Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-09-18

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1918, and dedicated on the 18th day Of January
| 1919. This meeting house was built by the
| aforementioned gentleman, and given to the
congregational society of Ellsworth after re-
hssss ~. eleven pews, being one for each OF
Mr.. Jordan had previously decided tc
tue society the lot OF land on which the
present building stands, as well as the
iand occupied now as a cemetery, to the
north OF the church. Among the generous
givers 10 this church and parish two
names stand out most conspicuous-Me
tiah Jordan and John Black. From the
one the church received its first meeting
house; from the other the pipe organ
| to. day.
Melatiah Jordan was born Dec. 2, 1853:
he was descended from Rev. Robert Jor-
dan. born in 1870. He came to Ellsworth
| in 1775; he was collector Of the district OF
| rrenchman's bay, appointed by George
Washington, in 1889. He married Eliza
beth Jeliison in 1776; he served in the pro-
vincial militia; was made lieutenant
colonel in 1902, and was honorably dis
charged In 1S0S. He died on Dec %, 1878.
John Black was born in London July 8,
lISl; ne came to America with William
bingham in 1879, and was sent to Goulds-
boro, OF which he became town clerk, In
1910 he came to Ellsworth as local agent
Tor the Bingham estate, ana was its
general agent until 1850. He was COM
mssioned colonel of militia in 1916, re-
signing in 1917. His first wife was Mary
Cobb, who died in 1851; his second wife
was Frances Wood, who died in 1874.
Col. Black died Oct. 20, 1856.
On March 8, 1928, the church was reor-
canned; and apparently for the first time
IN its brief history deacons were APP
| pointed. Those chosen to this RESPONSE
BILE Office were DR.. Calvin Peck, Samuel
| Dutton and BENJAMIN Silaby
On Oct. IA, 1896, Mr.. Nourse resigned
| the pastorate held by him for twenty
three years. The records are very blind
concerning the termination OF his min
istry. Apparently the church had Sc
lected his successor before his resignation.
1t must have been with his full consent,
however, as the relations between the first
| pastor and his people continued to be
cordial until his death.
| His had been a very difficult task-that
OF directing aud moulding the first and
formative years OF church's life. That
he struck into its impressionable period
indeiible marks Of his thoughts and con-
victions, is beyond dispute. The work OF
| Peter Nourse upon the developing struc-
ture of this church determined the
character Of its maturity. He died in
| Phippsburg, March %, 1910. He was
buried in Massachusetts, but his body was
later removed to Ellsworth and inferred
in the old cemetery near the church.
There it lies to-day beneath the simple
| granite column which marks his resting
| place; and to the church be served so long
and faithfully his grave should be an I'M
ending care aud trust.
| On Nov. 10, 1895, a council was held to
install the Rev. Sewall Tenney as pastor
OF the church. Perhaps more import
ant meeting was never held in the history
\ OF the organization. 1t is doubtful il il
could be duplicated in its Importance.
For more than forty years the man chosen
| to Office that day was to continue his SER
| vices, and when the burden OF his pastor
| ate was laid down, it is probably true that,
| throughout his town and county, there
was no man who could be called his
| enemy.
| Able and tactful, kind and loyal, alb
solutely devoted to his work at all times,
his genial, dignitied presence was bene-
| diction in every household, and the pat
| he trod was ever the way OF peace. To his
faithful wife an equal tribute is due. Her
time and strength were always at the
| disposal OF her husbands people. Sick
ness did not dismay, sorrow did not dis
| concert this grand woman. She went
| where she was needed, and when at last
her earthly career was ended, the whole
people arose and called her blessed.
1t was in the midst OF DIR. Tenney' S
pastoral life that one OF the most import
ant events in the history OF the church
was brought to a happy and blessed con-
clusion-the building OF new house OF
worship. The enterprise was projected in
| 1916, and carried to completion the fol-
lowing year. The old records have the
| following notice concerning the building
| and dedication:
1.-The new Congregational meeting house
| built in Ellsworth, begun in the year lSi6 and
| finished in 1Si7, was dedicated to the worship
| and service of Almighty God on Wednesday,
l ~, putt D, lat. ~ har her
/ was fine and the house crowded. The services
| were appropriate and interesting, and l hope
| profitable TO all.
| To this record the name OF Daniel
Adams, for many years the faithful clerk
| OF this church, was signed.
| On Sunday, Sept. 8, 1899, at $40 p. M,
| during tremendous electrical storm, the
beautiful spire OF the building was struck
and burned to the roof. The damages
were soon repaired and the spire rebuilt,
| and though four feet shorter than the
| original, the perfect lines were so far pre-
| served as to diminish not at all its former
| beauty.
| Hardly less important than the building
OF the church was the placing OF the
organ-the gift of Col. John Black-to
| whom reference has already been made.
| This occurred in 1854 and received the
grateful acknowledgment OF happy peo-
pie.
|
while living, the bulk Of his personal
property was given, and the beautiful
inanse in which the pastor lives to-day is
the memorial OF his love for this people.
| For some time before he took the decisive
step, DIR. Tenney had been considering his
resignation, but the unwillingness OF the
| people had for time prevented action.
| Early in 1873 the final action was taken,
| and his decision regretfully accepted by
the church.
Requested by his people to select his
successor, the choice fell upon the Rev.
r.. d. Garretson, who assumed the pastoral
care during the autumn of 1873. He was a
| good man, of excellent ability, but the
| work proved arduous, the burdens heavy,
| and in 1875 he resigned his office.
| For two years the church was closed,
the people having apparently reached the
point OF utter encouragement. But at the
end of that time the real devotion OF the
| church to its trust, the noble efforts OF the
devoted women in both church and parish,
accomplished the necessary stimulation OF
faith and sentiment, and regular work
was resumed.
On July IA, 1877, Rev. c. j. FL. Ropes, re-