The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-01

| great good In establishing men in TRUTH but
pecame the very foundation oil
san srsas snd SeSatoT SS5asneo in as after yes9s sS
During the last year Of his ministry, after
much debate and careful study, creed was
adopted which Is still the creed OF our
church. All through his ministry there were
lnqulrers for the way OF salvation and In
1881 there was a gracious revival and one
| hundred and seven were received into the
church. Lis pastorate closed in 1884, and he
was honored as was also the church when
he was called TO the presidency Of the
| Theological Institute of Connecticut The
/ growth of the church was such under his
ministry that 1t became necessary to set off
some Oh tne members, This was done in
February, 1881. when the High Street Church
was organized
The Rev. Joseph vaill who was the next
pastor, / well remember as 1 used TO see
| him when a student in Amherst Col
lege. He was always a gentleman,
and he made himself friends. Not the
magnetic preacher as was Payson, with the
| powerful intellect Of Tyler, out faithful,
sound, painstaking and sympathetic. The
testimony seems to be to holy life. He was
| installed over our church Oct. IA, 1884, hav-
/ ing received a unanimous call from Brim-
field, Mass. He brought 20 years Of ex-
perience. He was here three years, during
which time he preached 270 sermons in his
| own pulpit, also delivered many evening
| lectures in courses, instructed a Bible class Of
/ above 175 members and a catechetieal class
Tor children, besides pastoral duties unnum-
bered. Oh cruelty hard service 1t was for
any man to take upon himselfl III health
i was the price, and a happy, prosperous
/ pastorate was closed Oct, 10, 1881. He was
Tor time trustee, Of Bangor Theological
Seminary and was always interested in edu-
eational interests. Under this pastorate the
A6yssinian church was organized and on
| July ~, 1885. twenty-five members were set
on from our church for this purpose
q. hegretIuily parting from another pastor,
/ gfi cad
that brilliant and gifted man, Of large heart
and hne sympathy, a native born teacher,
nnished preacher, and choice
t1Tlendi 1deaat. A call was given to Rev.
wnere Tor several years he had been vaiu-
| able professor. The unanimity of the call.
desire also for the pastorate led to his ac.
ceptance, and he was installed May II, 1888
the sermon being preached by his brother
Rev. Robert w. Condit, Of Oswego, N. Y.
For nearly eight years he was a successful
minister at this the largest and wealthiest
cnqrcn IN Portland His labors were great
| IX blessed by large accessions to the church
The health Of his family alone oecasioned
| MS resignation which occurred in December
lS45. Afterward In Lane Theological Sem
mary Cincinnati, Ohio, and at Auburn Sem
mary, N. T., he did valuable service for
| young men fitting for the ministry. His
death occurred January l, 1876, at Andover,
With desire we come to speak Of the next
| pastor. We take our place with our dear
| people June Sth, 1916, when by a cordial
vote call Is extended to the Rev. j. j. Car
| ruthers, ID. d., of Montreal to become pas-
tor The society concur with the church at
a meeting held June 10th Of the same year,
and with the same substantial unanimity
| writes:
=, These and other considerations have led me 10
one conclusions formed humbly trust under the
duty to accept the invitation rendered TO me in
your behalf; This thereby do. most ferventiy
Of the blessing Of the Gospel Of Christ and thar
my minls,ry among you may be largely crowned
the n Inc belv 1essng IRON on high the uncton from
Taught the way Of God and sinners converted un-
70 nun and that those who have believed through
holy faith" '- --'V''
The first Sabbath in August, 1886. was the
suspicious day when this long, useful fruit
Iui, ana faithful ministry Of Rev. Dr. Car
rutners Degan-a ministry that shall never
end as long as hall0wed Influence. both CON
scl0us and unconscious, shall remain. This
| servant OF God lives with us TODAY. and we
would all pay our tribute Of love to him and
| express genuine regret that his health for
| bids his presence. His installation occurred
August 8, 1886 DIR. Carruthers Is a native
OF Scotland and received his education In
that country: He brought to us a wide ex
perlence Dotn IN pastoral and missionary
service, being settled over churches at Cos
port and Liverpool, England, also In Mon
treal, where he established a CongregationaI
church. His missionary service was in the
Srinea, where ne remained until the policy !
Oh the Russian government became hostile 4
TO all missionary activities and the mission
aries were compelled to withdraw. Longer
than any other one he has served our church.
watched Its progress and life. and given to
II his council and prayer. Twice the church
insisted that he withdraw his resignation
ana refused to accept the same. The resig-
nation being received again 1t was re gretfui-
y accepted. More than as pastor, his in
nuence extends out into the cOmmnnitv and
on many public occasions he Is remembered
Ior MS exceptional platform utterances. al
ways positive and on the side Of righteous
ness. Many remember his tender prayer Of
three years ago at the service in memory of
Gen. Grant at City Hail. We recall. too
the response Of the great audience TO the tri,
pute Of MI Reed at our city centennial when
he said: ''0-
u could not refrain from Offering my tribute Of
admiration and regard to that aged minister who
came from over the sea- whose noble face. whose
stately beauty Of language, whose fun strong
IDEAL Christian minister"
speak these things to show his place in
the community With his pen he has seeur-
ed wider hearing than could have been pos
slole from tne pulpit; as an editor and cor
respondent he has done valuable service. He
mas been minister Of great individuality, OF
clearly qehned views, worthy Of cOnsidera-
tion; he never hesltated to give expression
70 70 ms opinions when duty required. How
he loved to preach. The great truths of the
gospel 81 grace were dear to him, and he be-
lleyed them. He was sturdy I'M defense az
all that was good. He BY nature scorned
tne pad. In his intercourse with others, his
nrban1ty and courtesy, made him 10 be high.
| ly respected. Stern were his conyictions.
ana sometimes severe, but how solicitous for
the sorrowing, and how gentle to the sick
a. ana d bereayed, How excellent as pastor
IL mas been told to me often. He has lived a
| long and useful lifehere, and we prav that H.
as 1t please God.
During his pastorate the State street
cnurcn was organized also the St. Lawrence
street. In preparing for the latter, DIR. Car
rnthers had a large part The total acees-
slons during these 80 years we have nos
been able 70 collect, but on more than
one nish occasion occasion. the records recur
ylyal of religion, and as result of
one OF these seasons 81 united with the
church on profession of faith. AT other
times, also, there were large accessiOns. Two
crises occurred In the latter years of this
ministry. First, the large movement of the
| population to the western part Of the city.
and, secondly, the devastating FIRE Of 1876.
Under these changed circumstances our
DrOther pastor stood eOurageOusly tOiling for
| the people and cause he loved We owe
much to him for all that was done al this
trying time, giving himself to the collecting
OF considerable funds, work so uncongeniai
- PAN"~lCt VI thC bOoptls anu sacrificing
nucn comfort, not only himself, but his fam
lily, for the church. We repeat the language
OF hymn dedicated to him:
Give him four-fold, Lord this day.
Eor his love TO us, we pray;
III the earthly victory won
he ShaD hear the sweet Well dOnei"
AT the close Of his pastoral relation In this
cnurch the sentiment OF the people was ex-
pressed in most cordial resolutions of regret
recalling his faithful ministry, both In the
homes and the sacred desk, his discriminat
ing exposition of the gospel truth. his con-
sistent and steadfast walk. his EXAMPLE Of
graceful dignity and kindness, his rare abili-
W, ripe scholarship, and Christian sincerity.
now, as then, we present the Testimony Of
anectlon and reverence" with the PRAYER
that MS last days may lie under the abund-
ant blessing of God.
The last pastor. Rev. G. A. Dickinson.
brought to the church a warm enthusiasm
| Tor Christian work. Fresh from his studies
| at Andover, this was his first pastorate He
| proved himself happily fitted for the work
| at hand. The debt was already cleared
away, and the people had "a mind To work :"
lie, himself an able preacher, was also gifted
In organizing work. Here he was snecess1uI
Ths church grew, the Sabbath school also
ana increasing congregations gave prosperi-
W 70 zion. successful as pastor, univer-
sally beloved, 1t was great disappointment
when ne LETT for Lowell. He is now pastor
OF tne Berkeley Temple in Boston,
engaging In work Of much prom
ise de was dismissed Nov, 2S, 1882,