Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-05
P0RrLAND's CENTENNIAL.
The Opening Exercises = Interesting
Speeches Made by Gen. Neal Dow, Rev.
DR.. kelloss, Rev. Asa Dalton and
Others.

The centennial celebration formally opened
with exercises in City Hall At 2.30 P. NJ.
The weather was cool with essterly winds
and somewhat foggy. The hall was elab-
orately decorated inside and out with bunting,
flags, notices, etc. At the rear of the stage
was large painting representing an engage
ment between the Enterprise and Boxer.
Oyer it appeared the work .'Weleome" in
large letters. A congregation was in at
tendance which completely filled the hall and
the platform was occupied by distinguished
guests, prominent citizens and members OF
the city government. besides the State street
church and First Parish church choirs which
furnished music uuder the direction of Her
mann Kotzschmar.
Mayor Chapman opened the exercises with
brief and appropriate remarks, referring to
the sacred character of day aud the nature of
the occasion.
George c. Burgess, who presided at the
meeting followed with an interesting histori-.
cal sketch of church psalmody in New Eng
land. He exhibited speciman of ancient
pitch pipe loaned by the Antiquarian Society
of Worcester, Mass, and in use 100 years
ago, explaining its use and showing how church
music of former days was lacking in har-
mony and finish and bow it gradually pro-
crossed. He spoke of Oliver Holden of
Charlestown. Mass, who composed Corona
ton" about 100 years ago, and invited the
audience to rise and sing that hymn, tine
speaker fret giving the pitch and lining out
the hymn in the old style. This was done
with good effect. The Divine blessing was
then invoked by Rev. D. T. Bagley of the
State street church, and an Easter anthem"
composed by VIM. Billings of Boston, in
ITO, was sung by the double choir. The
choir next sang "Sherburne," composed by
Daniel Raadborne in Rehoboth, Mass, in
1857.
Rev. Henry Blanchard of Congress Square
church, read the Both Psalm, after which the
choir gave the tune Majesty" by Billings,
and the funeral hymn mount Vernon" CON-
posed on the death of Washington.
Prayer was offered by Rev. DIR. A. X. P.
Small of the First Baptist church, followed
by the choir's response with Lowell Mason's
ehant-"Thy will be DONE"
Chairman Burgess then introduced Rev.
Elijah Kellogg of Harpswell, as an old Port
land boy and the son Of an old Portland min
ister, who would deliver an address on relig-
ious worship early in Portland's century.
Mr.. Kelogg's anecdotes and descriptions
of religious customs in his boyhood were
tinged with humor and greatly relished by
the congregation. At the close he received
a round of applause. The anthem "Jehovah's
Praise by J. Z. Gould, 1916, was next sung
by tue choir together with an evening hymn
service by Geo. F. Root, hymn Peabody"
| by A. r. Oliver, and the song "Beauteous
Day." by Mr.. Root.
Speaking of divers composition, Burgess
said that it had not been published, bur had
been given by its late author to VIM. E.
Gould of Portland, and was first sung at a
meeting of the Bible Society
| Rev. w. ii. Fem, pastor of the High street
church, was next introduced He spoke of
religious worship later in the century. He
said that among the notable
changes is from dogmatc
apprehension of Christianity to one which
looks at it more as the life. Supreme ven-
GRAFTON in our age is paid to fact, especially
| fact as against dogma; creeds as such are
being smplified. Fifty years ago the house
of God was transfgured with sermons on
heaven, graphic and ravishing. Now it
would seem as if heaven had gone far off and
become automatically obscure. The pecu-
liar cant of responsiveness on the part of the
ordinary hearer. To matters of future life
he listens, but will not kindle. Certainly
this predominating estimate put on fact un-
derlies the Christian spirit of the time too as
constituting its practical age. There is plenty
of pressing work to do. hence its earnest
| threatening aside of strife about words to no
profit. Another change is from the more
defined to more mystical conception of
greater facts in religion. Degradation o,e
stalks religion when not in close connection
with every day life. Its not to be denied that
this broad church tendency may be carried
to extremes, and lose itself in the world
spirit of which st. John speaks in his epis-
ties. After Mr.. Fenn's address they sang
one Of John Knowles Paine's recent compo-
sitions. 'Divine Love-" In announcing his
President Burgess alluded to the fact thatProf
Paine was a native of Portland, was born
seven years after it became city, and paid
| him a tribute as the first among American
composers. After this piece the choir sang
a sentence composed by Edward Howe, Jr !,
organist, of New York city from Portland
and whose father was leader of the choir in
Rev. DR.. kellogg's fathers church. The
| final selection was the anthem, "Benedec
Anima Mea," by G. w. Chadwick, one of the
youngest American composers. The exer-
cises closed with the benediction by Rev
Thos. Hill. d. D., pastor Of the First Parish
church.
| Tonight the city is beginning to fill with
visitors. All the hotels are filled and ii is
| difficult to obtain lodgings anywhere. The
weather has been cold and damp, threatening
storm for tomorrow. All the public build
ings are decorated with flags, crapino and
stresmers. The display of bunting is greater
than ever seen before. In many windows are
displayed antique furniture, utensils ETC., and
historical places, where the old settlers re-
sided, are designated by placards. Services
in all the churches TODAY we're appropriate to
| tho occasion, each pastor preaching an histor-
ical address, giving the progress of his
church since its founding. In all the
churches the hymn beginning "Let children
hear the mighty deeds" vas sung.
/ The evening exercises began at City Hall NJ
80. The hall was crowded, hundreds being