Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-11

The OrganiSt, Mrs. Gushing. tlen law
ored the attentive congregation with q
selection entitled "Melodir" and the
choir next rendered the anthem 30.
For the Wings of a Dove.
Historical Address.
The leading feature on the evening S
program. or at least one of the leading
features. was the historical address
by Johr H. Fuller of this city.
In opening Mr.. Fuller said that a short
| time ago he was asked by Il committee
of men of this society to deliver his
| torical address but at the time he did
not realize what this meant. However,
it was with pleasure that he presented
what matter he had been able to col
lect in regard to the history of Meth
odiern in Augusta. Mr.. Fuller sad III
part:
| one hundred years seems long time
| for most Of us here tonight. our memory
extends back for only a portion OF that
| time. vet a hundred years in the pass
ing movement If history is but a brief
space and mdrvcinus things are ac-
| commit heel IL :, night Sometimes 1T
| seems ~,Ino faithful soul might haV"
/ had til" term If lite EXTENDED and like
caleb and Joshua OF old in full Vigur
| tel Il new generation the experiences
of a past age. But no. there is none liv-
| ing in this city to- tell us of its begin
nrngs. no one living in this society t"
ten Us Of its early struggles and trials.
! Some rIOnumentS are there of th'
past. On the east side of the kennebec
We have the old house around which
cluster the buildings and activities OF
the early settlement of settlers. This
was built in 1854 but "f the colony that
attempted t." settle here Il century
earlier there is no mark
| The historical sketch then g"rs; ON +"
| trace the carly history OF M"thodI%ri
in Georgia. Pennsylvania. New YORK,
etc. While the South and West were
indeed rock bound t.elds for the early
intinrrants New England was Ger
tajnly a rock bound coast. A.
the church of England regarded
state and church inseparable IN
England. so the descendants "t the
| Pilgrila Fathers considered the relation
| of the orthodox churches to the state
and inhabitants thereof of Now Eng
land The land was divided into par
ishes and dotted over with meeting
houses and il was held to be the duty
Of every citizen to support the gosr''l
az much as to support the puhli'
schools nr the roads.
| At the conference held in New York
| in us. one Jesse Ice was appointed
a circuit rider and what think YOU his
circuit r'as' New England. boil
man indeed he must have been |" I'M
dertakc the work in such Il field. but he
:,cenn:; to have been successful and
equal tn the situation.
| coming down to more rcccut day
TIN. speaker took a brief glance At con
| ditionS MS they prevailed in III" early
DAYS. In 1913 it is recorded that ii
town meeting was held on tn" 18th "t
| March at the house of Josiah French
Iinnholder This house was not far from
| where we are now assembled. prOba BIZ
across the street. At this town meeting
among the appropria tionS WAS one of
| els for preaching. In compliance viii
| this act tho Rev. John Murray wa.
brought from Boothbay and preached
| hero for u short time. In September
came the Hrv John Allen and he was
the first. resident minister employed b,
tho town. Preaching was probably
|
that the town meeting voted to build
n III. citing house and the outcome OF
this was the building lattcrly known n:
"Naverlv Hall" rtccntlv described in
| these columns.
| The first settled pastor in the pariSl
| WAS the Rev. Isaac Foster. but his min
| iStrE seems tn have been rather I'M
| satisfactory to some If the elements
ard thus early in the old parish we find
a separation and a second church. IN
| 113l it is ~ corded that Rev. Adoniran
JudSon preached hero for a short tim,
| as a candidate. and some years after
| this JI,lSon. on y missionary tour tt
| Burmah. changed T" a Baptist and his
work in founding the Baptist Society
is of considerable note
In the year 1874 the town Vas divide.
| into three parishes. north. middle anC
| south in an effort to satisfy the DIFF
| ferenceS that existed IN 1873. the cir
cut rider previously mentioned. map
ped out circuit the first
III Maine and called the Read
field circuit The first meetinGhouse
for the Methodist denomination bril-.
in Maine was at East Readfield and
may bc seen TODAY on the direct road
from Manchester to Eeadfcld Depot II
Was built in 1895.
In 11?S a petition to form u society hl
some IF the inhabitants Of Augusta
| Sidney and Belgrade was not granted
by the town. The majority StIIi r,ilct
levcn in spiritual matters.
II was in the year 1900 that Rev. T.;
| kihbcy. Methodist. preached in what
WAS called the Thomas House on the
East side of tho river At the close q,
his sermon a gentleman arose and ex.
pressed his appreciation of the sermon
land Of tn" preacher and throwing =
silver dollar on the table. requested
lnthcrS 70 follow his example. A shower
of silver dollars followed. The rreache,
protested against this diflu;e liheraIitl
but was constrained to accept the gen.
orouS bounty. The gentleman mention
cd WAS Judge Cony
Briefly mentioned some nf the follow.
ny facts are Of great interest In The
year 1875 was commenced the ui,hIiCa-
ton Of tho Ke1mel,eC IntclIig.nccr. Jr
$50: f35 was raised For the purchase ~,
d haTs vioI which wa& later used 70,
accompanying the vocal music of tn.
chlrCn services and wa; also used fo,