Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-10-29
Ride to Dirfe{d,

/ we statleu VII iueSubN hioiHiHS, iStii
inst, to attend the Congregational Con-
/ ference at Dix6eld. We found The air
/ chilly, and quite rs uncomfortable riding
rs in winter The smart and thriving
village of Dixtisld is. according 10 the
guideboards, about % miles from the
| shire town, but by the time it took us to
reach il. we should call il nearer thirty.
The ride over the Paris hills. down into
Sumner and through the mountain gor-
gcs in Peru to the Androscoggin, is pic
turcsque and romantic in the extreme
but can be appreciated better in The baln:y
/ DAYS of summer. with the roads in pas.
sable condition than in the cold and short
/ days Of autumn, just after the ravages OF
the big freShct-veStiges of which we
saw on the ride. especially near the An
/ droscoggin We intended To 20 up Swift
river. 10 view the destruction caused by
I the flood there, but did not find il conven.
lent. We had To ford tho stream near
Greene'S ferry, which we crossed,
Browns. above, not being in running OF
der. the rope having been carried away,
and the road To the ferry. ON the Dixiiell
side, so washed IS 10 render a new locs-
ton necessary.
The Conference meetings were in the
Chapel, a small house of worship, occu
pied by the Consregaiionalists and Meth
odistS There are but two houses OF wor-
ship in the place-,he Universali.ts occu.
plying the other, though they do no, have
regular stated preaching.
We were not in season to hear the
morning sermon. by Rev Mr. Loring. of
Andoysr, but heard it well spoken Of II
was ON Acts , ;i7-"And the Lord added
TO The church daily such aS should be
saved" Mr.. Loiiug is now preaching at
Andover lie is an earnest, spiritual
minded man. of the old school type
plain and somewhat blunt. hut well
grounded and able Ia give a reason for
the faith which is in him. His remarks.
in the evening. on resolutions relative to
the flood, though thoroughly doctrinal.
We're able cxpositions Of the Calrani,tic
ideas of Gods sovereignty, and were
forcibly. and lncidly stated.
The pixGeld church is small, and they
have anticipated the meeting of the Com
tcicree with arden, nope Of spiritual ben
eft. they received their visiting friends
with great cordiality-w in their turn.
offered many fer' tnt prayers that the &C.
casion would DC blcst to their spiritual
good.
The churches in Bethel, lst and 81,
South Paris. Rumiord, Andoyer and Sum
ner were the only ones represented and
the only clergymen present being Rev.
Messrs Elliot, Garland. Loring. and $
II. Merrill, of Portland. agent of the BIZ
ole society, and Rev Mr.. Maxwell, OF
Weld, reccntly of Sumner.
Bro. Da,idF F. Brown of Bethel was
chosen moderator.
The social meetings were dc,oul
and feryent. and the discussion of the va
rious topics animated and interesting.
On the afternoon of the first day, Rev.
d. Garland, of Bethel, spoke ON tho co.
operation of church members with their
pastors and stated supplies, and was fol-
lowed by Rev. Mr.. Merrill, who intro
duccd the Bible cause in his usual felicit-
on, style, and ty Rev \. Loring.
The evening was occupied by an inter
esting discussion OF resolutions relating
to the flood which had recently deva.ta-
ted that portion of the country. Revs,
Garland, Merrill and Loring. discussed
the subject of Gods Providence. as seen
in the events OF life. and drew many val
liable lessons from the occasion.
A lively prayer meeting was held the
mex, morning, al 6 o'clock, and another
devotional service al half past eight.
The conference resumed its session AT 9,
when the topic in relation to the Sabbath
School was opened by Brother Shaw, fol-
lowed by Rev. Mr.. Merrill. Bro. III F.
Howard of Dixiield. and the moderator.
This topic. as the next. the Prayer
meeting. elected earnest and hearty re-
marks which appeared u be well receiv-
ed by the audience Rev. Messrs. Max
well. and Lnring, Bros, Shaw. and Stet
son. and Rev. Mr.. Chase. of kittery. took
part in the discussion.
The conference closed early in the az
ternoon, with the communion service
Brother Garland preaching the sermon
from LIST Cor. l6 Is. on christian stability.
Rev. Mr. Garland and Merrill ofiiciated at
the table. Deacon 5. S. Stetson and l..
Grover distributed the elements.
Thus closed an interesting conference
season. in which all who were privileged
to attend. felt we'll repaid.
We understand that the town fairs al
Bethel and Buckfield were very creditable