Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-12-19
First baptist Church, Paris.

Fins. Baptist Church, Paris, was embod
led in a sermon recently preached by
Rev. Dr.. Estes. 1t nov appears in the
Church Manul. We are inclined to
think our readers will find il of sufficient
inter,s! TO repay careful perusal-
The First Baptist Church in Paris, Me.
was organized on the lS.h oi November,
1871, twelve years after the first trees
had been .lelled. and eleven years after
the first crops had been gathered within
The limits of tie town.
Seven members OF the First Baptist
Church il Midd,eboro Mass. were among
The frs, settlers OF the town; ard soon
after their coming. they with others,
established and maintained religious wor-
s.ip on The SIbbaih. though they had no
minister TO aid them, except as mission
aries might occasionally visit them. a
revival OF religion with several conyer-
sons followed the missionary labors OF
Rev James Potter with them in 1890,
and Rev Elisha Snow aided in the lorma
ii n Of the church the following year.
In 1872 the church united with the
Bowd Jiuham association, then the only
Association OF Baptist churches in the
STATE. At this time The church was called
No -Four. which was the name OF the
town ship till is incorporation in l793.-
The lumber OF members then reported
as belonging to the church was twenty
one; and among The supplies arranged
by the Association Tor the destitute that
year was, For No. Four Elder Potter,
1 b Lords day in November, Elder Slin-
son, 4,h in March Elder Macon Der. 4,h
in Jane"
Ga The division of tie Bowdointam
Association, The church was one ol those
that formed the Cumberland Association
in 1911, with which it was connected until
!. helped form the Oxford a sociation in
1879.
For several years after its organization
the church met for worship in private
houses, sometimes in school houses, often
in barn in summer. The first meeting
house was built in 1903 the second,
which is now occupied, was built on the
site Of the first, in 1888. The present
house Of worship has been Nv ice repaired
and relurnished, once in 1860 and again
in 1919. The vestry was built in the
rear OF the church in 1865.
The church has had seven pastors. as
fol.ows-lhcse whose names are starred
having died James Hooper, June l79j
June 1855; Z. b. Davis. June 1855
Aug, lNj2; 4. Wilson, d. d.. Dec. 1852
Dec. 1871; W. II. S. Yenues, July
ls5S-Oct. 1866; W. II. Walker-lS67
Mar. 1870; A. A. Ford, Oct. 1870
Oct. 1872; II c. Estes, d. D., Jan. 1873.
Toe first, Rev. James Hooper, was
born in Berwick, Dec. 1863. lio began
to preach New-year's day, 1901; came to
Paris, Nov. G:h, 1874 received call to
settle as pastor of the church in March
following. and was ordained June 10Th,
l79j At his ordination, the sermon was
preached by his elder brother, William
Hooper, who was the first Baptist minis
islef ordained within the limits OF the
State Of Maine the charge was given
by Rev. Isaac Chase; aud the hand OF
fellowship by Rev. James Potter. As the
| first settled minister in town, he became
entitled TO four !ots OF land, OF which he
relirquished the right TO two, and occu-
pied the rest. His ministry continued
with The church until he was laid aside
forever by inGlmilies. and successor
took his place forty three years from the
time Of his settlement. He resided in
town until his death, Dec. q. 1912.
His successor in the pastoral office was
the Rev Caleb B. Davis. lie was born
in Mathuen, Massachusetts July Sd. 1907 ;
was baptized at The age Of twenty -four |;
entered at once upon q course OF study
for the ministry; and graduated from the
Newton Theological Institution in 1887.
He came 10 Paris in the autumn of that
year, and was ordained as pastor of the
church June y. 1888. the ordalning prayer
being offered by the former pastor. In
consequence of failing health, he resign
ed his pastorate Aug. 23d, 1852. His
death occurred Jan. 18th, 1865. his whole
ministry having passed with this church.
The next pastor. Rev. Adam Wilson,
ID. D., was born in Topsham, Feb. 10th,
1894; was baptized there in July, 1916;
graduated from Bowdoin College in 1919 (;
was ordained as an evangelist at Tops
ham, Dec. sob, 1920; and labored with
various churches in this State. both before
and after his five years. pastorate in Paris
until his death at Waterville. Jan. 10th,
1871.
The Deacons of the church have been
the following: Joseph Willis, 1871;
William Parsons, 1897; Stephen Chase,
1905 ;eDaniel Forbes, 1906; Josiah Smith
1911; Joseph Lindsey. 1917; Benjamin
Chandler, 1924; Isaac Mann, 1S26-3S !;