The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-05

1t viii be SO years October next, since the in
ception of the movement that resulted in the for
nation of this Ministry of Beneyolence, which to-
day has its centre at Preble Chapel.
In 1S47 at the suggestion and under the direc-
tion OF DIR. Nichols, steps were taken for the es-
Enlistment and support in this city of Ministry
at Large by the two Unitarian Societies His eff
forts were earnestly supported by the ladies Of
the Claiming Circle and by the benevolent gentle
men in his own and Park st. Societies And in
April, 1349, they were prepared to employ mis-
sionary and invited Rev. w. II. Hadley, who ac-
eepted the Office and at one entered upon his
work.
In April he opened Sunday School in the ward
room of Exchange building and within six months
the school attained an average OF 100 scholars
school in the same place in the Fall OF 1S49,
which was largely attended, which was continued
for several seasons and was probably the first OF
the kind in the city. These schools were both
subsequently transferred tothe ward room CT old
City Hall.
In August, 1850 an act of incorporation was Sc
cured from the legislature of Maine. BY this
charter the property and management OF tnlS In
stitution was vested in ABOARD of seven trustees
under the name of the Portland Ministry at
Large. The first board of trustees We're DR..
Nichols Rufus P. Cutler, Thomas Chadwick, Viii
liam Willis Nathaniel II. Deering, Jededah jew
EFT and Martin Gore The trustees. at once saw
the necessity of better accommodations for this
Ministry than ward-foom, and undertook the
task of providing for it a permanent srestlng
place and one month after the act of incorpora-
ton, Madam Preble. whose generous heart al
WAYS beat responsive to the calls OF beneVolence,
executed a deed September, 1850, OF q lot on the
corner of Preble and Cumberland streets contain
ing 5000 square feet. In TIE Spring OF 1851 the
trustees began the erection OF chapel upon tnlS
loft which was completed under the supervision OF
James Kirby and dedicated october ~, 1901, IN
der the name of Preble Caapel, in honor OF us
most liberal benefactor. 1t was dedicated Hee
from debt and was a fine monument of the ener-
cy and zeal of the trustees of the Christian beney-
ooience Of the friends of this Ministry:
The aim of this Institution, as stated by tnoSe
who laid its foundations, was to advance the
cause of religion charity and good morals;
And to this end, religious, worship, sunday
school instruction and material aid to the poor
and unfortunate have always gone hand IN mana
in this ministry. From the very first the sunday
school has been the most prominent anu I'M fll-
portaut features of the mission. Ii is ratneT
remarkable fact that since this Sunday school
found a permanent home in Preble Chapel, 90
years ago. IFS numbers from year to year nave
varied scarcely more than ten-ranglng about l2o
from year to year. Ii has been very fortunate
in HE fine class of people who have volunteered
Mr. James II. Baker was the first superintend-
emit and Miss Jane Mcclellan the first IlprarIdli.
In the lists of early teachers find s4eh nallies
as C. H. Boyd. q. II. Chadwick, Il. ii. Dawes,
j. T. Walton, e. D. Boyd, G. A. Mason, GilI n9
Nichols. Seymour Nichols, MIS-. Gilman, ME- VII
Pierce Miss Newhal Fitch, Wills baAGl a il
comb, Preble, Deerng, Fox, Ware, NlcholS, eI Ia
In 1866, A. Z. Stevens, VINO mad ser Eou tiie
school four wears as teacher, was elected super
infendept and held the office for II years =, l
Pullen was elected superintendent i'll Sept, 10 o.
| and still holds the office. n,;,i.
During the 80 years of its existence te eay
try at Large has had three ministers II IIe 20
vice, Rev. W. H. Hadley, the first, after se1et+
wears faithful energetic service resigned dllu a.
The breaking out of the rebellion, becalne di. al
chaDlain and died since the war III the MdsSd0iiu
sets General Hospital = ,,.,.,,, entered
In June 1867. Rev. 0. z. Tuckerlnau en- hi
the service OF this ministry and c9HL .nrS mn
faithful service for eleven and one nan ge''i'' ~
til his death. - ,,,, entered the
service of the Ministry at Large ana SUN i0e''''i
| the pastoral Office. .nr Hill. G. f
lose + p. Harrington, III. ?. Emery 3stiae
Rolfe and RUFUS CuShman under WHOSE S 3i4t
supervision the financial affairs OF t LIP iadies n
are nromptly and ably managed. luz laols ~ ~, y
the Unitarian Circle the worthy suceess1iS VI wv
Charming Circle, have the present aud rsis,
manaGen1ent of the benevolent WORK dnp ldle'
the funds necessary for carrylHg az ia Of nresa
The library which has small iuiG, nj no r. a
nnder fine management of Mrs: I dIllnsIol, DIS
sisted nv Mrs. Whipple and Paul stevens ems sew
ING school is also maintained through INC IN an.
| winter at the Chapel. The mplcatl3inS " IleS'
| bald facts are that Preble Chapei, ny ats many
ufaeteal Christian service, nas Gatnt t ~
side, ~istGaee, and is peIp r dn mISsss
right to t.. GGgd when men l uQ llyeS alte
| to the fact that tnL % -@tltutiQn! tnat commune
after them: and good Inc. wa perpetual least
| good and seryiceable ought TO hts'e4
of life.