Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-09-03
PAUL REVERE BELL.
One Hangs in Belfry of Old Castine
Church.
[ Rnnpnr NeMSl

Church.
Bangor NeWS)
In the early days, churches were
spoken of as meeting houses and
the fine old Unitarian church in Cas-
tine, 125 years ,old, was in fact as
we'll as in name a meeting house for
not only religious services, but it was
used as a gathering place for mat
tiers political and legal and for social
affairs, too.
Built i'll 1890, when Castine was
still part of the town OF Penobscot,
it was-like many of the Unitarian
churches of early days-a Congrega-
tional church. for it was not until
later that Unitarianism become es-
tablished The first pastor, Rev. Will
liam Mason, remained with the
church for thirty-siX years and his
tory states he was most remarkable
in many ways. He was not only the
priest and spiritual adviser of the
township, but one of its foremost citi-
zens ip every capacity. 1t is said that
he was active in the political life OF
the town also, and this is borne out by
the fact that he served as its treas
urer and on the school board. He
was instrumental in organizing the
social library, which became
nucleus for the present fine library
of Castine, which to-day boasts of be-
ing the oldest in Maine, older even
than the State itself.
1t is said that with the passing
years, Parson Mason became more
Of 1ihnrol doc
trine, and was really a modern Uni
tartan before the Baltimore sermon
made American Unitarianism a big
issue in the religious world. 1t was
natural that many of the congrega-
ton did not approve OF Parson Ma
sons liberality, and this church, like
many others at that time split, a
group of the so-called orthodox
leaving and organizing another So
ciety. This society, now the First
Congregational, is nearly as old as
the Unitarian in Castine to-day, and
few years ago observed its centen-
NAL.
The First Parish church, as the
Unitarian church has always been
known, is one of those quaint old
edifces for which New England viii
lagos are famous, and in the beauti-
full Bulfinch belfry there hangs one
of the rare old bells cast in the
foundry of Paul Revere. This bell
was tolled for the mourning services
held for George Washington, for
Abraham Lincoln, for Garfield and for
President Harding. 1t rang out the
joyful news that the Civil war. was
ended and of the signing of the
armistice in the great World war.
1t has pealed merrily for weddings.
The first town meeting of Castine
was held in this fine old edifce in
1896, and up to 1881 most of the
municipal meetings were held there
as we'll as the political elections of
State and nation. When it was nee
eSSary to have larger court room
than Hancock county afforded, the
old church was again pressed into
service and justice was dispensed
there. Memorial day addresses, public
gatherings of many kinds have been
held there and few years ago, when
Castine entertained the State FEEDER
alton of Women's Clubs, is was in
this old church that the club women
gathered.
The church is of the old Colonial
type and has been but little changed
in all these years. 1t originally had
the high pulpit of the period, with
the high pews and broad aisle
through the center, with galleries on
three sides and two rows of windows.
In 1881 the Castine church was
somewhat remodeled. The side gal
leries were removed, the two rows of
windows taken out and one row of
high ones put in. The pews were
also rearranged to make two aisles,
and the high pulpit was somewhat
modified. The pews are the same
that were placed there 1875 years ago,
and at the left of the pulpit is an old
bible, printed in Worcester, Mass, in
1897. The old pewter communion
service, cast in Boston for the new
church more than 100 years ago, is
still to be seen there.