The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-10-19
Silver Anniversary Of the Installation
Of Rev. DR.. Fem.
His Review Of His PaStorate Of HIGH
Street Church.
Cordial Congratulations from The
Clergy Of The City.


Rev. DR.. w. H. Fem at the High street
church. In fact the celebration began Sat-
urday evening with reception to DIR. and
Mrs. Fem at the elegant mansion Of Mr..
Philip Henry Brown on Vaughn street. The
reception was largely attended and was a
brilliant event. The reception room, hall
and dining hall were deliberately and artisti-
cally decorated with palms and rare exotlcs,
interspersed with huge punches Of Jacque-
minots. Mrs. Brown received, assisted by DR..
and Mrs. Fem. At the entrance Of the
dining hall, Miss Lue Shaylor dispensed
lemonade, while at the opposite side
Julia Cram served Russian tea. Miss
Nan Brown, Miss rillie Clifford, Miss Alice
Twitchell and Miss Helen Brown assisted
at the refreshment table, which was lighted
In the centre by a candelabrum surrounded
by bank Of roses. The handsome silver
service which was presented to DR.. Fem by
his parish last year, was displayed In the
hall.
Morning Services.
High street church was the scene of i'm
pressive service yesterday morning and eve
AihS' AnO PAplt AOCOoS was u Iuho5 Vi ION
ers, mostly pink roses, azalias and asters.
A bunch Of callas stood on the communion
table, while tall vases stood on either side
of the pastors chair and other flowers stood
on the stairs that led up to the platform.
The musical selections were very fine, being
the festival TIE Deum, quartette. "How Beau
tiful on the Mountains;" duet, "Lo, IT'S /
Be Not Afraid" Mis-. Sturgis and Mr.. Fol-
lansbee, and congregational hymns. Mrs.
Fellows and Miss Rice assisting in the clos
ing piece. DR.. Fenn's morning sermon was
as follows:
2Cor., 3, 49, But we ALL with open face, be-
holding as In q glass the glory OF the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory
even as by the Spirit Of the Lord.
1t is good for the eye that the skies and
scenery about 1t should seem fixed, however
Elusive the impression may be. Lis essen
tial to reason and to character, that our
minds after whatever discursiveness, should
settle with a prevailing satisfaction upon
what Is abiding and steadfast. None the
less. is 1t necessary once lin while to defy
our senses, by set points to note the transit
of the greater planets, and by the liked con-
stellati0ns to realize that we are surely mOy-
ing. We often as Christians contemplate to-
gether those objects of our faith, which are
enduring and Interchangeable. Let US be
life, which II rightly improved must evidence
much change and constitute perhaps as well
the highest proof OF progress.
Called as we are to the "Reminiscences of the
last 25 years of our church life and history,
let us begin accordingly with some of the
which We observe In the city with whose
prosperity we are so largely and actively
involved.
NO one who was not upon the grounds in
1866 could adequately appreciate the fright
ful shock given to this community by the
great confiagration OF that year. Many
churches, whole blocks Of warehouses, solid
squares Of private residences, long avenues
OF overshading elms-the pride Of the Forest
City-went down In mass before the all de-
vouring flames.
But sudden as was the terrible reverse, as
sudden was the heroic rebound.
Before our very eyes the miracle of
vast resurrection was enacted. In
deed 1t Is but just to say, that, as often
seen before, what was temporary disaster
proved highest mercy in disguise. There
came out of the fire another city.
Water was introduced into all our homes
from Sebago Lake, and later came the tele-
phone system and electric lights. Large and
more convenient scho0lhouses were erected
Parks were laid out, opened and beautifed
proved and multiplied.
The business interests have grown steadily
In volume In spite of peculiar disappont-
ments.
Our population has made solid gains, the
expression OF which is not altogether found
IN the ngures OF the census. but In the rapid
ly developing precincts, the magnitude Of
which may not strictly be imputed to US un-
I'll the hour OF due annexation. Meanwhile
within the city proper, the old-time play
grounds OF the boys, and pastures are being
appropriated for residences. The North
side and the West side are nearly covered.
Inc natural limits are we'll nigh reached
and the wary are inquiring, Whittier next?
The institutions here of an artistic, literary
aud phllanthropic character, show much adj
vance from what they were quarter of
century since. There were few of these,
but they were comparatively feeble and
Superannuated.
To be sure there is no occasion for boast
Ing yet We have few painters, sculptors,
decorators, architects, no Academy of
Art, no Conservatory of Music, no Opera
House. But increasing culture, enlarging
advantages and persistent teaching have not
been lost upon US. 1t Is something to have
become displeased with many of our houses.
editces and churches without and within
and to be able TO point out their defects.
1t is more to have discovered those who
have artistic taste among us and to have
needed them as leaders.
This wisdom appears In the admirable
statues which adorn Monument and Long
AOIOW OquaAOos OAlulldk I6SulLS SNOW Ln6m-
selves, however less manifestly, in the mat
ter Of music, Connoiseurs and masters
nave risen up here In many departments of
the art. Bands, clubs and societies of yari-
Gus names, have become so many, so studi-
GUS and so disciplined that there Is a dis
tinctly musical class aud of much Influence
among US. This class greatly stimulates its
several members and m0ulds the general
public. To IL in good degree we owe the
high average OF our choir singing in the
ahn ahno nd Qfar daro e.
and perfect art on all public and special oc-
casions.
When my acquaintance with Portland
began, there existed only the remnants Of
the Mercantile Library on the corner of Con-
gress and Temple streets. The books of
the Portland Athenaum were burned.
After months of no small obstacles over
come, the foundations Of public library
were laid by subscriptions of private individ-
uals the city contributing room,
and an annual donation. Afterwards
a most timely II small endowment came to
US from Mr. Sawyer. of Deering. At length
by the munlfcence of our fellow citizen,
Mr.. Baxter. noble building was erected
near us, local habitation for the greater
spirits In literature, and resort for any
VINO would commune with them. The same
edihce also covers the documents and trea-
sures OF the Maine Historical Society, the
nucleus and beginnings Of what Is destined
70 be an Invaluable possession to the Com
uUnWbdlbus
The city seems always to have been MUD.
ful OF good works, and almost from its yery
origin to have been favored with numberless
organized charities. at one time tabulated
some thirty of these. Their simple enumera-
Lion would surprise you. But cannot for
pear the grateful mention of the larger en-.
dowment and expanding usefulness OF some
OF the more general of these humane institu-
lions. recall today my first visit to the
Orpnan asylum In straitened quarters on the
corner of Oxford and Mvrtle Streets. onlv IN
heighte1 our joy at the ampler lodging of the
children In their present Home. and
TO express our admiration of the un-
firing patience and heartfelt deyo-
tlon OIL Its directors. There is an
other nourishing asylum of the same benefi.
cent kind among us. which wa owe ts the