Universalist Church

Universalist Church

Universalist Church The Universalist Church is located on Court Street at the corner of Spring Street (to the right of the church) and behind "The Common," the location, at the time, of the grammar and high schools and later, the Crosby High School. The first Universalist sermon preached here was in 1809 by an itinerant missionary of that denomination. His services were held in the house of Benjamin Joy, on High Street, which was afterwards known as Cunningham's Hotel. No efforts towards forming a society were made until 1824, when one was organized at the Academy, under the style of the "Christian Society of Universalists in Belfast." Its name was subsequently changed to that of the "First Universalist Society in Belfast." The Rev. William A. Drew, of Farmington, now of Augusta, officiated as pastor from 1824 to 1826. During a portion of that period, he taught school, and edited the " Christian Visitant," a monthly publication, established by the Eastern Association of Universalists. Bigotry and intolerance were at first opposed to the new doctrine, and in 1825 the use of the town hall was refused to the society for services. Colonel Daniel Lane and others, being ten freeholders, then requested the selectmen to call a town meeting, to decide the matter. This was also refused. Thereupon application was made to Joseph Williamson, justice of the peace, who called a meeting as provided by law. A vote was passed "to lease any portion of the town hall to the Universalist Society, or any other society, for the purposes of religious worship, for a reasonable compensation." After Mr. Drew left, no regular preaching was maintained for several years, although services continued to be occasionally held in the court-house. On the 27th of July, 1836, the society was reorganized, and a new constitution adopted. In 1839, measures were adopted for building a meeting-house; and under the direction of Daniel Putnam, Samuel B. Hanson, Robert Patterson, 5th, Samuel Eames, Gowen M. Armor, Samuel S. Burd, and James Gammans, constituting a committee for the purpose, the present edifice, at the corner of Court and Spring Streets, was erected. Work was commenced on the first day of May. On the fifth day of September the vane was placed in position on the spire, and on the 30th of October the house was dedicated. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Frederic A. Hodsdon, of Levant, who afterwards became pastor. During their continuance, the society attained a higher degree of prosperity than it had ever enjoyed, being large, influential, and efficient. A new organ was placed in the church in 1849; and two years after, the exertions of the ladies, who held a fair for the purpose, procured the bell which is now used. The latter weighs 1,527 pounds, and was rung for the first time May 13, 1851. During the fourth week in June, 1852, the Maine Convention of Universalists was held here. The proceedings were published in a pamphlet of fifty pages. In June, 1855, Rev. J. H. Farnsworth was engaged as minister at a salary of $900. Under his pastorate, difficulties crept into the society, from a feeling on the part of some that subjects of a political nature had been too frequently introduced into the pulpit; and he was dismissed at his own request. Early in 1858 William Pitcher and others were incorporated by the Legislature of 1856 as the" Universalist Parsonage Proprietary," with authority to hold real estate to the value of $5000. They soon after built the house on Court Street, now owned by B. C. Dinsmore. In 1865, the owners of the meeting house were incorporated as a parish, under the name of "The First Universalist Parish in Belfast." Rev. S. C. Hayford having accepted a call, at a salary of $800, commenced his labors July 1, 1865, and at first gave good satisfaction. Subsequently, he advocated Spiritualism; and, with only two dissenting votes, the society passed a resolution of dismissal, Nov. 10, 1866. During 1869-70, extensive additions and alterations in the church edifice were made. The whole structure was raised six feet, and a lecture and Sabbath-school room finished in the basement. In the main part of the house, fifty-eight new pews, circular in form, finished with chestnut and trimmed with black walnut were substituted for the old ones. The walls were painted in fresco, stained glass windows added, and gas introduced. Dedication services were held July 20, 1870. At their close, a collation was given in the lecture-room, followed by a sale of the pews at auction.