The Portland daily press., 1893-06-15
STATE STREET CHURCH.
Re-opening Of the Remodelled Build.
ing Last Evening,

Crowds Turned From the Doors-Interest-
ing Historical Address BY w. S. Dana
Addresses by Drs. Fem land Merrill
and Rev. Mr.. Pratt-Letters From Old
Pastors.
State street church and parish rejoiced
last evening and they had good reason
for rejoicing. Their beautiful new church
for it is virtually new house of wor-
ship--was re-opened and the congrega-
ton and their friends filled every avail
able spot in the building, while many
were compelled to go away disappointed
of admission.
The church is very handsome. The
front is constructed of Maynard freestone
from Springfield, Mass. We cannot give
a cut of the front elevation this morning
as the towers are not yet completed and
there have been some changes in the
plans since the original was made.
The interior of the church is finished
in antique, quartered oak and the walls
have been handsomely decorated in me-
dunn light tones. The gallery front has
been renewed, new pews have been put
peted and lighted by electricity. The
church will be heated by steam and new
plumbing has been put in throughout.
Alterations have been made in the pas
tor room, which is now very hand
some apartment. In the vestibule new
tile floors have been laid. The architect
was Mr.. j. G. Stevens. 20 10
The decoration of the walls was done
by f. Heberstroh & Sons, Boston; heat
ing by Walworth Manufacturing Co.,
Boston; plumbing by W. A. Lowe, Port
land; slate roofing by M. B. Bourne &
Sons, and the general work by Blackstone
& Smith. The pulpit furniture by Wal
ter Corey & Co. is in every way elegant
and unique. The wiring and all the cleo
trio work was done by Mr.. John Fox and
is an admirable piece of workmanship.
The superb Roosevelt organ, the only one
of its kind in Maine, has been described
| "a
in these columns.
The exercises began last evening with
an organ voluntary by Mr.. Harvey Muir
ray, the organist of the church, followed
by the reading of the oath Psalm by Rev.
Dr. Jenkins, the pastor-elect, Then
came the anthem by Sullivan, II Will
Sing of Thy Power, o God," by the
grand chorus of thirty-fye singers from
the Singers Club, which was given with
great beauty of expression and power.
| Rev. Mr.. Conger then made the invoca-
ton which was followed by the respon-
sive readings from the LXXXIV. Psalm,
the Psalms CXXII. and CXXXII., clos
ing with the Gloria Patri by the choir.
Then the choir sang Spohr's anthem,
''Lord, Before Thy Footstool Bending y
followed by the Scripture reading
by Rev. Mr.. Gate, of Plymouth
Free Baptist church. Hymn No
1853 was then sung after which Rev
DR.. Hugh S. Carpenter of Brooklyn,
| first pastor, delivered a most impressive
prayer. Mr.. Woodbury. s. Dana next
gave the following historical address.
| Mr.. Dana's Historical Sketch.
Previous to 1916, it was very evident
that more church accommodation, (espe-
cially by the Congregationalists) were
| needed in the western portion of the city.
| Considerable interest had already mani
tested itself, largely influenced by the act
i've efforts of the Rev. John w Chickering.
pastor of the High street Congregational
| church. To him. more than any one else
is this church indebted for it's origin. 1t
was splendid example of unseIfishness
and devotion to his Masters service, fol
it was well understood that his own par
ish would have to furnish nearly all the
parishioners and funds for the new en-
terprise.
But it was not until December, 1916
that words crystallized into deeds, Their
| the first meeting was held at the house
| of the writer, who resided on the corner
| of Free and Oak streets, and attended BY
| some ten or twelve gentlemen, specially
| interested. Not long after, the first sub
/ scriptions were solicited by Rev. join
w. Chickering, and in one days effort b.
obtained $500.
That church extension was much need
ed, did not confine itself to this specia
movement, for the unusual prosperit,
and growth of the city, especially upoi
it's western territory, Influenced m. o
less other religious organizations, the.
suits of which will be more fully real
lied when / refer to the churches erectet
| west.of High street since January LIST
1916.
Some of the circumstances that influ
enced the special enterprise under con
sideration were rs follows:
/. In 1910 most remarkable reviva
of religion was developed, which was s.
universal and powerful, that the entir
city was affected, and as one stated in &
letter to me, written at the time, eth
interest was SO deep and general that
was the topic of conversation upon til
Streets" 1t was free from unnecessar
excitement, and was evidently the com
municatlon of the Holy Spirit, present
ing divine truth, through human lips an
consecrated lives, by calm and intelligen
appeals to the consciences and hearts o
men. 1t resulted in very larg
and permanent increase of genera
church attendance, as we'll as addin