The church was built
as Lewiston’s second Universalist church.
LEWISTON – Calvary United Methodist Church will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its church building on Sunday, June 22, with a re-enactment of the laying of the cornerstone.
The Lewiston Evening Journal published a detailed account of the 1903 cornerstone event. Based on that account, portions of the event will be re-enacted during the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, said David Rand, centennial celebration chairman.
Current church members don’t know which stone is the original cornerstone, said the Rev. Ruth Morrison, the church’s pastor, although they know what’s in it because of the article. The search is made more difficult because the church’s angular design features more than 20 corners in the foundation.
This is one of several events planned this year to mark the centennial. Some members of the congregation plan to wear old-fashioned costumes for this one, she said.
The building was built as Lewiston’s second Universalist Church, succeeding a Universalist Church on Bates Street, which had been sold. Items from the cornerstone of that Bates Street church were removed a week prior to the ceremony and combined with other items placed in a box destined for the cornerstone of “the church in the triangle.”
The new box – 10 inches long, 4 inches wide and 6 inches deep – held the first annual report of Lewiston from 1864, city charts and ordinances from 1863, stamps, coins, a copy of the Maine Farmer from 1865, as well as Lewiston’s 40th annual report, photographs of pastors and plans for the new church.
In 1903, Masons from the Blue lodges of Lewiston and Auburn, escorted by the Lewiston Brigade Band, marched toward the triangular lot. They were met by an estimated 4,000 spectators, according to the newspaper account.
As the band proceeded around the triangle, which is bordered by Sabattus, Bartlett and College streets, it played “Onward Christian Soldiers” and escorted Masons from the Grand Lodge of Maine, as well as from local and out-of-town lodges, to the platform.
The Rev. William J. Taylor, pastor of the Universalist church, then invited Masonic Grand Master William J. Burnham to lay the cornerstone. The cornerstone was lowered into place – squared, leveled and plumbed – by the deputy grand master, senior warden and junior warden.
It was consecrated by scattering corn and pouring wine and oil on it.
Taylor’s sermon, “To God and Humanity,” will be repeated during Sunday’s service by Geoffrey Gross, Cavalry United Methodist’s lay leader. Morrison said that sermon, about meeting the needs of the community, is still relevant today.
Masons from the Grand Commandry of Maine also will also attend the service Sunday.
The church building’s style is known as an Akron design because it was developed in Akron, Ohio. Some characteristics of this design include the sanctuary’s curved seating and sloping floor, and a church entrance at a corner. The architect was William R. Miller and the contractor was F.W. Keene.
Calvary United Methodist Church, which has been at the church for about 30 years, is inviting all members of the community to Sunday’s centennial celebration. Morrison said that previously Calvary United Methodist had been on Hammond Street at the site where the new Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute is being built.
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