The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-09-03
sEMI-CENTENNrAL
OBSERVED BY THE NEW JERUSALEM
CHURCH.
Address by the Rev. Mr.. Hayden and
Others Last Evening.

|
Address by the Rev. Mr.. Hayden and
Others Last Evening.
The semi-centennial celebration OF the found
ing of the New Jerusalem Society took place
last evening at the church on High street. At
half-past there was social reception in the
vestry, which was attended by a largo number
of the members of the society and their friends.
Several guests from abroad were present, in
Guiding Hon. ]. Young Scammon, ex-mayor Of
Chicago; Mr.. Charles Little, of Boston, son of
DR.. Timothy Little, the founder of the New
Jerusalem Society; Mr.. Joseph Ropes, of Sa-
lem, Mass, formerly Portland artist Rev.
Theodore Wright, of Massachusetts, and
Others. After very pleasant social converse
ton, in which many long forgotten incidents of
fifty years ago were discussed, supper was
served. This occupied the time until o'clock
when the services began in the church.
( The exercises were opened by fine organ
voluntary and singing by the choir. Then
followed reading of the Scriptures and prayer
by the Rev. Mr. Smythe, after which the
eighth selection was sung.
| Rev. Mr.. Smythe then made a very inter-
estiDg opening address, of which tbs following
| is a brief extract:
| Brethren-This night we celebrate our gold
| en- wedding. The expression is not necessarily
/ a fanciful one. 1t may convey solemn truth;
Tor, in the sacred Scriptures the church Is
spoken of as the bride of the Lamb, and was
so seen III spiritual vision by John, the Reeve
{ lator.
Fifty years ago a small company of worship
/ mo- hi inf o yir of he
| Lord Jesus Christ, in the ple1ary inspiration
OF the Holy Scriptures, and in the necessity of
humble obedience to The Commandments Of
| God, we're formed into religious society. As
| church they plighted their troth to the Heav-
emily Bridegroom. Fifty years have passed
| away, and the church assemblies together to
| commemorate that, to us, solemn occasion. 1t
is our golden wedding. To those, who by rea-
| son of long connection, have become identified
| with the church, the celebration of tonight
| will be eventful one. Softly will the bells
| of memory send forth their sound tonight, re-
calling many an event of by-gone days, and
awakening recollections that the heart deems
| sacred. Listening to these solemn chimes, the
| faces. of friends and kindred that have passed
on to the Jerusalem above will come up before
them.
We think of them tonight, not despairingly,
but sustained by sure faith that they have, in
reality, taken step in life, and have merci-
| fully been transferred to higher fields of use.
| fulness, where we may be certain the cause of
| the church on earth is neither forgotten nor
| neglected.
Let this be one sacred rejoicing. One who
has labored faithfully and long for a cause near
to his heart: who, for thirty years, has entered
into the joys and sorrows of this society, shall
recount how, fifty years ago, this church was
established and how it grew.
Mr. Smythe closed by reading poem appro-
pirate to the occasion, written by Mr.. Seavey.
Mr.. Smythe then called to the chair Mr..
Oliver Gerrish, the only surviving male mem
Der of the church at the time of its founding,
and welcomed him in brief, but earnest re-
marks. The Rev. VIM. B. Hayden was then
introduced and spoke as follows:
MR.. HAYDEN's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Hayden stated that the first appearance
of the Heavenly Doctrine in Portland was in
the winter of 1925, when Mr.. Mcguire,
lawyer, removed here from New Gloucester,
bringing with him small book on the DOC
trlnes OF the New Jerusalem concerning the
Sacred Scriptures" Mr.. Mcguire was taken
sick and called in DIR. Timothy Little to attend
him. The doctor was man of rare intelli-
gence, originally educated for the ministry
His mind revolted, however, at the idea of
Trinity--tbree distinct persons in the God
head. of equal power-and he gave up theolo-
gy for medicine. He and Mcguire talked fire.
quently on religious subjects, and finally Ma
uire lent him his book. The doctrine COM
others in it. In the course of another year DR..
Albus Rea and Mr.. Oliver Gerrish became
readers and, for three years, these men met al
ternstely at each others houses.
LII 1929 enough people had become interested
to make the establishment of public worship o
mooted question. Up to that time there had
been no New Church public worship in the
State, although there had been reading circles
in Bath and Gardiner. Great odium was at
tached to those known to be favorable to the
doctrine, but they held together and went
bravely forward. They prayed to God for help
and grace; they mentioned new thoughts that
might occur to them; and they prayed to be
Kept humble and to receive the truth as 1t is in
Jesus They became all of one mind for the
comm ncement of public worship. The use OF
the Methodist vestry on Chestnut street was
-ecured, and services began June, 1929. DR.
Little conducted the services and read his own
scourses. Only six, of that congregation of
ifty-two years ago, remain, viz:--Mr. and Mrs.
ierrish, Capt. Arthur Small, Mr.. Marian
saavey Mr. Abner Lowell and Mr. William
enter. MIR. Lowell became, very early, inter.
es,ed III the church music, which consisted of
,tianted selections from Scriptures, and led the
choir for thirty five years.
Two years later church organization was
-ffected. Rev. Thomas Worcester of Boston,
with two or three members of the Boston soci-
-ty, came down and instituted the Portland
church, Aug. 81, 1881, IL persons uniting-12
ceiving the ordinance of baptism. Their
names were Timothy and Elizabeth Little,
ha freeman, Samuel and PAMELA Colman,
Ebenezer Mason, Mary E. Walker, VIM. Hun
newell, Jr., Albus Rea, and Sarah Rea of
Windham. Mr. and Mrs. Gerrish alone, of
these, survive. One year later the parish was
Incorporated. The church was visited occa-
sionay by ministers of the faith. The society
studied diligently, but the works were very
high-priced In 1881, Rev. Henry A. Worces-
ter alternated between Portland, Bath and
Gardiner. The meetings here were held in
fha
Mayors office now stands, corner OF Congress
and Myrtle streets
In 1882. a lot was purchased on Congress, OPP
posite Locust street, and neat wooden temple
erected, which was dedicated in August, 1888
In November, Rev. Mr.. Worcester became pas
tor, and continued until his decease, on May
24th, 1871. Rev. James Scott officiated from
1S41 to 1874, when declining health caused him
to give way to Rev. Joshua o. Colburn in
1916 at the end of that year, Rev. T. d.
Sturdivant, graduate of Bangor Theological
Seminary, was settled for year. In 1847, the
society was without pastor and in debt but
they rallied and paid the mortgage and most
Of the debt For three years. Rev. Mr.. Dixie
of Bath visited the parish occasionally. DR..
Little again officiated until his death, in No
vember, 1849. In February, 1850, Rev. W. B.
Hayden came to Portland to deliver course
of lectures. In june 1851, he was ordained
pastor, this service taking place in Boston. In
June. 1854, the general convention met here,
and Lancaster Hall was the place, as the tenn
pie was not large enough. The convention
created great interest, made favorable i'm
preston on the community and alayed preju-
dice
The next ten years presents little of public
interest. The good work went on and the rest
of the debt was removed and II pews added to
the church. In 1864 Mr.. Hayden accepted a
call to Cincinnati. Rev. T. P. Rodman be-
came pastor here for one year. In the fall OF
1865 Mr.. Hayden returned and resumed his
,labors. In the year 1866 the lot on High
street was purchased for the present temple.
| The young people paid $4,000 for the lot and
presented it to the societv. The same year the
great FIRE burned out all but six families Of the
| society, and the church destroyed But in
crest did not flag. Religious exercises were
| kept up in the parlors of private house and
| then in Park st. Church. In the summer of
| 1867 the Mechanics library room was secured
where the people worshipped until April 1868
| when the present elegant temple was dedicated
| the corner stone having been laid in April 1867.
| The growth of the church has been steady
| and consistent. In 1881 there were Is mem
| hers: in 1910, IS: in 1850, 49, in 1860, 80; in
| 1870, 115; in 1880, 154 There have been $50
| baptsms and 800 commandments received,
| while double that number attend the church.
| Mr.. Hayden has baptized 321. received lat into
the church, married So, and attended rs
1 Tn he md in Do