The Portland daily press., 1901-01-03
All Remaining Debts
Cleared at Meeting.
Sermon of Day by DIR. Smith
Baker of Portland.
ESPECIAL TO THE rnEss.I

lcIf-ilAi4 ~ mn NlAEsS-l
Gray, January 2.--After months of in
cessant labor..in which many OF the peo-
pie of the town have participated, the
Congregational society of Gray dedicated
with app ropriats ceremonies its elegant
new church to-day. There was large at
tendance at the exercises which began at
10 81 O'Clock in the morning and contin-
ued through the evening. Many friends
from neighboring towns braved the cold
weather and LETT their homes in order to
be present. The new building stands on
Greenleaf street in the heater in the vii
lage and is on the site OF the old church
building which stood for nearly one hun
bred years. About year ago the agita-
ton for new editice was begun and last
May IL took tangible form when the old
building was torn down. Then the work
OF building the new edince was started
and finished few weeks ago. The money
was raised by subscription and by church
fairs. w. Ii. Miller of Lewiston was the
architect and Porter and Burnham of
Portland wsre the contractors. Its In
terror dimensions are 3S by A feet. Be-
sides the auditorium on tina first floor Is
a room in the rear which is TO be used
rs library and vestry. A choir room Is
on me side OF the pulpit ana the PASTORS
study is ON the other side. In the base
ment are the kitchen and dining room.
The church is heated by wood furnace
and is lighted by gas.
The building committee was composed
of James L. Hancock, Harry Merrill,
Henry &. Doughty, Horatio Nj, Sawyer
and George e. Merrill. These gentlemen
have directed the movements towards the
building OF the new church.
Among the clergymen in attendance at
the Interesting exercises today were Rev.
e. NJ. Cousins OF Biddeforu who for
nearly three years was Che pastor OF the
church in Gray, Kev. Smith Baker, ID.
d., of Portland, Rev. q. II. Patton OF
Auburn, Rev. IL, II. Noyes of New
Gloucester and Kew. John Haskell, a re-
tired clergyman of the town. The pastor
OF the church is Rev. Herbert L. McCann
VINO has just completed his second year
of work in Gray. Mr.. McCAnn is yet
young man, graduate of Bowdoin col
Iege and the Bangor Theological semi
nary. He presided at the exercises today.
In the forenoon the programme included
an organ prelude, praise service, anthems
by the choir and responsive readings
from the scripture. The regular choir
was supplemented by the choir from this
Baptist5s church ! and the following
ladies anu gentlemen participated: DIR.
l. Il. Cushing, WiIbert l.. Libby, Mrs.
William Libby, MIR. Warrsn Doughty DIR.
George Eilingwood, MIR. John L. Merrill,
Miss Amy Clark, Miss nsie Hall, Miss
Alice Dow, Mrs. w. Z. Doughty, airs.
Edward Merrill as the organist. The
ushers were Dr. Cushing and Mr.. ID. A.
Pease. The prayer was made by Rev. Ii.
IL. Noyss and the sermon was delivered
by Rev. G. II. Patton. whose text were
the words, "Cast thy bread upon the
waters.'' The report of the building COM
mittes was made by Treasurer George e.
Merrill who gave detailed history CT the
work incidental TO building the nsw.
church. he stated that the work of build
ing the editioe was baRun when Mr.. Nc
Cam became the pastor In Gray, two
years ago. A special parish meeting was
held December 4, 1889. to sac what action
would bs taken towards erecting a new
building. 1t was decided to go ahead and
do the hest. Four membsrs were ap-
POINTED to solicit subscriptions and the
sum OF 5000 had been pledged for the
purpose. Considerable help was received
from the sister church ut New Gloucester.
Eleven parish meetings were held in the