The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-01
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
Centennial Celebration of the Second
Parish Church.
Historical Sketch by the Pastor, Rev
Charles n. Daniels.
Interesting Remarks by clergymen
and ParishIoners.

'
day drew large congregations at all three OF
the services. Many former residents OF
Portland, attendants in the old days upon
the ministrations of the various pastors
came to the city to join in making the affair
great success. The church has recently
been beautifully decorated under the direc.
tion of the Ladies' Circle, and Messrs. Josl
d Morton, the frescoers, have good reason to
be proud of their work. The walls and
ceiling have been frescoed in brown OF diff.
ferent shades, and blue, the colors harmon.
izing perfectly, and the blue contrasting with
admirable effect with the bronze above the
pulpit New carpets have been put down,
and new gaseliers hung, the gas being light
ed by electricity. All the pews have been
recushioned. In fact the ladies are to be
congratulated ON the way in which the work
has been done. and for which they alone are
deserving of the praise.
MORNING.
The first service of the day was a prayer.
meeting, led by Deacon S. W. Larrabee. A
large congregation entered fully into the
spirit Of the occasion, and the hour was one
long to be remembered.
At 1880 the church was filled for the reg
ular morning service. On the platform with
Rev. G. III. Daniels, the pastor, were Rev
DR.. Cyrus Hamlin, Rev. DR.. j. w. CHECKER
ing, Rev. William Carruthers, and Rev. Mr..
Loring of Yarmouth. The communion table
was covered with beautiful floral offerings,
and in front stood superb century plant in
vase 50 years old. On either side of the
pulpit were arranged the framed photo
graphs of the former pastors, and on the
wall in the rear, in large gilt letters, were
the figures 17SS-1SSS. Mr. Joseph Gilman.
the organist Of thirty-fve years ago, presided
at the organ, accompanied by Mr.. Collins on
the cornet.
The exercises consisted Of the invocation
by Rev. DR.. Chickering; hymn, "Great God
how infinite Thou art" reading Of the scrip
lures by Rev. VIM. Carruthers; hymn, "Oh.
worship the king, all glorious above"
prayer by Rev. DR.. Hamlin; hymn, 81 love
thy kingdom, Lord; the historical address
by Rev. Charles II. Daniels. and the bene-
diction by Rev. Mr.. Loring This was the
historical address:
To describe the work of a church for one
hundred years of course cannot be expected
1t cannot be possible for mortal to measure
an influence which will reach on through all
generations Of time and extend itself into
eternity. What will be done this morning
not a finished picture.
The incipient movements toward a new
church in Portland began to be felt un-
doubtedly as early as 1875 or 1886. The oc-
casion OF the separation was substantially
after this wise. There was feeling of in
W. no
Thomas Smith and the Rev. Mr. Deane.
The senior pastor was accounted quite
wealthy, at the same time was unable to
perform the duties Of his office because of
age. 1t was desired that he relinquish his
salary. This he refused to do. Also there
was discussion in regard to repairing the old
church, consequently the disaffected parties
decided to withdraw. This decision was in
1887. 1t has been generally stated that the
decision was made Aug. 80, 1887. A record
the society was incorporated in February,
1857. The former date is inaccurate. The
latter Is an error for the exact date Of in
corporation Is matter of record.
The first recorded meeting of the society
is without date. At that meeting a commit
tee was chosen ITO draw plan Of meeting
house which they may Judge suitable for
the purpose and to make inquiry for piece
of land to set it on" On the 3Oth of August.
1877, meeting was held at the Widow
Greeley's-Greeley's tavern, on the corner of
Back (now Congress) and Hampshire streets.
AT this meeting committee was appointed,
without instructions to confer with a COM
mittee from the First Parish. Alta meeting
Sept. 25th, it was recorded, THAT whereas
a vote was passed at the last meeting of the
First Parish in this town. for setting off the
persons there named with all others who
should be desirous of joining them, together
with their families, in order that they may
form society for the public worship Of
God. 1t is therefor voted W that this society
embody itself into religious society for the
above purpose" In this connection are
found votes to raise moneys by subscrip-
tions Ito defray the expense Of a public
teacher and for hiring house to meet In /"
Once or more between this date, Sept 25th
and Oct. 10th of this year 1887, Mr.. kellogg
appears as preacher, at the North school
King streets (now India.) On this latter
date 1t was voted as the unanimous
desire of the society that Mr.. Kellogg
tarry longer with them, and that
the committee be instructed to en-
gage him for six months, although three
months before the same committee were en-
powered 10 hire public teacher "for time
not exceeding three MONTHS On October
20 and December 4th further meetings were
held, and Mr.. Kellogg was approved as a
teacher and earnestly requested to return.
The committee being unable to report
agreement upon the lot it was given to vote
In public meeting and by majority of five
1t was decided to purchase the Hale lot on
the corner OF Middle and Deer streets and a
committee OF ten were appointed to make
agreement with Mr.. Hale and take deed of
the same for the society. Three years later
we find the society struggling with the debt
upon the lot. "The plan of the meeting
house as exhibited to the society was ac-
cepted the 10th of December, 1887, being 65
BY % feet. This house was opened for wor-
At this period we find reference to meet
ing OF which no record is made which may
fairly bear the date of a beginning of the
parish II we are to depend upon a written
and signed compact. At meeting held
Monday, Dec. 81. 1887. 1t was voted ito form
plan here exhibited" Then follows the ma
ture of the Proprietary which consisted OF
fifty shares. Thirty-four shares were taken
at once by twenty men.
We now have lot, building plan, and q
monled proprietary and public teacher.
Another step Is necessary, namely, an act OF
incorporation.
On March II, 1888, an act of incorporation
was granted by the legislature of Massachus-
sets. There were 80 petitioners, and "to-
gether with their polls and estates" were in
corporated with all the principles, powers
and immunities which any parish in this
commonwealth Is entitled to by law" This
remarkable pr0vis0 was inserted, that the
Second Parish pay one fourth the salary OF
Dr. Smith, senior pastor of the First Parish
also its proportion of arrearages heretofore
assessed by the First Parish, and also quit
its right to the parish property reserying
however, the pews in the meeting house OF
the First Parish.
The First Parish officers under the incor-
poration were chosen April 26th, 1888. The
society being thus Incorporated and equip.
ped on the 30th Of September, 1888, the fol.
lowing persons, members of said society, en-.
rolled themselves as J church of Christ, viz
John Bagley, Joseph Jewett, William Bond
William jerks, Samuel Gooding, Abnel
Lowell. John Thrasher, John Dole, Joseph
II. Ingraham and Stephen Tukey. These
with the pastor-elect, Rev. Elijah kellogg
subscribed their names to the covenant
This consummation Of the Second Parish
church we, after one hundred years of church
life, are permitted to celebrate under these
favoring conditions. The first meeting
house completed for use one hundred wears
ago last Friday, was a very plain two story
building So feet long and so feet wide. II
had neither Spire nor ornament. but was
made for comfort and economy. A flag staff
took the place of the steeple and a flag the
place OIL the bell In summ0hing the wor.
shippers to the house of God But progress
is in order with this young and harmonious
church. The proprietors are asked to give
up their rights in the side galleries in order
that pews may be built, the purchase price
being 70 per pew this request Is granted and
the seating capacity is thereby enlarged.
john Dole is the committee ap-
pointed to finish this gallery. He is al.
lowed 70 shillings for himself; 4 shillings fol
youngest apprentice, per day." In 1871 q
committee is chosen to make a draught and
an estimate of spire for the meeting house
In 1913 1t Is voted that the tower be finished