The Portland daily press., 1876-07-24

Dr. shaiIer-An Interesting Account of
the Rise and Growth of Baptist senti-
ment in Portland.
Yesterday afternoon the seventy-ffth anni-
versary of the organization of the First Bap-
church in this city. Rev. W. II. Shailer DID,,
pastor, was observed with appropriate exer-
cises. The church is one of the largest, most
harmonious and vigorous in the state, and it
enters upon the last quarter of its first GEN.
tury's existence with every outward promise of
| greater prosperity than it has yet realized The
history of the First Baptist church is the his
| tory of the rise and growth of Baptist senti-
| ment in this CITY,
| After other appropriate references to the &C.
casion the pastor delivered very interesting
historical sermon based upon the last clause of
the 18th verse of 4Sth Psalm-"That We may
| tell it to the generation following" The text
| is taken from the Psalmist's description of Je-
rusalem. He called attention to its beauty and
| strength and asked those whom he addressed
| to mark it well that they might tell it to the
generations which follow. The text was par
| ticularly applicable to this occasion. This
| church, said the pastor, has history of three
quarters of century-more than two genera
tions-so that we can only know its early strug-
giles, its feeble growth its triumphs and its
efforts from q generation who have heard it
| from their fathers and mothers. Seventy-fve
years ago, Maine was not a state and Portland
| was only small seaport town with two
churches of the standing order" peculiar to
New England and one of the Epis copal order
Religious liberation had been secured, still the
law existed for taxing all for the support Of tie
standing order who could not certify that they
regularly attended some other church. About
1869 few persons Of the First Parish church
became interested in the subject of religion and
were hopefully converted, This awakened a
spirit of inquiry in their minds. To them the
standing order as it existed here at that time
seemed sadly defective in Spirituality. The
gospel was not preached in its purity. and
these few earnest seekers became INCREASINGLY
dissatisfied.
Under these circumstances several of their
number were accustomed to attend worship
with Mr.. Clarke in Cape Elizabeth. but he
was soon removed by death. These believers
then met at the house of Mr.. Benjamin Tit
comb, printer Q797-S) for worship, which
consisted of prayer, psalm-singing and the
reading of occasional sermons. Not more than
six persons attended. These few believers
were the objects of ridcule and sometimes of
an opposition which amounted almost to per-
secution.
At that time this little band were not Bap-
fists nor even a tendency in that direction.
About this time they concluded that it would
be more profitable to study the scripture than
it would be to read sermons. Accordingly they
formed themselves into Bible class. Soon
the number of this little band was increased
aud there was revival among them. Up to this
time they had heard no Baptist preaching or
had no intercourse with persons holding Baptist
sentiments. But following the teachings of the
Bible they had come to consider the subject of
baptism. Their views were changed by study
and they came to believe that baptism meant
the immersion of believers. This was the
origin of the Baptist churches in this city.
Benjamin Titcomb, before alluded to, was the
first OF the number to yield practically to this
condition, In 1879, he went to North Var
mouth and was baptized by DR.. Greene and
united with the Baptist church there. From
this time the meetings held by this band were
known at Baptist meetings. although there was
no distinct organization. Up to this time (last
of the year 1900 meetings had been held in
private houses; but increasing attendance re-
quired the use of the school house on Union
street and afterwards large room in the third
story OF store on Middle street which occu-
pied part of the present site of the Falmouth
now occasionally favored with Baptist
preaching and in the courses of
the next eighteen months eight or nine more
baptized. These formed the nucleus about
which all those who worshiped with them
seemed to cluster.
The question of forming a church was soon
agitated and measures We're taken to this end.
Articles of faith were adopted and council
invited to organize them into a church. The
council convened July oath, 1901, and "being
satisfied with their faith and order gave them
their fellowship. The number of members was
only ten, but three of whom were males. Small
in numbers this little band was strong in faith
In the September following they invited Rev.
B. Tltcom6, who was ordo on by the associa-
ton as an Evangelist, in 1901, to become their
pastor. That year the church united with the
B0wdOinham Association, the only one in
Maine. That year the church reported mem
bership Of IA, and the year following 10. In
1902 measures were taken to build house of
worship. A lot was secured ON Federal street,
and in July. 1903, small, plain building was
erected. A larger congre CATION was the result
and deep religious interest followed The
number of members was increased to 80.
In 1904 Mr.. Titcomb felt it his duty to go else
where amp the church reluctantly gave him
letter of dismission to the church in Brunswick
the pastorate of which he retained until 1926.
The church had no pastor until Oct 1907,
Wnen Mr. JOSIAH converse was ORDAINED and
was pastor until April 1910. When he became
the pastor of the church it numbered g..
About 40 were added during his faithful minis
tration. Rev. Caleb Blood succeeded in June
1870 Mr.. Blood was man of experience and
an earnest preacher. When he came, the
church numbered 1O5 including some of the
most active and respected citizens of the town.
The Westinghouse was soon found to be too
small, and in Nov. 1910 the society decided to
build larger house, which resolution was so
fIxy rsaI .y,Ro
was completed for occupancy and dedicated
July IL, 1911. Mr. Blood delivered the sermon
on the occasion which was historical. One re-
maIkable fact mentioned in that sermon was
that no member had died during its existence
of ten years. The church building was 61x64
#. exclusive of the vestibule and the same with
many alterations and improvements in which
the society worshipped until the great fire of
1866 Mr.. Blood labored with the church with
zeal and fidelity until his death in March 1914.
The church was without settled pastor I'M
til the autumn of 1916, when Mr.. Thomas B,
Ripley, licentiate, under twenty years of age,
graduate of Brown University, regularly sup
piled the pulpit. He was the first man of lib
eral EDUCATION who occupied the pastoral Office.
DIR. Smaller thus speaks of him: "His very
youthful appearance, the transparency and
purity of his character, his simplicity and hon
esty of purpose, his sincere and devout piety,
his clear scriptural teaching and his gentle and
affable manner, all contributed to make his ser.
months, he was invited to take the pastoral care
and was ordained July "a, 1916, several months
before he was twenty-one years of age In
1917 the Sabbath school was established. Mr..
Ripley remained pastor until March 1925 When
he left the church numbered two hundred and
forty members. The subsequent life OF this de-
voted man is well known. He died May 4,
1876, aged 81 years, and in the sixty-first year
OF his ministry; leaving" as DR.. Smaller re-
marks, ''as legacy, the memory of reputa-
ton unblemished-the record of a sincere disci-
pie and faithful servant
The next pastor was Rev. Ebenezer Thrasher
who was ordained Dec. Is, 1925 He held the
relation of pastor fifteen months. He was af-
forwards editor of the Christian Watchman,
and is now living in Ohio, where he has ac-
quired fortune in secular business, which he
employs generously for the Masters cause.
In November, $780, Rev. George Leonard be-
came pastor. He was in feeble health when
he came to Portland and entering zealously in
to a revival which followed he was Frustrated
by over exertion and died of consumption Au-
gust II, 1881. AS the results of his labors more
than forty were added to the church.
John S. Magnnis was the next pastor. He
was ordained in Sept, 1882, and filled the office
of pastor with ability until July, 1887. When
he became pastor, the church had two hundred