The Portland daily press., 1897-07-26

which there has already been cash pay
ment of 81, ,000
For these personal and successful efforts
each and all are entitled to the grateful
thanks of the Congregational church and
First Parish of Gorham, and all of our
citizens who are interested in the ad-
vancement of the best interests of our
town.
10 the surprise of al, after four months
solicitation, which was before the first of
August, 1896, $4,000 were subscribed
Stimulated by such unexpected success,
the subscribers, together with the COM
mittee of Is, voted July Is, 1896, by con-
current action, to accept plans submitted
by Messrs. Mcfarland, architects of Bos.
ton, to locate the chapel on the parish
lot, corner of Church and School streets,
and break ground within g. days.
But afterwards this action seemed pre-
mature, and the work was delayed one
year. During the winter, meetings were
held by the committee of Is to consider
various questions relating to the arch1.
tect.
In the spring of 1897, with the plans
aud specifications of the building agreed
upon and the location approved, the can
vass for subscriptions was renewed with
great vigor; strong and personal appeals
were made to every church member and
parishioner for small or large sums. Let
ters asking for aid were written to native
born and former citizens of Gorham for
a helping hand in aid of the building
fund, and many generously responded.
July Is, 1896 it was voted to locate the
chapel on the parish lot corner of Church
and School streets, but as there were OBJ
jections to this location, another meeting
was called which was attended by A per-
sons and after several unsuccessful bal
lots by a vote of "a to IA, it was voted to
locate the chapel on what is known as
the Parkhurst lot, north of the church.
In the interest of peace, the committee
of 15 without any opposition, acquiesced
in this decision.
This location, however, proved to be
more unpopular than the other, and a
third meeting was called April 2S. 1897,
at which time the vestry was crowded by
the subscribers of the building fund,
and, after arrangements were made for
a fair expression, the subscribers voted,
"a to 40, to locate the Chapel on the par
ish lot, corner of Church and School
street. The committee of 15 immediate
ly concurred by nearly an unanimous vote
in this action. This vote determined be-
yond controversy the popular choice of
| location.
The subscription to the building fund
has been popular one; it represents the
gifts of 204 subscribers, and the amounts
| donated vary from so cents to 50, 50O A
| list of all the subscribers has been duly
prepared, and it will be placed under the
corner stone of the chapel. The subscrip
tion is bonatide one, and the amount
set forth by each subscriber aggregate,
$10,017, and there are promises which
make the subscription list when fully
completed to represent larger sum.
The vote of the parish contemplated
that the two essential factors in tn,
building and location of the new chape
were the members of the parish and tn,
listed subscribers to the building fund
and that the mutual cooperation ant
agreement of these two parties consti
tuted the legal and active power for 10
eating and completing in detail th
building of the chapel.
The parish, the party of the first part
in order to avoid delay and escape th
trouble of calling parish meetings
unanimously appointed a large commit
tee and delegated to them full power tt
act in fixing the location, maturing