The Portland daily press., 1883-02-19
TWENTY FIVE YEARS.
ST. LAWRENCE ST. CHURCH cELE-
BRATEs ITS BIRTHDAY.
Complete Report of Yesterdays Pro
ceedings.

versary st. Lawrence Street Church was veg.
terday Hastily decorated with evergreen, and
adorned with flowers. Upon the wall in the
rear of the altar was the motto, "Thus far the
Lord has led us on" and upon the wall at the
left and right sides of the altar respectively
We e the dates 1858, and 1888, and altogether
the embellishments gave fine appearance &c
the church.
In the morning the pastor, Rev. A. a.
Wright, gave an historical address. taking al
text Phil. 1877 thank my God upon every
remembrance of you" 1t was a very interest
ing and we'll delivered discourse. From il
one can but notice the degree of prosperity
which has attended the pastorats of Rev. Mr.
Wright.
REV. MIR. wRIGHT's DISCOURSE.
The growth and success of church depends
very much upon the character and circum.
stance of its origin.
The church at Phillip was born amid the
fires of persecution and out of its early suffer
ing and struggles there came forth a purified
brotherhood, united and strong in faith, sin
cere in love, and valiant for the truth,-a
church after the apostles own heart, of which
he could say, u thank my God upon every
remembrance of you
A church having its origin in division and
strife begins its life and its work under a great
disadvantages. Its every germ is tainted by
the bad spirit in which it was gendered.
A church on the other hand, having its be-
ginning in moral necessity generally felt and
confessed, which plants itself where it has
room to grow, without weakening other
churches, or provoking them to jealousy, has
in its very conception the prestige of worthy
life and true success
The st. Lawrence Street Church originated
in such a necessity 1t selected its field of la
Dor and of growth where there was abundance
OF room. Twenty-Five years ago there was but
one Christian Church on this populous and
thriving hill
The Second Parish church for several years
had its eyes turned towards this very site, as
offering the most promising facilities for the
planting of new church. Twice the attempt
was made to begin the work. Its hoDored pas
tor at that time, who still lives in venerable
age to bless us by his presence. himself star ted
a subscription paper looking TOWARD this enter
prise. But for some reasons the effort failed
At length, in August, 1857, the matter was
taken vigorously in hand by private individ-
uals residing Oh Munjoy Hill. Eight Christian
men, united their hearts and their hands in
the work. They builded better than they
knew. they were virtually the founders OF this
church. Forming themselves into a body cor
porste, they purchased this lot of land and
became personally responsible for the payment,
to the amount of $2400
This was the initial act in the origin of the
church. The names of these corporators were
William Curtis Daniel Randall, Luther f.
Shaw, Washington Griffin, Edward Waite,
Simeon Skillings, James v Poor and William
Beaumont.
The immediate result of this action was the
erection OF this building, which was originally
known as the "St. Lawrence street CoDgrega-
tlonal chapel. and was publicly dedicated to
God, Jan. Is, 1858. Rev. Elijah Kellogg
preached the sermon, and Rev. j. w. CHECKER
lnp, ID. D., presented an historical address.
FROM That address we quote the recorded
words OF Rev. DIR. Carruthers, who was neces-
sarlly absent, but who sent his congratulations.
> MY hearts desire and prayer toa;God is that
the truth as 1t is in Jesus may be purely and
faithfully proclaimed in this new house of
worship, and that it may from the first be di-
vinely honored as the birth place of immortal
souls Our venerable father has lived to see
his prayer, in some measure answered.
One month later this church was organized
with membership of Twenty-Five and was
publicly recognized by an Ecclesiastical coun-
Gil convened February 18th, 1858. Rev. j. S.
9. abbott preached the sermon on that occa-
sion.
OF these % original members, one was re-
ceived from the now extinct Third Congrega-
tlonal church, one from the Coz gregational
church in Turner, enc from the Congregational
church in Westbrook, two from the Union now
the Plymouth church of this city, two from the
neighbor the Congress street M. e. church and
eleven from the Second Parish. Thus it an
pears that while many churches contributed to
our original stock, and we have a good sprink-
ling of vigorous Methodist blood in our veins,
still, we are very largely Indebted to the Sec
ond Parish for our parentage. One-half of our
original members came to us from the maternal
embrace of that venerable and prolific mother
church.
OF these % first members, 9 only remain in
our visible communion. 6 have been dismissed,
Tx have died, and one is absent. Two of the
most prominent and useful of these founders
lave recently passed away, Deacon Edward
Waite died In 1881; Mrs. Rachel Poor in 1882.
On February %, three days after the ergani-
,ation, the church called Edward P. Thwing to
is pastorate. The adoption of its creed, and
rules o. church government, and the election
Of its officers followed speedily.
Then came the installation of the pastor
elect, September %, 1855
During the fonr years of its first pastorate,
the young church increased in membership
from % to Ill, or dve-fold. More than one
half of these accesions were received on pro-
fession.
The life of the young church was character
lied, not only by yearly but by monthly in
crease. The joy of harvest marked almost all
of its communions for the first two years.
This is indicative of its vigorous spiritual
life. OF the Ill received during the first four
years of its history, only % remain with us.
From September, 1862, until April 1865, the
period of our civil war, Rev. j. I'll. Merdough
served the church as its acting pastor. This
was the most discouraging period in our church
history. Neither faithful ministry nor an
Earnest brotherhood, could stay the tide of re-
movals, which separated from the church
many OF its most valued members, and thinned
the congregation. Twenty we're dismissed and
TWENTY-FIVE added to the church during the
two and one-half years of Nr.s Merdough's min
istry.
Deprived of the services of Mr.. Merdough,
through his failing health, the church at once
looked about for pastor.
Providence seemed greatly to bless their
search, and on the 25th of the following Octo-
Der, Rev. Samuel Morrison was duly installed
pastor; but this pastorate so auspiciously begun
was terminated by the i'll health of the pastor
after two brief years.
The flock now remained pastorless for one
year. Three months of this interval the pull
pit was stately supplied by Mr. Will G. Wood
OF Andover, now pastor at Scituate, Mass.
This year llo68) was marked in our history
by deep religious interest, and the energies of
the pastorless church were directed to the
terest begun In the Sunday school was promot-
ed by household meetings, and its gracious
fruits were gathered into the church the first
Sunday of 1869, under the ministry of Rev
Ruius K. Harlow, now of Midway, Mass.
This excellent minister began his labors with
UnO OhuiCu III tuo dubuIuu OF 1000, ana at the
end OF his first year was earnestly invited to
settle with the church, but was led to decline
on account of unfavorable health in our CHM
ate. Thus, for .he third time, the church was
bereaved of its minister.
From the time of Rev. Mr. Harow's with
drawal until the close of 1870 the church was
again without a resident minister, but not des-
titure of the faithful ministry of the gospel.
Rev. Elijah Kellogg served the church for the
most part during this interval as stated supply.
From the first Mr.. Kellogg has been one of the
warmest friends of this church, and his preach
ing was peculiarly attractive to the young over
whom he Yields an irresistible power by his
busy pen. There is no uame that sounds, in
our ears, more like a household word than that
of Elijah Kellogg. May he live many years to
write sonl.elevating books for American youth
and to preach sermons to us.
On Dec. TO- 1870, Rev. Abel Ell. Wright, of
Winterport, Me-, was called to the pastorate
The ministry of the new pastor began with the
first Sabbath of 1871. He was installed on the
18th of the following April. The first event,
after this pastoral relationship was formed,
which calls for special mention was the pay
ment of the last $1,000 of the original debt of
the parish Then followed the enlargement
and improvement of the house of worship.
The parish vote to issue its bonds for this pur-
pose to the amount of $4,000, bears date Aug.
L., 1872. The work was begun in September
following and completed the following year.
1t was done by Mr.. VIM. Curtis, under the SUI
pernteHdence of the parish building commit
tee, Robt. Dresser, Timothy B. Percy and Ed
ward Waite.
During this interval the congregation occu-
pied by invitation, the Congress ST. M e.
church for morning services The whole expense
V,tIfff oh