The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-05
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
BY THE PASTOR, REV. A. X. P. SMALL D. D.

This church has been an element of the city's
history during 50 of its 100 years. 1t was organ
lied in the private house Of Mr.. Benjamin Tit
comb, July "a, 1901, in accordance with the ad-
vice of council, of which Elder Thomas Green, OF
North Yarmouth, was moderator and Elder Ellsha
Williams of Brunswick was clerk Its places OF
meeting have been, first private houses; then
school room on Union street; then the third story
of a brick store owned by Moses Titcomb, on Mid
die street, them in the third year of its history It's
own first small meeting house on Federal street;
and seven years later, its more spacious house,
erected on the same lot which house. after nearly
forty years, was remodeled, and was the place of
worship till, with the residences of more than
ninety families of the congregation it was burned
in the great confiagration of 1866 Meetings
were hedin the High School building, in the YES
try of the Chestnut Street Methodist church, and
in the Allen Mission Chapel on Locust street,
during the desolation, till just three years from
the time of the last service in the old house. when
was dedicated the new house on Congress street,
which had been erected at an expense of more
than 100000, the organ carpeting and furniture
being furnished by the remarkable efforts of the
ladies of the society.
The pastors of the church have been, BENJAMIN
Titcomb, Josiah Converse, Caleb Blood Thomas
B. Ripley, Ebenezar Thrasher, George Leonard,
Beecher, Jacob r. Scott, VIM. H. Shailer Thomas
ID. Anderson and A. X. P. Small.
Inc DedcOnS nave UeeD: ll0InaS Beck, EDWARD
Carleton. Benjamin Ilsley, Alfred Richardson,
Byron Greenough. John Pearson, Nathl. Els
worth, Mark Walton. Judah Chandler, John w.
Colcord, Benjamin Pratt Jonathan Morse, Jo-
seph FL. Coffin, j. b. Matthews, j. HI. Hanson,
Robert L. Morse, John Dryden and Loren Beals.
At its organization the church had ten members
only three of whom were males. In year the
number was nineteen. and in less than ten years
one hundred. In 1886 the church cordially APP
church, and heartily dismissed tifty-four of its
members, who organized the Free Street church.
The next year thirty-three were received into the
church by baptism; and in the year 1910 seventy
five were baptized into the fellowship of this, and
one hundred into the fellowship of Free street
church. Twenty-Five from the Society went into
the army, more than half of whom lost their lives
Seventeen members have become ministers Six
who have been connected with the church are for
ship is about four hundred though the active resi-
dent body is considerably smaller. The records
show that very early this church took decided
position in the temperance cause which it has
constantly maintained. In 1917 Sunday school
was established supposed to be the first in the
city, if not in the State. 1t has been blessed with
continuous line of remarkably earnest and faith
full superintendent, teachers and assistants,
whose constant earnest efforts have had an int1u-
ence not appearing in records, but in the elevated
characters of many hundreds of persons who have
been rising up to positions of responsibility and
anniversary the Sunday school has just closed one
of its most interesting years of Scripture study,
during which nineteen of its members have be-
come members of the church. 1t is supposed that
the influence of the church has been constantly
helpful in promoting general intelligence and sec
ular education, while one OF its pastors, the late
DIR. Smaller, who in early life had been success
full teacher must be specially remembered for his
unusual influence, for many years as member and
chairman of the board of the city school commit
tee and as editor of a religious paper. Beside its
own spiritual life and training for immortal dest;
ny, by checking hayward footsteps, and leading
so many up the paths of virtue, by its constant
testimony for truth, liberty temperance, good cit
izenship, domestic peace and public honor, &C
cordng to the divine word, in this life service of
some worthy part in fulfilling the commission of
its Divine Lord, and in bringing our beloved city
to its present honorable position, whose more
share