The Portland daily press., 1893-09-22
CUMBERLAND'S CHURCH.
IIundredth Anniversary Of the Con-
gregational Society.
A LOCAL EVENT FITTINGLY CELE-
DRAFTED.

The Families that Have Sustained the
Churci.-Many Visitors and Large
Audience Addresses.
| At Cum berland Centre yesterday the
| centennial of the Congregational church
was observed with appropriate exercises
The old church, situated on an ample
lot, shaded by majestic elms, is
one of the most conspicuous ornaments
of the handsome village, as the church
socially has been during it's hundred
years of existence the constant fountain
head of religious and moral inspiration
to the town. No pains had been spared
by the mem bers of the society to make
yesterdays celebration successful and in
teresting. Old members came back, the
pastors of neighboring ch urches were
invited, the old church house was made
brilliant with flowers, evergreen and
autumn leaves.
The most interesting and interested
figure ON the occasion was Captain Beza
Blanchard, the oldest man in Cumb err
land, who for.sixty-fve OF the fourscore
and eight years of his life has been a
member of the church. Captain Blanch-
ard commanded many fine ship in the
days when the young men of Cumber-
land sailed every sea, and he had yester-
day a list of ffty-eight young Cumber-
land sailors who died away from home,
either by shipwreck or by fever, in the
faith taught them in the old church.
Captain Blanchard had been three years
! a mberso the. church when the present
edifice was erected..in 1881, ssand he recalls
that time so.far progressed that thesold
custom of having New England~ rum
served at the raising, was dispensed with
Among those who swere present from
other places, drawn .thither from old
associations or present. interest. were:
Rev. Benjamin B. Merrill, of Brewer,
Rev. John Barstow, of Glanton bury,
Conn, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Thompson,
of Woodford's, W. H. Wyman, of Portland
Rev. U. W. Small, Rev. rs. Perry, of
Limerick, Rev. DIR. James G. Merrill, of
Portland, Rev 3. G. Brown, of Freeport
Rev. Oliver Brown, of North Yarmouth,
Rev. Lauriston Reynolds, OF Yarmouth.
The arrangements for the'occasion were
most excellent The present pastor, Rev.
Frank W Davis, Messrs. Ezra Sweetsir,
is. Themes, B, Osgood, F. M. Leigh
ton, r. H. Blanchard, f. H. Chase, L. H.
Merrill, R. S. Themes, MI. Collins Mrs.
Hollis True, Mrs. o. S.Thomes, Mrs.
A rThnnops and
others were active in providing for the
comfort and pleasure of those attending
the exercises.
The programme of the forenoon began
with an organ voluntary, rendered by
Prof E. "A. Blanchard, of Yarmouth,
leader of Chandler's. The anthem,
@Wake the Song of Jubilee" next re-
sounded through the ancient building,
finely rendered by the following choir:
Tenor-E. K .Sweetsir, A. III. Buxton,
O.S. Themes, r. S. Themes. Bases.
r. Sweetsir, F r. oweetsir, E. B. Osgood,
Benj. Whitney. Treble-Mrs. H. B. Mer-
rill, Mrs Hollis True, Mrs. D. L. Blanch
ard, Miss Nellie Blnchard. Alto-Mrs.
o. S. Themes, Mrs, E. K. Sweetsir Miss
Ethel Blanchard, Miss Inez Rowe.
The audience assembled was very
large, completely filling the church.
After an invocation by Rev. E. G. Brown,
of Freeport, and a responsive reading
Of Psalm ILL.,, Rev. Oliver Brown, Of
North Yarmouth. offered prayer. Then
Rev. F. W. Davis, pastor of the church,
delivered brief address of welcome.
The original hymn, written by Rev.T.
S. Perry, of Limerick, was next sung to
the tune of Duke Street:
o Lord, for evermore the same,
Thou art thy peoples dwelling-place;
Our fathers knew thy holy name,
And here. they. humbly sought thy
face.
They Joined their hearts, living shrine,
A temple builded to thy praise;
And thou didst own their work as thine,
And with thy mercies crown their
days.
Thy care has kept from year to year.
The boon that then thy goodness gave;
Thine ear has still been quick to hear,
Thy arm has still been strong to save.
To thee, o Lord, our spirits raise,
Draw thou our Maynard hearts TO Unee;
| Our fathers God in other days,
| Be thou our God, forever be.
| Still grant us, Lord, thy love divine,
Nor let thy tender mercies cease;
| Let thou thy face upon us shine,
| And may thy presence give us peace.
On the programme the historical adj
dress was next in order; but the arrival
of the historian, Rev T. S. Perry, having
been delayed, the sermon by Rev. Dr.. j.
! G.. Merrill of Portland, was substituted.
After the singing of hymn 1860 the
poem, by Rev. John Barstow, OF Glaston-
bury, Conn, was read. Passages .of. it
were as follows:
You tell me that hundred years
Have passed, since on this spot
| A house was built by willing hands,
! To God. who changeth not
thousand changes here have been
| Since that first church was born.
| The leaders of God for us then
To their reward have gone.
But we, their children gather here