The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-18
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
"Reminiscences of Them In Boston Fifty
Years Ago-Dr. Dalton's Discourse sun
day.

The subject of Rev. DR.. Asa Dalton's dis
course on Sunday afternoon was BAPTIST
Churches in Boston Fifty Years Ago" AT
that time the First Baptist church was on
the corner of Union and Hanover streets.
brick building similar to our old High street
church before il WAS remodelled. The
Second Baptist church was in Baldwin Place
farther north. The farthest West was on
Charles street, near the Common The FEEDER
al street church was near Pearl. 10 these
were added the Harvard street, near HAIR
rison Square. at the South End. the Bow
doin Square church. ana the fremont Tenn
pie. which was a new departure as popu-
lar church for the masses more especiaIIy
for the thousands then coming TO Boston
from Maine and New Hampshire.
The first church was rebuilt, first on
Somerset street, and then located on Com
monwealth Avenue in the church built for
the BrattIe st. church whore it will prob
ably remain. Baldwin Place church was re-
built on Warren Avenue at the South End
Charles street church was dissolved, and The
building secured for a colored congrega-
ton. The Federal street church was re-
moved I o Rowe street. and finally to Clar-
endon street. where they built an elegant
church, the membership of which is the
largest of the Boston Baptist churches.
The fremont Temple has been burnt three
times, and is now rising again the third
time from its ashes.
Rev. Rollin q. Neale was pastor OF the
First church fifty years ago, popular
preacher who was preceded by such men al
Drs. S,illman, Winehell, and Wayland, who
became President of Brown diversity. one
az the first educators of the country, Dr.
| Nts.le was followed by Drs. Crane and Mox-
ON. Rev. Baron Stow Was pastor of Baldwin
Place church in the forties-an eloquent
divine of great magnetic power. DIR. Stock
| bridge, formerly of this city. is the author
of his Memoirs. DR.. Howard Malcom was
pastor of the oderal st. church, then Dir.
| William Hague, a man of many accomplish
| ments. elegant manners. and of singular
eloGuence. DR.. Stow resigned the pastorate
of Baldwin Place church and succeeded
Dr.. Hague as pastor of the Federal street
church after that was removed to Rowe
street. He was followed by Dr.. 4. j. Cor
don tof whom since his recent decease, SO
much has been SO we'll said), after the
church in Clare;sdon street was built. Ar
ter Rev. DIR. Sharp at Charles street
came Dr. j. G. Stockbridge, before his
coming to Portland. Rev., Joseph Barnard
was for many years at Harvard street. DR.!
Cushman was the first, and most distin-
| guished pastor and preacher at Bowdoin
Square. Rev. Nathaniel Colver was at
fremont Temple in the forties. DR.. Lorri-
mer is there now. g8
| At South Boston was Rey. Mr. Driver, at
Roxbury Boston highlands Rev. Thomas
| D. Anderson. father of Rev. Mr.. Amber
son, pastor of First Baptist church in this
city few years ago; and at Jamaica Plain
Rev. Mr.. Samson, father of the present pas
| tor of the Free street church. Portland. AT
Newton Rev. Joseph Grafton was followed
by DR.. S. F. Smith. the venera BILE author OF
our National Hymn. America. Rev. Joseph
W. Parker was pastor of large church in
Cambridge, Rev. Henry Jackson was sue
ceeded by Rev. Vim. Phillips in Charles
1 town.
| The Baptists were the first to declare fol-
| soul liberty or full freedom of conscience in
matters of religion. They were also early
| in the support Of sunday schools. and were
the chief representatives Of the evangelical
faith in Boston at the time when IT was
| almost exclusively Unitarian.
In the country at large they are the sec
| ond Denomination i'll point of numbers, and
| are doing their share of good work for ed u
cation, morals and religion.
/ IL the course of his remarks DR.. DALI on
referred 10 the rise oil the Free Will Bap-
| lists and other offshoots 10 show that now
a-days there would be thought no occasion
| Tor forming separate denomna ions.