Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-06
Gardner local Nems.

The first meeting OF a series, commemorative
Of the dedication of the Methodist Episcopal
church W.T. ich event took place December 4th 1923,
was held Wednesday evening in the audience
room of the church. The exercises were opened
by singing the 65Sth hymn 10 the lily nnsl begin
ming.
Thy mercy heard my infant prayer
Thy love, with all a mothers care,
Sustained nv childish DAYS;
Thy z bodness watched nv ripenny youth
And formed nv heart to love thy truth,
And filed my lips with praise.
Rev. Mr.. Lindsey read the "a h chapter of Acts
beginning with the 10th verse. PRAYER. touching
and appropriate, was offered bv Rev. Chsrles W.
Morse former pastor. Then followed the sing
ing OF b, mn, which was composed by Moses
Springer, and sang at the dedication Of the house
fifty years ago. The sermon was by Rev W. F.
Harrington, one Of the early pastors. who has
nearly reached his four score wears. He stated
that bv reason Of bodily inhrnites he had been
unable to prepare discourse especially for tins oc-
| cason. Ills text was Acts "a .l6. "And herein
do exercise myself, to have always conscience
void Of offence toward God, and toward men"
The sermon was carefully prepared essay upon
| "ConscieDce. wherein the preacher proved by ar
gumept and illustration that conscience is saie
guide on'y when carefully educated in accord.
ance with Gods written word
The preacher In his preparatory remarks gave
the following statistics Of the origin and growth
Of the Methodist church in this city. In the year
1900 seve' al Of the jweers the east side OF the
kennebec river opposite Hallowell, invited Rev.
Comfort Z smith and Epsphrss kilbv to preach
for them, which they did until 1902, when the
Methodist Conference recognized the field as
circuit, embracing all the towns from Richmond
to Skowheean. This was called the "Halloweil
Cucuit and Revs. Comfort {. Smith and Aaron
Humphrey were appointed to IT. In 1903 the
people erected house of worship at Bowmans
point near the house Of Peter Grant; hut II was
6nI-het TO the tPudenty of the
pie to concentrate in the two villages OF HailOwel
and Gard ner. 1t was. however, occasionally used
for worship until 1880, when the building was
taken down. Here the germ Of the Methodist
church in Gardiner was started. The leading
men iu the organ alton Of the church were Moses
Springer. SEN. Eieazer Crowell lchabod Pais-
It'd, James McCurdy, VIM. Spinner, Daniel Plum
mer, James Miller Stephen Robinson, Na'hl.
Sweetand and Harlow Harding, with their FAM
lies
In l-2l Augusta. IIallowell and Gardiner were
set of from the rest af the circuit ana Rev Cna-.
Virgin appointed preacher having q church mem
beiship of 3l4. Rev. ID. Hutchinson was APP
pointed pre- acher in 1922, and vices were he'd
10 Gardiner. part OF tue time 10 the school house
on Methodist Hill and part of the time in the old
Episcopal church.
Daring this year Richard Clay. E.q., built the
church so long known the yellow meeting
house. at his own expense and told Rev. Mr..
Hutchinson tba. be had given the house to the
Lord and the key TO lchabod Plsisted,' polite
and generous invitation to occupy il, which the
society did until Dec. 4th, 1925 when the present.
house was dedicated to the service of God. The
dedication sermon on that occasion was preached
bv Rev. John Newland Nsff I, a notable preach
,r from New York city. His text "WhJ
Art thou, . great mountain 7"
Quite a number of persons were present at the
services Wednesday evening who were present
fifty years before, AMI who remember distinctly
the preacher and his sermon at that time. This
yesr-lS2S-Gardner was set off from the circuit
a. q station, and Rev. John Arwel was stationed
here for Two years, the membership then beng
l59 He has been succeeded by the following pas
tors 10 the order named -Revs. S ephen Water
house, Justin Spauiding, X. f. Schcrmerhorn, A.
Ssndeison, j. b. Hustled, J. W. Atkin-, Moses
Hal, W. F. harrington, John Hobart, Geo Web
oer n d. George, I. Greenhalph. Moses Hill,
Eaton shaw and j. olby. These occupied the
-ts,ion from 1928 to 1851, when there was a mem
ber.hip OF 400 From 1851 to the present time
the following have lied the pastoral station, viz:
Revs. g. Weboer, j. Z. Aspin~al, Parker
jacques, d. B. Randall, Chas. Munger.
II. b. Abbott, e. {. Mason, Chas. Munger, Chas.
w. Morse, +. 4. Brown, VIM. 5. Jone., John +.
Huchins and Rev. Mi. Lindsey the present IN
cumbcnt.
In seventy six years fifty eight resch.rs have
been stationed on the circuit, and Gardiner station
commencing with lD members and end NJ with
ga the present membership. Nearly 500 con
versions have taken place in one church. tie pres
ent church. Only one OF The original pew own
els Is now livn.-John Piaised. About 400
members have died since the organization of the
church.
Thursday afternoon and evening was &C.
cupied with social reunion of former
pre- chers, aud addresses suited to the occasion.
The remaining exercises vii! be As follows, VIZ:
Friday evening, Sunday School anniversary,
which all the officers and scholars of the past
and present are cordially invited to attend.
Saturday evening an address will be delivered
on The 1riunphs OF Method sm," by the Rev. G.
b. Pitblado. of Portsmouth, y. H.
Sunday, both MOI ming and afternoon, Rev. &.
B. Piblado will preach, and on Monday evening
at 7. 80 he will deliver lecture on big Guns"
in the church. Admission 10 lecture adults Is
cents; children - cents