The Portland daily press., 1875-08-24
Fryeburg Church Centennial.

In tDlS year OF CentennlaiS. lGslS somewhat
remarkable that nearly every celebration has
been the anniversary of some warlike UNDER
taking-some battle on land or sea- Already
on such occasions as never before in time of
peace, the martial spirit of the nation has been
stirred by splendid military displays, with all
the pomp and Circumstance of war. The
brief record we give to-day is of an event SO
opposite in its character as to be almost tame
and uninterestipg to the public. 1t is well to
remember however, that "Peace hath cher vic
tories no less renowned than War"
The Congregational church established in
Fryeburg in 1775 was the first church in Ok
ford county. Although organized for the
spread of the Gospel OF Peace, its origin savors
somewhat of warlike type, for its founders
were fighting men; the old soldiers of the
French.and Indian wars, men who while they
discussed creeds and covenants for the new
church were taking down their muskets and
powder horns for Revolutionary service in
quick response to the echoes from Lexington
and Bunker Hill which were still reverberat-
ing among their mountain homes
Gen. Joseph Frye, who received the grant Of
the town for military services, was Major in
Gov. Shirley's batta ion at the capture of Lou
;sburg, Colonel at the surrender of Fort Nc
Henry, where he killed with his hands alone,
the Indian chief who took him into the forest,
stripped him, and was about to dispatch him.
Appointed Major General in the beginning OF
the Revolution, he resigned soon from some
disagreement with Washington. Among the
6rst settlers were John Evans, SER
geant with Rogers Rangers, who bare
ly escaped death in the expedition
against the ST. Francis Indians, while
many persisted from cold and hunger; Nathan
el Merrill, who was wounded in the head, and
David Page, who also was wounded in the
French war, with several others who had met
the soldiers of France and the savage red man
in hand to hand conflict. These men feared
God, although they had no other fear; aud
therefore in "making some arrangements for
their SOULS" they established church.
The one hundredth anniversary of its organi
cation was celebrated Saturday the 21st inst.
The church was tastefully decorated, the motto
blessed be the God Of our fathers" extending
across the recess in the rear of the pulpit with
a cross of evergreens on either side, and wreaths
encircling tablets bearing the names of the
pastors and the dates of their pastorates
Fessenden 1775-18O5. Whiting 18O9-17. Por-
ter, 1852. Hurd 1885. Peabody 1856
SO. Sewall 1873 Masses of flowers in
pots and boqrets, surrounded the pull
pit and communion table. The OPEN
ing exercises were, Invocation, Rev.
B. n Stone, pastor of the chureh-Hymn, Rev
Mr.. Zimmerman, Pastor of the Metho-
dist Church-Reading Scriptures, Rev.
Mr.. Norcross of North Conway. Letters Of
congratuation and kind remembrance were
read from Revs. J. O. Peabody of Ipswich,
Mass, and D. B. Sewall Of York, former pas
tors of the church, and from the wife of the
late Rev. G. Hurd, D. D., now resident OF
Pembroke, n FL. Rev. j. Fl. Merrill of Ando
yer, Mass, once Preceptor of the Academy
who married daughter of Fryeburg and de.
scendant of the first pastor, contributed let
ter of interesting "reminiscences of his former
residence.
Reference was made to the first prayer prob
ably offered in the region; thus referred to in
Symmes' sermon, giving an account of the bat
tie between Capt. John Lovewell and his thir
ty-three men, and Paugus with more thar
double the number of his tribe of Pequawkets
fought May g. 1925, on the shore of Love
wells Pond, only mile and a half distant
He says: "About the middle of the afternoon
the ingenious Mr.. Jonathan Frye, only son Of
Capt. James Frye of Andover, young gentle
man # liberal education, and who was chap
| lain to the company, and greatly beloved by
them for his excellent performances and goot
| behavior, and who fought with nndauntet
courage till that time of day, was MORALLY
wounded. But when he could fight no longer
| he prayed audlbIy several times for the preser.
| walton and success of the residue of the COM
pany.'
| AS introductory to the establishment of the
! church, the Journal of Rev. Paul Coffin, D. D.
| of Buxton, who visited the town in 176S, was
read The errand of the good divine was evi
IDENTITY by his visits and discourses to edify the
| Christian families and to confirm them in the
faith. Ga Lords Day, Oct 2, he preached at
Lieut.. Caleb Swan s-whose son was afterward
Paymaster General under Washington. HI
writes. "Ths Swan was bred up at Harvard
College. We had pretty assembly, goe'
healthy looking people and attentive" Thel
follows list Of the children of the churcl
whom he baptized. He speaks of this Eden
"the land of delight" and says, "N AZURE ha
formed hers the desirable rural retreat whic
poets describe as the most amiable situati IN il
life." In the house of his host was high an
clean room viii Oh had five glass windows an
was nearly half wainscotted. At one of hi
visits he ''drank fine dish OF tea we'll suite
with wheat bread and pumpkin pye" He Wis
tied the place of Lovewelps Fight and saw I'M
tials on the trees, supposed to be of the klle
who were there inferred. He rode on horse
back to the summit of Stark Hill and carve
his name upon tree there.