Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-30
dec27-30
Churches Divided 10l
Years, Now United

i ears, NOW OnlIeO
Belfast, Me-, Dec. 30.-(Special.)-
Divided because of religious doctrinal
differences. 101 years ago, the First
Parish of Belfast is again united and
Twill observe Sunday the 125th ami
'versary Of its founding. A special
sermon will be preached BY Rev
w. +. Skerrye. who came to Belfast
a year ago from Templeton, Mass.
to become pastor OF the Federation OF
the. Unitarian and Congregational
churches, now known as the First
Church Federated Of Belfast. The
J.. union has been most successful and is
stronger as the months and weeks
go by and is today all that its name
:, implies.
1t was back. in the year 1895 that
the First Church Of Belfast was or
ganized with seven members among
them John Cochran, a member Of the
Boston Tea Party who came to Bel
fast shortly after the Revolution and
now lies buried in Grove cemetery.
The other members were John Tuft,
Samuel Houston, Sam McKeen, John
Brown and John Alexander, the
seventh being Rev. Ebenezer Price,
the pastor, a Congregatiohalist,a ma
tive Of Newburyport, Mass, and
who became the first settled minister
Of Belfast. The first baptism in the
new church was held June 16, 1897,
when Nathaniel French offered 1G OF
. his children for the rite.
81 There was a good deal Of opposition
to Mr. Price and his doctrines. for at
that time many Of the old Scotch
settlers were grounded In Presby-
81 ,terian faith and objected to paying
taxes to support Congregational
; minister at the princely salary of $500
= Per year. In fact the salary Of $500
which 1t was at first agreed to- pay
, Mr.. Price. was later voted to be $500.
with raise Of $40 annually until 1t
should reach $500. The following is
! the text Of the transaction as 1t APP
,,peared in the town records at that
9. time. The vote was 80 to 10 in favor
Of the following: "That ,'c give 200
Dollars. to the first Settled Minister.
vix.:Mr. Ebenezer Price, if he 'ex-
,cepts' Of a call from this Town." II
was also voted THAT the Salary be
Raised 10 Dollars year Annually,
after the first year 'untilr it reaches
900 Dollars
.., Notwithstanding the great oppo-
:, sition, Mr.. Price labored and preached
J., in Belfast. for six years, finally re-
signing at that time. saying in his
letter OF resignation: "When a min
@ lister has a Parish or Town against
him. with but few exceptions, the
=. probability of his usefulness expires
and when his usefulness is over
whatever Steps lead to the event,
duty requires that his connection
i, with that people should cease" Mr.
Price died in Boston at the age Of
". in 1864.
For about three years there was no
regular preaching and then Rev. Al
fred johnson, 4 Harvard man, whose
4. dependents still live in Belfast and
OF y whom DR.. Alfred Johnson OF
Rrookline and Belfast 10 one. became
the pastor. He was one OF the fifth
generation from Edward johnson
who came to Salem with Gov. Win
throp ana others including q relative
. Sir Isaac johnson, on the ship. Lady
'Arabella. named for the latter's wife
He preached here from 1906 to 1919
'@'S'FSuch was the early history Of the
First parish with its meetings held
> in what was called the east meeting
ASuse, built on the east side Of the
river, ana the west Meeting house
built on the west side, where the city
today stands. The early settlers