The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-15
Another GI,nrch.


Another church? Yea, verify; the congrega-
ton worshipping in the chapel on Danforth
street, corner of May, has decided to move its
place of worship to the corner of Thomas and
Carroll streets The ground was broken on
Thursday, AMI the building is to be pushed for
ward with all the dispatch consistent with good
workmanship.
Another church excites in a few, different
feelings from those suggested by new block OF
stores, or another hotel Some oppose move
ment of this kind from fear they may be in
vited to invest in the proposed Sanctuary; they
are Indifferent regarding churches as OF secon-
Diary Importance and belonging to the orna-
mental element of municipal growth In the es-
timation of such, stocks and steamers. wharves
and ware houses are of the first Importance.
Ihese make no complaint OF increased railroad
and depot accommodations. A large invest
ment years since in dry dock, excited no COM
plant though then obviously in advance of our
commercial necessity.
The demand for another Church should be
judged by the same considerations as call for
new school house, do the increate of popa-
lation and the convenience of the district re-
quire any additional facilities?
The two or three churches, the Two or three
charitable institutions, the two or three hotels
to be seen when in early boyhood we first Wis
tied Portland are now increased to a score and
half; streets and shipping have multiplied to
with corresponding commercial facilities, till
these are now counted by hundreds. Within
twenty years we have taken our children to
skate in the upper portions of the city now COW
cred by sitely residences Those once CLASSY
fields of ice are now cut by streets and marked
by evidences of the highest civilization. The
living tide still flows westerly. Citizens living
above State Street now represent one third of
our population; the city map shows this section
to embrace one-third of the area of the peninsu-
la. and the tax-lst proves that one third of the
money-value is there also. This rich, populous
and popular section is the West-Eud of Port
land it is beautiful for situation, the pride and
joy of all who dwell therein.
1t is with cities as with countries, centres of
population and of business change with growth.
Our old market house perhaps, when built, was
in advance of the business, and however prom
inent an object in the respect and vision of the
early builders, it was not deemed prudent to
locate the first churches above it. When Mr.
Longfellow, the Poets father, changed his res
idence to the site near the Preble House, from
the "beached margent by the sea-" his family
undoubtedly felt that they were moving cup
town." This hitherto indefinite goal has now
become fixed one. The CONFORMATION of our
city on the west says most emphatcally,
Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further:
and here shall thy proud waves be stayed
The large district which now, and must for
ever. constitute, the uptown of our city, is not
provided with church accommodations. Fam
lilies are three-eighths of mile from the near.
est house of worship. Many are removed at
least full mile from the three original Congre-
gational churches downtown. The lot pur-
purchased by Willston Church is one mile
from City Hall, and in the geographical centre
of the section above State street. Those inter-
ested in church edifce at this point will be
glad to know, not only that Williston Church
has decided to "arise and buld,' but that
friends in the Mother Church and other par
ishes, shave strengthened their hands for this
work. L.