The Portland daily press., 1888-11-02
WESTBRooK BAPrIsTs.
Recognition and Dedication of the
New Church.

Recognition and Dedication OF tne
New Church.
Appropriate Services Held Afternoon
and Evening.
On Main street, Saccarappa, on beautiful
site about half way between the Methodist
and the Universalist churches, is located the
new and pretty First Baptist church of
Westbrook, which was recognized and ded-
icated with fitting ceremonies yesterday.
The structure, which was designed by the
architect John Calvin Stevens, is a unique
and beautiful one, very cheerful and inviting
| inside, complete and convenient In all its ar
rangements. The church is entered on,
either side through handsome porticoes of
different design, and square tower with
pretty balconies in the belfry, rises from the
southeastern corner of the edifce.
Entering the church through the eastern
portico one finds himself in a spacious hall
at the end of which double doors open into
the auditorium and on the left into the
yestry which is nearest the street. The
vestry, like the rest of the building. is heat
ed by steam and lighted by electricity. A
| light softened and toned by stained glass
windows In the front of the room makes the
vestry, with its carpeted floor and tinted
walls indeed beautiful apartment. Large
| folding doors on the west side of the vestry
| open into a cosy, cheerful class room, and
| the auditorium and vestry are made one
large room by pushing upward partition of
large glass windows. The church organ is
situated ON platform in the front, left hand
corner of the auditorium, the pulpit is in the
centre and the entrance to the pastors apart
ments and kitchen on the right Back of the
pulpit is screen and back of it spacious
room. Opening from the right of this room
is the pastors study, very handsome apart
ment, and from the left the kitchen and
dressing room. Sebago water and other con-
veniences are to be found in the kitchen.
The auditorium is lighted by large stained
glass windows on either side, it is hand
somely carpeted, the pews are made of white
wood and have soft, red cushions. The
seating capacity is little over 200.
An elegant communion service, beautiful
pulpit Bible and generous check were pre-
sented to the church by Mr.. Emery.
j. & j. PhilOrook were the builders and
Judge Bonney, DR.. II. S. Burrage and Rev.
A. /. Dunn was the building committee.
The steam heating apparatus was put in by
| Jones. & Hitchings; the electric light by the
Westbrook Electric Light Company
and the beautiful stained windows
by Redding, Baird & Co.. Of Boston.
| Rev. A. N. Dairy is pastor of the church. c.
A. L. Treadwell clerk. and DR.. n Martin
and Roger Hilton deacons. The house and
1 rr& a.
| proudlto be able tn state that it was dedi-
Gated free from debt. Well made concrete
| walks lead to the entrances. and the grounds
| in front OF the church have been nicely laid
| out, so that next summer beautiful grassy
| plot will make the lot attractive. The
church starts out In its good work with %
members, and bright outlook for future
growth. gReff 9nE str"f
~ ~ AFTERNOON SESSION. -
AT p. m. u church council to con-
slider the ACCESSIBILITY of recognizing the
new church. was convened. . DIR. A. KIP
Small of Portland was chosen moderator,
and Rev. c. c. Tilley of Lewiston clerk. The
committee on credentials reported 80 dele
gates present representing the Baptist
churches OF Portland, Yarmouth, Freeport,
Auburn, Lewiston, Brunswick, Buxton,
| Springvae, Sanford, Bath, WATERFORD. Sbap-
| leigh and Limerick. The council was duly
organized by making the temporary officers
| permanent. The meeting was opened with
prayer by Rev. DIR. Matthews of Brunswick,
which was followed by singing by the con
| gregation. After the usual f0rmality it was
| unanimously voted to recognize the church
under the name Of the First Baptist church
| of Westbrook.
A committee was then appointed to pre-
| pare programme for the recognition SER
vices Which were held in the evening. The
committee reported programme and re-
| commended that the evening service begin at
| 7.3Q o'clock. The report was adopted.
The question with what association will
this church unite?" was then discussed to a
considerable length by many present, Rev.
| Mr. Davis of SpriDgvale opening the Ques-
| ton. Mr. Davis recommended the redivis-
| Ion OF the associations. 1t was suggested
| that at some future day the pastors of both
the York and Saco River associations meet
and talk over the matter OF rediyision.
| The subject Cooperation between pas
tors and churches" was presented for dis
| cussion and participated in by many men,
bers of the council. Rev. Mr.. Tilley of Lew
iston opened the discussion and spoke of the
| good that often results from hearty co-opera-
ton Of pastors Of churches as well as OF the
| churches themselves. At 4.30 o'clock it was
voted to adjourn until 7.30 p. IN. After the
| afternoon session collation. was served in
the vestry and social hour enjoyed.
| EVENING SESSION.
At 7 o'clock a helpful social service was
| led by V. r. Foss OF Portland.
Long before the appointed hour of service
the house in all its parts was crowded to
| overlooking. Every seat and all standing
room was filed, while many left without
| hainp ahia m in side tbo hn;ld;no
| The exercises were according to the fol-
lowing programme:
Organ Voluntary.
Reading the Minutes of the Council
Invocation by Rev. Mr.. Wallace. Pastor of Advent
Church. Saccarappa.
Hymn.
tor of Methodist Episcopal Church, Saccarappa.
Sermon by Rev. G. II. Spalding. Boston.
The sermon was replete aud apt in illus
tration, strong and clear in statement, and
faithful presentation of important truth.
| The following is bri IF abstract:
From Luke 70; 49, Fear not little flock for
IT Is your fathers good pleasure to give you
| the kingdom" The following points were
| deduced and practical lessons were enforced.
| ~. Christ's overture to his church Is an
overture of courage. ~. The measure of
| church growth and the limitations of church
responsibility. 81. The vital and sympa-
| thetic relation between the church and God.
| ~. The good pleasure of God is pledged to
| the success of his church. %. A kingdom is
| to be the outcome of all the service ana sac
rlhce of the church. The little flock is
| great agent in the final coming of the king
dom. Man in solitude is greater danger to
| society than man in the multitude. Mans
fear not and God's"good pleasure" are the
| solid abutments from which the bridge of
redemption spans the chasm of human
| sin.
The programme was then continued as
follows:
Report of Committee by Rev. A. 7. Dunn, Port
land.
Recognition and Dedication Prayer by Rev. A. X.
p. SMALL ID. d., Portland.
Hymn. read by Rev. L. NJ. Cousins, Pastor Cong.
Church. Cumberland Mills.
Hand of Fellowship by Rev. w. ii. Lane, Var
mouth.
Charge to the Church by Rev. G. r. Matthews, ID.
d. Brunswick.
Address of Welcome In behalf OF the Churches by
Rev. K. f. Bacon, Pastor Congregational
Church, Saccarappa.
Bendiction by the Pastor, Rev. A. n. Dairy.
special train on the Portland d Roches-
ter Railroad carried home the large company
which was in attendance from Portland.
Avote of Thanks
We, the members of the Free church, wish
| 10 express our deepest gratitude to the many
| friends who so kindly and generously con-
frihutpd tn the nnavf &c tbo ,,;eitnrO