Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-18

o. The Congregational eoosssy's New
Chapel.

O6OACAxAO0
OF The Congregational eooisty's New
Chapel.
society's new chapel was we'll allied last
evening at the hour appointed for the ded-
icatory services. No number on. the we'll
arranged order Of services lvas omitted,
and were most appropriate throughout. A
quaftette composed Of Mrs. Milliken, Mrs.
Gray and Msssis. Hawes and Coombs rem
dsrsd very finely the fret number Oh the
program. 'Oh, Sing Unto the Lord, . which
vas followed by the invocation BY Rev. r.
A. Griffin, pastor Of the Unitarian church
and scripture reading BY the same sentle-
man.
The historical statement by Capt. Chas.
E. Nash was concise, considering its COM
pleteness. and very interesting throughout.
Commencing with the time when the black
robed Jesuit priests came down from Qae-
bee through the then unknown wilderness
to the valley Of the kennebec and per-
formed the fret religious services ever held
on this river the speaker dselt briefly on
the different advancing steps in the relisi-
Gus work. The first places for wofship
we're the wigvams Of the Indians, and
there the Puritans that came to this place
under Edward Winslow met them, and for
time the antipathies Of French and Eug-
lish and of different creeds were forgotten.
The history Of the South Pafish and the
history Of our city are 20 closely
allied a. to be almost the one and the
same. The former claims close relation
ship with Plymouth.
In Fort Weston, still standing, was held
in 1853 the fret English service. conducted
by the Rev. Jacob Bailey. The early
policy of the colony Of Massachusetts was
. close union of Church and State, and this
policy was carried out In the incorporation
of the town Of Hallowell. In those times
religious services were very desultory and a
clergymAn's advent in town was an
event of great Importance. History states
that the Rev., Samuel Spring held services
at Fort Weston when Arnold's little army
passed through here, but when the Declar-
alton Of Independence was declared there
was no pastor At Fort Weston to read il.
There were many lively mee,iugs over the
location of the fret meeting house that was
hnaly erected on the West side near where
Aliens building now stands. This was
first occupied in 1888. Rev. Isaac Foster,
the first pastor, labored here . few years
till dissensions arose. Afterwards the
Chester church Was established and was
finally united with the first church in 1898,
but the germs remained and finally devel-
oped into two sister churches, the South
Parish church of Augusta and the
South Parish church Of Halloweli.
Mr.. Nash dwelt at considerable
length on the grand work done by Rev.
Daniel Storrs, ordained In 1895, during
whose pastorate the South Parish meeting
house was erected. Following he spoke Of
the life work Of Rev, Berj. Tappan, or
dained In 1911 and dismissed At his own
request in 1850. The speaker said that
during that good mans pastofate doctrinal
irritation was allayed, and throughout
he was the ideal shepherd,
whose flock still bears the impress of
his strong individuality. During his pas
tora'e the fret and second chapels Of the
society were erected, the first in 1880, the
second in 1876. Under the brief but
fruitful labors of Rev. Mr.. Skeele this
beautiful chapel was begun, and has since
been completed at q cost of s6324 80. 1t
was begun in 1888. During the 100 years
OF the existence Of the South Parish three
churches and ~ many chapels
have been built by it and eight
pastors ordained in i.s pulpits.
DR.. W. L. Thompsion, Chairman Of the
Building Committee, with well chosen re-
marks presented the Parish in behalf Of
the Association the new Chapel that through
the efforts Of the Association has been
completed. The proceeds Of an enter
tsinment given in 1881, amounting to
Sl04 was the nucleus of the Chapel
fund. Some 600 was raised by similar
tertsinmenis, over 81 600 were SUBJ
scribed, and about $500 was obtained
through membership fees alone. Every
dollar was raised by the association. He
suggested that instead OF chapel 1t should
be called our church house, and hoped this,
,oto,o lon. 4, would be Le,t onen ever,
e.o.' ,0'e
DAY IN the year.
Hon. J. w. Bradbury. on behalf Of the
parish, accepted the presentations. Mr.
Bradbury's remarks we're in bis sccus
toned happy vein and most timely. He