The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-05
FIRST PARISH CHURCH,
BY THE PASTOR, REV. THOMAS HILL D. D.


Proverbs, xvii, 6-Childrens children are the
crown of old men, and the glory of the children
are the fathers.
The word glory in this passage, as in many 9TH
ers in the Bible, meant (the preacher said), boast
ing Numerous and yirtuous descendants are a
crown to the old man; and noble ancestry IS the
boast and pride of the children. And the chill
dren had right to certain amount OF pride in
their ancestry. For the child in general Inherited
good qualities from his fathers. There were not
able exceptions, but the general rule was like
father, like son; so that each had right to be
reasonably proud of the other. The oratory OF
historical anniversaries was right in eulogizing
the fathers.
There was no need of entering into much detail
Of the First Parish in Portland. So much was al
ready easily accessible in print that it hardly was
worth while to repeat it. The earliest date given
by William Willis relating to church matters in
Falmouth, was reproof of the town for not
holding Sunday meeting. This came from court
held in York, in 1859. Soon after this Robert
Jordan, an Episcopalian minister, was found la
boring here; and was faithful for SO years The
General Court of Massachusetts had, however,
no great respect for men of that kind,-they or
dered the town in 1869 to get Congregational
minister. George Burroughs, who was afterwards
executed as a witch, in the terrible delusion at
Salem preached here between 1874 and 1854, at
two different times: but was driven off by the In
dams. The town was utterly destroyed by them
in 1890; and indeed from 1874 until 1913, nearly
forty years, there had been no year of settled
peace. The peace of Utrecht gave few of the
settlers courage to. return and seek their old
homes. Even then, however, the General Court
thought the town not worth saving, and actually
destroyed the fort three years after the peace;
VIZ IN l7l6 Two years, Later, however, IN LIS,
loss of the fort. The General Court sent COM
mittee to examine they reported, and on the 18th
of July Falmouth on the neck was Incorporated
The next spring. March 10th, 1918, the town or
ganiZation effected and the real history of the
Phoenix city began. The inhabitants at once en-
deav0red to procure an educated minister and to
blid meeting house. in very few years both
ends were accomplished, and the clergyman, the
Rev. Thomas Smith, remained here preacher and
pastor about seventy years: In 1884, Cape Eliza
beth was set off as second parish; and in 1740,
Individuals on this side the river had built for the
Old First Parish meeting house out in the pas
tEres, nearly half mile west of the village. The
parish accepted the house with reluctance; it was
too far away But it was well built; it stood So
years, and became the centre and pride of the en-
lirged town. Dr. Hill thought the foresight, ener-
gy and lberality of these builders OF the "Old
jerusalem one of the most remarkable things in
the history of the parish and regretted that their
1ames had not been handed down, to be the glory
Of their children.
The rapidity Of the early growth of the town is
shown by the fact that in about dozen years this
lew house began to be too small, and when it was
twenty years old was greatly enlarged. In this
npid growth of the parish by immigration there
vas evil as well as good; the new members were
br making great and sudden changes; some did
rot like the old parson, and some wanted the
Church of England liturgy. New CaSco on the
northeast, and on the west Stroudwater were set
eff, as third and fourth parish; and st. Paul's
Episcopal Church was built on Middle street. In
1764, Mr.. Dean was settled as colleague of Mr..
Smith ten years later there were % persons ex-
anpted from parish taxation as being Quakers.
Then began the severe struggles Of the Revolu-
timary War. The town was burnt by Mowatt,
October rs, and Dr. Dean removed to Gorham.
Bob he and Mr.. Smith relinquished their salaries,
for one or more years, and accepted half their
stipulated salaries for a number of years. During
this decade of pecuniary trouble, other difficulties
also arose. The parish pettioned in 1885 to have
the Neck set off as new town; and it was the
success of that petition which furnished the basis
of the present celebration There was, however,
an inherent trouble in the parish itself. Not only
tie Quakers and the Episcopalians were unwilling
ID be taxed to support the Congregational minister,
Tut there were Congregationasts who were dis
satisfied with him; and the parish was forced at
bngth to consent to the formation of a second
congregational Society. From that time, 1888,
1ne parish seemed to have been united and pros
ferrous under their old pastors. The new society
vas required by its act of incorporation to pay
me-fourth of Rev. Mr.. Smiths salary while he