The Portland daily press., 1891-12-31
SOUTH BRlDGTON.
The Congregational Church Celebrates It's
Sixty-Second Anniversary.
[Special Corresnondence.1

SOUTH BRIDGToN, Me-, Dec. 29-The
Congregational church at this place cele-
brated its 62nd anniversary this evening
with public supper in the vestry accom-
panied by addresses. The pastor of the
church, Rev. W. 8. Hague, delivered an
historical address. beginning with the
founding of the church.
The church was organized by Congre-
gatiOnal council, which met at the house of
Jonathan Fessenden in South Bridgton
Tuesday evening, Dec. 90, 1929, and COM
pleted It's work the following day. Nine
persons were thus formed into church,
six OF whom had been members Of the
church In Bridgton, of which Revs. Nathan
Church and Daniel Newell were the pas
tors. One came from the church in Frye
Dmg and two came on confession Of their
faith.
The venerable Euoch Perley, perhaps
the most noted man among the early set
Tiers or BridgtoD, had been leader In the
movement for the organization of the South
Parish church, and his name had been tho
first Of the seven subscribers who had
twice written to the church in Bridgton
reiativelto the proposed organization. He
died In his SIst year just one week before
the church was duly formed.
Rev. Nathan Church, of the church in
Bridgton. was strenuously opposed to the
establishment of the church in the South
Parish. But the obstacles which he and
MS associate threw in the way were over
come by the firm and orderly proceeding
OF the South Bridgton members aided by
the Judictous course of the exparte
council duly convened after the attempt to
have mutual council had failed. 1t ap-
pears that during the second session OF the
council held Wednesday,, Dec. 80, 1929,
six OF the members of the church in Bridg-
ton, including two of its deacons, came be-
fore the council and consented to act with
lt so that the council instead OF continuing
exparte became mutual, and as such pre-
ceeded to organize the proposed church
and ordain Gen. John Perley as its deacon.
Two days later the church Thus regularly
constituted extended call to Rev. Joseph
L. FesseDden to become It's pastor. With
In fortnight the parish concurred in the
call and on 10th Feb, 1880, Pastor Fessen-
den was duty inducted into the Office which
he filled and adorned and In which he
life.
The first ten years of his ministry were
marked by numerous accessions TO the
church. Then the great temperance move
ment began, and later the anti-slayery agi-
tation. Into these great causes Mr.. Fes-
senden threw the whole force of his com
Eanding personality, and rising superior
20 tne environment OF small country par
isn, became widely known leader in the
war against the two great national sins.
In 1859 the passor b wing be ome through
age unequal to the labors incident TO his
charge, Mr.. Stephen Girard Norcross was
ordained and installed as his associate, but
remained only little more than a year.
Next came Mr.. BENZ. f. Maxwell in 1862.
under whose pastoral care during four
NnnFQh do lad
membership and greatly strengthened.
Mr.. Addison Blanchard was ordained
pastor In 1868 and likewise remained four
years. 1t was in his pastorate That the pres
ent house of worship was built at cost of
about $4,000; thus furnishing an edifice
which with later alterations aud repairs is
scarcely rivaled for beauty and utility
among the country parishes in the state.
Mr.. j. w. Br0wnville was ordained as
Mr.. Blanchard's successor In 1873 Rev. Il.
b. Fry succeeded Rev. Mr.. Brownville IN
1877 and MIR. w. b. Hague was ordained as
Mr.. Fry's successor In 1880. Rev. E. p.
Eastman was lied to succeed Mr.. Hague
in 1887 and in 1890 Mr.. Hague again re-
sumed the pastorate
The church has since its foundation been
prominent and influential in the western
quarter OF Cumberland county and in the
adjacent portions Of Oxford C; unity though
constantly sending out large portion of
Its younger and vigorous members it has
yet usually managed to more than make
good its depeti0ns from removals and
deaths; though il has sometimes beer
weakened by local difficulties 1t has not
1alied TO evlnce vigorous life and Is from
present tokens to flourish in the future as
much as or more than in the past
Through the efforts of Enoch Perley who
died just before the cOnsummatien of his
hopes and labors tor the organization OF
the church. permanent fund was estab-
lished FOR the use of the church that mas
since grown TO such dimensions that enc
difficulty so often met with In rural towns
is in large measure obviated. During
Mr.. Blanchard's past0rate fund was es-
tablished by Mrs. +. a. Anderson for the
providing and support of a ministerial
library for the use of the pastor and people
There are now some two hundred volumes
of standard theological, biblical and relig-
ious treatises In the library tc which addi-
tions are constantly made from the income
OF the fund. A more useful and accepta-
BILE gift to country church and pastor can
scarcely be devised than such one as
this.
Persons interested in the economical and
tasteful decoration of the interior FOf
churches might DO we'll TO visit South
Bridgton for the sake OF seeing the panel
ing and ceiling in yellow pine with black
walnut trimmings which adorn the walls
aud ceiling of the auditorium of the church
which finish was put on during the past
summer.
South Bridgton has the honor of being
the birth place Of several important local
organizations. Here the Union Associa-
tion of Congregational ministers that lately
held its 166th meeting at Fryeburg was
formed in 1884. Union Conference of Min
listers and churches was organized here in
1886, and returned in 1856 to celebrate Its
semi-centennial. But first of all and per-
haps most prominent of all is the fact that
ini1784 the church of Bridgtou, the parent
church in the town, was organized in what
afterwards became known as South Bridg-
ton, in the house of Deacon Peabody, a
house that still stands and unit | 1885 was
occupied by Deacon Israel p. Peabody who
was defendant of the the first deacon OF
that name.
Such facts indicate something of the i'm
portant part that the church and people Of
South Bridgton have borne in the moral
and religious life of the vicinity and add
significance to the anniversary meeting Just
held. In spite of occasional discords the
public value of such churches is scarcely to