The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-11

because surroundings do teach you s1ea
to beautify Portland plant trees ~ oo o,n,
yate parks; and why2 Because ~ 20
ceived that shapely streets ana grave oaw.
trees will work moral beauty inuo .rs in
A man tolls and economies Tor yeaiv W. ~
order that he may build home. ID
may tell him as the hammer soun Is
within the rising building that Walls R un
not make home. He knows thai. ~
he knows, too, that circumstances neip'
and that it is easier to sing aGi1o
Sweet Home" beneath comely ceiiins
and before d sparklingsfre -.
And the principle is to be nsed' ~; Ho'
abused, in the strictly religious af for
Right here we find the justification t -
church building. Why do men speno ~,
so, 100, BOO thousand dollars in the
erection Of a sanctuary? Why cover the
walls with mottoesS Why assume an ao-
titude in prayer? Because things helP
men. You have all observed how smali
the things are that may hinder worship;
Ihe sight of dog, cat or mouse. VIII
dispel thoughts and turn the mind 10
frlvolity. And when it comes to matters
helpful we seek to crowd our SERVICES
with beauty and suggestiveness Inc
same idea underlies the Salvation Army
uniform, and the dignif1ed surplioe. ana
the black Prince Albert pulpit suit.
They all, you say, appeal to q class;
There are diyersities of operation but
the same spirit"
| All this has large meaning for you
who are here today. Some Of you have
come from distance tossing the songs
again in your old church home. Within
these walls your spirits have often been
helped. Here you have engaged in the
Lords Supper, using its ritual words, us
attitudes, it's responses, it's emblems, it's
sacred communion with brethren ana
sisters. with parents and children, and It's
holy worship towards Christ. as gracious
circumstances to lead you to Him VINO
feeds and refreshes all weary souls. Ana
so let us thank God that you have
spiritual home; that here on your own
Mt. Zion, within your own temple, at
your own affairs, according to your own
rites with precious memories of vanished
hands and still voices, inspired By the
circumstances Of this dear place and or
this centennial time, you may give
gratitude to Him who lives forever III MS
| church.
The anthem "Lord Dismiss us with the
Blessing" was then sung by the chorus,
the Doxology followed, and the pastor
pronounced the benediction.
At 100 o'clock the special Sunday
School session was held. There was
very large attendance. The Sunday
bCuOOl dUuthCu6Q W Ills 10 plObUDAy
the largest in the city.
The Sunday school connected with
Chestnut Street Methodist Episcopal
church was organized in April, 1922. and
was probably the first Methodist school
in Maine and the first in Portland except
that of the Second Parish Congregational
church David Kibbourne was then the
pastor, and it began with seven teachers
and but few scholars which soon in
creased to fifty. Its first superintendent
was James B. Cahoon. The teachers
were Andrew Bradbury, Isreal Foster,
Phineas Milliken, NJ. Jackson, Mary and
Jane Ames and Hannah Twombly.
Among it's first scholars were Eda Ayers,
Washington Bassett, Thomas K. and
Elizabeth Dodge and Mary Rice The
last named is still living the widow of
John Yeaton. The place Of meeting was
in a small room behind the singers
gallery where it continued seven years,
thence to the chapel on Cumberland
street now numbered 1854 where il con-
tinued seven years, thence to the new
yestry built under the old Chestnut street
church where it remained twenty one
years thence to the commodious vestry
under the new Chestnut street church.
Its first teaching consisted only of the
memorizing of Scripture, interspersed
with prayer and song. Four years after
it's organization, what is known as the
great revival spread throughout the city
and the membership of the church and
Sunday school was largely increased.
In 1928 new school was formed from
the membership of Chestnut street on the
corner of Park and Pleasant street and
held in the new edifice until 1885, when
the church was sold and the larger part
of that went back to Chestnut street.
In 1874, S. r. Leavitt formed a school
in the ward room on Brackett street,
which resulted in the organization Of
Pine street church.
In 1849 he also organized another school
on Munjoy Hill which was the beginning
of what is now known as Congress street
church
Another school was started in 1866, in
the ward room on franklin street under
eJ2ul0S Obdplbb, WhaoI Was loesAAJ uAAo
beginning of what is now known as the
Gospel Temperance Mission, Rev. S. r.
Pearson as it's pastor. Persons have gone
out from this school and have organized
schools elsewhere that have for their re-
suits the churches of Peaks Island, South
Portland, Chebeague Island, Long Island
and Harpswell.
The school has had on it's rolls more
than fifteen thousand scholars.
1t has had twenty seven superinten-
dents, and has contributed several
thousand dollars to the cause Of foreign
and domestic missions.
1t was never more prosperous than it is
now with between seven and eight hun
dred scholars and more than sixty
teachers 1t has a graded system OF in
struction, large library and Is prepared
to begin the work of the second century
of the chur Oh, under whose auspices 1t is
organized more efficiently than it has
during the years of it's existence for the
nct