Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-07-20
heen ordained he returned to
Pownalborough and served faitn-
fully for many years.
Hon. Bcrtram Il. Packard

Hon. Bcrtram Il. Packard
I'VE are met here today to COM
memorate the founding of the
Church, in this, at that time, Wilder
ness region, and to pay a deserved
although tardy tribute to the de-
voted services for nearly a score OF
years, of its missionary pastor" de-
clared the next speaker. Hon. Bert
ram E. Packard of Augusta, deputy
State commissioner of education,
who briefly reviewed the political
aspects of the region in those early
days.
The speaker told Of the formation
in June. 1853, of corporation
known as The Proprietors of the
Kennebec Purchase from the late
Colony Of New Plymouth" Among
the lands included in this purchase
was tract thirty one miles wide,
extending from Merrymeeting Bay
to Norridgewock, with the Kennebec
river in the centre.
The proprietors Immediately pro-
ceeded to build forts along the river
as houses of defense against the
Indians, erecting Fort Shirley near
the site of the old Pownalborough
Court House, Fort/Western. on the
eastern side of the river at what is
now Augusta, and Fort Halifax at
Winslow
The Company was composed OF
some of the wealthiest and most
influential men in the neighborhood
of Boston, the largest single owner
being DR.. Sylvester Gardiner, one
of the leading spirits in the settle
ment of this section of the country.
~ rr I'D 10
well known to need more than pass
ing mention. He was one of the
most distinguished men of his time
and he brought to the work of de-
velopment in this region an uncom-
mon zeal and energy, and his efforts
were abundantly crowned with sue
cess. The city of Gardiner was
named in his honor and his
descendants still reside in The beau
tiful old English manor house just
outside the city on the western bank
of the Kennebec.
Mr.. Packard told of the work or
building the church which was start
ed in 1859, and pointed out that the
present ST. Johns Church at Dresden
Mills is a direct outgrowth of the
original st. Johns Church at Pow
Marlborough, and thus the labors of
Rev. Mr.. Bailey are still yielding
abundant fruit.
The career Of the missionary pas
tor, Rev. Mr.. Bailey, was sketched in
the speaker. who said that for i.
years Of dangers and difficulties such
as we can but family imagine did
this sturdy representative of the faith
minister among the people of those
forlorn regions. Following traits
through the unbroken wilderness in
summer, and travelling up and down
the frozen river in winter; baptizing.
marrying, and performing the last sad
Offices for the dead, he ministered
alike to rich and poor, and although
many times discouraged, he accom-
plished here work that was heroic
and at the same time monumental.
Hon. William q. Patterson
The next speaker. Hon. William D.
Patterson of Wiscasset, vice presi-
dent of the Maine Historical Society,
spoke of the common people of these
early days in the Pownalborough sec
ton. of the hardships which they en-
countered. and of their interest in the
work of the church. His address gave
a fine insight into the spirit of the
times when Pownalborough had a
population OF $50, many of whom
were faithful adherents to the Church.
Mr.. Patterson exhibited prayer
book which was the property of one
of the early settlers Captain Charles
Callaghan, and an account book
which had been kept by Peter Pou-
chard, shoemaker in Old Pownal-
borough. The speaker stated that
the table on which the Bible rested
at the exercises, had been the prop
erty Of that early missionary preach
er. Rev. Mr.. Bailey and was left to
Adeline Houdlette of Dresden.
Hon. William Tudor Gardiner
THE Dresden Church Fund" was
the subject discussed by Hon. WILL
lam Tudor Gardiner of Gardiner,
SPEAKER Of the Maine House of Rep
resentatives, s2nd Legislature.
He said in part:
With the exercises of today on
this ground, consecrated by the piety
of those who lie in these unmarked
graves. hallowed and yet almost for
cotton by history. it may be of in
terest to hear of a trust fund Great
ed l56 years ago and still administer
ed in the interest of the Episcopal
Church in these parts.
april -, 1859, at meeting in
Boston. the proprietors of the Kenne-
bee Purchase, of which DIR. Silves-
ter Gardiner was the moderator and
moving spirit, voted to deed the land
upon which we now stand, as fol-
lows:
ITO the minister and church war
fA, - IN.o.-
copal church in Pownalborough in
the county of Lincoln in the prov
ince of Massachusetts Bay and their
successors forever. and to and for no
other use and intent and purpose
whatsoever . -
THE deed is recorded in Lincoln
County, Book 2, Page 173. Title to
the property was accepted by virtue
of Chapter 9 of the Laws Of 1854
which created the wardens or min
| lister and wardens of Episcopal
| Churches bodies corporate so far as
to take property in succession"
The history of the fund to the pres
| ent day was reviewed by the speak
er. THE Dresden Church Fund was
augmented in the SOS by a generous
legacy from Jane P. Bridge" he said.
MY father, Robert II. Gardiner. was
one Of the trustees for many years, I
presume succeeding his uncle of the
same name, who probably succeeded
his father, one of the original trus-
tees. A. NJ. G. Soule became a trus-
tee last year, and Sidney G. Decker
of Gardiner and / are the others. The
present beneficiary of the fund is the
Rev. Harland H. Ryder, rector of st.
Johns Parish. The intent of the
original proprietors is preserved
through the changes time has
brought.