The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-29
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.
Their Annual Fair In City Hall Now
open.
Remarks by Mayor Chapman and
Others.

siah opened yesterday afternoon with cere-
monies of unusual interest. The ladies and
exhibitors have done their part. All the
preparations were completed by o'clock,
and shortly thereafter those assembled were
called to order by Rev. NJ. Crosley, pastor
of the church, presiding.
Mr.. Crosley said they had me- to open
their fair and exposition and that they mad
decided to make the opening in rather diff
ferent manner from what was customary.
Some friends accordingly, who were now
with them on the platform, had kindly con-
scented to assist and the audience would now
hear from them. Industry and enterprise in
a church it is fitting should be recognized as
well as the enterprise and industry OF
business community. He said the audience
would be favored with a piano solo from
Miss Alice l.. Philbrook, which that lady
gave with much taste and expression Mr..
Crosley then introduced Rev. Mr.. Blanchard
of the Congress Square Universalist Church.
Rev. Henry Blanchard said he brought
words of good will from his church to the
Church of the Messiah. He congratulated
the church on its existence its courage, its
perseverance, its good works, and the inter-
est in its welfare on the part of the public.
Two Universalist churches were needed.
The northern part of the city did not have
too many religious societies. He extalled
the courage Of the church in presence of the
debt which they had so greatly lessened !;
their perseverance when without q pastor;
its Sunday services, and its excellent Sun
day school. He believed the successive
r.. A,.1
in unity of Christian spirit He wished good
speed to all they should undertake to do.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Blanchard's re-
marks, quartette composed of Mrs. Noyes,
Miss Greedy, Messrs. Shaw and Houghton,
sang a selection with spirit and taste. Mr.
Crosley then introduced Rev. Mr.. Shinn of
the Universalst church in Deering.
Mr.. Shinn said he was glad to bring the
greetings of the Deering and Saccarappa
societies and hoped the fair would belvisited
by large delegations from both churches
He thought the Church of the Messiah
should feel happy for the privilege afforded
| for working so hard to get up the fair. He
knew the ladies must be tired bat nobody
got anything that was worth having that
they didn't work for, and it was much more
enjoyed than if ii was given them. You
have worked hard for your religious house
your church-said he, and people admire
your pluck and are going to help you and
see you through. He congratulated them
that although they were so anxious to get
out of debt they did not allow church gam
bling. He was down ON that way of raising
money. 1t is demoralizing in its influence
tho oriva o,,I
good entertainments in return for the money
people leave with you. You are going to be
happy for you are going to give people what
they want and only regret haven't more
money to spend with you.
The quartette sang another selection, and
Mr.. Crosley then introduced Mayor Chap
man who spoke as follows:
| Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Worthy objects are entitled to public recog-
milton and support in whatever manner they
are brought before our attention. The pres
ent occasion is full of merit, and makes
| special appeal to all those who are acquaint-
| ed with the history of the Church of the
Messiah; because it reminds such of a socie-
ETY. struggling to liberate itself from debt, of
noble band of ladies toiling faithfully to
save their church home. 1t tells of its own
| origin, in earnest and devoted hearts, to
meet pressing financial necessities, of its
| growth under the untiring efforts of many
| willing but weary workers until its full ma
| turity has been reached in the scene spread
| before you. This event, for which many
| watchful eyes have anxiOusly looked, lin
the preparation OF which many long busy
| hours have been spent, around which clus-
| ter so many hopes,-frOm which are
| expected such rich results,-is at hand. 1t
| but remains to exercise my pleasant privi-
lege, through your invitation, and declare
the exhibition open,-which | now do,-in
the hope that your fondest anticipations
may be realized, and that a generous and
discriminating public may reward you with
| that measure of success which your zeal and
the merit of your cause, deserve.
The quartette sang 'Annie Laurie as a
conclusion to the opening exercises, Mr..
| Crosley first referring to what the society
had done in two years, reducing the church
debt from $1,000 to $4,000.
| At the conclusion of the exercises, the la
dies and gentlemen present proceeded 20 pat
ronize the booths. These were six in num-
ber and were filed with all kinds of useful
and fancy articles, which presented very
attractive appearance with the contrast of
the colored materials of which many Of
them were composed
Table No. l, on the left of the stage, is
presided over by the officers of the society,
Mrs E. II. Sargent, president, Mrs. George
A. Thompson, secretary, and Mrs. Nellie
Mcdonald treasurer.
Table No. 2 is presided over by Mrs. A
Robertson and Mrs, William Nash.
Table No. 3 is in the charge of Mrs. Joseph
Brooks, Mrs. j. B. Mcdonald, Mrs. Merrill
Place. and Mrs. E. Kimball.
Table No. is in charge of Mrs. Horace
Ford Mrs Hnraoa
min Payne.
Table No. 8 is under the care of Mrs b. A.
Heseltine, Mrs. W. NJ. Staples, Mrs Mills,
Mrs. A. II. Cooling.
Table No. is the grocery table, and is
managed by B. A. Heseltine, who has every
thing in the line of household goods one can
ask for.
The candy table with its sweets, fruits and
other good things. is in the charge of several
young misses. There are Lottie and Cora
Bruce, Alta Lindsay and Angie Cobb. The
children, as is natural flock to this table.
The booth of the Domestic Sewing ma
chine Company is very tasteful and pretty,
with its exhibit of work Of all kinds made
on the machine. Irving j. Brown has a case
of all kinds of nice boots and shoes, and
Millett, Evans & Co. make a fine display of
blankets.
great feature of the fair is b. A. Atkin-
son q Co.'s display facing the main en-
trance. Three rooms have been fitted up as
parlor, bedroom and kitchen. Elegant bro
catel covered furniture adorns the parlor and
Turkman and black lace curtains serve as
portieres. For the bedroom the portieres
are Madras. Mr.. L. +. Dyer arranged this
exhibit with great taste.
In the evening there was an excellent at
tendance. The programme published in yes
terday's issue was gone through with and
much enjoyed. Grimmer's orchestra played
delightfully."-, and the other features were ex-
cellent. Mrs. Alexander's readings gave
much pleasure.
The fair will be open tomorrow when, in
the evening" the browning event, in which
100 milk maids will appear and execute man.
euvres, will not only prove novel but should
draw large audience A social assembly
with music by Grimmer will close the fair.
PORTLAND CLUB.
incorporated Under the State Laws.