^\ 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS 
 
 ON THE OCCASION OF THE 
 
 CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY 
 
 OF THE FORMATION OF 
 
 CENTRE STREET 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
 
 At Machias, Me. 
 
 r,V KkV. H. FrHAKDIXG. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 A BRIEF HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL SABBATH.^CHOOL 
 
 To September, i884. 
 
 MACHIAS: 
 riUNTEI) BV C. O. FlRmsTI. 
 
 iss-i. 
 

 
X 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Memorial Address of Eev. H. F. Harding and the 
 account of the Centre Street Sabbath-school, contained in 
 the following pages, are not offered to an indifferent public, 
 but to those persons who are interested in the wellare and 
 histoiy of the Congregational church in Machias, whether 
 they now live within the limits ot the old township or are 
 scattered abroad over the entire breadth ot the continent- 
 Mr. Harding, with but little time at his command, yet with 
 much labor, collected a good deal of interesting and valuable 
 information relative to the early history of the church, the 
 founding of which he was to commemorate, and arrange the 
 same in form fit for preservation. This was a work the 
 more difficult to do as the settlers of Machias and the 
 founders of her reh'gious and civil institutions were far 
 more efficient in arduous labors and deeds of valor than 
 careful and particular in minutely recording their doings. 
 In the light thus thrown upon those early times many 
 
iv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 points, before obscure, are made plain, as a single instance 
 will show: 
 
 For, in answer to a question that naturally arises, we find 
 in the fact of a handful of settlers planting themselves two 
 hundred miles beyond the most advanced outpost of civil- 
 ization, followed by the excitements, privations and dangers 
 of the long years ol tl)e Revolutionary war, a sufficient rea- 
 son why nearly twenty years elapsed between the first settle- 
 ment of the town and the organization of the church. 
 
 Those of us who listened to the delivery of the address 
 were carried back by the vivid language of the speaker 
 until the beautiful views the immigrants saw as they sailed 
 up this bay and river, one hundred and twenty years before, 
 seemed passing before our eyes: and as with him we followed 
 rapidly down the years, tiie events of which he so fully in 
 few and graphic wordi^ related, we seemed to be in turn 
 contemporary with each of the worthies whose life and labor 
 was the theme of his story, with the patriotic Lyon, and not 
 forgetting the wonderful episode of Clark Brown, with the 
 pious iSteele and his colleague the earnest Jackson, the 
 meek and pure-minded Ward, the impulsive Kendall, the 
 efficient Brown, the genial and faithful Bowler, till we come 
 to his own day, so full of interest and laitliiul work, and that 
 of his successors, where the recollections of a large part of 
 his hearers came in, verifying the words of their former 
 
 pastor. 
 
 The history of the Sabl)atli-scliO()l was mainly written In- 
 one who was for several years a resident of Machias and an 
 active and prominent teacher of one of its advanced classes 
 
INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 of young ladies. The work, not fully completed by this 
 author, has been brought down to the present time by 
 another who has been one of its members, either as scholar 
 or teacher, for more than thirty years. The school, like the 
 church to which it is an adjunct, is unfortunate in having 
 only scanty records of its commencement and early history. 
 The steps preliminary to the Celebration, of which the 
 address here published was a part, were as follows: As the 
 year 1882 drew near, the members of the Centre Street 
 Church lelt that a suitable celebration ought to be made of 
 the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of a 
 christian church in AJachias; the first, with perhaps a single 
 exception, in all Eastern Maine, their own original stock and 
 the parent ot some half dozen branches, and the contributor 
 to many other churches. At the Annual Fast, a time-honored 
 and highly prized institution oi the Centre Street Church, 
 at the beginning oi that year, a committee consisting of three 
 gentlemen and thiee ladies was appointed to take the sub- 
 ject into consideration and prepare a plan for a celebration, 
 and report at any sulisequent meeting. This committee 
 reported in May, and their report was duly accepted: "That 
 Commemorative Centennial Services should be held in Cen- 
 tre Street Church on Tuesday the 12th day of September 
 following, and that the order of the services should be such 
 religious exercises as would be appropriate to the occasion, 
 including an Historical Address, also the reading of letters 
 from former members and invited guests. That the minis- 
 ters and members of the churches formed in considerable part 
 from the membership of this, namely: the Congregational 
 
Vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 churches in East Machias, Machiasport, Northfield, Wliitney- 
 ville, Marshfield and Jones^port, should I'e invited to be 
 present and join in the services. That absent and former 
 members should be invited to be with us on that day, and 
 unite in the celebration; and such ministers and members of 
 other churches in the county and elsewhere as should be 
 known to have an especial interest in this church.'' 
 
 To carry out this plan, a Committee of Arrangements and 
 Invitations was appointed, consisting of the pastor Rev. 
 Daniel Greene, the Deacons, and several others of the breth- 
 ren and sisters. Such other committees as were necessary 
 to complete the preparations were also appointed. 
 
 In the latter part of June an invitation to prepare the 
 address was sent to Rev. H. F. Harding of Hallowell, who 
 for many years was pastor of this church. This he cheer- 
 fully undertook and, at the appointed time, as already indi- 
 cated, performed to the full satisfaction ol all his hearers. 
 
 The following card of invitation was sent to all iormer or 
 present memliers of this church not residing at Machias, and 
 to all other guests: 
 
 •'Centeunial Observauce of the Organization of tbe Centre Street 
 Congregational Church at Machias. 
 
 Machias, Me., July 17, 1882. 
 
 It has been decided by the Centre Street Congregational Church, 
 at Machias, to observe with appropriate services the Centennial An- 
 niversary of its organization, which falls on the 12th day of Septem- 
 ber, 1882. 
 
 In behalf of the church we affectionately invite you to join in the 
 
INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 services to be held on Tuesday the 12th day of September next at 2 
 o'clock P. M., in the Centre Street Church in Machias, in commemo- 
 ration of an event which has been so fruitful of good, and in re- 
 turning thanks to our Heavenly Father for his signal blessings 
 which have flowed from this early established church. 
 
 An early answer is requested, and hoping you may be able to 
 unite with us in the services of the occasion, 
 
 We remain very sincere'ly yours, 
 
 Rev. Daniel Gkeene, Pastor. 
 
 Dea. William Inglee, Mrs. Charles F. Stone, 
 
 " Isaac Heaton, " F. S. Coffin, 
 
 '* Gilbert Longfellow, Bro. Thomas Boynton, 
 
 " Warren Hill, " Mason H. Wilder, 
 
 " Charles F. Stone, " Clark Longfellow, 
 
 Committee of Arrangements and Invitations." 
 
 A note ot similar import was sent to each, collectivelj, of 
 the six churches already mentioned; also to the Methodist 
 and Baptist cliurches in this town. 
 
 For the convenience of those persons in the county who 
 would like to attend both, the Congregational Conference, 
 held usually in October, was that year held with the church 
 at Machias, and met on the same day the celebration oc- 
 curred. The Conference, however, simply organized and 
 adjourned to the next day, the afternoon and evening of 
 that day, Tuesday, September 12, being given to the cen- 
 tennial exercises. 
 
 The church was very neatly and tastefully decorated by 
 the young ladies and gentlemen of the society, under the 
 direction of the late Mrs. Dr. Smith. 
 
viii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Owing to a severe rainstorm, which commenced Monday 
 morning and continued until Tuesday afternoon, many from 
 other towns, who otherwise would have been present, were 
 kept at home; yet the number in attendance was sufiScient 
 to fill the house. 
 
 In the services of the day, the Rev. Daniel Greene pre- 
 siding, the programme here given was carried out: 
 
 "Services at Centre Street Cbnrcb, Machias, on Tuesday, Sept. 
 12, 1882, in commemoration of the Organization of Centre Street 
 Congregational Church, on the 12th day of Sept., 1782. 
 
 EVENING SERVICES. 
 
 7 o'clock 
 Organ Voluntary. 
 Hymn. 
 Prayer. 
 
 Organ Response. 
 Reading Letters. 
 
 Social recess ot 10 minutes. 
 Hymu. 
 Addresses. 
 Hymn. 
 Benediction. 
 
 ORDER OF SERVICES. 
 
 2 o'clock p. M. 
 Organ Voluntary. 
 Invocation. 
 Anthem. 
 
 Reading Scripture. 
 Prayer. 
 
 Chant. — Lord's Prayer. 
 Historical Address, 
 
 By Rev. H. F. Harding, 
 of Hallowell, Me. 
 Hymn. 
 Benediction. 
 
 The address was the principal feature of the occasion, and 
 occupied nearly two hours in its delivery. 
 
 In the Conference, on the next day, the following vote o\ 
 thanks was offered and, first by a rising vote of the mem- 
 hers of the Centre Street Church, and then by all others 
 present, unanimously adopted: 
 
 "The Centre Street Church desire, through the committee 
 
INTRODUCTION. ix 
 
 of rtrrangements, to express their sincere thanks to tlie Rev. 
 EI. F. Harding of Hallowell ior his undertaking so arduous 
 a task as the preparation of an historical address of the 
 Centre Street Church of Macliias. covering the period of 
 one l)undred years from Sept. 12, 1782; also tor the great 
 pleasure received in listening to the delivery of that ad- 
 dress, so full of interesting reminiscences of the early church 
 and settlers. 
 
 The committee would also express their desire that the 
 address and other interesting papers in Mr. Harding's hands 
 be given for publication." 
 
 It was also ordered by the Conference that the vote of 
 thanks, with the names of the committee, should be recorded 
 in their minutes of that meeting. 
 
 A copy signed by each of the committee of arrangements 
 was also sent to Mr. Harding at his home in Hallowell. 
 
 Machias. 1884. 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 By Rev. H. F. Harding. 
 
 Brethren and Friends: 
 
 The occasion that brings us together to day is one 
 of unusual interest and well deserving of special commem- 
 oration. On the 12th day of September, 1782, this church 
 had its origin; and we, who now compose its living member- 
 ship, together with the welcome representatives of its nu- 
 merous offspring, are met here to celebrate the centennial 
 anniversary of its natal day. We pause to-day amid the 
 busy, stirring scenes of active life, and turn aside from the 
 engrossing pursuits and occupations of the living present, 
 that we may retrace from the far-off beginning the paths 
 which their feet pursued with painful sacrifice, who have 
 long since rested from their labors, and reverently review 
 the noble work which their piety founded, their faith builded, 
 
2 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 and their prayers consecrated for our invaluable heritage. 
 To relate the circumstances of its origin and recall the mem- 
 ory of its founders; to trace its progress downward with the 
 advancing years of its growth, describing the chief events 
 in its history, and the actors in its great work lor God and 
 humanity ; to reunite the separate links in the chain of its 
 past existence, and gather up the scattered threads of its 
 complicated life and weave them into one consecutive history, 
 is the high duty and the grateful task you have imposed on 
 me for this occasion, and which 1 ciieerfully accept, only re- 
 gretting that it has not fallen into hands better fitted for the 
 execution of so important a service. 
 
 And the difficulty of the task will be more fully appre- 
 ciated when we mention that, of the formation of this church 
 and of its early history during the pastorate of its first min- 
 ister, the Rev. James Lyon, a period of twenty-three years, 
 no contemporary record exists. No original document — not 
 a written or printed word, that I am aware of — has come down 
 to us from that long and eventful period of our church histo- 
 ry. The earliest records of the church which commence in 
 the year 1797 and open with a very brief and summary ac- 
 count of the formation of the church and of its first minister, 
 are from the hands of his successor, and are included in a 
 single page. But while the absence of any original account 
 or direct information leaves the first quarter of its history 
 shrouded in mist almost mythical, we are thankful for the 
 amount of incidental information furnished from other 
 sources, and the light thus thrown on the dark period of its 
 infancy from unexpected quarters, so that the events that 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 3 
 
 transpired, and the actors in the scenes, may l)e vividly rep- 
 resented before us. 
 
 That first record, referred to above, is eo brief that we 
 cannot do better than quote it entire. It reads as follows : 
 
 "December 5, 1771, the Rev, James Lyon was settled in 
 this town of Machias as the first gospel minister, it being at 
 that time but a plantation. The church was formed under 
 the pastoral care of James Lyon, on the 12th of September, 
 1782. On this day Joseph Libby and Benjamin Foster were 
 chosen and appointed deacons of the church. The rules and 
 regulations, as there assented to by the members, are as 
 follows: 
 
 1st. Persons may be admitted to this church without 
 making any public relation of their experie'ice. 
 
 2d. That all matters of acknowledgment for the breach 
 of God's commandments should be acknowledged before the 
 church only. 
 
 3rd. That the Holy ordinance should be administered 
 three times a year. 
 
 4th. That the months for that purpose should be May, 
 August and October. 
 
 Oct. 6, 1772, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first 
 administered. These are the only particular records of the 
 church under the Rev. James Lyon. The church and those 
 in covenant were left very irregular b}' the Rev. James 
 Lyon, who died October 12, 1794." 
 
 This is the only report the church has transmitted to us 
 of its earliest history; very brief indeed, but full of signifi- 
 cance. The last statement of this record we beg you to 
 
4 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 notice particularly, as it lias important bearing on portions 
 of our subsequent history. And we think the church must 
 have had a written covenant which constituted its bond of 
 fellowship, thdugh no record of such remains. Leaving, then, 
 this brief statement to stand by itself for the time being, let 
 us look elsewhere for answers to the numerous and pressing 
 questions that force themselves upon our minds. Who were 
 the men and women, and whence came they, who laid the 
 sti'ong foundations on which others have builded, and per- 
 formed the hard labor into which we have entered? 
 
 Nearly all of the original members of the church came 
 with the two companies of the first settlers from iScarboro, 
 in the years 1763 and 1765. The people of that settle- 
 ment, one of the earliest and most prosperous on the coast 
 of Maine, were not unacquainted witli the natural attractions 
 and advantages of this locality, as they had visited it occa- 
 sionally for the purpose of procuring the marsh hay. even 
 as early as 1672. The immediate cause that led to the per- 
 manent settlement of this town in 1763 appears to have lieen 
 the terrible drought which prevailed very extensively in 
 1761 and 1762, and the forest fires which raged in conse- 
 quence of the same, l)y which the crops were cut off", and 
 large tracts of forest land utterly luined. [lardiy fifteen 
 years had elapsed since the last liidifin massacres were per- 
 petrated in 1747, and another war broke out in 1754, only 
 nine years before the emigration. Thus leaving behind 
 them a land withered and blighted by drought, ravaged and 
 desolated l)y fii-es, and a soil stained with the blood of fre- 
 quent Indian u)assacres, this sequestered retreat of nature 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 5 
 
 ccust have Beemed to those early settlers a paradise of 
 beauty and a haven of rest. laiagination vividly pictures 
 before us the scene which presented itself to their view. 
 After a long and storniy passage, on the 20th of May, 1763, 
 their little schooner, with Buck for master, entered the 
 Machias bay, bearing the first colonists — seventeen men, 
 two of their wives, and six children — twenty-five souls in 
 all; and they came to stay. And as those homeless wan- 
 derers, sick and weary with the long and stormy voyage, 
 rounding the Point of Maine, sailed in among the green 
 islands and along by the Jasper headlands, and the sheltered 
 inlets and sunny coves with their densely wooded shores, 
 and with the inflowing tide floated up through the narrows, 
 wliere on either hand tlie smooth meadows stretched away to 
 the hills, or tinted with the first green of the opening spring, 
 the stately forests came down to bathe their feet in the calm 
 waters, and still on till in the northward, over the widen- 
 ing bay, and the broad level of the marsh lands, far away the 
 eye rested on the beautiful amphitheatre of the Marshfield 
 hills, inclosing the landscape, surely not without deep 
 gratitude and hope did they behold the scene of their future 
 ht>me and labor, and rejoice for the divine goodness that had 
 cast their lot in so pleasant places, and directed their way 
 to so goodly a heritage. Nor did the new comers inherit 
 beauty alone with their new-found abode, for with no less 
 prodigal hand had nature provided the resources for com- 
 fortable livelihood, productive industry and profitable com- 
 merce in the junction of three rivers, reaching back into the 
 vast extent of virgin forests, and the waterfalls meeting the 
 
6 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 inflowing tides of the ocean. Such was the wilderness of 
 beauty and fertility where they hud planted themselves and 
 begun to lay the foundations of their church and state. 
 
 Two years after the hist immigration, in 1765, came 
 another and larger company of men, bringing their wives 
 and children, and household goods; and in the two were 
 included most of the members of the future church; and 
 judging from the facts recorded in the subsequent religious 
 histories of the two communities, the mother must have 
 sent out much of her best mateiial. It is a fact worth}' 
 of notice here, ihat Scarboro, the original abode, is divided 
 by an extensive marsh, with a river flowing through it, into 
 two separate regions named from the earliest settlement, 
 Black and Blue points, named from a similar configura- 
 tion and nomenclature in old Scaiboro in England, su that 
 the people were already accustomed to an arrangement for 
 church going, precisely similar to that piacticed in this 
 town for nearly half a century between the East and West 
 rivers, apparently with mutual satisfaction, and unl)roken 
 harmony. 
 
 And so they came to stay, those strong-minded men, 
 brave and true-hearted women, and settled around the West 
 Falls, and tlie head of tide water on Middle river, and up the 
 romantic valley of East river, and on both shores of the bay 
 below. 
 
 W^ould that there liad been among them a Bradford to 
 transmit to us a journal of the trials and the struggles of that 
 infant colony ; but they have left us no record of their ex- 
 perience in that time. Only we know, that aun'd the hard- 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 7 
 
 ships and trials incident to a new colony, they grew and 
 prospered, for, in 1770, eighty names are appended to a peti- 
 tion for an act of incorporation for the Township of Machias, 
 which covered a territor}^ of eight miles by ten, and includ- 
 ed in its limits the four chief centres of population, West 
 Falls, East and Middle Rivers and the Port, the total of 
 which must have reached about 500 souls*. Up to this time 
 there was no minister in the place, but no sooner were they 
 fairly settled in their new homes than they took measures to 
 supply this, to them, indispensable need; and in 1771 voted 
 to raise the sum of X84 for the minister's salary, which they 
 afterwards increased to .£86, and in addition voted £84 as 
 a settlement, which it appears they never paid; consider- 
 ing their circumstances, a most extraordinary provision for 
 the minister's support. As late as 1812, I think, the valua- 
 tion of the town was $15,000. If the inhabitants of the orig- 
 inal township to-day should contribute as liberally for minis- 
 terial support in the same ratio to the present valuation, the 
 minister's salary would be a most liberal one — say $50,000. 
 
 Reviewing from our standpoint the course of events of 
 that early period of hardship and conflict, possessing a 
 national as well as local interest, we cannot fail to discern 
 the hand of a special providence in the circumstances that 
 gave to the people of all Machias the Rev. James Lyon to 
 be their minister for nearly a quarter of a century. Stephen 
 Jones, Esq., one of the leading citizens, if not the ablest man 
 in the community at that time, bein^ in Boston, looking 
 out for a minister, found there Mr. Lyon, just returned from 
 Nova Scotia and looking out for a place, and persuaded him 
 
8 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 to returu with him to Machias, where he entered at once 
 upon his long, eventful, and most successful n)inistry. In 
 the succeeding period of trial an(J conflict, from 1771 to 
 1794, he proved not only a faithful minister but, in other 
 trying relations, disclosed the qualities of a remarkable man, 
 and proved himself to be emphatically the man for the place 
 and the times, and we must know something of his previous 
 history before considering his great work. 
 
 Mr. Lyon was a native of New Jersey, and enjoyed the 
 advantages of a liberal education, having commenced his 
 preparatory studies when over twenty years of age, and 
 was graduated from Princeton College in 1759, somewhat 
 late in life. After his graduation he pursued his theological 
 studies, as the custom then was, with a private clergyman, 
 and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New 
 Brunswick in 1762, and ordained by the same body, Dec. 
 5, 1764, to go to Nova Scotia, where he labored for several 
 years in the ministry, and was never installed as Pastor of 
 this church or any other. The course of events by which 
 God brought him to Boston just at this juncture, looking 
 for a place, when Stephen Jones was there looking for a 
 minister is, to say the least, very remarkable. While Mr. 
 Lyon was preaching around in several places in New Jersey 
 an event occurred which changed the whole current and 
 work of his life. Some gentlemen of Philadelphia, probably 
 perceiving the force of character and practical ability there 
 was in this man, induced him to go down to Nova Scotia 
 and locate a grant of land received from the crown. He 
 fixed upon the township of Pictou, and became owner of one 
 
MEMORIAI. ADDKKSS. 9 
 
 eighth himself. But while engaged in this secular employ- 
 ment he did not forget his Master's business, nor neglect 
 his sacred vocation, but preached about in several places as 
 opportunity oifered. Then he returned to Massachusetts, 
 married Martha Holden, and with his wife returned again 
 to Nova Scotia and preached four years in the small town of 
 Onslow, recently settled by Irish Presbyterians. 7^he set- 
 tlei's were very poor and not able to pay him much for his 
 services, and having by this time exhausted all his resources, 
 being literally starved out, he left and came to Boston, seek- 
 in/ a place, where Mr. Jones, seeking a minister, found just 
 the right man and minister for Machias. 
 
 The place first used for the meeting house was a barn 
 belonging to Stephen Jones, and standing on the other side 
 of Centre street, directly opposite this church. Three 
 years after this, in 1774, the first church building was erected 
 on the south-east corner of the Smith lot, and covering a part 
 of the lot on which the Edward Smith house now stands, 
 next to the lot whereon Libby flail now stands, subse- 
 quently deeded to a committee of the proprietors by George 
 Libby, one of the original sixteen settlers, being a part of 
 the seven acre lot assigned to him in the original division. 
 It was a wooden building 42x25, one story high. It had no 
 pews, but plain seats ranged along both sides against the 
 wall, with an aisle running between, and a low pulpit placed 
 at the farther end. This church was built by the private 
 subscriptions of some sixteen individuals, and cost exactly 
 X65 8s. lid.— equal to $217. 
 
 Humble and insignificant as seems to us that first church, 
 
10 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. - 
 
 it was tlje scene of stirring events, the Faneuil Hall ot Ma 
 chias; certainly a great step in advance of the barn; and 
 doubtless its dedication an occasion of great rejoicing to the 
 whole town. At this humble altar in this lowly pulpit the 
 faithful and devoted pastor ministered and preached on al- 
 ternate Sabbaths, till his V!)ice was silent in death, to the 
 congregation of earnest and strong-minded men and women 
 gathered from all parts of the town; unsurpassed, we will ven- 
 ture to say, in clear intelligence an i vigor of intellect, indeed 
 in all the noblest qualities of manhood and womanhood, by 
 any congregation ever assembled in lowly chapel or stately 
 temple for the worship of God. Here were the Joneses, 
 and Smiths, and Longfellows, and Holways, and O'Briens, 
 and Fosters, and Talbots, and Seveys, and Lil)beys, and 
 Crockers, and Bruces, and Stilhuaiis. and many others like 
 them: men and women of faith, and prayer, and courage, and 
 self-denial — capable iA the noblest heroism and sacrifice that 
 humanity is called upon to put forth. To thrit consecrated 
 though lowly chapel, standing on yonder hill, summoned by 
 no Sabbath bell, from far and near came the people ot all 
 Machias, through the winding forest paths, or gliding along 
 the calm surface of the bay in boats, for their Sabbath service. 
 But not for worship alone was it employed, Init in a cause 
 to them equally sacred: for they were people whose relig- 
 ion taught them that ■' Hoistance to tyrants is obedience to 
 God." In that little church great questions of humanity 
 were discussed; important affairs of state were transacted; 
 solemn councils were held, and plans and schemes of resis- 
 tance organized in tlie cause of liberty and sanctioned by 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 11 
 
 prayers and sermons, tliat surprise us by their wisdom and 
 astonish us by their audacity and reckless disregard of per- 
 sonal safety, that should render it historical and memorable 
 forever. 
 
 Stirring times are at hand. The battle of Freedom for 
 their country and the world is about to open, in which this 
 remote settlement, hemmed in by interminable forests on 
 three sides and by ''ocean's gray and melancholy waste" 
 on the other, shall bear a conspicuous and glorious part. 
 The story of their patriotism, tiieir fearless courage, their 
 labors and sacrifices in their country's service has never 
 been published to the world. To record and transmit to 
 posterity t leir worthy deeds and great sacrifices in their 
 country's service is a duty this generation owes to their 
 noble progenitors that their achievements shall have a 
 place in tlieir country's history by the side of the stories of 
 Concord, and Lexington, and Bunker Hill, and be held in 
 equal honor. But what had the church to do with all this, 
 you ask? Truly, religion and politics got strangely mixed 
 up in those times. The minister and two of the deacons of 
 the churcii, soon to be formed, were among the leading 
 spirits in the movement, and the third, Libby, contributed to 
 the cause his fervent prayers, among which is that one 
 handed down to us as "Deacon Libby's prayer," .vhich reads 
 like a Psalm of David, and is almost as good. 
 
 Sunday, the 11th of June, 1776, is a day to be reckoned as 
 memorable and glorious in the annals of this town, and 
 belongs equally to the church history. In the committee of 
 safety it had been determined to capture the British vessel of 
 
12 MEMORIAL ADDRKSS. 
 
 war named the Margaretta, sent here to watch over Icha- 
 bod Jones' lumber schooners, Unity and Polly, then load- 
 ing with lumber for the British barracks in Boston, and 
 lying near the outlet of Middle river. The officers were to 
 be first seized in the church. The patriots in other parts 
 of the town and along the shore had been summoned to ren- 
 dezvous at the Port. They came up through the woods, on 
 what has since been named the Revolutionary Path, to 
 the point where the little brook crosses the road on the out- 
 skirts of the village, and, in the hollow just beyond the Otis 
 Crocker place, and on the farther side, came to a stand, seem- 
 ingly appalled at the audacity of their own undertaking. The 
 lives and property of the people lay at the mercy of the 
 armed vessel in the harbor; a pathless and interminable 
 wilderness lay behind ihem, haunted by wild beasts and 
 treacherous savages, their only avenue of supplies held 
 by the enemy, and only three weeks' provisions on hand. 
 No wonder they shrank from an attempt in which failure 
 was ruin, and success would assuredly draw down upon 
 them the vengeance of the British government. But there 
 was one man among them, the captain of the company, Ben- 
 jamin Foster, who never knew what fear was; who did not 
 hesitate, and leaping acrons the bmok bade all who would 
 go on with him come over to his side. A few followed 
 at once, then others, one by one, till the last man stood 
 on his side. 
 
 Now let us change the scene to the little church on the 
 opposite side of the river, and through the open windows, 
 on that bright June morning, look in upon the assembled 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 13 
 
 worshipers, all but a few entirely uncousciuiis of the 
 blow about to be struck. The minister is in his usual 
 place. Deacon Libby is there engaged in silent prayer. 
 Ichabod Jones is there, the tory spy, who will never again 
 sail away in the Unity or the Polly; and the British officers 
 are there, in their bright uniforms, in blissful ignorance of 
 the danger impending; and just behind, the fiery young 
 John O'Brien, with his musket hidden under his seat, little 
 dreaming of the hand-to-hand desperate struggle of the fol- 
 lowing day, and his own learlul peril, as for a few moments 
 he stood alone on the deck of the enemy's vessel, facing the 
 crew. The service goes on as usual, when suddenly a wild 
 cry of alarm rings through the church, filling the congrega- 
 tion with excitement and terror. The officers, struck with 
 sudden alarm, spring through the open windows and escape 
 to their vessel, not even there feeling themselves safe. 
 It was not a surprise, but a greater victory. 
 
 In the long and anxious conflict Mr. Lyon was one of 
 the most firm and steadfast, and active, of all the patriots, 
 sacrificing everything, asking notliing. In that most valu- 
 able record of the times, Col. Allan's journal, we read: "Sun- 
 day, Sept. 7, 1777, held town meeting to consult for safety. 
 Then Parson Lyon preached an encouraging sermon." 
 Both in the same church, doubtless. Again: "Monday, 
 Nov. 10, '77, Col. Allan and Mr. Lyon went to the Ryhm, 
 where all the soldiers attended prayers." There is extant 
 a letter from Mr. Lyon to Gen. Washington, proposing 
 a plan for the capture of Nova Scotia, offering himself 
 as leader, and would doubtless have accomplished the 
 
14 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 work, for he was well acquainted with the province and 
 the people, and knew their sympathy to be with the 
 States very generally. In the townships of Onslow, Truro 
 and Londonderry, out of a populatit)n of nine hundred, only 
 five took the oath of allegiance, and in King county a liber- 
 ty pole was cut and got ready. There is but little (i[uestion 
 that but for the steadfast resistance of the people of Ma- 
 chias, the Eastern boundary of the United States would have 
 been the Penobscot instead of the St. Croix, and hardly less 
 doubtful is it tliat Parson Lyon would have added the Prov- 
 inces to the States had his plans been carried out by the 
 government. Not less active and devoted to the end of the 
 war were his deacons, Col. Benj. Foster and Capt. Stephen 
 Smith. 
 
 Mr. Lyons' salary, owintj to the hard times, was not paid 
 him during the war, and at one time was in arrears some 
 .£900. Whether this was ever paid in full we have no 
 means of knowing. Not even did he draw the two rations 
 allowed him by the general government. To what straits 
 he was reduced, and how much he suffered is disclosed to us 
 from a petition he presented to the Massachusetts Legisla- 
 ture some two years after the close of the war, a copy of 
 which I have before me. At one time the food of his fami- 
 ly consisted of the clams procured by his own labor, and it 
 is known he had on one of the islands in the bay an estab- 
 lishment for making salt. 
 
 Surely the conduct of the church in the Revolution forms 
 a noble chapter in its history, for which we are most de- 
 voutly thankful, and must by no means pass unrecorded in 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 15 
 
 this review of" its past history. From such materials, out ot 
 such an experience sprung this church into being. From 
 the foregoing narrative we see why its organization was de- 
 layed till Sept. 12, 1782. From the best inforrnation we can 
 gain, the church, at its formation, consisted of but six mem- 
 bers, Deacons Foster and Libby and their wives, Solomon 
 Stone, and another female — and others were received from 
 time to time till the number amounted to forty-two at Mr. 
 Lyons' death. The form of the church organization was 
 extremely simple. The day of creed-making had not ar- 
 rived. Just three simple rules — admission without public 
 relation of experience; confession for offences before the 
 Church alone, and times of communion appointed. Truly 
 apostolic in its simplicity, and not without significance. In the 
 religion of that day experience was required as an evidence 
 of conversion and condition of membership. Under the 
 Edwards and Hopkins theology, then predominant, experi- 
 ence was a fearful thing. The ideas of the awful guilt of 
 the sinner, the Justice of God, eternal decrees stirred some 
 souls to wrath; sunk others to despair. Irresistible grace 
 alone, through the agonies of remorse and the joy of for- 
 giveness, could save a soul. Timid and conscientious souls 
 shrink from the test. But to this little colony in the wilder 
 ness, called uf God, comes a man, simple, earnest, practical, 
 full of zeal and christian charity, and says, the church is sim- 
 ply a company of God's children on the earth. No need to 
 tell in public of agonies and raptures; only satisfy your pas- 
 tor and deacons that you are converted, and the door is 
 open. This is just such a church as we should expect 
 
16 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 Parson Lyon to form, a man of laith and practice rather 
 than dogmas and systems. Moreover, it is to be observed 
 that the age when this church came into being was rife 
 with theological controversy. A reaction against the stern 
 and exclusive system of Calvinism had commenced. Hu- 
 manity began to assert itself against the doctrine of absolute 
 sovereignty. And a portion of the new comers were inclined 
 to the milder views. Stephen Jones, a man of liberal ten- 
 dencies and a hater of sects, was as active in religious mat- 
 ters as in civil. The Talbots and others had arrived from 
 Stoughton and other towns in Massachusetts, and it would 
 not answer to split on questions of doctrine. They needed a 
 broad church, and in this respect the minister was the man 
 for the occasion. Ah, yes, we know a great deal more about 
 the circums'ances and influences that surrounded and ope- 
 rated in the formation of this church, than did the successor 
 of Mr. Lyon, the Rev. Clark Brown, who introduces himself 
 to the public by a single page of his record devoted to Mr. 
 Lyon, his church and his twenty-three years' ministiy. Thus 
 amid the throes of civil war and religious controversy, the 
 year before the close of the war, this church came into be- 
 ing and entered upon its divine mission. It was truly a 
 church in the wilderness. No roads connected the town 
 with other settlements, east or west. Not till a quarter of 
 a century afterwards, 1806, was the road cut through to 
 Eastport. There was not another minister within a hundred 
 miles. There were but thirty-one Congregational and Pres- 
 byterian churches in Maine, and Mr. Lyon the only settled 
 minister east of VViscasset. 
 
MEMORIAL AnPRESS. 17 
 
 Two years later, lacking three mouths, the piaiitation of" 
 Machias became a town by act of incorporation under the 
 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it was voted in town 
 meeting to raise X86 for the Rev. James Lyon's salary, and 
 X60 for schools. The same amount was annually voted by 
 the town for Mr. Lyon's support till the time of his death. 
 June, 1785, as appears by tlie old town records, it was 
 voted to build two meeting houses, one at East River and 
 the other at West Falls. Neither of these houses was built, 
 but the next year the town bought of the original proprie- 
 tors the old church on Libby Hill, paj'ing exactly the first 
 cost of the same, viz: X65, 8s. lid. and hired a dwelling house 
 of Samuel Rich at E;ist River for a place of worship; the 
 minister preaching at both places on alternate Sabbaths, the 
 people from both places attetiding each service, and going 
 round by way of Marshfield. 
 
 But Mr. Lyon's active temperament and broad views of 
 ministerial responsibility would not permit him to confine 
 his interest and efforts to the sphere of religious duty alone, 
 but drew him into active participatit)n in civil affairs also. 
 
 We cannot forbear citing one instance which bears strong 
 testimony to the foresight and political sagacity of those 
 village statesmen, and also gives proof of the confidence 
 reposed in their minister's judgment in matters of great 
 public concern. This occurs in a remarkable document 
 found on the old town records, and is nothing more nor less 
 than an emphatic Letter of Instruction, adopted in town 
 meeting held in that little brown church, May 30, 1778, at 
 2 o'clock, P. M., to David (xardner, their Representative to 
 
18 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 the General Court of Massachusetts, and reads as follows: 
 "If any important question should come before the House 
 during your attendance upon it, if in its tendency it will be 
 likely to be highly beneficial to the public, you will give 
 your vote for it— but you are not by any means to give 
 your vote for any emission of paper money, nor are you to 
 give your vote for any measure that will have a tendency to 
 annihilate public or private debts. We have the honor of 
 our Nation at heart, and would not by any means give our 
 assent to an act that should have even a tendency to sully 
 it. Though we are poor we mean to be honest. The town 
 of Machias wishes to have the powers of Congress enlarged." 
 This paper is signed by Stephen Jones, James Avery, Jere- 
 miah O'Brien, Committee. Words of immortal wisdom; all 
 honor to the men who had the sagacity to conceive and the 
 courage to utter them. Is it that their spirits still linger 
 amid the scenes of their former labors, and their voices still 
 echo in the ears of their descendants, that after a hundred 
 years, in the great victory of the party of Fiat Money, not a 
 man was found in Machias to throw a Greenback vote, and, 
 that her citizens, in the worst times of financial distress, 
 wiped out the last dollar of their municipal debt, and had a 
 balance left in the treasury. But it is the closing sentence 
 of this remarkable paper that more nearly concerns our sub- 
 ject to-day. It closes with this direction to the representa- 
 tive, John Gardner: "You are requested to consult with 
 the Rev. James Lyon on the necessary means to carry these 
 Instructions into effect, and ask him for his assistance there- 
 in," James Lyon, then, was their political counselor as well 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 19 
 
 as religious teacher and pastor. Truly there is a Revela- 
 tion to us in these closing words. The ten years following, 
 from 1784 to 1794, do not appear to be marked by any im- 
 portant event. The town was steadily growing in popula- 
 tion and wealth. The mills had risen, PhcBnix-like, from the 
 ashes of 1788, and lumber had gone up from $3.00 to $8.00 
 per thousand, and all things seemingly were prospering but 
 religion. The two meeting houses had not been built, and 
 tlie brethren who had shared in the Wliitefield revivals 
 were doubtless mourning over the low state of Zion. The 
 cause of religion among such a people and under such a 
 miiiister could not slumber nor go backward, and silently in 
 all those years was preparing a movement of great impor- 
 tance in the history of the church, which accomplished itself 
 in 1794; and that year saw a new church rise up in the 
 place of the little brown church ot 20 years before, with its 
 two rows of wooden benches and low pulpit, though not 
 finished till 1797. It was capacious in size, fine in its ap- 
 pointments, with its high- backed panelled pews ranged 
 around the walls and a double tier in the body of the house, 
 and aisles between with a gallery on three sides, and an 
 elevated pulpit with winding stairs to climb to it. The 
 sounding board was added in Mr. Steele's day. Truly 
 stately and magnificent must have seemed to the congrega- 
 tion of that day, the new church in comparison with the 
 humble structure, insignificant indeed in appearance, but 
 noble in its uses and glorious in its memories. The story of 
 the building of that church bears witness to the earnest spirit 
 of the people, and is well deserving of record. The humble 
 
20 MF.MORIAT. ADDRESS, 
 
 structure, which had served so long and well the various 
 needs of the people, secular and religious, was about worn 
 out, and too strait lor the increasing numbers, and a meet- 
 ing of the (Mtizens was held, March 18, 1793, at the house 
 of Dr. Parker Clark, near the west end of the bridge, ^nd 
 now used as a store by J. Chandler & Son, but at that time 
 occupied as a tavern. The object of the meeting was to 
 take measures for the erection of a new house of worship. 
 A subscription was opened at once, and the next day a 
 gang of men were at work in the woods cutting timber, 
 headed b}' Capt. Gideon O'Brien as chief chopper, followed 
 by Capt. Jacob Longfellow, who acted as liner, and sufficient 
 in number to side down the timber as fast as it was fur- 
 nished by choppers and liners. The timber was given by 
 Capt. O'Brien, and taken from the lot where Mr. Lemuel 
 Gay afterward lived for many 3'ears. Another party of men, 
 at the same time, were engaged at Marshfield in getting 
 out timber for the same purpose, and the entire frame was 
 prepared and hauled before the snow was gone. This build- 
 ing was in dimensions 45x55, and the coso of raising and 
 covering, to March. 1796, was $1,935. The ground plats for 
 pews were sold for $3,161, and the excess over the amount 
 already expended went towards finishing the pews. These, 
 with the pulpit, were completed in 1797. Did the old min- 
 ister ever preach in the new church? No information is 
 handed down to us on this point, but in all probability he 
 did not. All the knowledge we have of the closing years 
 of Mr. Lyon is derived from the annual votes, recorded on 
 the old town l)ook, and they tell in a most eloquent and 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 21 
 
 pathetic manner the unwritten story, of the declining age of 
 this good niKn and faithful minister. Up to 1792 it is voted 
 in the annual town meeting, year by year, to raise £86 for 
 the support of Rev. Janjes L3'on. Tliat year the same 
 amount is raised, but the form of the vote is changed, and it 
 reads: "X86 for the support of a minister," and the next year 
 it is still more indefinite, "Minister's, salary <£8G." James 
 Lyon's name is left out, but no other name is inserted in its 
 place. It is all plain to us now. Not old in years, but over- 
 worked, over-burdened by protracted and excessive labors 
 and cares, — pastoral, political, domestic, — his health is giving 
 way; the stiong man is failing. The people of Machias do 
 not propose to change their minister. He has been with 
 them twenty-three years, and stood by them through peril 
 and storm, and when trade was prostrate and lumber brought 
 next to nothing, he worked on all the same without pay, and 
 never complained till they fell in debt to him £900 ; but 
 now it is evident, these two years past, that his work is al- 
 most done. They will raise the salary all the same for him, 
 but may have to pay it to another minister. And so, indeed, 
 the next year it came about, and Nov. 5, 1795, appears this 
 simple and touching record: "It having pleased the Divine 
 disposer of all things to deprive us of our late pastor, we, 
 the subscril)ers, request that a meeting of the inhabitants 
 be called for the purpose of entering into some measures for 
 supplying the town with an able minister." Signed by 
 George Stillman, Wm. Chaloner, Aaron Hanscom, Nathan 
 Longfell.iw, Jr., J:^mes VV. Crocker, John Edmonds. All 
 Machias joins in the petition, East Machias and Middle River 
 
22 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 and the Port. October 12th he passed away, and November 
 5th all parts of the town are petitioning for another minister. 
 Wljat a testimonial to the woi k of the departed and the value 
 of his work! Fifty-nine years of age; twenty-three spent in 
 Machias as teacher, pastor, counsellor, friend, patriot. "After 
 life's fitful fever he sleeps well,"' near the spot where he 
 ministered, in a grave neglec ed, unnoticed, almost unknown; 
 l)ut when his monument shall be erected by a grateful pos- 
 terity the most fitting inscription will be found in the words 
 of Holy writ: '-Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, 
 yea saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors: 
 and their works do follow them." And what matters it 
 that, on your church records, only one brief page is given to 
 his work and ministry here in Machias, and not even a n)e- 
 morial stone marks his resting place, since his enduring work 
 is his everlasting memorial, and his record is written in im- 
 perishable characters in the hearts of men. In addition to 
 his other endowments, Mr. Lyon possessed a fine musical 
 genius and cultivated taste, and himself published a book of 
 music. The "Manual of Devotion," which he also published 
 bears testimony to his devoted piety, and was highly es- 
 teemed by his people. Mr. Lyon must have been about 37 
 years of age when he came first to this town. He began 
 with its infancy, witnesseci its steady growth, and left it 
 strong, prosperous, and tor the times, rich. Would that the 
 gifted pen of a Bradford had transmitted to us a journal of 
 the events oi those stirring times, so rich in liistorical inter- 
 est, so full of noble sacrifice, of romantic daring, of devoted 
 patriotism. But deeds speak louder and longer than words. 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 23 
 
 From out that silent past voices aie sounding still, telling 
 us that the first minister of this church was not only lull of 
 zeal and devotion as a pastor and teacher, but a leader in 
 public affairs; an eminent citizen, an aident patriot, shrinking 
 from no sacrifice, fearless of danger, a constant inspiration 
 to his flock in every gooii cause. Surrounded by foes and 
 dangers, the hostile power of Great Britai'U on one side and 
 the savage tribes all around, it is an unspeakable wonder 
 how the}- dared to pursue the bold course which seems to 
 us almost fool-hardy ; and then, doing it, how they escaped 
 destruction. 
 
 The committee appointed to provide an able minister to 
 succeed Mr. Lyon did not find one till the following May, 
 when t)n the 17th of that month the Rev. Clark Brown came 
 here to preach on the recommendation of the Rev. Peter 
 Thacher. D. D , of Boston, to whom application had been 
 made by the cummiltee. 
 
 With Mr. Brown commences the written records of the 
 church, opening with the summary of the earlier church and 
 Mr. Lyon's long ministry, which we have quoted above. 
 The records of Mr. Brown's ministry, which are loosely 
 spread over quite a large sized book, purport to be kept by 
 Mr. Brown himself; but, with the exception of a few entries 
 in a spra vling, almost illegible hand, evidently his own, on 
 comparison with the town records, are foun(3 to be in the 
 elegant chirography of Ralph H. Bowles, for many years 
 town clf^rk. These records are hardly more than a personal 
 narrative of Clark Brown's ministry, which forms a strange 
 episode in the history of the church. From James Lyon's 
 
24 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 earnest, solid work ior religion and humanity, to his suc- 
 cessor's frivolous and fantastic efHorts in his own behalf is a 
 most striking illustration of the fruniliar adage: "It is but a 
 step from the sublime to the ridiculous." lie was a man of 
 some literary ability, but possessed of an ill-balanced mind, 
 and singularly lacking in judgment and discretion. He first 
 addressed himself to the work of reconstructing the church 
 and securing his own position. He prepared a formula^ of 
 faith, a species of creed and confession, savoring strongly of 
 paganism, to which the members ot the church were re- 
 quested to affix their signatures. Just one-half the number 
 (211) signed, and ihe remainder were suspended; thus at the 
 first stroke reducing his church one-half. Not yet feeling 
 himself safe, he proceeded to convert the church into a re- 
 ligious association, or League and Covenant, bound together 
 by a sort of oath which pledged the members to worship 
 God and support Mr. Brown. The terms of admission to 
 the church, so called, were framed more and more lax and 
 easy; special accommodations were granted to those who 
 wished their children baptised, without themselves joining 
 the church, and provision made for admitting these baptised 
 cliildren into full communion when they should arrive at a 
 suitable age; until, under his skillful manipulation the lines 
 of separation between the church and the world W(Me pretty 
 nearly elfat^ed, and the church proper had virtually ceased 
 to exist. About this time he accepted a call from Brimfield, 
 Mass., and |)assed from this field of labor to another, where 
 the same unliappy drama was enacted on a larger scale and 
 with more disastrous and permanent results. Two 3'ears of 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 25 
 
 Mr. Brown sufficed for the people of Machias, and though 
 tlie majority welcomed his departure with mure joy than his 
 advent, .still a small party adhered to him, and a movement 
 was set on foot by some of the West Falls people to form a 
 new parish and obtain a charter from the General Court of 
 Massachusetts that they might have him all to themselves, 
 lor there was never a minister so foolish or eriing that 
 there are not found some to do him reverence. 
 
 And now, as we review from this distant period this sin- 
 gular break. 1 had almost said this solemn farce, in your 
 church history, the whole explanation, with t'le motives and 
 causes, rises before us. A new generation has come upon 
 the scene. The town has been growing rapidly. A new 
 and stately church has taken the place of the old one. The 
 people have caught the spirit of the times. They are tired 
 of the old minister and the old-fashioned ways and doctrines. 
 Stephen Jones, the ablest intellect and most influential 
 man in the society, is a liberal. A change is demanded. A 
 new departure in theology is attempted. A young man just 
 from Harvard and his private training, is called, and preaches 
 in an astonishing manner. The people are carried away with 
 enthusiasm, and unanimously vote the new minister XlOO 
 salary and £100 settlement, and then to make sure of him 
 raise by private subscription XlOO to be paid in merchant- 
 able lumber at Machias, not Boston, prices; an extraordinary 
 sum, considering the resources of the people. But all were 
 in favor, and so eager that those who could not attend the 
 town meeting sent in their votes. Great expectations were 
 cherished of the promising young minister. Social and witty, 
 
26 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 biilliant and flowery in his style, not rigid in doctrine nor 
 exacting in piety, he was received at first with great lavor 
 and unanimity, which soon waned in the absence of those 
 qualities which secure permanent respect and usefulness in 
 the pastoral office. And so, as was to be expected, his min- 
 istry was a disastrous failure. A lew lines will complete his 
 history: 
 
 Clark Brown was born in Stonington, Conn,, in 1772; was 
 l»aptised, on his mother's account, under the half-way cove- 
 nant, Oct. 2, 1774, and joined tlie church in 1788 ; was a 
 nienjber of Harvard college, but never graduated. While 
 at Machias, his first settlement, he received a call to Brim- 
 field to preach as candidate. He remained in this place 
 aljout six years, where his course was almost a complete 
 repetition of that in Machias. l)ut with more disustrous re- 
 sult. While here he married the daughter of Dr. Joseph 
 Moffat, by whom he had two sons, named Orus and Nean- 
 thanus, and was sent to the Legislature of Massachusetts 
 twice by his partizans. After leaving Brimfield he was hired 
 to preach one yeai- in Montnelier, Vt., but requested to re- 
 tire at the end of six months. He then started a weekly 
 paper called the Vermont Watchman. Afterwards preached 
 at Swansey, N. H., and Orange, Mass,, and died in Maryland, 
 Jan. 12, 1817, aged 45 years. His wife afterwards opened a 
 school in Oregon Territory, which prospered, and finally 
 grew into the first college established in that Territory. 
 Clark Brown left a volume of sermons published while min- 
 ister in Machias, which is still extant, and several occa- 
 sional sermons and controversial pamphlets are still pre- 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 27 
 
 served as curiositiHs of literature in the Brimfield pastoral 
 library. 
 
 From 1797 till the close of the century, there is a void in 
 our church history. But with the heginniug ot the nine- 
 teenth century a new era dawns upon the church coincident 
 with the commencement of the ministry of the Rev. Marsh- 
 field Steele. Though the church had been nearly dismem- 
 bered by tlie reckless management of the last incumbent of 
 the pastoral office, the material still remained and the pro- 
 cess of reconstruction was immediately begun. Rev. Marsh- 
 field Steele came to Machias from Bolton, Mass. It would 
 be difficult to find a man more unlike in every respect to 
 the former ministei' than was the new minister Mr, Steele. 
 Grave and even severe in deportment, painstaking and 
 methodical m his habits, scrupulously, almost morbidly con- 
 scientious, a man of deep humility and most devoted piety, 
 yet eminently genial and social in disposition, he was spec- 
 ially fitted to perform the difficult work to which he wa.s 
 providentially called. The Council assembled for his ordi- 
 nation made it the first business to reconstruct the church 
 on the old foundation. They drew up by request a good, 
 strong, I will not say old fashioned, for the creed-forming 
 period in New England church history was now well inau- 
 gurated, Calvanistic creed ajid covenant, and nine of the old 
 members were constituted the church by signing the same. 
 Afterwards twenty more joined, making twenty-nine mem 
 bers in the revived church. At the ordination of Mr. Steele 
 the sermon was preached by Rev. Jonathan Fisher of Blue- 
 liill, a copy of which we still possess, and is lull of sound, 
 
28 MEMORIAL ADDRESS, 
 
 priictical wisdom and orthodoxy. The miuister is advised to 
 labor with his own hand two or three days in the week, that 
 he may relieve the people of a part ot their burden, and the 
 doctrine ol Election is set fortli in its strongest form. The 
 charge to the pastor was given by Rev, John IHawyer of 
 Bootlibay, and the right hand ol fellowship by Rev, Eben- 
 ezer Price f)l Bellast. Thus it is seen from how wide a region 
 in those days a council must be gathered, and doubtless 
 the ordination was made a great occasion. In 1817, April 
 16th, the first Congregational .Society was organized, a 
 petition having been made in the preceding July to the 
 Massachusetts General Court, and signed by one hundred 
 names, for an act of incorporation. The salary paid him by 
 the parish was $500 per annum. Mr. Steele's active pastorate 
 continued 21 years, when a colleague was settled, Mr. Abram 
 Jackson. During the whole period of Mr. Steele's niinistr}' 
 there was no general or marked revival of religion in any 
 part of his large field. In 1817 and 1818 there occurred at 
 Middle River a special interest and a number of conversions, 
 but there appears to have been a constant and pervading 
 seriousness and a condition of healthy progress. Sixt3'-five 
 members were added to the church. Though possessed of 
 no marked ability, nor in any sense popular as a preacher, his 
 ministry was greatly blessed to the church and people, and 
 his memory is cherished with warm affection. The univer- 
 sal testimony is that he was a good man. His genuine sym- 
 pathy and social habits drew the hearts of the people towards 
 him in a marked degree, and his relation to the people was 
 one of absolute confidence and love. A gentleman of high 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 29 
 
 standing, now in active life, rememl)ers to have heard the 
 following story from his mother one day after letnrning from 
 cliurcli. In the sermon ot that day he took occasion to say 
 that "there was one sin against which he had failed to bear 
 testimony, and would do so now, and that is the shooting of 
 turkeys on Thanksgiving day." It is told that the wife of 
 a professional gentleman, a near neighbor, not an adept in 
 housekeeping, was wont to resort to the parson for advice 
 when she could not make her teakettle boil, and in other 
 similar domestic difficulties. It is a pleasure to look over 
 his penmanship in the old record book; stiff", formal, bare of 
 all ornament, but beautiful from its regularity, and the care 
 and fidtjlity with which every letter is formed, so truly in- 
 dicative of the character of the man. No wonder that, living, 
 he was greatly beloved by his people, and dying, his life and 
 words were and are still held in tender and loving remem- 
 brance. His portrait, still in possession of a member of this 
 church, expresses the benignity of his heart, and though liis 
 memorial stone lies prostrate and trampled under foot in 
 yonder neglected graveyard, yet a more enduring monument 
 to his goodness and fidelity remains and ever will in the grati- 
 tude and love of the church and people to whom he minis- 
 tered. Flis health was in general quite infirm, but his special 
 troul)le consisted in a disease of the throat, probably chronic 
 laryngitis, which gave to his voice a peculiar quality and 
 necessitated the use of the sounding board over the pulpit, 
 both at East and West Machias, and which compelled him to 
 give up preaching altogether in 1821, after twenty-one years 
 of faithful and successful service. 
 
30 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 The Rev. Abram Jackson, a student from Bangor, was 
 settled as colleague. The ordination took place at East 
 River, the Council meeting at the house of Dea. Peter Talbot. 
 At the ordination services, in the church, apprehensions be- 
 ing entertained for the safety of the structure, cedar posts 
 with the bark peeled off were set under the gallery, and 
 blocks of wood placed under the floor, which well secured 
 these parts indeed, but the council, sitting in a body in the 
 front seats, when they rose together for prayers, leaning too 
 heavily, the front gave way with a sudden crash, producing a 
 temporary excitement, but no serious consequences. In Mr. 
 Jackson's ministry of thirteen years the chief interest cen- 
 tres in two events, — the great revival of 1826, and the col- 
 onization of the church of East Machias. Of the first re- 
 markable event, we are fortunate in having an account from 
 Mr. Jackson's own hand, from which we are glad to learn 
 something of the causes and circumstances attending that 
 wonderful religious movement which spread over every 
 part of the town and resulted in two hundred conversions. 
 
 The account states that the christian people of Machias 
 had felt a deep concern for the low state of religion, and 
 observed days of fasting and prayer on that account. There 
 were revivals in progress at the time in Dennysville on the 
 east, and Cherryfield on the west, also at Steuben. Some 
 degree of interest was awakened, a iew conversions took 
 place, and a deep and solemn interest seemed to pervade 
 the community, but the divinely appointed instrument for 
 this work, by whose martyrdom, so to speak, this great sal- 
 vation was wrought out, and who doubtless wears now the 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 31 
 
 martyr's crown, was a young man by the name of Whittlesey, 
 a student at the time in Yale College. He was on a visit to 
 Lubec for his health, and even then far gone in a decline. 
 Finding there an urgent call for christian work, he threw 
 himself with all his energies into the service, regardless of 
 his physical weakness. While thus engaged an urgent so- 
 licitation came to him from Machias to come over and lielp 
 in the good work already begun there. Yielding to this 
 call, though not without many misgivings, he came to Ma- 
 chias, and made himself a willing sacrifice to the cause of 
 his divine master, — his last service on the earth. His 
 preaching was "in demonstration of the Spirit and in power," 
 and produced a powerful effect. To those who heard him 
 he seemed to speak as from the confines of the spirit land, and 
 men were strangely moved by his vivid presentation of 
 truth, and his solemn appeals to sinners. As the season 
 wore on his rapidly declining health obliged him to give up 
 his work, and soon after he yielded up his life. His last 
 sermon is still in the possession of a member of this church. 
 As one immediate consequence of this revival the church 
 at East Machias was organized. Seventy-eight were dis- 
 tnissed from this church, and fifty-eight added from the new 
 converts, making one hundred and thirty-six in all. One 
 hundred and forty-eight new members were added to both 
 churches, and there were twenty-five converts at the Port, 
 who, four years after, in 1830, with the same number from 
 this church, formed themselves into a separate church. 
 Such were the immediate results of this great and benefi- 
 cent work of Grace. But alas ! in this world there is no 
 
32 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 good without evil mixed. The thunder storm tliat purifies 
 the atmosphere also carries destruction with it. On the 
 wave of excitement unworthy souls were floated into the 
 church. After the revival came the reaction, and the church 
 records for the remainder of Mr. Jackson's ministry are not 
 pleasant reading, nor edifying to any soul of man. Mr. 
 Jackson was a good man and an earnest and able preacher. 
 When wrought up to a high pitch he had a way of leanitiir 
 over the pulpit and gesticulating violently, somewhat to the 
 discomfort of his juvenile hearers seated near the front of 
 the pulpit. He accepted a call to the church in Belfast in 
 1834 and was succeeded by the Rev. S. D. Ward, who came 
 from the preceptorship of East Machias Academy and was 
 installed pastor in Dec, 1834, and continued in this relation 
 ten years. From the able pen of a distinguished gentleman, 
 who held with Mr. Ward the most intimate relations, I am 
 favored in possessing a most interesting and comprehensive 
 sketch of this faithful and beloved pastor, whose intellectual 
 gifts, character and pastoral work are thus graphically de- 
 scribed by the Hon. Geo. F. Talbot: "As to the results of 
 Mr. Ward's ministry the records will give the facts. 1 only 
 know the zeal and devotion with whicli Mr. Ward entered 
 upon his ministry and the intensity of consecration with 
 which he prosecuted it. He had come to the preceptorship 
 of the Academy a serious and thoughtful, pure aud blameless 
 man, but, as he thought himself, with little fervency of relig- 
 ious feeling. He lost a noble woman, his vvife, who was my 
 cousin, and one or two infant children. He had lived in the 
 same house and on most intimate terms with the Rev. Thomas 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 33 
 
 T. Stone, a man of great sanctity of character and full of the 
 enthusiasm of his sacred calling. These events and in- 
 fluences wrought upon his mind, what he told his friends 
 was, a second conversion; and he entered upon his ministr)'' 
 with a devotion and earnestness that seemed to have quite 
 changed his habits and character. His temperament was 
 sad, his mode of life reserved and austere, and his i'aith in 
 the somlire theology that prevailed in New England fifty 
 years ago never tolerated a question or a misgiving. He 
 had a fervid rather than a poetic imaginatii)n, a graceful and 
 eloquent style, and an exceedingly impressive delivery. His 
 sermons were what we used to call searching and practical. 
 They were intensely dogmatic, but the doctrinal lessons 
 were all enunciated for the purpose of making an impression 
 upon the minds and consciences of his hearers; and they 
 were followed up by personal appeals to all to whom he 
 could get access. I don't know as I have succeeded iu 
 drawing a picture of him such as he was: a stern soldier 
 of the cross; a devout, sincere and impassioned follower of 
 Christ, thoroughly consecrated to the service of his master 
 ill the saving of human souls." 
 
 We might reasonably expect great results from the min- 
 istry of such a man, and the event more than fulfilled the 
 expectation. Those ten years of Mr. Ward's ministry were 
 emphatically years of the right hand of the Most High, the 
 history of which we cannot read without emotions of deep 
 gratitude and joy. That was indeed an eventful period in 
 the history of this church. In the early period of Mr. Ward's 
 ministry, 1836, a great work was decided upon by the church 
 
34 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 and society and successfully carried through to completion. 
 The second church had seen its best days, and stood as a 
 relic of the past. The taste of the people demanded, the 
 increase of population and wealth justified, a more commo- 
 dious and elegant house of worship, and they determined to 
 build. A voluntary association of subscribers to shares was 
 formed and legally incorporated. The value of the shares 
 was fixed at $50, and there were one hundred subscribers. 
 The names of the building committee were as follows: 
 
 George S. Smith, 
 
 Daniel Longfellow, 
 
 William F. Penniman, 
 
 Samuel Burpee. 
 With great unanimity the church and parish engaged in 
 the enterprise. Not without long discussion and consider- 
 able opposition, unwisely, we think, the old lot was aban- 
 doned, and the lot on Centre Street decided upon and pur- 
 chased of George Stillman Smith, for which the sum of $1,200 
 was paid, and the substantial, commodious and elegant sanc- 
 tuary was erected, in which we worship to-day; for the time 
 and place a truly noble work, which they executed and be- 
 queathed to posterity as a precious legacy, free from all 
 incumbrance of debt; a memorial of their generous public 
 spirit and wise foresight, and a lasting mouuujent to their 
 honor and praise. Under these favorable auspices Mr. Ward 
 entered upon his successful ministry. Extensive revivals 
 visited his charge in 1836 and 1840, and 98 members were 
 added to the communion ; of the number 36 were received 
 on one occasion, the majority of whom were residents of 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 35 
 
 Marslifield. Owing to the failure of his health, alter ten 
 years' service, Mr, Ward felt obliged to tern)inate his minis- 
 try here, and was dismissed Aug. 14, 1844. While here Mr. 
 Ward married lor his second wife Laura A. Morse, and after 
 leaving Machias preached in Feeding Hills, Mass., where he 
 died, June 11, 1858. During the pastorate oi Mr. Ward 
 two more colonies were sent out from the 'mother church to 
 form other churches. Five members of this church were 
 dismissed in Sept , 1836, to organize a church in Northfield, 
 and six members in November, same year, to form the church 
 in W^iitneyville. 
 
 Mr. Ward was succeeded in the ministry by the Rev. R. 
 S. Kendall, installed as pastor Dec. 24, 1845; a man widely 
 difi'ering from his predecessor in temperament, yet in point 
 of intellectual qualities in no respect his inferior. Possess- 
 ing a clear, penetrating mind; keen, logical powers, and a 
 vivid imagination ; a brilliant and forcible writer and earnest 
 speaker, he had probably no superior among all the minis- 
 ters who had previously occupied this pulpit. For the 
 highest success in the various duties of the pastoral office, 
 in the discharge of which a different class of qualities are 
 called into requisition, he did not possess, or perhaps failed 
 to exercise, the power over the hearts of his people, so 
 eminently displayed by some of the former pastors. The 
 low state of his health, his keenly sensitive nature, and per- 
 haps more than all, his deep sense of justice, which made 
 him all too conscious of personal slights and injuries, may 
 account for the lack above mentioned. In a minister's voca- 
 tion, perhaps aiore than any other, there arise more fre- 
 
36 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 quent occasions for the exercise of that patience and charity 
 which "thinketh no evil," and "endiireth all things." No 
 member of his congregation can forget, while he lives, his 
 scathing arraignment in a sermon delivered from this pulpit 
 of a certain fraternity provoked l>y a palpable infringement 
 of his ministerial privilege. His ministry was terminated 
 July 5, 1847, and the Rev. Amos Brown followed him in a 
 pastorate of not much longer duration. 
 
 The ordination of Mr. Brown took place May 11, 1848, 
 and he was dismissed July 22, 1851. Mr Brown brought 
 to his work a character of great energy and perseverance; 
 an indefa'igable worker in the Lord's vineyard, he labored 
 not lansuccessfully to build up the church, and during his 
 short pastorate forty members were added to its numbers. 
 After leaving here he became the successful financial agent 
 and principal manager of a new educational enterprise, 
 started under the auspices of a few leading business men of 
 New York city. After its establishment at Havana, under the 
 name of the People's College, he became its first President, 
 in which office he continued for some yeays, and died Aug. 
 14, 1874. During the eighteen months following, the pulpit 
 was supplied by transient preaching, at the expiration of 
 which time a unanimous call was extended by the church 
 and society to the Rev. S. L. Bowher, a graduate of the 
 Bangor Theological Seminary, and accepted. Mr. Bowler 
 commenced his labors Jan. 5, 1853, under the most favorable 
 auspices and with great hopes of a long and successful min- 
 istry, but the climate proving unfavorable to his health, he 
 felt obliged to bring his ministry to a close at the end of 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 37 
 
 seventeen months' service, greatly to tlie regret and disap- 
 pointment of his people, and after the lapse of many years 
 was re-called to the pastorate, during which his labors were 
 eminently successful, the particulars of which will be nar- 
 rated in their proper place in this history. 
 
 Henceforward our way will conduct us through well- 
 remembered and familiar scenes. We shall no longer be 
 obliged to listen to the faint echoes of tradition, nor pore 
 over the pages of imperfect and faded records — and often- 
 times read between the lines the unwritten history — nor 
 rummage among the collections of contemporary literature 
 in old libraries for incidental allusions and stray scraps of 
 ioformatii)n. We find our record inscribed on the pages of 
 memory and written on the living tablets of the heart in 
 fadeless characters. Our history henceforward will consist 
 in a large part of personal reminiscences. 
 
 Let us retrace together, then, the familiar scenes, so in- 
 timately associated with our hearts' richest and deepest ex- 
 periences of joy and sorrow, so fraught with the soul's eter- 
 nal interests and hopes and fears, and linger in the pleasant 
 valleys, and sit again beside the still waters where, in the 
 soft, hazy Indian summer twilight of memory, all harsh fea 
 tures are smoothed away, and every jarring note of discord 
 has sunk into the eternal silence, and only pleasant harmo- 
 nies, like the sweet melody of an unending song, sounding 
 on and in the soul forever — for what is of God can never 
 die. 
 
 The period of my settlement over the church marks another 
 great revolution in religious thought. We have seen in the 
 
38 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 earlier times the strong reaction setting in against the old, 
 harsh, hyper-Calvinistic theology prevalent in the preceding 
 century. We have marked it at its height, and orthodoxy 
 entrenching itself behind its impregnable rampart of theo- 
 logic creeds, and now against the reaction itself another 
 reaction has commenced. The strong humanitarian tendency 
 had developed itself into philosophic rationalism, and the 
 philosophy of religion elaborated by Theodore Parker had 
 left even the advanced thinkers far behind, and the old 
 theology had softened into a mild form of moderate Cal- 
 vinism. 
 
 Oct. 17, 1855, at 9 o'clock, A.. M., the large council, con- 
 sisting of eleven ministers and nearl}' as many delegates, 
 assembled in this church for the examination of the candi- 
 date. It did not take long to satisfy the council that the 
 candidate was sound in all the essential doctrines of the 
 evangelical system, so called, and here the scene would have 
 ended in mutual satisfaction and good will had not one good 
 brother, himself troubled with doubts, innocently requested 
 that a few questions might be asked on the peculiar doc- 
 trines. This opened a wide field, and started unexpected 
 difficulties. To those who clung tenaciously to the old doc- 
 trines, the examination was not satisfactory. Several of the 
 ministerial brethren were unwilling to give their public en- 
 dorsement to the candidate, and withdrew from the council, 
 and only the voucher of Prof. Shepherd, coupled with the 
 threat of Deacon Talbot that the deacons would ordain if the 
 council refused, saved the ordination, which took place in the 
 evening, Prof. Shepherd of Bangor Theological Seminary 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 39 
 
 preaching the sermoo. We have dwelt particularly upon 
 the details of this occasion because of its bearing on the 
 future ministry. The slight suspicion of heresy, while it 
 did not weaken the confidence of the church in its new min- 
 ister, drew to him a class of intelligent citizens who had 
 hitherto stood aloof, whose constant support and friendship 
 is to this day a cherished memory. 
 
 And now from this late day, casting a backward glance 
 over the past, the conviction grows upon me day by day, 
 that the rich experiences and great results that followed in 
 that sixteen years' ministry is chiefly due to the almost un- 
 broken harmony and hearty co-operation of pastor and peo- 
 ple in every good word and work. 
 
 It is a matter of special note that the new minister was 
 favored in finding his first home, — than which it is rare in 
 this world to find a pleasanter one — in the family of the 
 daughter of the first minister, the Rev. James Lyon, an aged 
 lady and infirm in body, but mentally briglit, cheerful and 
 intelligent as ever. 
 
 Am(jng the special privileges granted to the minister in 
 that home, was the great and important one of using the 
 parlor for a Bible class, composed entirely of young people, 
 which met every Monday evening and filled the large room 
 to overflowing. There in that Bible class of young people 
 commenced, thus earl}', the religious interest which never 
 ended and never will ; and there were sown the seeds 
 which are still bringing forth their fruits. Not many months 
 after, in the since abandoned vestry under this church, the 
 first converts, a few young ladies, first declared their new- 
 
40 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 found hope and gave their witness for Christ; and from 
 that time to the close of the pastorate, I think it is true to say, 
 there was never a time when there were not one or more 
 sincere inquirers for the way of life ; and not many com- 
 munion seasons when there were not additions to the fold. 
 
 Not very long after this anotlier important enterprise 
 was inaugurated. For most of the time since the church 
 was built the social meetings had been held in the 
 vestry under the church. Many were complaining of the 
 bad atmosphere, and all were desirous of having a more 
 pleasant and attractive place for social worship. The new 
 interest called for more attractive surroundings and a 
 more genial atmosphere. It was decided to build anew. 
 An energetic vestry society, with the added contribution 
 of the men, ere long provided nearly funds enough to 
 complete the vestry, now occupied for social meetings on 
 Cooper Street — Mr. Nathan Longfellow donating the land. 
 Scarcely was it completed before one of tlie upper ro«)ms 
 was appropriated by the Young Folks' Prayer Meeting — an 
 outgrowth of the Bible class — and being tastefully fitted up 
 and made attractive by the hands of the young ladies, was 
 consecrated to the permanent use of that meeting, which 
 has gone on to this day an unceasing, powerful and benefi- 
 cent agency for good to church and community, into xl'hich 
 loving hearts and friendly hands welcomed all who could be 
 persuaded to enter. There many souls first felt the quick- 
 ening impulse of the Holy Spirit, and made the great decis- 
 ion, and there many a timid, self-distrusting soul found con. 
 fidence to pray in others' hearing, and the weakest gained 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 41 
 
 impulse and strength to go out into the world and work for 
 Christ. This meeting, composed of both sexes, continnaJiy 
 increased in numbers and grew in influence, and went on 
 just the same in the presence or absence of the pastor, led 
 by the members, the leader of to-night appointing one for 
 the next in unbroken continuity, and no one refusing, for 
 the idea inculcated was, that a true faith iborketh by love, 
 and every disciple of Christ has a mission. The interest in 
 these meetings ebl)ed and flowed with the outside tides of 
 feeling ; now few in number, then overflowing into the 
 larger room with more than one hundred in attendance. 
 Strangers transiently sto[)ping in town, ministers of other 
 denominations and sailors in port, came in. One captain of a 
 Nova Scotia brig wrote back from mid ocean that he had 
 found the Savior in consequence of some word he had heard 
 here. This meeting gained most of its recruits from the 
 Sabbath School. 
 
 And this leads us to speak of the Sabbath School and its 
 work. This institution has for a long period of time been 
 regarded as a precious and cherished interest of this church, 
 and the object of constant prayer and self-sacrificing labor. 
 No small amount of pains and expense have been bestowed 
 upon it to bring and keep it up to the highest point of effic- 
 iency and usefulness; and richly has it repaid the expendi- 
 ture. Its origin seems to date back to the year 1817, at 
 which period a teacher at Middle River, Miss Arethusa R. 
 Putnam, a faitliful disciple of Christ, remembering the com- 
 mand to "preach the gospel to every creature," opened a 
 Sabbath school there with fifteen scholars, and never had 
 
42 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 more than twenty, and taught the same while her term of 
 school lasted. During the period of my pastorate the school 
 in the Centre St. church numbered over three hundred, and 
 besides this the church had under its oversight and charge 
 four other schools. Bro. Harrison T. Smith managed the 
 school at the upper school house in Marshfield successfully, 
 where, since, a church has been planted; and Dea. Isaac Hea- 
 ton carried on for years a most successful Sabbath school in 
 the lower district. But the enterprise of this nature that 
 enlisted the most active interest of this church, and was most 
 fruitful of results, was the one at Little Kennebec, and claims 
 more than a passing mention. This locality, being populous, 
 isolated from social and religious influences, and abounding 
 in children, furnished a most inviting field lor christian hus- 
 bandry. Nor did the church lack the faithful sower needed 
 for such a work. In Dea. Inglee — brought into the church 
 in 1836 under Mr. Ward's ministry, made deacon of the 
 charch in 1848; a man thoroughly imbued with the Spirit, 
 fervent in prayer, lull of zeal in his master's service wher- 
 ever called to work, and endowed with a special gift and love 
 for evangelistic work — the church had a servant fitted for 
 this important mission. For thirty year*!, with cheerful 
 helpers, he carried on this school with increasing interest and 
 success till it became self-sustaining, and every year the 
 faces grow brighter, the fields greener, the dwellings better 
 in consequence thereof. In the Centre Street school it is 
 fitting to make special menliou of a class of young men, for 
 years under the special charge of one faithful teacher, whose 
 success was attested by the numbers in attendance and the 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 43 
 
 moral and religious results attained. At the time of wliich we 
 write the school was for many years under the superinten- 
 dency of Mr. Gilbert Longfellow ; the teachers were very 
 much in earnest in their work, conscientious in their prepa- 
 ration, and aimed at immediate results ; much of the time 
 devoting a half hour to prayer in a retired part of the church, 
 just before the session, for God's blessingajpon their present 
 work, which was abundantly bestowed. And so did these 
 two agencies work together ; the one as the primary, the 
 other as the training school of the church, for its numerical 
 growth and spiritual edification. 
 
 In the fall of 1865 the church took fire, below the floor in 
 the entry, from the smoke pipe, and only by the great exer- 
 tions and skillful management of the fire department was 
 saved from utter destruction, and with comparatively slight 
 damage, and the town from a conflagration. In consequence 
 of which disaster the Sabbath services daring the winter 
 and spring were held in Libby Hall, where at one commun- 
 ion season, in January of the next year, twenty-two persons 
 were admitted to membership ; the largest number received 
 at any one time during this pastorate. In the repairing of 
 the church the walls and ceiling were covered with beauti- 
 ful and tasty fresco painting. During these years the fine 
 organ now in use was purchased and placed in the church. 
 This enterprise was conceived and inaugurated by a few 
 ladies about the year 1850, and by means of an entertain- 
 ment in the old Court House, opposite the church, some $250 
 was secured and safely invested — the church and society at 
 large not then feeling much interest in the object. In 185G 
 
44 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 the project was revived, and an organ society formed whose 
 meetings, in prosecution of its main object, will he ever held 
 in pleasant remembrance for their genial and social charac- 
 ter. When the war of the Rebellion broke out tlie funds on 
 hand amounted to $1000. During the years of the war the 
 Soldiers' Aid societies occupied all hands, and all other work 
 was suspended. The work for the organ whs resumed at 
 the close of the war and diligently pursued till |1,700 were 
 raised, to which amount the gentlemen of the church and so- 
 ciety contributed $350 ruore, and the organ was purchased of 
 Geo. Stevens, East Cambridge, at a cost of $2,350, the Organ 
 Society assuming the balance of debt, which was soon en- 
 tirely discharged. In this connection it would \)e an act of 
 great injustice to omit the mention of the valuable service 
 rendered to this church, in obtaining their organ, by Mr. 
 William Goodwin, to whose skill and judgment in planning, 
 and his careful oversight in the building, it is mainly due 
 that 80 superior an instrument, in point of workmanship, ca- 
 pacity and tone, was secured. Thus were the activities of 
 the church and society constantly flowing out in a variety 
 of directions for its material advancement and spiritual edifi- 
 cation. But a living church cannot live for itself alone ; its 
 h'ght must radiate, its energies stream forth, to illuminate and 
 fertilize the regions beyond. This church being one of the 
 largest in the County, and central, interested itself in all the 
 feebler churches, and there are but very few of these with 
 which, by pastor and delegates, it did not share in the labors 
 and joys of revivals. It was one of the foremost in the plan 
 of employing a general missionary for the destitute churches 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 45 
 
 of Washington County. And beyond the bounds of County or 
 State it has sent fortii many faithful servants of God, and 
 among them three ministers of the Gospel, one oi whom 
 died at his post in Kansas, a devoted and successful mis- 
 sionary; auotiier is performing hard and sell-sacrificing labor 
 in the same State; and the third, alter some years ot suc- 
 cessful missionary work in California, is the pastor of one of 
 the flouris'iing churches of this State. And, besides all the 
 work actually performed, there was, what may not be known 
 to all, a cherished plan of one of the members of this church 
 to sustain a co-laborer in the ministry, who, with the co-oper- 
 ation of the pas:or of this church, should devote all his time 
 to the miiiistr}' within the circuit of the Machias churches — 
 a plan never carried into execution, but unquestionably 
 fraught with great possibilities of usefu'ness. And now, in 
 close connection with the work of this church in the sur- 
 roundino; localities, one incident recurs to me so strikin<>; 
 and unique that it deserves a place in history. A session 
 of the Court was being holden here at a time when a special 
 interest in religion prevailed in this town, and still more ex- 
 tensively in Marshfield. On a certain evening a party of 
 lawyers in attendance on the Court, representing almost as 
 many persuasions in religion, conceived the idea of walking 
 to Marshfield to a prayer meeting. Arriving there they 
 found the large school house filled with people. The meet- 
 i[ig was earnest and deeply affecting; all present felt the 
 divine influence, and the spirit of prayer and prophesy fell 
 on the lawyers also, and nearly all of them were moved to 
 join in the exercises ; and for one brief hour at least the 
 
46 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 jarring discords and strife of sects were hushed, and all 
 found themselves speaking the language of religion common 
 to all souls, perfectly united in one spirit. 
 
 During a portion of the time, the church at East Machias 
 being without a pa^;tor, the pastor of this church ministered 
 in both churches at the same time, and thus it came about, 
 contrary to the oft-repeated maxim that Histoiy never re- 
 peats itself, after the lapse of nearly a century the same 
 condition of things was restored wjiich existed here in the 
 earliest period — the two churches united under one min 
 ister. 
 
 !t will not be out of place here to notice an innovation 
 adopted quite early in this pastorate, then considered very 
 serious, not to say dangerous, by some, but which in these 
 times has become quite common. It was found on examina- 
 tion that many of the young persons who came into the 
 church, while in all other respects entitled to church fel- 
 lowship, were not sufficiently versed in the creed to justify 
 them in publicly professing their belief in it. To others 
 more intelligent it was a stumbling block. Therefore the 
 plan was adopted of reading the creed as a testimony and 
 not as a test, and no trouble arose therefrom. 
 
 Thus have I endeavored to narrate as briefly and faith- 
 fully as possible the principal matters of interest con- 
 nected with my pastorate of sixteen years. These same 
 years mark, probably, the period of the greatest material 
 prosperity and increase this town has ever enjoyed, and 
 we think the church history of that period shows that 
 the interests of religion, to say the least, were not ueg- 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 47 
 
 lected. No great revival of religion occurred during this 
 period, but frequent seasons of special interest, and hy 
 an inevitable law of spirit, as well as of matter, regular 
 and steadfast efTorts were followed by constant results, and 
 one hundred and tifty-two members were added to the com- 
 munion. An important and most interesting occasion which 
 really belongs to this period was the organization of a sepa- 
 rate church in Marshfield in September, 1871, the fifth child of 
 this church, composed of seventeen members dismissed from 
 this church and several more recent converts in that place ; 
 twenty-six in all. No one who was present on that occasion 
 can ever forget the impressiveness of that scene, as in that 
 little company of God's children gathered before the altar 
 to be joined in christian fellowship, stood side by side the 
 aged disciple, past his forescore years, and the child of ten. 
 Two causes terminated this pastorate, viz: an impaired state 
 of health and a call to what seemed an important mission — 
 in June, 1871. 
 
 The church was supplied witU transient preaching up to 
 July, 1872, when the Rev. T. T. Merry was installed pastor. 
 During his ministry of seventeen months thirteen members 
 were added to the church, and his dismission took place in 
 December, 1874, although his actual ministry terminated 
 some months earlier. 
 
 For his successor the church re-called their former pastor, 
 Rev. Stephen L. Bowler, whose succeeding ministry of five 
 years was fruitful of great results. Under the former pastor, 
 in August, 1873, through the instrumentality of this church, 
 a branch had been formed at Jonesport, which, through the 
 
48 MEMORIAL ADDRESS, 
 
 fostering care of the mother, continued to prosper and grow, 
 and in consequence of the revival that followed, the member- 
 ship being largely increased, the same was organized into a 
 separate church in September, 1877. The event that will 
 render this pastorate ever memorable is the prolonged, wide- 
 ly extended and most fruitful revival of 1877-8. This re- 
 markable work of grace belongs rather to the present than 
 to the past, and all its circumstances and results are too 
 fresh in the memory of the living to need more than a brief 
 narration of its principal features and events. The pastor 
 of the church relates, ''That the revival was preceded by 
 an unusual amount of christian work and prayer." The duty 
 of church discipline was faithlully attended to, systematic 
 efibrts were planned, and specific work allotted to the indi- 
 vidual members and diligently prosecuted, with prayer, for 
 months before. At the annual chuich Fast at the close of 
 the year 1875, signs of revival were thankfully acknowl- 
 edged, and there were several conversions following the 
 week of prayer and union meetings. In the winter and 
 spring of 1877 the interest had greatly increased and the 
 desire of christians became more intense for the salvation 
 of souls, so that prayer was offered day and night for the 
 descent of the Holy Spirit. The attendance on all the re- 
 ligious meetings greatly incieased, "and the Young Folks' 
 Prayer Meeting was doubled and trebled and (Quadrupled, 
 and conversions were multiplied." The interest of the 
 church was mucli drawn i)ut towards the pastorless churches 
 in the neighboring places, so that the pastor's heart was 
 moved to send to New York for John Vassar, the evangel- 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 49 
 
 istic missionary, who came in the spring of '77, and ren- 
 dered efficient service in the surrounding towns, and aided 
 the work in the Centre Street church with continually in- 
 creasing interest through the year. In the latter part of 
 March, 1878, Mr. D. L. Chubbuck, a reformed man and la}^ 
 preacher sent out Ity the Boston Y. M. C. Association, came 
 from Cherryfield, where a powerful revivstl had tbllowed his 
 labors, to Machias to work as an evangelist. Meetings were 
 held in the Town Hall for seventeen consecutive evenings, 
 which were crowded with people. Though not approving 
 fully of all his methods, the pastors and chuiches wisely 
 co-operated with hiuj, and a leading member of the church 
 remarks that "Whatever may have been the real results, 
 the power that wrought upon the minds of so many, of a class 
 that never could have been reached by aiiy other means, is 
 truly remarkable." Soon after his departure the work was 
 followed up by the labors of Messrs. C. M. Bailey, F. E. 
 Shaw, McKenney and Smith with great advantage. The 
 pastor of this church states that the number of conversions 
 resulting from this work of grace in Machias and vicinity is 
 believed to be more than two hundred ; and he could say 
 to his people when he closed his labors that he had received 
 into the membership of this church, and the branch at Jones- 
 port, one hundred persons. 
 
 In October, 1879, the Rev, Daniel Greene commenced his 
 labors with this people, as acting pastor, which relation con- 
 tinues to this present time, the record of whose completed 
 ministry will claim the attention of your next historian. 
 
50 MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 
 
 And so we liave come to the end of our long journey, and 
 may rest from our toils and travels. In the far away, dim 
 and shadowj' past we staited on our way, a little floek, with 
 our faithful shepherd ; we have ga'hered them in as we pro- 
 ceeded down the slow, advancing years — ^^sometimes singly, 
 sometimes in companies — till they have grown to be an ex- 
 ceeding great company. They are all with us to-day ; they 
 throng around us; their shadowy forms sit with us in these 
 seats, and the walls of our spiritual Zion expand to embrace 
 them all. As we have walked in company with then), and 
 sat with them around the table of our common Lord, and 
 shared in their trials and joys and sorrows, our hearts have 
 gone out to them in feivent love, and we feel that we are 
 one — the church on earth and in heaven — one in faith, in 
 fellowship, in work, in time and in eternity. How many do 
 they number to-da}- ? One of our Deacons has reckoned up 
 the total membership of the century, mother and daughters, 
 and his report is as follows: 
 
 Total. Dismissed Living. 
 
 Machias, 714 from. Madiias. 400 
 
 East Machias, 307 78 154 
 
 Machiasport, 164 25 105 
 
 Northfield, 46 5 36 
 
 Whitney ville, 126 6 73 
 
 Marshfield, 64 17 56 
 
 Jonesport, 54 27 46 
 
 1475 158 870 
 
 And deducting the number dismissed to form the other 
 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 51 
 
 churches tlie total is 1317. And if we add to her children 
 the ioster children of the church — the congregations that 
 liave shared in their work and worship — what a vast niulti 
 tude. But more sensibly and really are the}- with us to-day 
 than in spiritual presence. The church of tiie present is the 
 product of all the past. They labored and we have entered 
 into their labors. AH their prayers and ' toils, tribulations 
 and saciifices, of the century are embodied in this living 
 body of Christ — our glorious heritage, our solemn trust. In 
 point of space, indeed, only the width of a straw divides our 
 starting point from our goal. But from the rude barn over 
 the way — in which the voice of the fervent and strong-hearted 
 Lyon led that little company in prayer and song — to the 
 stately sanctuary where we worship to-day — with its melo- 
 dious and many-voiced organ, and its membership of nearly 
 two hundred and thirty-three, and its Sabbath school of 
 more than three hundred members, and its many other ap- 
 pliances for succcessful work,.its resources and surrounding 
 population — what a vast difi'ereuce ; what an accumulation 
 of means and forces; what an enlargement of ability and 
 opportunity ; and in the same ratio, let us remember, is the 
 increase of our responsibilities and duties, not of the church 
 alone but of the community also; for, as in the past they 
 bore in common the labors and burdens, so to-day their in- 
 terests and duties are one. 
 
 0, my Brethren ! I am impressed with the thought that 
 this day, which divides the centuries, is a great and solemn 
 one to us; a memorial and monumental day ; a mount of 
 Transfiguration, where the Past and the Future meet to- 
 
52 MEMORIAL ADDRESS, 
 
 gether face to face. In tl.e light of history we see the 
 greatness of our mission, and in the work accomplished we 
 read the glorious possibilities that lie before us. Voices 
 from the spirit land remind us that our record is still to be 
 made, and admonish us to work and wait; and seem to be 
 saying to us in audible tones tn-day : 
 
 "Not enjoyment and not sorrow 
 Is our destined end and way; 
 But to act that each to-morrow 
 Finds us farther than to-day. 
 
 Let us then be up and doing. 
 With a heal t for any fate ; 
 Still achieving, still pursuing, 
 Learn to labor and to wait. " 
 
A BRIEF HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONGHEGATIONAL SABBATH-SCHOOL, 
 
 To September, i884. 
 
 The honor of organizing the first Sabbath-school in Ma- 
 chias is due to Miss Arethusa Brigham, afterward wile of 
 Rev. John Putnam of Dunbarton, N. H., who came to this 
 village in the summer of 1817, from VVestboro, Mass., to 
 teach school in that part of the town theu called Middle 
 River, now Marshfield. We make the following extract from 
 her journal: 
 
 "My place for teaching was in the Northern district of 
 Machias, called Middle River. I commenced a Sabbath 
 School in July, 1817, in the school house, with fifteen schol- 
 ars. The number was, perhaps, never more than twenty. 
 
 My practice was to question the children on the doctrines 
 and duties of the Christian religion, and give instruction on 
 these subjects as I thought beneficial and as they were ca- 
 pable of understanding. During the afternoon I read to 
 them religious books, and questioned them upon the reading. 
 No Sabbath-school had been taught there previous to this. 
 
54 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 When the school commenced, there was but one praying 
 family in the district, Mr. Henry Lyon's, sou of the first min- 
 ister of Machias; when it closed there were seven." One 
 member of this school, Mrs. Sally Hadley, is still living.* 
 
 The next year, 1818, Mrs. Steele, wife of Rev. Marshfield 
 Steele, opened a Sunday-school in the kitchen of their dwell- 
 ing, Miss Rebecca O'Brien and Miss Rebecca Sevey assist- 
 ing her. How long this school continued we cannot learn. 
 
 In the summer of 1820, Miss Abagail Perkins, from Salem, 
 Mass., employed in teaching a select school for Misses, find- 
 ing public services were held here only once in two weeks, 
 opened a Sunday-school for, girls only, in her school-room, 
 to meet when no other service was held. This school was 
 kept in a building which stood where the Donworth store 
 now stands. Only one member of that school still lives, Miss 
 Lucy S. Haskell. 
 
 After this, perhaps the next year, Dea. VVm. A. Crocker 
 opened a school in his store chamber. Few attended this 
 beside the children of the church, which was then small; but 
 in the winter of 1825-6, a Mr. Whittlesey, from Yale Col- 
 lege, came to Lubec on a visit. He was studying for the 
 ministry, earnestly working for the Master. He was invited 
 here by Rev. Abraham Jackson, preaching here at that time, 
 and his labors were blessed by the conversion of many 
 souls. 
 
 *Mi9s Brigham the same year formed the first Missionary Society 
 iu town, the hidies agreeing to pay one cent per week. Only one 
 member of this society is now living, Mrs. Nathan Longfellow. 
 
SABBATH SCHOOL. 55 
 
 A Sabbath-scliool was afterward opeued Id the church, 
 with these workers: 
 
 Dea. Wm. A. Crocker, Miss Lucy Foster, 
 
 Mrs. Steele, Miss Ruth Dutton, 
 
 Stephen Smith, Miss Eliza Dutton, 
 
 Miss Rebecca O'Brien, Mrs. Hannah Bowles, 
 
 Miss Rebecca Seavey, Mr. Charles Stuart, 
 
 Mrs. Mary O'Brien, Mrs. Dea. Thatcher, 
 
 Mrs. Dea. Crocker. 
 From the class book of Miss Mary Goodhue we find that 
 on May 20, 1827, a Sunda^'-school was organized in the old 
 meeting-house as follows: 
 
 Dea. VVm. A. Crocker, Superintendent. 
 Teachers. 
 Dea. H. Thatcher, Miss Mary Goodhue, 
 
 Capt. G. S. Smith, Mr. Warren Smith, 
 
 Dr. R. W. Wood,* Mr. Thomas Delap Smith, 
 
 Mrs. Dea. Thatcher, Miss Elizabeth Kettell, 
 
 Miss Deborah Farnsworth. 
 At the same time an Adult Class was formed — the first of 
 its kind. Two or three persons met in Judge Jones' pew 
 for mutual instruction. The number soon increased to fif- 
 teen, when the class was removed to the gallery, choosing 
 Miss L. S. Haskell as teacher. The history of this class 
 shows it to have been maintained very irregularly, chiefly 
 on account of a lack of suitable teachers. Subsequently 
 there were six adult classes connected with the school. 
 We have not been able to ascertain beyond a doubt just 
 
 *Still living. 
 
56 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 when the school began to be kept through the winter 
 months, but it is probable that the year 1832 is not far from 
 the time. The school was held in the Court House during 
 the cold weather, as likewise were all religious meetings, 
 the means for warming the meeting-house being insufficient 
 to make it comfortable. Dea. Crocker remained Superin- 
 tendent of the school until 1834, when Mr. Thomas Delap 
 Smith was cliosen to succeed him, and served until 1837, 
 at which time he removed to Calais. 
 
 In 1838 the first Infant Class was formed by Miss Lucy 
 S. Haskell, under whose direction it flourished until 1841, 
 when it was taken in charge by Miss Eliza G. Longfellow, 
 and removed from the audience room of the church to the 
 entry. Its membership at one time was ninety, the largest 
 attendance on any one Sunday being seventy-six. 
 
 In January, 1860, Miss Longfellow removed to Massachu- 
 setts, and Miss Eliza Crocker assumed the charge of tiie 
 class. She retained it until her removal to California in 
 October, 1870. The same month Miss Longfellow, having 
 returned to Machias, resumed the care of the class, remain- 
 ing in that position until October, 1882, when compelled by 
 sickness to leave it to the care of others. There has been 
 no regular teacher since. 
 
 January 10, 1843, Rev, Stephen D. Ward, who was then 
 Pastor of the church, was chosen Superintendent with Bros. 
 James Pope and Marshall Thaxter, Assistants, and Ezekiel 
 Thaxter, Librarian. At the same time the church adopted 
 the school as part of its regular work by the passage of the 
 following resolution : 
 
SABBATH SCHOOL. o7 
 
 Resolved, ''That the Sabbath-school be taken under the 
 immediate patrouage of the Church, and that the appoiut- 
 meut of its officers and oiher business pertaining to its pros- 
 perity be attended to at the January meeting each year." 
 
 January 1, 1844, Rev, S. D. Ward was re-elected Super- 
 intendent, Dea. VVm. A. Crocker and Bro. Marshall Thaxter, 
 Assistants; Ezekiel Thaxter, Librarian. 'It is also recorded 
 in the Chunh Records, under the same date, that "Mr. 
 James Pi)pe and William Inglee were appointed to superin- 
 tend a school in Little Kennebec." This is the first record 
 we find ol any action being taken by the Church in reference 
 to this school, although it had been in operation since 1836, 
 when Miss Susan Thuxter, afterwards Mrs. N. Bates, per- 
 suaded these gentlemen to go with her a distance of three 
 miles and open a school. Mr. Inglee continued his labors 
 every summer in that place for thirty years, when the school 
 became self-supporting. We may as well state here that 
 about the same time, 1836, Sunday-schools were maintained 
 in what is now known as the Atus district and in Marshfield. 
 In the latter place the schools have been continued until 
 the present time; always, however, under the care of laborers 
 from this church. The school in the upper district of 
 Marshfield became self-supporting in the summer of 1874. 
 A church was organized in that town in 1871, consisting 
 of forty members. 
 
 In June, 1846, a Teachers' meeting was appointed, and 
 such a meeting was sustained, with perhaps occasional in 
 termissions during the hottest weather, until 1874; since 
 that time at irregular intervals. 
 
58 SABBATH SCHOOL 
 
 Mr. Ward whs dit<rnissed i'rom the pastorate of the church 
 in August, 1844, but we have been unable to ascertain who 
 was his successor in the school. 
 
 The next item in the record: "Jan. 1, 1847, Bro. Marsliall 
 Thaxter was elected Superintendent of the Sabbath-school." 
 He served one year an(i vvas succeeded by Mr. James Pope. 
 In 1850-51, Dea. WiJJiKni A. Crocker was again chosen 
 Superintendent. 
 
 In December, 1851, it vvas proposed that the teachers 
 should nominate their own superintendent, and should pre- 
 sent his name to the church at their annual Fast Meeting for 
 election. This was accordingly done, and Bro. Gilbert Long- 
 fellow was nominated, and Dec. 31, 1851, was elected by 
 the church. Since thistin)e all business a[)pertaining to the 
 school has been first discussed at a meeting of the teachers, 
 and their conclusions presented to the church for ratification 
 or rejection at its annual Fast Meeting. In January, 1852, 
 Bro. Gilbert Longfellow took the office and remained" super- 
 intendent of the school until 1868, in June of which year he 
 removed from town, with the exception of the year 1860, 
 during which year Bro. H. T. Smith filled the office. 
 
 Previous to the year 1862, we are unable to obtain any 
 facts as to contril^utions by the school beyond this: that 
 contributions were made and a treasurer appointed, but 
 when first appointed, or who, or the amounts of contribu- 
 tions, we can not ascertain. Dec. 31, 1862, Bro. Clark 
 Longfellow was ciiosen Treasurer, and from his books we 
 copy the following amounts contributed by the school in the 
 
SABBATH SCHOOL. 59 
 
 class lioxt's, mikI paid out liy Iiini \o the various missionary 
 objects by vote ot the teachers. 
 
 Total 
 
 tor 
 
 1863, 
 1864, 
 
 
 u 
 
 1865, 
 
 
 
 18o6, 
 1^67, 
 1868, 
 1869, 
 
 
 a 
 
 1870, 
 
 
 " 
 
 1871, 
 
 
 t( 
 
 1872, 
 
 Total for 
 
 1873, 
 
 
 i. 
 
 1874, 
 
 162.45 
 
 (i t. 
 
 1875, 
 
 299.91 
 
 11 u 
 
 1876, 
 
 131.02 
 
 il u 
 
 •1877, 
 
 120.26 
 
 it t( 
 
 1878, 
 
 107.39 
 
 .t ii 
 
 1879, 
 
 105.94 
 
 il ii 
 
 1880. 
 
 112.62 
 
 k< <I 
 
 1881, 
 
 92.79 
 
 11 ii 
 
 1882. 
 
 113.60 
 
 43.81 
 49.32 
 120.74 
 139.22 
 168,63 
 205.36 
 142 90 
 127.54 
 119.81 
 
 Total for 1883, $100.98. 
 In 1880, we began using collection envelopes instead of 
 the boxes, and still continue their use. By this method the 
 araounfof contribution is announced weekly and gives bet- 
 ter satisfaction than when reported quarterly. 
 
 Previous to 1872, we are unal)le to give the disposition of 
 the Sabbrtth-school funds with this exception — a few notes 
 taken from the Superintendent's diary. "Contril)i-iti()ns for 
 1852 appropriated to the education of heathen children: 
 
 Dec. 30, 1862. Voted to ct)ntribute for the contrabands 
 and heathen cliildren; teachers to decide lor their respec- 
 tive classes, the general contribution to be equally divided 
 between the two objects. 
 
 In 1863 a contribution for tracts for soldiers. 
 Dec. 31, 1864. Voted contributions same as last year, 
 one-half to freedmen and one-half to heathen children." 
 In 1872, it was voted to appropriate one-half of the amount 
 
60 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 of the class contributioiKs towards defraying the expenses 
 
 of Library books, &c. In June, 1872, we find ttiis vote was 
 
 taken : "Voted to take amount of $25.00 now in Treasury 
 
 towards liquidating debt of school." 
 
 Dec. 31, 1873, it was voted to have public contributions 
 
 to defray expenses of the S ibf)ath-schooI during the follow- 
 ing year. 
 
 Jan. 4, 1874, it was voted to give the money in the boxes 
 
 to the American Missionary Association. Also voted that 
 Sabi)ath-schooI concert collections be (jlevoted to the Li 
 brary. In November, same year, the first of the above 
 votes was reconsidered. On motion. Voted, That money in 
 the boxes shall he used to defray the necessary expenses of 
 the school, and what remains shall be given to the American 
 Missionar}' Association. 
 
 For 1875, contributions were to be taken in the cliurch 
 once in two months for the benefit of the Ir^abbath-school, 
 commencing the third Sunday in January. It was voted 
 that all money contributed for Sabf)ath-school purposes pass 
 through the hands of the treasurer, one-tenth devoted to the 
 American Missionary Association and the remainder towards 
 defraying the expenses of the school. At the close of this 
 year, we have the following from the Superintendent's Re- 
 port: "We have received enough during the year to meet 
 our expenses, and thanking tlie church for their help during 
 the past year, we advise that for the coming year we omit 
 the contril)ntions in the church for the support of the 
 school."' 
 
 Why the amount due the American Missionary Associa- 
 
SABBATH SCHOOL. Gl 
 
 tion for 1876 was not sent during that year, we do not know ; 
 but that it was sent with the contribution for the following: 
 year, 1877. is shown by reference to orders from the Execu- 
 tive Committee. The vote of Jan. 26, 1877, is as follows: 
 "Voted, That the balance of money in the treasury, after 
 paying expenses of school and one hundred dollars for 
 Library, be given to the American Missionary Association, 
 providing it shall not be less than ten per cent, ot the re- 
 ceipts." / 
 
 It was voted, Jan. 25, 1878, to contribute one-tenth of all 
 money raised to the Maine Missionary Society this present 
 year. 
 
 Vote of Dec. 5, 1878, in relation to the contributions for 
 the following year : "Voted, To give one-tenth of Sabbath- 
 school receipts for missionary purposes; one-half of this 
 amount to Maine Missionary Society and one-half to Ameri- 
 can Missionary Association." 
 
 From 1S79 to 1882 one-tenth of the gross receipts of the 
 school has been given to missionary purposes in the manner 
 described above. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1880, it was voted to give five dollars to the 
 Umzumiti Mission. 
 
 In 1883, it was voted that one-fifth of the gross receipts of 
 the school should be donated to die American Missionary 
 Association and Maine Missionary Society, one-half to each; 
 and also that a collection be taken for the church building in 
 Cherryfield, Me., at such time as the Superintendent should 
 direct. 
 
 In December, 1883, it was voted that in the following 
 
62 SABBATH RCHOOL. 
 
 year, ten dollars be given to the American Board of Foreign 
 Missions, ten dollars to American Missionary Association, 
 and ten dollars to the church at Cherryfield. 
 
 In 1856. the members of our school took seventy-four 
 shares in the missionary packet "Morning Star." 
 
 When the second vessel of the same name was fitted out, 
 we contributed $22.80, or 228 shares. In the steamship 
 "Morning Star," built the present year, (1884) our school 
 has fifty-five shares, having contributed $13.75. 
 
 The average attendance, or total membership, of the school 
 for all these years we have been unable to obtain. 
 
 A few statistics for the succeeding years are as follows : 
 The Superintendent's diary has the attendance of teachers 
 and scholars for the first few Sabbaths in January, 1852, as 
 follows: HI, 83, 109, 112, 115, 117. The Superintendent's 
 Report for 1875 gives the whole number of officers, teachers 
 and scholars as 306. 
 
 Number connected with the school at the close of 1876: 
 Officers and Teachers, 38 ; Scholars, 337. Largest number 
 present at one session, 280. 88 names are on the Infant 
 Class list for the year. During the past six years 204 pupils 
 have been connected with this class. 
 
 At the close of 1877 : Officers and Teachers, 39 ; Scholars, 
 350. Largest attendance, 279. Number in Infant Class, 75. 
 
 At the close of 1878 : Number of Teachers, 30 ; Scholars, 
 358. Largest attendance, 262. Number in Infant Class, 60. 
 
 Average attendance for 1883 was 123; the largest, 176. 
 
 The school at present has a membership of 238, divided 
 into twenty-seven classes. 
 
SABBATH SCHOOL. (53 
 
 Dec. 31, 1868, Bro. C. F. Stone whs elected Superinten- 
 dent, which place he retained until January, 1874, when, at 
 his own request, he was relieved by Dr. C. M. Bailey. 
 
 At a special business meeting of the Sabbath school teach- 
 ers, July 5, 1874, Dr. Bailey tendered his resignation as 
 Superintendent, which was accepted. Mr. Clark Longfellow 
 was chosen to fill the vacancy, and continued to fill this 
 otiice till January, 1877, when Dea. C. F. Stone was again 
 chosen Superintendent. He held this position till January, 
 1883, when he was succeeded by Dea. Gilbert Longfellow, 
 who still retains the office. Mr. Stone occupied the position 
 of Assistant Superintendent at the time of his death, Nov. 
 1, 1883. 
 
 In 1861, it was voted to hold a Sunday-school concert 
 upon the second Sunday of every month. This plan was 
 followed for a little more than thirteen years, when at the 
 annual Fast in December, 1873, it was voted to hold the 
 Sunday-school concert only every other month. In 1871 
 this matter was given in charge of a committee of three, 
 whose duty it was to arrange for the concert, giving out 
 the parts and providing all things necessary for its success. 
 This meeting has always been fully attended, the whole 
 school, teachers and scholars, uniting in their eiltbrts to make 
 the exercises interesting. The committee of three contin- 
 ues at the present time, assisted by a Music Committee of 
 three. The number of concerts during the following years 
 to the present time has varied greatly. In 1881, there 
 were four ; in 1882, three ; in 1883, one ; thus far the pres- 
 
64 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 ent year (September) they have been held every month, 
 lu 1870, an Executive Committee of three was chosen to 
 assist the Superintendent. In 1872 a Constitution was 
 drawn up by the Executive Committee, under the direction 
 of the Pastor, submitted to the church and by them adopted, 
 by which the whole church was organized into a Sunday- 
 school Association, of which the Pastor was "ex officio" 
 President. The other officers being, Superintendent, As- 
 sistant Superintendent, Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, 
 Chorister, Executive Committee of three, Concert Committee 
 of two, and Music Committee of two. 
 
 CONSTITUTION 
 
 Of the Congregational Church Sabbath-School, Machias. 
 ''Feed Mi/ iMmhs.''' — John xxi, 15. 
 The Sabbath-school is the Church in the function of Chris- 
 tian instruction. 
 
 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES. 
 
 Art. 1. The officers of this School shall consist of a Pres- 
 ident, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Secretary, 
 Treasurer, Librarian and Chorister. 
 
 Art. 2. There shall be three Committees, viz: An Ex- 
 ecutive Committee of three, and a Music and Concert Com- 
 mittee of two members each. 
 
 DUTIES OF PRESIDENT. 
 
 Art. 3. The Pastor of the church shall be the President 
 of the school and a member of all Committees, and it shall 
 be his duty to preside at all business meetings of the school, 
 and in his absence a President pro tem shall be chosen. 
 
SABBATH SCHOOL. 65 
 
 DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT. 
 
 Art. 4. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to 
 have oversight of the school; to manage its general concerns, 
 and, with the advice of the Executive Committee, arrange, 
 number and seat the classes, and make transfers from one to 
 another whenever the interest may require. He shall al>o 
 maintain a vigorous discipline and devise such means as 
 may promote the -growth and spiritual prosperity of the 
 scliool, and be a member of all Committees. 
 
 DUTIES OF assistant SUPERINTENDENT. 
 
 Art. 5. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent's As- 
 sistant to render him all the aid the faithful discharge of 
 his duties may require, nnd in his absence take his place 
 and perform the duties of Ids office. 
 
 secretary's duties. 
 
 Art. 6. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a 
 record of the school; of the conversions, deaths, and such 
 other matters as are of importance. 
 
 treasurer's duties 
 
 Art. 7. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep a 
 correct account of all moneys received by hitn, and pay no 
 bills except with the approval of the Superintendent and 
 two or more of the Executive Committee. 
 
 DUTIES OF librarian. 
 
 Apt 8. It shall l»e the duty of the Librarian to take 
 charge of the Library ; to see that the books drawn there- 
 from on the Sabbath are duly returned, and on the first 
 Sabbrth in July, call in all books; take account of the same; 
 make all necessary repairs and, with the Executive Commit- 
 
66 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 tee, purchase and examine new l)ooks and see that none of 
 questionable character are admitted to the Library. 
 
 DUTIES OF COMMITTEES. 
 
 Art. 9. The Executive Committee shall be the advisers 
 of the Superintendent, and assist the Librarian in the pur- 
 chase and examination of all books for the replenishing of 
 the Library and, with the Superintendent, approve bills. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the Concert Committee, subject to 
 the Superintendent, to prepare for the concerts, and of the 
 Music Committee to have the general management of the 
 music of the school. 
 
 DUTIES OP CHORISTER. 
 
 Art. 10. The Chorister shall conduct the singing of the 
 school and give all possible instruction to the scholars. 
 
 DUTIES OF TEACHERS. 
 
 Art. 1L It shall be the duty of the Teachers: First. 
 To be punctual in attendance at every session of the school, 
 and in case of necessary absence to provide a substitute and 
 inform the superintendent of the same. Second. To promote 
 the Christian education of the school, visit their scholars 
 when sick or absent, and attend the weekly Bible Class. 
 
 MEMBERSHIP. 
 
 Art. 12. All members of the Church, and officers and 
 teachers of the Sabbath-school, shall be entitled to member- 
 ship and the right to vote. 
 
 ANNUAL MEETING. 
 
 Art. 13. The annual meeting of the school shall be held 
 on the day of the church fast, at which meeting the officers 
 for the ensuing year shall be chosen by ballot. 
 
SABBATH SCHOOL. 67 
 
 AMENDMENTS. 
 
 Art. 14. This Constitution may be altered or amended 
 at any annual meeting of the scliool by a two-thirds vote of 
 the members present. 
 
 Accepted by vote, Dec. 31, 1872. 
 
 H. R. Taylor, Secretary. 
 
 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 First. Dec 31, 1873. Voted to amend the Constitution 
 adopted by the Sabbath-school, and give authority to retire 
 a member /?'07n and add one to the Execbtive Committee 
 each year. 
 
 Second. Dec. 31, 1878. Voted that one member be 
 added and one retired each year on Concert and Music Com- 
 mittees, to be chosen in the same manner as the Executive 
 Committee. The number on each committee to be three. 
 
 Third. Dec. 30, 1882. Voted to amend the Constitution 
 by adding another committee to be known as the Library 
 Committee, and to consist of not less than five members to 
 be elected tor five years, one retiring and one chosen each 
 year. It shall be the duty of this Committee to examine 
 and accept all books to be added to the Library; to have 
 charge ot all books belonging to the school ; to remove ob- 
 jectionable books ; to loan books not generally used ; and. 
 with Pastor, Superintendent and Librarian, to purchase 
 books as they* may be needed. 
 
 The method of instruction in this school has been similar 
 to that pursued in other schools. In the first year of its 
 
68 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 existence, there were used as text books : The Bible, Watts' 
 Psahns and Hymns, Assembly's Catachism, Watts' Divine 
 and Moral Songs, Watts' Hymns for Inlant minds, and the 
 New England Primer. 
 
 As early as 1854 the plan of Uniform Lessons for the 
 whole school was adopted. A lady, Miss Emma Porter, at 
 that time one of the teachers of the school, compiled ft series 
 of lessons, the text being taken from the Old and New Tes- 
 taments alternately. These were printed on a slip of paper 
 in the form given below, and one given to each scholar. 
 1 copy from the sheet for 1855. 
 
 Date. To commit. Siihject. For Jieading. 
 
 May 13. 2 Peter i, \'d-i\. The Bible. Its Divine Iiisj)iiation. 2 Peter i. Deut iv, H-40 
 " 20. Genesis ii, 1-:!. Narrative. The Sabhatli and its 
 
 desijrn. (ienesis ii. 1. nice vl, 1-12 
 " 27. Horn, iii, 1-12. Doctrine. The character and con- 
 dition of man. Honians iii. Genesis iii 
 
 This plan was necessarily abandoned in 1865, Miss Porter 
 removing from town, and no one being found to take her 
 place. In June, 1869, the lessons prepared and furnished 
 by Adams, Blackmer & Lyons of Chicago, having come 
 to the knowledge of the Superintendent, he brought the 
 subject before the teachers, and they at once adopted them 
 for this school. 
 
 In 1878 they commenced, with the majority of the schools 
 in tiie States and Canada, The Seven Years Course of Bible 
 Study, now called the International Series, using the slips 
 furnished by tiie American Sunday School Union. We are 
 still .xtuifying the International Lessons, at present and for 
 the past two years, using Peloubet's Series. 
 
 The earliest record we find of a library is in 1880. At 
 
SABBATH SCHOOL. 69 
 
 that time the teachers were in the habit oi" going to the 
 library and selecting books for their pupils. In 1843 we 
 find the system of tin tags, hung on the library door over 
 the scholars' number, to be the one in use. This answered 
 admirably for a time, not a book being lost under this system; 
 but the school outgrew it, and then the books were carried 
 around the school in baskets, each scholai* being allowed to 
 select for himself. So many books were lost by this ineth(>d 
 that in 1869 the plan of taking books from the library by 
 numbers was introduced. At this time the libr;iry whs 
 renovated and enlarged, upwards ot $250.00 being spent in 
 the purchase ot new books, fitting the library cHse, &c. 
 Then each scholar was furnished with a card for numbers, 
 and a catalogue of the books, and no one was allowed at the 
 library except the Librarians. This answered a verv good 
 purpose; but it was ttnmd necessary to introduce one more 
 change, and. in 1870, the tin partitions separating each book 
 trom its tellow, were put in position. The recoid was kept 
 upon a card provided for the purpose, one tor each scholar 
 and teacher in the school. This plan fias worked admiralilv 
 ever since, scarcely a book being lost. 
 
 In 1873 it was found that the library needed renovating. 
 It had now increased to about one thousand volumes, among 
 which were many works of inferior merit; the case also was 
 becoming too small to contain them. In view of this luct the 
 Librarian and Executive Committee, with the advice and 
 consent of the officers of the Association, decided to give 
 themselves a wider field from which to select books, and, 
 abandoning the original intention and design of Sabbath- 
 
70 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 school libraries, that of furnishing Sunday reading to the 
 children, they resolved to aim in their selections at good, 
 pure reading of acknowledged merit, leaving the question 
 of its appropriateness for Sunday to the decision of the par- 
 ents. Tliey accordingly placed upon the shelves books of 
 travel, science, and also of fiction, not specially religious. 
 At the same time those books more suitable for the younger 
 scholars were catalogued by themselves, the pupils being 
 furnished with a colored caid. A Teachers' library was 
 also added, some $75.00 being expended in the purchase of 
 new books, the library numbering in all 616 volumes. 
 
 Later, the following amounts of money have been ex- 
 pended in huoks : January, 1878. $152.00 ; December, 1880, 
 $U0.80; March. 1883, $59.70. The Library now numbers 
 aliont one ilionsand volumes. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 On [tjij^c II 4tli iiiic Iroiii the liotloin "1 770 " slmiild lie 1775. 
 On pHu-e -J -I- \-l\\\ line liom I he lop. (211) slimild he 21. 
 
^OV 4 1908 
 
L4)J 
 
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