Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-16
And now, dear Friends, ere wa sen,ra,A

country. Resting Oh the constitution. let
us see to 1t that only the worthy are al.
lowed either to make or To administer our
laws. Our only safety is in the virtue, in
tegrity and constant watchfulness Of the
people, who should guard the ballot. the
palladium OF our liberties, with unceasiug
care, and hold as traitor every person
who shall in any manner attempt 10 abuse
or corrupt il. Thus, with able, honest
and patriotic statesmen for our rulers. we
have everything to hope for, and nothing
To fear.
Mr.. Kings address was followed by
the singing of Miss MaTims hymn,
which we published in our extra of Sept.
llth.
Hon. Geo. F. Emery Of the Boston
Post, then read poem entitled Famous
Men of Paris" At first Mr.. Emery de-
clined 10 allow his poem to be put in
print: but, at the urgent request Of
many of our citizens, he has furnished
US the original for publication. 1t will
either appear in our next issue, or it viii
be published in a pamphlet containing
history of the Centennial exercises.
Rev Dr. Estes then read the eccles-
astical history of Paris, as follows:
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Mr. President, and Sons, DIaghters, qaI
Friends Of Paris:
What would be the history OF a New
England town without its ecclesiastical
history? How much would be wanting In
our town histories, IL the ecclesiastical
pages were len blank?
Our forcflthers, at the very beginning or
their work in New England, made haste -
build the school-hOuse and the church;
and from that beginning the churches hays
had some such place In our towns, and in
their history, aS religion has in human ua-
turc and I'm the history Of the world.
To this common character OF New Eng
land towns, our town OF Paris furnishes I'D
exception.
We have eight ecclesiastical organize
tions within our borders, one OF them older
than this present century, and two others
dating back more than sixty years.
The First Baptist church was organized
on the 18th day OF November, 1921, with
twcnty-onc members.
Some Of the first settlers Of the town,
John Willis and Lemucl Jackson among
them-had been members OF Baptist
church in Middeboro, Mass and some OF
the pioneer ministers Ofthat denomination,
James Potter and Elisha SnOw-had Wis
tied the town and done missionary work
among the people OF which this church
was result
In the lightweight years OF its history,
the church has had seven pastors, though
there were only two in the first sixty years.
OftheSe the first was Rev. James Hooper
He came 10 the town on the 9Th Of NoycIr-
Der, 1884 was chosen minister Of the town
at a legal town meeting, the 9Th OF the fol-
lowing April was ordained minister OF
the town and pastor OF the church. on The
18th Of June, 1895; and held the Office VI
minister of the town till he resigned itOn the
10Th OF March, ls29, though he continued
pastor Of the church TIL the ordination "
his successor in ISIS, period of forty
three years and he resided in the town
till his death OH the oath OF Dec. l-i2.
His successor was the Rev. Calsb b.
Davis He was ordained ON the 9TH ~
June 1889 was pastor Of the church four
teen years, ill his resignation in l-j2.
about two wears before hi, death in 1855
Aftcr this, Rev. Adam Wilson, ID. ID.
was pastor Of the church five years. from
l,J2 20 lSj5; Rev. W. II. =. Neutrcs,
eight years from his ordination July .th,
1888, tin his resignation, oct. 18th, l,tj.
Rev. VIM. II. Walker three years from
1867 till 1870. and Rev. \. \. Ford from
his ordination ON the "a OF November,
1870, Till his resignation on the "a OF oct
tober. l,12 The present pastor entered
- an lac. f.f lf
The first meeting house was built in
l,O3, pews having been sold 10 the amount
of $1,000. The building committee con-
sisted Of five persons, viz: Ebcnezcr Raw
son, Jairus Shaw. Lcmucl Jackson, jr.,
Benjamin Hammond, aud Nathan Wood
bury. The frame was raised in June, 1903.
and the house was dedicated on the 3Uth OF
May, 1904. In ISIS that building, having
become dilapidated, was removed, and tho
present cditce was erected in It's place.
Twice ii has been repaired once In 1860.
and again in 1873. The ycstry Was built IN
1854.
The Congregational church at South
Paris was organized on the 4th Of NOycn-
Der, 1872, with fourteen members. Nine
different persons have done the work Of
pastors Of this church two Of whom have
died in office.
The first was Rev. JoSephWalker. He
was ordained December 70, 1871, and was
pastor till his death on the sth OF April,
1851, at the age of tifty-niue years. His
SUCCESSORS have been Rev. J. Francis Dyer
nearly two years from his ordination Dec.
3lst, 1852, till his dismiSsiOn Oct. 30,
1854 Rev. Daniel Scwall, three and half
years, from mis- installation, Jan. 4th, 800
till his dismiSSiOn, Aug. 3lst, 1858; Rev.
AlanSon Southworth, five years, from his
ordination, Jan. 18th, 1859, till his death
on the 18th Of March, 1864 Rev. Francis
SOuthworth, part OF year in 1865; Rev.
Jacob Chapman, one year from Sept. LIST,
1865 Rev. Francis Is. knOwlton, one year,
from Sept. LIST, 1886; Rev. John b. Wheel
wright, nearly ten years from his i'll
stallation, December 18th, lsGS, till June
llth, 1877; and Rev. c. ID. Crane, the
present pastor, who began his work Sep
TENDER 23d, 1877. The first meeting house
occupied by this society, was erected
and dedicated in 1878. It's cost was about
$1,000. II stood at some distance from the
village of South Pars-a mile or more, on
the old road 10 Hebron. In 1885 II was re-
moved TO its present location in the village.
1t has been twice repaired; once, in lSj2,
and again, the present year.
The first Methodist class in this town
was formed at South Paris, with six MEM
bers, 1915. 1t was formed by Rev. John
Adams, who was then in charge OF the po-
land circuit of which Paris was a part.
Mr.. Adams is the first Methodist preacher
known 10 have labOred in the town.
The interest that commenced was cher
iShed and strengthened in the next twenty
years, by various preachers Wishworth
Aver, Isaac Moore, Abel Alton, David
Copeland, Isaac Downing Moses Davis,
Henry Butler Dudley Greeley, Benjamin