Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-09
oserVe oesqu Centennial of the Winthrop
economic conditions or

economic conditions OF TODAY we
tne inspirations Of the men,
ories OF our worthy founders. While
Liberty Bells were ringing tbronn oh
out the land proclaiminy the Enan-
elpatlon OF the Colonies, these Nous
loreIathers and foremothers were
easerlv and prayerfully looking for
, Ma,u 10 the creation of a community
JUN on faith and piety, This little
, sloup OF godly men and women must
n"Ne hdd many conferences in field.
shop and home over the new opnor-
luhities and possibilities that await
~ them: What faith and courage
49, 'neiis Theirs was an isolation
s 1 we could not, in these DAYS, en-
uure. Away from the environments
OF the past with no public mode of
transportation, no quick means of
communication, no mail service no
pupllc schools and no church in the
CollInuhlty. What say YOU citizens
Vi to-day with your telephones. tele-
graph, mail service, automobiles.
highways. airplanes and more won
derful than all others. the wireless
ana the modern radio with its mes
sases through space from all over
tne world Such frequent memories
snouio prlng afresh to you the stir
we are living, we are DWELLING In
a grand and awful time,
Ages on Ages telling to be living
is sublime
TINS sentiment is still true and
more so with wonderful opportuni-
ties and clearing visions of to-mor-
rows possibilities On September 4
1875, a little group, having invited
the churches of the vicinage met in
Jonathan Writings house in The
MetcaH nelghborhood. adiourning
| later TO the Tavern of Squire Bishop.
The Moderator of the Council was
Rev. Samuel Eaton and the following
churches were represented in the
Council: Harpswell, Pownalboro and
I Newcastle. Mr.. Thomas Moore was
Scribe. Twenty seven consecrated
men and women, Is males and Ii
females, signed the Covenant and the
Winthrop Congregational Church
was organized, the first in the Town.
ana Tor many years exercised its
functions before another church was
formed. Far more important than
the history of these men and women
| we're the ideals and purposes TO
which they pledged themselves and
which they handed down as an heri-
tage for the faithful fulfilling of this
lowed this early beginning. There
were practices, beliefs and discipline
which had their place in the thinking
and life of these early days. ours o.
to-day have their place and are no
less sacred to us in these newer
times with the larger freedom Of
thinking and with an increa sing
knowledge Of Christ's Interpretation
Of life. Here is q sentence from tho
early Covenant: "Whereas we have
given up ourselves unto the Lord
and to one another in the Lord. We
propose and promise that we Will
live together in Holy Fellowship in
all Holy Watchfulncss over each
other TO the prevention or recovery
from and scandalous sins or evils
through the temptation of satan or
the corruption Of our nature that
We may AT any time he oNcrtaken
With. There are still on record and
file smanY OF the original letters Of
church dlsmiSsion and statements Of
faith written and read when pro-
pounded for Church membership
Some Of the beliefs expressed in
these statements cause US 10 shudder
when We read them as they are in
such contrast to our present belief in
Fatherhood of God and Christ's
God ana tie wonderful possibilities
that await them through faith and
service. We have two direct
! descendants of these early church
members who are members OF our
church. Deacon Hanuaford and
daughter Dorothy. There are others
with us descendants of the Fosters
and the Writings OF those early
days.
Thus the Church was organized
the solemnity of il all was deeply
felt 1t was a. if God had spoken to
them in this new wilderness, as if
message for service. One question
was constantly being asked
Whom shall we have for our leader?
Where can We find pastor who will
shepherd us into new spiritual pas
lures?
Tradition and History tell us of
different men being asked to min
lister unto them but only a few
weeks or months did these men
serve them. That they were faith
full and earnest must be assumed as
no complaints have come down 10
us. But more and more it was
stressed upon this young Church the
need of a permanent pastor. In 1881
correspondence was entered into
with Rev. David Jewett of New
Hampshire. Several letters passed
between them and finally terms were
made and agreed upon. He came TO
them in the year 1881. Enough is
known of this first pastor TO place
him at once in the rank of the pro-
gressiVes who We're to be the faith
fuls in the New Republic. Up to
l,;e al nf
Church and the State as one pre-
vailed. Many of the citizens were
non church members and chafed at
the idea of being taxed for an
institution in which they had no in
terest or particular sympathy. The
broadminded, sympathetic new pas
tor scnsed this feeling and was one
of the first to establish a new rec
ord. He agreed 10 come to the
Winthrop Church with the under
standing that a portion of his salary
should he set aside for an educa-
tional fund. We know but little of
this first pastorate as the early rec
ords of the Church were lost and
but a meagr account is preserved of
the doings of the Church during
these early years. We do know,
however. that Rev. David Jewett was
6llOWeu Il grant VI IuIll pll VIA 10
now the Stanley Road near the resi-
dence of Mr.. Pike where the old
Hatchery was at one time. | have
among my papers the original copy
of the letter which Pastor Jewett
sent accepting the call to the Winth-
rop Church. 1t is dated 1881 and
shows but scantily the effect of time.
The writing is clear and legible and
its signature is in we'll formed let
tiers.
CMav be excused If l say right