Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/216

 190 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

which may at any time have been found in this old church, succeeding genera- tions may rejoice in the knowledge of the able and faithful men who have labored here — of the blessings which have attended their labors, and of the ability which this church has had of advancing the kingdom of our Lord.

A pleasing incident is remembered. It was at that time felt by many in Strafford county, that little had been done for Foreign Missions. To awaken an interest in that cause, the plan was adopted for the churches to associate, select, and adopt a missionary, and pledge his support. Accordingly Rev. John Emerson, was selected and ordained at the meeUng of the Conference of Churches, then recently formed. He and his companion took there leave of us and went fourth to the Sandwich Islands, and we were to hear from them from time to time. The sum estimated as necessary for his support was six hundred dollars. At the end of the year, when we were gathered at our annual meeting in Dover, our treasurer reported a deficiency of one hundred dollars for the support of our missionary. Sadness prevailed for a time, but a lady from Gilmanton, presented fifty dollars for the purpose, and the church in Dover assumed the other fifty dollars, and we were relieved.

The people of Harrington are to be commended for maintaining the institu- tions of religion, in a spare population, for one hundred and twenty-five years. But an unfortunate habit gradually grew upon them of using intoxicating drinks, and in this town, as in others in the vicinity, it was indulged during the inter- mission of the services of the Sabbath. Rev. Cephas Kent, was settled here in 1828. He earnestly sought the spiritual good of that people, but he took strong ground in regard to the use of intoxicating drinks, and left in less than two years. Samuel H. Merrill, a young man just commencing to preach, began in this place in 1830. To this work he had remarkable adaptedness. He unit- ed the wisdom of age with the ardor of youth. His labors commenced at the opening of the memorable year of 1831, when the Spirit of God was reviving all the churches in the vicinity. He succeeded by the blessing of God, in awakening that old church and securing the confidence of the people. In the old meeting-house upon the hill, with its high galleries and sounding-board, he gathered in a large congregation. His meetings about the town were fully attended, and with deep solemnity. In the five years of his ministry fifty-two were received to the church. The people were then supplied for a year or two by the venerable Father Ward. Rev. Mr. Merrill spent a useful life. For many years he was Seamen's chaplain in Portland.

On the 1 6th day of May, 1827, the Piscataqua Association met at Great Falls, in Somersworth, where a small village had been commenced around a recently established cotton manufactory. They organized a church of eight members, one of whom, belonging to the race of Mathers, was selected for a deacon. The village was made up largely of young and enterprising men, many of whom had no families. Arrangements were made for erecting a house of worship, which was soon completed. A man was needed to preach the sermon at the dedication, and learning that Dr. Lyman Beecher was at Portland at the installation of Dr. Tyler, they waylaid him and induced him to perform the service. After having travelled from Portland in the stage, and per- formed this service the same day, he retired to his room for rest. The young men desired to make him compensation, and he was aroused from a sleep in his chair. His reply to them was : " give my compliments to the young men, and tell them to spit on their hands, and hold on to this little society." Rev. Josiah Hawes was soon settled as their pastor, and after two years Rev. Wm. Twining became stated supply. The first revival occurred in 1830 and '31, when one hundred were added to the church, and soon after forty more.

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