Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-21


Battles of Bangor. was beautiful thing in
It's way; his local "reminiscences were very
timely and added great interest to his re-
marks; his comparisons of the past with
the present were skillfully drawn,
his advice to the people practical, and his
congratulations to the resident pastor very
happily put.
The male quarsette rendered the selec.
ton There is Rest in an artistic manner,
and then the pastor concluded the exercises
with beuediction.
There was large crowd of people iu at
tendance, completely filling the auditorium
and the larger part of the Sunday school
room or vestry.
Another big crowd gathered tonight,
when the programme was as follows: An
them, by the choir, God is My Salvation" I;
reading of the Scriptures by the pastor !;
prayer by Rev. o. J. Mead; hymn by the
choir; after which there were elegant sd-
dresses by Revs. J. l.. Seward Of
waterville. w. NJ. Kimmell of
Rockland and c. A. Hayden Of
Auburn, who spoke respectively upon
the following subjects Salvation of the
World; - The Supreme need of Religion
and is His Kingdom Coming An an
them by the Choir From Shore to Shore
and benediction BY Rev. Mr.. Hayden closed
the exercises of the evening.
The new church is very attra ctive edi-
fice in all respects, and elicits many express
sion, of admiration from all who vjsi.
it. The pews are very easy, the dec
orations are tasty, the Sunday School room
spacious and yet cosy aud homelike; in
short, nothing seems to have been omitted
or overlooked either in the plans or thei:
execution. A brief history of the origin
and development of the society will be in-
teresting and timely in this connection.
The fret subscription list for the erection
of a Universalist meeting house in Fairfield
was started June 6. 1854 during the pastor
ate Of Rev. C. S. Hussey. The building
was dedicated in the spring of 1856, Rev.
Calvin Gardiner, pastor. In March, 1858,
q constitution was adopted and the first
board Of managers was Incorporated under
the name of the Proprietors of the Univer.
salist Meeting House Corporation, VIM.
Connor, president; Simon Cornor. clerk
Ezra Totman, treasurer; E. W. McFadden,
Z. G. Pratt. George Cotton, executive
committee: Nahum Totman, Henry Fogg
A. p. Williams, committee Oh accounts
This house when completed cost s2694 6s.
The pastors during this organization were
Rev. Mr.. Forbes, Rev. Calvin Gardiner,
Rev. II. C. Leonard, Rev. DR.. J. NJ. Ford,
who died and Is buried here, and Rev. W. w.
Hayward. In March, 1867, q petition was
granted to change the name to First Univer.
salist Society and TO adopt new constitu-
ton. The pastors Of this socie,y were Rev.
Clarence Fowler, Rev. J. o. Skinner, Rev.
J. C. Church, Rev. C. Purrinton. and Rev.
Loreuxa HAYNES. Miss Haynes pastorste
continued from June !, 1879, to June /,
1888. The pulpit was supplied from Nov.
4, 1888, to May /. 1884, when this society
in connection with the one at Waterville,
engaged Rev. R. II. Aldrich as pastor
His pastorate closed MAY l, 1887, and the
pulpit was vacant until June, 9, 1859, when
Rev. s. G. Davis, the present pastor, eE.
tered upon his work. In 1885, re-organ.
izaiion was made under the name of the
Uuiversaiist Parish of Fairfield. According
to tie new constitution then adopted. pri-
vate ownership in the church property wal
merged in the Maine UnivefsAlist Conven
ton. This Society now acknowledged thS
ecclesiast cal authority Of the Univefsalis
General Convention and the jurisdiction oi
the Maine Universalist Convention. From
| 1884 to 1889 several movements wert
made either to repair. move, or sell tht
church building. In 1885, lot was pur
chased for the erection of 4 new chufcl
edifce. On May 81. 1859, it vas voted tt
repair the the church on the old lot. A
h. Totman, v. r. Connor and +. B. Par
rinion were appointed building COMMITTEES
with the instruction that the repairs shoult
not be over $4,000. This sum Vas exceed
cd especially through the earnest Efforts o
the ladies, who provided the money for tn
frescoing, windows, pews and carpet
| Special contributions are - follows: Th'
pulpit vas the gift and work of John E
| Cotton. Tie north central window. "Th
Angel Of Praise" vas given by Mrs. VIM
Connor, Mrs. Geo. Drew and Mrs. NAHUM
Tesman, in memory Of their parents, VIZ
and Lydia Bryant. The south centrs
window, THE Good Shepherd" vas pre-