The Portland daily press., 1898-01-20

their many virtues. The primitive log
meeting house without windows, stoves
or chairs, was in keeping with the time
in which it was built: il answered this
purpose in those days of poverty and SAC
srifoe, and it was an act OF religious duty
when Christian service was transferred
from it to the inside walls of the fort.
One hundred and fifty years have passed
away, and the material log Ineeting-hOuse
is known to US only by tradition end inl-
agination. We may appreciate the great
and wonderful changes which have taken
place since that early period, when we
look at our present beautiful meeting
house with its bell, its clocks, ita organ.
It's boating and lighting apparatus. and
all other symbols OF an advanced clvlli-
zation To-day the march of improve
mont and beneVolenoe adds another star
to the bright galaxy of Christian endeavor
in Gnrham. 1t is but the continuation of
the work of far off days; and while we
ara proud of our new chapel, with itE
many modern oonvenienoss. we should
be thankful fer cur rich Inheritance, the
foundation for which was laid by the
Christian virtues, the invincible courage
and the uncompromising integrity of
our ancestors, which. transmitted and
practiced have become the real sources
of our present prosperity and are our
strongest assurance of the security of our
future.
Indian depfedatiors did not entirely
cease until the Branoh power was sub
dued by the conquest of the city Of
Quebec in 1869. The indians were the
strong and treacher0us allies of the
French and annoyed the settlers Of
Gorham almost up to this time. The
last repairs that were made on the old
fort by our ancestors were in the year
1850. Its location is we'll established and
r,so 0f hriCk and nthpr nehriS ara 0fE0p
picked I'D at the present tins, as historic
relics of those ancient days. Immediately
after the danger from the Indian war of
l7a5 had terminated. the SETTLERS or
Gorhan left the Fort, and in 1859 other
families who had deserted the place re-
ioined them and resumed their usual voca-
lions, and there was soon evidence OF
returning and increasing prosperity.
Preaching began again in the meeting-
house first built. Rev. Solomon LON bard !;
q native of Truro, Cape Cod Mass. the son
of Ichabob London a soldier in King
Phillips War in the company of Capt.
John Gorham and therefore was one of
the proprietors of Narragansett, No. z.
now Gorham. Rev. Solomon Lombard
was born in 1909. A graduate or Harvard
College in the class OF 1898. received and
accepted a call from this parish to enter
upon the work of the gospel ministry.
The ordination sermon was preached by
the Rev. Thomas Smith or Portland,
December 81, 1850. over one hundred and
forEy-seven years ago; he was assisted in
the other exercises by she Rev. Nicholas
Toring, of North Yarmouth, Rev. Benja-
min Allen o. Cape Elizabeth. Rsv. Will
lam Thompson of Soarboro and Rev.
Moses Morrill, of hiddeford He was the
first ordained minister in dorham, and
his long term OF fourteen years of pas
toral service abounded in all the varied
experiences of minister life. Although
he was considered great and good man
his mir istry was far from being quiet
one. The difficulties in his parish Gull
minated In 1857. seven years after his
ordination, In division of the CongreRa-
tioual church and the establishment of a
new society. This action was proposed
nv a council of six churches, called De-
Gambler IA, 1867, to restore peace in the
society of Gorham. The Rev. Thomas
Smith says in his diary January 1-27,
175s: 'The council have sat five days in
bearipR a tedious exhibition of charges
oga,nst Mr.. Lombard by the disaffscted
and tedious exhibition of charges
hrouqht by Mr.. Lombard against the dis
sffecfed. and in debating and voting on
ahe same. They found no sufficient rea-
sons for removing Mr.. Lombard, but
oooo,r,,nromlsed the quarrel by an agres-
w,anf that new religious society should
no formed, and that the seeding mem
boxs aboul6 be exJnerate6 from any obli-
,.ot;on to contribute towards the support
IF MIR. Lombard.
fter three years effort the new society
snocaeded in securing the services OF