Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-03

the Augusta District.
November D, 1927, note the date,
we find the following preamble writ
ten in little book, called the records
of the Wesleyan Methodist Society:
1.-THE Methodist Episcopal church in
Augusta having enlisted as a religious
body for some 20 years past without
awaiting themselves of the privileges
granted by law to every denomination OF
Christians impartially We have of late
taken the subject into consideration, and
viewing an Incorporation essentially nee
essafy to the prosperity of the church
petition was presented in behalf of the
church to Daniel Williams, ESQ.,, by five
of the church members
Williams was one of the justices of
the peace. AT the time of the build
ing of the Methodist meeting house
the Capitol at Augusta was in process
of construction and it is said that
many from Portland objected TO the
building of the Capitol in Augusta
through the fact that the city was not
we'll provided with places of worship.
1t was found that the sale Of pews
was slow and in orderhto push the
matter along Daniel Williams. Col,
Lambert and others purchased and
assisted in the. sale of pews to pro-
vide the necessary means fer the
building of the Westinghouse and the
saving of the Capitol. Eighty years
ago not the lack of inns for the ac-
commodation of the poor representa-
tfves but the lack of churches for his
moral and spiritual betterment and
welfare was a strong argument. The
townsmen of Augusta were not long
in supplying this great lack and sure
ly the legislators of today can find
ample accommodations in this re-
speet We are glad to note the hotel
question is likewise settled.
The First Pastor.
After the new church was built the
Rev D. B. Randall was the first reg
ularly appointed pastor and after he
came to Augusta he looked down on
it from Burnt hill from the same To-
cation previously mentioned. he says,
my head sank down, down and l Won
dered how | could sustain myself in
such place" RandalPs grandfather,
Elder Benjamin Randall, was found
er of the Free Baptist denomination.
In the old Westinghouse the peWs
were high, old-fashioned affairs, some
of them painted one color and some
another. gallery ran about the rear
of the Westinghouse for the singers
and the pulpit was entered by wind
ing stairway with a window on either
side There was tower over in the
corner which was very high but in it
was a small bell of the ding dong va
riety. This tower opened right into
the westinghouse and in it sat the bell
ringer where he could look into the
room and the length of time that ne
rang the bell seemed to depend on the
congregation assembled, and whether
or no the house was sufficiently filled
to suit his IDEAS.
Since the erection of the old original
building some forty-two or three pas
tors have ministered to this church.
From that time until 1872 the term was
one year only and during that time we
have the names of Reale, Hustled,
Croker, Warren. Weber, Spaulding,
Caldwell, Daniel Fuller, Wiley, Aspen
wall, James and Bernard. Some OF
these men rose to considerable promi-
nence, Rev. Geo. Weber being one OF
the leaders of the church. the Rev.
Justin Spaulding was sent, wniie mere,
as missionary to Rio De Janeiro,
South America. In 1S41-42 Rev. Caleb
Fuller was pastor and is remembered