The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-05
w1LLIsroN cHURoE.
Celebration of It's Tenth Anniversary.

On the 9th day of February, 1873, there was
organized in this city a church that has had a
remarkable growth and history. Though the
Youngest Congregational church in the State
with three exceptions, it is the largest in resi-
dent membership with three exceptions. There
| is only one other church which numbers as
many families in its parish, and only two with
Sunday schools as large.
| By the last minutes of the Congregational
| church. we learn that there are 1913 families
in this society and 400 members in the Sunday
school and nearly $40 members ON the roll of
| the church
| A few weeks ago one of the papers published
| an account of the anniversary of a highly sue
cessful church in st. Louis, in which it was
| said that the leading church in Boston had
| gained in ten years 419 members, the two prin-
| cipai churches in Brooklyn 1923 and $50 respect
| lively, and the two leading Congregational
churches in Chicago 377 aud $50 in the same
| time.
This church, in the comparatively small city
of Portland, has gained 260 members in less
than seven years. The gain of resident mem
bers in all the Congregational churches in
Maine in six years, over all losses, has been
1858; and of this number the gain in Williston
church has been 258.
The church has had but two pastors. Rev.
B. f. Leavitt ministered to the church for
three years and the present pastor, Rev. f. e.
Clark, has held the Office for nearly seven
years. The services yesterday celebrated this
anniversary by historical discourse in the
morning by tho pastor and by addresses in the
evening by several clergymen.
The pastor took his text from Heb. :32,
"Call to remembrance the former things"
From the pastors discourse we learn that Will
liston church, like many other churches, sprang
from Sunday school. This school vas first
gathered in the Walnut street school house by
Miss Anna Sweetsir in 1861. Deacon Thomas
r. Hayes was the first superintendent. The
school was soon adopted by The State street
church, which literally supported 1t until
church was formed and had become self-sup-
porting. In 1866, the first Sunday after the
great FIRE, the chapel on the corner of May and
Danforth streets was dedicated, and in 1873
church was formed, seventeen members COM
ing from State street church, one from the
Bethel and four joining ON profession of faith.
When Mr.. Leavitt left, in 1876 the church
numbered sixty members. Very soon after
Mr.. Clark had become the pastor movement
was made for a new church. A lot was pur-
chased on the corner of Thomas and Carroll
streets, and September LIST, 1873, the present
building was first occupied. The growth of
the chureh has been rapid and uniform. Dur
ing the present pastorate nearly 800 have
joined the church, more than onc-half upon
rHNCf Sta Al
these have been heads of families. The
church has beel in state of almost constant
revival interest. The pastor enumerated four
causes for the blessings of the past:
First-The presence Of the Holy Spirit.
Second--The spirit in which the church was
founded. free from ill will, envy, Oh desire to
proselyte.
Third-The complete serenity and harmony
which has ever characterized the church.
Fourth-And the special efforts for the
young which has ever been the prominent
work in this church.
A beautiful original hymn by one of the
members of the church was sung by the con-
gregation, which we regret We have not space
for.
The evening services opened with a finely
rendered anthem by the choir, followed by the
responsive reading of the 10Sd Psalm. The
pastor read letters from Rev. DR.. Carruthers,
regretting his inability to be present, and from
the first pastor of the church, Rev. B. F. Leav-
lit, now of Chicago.
Rev. DR.. Warren offered prayer.
Rev. Mr.. Wright, of st. Lawrence street
church, and Rev. Mr.. Wilson, ministering to
the Abyssinian church, made short, but very
interesting addresses.
Rev. Mr.. Fem also made an interesting adj
dress, followed by the congratulations of State
street church, by Deacon Rufus H. Hinkley,
aud an address by Rev. Mr.. Adriance of the
Woodford's Congregational church.
yesper quartette, by Root, was beautifully
rendered. music by the choir,
Rev. Mr. Harlow of Cape Elizabeth, and
Rev DR.. Seward of Plymouth church. mgde
addresses, aud letters wers read from DR.. Rol
brook and Rev, Mr.. Dalton.
The services closed with Wesley's old hymn
by the congregation
"Blest be the dear, uniting love,
That will not let us part "