Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/240

 2l6

��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��was built in i 784, by the Universalist society ; purchased by the Methodists in 1808 ; occupied by them nineteen years ; and sold just after the dedica- tion of the State street Methodist Epis- copal church in 182S. It has since been altered several times, and used first as a theater ; then by the Ports- mouth Lyceum. Subsequently it was owned by the Portsmouth sacred mu- sical society ; and after being altered, was opened with appropriate exercises. Rev. I )r. Charles Burroughs, the belov- ed Rector of St. John's church for forty- nine years, delivered a dedicatory ad- dress, and called the building " The Cameneum." It was devoted to mu- sic, concerts, lectures, and similar un- objectionable purposes. A large organ, built in Portsmouth by Barton, Nor- wood and Cobb, was placed in the building. Since the society disbanded, the property has been sold, and the building converted into. a public livery stable, for which purpose it is now used.

In 1827, during the pastorate of Rev. Shipley W. Wilson, the present church on State street was built, at a cost, including land, of nine thousand dollars. The church was dedicated Jan. 1, 1828, by Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fisk, his text being Hag. 2:9: " The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former." A board of nine trustees was appointed to receive the deed of the new church ; namely, John G.Pray, Jonathan Barker. Joshua John- son, Samuel P. Wiggin, William Gibbs, Joshua Hubbard, Walter B. Hill, Will- iam Walker, and Joseph Sherburne. The only surviving trustee, Walter B. Hill, is now in the 88th year of his age, having been born June 29, 1795. The old house on Methodist Lane was probably sold in 1829. Joshua Hub- bard, Francis Wingate, and William Gibbs, were the committe empowered to dispose of it. In 1828 Rev. John Newland Maffitt, the eloquent pulpit orator, was pastor. He was absent a considerable portion of the year solic- iting aid from the large societies of the South, toward the payment of the debt

��incurred in building the church, and was successful. During his absence, Rev. Squire B. Haskell, of Poplin, supplied the pulpit with ability. He was an admir- er of General Jackson, and quite as ac- tive in the political field as in the Gos- pel vineyard. In 1837 Rev. Jared Per- kins being the pastor, the vestry over the vestibule, not being of sufficient capacity, was vacated, and a room finished in the basement of the church, which was occupied for social meetings. The vestry over the vestibule was chang- ed by removing the partitions, and was used by the choir. In it was placed the new organ. L>uring the year 185 1, Rev. Richard S. Rust being pastor, the vestry in the basement, under the southerly half of the main building, was improved by an outlay of four hundred dollars. In 1854 the church was thoroughly repaired, and the present cornices substituted for brick battle- ments, which were removed as inse- cure, having become weakened by the weather. In 1855 Rev. Sullivan Hol- man, pastor, was particularly active in collecting a sufficient amount ($2,300), to pay the entire indebtedness of the church. He was an excellent finan- cial manager, and very acceptable as a preacher and pastor. In 1859 the convenient chapel on Daniel street was erected on land leased from Captain William Stavers, at a cost of about fif- teen hundred dollars. The land was subsequently bought, Dec. n, 1875, for $1,100. The building is used for the accommodation of the Sunday school and social meetings. The old basement vestry, which had been oc- cupied for twenty-two years, was aban- doned, being deemed somewhat damp, besides being inadequate for the wants of the society. Rev. Dudley P. Leav- itt, who was pastor of the church, deliv- ered a very interesting historical ser- mon at the dedication of the new chapel, Dec. 6, 1859, his text being Heb. 13: 7, 8: "Remember them which have the rule over you," etc. The building committee consisted of John Trundy, Esq., Hon. John Henry Bailey, and Carpenter William Fernald

�� �