Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-07-24

BY a custom then generally in use
the money for the construction of
the building was raised by the sale
OF pews; some by private sale and
the others at auction. This process
was carried on for a number of
years.
Inc church was dedicated Deem
per o, 1876, Ito the service and wor-
ship of Almighty God by appropri-
ate services consisting of singing,
PRAYER and sermon by DR.. Chaplin"
IN 1867 1t was voted that stoves for
heating the building be bought. The
church had the old-time lofty pulpit
and high backed pews and a gall
iery on three sides of the auditorium
whlcn, with some notifications, still
remains. AS to location, size, plan
and adaptation to serve for public
worship and for the anniversaries of
SCHOOLS and the college the building
put up 100 years ago meets all the
demands placed upon it.
The First Baptist church of Wa
terville was not the first of the de-
nomination in this part of Maine.
lor previous to it's establishment
there were Baptist churches in the
towns of Vassalboro, Sidney, Clinton.
CHINA, Skowhegan and Belgrade, the
first OF these being organized as
early as 1883.
Inc Waterville church is in a wav
the child of Colby college. The
Massachusetts legislature in 1913
chartered THE Maine Literary and
Theological Institute" which in 1870
became Waterville college on a char
ter granted by the newly formed
state of Maine. The first faculty of
the institution of learning consisted
OF but one individual, Rev. Jeremiah
Chaplin. His coming was greeted
with pleasure by the leading men of
the city and religious activity was
given impetus by it. Under his in
huence 70 people met at his house.
which stood where the Elmwood Ho-
tel Is now located, and on the 9th
OF August organized the First Ban
list church of Waterville. These
people were Jeremiah Chaplin and
ms wife, Hadley Proctor, John
wakefield, Henry o. Wyee, Samuel
=. Dilleway, John Turner, Jr., Will
nam Lewis. Jr., David Webb, Ma
moan Crowell, Thomas Parker, Abb
gan Lewis, Mary Showry, Mary
Soomps, Mary Coombs, Jr., Eliza
RUNNER. Hannah Yeaton, lydia
etAAN Aiol llid VhlIleT. A num-
Der or these people had been men,
bers of the other Baptist churches
in the vicinity.
For the first II years of the
church's history there was no reg
ular pastor, the faculty of the col
lege taking turns in filing the pull
pit. BY this time the organization
nao gained such strength and num-
bers that Hervey Fitz, young man
just graduated from Newton Theo-
logical Institute, was called to the
pastorate. His salary was $500 and
though he was at the church for
only a year, it was a year of pros
perity. The next pastor was Rev.
Henry IA. Greene and with his COM
ing the salary was increased to 5000.
Mr.. Greene stayed in Waterville for
| two years.
The year 1884 is one of the most
significant in the history of the
church for in that year Samuel F.
Smith, d. D., became the minister.
He was newly graduated from the
Andover Theological Institute and
the year before coming to this city
he had written the national hymn,
America" Rev. Mr.. Smith was or
dained into the ministry at the local
Nhoi III III II cDl udIys IOOt, LII. bdD
cock preaching the sermon. His
ministry lasted for eight years, dur
ing with time he was also professor
of Romance languages at Colby COL
lege.
DR.. Smith was succeeded in 1S41
by Rev. David n. Sheldon who, aft
er year and half resigned to be-
come president of Colby college.
From 1914 to 1S47 John C. Stock
bridge was the pastor and he was
followed by William Crowell, who
served the church from 1S4S to 1850.
In 1852 Rev. n. Milton Wood came
to the church and was the minister
until 1859. Through the trying days
of the Civil war the pastor was
George d. B. Pepper.
One of the outstanding pastorates
in the history of the church is that
of Rev. William H. Spencer, who
was the minister from 1879 to 1899.
He brought to the duties of his of
flee and to his life as a citizen such
qualities of mind and heart as to
command the respect of all and to
achieve continuous success. For a
number of years after Mr.. Spencer's
resignation DIR. E. G.. Whittemore,
who still resides in Waterville, was
pastor of the church.
The present minister is Rev. Leo
pold H. r. Hass, who about a year
ago, succeeded Rev. Walter Quar-
rington. Mr., Hass comes from the
West and has proven himself to be
a highly educated and capable pas