Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

dist was the largest IEoISoenhe Nv
nomination in the State.
The history of Unitarianism as an
organized expression of the Christian
religion in the kennebec valley is
virtually history OF the church at
Augusta.
The Unitarian movement started
within the Congregational order ana
was the liberal. wing of that church
rather than by the preaching OF a
single individual. The majority OF
the Unitarian churches were 1ouno-
ed in this country either by having
the Congregational churches become
liberal, so that the orthodox element
withdrew and formed new organl-
zation, or else by having the hberal
element withdraw and estabilsh
new church. The church at Angus
ia was formed by the wlthdrawai
of a liberal group from the Soutn
Parish Congregational church IN
1926.
The liberal element first made it
self felt in the South Parish Congre-
eational church about 1913. From
that time on there was more or less
friction within the parish. In loll
the famous DIR. Benjamin Tappan
was called to become minister OF
the South Parish. He was decidedly
orthodox in his views, and this made
the situation for the liveral element
even more uncomfortable.
Finally in 1916 DIR. Walker, who
later became president of Harvard
College, came to Hallowell to preach
the Ordination sermon of Rev. Mr..
Everett. A group of liberal men,
headed by Reuel Williams went
down to Hallowell for this service
They were SO much impressed with
the sermon that they desired that
Mr.. Walker might be heard in their
own pulpit. This request, however,
DR.. Tappan felt he could not con-
scientiously accede to, and accord
ingly those who were interested ar
ranged for DR.. Walker to speak at
a meeting in the old Courthouse.
This was the first of what might
properly be called Unitarian serv-
ices to be held in Augusta. And 1t
was this which finally gave rise to
the separation of the liberals and
the founding of their own church.
On July /, 1926. a petition was in
troduced into the legislature for the
separation of the old South Parish
and the formation of new parish
in the town-the East Parish. The
act was passed by the legislature on
January %, 1926. The church which
was then formed was the Bethlehem
church and it's first settled minister
was the Rev. William Ford.
The Bethlehem church, which
stood on the corner of Stone and
, Cony streets, was used by the Uni
tarians until 1882 when the present
site on State street was bought
When this building was erected, the
name Unitarian was used for the
first time in connection with the
church.
The ministers from the time OF
Mr.. Ford up to the year 1910 were
totally eclipsed in their influence by
the Rev. Sylvester Judd, Jr., who
as a young man fresh from divinity
school, came in 1910 to be minister
of the church. His 13-year pastor
ate in Augusta bore rich fruit In
the life of the church, in the welfare
of the other Unitarian churches In
Maine, and for the welfare of the
literary life Of the community. He
was not only pastor and preacher,
but he is also remembered as an
,, author. having written Margaret
and "Philo," his two best known
works. as well as articles and
pamphlets.
At his untimely death in 1853 the
church suffered a loss. From that
time on it saw difficult times, and
in 1873. when Mr.. Curtis became
the minister. taking the parish when
it was at an extremely low ebb. af-
ter a period of short pastorates. he
struggled with great effort until he
finally brought it back again to
| where 1t was strong enough to
replace the old meeting house by the
present one. Before it was dedi-
Gated. however, MIR. Curtis was
drowned In Moosehead Lake by the
capsizing Of his canoe.
The religious life OF the State is
expressed in many organizations in
whose support the denominations
unite. Oldest of these is the Bible
Society of Maine, organized in 1909
No Bibles were published in this
country when it was founded. 1t
early employed Bible missionaries
who visited every home, no matter
how remote. and provided either
through sale or gift, that none
should be left without copy of the
Bible. Maine was the first State to
take up this work and today Is the
largest area on the globe that is
thus Systematically visited.
Maine churches were early in the
Sunday school field. Before 1920
there was an organization of all the
Sunday schools in Portland under
one general control. Each of the
10 ,iro hos
tanned Sunday school organizations
who have kept abreast of the Sun
day school progress of New England.
The Maine State Sunday School
Association was formed in Lewiston,
September IA, 1860.
AS the Puritans founded Harvard
College, so, as soon as the churches
of Maine attained any strength, they
established schools and colleges.
Bowdoin College opened in 1902, was
under the fostering care of the Con-
gregationalists. The academies were
many of them the direct work of the
churches. The Baptists founded
Waterville College, aided in it's en-
dowment. and secured for it the fine
system of preparatory schools in
GLIDING Hebron Academy, Coburn
Institute at Waterville, Kicker Insti-
tute at Houlton. and Higgins Insti-
tute. This has been heralded as the
best system of schools possessed by
Protestant church in any State in
the union. The Free Baptists estab-
lished Bates College. Cobb Divinity
School. and Maine Central Institute.
The MethodiSts established kent's
Hill and the East Maine Conference
Seminary at Bucksport. The Uni
versalists have been behind the work
of Westbrook Seminary. The Catho-
lies have supported their parochial
schools, academies and their COL