The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-05-24
YARMOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH.
Interesting DedIcatory Exercises
Yesterday.
The Old Church and "reminiscences
Connected With 1t.
Dedlcatory Sermon by Or. George
Dana Roardman.

hhAAAotcAo 0h0 ia1 thCh' AAO cASANAoSo Ia ehc
afternoon commenced at half-past 2 o'clock.
After an anthem by the choir, prayer was Of
fered by Rev. G. B. Ilsley of Bangor The
pastor of the church, Rev. W. Fl. Lane, ex-
tended on the part Of the church hearty
welcome to former pastors and the many
other friends of the church assembled.
Rev. DIR. Stoekbridge of Providence, R. l.,
who was born in Yarmouth, son Of Deacon
| c. Stockbridge, then read paper with the
title "Reminiscences connected with the
early history and pastors of the church,
with personal memoirs" After referring to
the early history of the town, and to move
ments which resulted in the formation of a
Baptist church in the place, the speaker
made special reference to Rev. Sylvanus
Boardman, Rev. Oils Briggs, Rev. DR.. Ste
phen Chaplin, and Rev. Alonzo King. DR..
Chaplin, perhaps, took the highest rank in
the list of the pastors of the church. He
was graduate Of Harvard in 1904, studied
| theology with the distinguished DIR. Nathan
lei Emmons Of Franklin, Mass; was or
dained pastor Of the Mt. Vernon, n H.,
Congregational church. Having serious
| doubts ON the subject of infant baptism, he
made an earnest and prayerful study Of the
| peculiar views of Baptists. As the result OF
such study he conscientiously gave in his adj
herence to their sentiments, and thenceforth
was closely identified with the denomination
| in all matters affecting its interests and
| growth. He resigned his pastorate in Var
mouth to accept an appointment as professor
Of theology in Waterville College. Suisse
quently he was called to the presidency of
Columbian College, now Columbian Univer-
sity, Washington, d. c., and in this capacity
was brought into close relation with the best
statesmen and members of congress of his
time.
The paper of DR.. Stockbridge contained
allusion 10 the old meeting house. with its
primitive modes of worship, etc.. to the ordi-
nation of that sanity missionary, George
Dana Boardman; to the eccentric 'Father"
| Cummings, and closed with fancy sketch
| of the hallowed services of some beautiful
May Sabbaths, as they were recalled by the
speaker. drawing upon the memories of his
early boyhood days.
Rev. DIR. George Dana Boardman of Phila-
| delphia followed. He referred tenderly to
his parents and grandparents, and to the
| great interest he felt in the services of the
day. He congratulated the church on pos
sessing so beautiful specimen of Christian
art, and hoped it would long stand as a
shrine of Christian thought.
| A letter was read from Rev. DIR. N. Butler
| of Spring Prairie, Wis, whose father was
the fifth pastor of the church. Rev. DR..
Small of Portland gave some interesting
| "reminiscences OF his early years in Var
mouth, making especial mention of Rev. q.
Bradford, pastor of the church, and some Of
the prominent members. Rev. G. B. Ilsley,
a former pastor, now of Bangor, recounted
some of the more recent facts In the history
of his past0rate.
The afternoon service was closed with the
benedcti0n by Rev. j. Q. Stockbridge, ID. d.
bountiful collation. was served in the
chapel at the close of the afternoon sermon.
EVENING.
The evening service commenced at 7.3O
O'clock, and at that time the audience room
and adjoining chapel were crowded in every
part. After an organ voluntary, and an au-
them by the choir, there was an invocation
by Rev. L. Reynolds, pastor of the Congre-
gational church. Yarmouth. The Scriptures
were read by Rev. A. T. Dunn of Portland,
and prayer was offered by Rev. J. C. Stock
bridge, DID. 2
The sermon was then preached by Rev.
George Dana Boardman, DID,, of Philadel-
phia, text Eph. 2:2l-22:
sin whom all the building fifty framed together,
groweth unto holy temple in the Lord; in whom
We also are builded together for a habitation OF
God through the spirit
The figure in the text, he said, may have
been suggested to the apostle by the temple
of Diana. But whether it was or not, edit
cation, that is society building. was his ia
vorite idea, Christianity is the moral recon-
struction of the race. In the text we notice
l.. The sacred foundation The apostles
and prophets are the foundation of Gods
church. We need not be afraid of this st9te-
ment OF Peter. Christ himself said, ION
this rock / will build my church." Christis,
indeed, the true foundation, yet there is a
sense in which mortal men enter into this sa-
cred foundation.
2. Notice the sacred centre piece-Jesus
Christ, himself, being the chief cornerstone.
Jesus Christ, therefore, is a part of this
great structure, the church; He is also the
principal member Of this church, the chief
corner stone; He is also the common and
dominating point for His whole church.
3. Notice the sacred variety-All the
building. the building in every part.
4. The sacred symmetry-"ftly framed to-
gether''-all things taking their designed
place. No part of the real temple is an af-
terthought.
8. The sacred growth-"groweth," pres
emit tense, is growing into holy temple in
the Lord. One age has laid the floor, another
an arch; each age having its own work.
What though there may be now some lack of
symmetry? Do not expect too much at once.
Wait till Gods work is complete.
6.-The sacred incorporation. Gentiles as
well as Jews are to have place In this tenn
pie. Countless are its possible blocks. Thus
the unity Of the race lost in the first Adam
is regained In the second.
7. The sacred purpOse-a habitation of
God. where he can meet his people. God was
in the ancient sanctuary, tabernacle OF the
wilderness. He is with his people STILL
Christs church is His body. The fullness
ual temple Is more glowing than the material
temple. This Is, indeed, the habitation of
God in the spirit; yet there is tabernacle
more glorious; the tabernacle of God, him
self, is heaven. There the church is en-
shrined in him. This is the final meaning of
temple.
Lastly. The only way we can be en-
shrlned In that temple is to let Christ be en-
slhrined In us, may we all become pillars In
me heavenly temple.
This is bare outline of sermon, rich in
spiritual truth, eloquently delivered.
AT the close of the sermon, Rev. W. H.
Lane presented the report of the building
committee
The prayer of dedication was offered by
Rev. A. X. p. Small, ID. D., OF Portland.
The service was closed with the benedic-
ton by Rev. G. P. Matthews, d. D., of
Brunswick.
special train returned to Portland at the
close of the service.
The Baptist church, the dedication of
whose new house of worship is above de-
scribed, was organized with seven members
Jan. 49, 1897. 1t has thus long and an
honorable record. Previous to its organize
ton as far back as 1880, Rev. Hezekiah
Smith of Hayerhill, Mass, paid a visit to
Yarmouth where he preached and baptized
one convert. Thirteen years later record is
made of visit by Elder James Potter, .
pioneer of Maine Baptists. He baptized
Tour persons. Two years later, 1895, suffi-
cient number OF persons were found Sympa-
tnlzlng with Baptist views to warrant the
organization of religious society. Soon
alter tne old house now vacated was built at
a cost Oh 81 1858 as. 3D., with forty-fye pro-
prietors AS originally built, it was nearly
square having tower in front. In 1887, o
the commencement of the pastorate of RevT
Zabdlei Bradford Of sanity memory. ,ho
house Twas remodeled, and since that t;n,oo
more or less changes have been made within
1t was built Cd what was then knowr =.
Byram's Hill, the land. an acre and a HE az
more or less costing $4,000. ITS pos;tia,,
Ano .Ixx.Ax hAas. ctr.na