie. The ewes of the visitor on entering
the church beheld the desk profusely decked
with beautiful flowers In the pulpit and on
the table in front were large callas and other
beautiful flowers. At each end of the plat
form was seen a large arbor vitae.
On the platform were seated the Revs. Drs.
Smaller and Champlin, Rev. Messrs. Burrage,
Rinley and McWhinnie and Mr.. III. A.
Hart.
The services opened with an invocation and
reading of scriptures by the Rev. III. S. Bur-
rage. The choir then finely rendered the an
them .sRejoice the Heart of Thy Servant
HISTORICAL STATEMENTS, ETC, ETC.
Mr.. L. B. Smith, the clerk of the society, after
avery brief introduction, gave historical state
ment of the calling and settlement of the min
listers by the church from the date of its for
nation to the present time, prefacing the state
ment with short sketch of the proceedings
attending the organization of the church.
From this statement or address we gather the
following:
The building in which this church now wor-
ships was formerly used as theatre, having
been erected in the year 1880 for that purpose
1t was purchased by members of the First
Baptist church and society, then better known
as the Federal street church and society. Dec.
18th, 1885, with view of forming second
Baptist church-the purchasers were Alpheus
Shaw, John w. Appleton, Joseph Hay.
Thomas Norton, Byron Greenougb, Nathaniel
Ellsworth, Henry B. Hart and John Day, who
ON the 10Th of the same month conveyed it to
The "Proprietors of the Free Street Baptist
SOCIETY," in consideration of the payment of five
thousand dollars"
On the 18th of February 1886 the first action
looking to the formation of Second Baptist
church was taken by the first church which by
Resolution, approved the action OF the per-
sons in purchasing the theatre for church pur-
pose and appointed committee to consider
the subject and to report the names OF those
individuals who in their opiDion should be set
off to form a new church," This committee
subsequently reported the names or hfty-1Our
persons twelve males and foriy-two females,
who on the 18th of July were on tnelr own APP
plication dismissed from that church, ana on
the 18th day of August recognized by appro'
pirate public services, as the Free Street Bap-
list church of Portland. At the same time,
the house which had been conveniently ntted
up was dedicated to the services OF Almighty
God; Rev. j. S. Maginnis OF the First church
giving the right hand of fellowship and Deacon
John Pearson on behalf of the second church
receiving it. JAM: 18th 1886, the parish or
society as now termed, was organized. OF the
original members of the church there are now
known to be living but ten; two males, Geo;
Francis Clark residing in this city, but not now
connected with this church; eight females.
Mrs. Fl B. Hart, Mrs. Alpheus Shaw, MRS Mary
Walker and Mrs. John X. Hooper, residing IN
this city; Mrs. Sophia Manning residing @o,I IN
Cambridge, Mass, Mrs. John Pearson IN
Newburyport and Mrs. Geo. III. Shirley resid-
ing in Brooklyn, N. Y. -,
The first minister named in connection with
the church, was Rev. r. S. Reynolds, who 1t ap
August 18th 1886, with others "a delegate to
the Cumberland Baptist Association.
1t does not appear in the records OF either the
church or society that this minister was at any
time regularly settled-it is presumed that ne
was employed as temporary supply sftar
the date last mentioned his name does not
again occur. I'll,
) oct. 18th, the church invited Rev. VIM. Phil
lips of Providence, r. /. to become its PASTOR
A month later Mr.. Phillips informed the com
mlttee having the matter in charge that he de
clined the invitation rendered him. am una
BILE to find any person then connected with the
church, who has any recollection OF this minis
ter or of the circumstances connected WIN the
calling of him.
o, Lincoln of Kennebunk, which was accepted
on the 23d of Dec. and on the 18th of Jan. 1887,
he entered upon his duties, remaining until
Oct. 25th 1841, when he resigned the pastorate
after a service of four years and nine months
He shortly after this accepted call to the
Baptist church in Utica, N. Y, and since that
time has been the faithful pastor of two other
churches. Two years ago he was stricken by
stroke of rheumatic paralysis, obllging NM 70
relinquish ministerial labor. his present resi-
dence is at Bridgeton, n. j.
Dec. 9Th, Rev. Lewis Colby of South Ber-
wick was invited to the pastorate, which invl-
tation he accepted and entered upon ms sacred
office on the first Sabbath in Feb. 1842. May
Goth 1874 be rendered his resignation and closed
his term of service on the fonrth Sabbath OF
June, having been pastor two years and tour
months, He has not been settled as pastor OF
any church since that time, though preaching
often to destitute churches. He now resides IN
Cambridgeport, Mass.
July 22nd 1874. call was given to Rev. j. S.
Eaton of Hartford, Conn, and he accepting,
of August, continuing in the discharge of them
until July 18th 1854, when by reason of failing
health he rendered his resignation which was
accepted, filling up a faithful service OF ten
years. His health continued to fail, until. In
the language of his memorialist, He fell on
sleep at his residence in Portland, Saturday
morning, Sept. 9th 1856.
On the first day of January 1855, call to the
pastorate was given to Rev. Geo. w. Bosworth
of South Boston. He entered upon the service
of the church on the 25th of the same month
and remained in it until Aug. 31st 1865, when
he resigned to accept call to the pulpit OF the
Baptist church in Lawrence, Mass. His SER
vice covered period of ten years and seven
months. He has since that time changed his
pastoral relations from the church in Lawrence
to the first Baptist church in Haverhlll, Mass,
where he now resides.
Oct. 18th Rev, ]. c. Stockbridge d. u. OF
PHILADELPHIA was invited to become pastor;
accepting the invitation he entered upon his
duties Nov. 18th, continuing until July 7th 1861
when he rendered his resignation and closed
ministry of one year and eight months with
this people. He moved from this city to Provi-
dence r. l., Immediately after his resignation,
where he took charge of Female Seminary;
whether he is still in charge of it am unable
to say. though his residence still remains at
that place.
On the 18th of November the church called
Rev. A. X. P. Small of Bangor to the pastoral
office-this call he accepted on the LIST OF rep
ruary 1868 and entered upon his ministry mere
March Sth-he remained until he rendered his
resignation and terminated his pastoral rela-
tions April 3d. 1874 to take on new ones with
the LIST Baptist Church in Fall River, Mass,
where he now remains-completlng service
with us of six years and one month.
Thus it will be seen that this church has
been made happy and prosperous by the faith
full service of six ministers in the nearly thirty.
nine years of its existence; the average time OF
service of each pastor being five years and
eleven months; and during these years 1t has
been deprived of the supervision OF a pastor
two wears and eight months
June 10th Rev. Henry M. King OF Boston, a
native of this city, was invited to the pastoral
office, which on the LIST of the month following,
he declined to accept, deeming it to be his pres
ept duty to remain with the people where, as it
appeared, the mutual attachments were too
strong to be broken by the urgent call which
was pressed upon him by u.s..
By the action of the church on the 3oth OF
November last, with the approval of Society ON
the 9TH of December following, call was ex-
tended to and subsequently accepted by the
messenger of Peace whom the Chairman OF
your Committee is to introduce to us to-day, as
one who is to be our pastor, teacher, leader amp
friend.
Mr.. Smith introduced, at the close of his ref
erence to the settlement of each living pastoral
letter from that pastor, containing words OF
greeting and congraJulation, expressing the
warmest interest in the church of their former
labors, of sympathy and hope for the pastor
elect, and assurances that the sweet fellowship
and harmouy which first had bound them to
this people remain even till this day unbroken.
Me- Henry A. Hart then arose and intro
J,oad tho no stor tn tho ponorauafiop in q w arm