Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-04-04
BACK HOME.
Congregationalists Reopen Church
On Easter Sunday.

! for it marked their return to their
! church home after havingw
| for seven months in the board of
trade room at Hancock hall. During
| this time the church has been under
| going extensive repairs, the basement
remodelled into a most convenient
and attractive vestry, the interior of
the church redecorated, and mod
ern heating plant installed.
The first service held in the re-
newed church was the regular Easter
morning service. This was followed
by a children's concert in the after
noon. Both services were largely at
| tended Monday afternoon there were
| exercises of dedication of the new
vestry, with supper served by the
| Thursday club in the evening, fol-
| lowed by get-together meeting.
| Tuesday evening, the young people OF
| the society had a social meeting in
| the vestry, and this afternoon and
| this evening the church is open to a
missionary institute, with leaders in
missionary work throughout the
! State as speakers. At 6 o'clock this
evening, the men of the parish will
serve a supper.
At the Easter service there was
special music by the girls choir and
double quartet composed of Mrs. H.
| l.. Crabtree, Mrs. George S. Brookes,
Mrs J. A. Cunningham, Mrs. B. B.
Whitcomb, o. w. Tapley, E. F. Rob-
inson, j. A. Cunningham and H. l..
| Crabtree. The pastor, Rev. George
+, S. Brookes, preached from the sub
| ject, '"Three Easter Assurances"
, AT the exercises Monday after
noon, the dedicatory sermon was by
Rev. Daniel l. Gross of Portland, a
former Bluehill boy who is now one
of the leaders of the Congregational
church in New England. Dr. John
| ]. Martin, Phi. D., of Bangor theologi-
! cal seminary, delivered the dedica-
/ ton prayer. A feature of the exer-
cises was the singing of the dedica-
, ton hymn. composed for the occa-
! sion by the pastor, Mr.. Brookes.
/ The words follow:
i We lift our hearts, o Lord, in praise to
thee
This dedication hour of sacred glee;
Beneath the stately spire upon the hill
Ourselves we consecrate to do Thy viii.
Here in this church of Christ our
fathers trod:
Here sang their hymns and lifted
prayers to God:
Here faith, and hope, and love. their
children taught,
And through the passing years Thy
truth they sought.
o glorious heritage to us bequeathed!
A greater call to duty neer was
breathed:
God grant that we may prove loyal
and true,
Keeping the cross of christ ever in
view.
Bless all our efforts, Lord, and make us
To guide the children and to guard the
young:
To serve the home, the school, and city
fair,
And save the world for Thee by work
and prayer.
Miss Erva l.. Giles was organist
for the Sunday and Monday services.
THE WORK DONE.
The remodelling of the church has
been more of task than anticipated.
The building has been gradually
weakening from need of repairs, and
it was almost imperative that the
work be started when it was, to save
the building. The old yestry at the
left of the church was torn down,
and plans made for the new vestry
under the church.
In excavating for the basement
the workmen found the foundation
of the church in bad state, neces-
stating many new timbers for
strengthening and reinforcement. In
spite of the handicap of having to
leave their church, and the approach
ing fall, the work was started, and
has progressed steadily.
Some very remarkable changes
have been made in the building, and
it now represents as fine structure
as will be found in any community
of this size in Maine.
The new vestry is one of which
any church might be proud. 1t is
well lighted, both by natural and
artificial light, and is a model for
comfort and convenience. The
floor is of cement, colored to give it
a warm tone and take away the un
attractiveness of cement. Through
out, the vestry has been planned
along modern lines, and the fine
large rooms arranged to give the
highest efficiency and comfort to all
the services held there.
There is a splendid large assembly
room in the basement, which will
seat $50 of more. This room will be
used by the Sunday school and for
the mid-week prayer services, as we'll
as for any social gatherings which
may be held. Adjoining it is the ban
auet room, seating 100 people at its
tables.
The ladies parlor is at the right
of this, and members of the Thurs
day club who will meet here weekly
will find an atmosphere very home
like and pleasing The kitchen has
been arranged for the convenience of
those who so willingly give their aid