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

prevent gap, however SMALL in the account of
her life for nearly nineteen hundred years.
Iu fulfilling his task the writer of any parochial
history may well bear in mind the Importance of
the subject he has in hand in its relation to the
history of the church at large. The history of St.
Lukes parish is brief one, covering as it does a
period of little more than thirty years; but to re-
cord it fully reference may well be made to the
origin of the church in Maine and whence it
sprang. The first Christian services ever held in
Maine were said by clergymen of the Church of
England two hundred and fifty years ago. From
the early records, the names of those who thus
officated are we'll known. Here reference was
made to the services of Seymour in 1907, of Will
liam Morrell of Richard Gibson of Robert Jor-
dan, and to the foundation of the old st. Paups
Church, under Rev. Mr.. Wiswell, in 1894. After
briefly tracing its history till its disorganization
in 1889, and the formation of the new parish of
ST. Stephen in that year, the writer went on
to say that we have to think of the prejudice and
persecution and opposition from which the Epis-
copal Church suffered at the hands of the Puritan
settlers of Massachusetts before we could realize
the cause for the slow growth OF the church in
Portland, and for the fact that for nearly GEN.
fury there was but one Episcopal church in a
town. the early associations of whose first settlers
were connected with the Church of England.
1t was not till 1851, but 35 years ago, that the
first movement was made towards the organiZa-
ton of a second parish of the Episcopal church in
this city.
On the 10th Of April of that year, as the records
VI. .,
like hand of the clerk of the hew parish, one of
the incorporators and of the most highly respected
members of our own yestry today assures us, fif-
teen gentlemen whose names aIe given, seven of
whom now survive, met in Rechabite Hall, where
the city building now stands, for the purpose of
forming a parish for religious worship according
to the doctrines usageS and canons of the Protest
ant Episcopal Church in the United States, and of
the diocese of Maine. The names of these gentle
men are as follows: James I. McCobb Henry w.
Hersey, J. Merrill, Reuben Ordway, Josiah S.
Little, Z. F. Gerrlsh, Charles B. Merrill E. E. Up
ham, F. A. Quinby, J. I; Smith, Ezra G. Andrews,
N. p. Richardson, Frederick Davis, j. Ambrose
Merrill, Edw. P. Sherwood.
After prayer by Rev. Mr.. Pratt, the parish of st.
GERS being John Merrill and n. p. Richardson.
wardens; H. w. Hersey, clerk E. E. Upham Jas,
T. McCobb and j. s. Little as yestrymen and as
SCISSORS.
Union Hall was hired for the use of the parish
for public worship and the first rector was Bishop
Southgate who had lately returned from the
charge of the church in Constantinople. From
this beginning the parish took strong position
in the community, and was frequently commended
by Bishop Burgess for its harmony and zeal. The
first service was held April 81, 1851 First Sun
day after Easter the number of communicates re-
ported was twenty. Sunday school was well
organized with six teachers and 81 scholars and
the rector reports to the convention large and at
tentiye congregations, the commodious hall seat
ing nearly 300 persons being tolerably well filed
at all services. In 1852 Bishop Southgate resign
ed and the parish was at different times under
the temporary charge of Rev. ID. r. Goodwin and
the Rev, Benz. IL. Paddock now Bishop of Massa-
chuSettS, till in 1854 Rev. Alex Burgess accepted
the rectorship. In the beginning of that year ar
rangementS were made for the purchase of the
lot wherein st Stephens church now stands and
for the erection of a stone building of sufficient
size to accommodate 600 persons. The corner
stone of the new church was laid Anguish 1854,
and on Monday July TO- 1856, the building was
consecrated by Bishop Burgess. Everything in
the parish at this time spoke of harmony and
energy and zeal, and it must have been with
grateful hearts that the 0rginators of this move
ment took part in the first solemn service of con-
secration which was held in their church. One
of those most noted for his interest in the church
and her representative in diocesan and parochial
councils, the senior warden, DR.. John Merrill
was not permitted to enter with his brethren into
him to a higher service in paradise. The new
church quickly gathered round it a large and in
fuential congregation. The funds from few rents
and subscription were much increased by week
ly offertory which was begun in June 1855. An
organ valued at 2400 was presented and large
contribution was made by the church to the mis-
sion work of the diocese. showing that the new
parish was willing to discharge its functions to-
wards the rest of the body.
The average annual increase of communicates
for the first ten years of the life of the parish was
fifty-five. In 1862 a Sunday School was estab-
liShed at Gorham, and that town was frequently
visited by the rector for occasional services,
The year 1866 was marked to the church by
the death of the sanity Bishop Burgess, and in
the same year the city of Portland suffered from
the calamity of the great fire. ION December 9th
an occupancy of that position of IL years. To his
efforts and teaching under God We're mainly due
the strength and spiritual life of the parish which
have brought to it such abundant blessings mak-
ing its people strong to labor, fervent in charity
and ready for all good works.