Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-23
Az HIsrentuaL DIscorRsn.
TIE Legal and EecIesiastica! History of
Chris: Church, l., tllis rity-lnterestinE


A. Curtis an abstract OF which we give our aders.
Mr.. Curtis said this had been the religious home o
Christ Church, for nearly fifty years. Deep and i'm
pressve thoughts awakened this occa zion
During these years thi. house of prayer has become
symbol OF rcyercn' aud Impressive thoughts Th
church, though not venerable in years as human af
fairs generally considered reaches back In its his
| tory 10 the time when the liberal movement in. re-
ligious thought was in its formative period. Its
story part OF the history OF that great religion,
awakening, which l. leading men toward the light
which is sweesning the springs of spiritual faith il
the churches Totrace the beginnings Of liberal re
ligion In Augusta, must go back the year 1909
10 the South Parish Meeting house then just decat
cl. This at the time was the only religious society
in what is now the city proper They without
pastor and were hearing candidates. Rev. Andrew,
Norton afterwards Professor at Harvard), and Rev
William Ellery Claiming preached trial. but
some objected TO their liberal views, anc
others of more Orthodox opinions were
heard. When the time for final decision came
Rev. Benz. Tappan chosen by bare majority o.
one vote. Notwithstanding the diversity Of view.
they wOrshipped together for n number of wears un
der Mr.. Tappau, but in lsg5 the liberal element with
| drew aud met under liberal preaching in the Court
! House and Female Academy. petition was drawn
division oi the south Parish and the Incorporation
the East Parish. This petition was signed by Dante
lOly anu Two others. lhey said, among othe
things, "inamy circumstances at the present time
combine to render II proper and necessary that a
parish should be established. Thereby there is rea
son to hope that harmony, good will. and Christian
concord will be promoted and pcrpetuated in thi.
place The PRAYER was granted, and an act passed
ihcorporaingthe East Parish, Jan. 3D. 1870.
| II was desirable that a church should be erected
for the use Of the Society. The money raised by
the sale of pews, and building constructed on the
East side. 1t dedicated Oct. 18TH 1927 As Beth
lehem Church" Rev. Mr.. Ford Of Massachusetts,
was installed the first pastor of the East Parish
the sermon being preached by Rev. orville Dewey Of
! New Brunswick Al the close Of the public services
on the Lord, day. March -. 1872 the members pres
cut appointed comnittee to consider the expedien
ey ofiorning Church The committee consisted OF
| Rev. WIN. Ford, Daniel Cony, George Crosby, Pitt
| Dillingham;, John Brooks, Nathaniel Robinson and
! Cyrus Brggs. The committee reported In favor OF
the fOrma Ion of "the Christian Church Of the East
! Parish in Augusta" and also covenant protesting
"belie in Tie One living and true God; our faith in
| His SON, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour" and
receiving the Holy Scriptures the rule or faith and
guide OF life. and pledging to observe the ordinances
ofhe Gospel of Christ, and to live together in peace
! love and charity.
AT meeting of the members II was voted to accept
| the report, and that the Covenant be copied and
signed by all who wished to unite with the church
But ono Of the original signers is now living Malam
Dillingham;, now living in Portland, ninety
age, to whose sketch of the history of the
ciey Mr. Curtis Was indebted for many of the facts
| lac gave.
The chur1, soon received large acces.ions. and a
sabbath school was organized with competent teach
ers. Bat before long there began to be mis-
rast in regard To the doc;rna tencs of the minister
X ascerained that he had formerly been pastor
| If u Calyinlstic church at the south There were
| other causes Of dissatisfaction and Mr.. Ford was
| dismissed in 1851. For long time after this he
| claimed to be their legal pastor.
| For a time the pulpit was supplied by transient
preachers On account Of expenses and various los.
/ Sc, aid was bestowed by the American Unitarian
Association Rev: Allen Putnam was ordained and
settled n pastor Nov b. 1881. Finding II necessary
that the plare OF worship should be- west Of the ry
lot was purchased in IA central position State
street, and the construction of new church upon IL
/ Na he'll p,ied
| i;ated on the 18th OF that month, Ebcn Fuller was
chairman of The building committee. Mr.. Putnam
resigned his charge in Jan. 1884 Rev. Edward II
| Edes pastor from 1850 to 1850
Among those who afterwards supplied the pulpit
was Rev. sylvester Judd Of Northampton, Mass,
then a recent graduate of the Divinity School at
Cambridge. lie received a unanimous callto become
pastor, which he accented and was duly ordained
Peabody Of Portsmouth, n H. Mr.. Judd had tho.
! roughly equipped himself for service. He was 4
truthful man In love with the distinctive features Of
liberal theology and loving and disci.
! pie ofGospel Truth He EXTENDED the largest meas.
ure of charity to all He strove not so much to add
To the numbers of the church a. 10 emil ghten the
ders,aDdings and purify the hearts Of all who placed
| themselves within his niunce. He drew up u dec
araton of faith which was adopted as the rule and
| guide of Christ Church" In ls53, Mr. Judd was
removed by death from the of his usefulness
The funeral services were performed on the Sabbath
| after his decease, in the church where he had so
| long ui'iciaied The interior of the church was
draped In mourning. bnt the hearts of the crowded
| audience In deeper shadows.
/
| had leh it, and banded themselves firmly to.
gether for future operations For time the pulpit
was supplied until July %. 1854, when Rev l.. G.
| Ware Of Boston, was installed as pastor. He re-
signed in Jny. 1857. and went to Burlington VI.
Rev Geo. W. Bartlett Of Iitehheld, WAS installed
| oct. IA, 1858, who continued pastor until Jan.
! uary, 1850, being succeeded by Rev. Henry
! W. Brown, who was ordained June |, 1860, and
remained in eha5Se Of the pulpit until August.
! c. Beach of Marion. y. Y, now Of Dedham, Mass.
mnstered to the society. lie was followed by Rev.
WIN. A. Cram of Hampton Falls, y, H. The next
BOSTON. who installed July, is73, and resigned
sept, 1874 tn Jan, 1875. the present pastor. Rev.
! G. A. Curtis. began preaching for the society. He
was ordsinrd and formally Installed june -, 1876
The liberal movement here, 1t will be seen. dates
from 1925. The legal history of the society dates
from ls2d. when the East Parish was Incorporated.
/ Its Ecclesiastical history dates from 1870 when
! Betl,iehfn Church was formed. In 1916, at Mr..
Jndd's suggestion, the society reorganized un-
der the name of Christ Church." but it has been
found that his plan. though generous in theory,
not prac eai IN Its working, for bv the laws of the
state only those of legal age could be members Of an
incorporated society and therefore during the pa,
| wear the legal sorieiy has been recognized as the
"Unitaran society Of Augusta" retaining the eccle
! siastca organization under the name of "Christ
| Church.. H. Ms Judd proposed.
The sneiety has had its seasons Of prosperity, Us
It's interest was nj ebb tide when only the faith of
few was len 10 counieract the apathy Of the many
and there have been times when, strong and energet
ic counting on It's roll the names of many Of the head
ing families IN the place, II has been recognized
power in the community. But reverses will come 10
! ALL The philosophy of existence is never to give uI
hoping and working: for whatever has right to liy
! viii live.
We represent religious views which are in essence
the onlV form of re zion that minds assent
to- If ihev to areept religion at all it must be
| rational Faith flGt such persons may be religious
~ Interested. aud not merely liberal thinkers, that
their spiritual want NAV be n'nistsred unto, Is this
| soritv's rf,~ for being. new church edifrc |.
| Necessary, not altogether that may have more
attractive place of worship, but because the present
house could not longer be used without extensive re
pas We take leave If the old, hoping to re ASSEM-
! i,ic |. u new hlidina which will be II wecoIne home
| wher' rI laany Nsars 10 GONE We shall meet with
reyerent hearts IN services or maFshil and prayer
and where the social tie shall be strengthened AND
maie more ar:ive ami helpful. The associations Of
this place and the example of the good and true who
have I1,sl, from their worship here to higher AMI
tru"r ~eryirc amt irir loving words will remain Il
| encourage aud cheer ns
The spiritual l. greater than the temporal. And a.
man when he leaves this earthly tabernacle enter
into frecr AMI truer life, trust Christ Churcl
in exchanging this tabernacle for one more worthy
NAV take new life, reconsecrate itself. And
with wider opportunities for Christian work sery IL,
| mission In widening the bounds Of Gods Kingdom
| ~ the earth.
|
BOwdoln College items,
At meeting of the Athletic Association