The Portland daily press., 1886-02-12
INTERESTING OCCASION.
Dedication of the New Baptist
Church In South Paris.

On the 10Th Of May, 1885, Baptist church
was organized in South Paris village of 81
members. A few months later church edi-
flee was commenced and Wednesday the
house was dedicated in the presence of
large assembly. The building is of the
Queen Anne style of architecture, and fronts
to the northwest overlooking the new park.
An entrance is had at each corner into YES
tibules feet wide by IL feet One the right
hand side as one enters. is a tower and
steeple so feet in extreme elevation. Be
tween the vestibules is lecture-roOm, 17x31
feet, shut off from the main audience room
by folding doors, making 1t part of it when
needed Over the lecture-room is gallery
designed for pews; in this gallery, facing
High street, is a window of stained glass, In
memory of Benjamin Bird, late Of Paris; on
the south side is window in memory OF
Rev. Adam Wilson, d. D., once pastor Of the
Paris Hill church, and father of Hon. Geo.
A. Wilson. Opposite this, ON the north side,
is window very much like the other two;
each is triangular in shape and IL feet in
length of sides. Beneath these, on either
side of the audience-room are eight narrow
windows, all of stained glass. The main
room is 45x55 feet, with seating capacity OF
$50; by means of chairs over 800 could be ac-
commodated. An alcove for an organ and
choir is on the right of the pulpit platform.
Back of the pulpit is baptistry with all
modern neonvenienees. The floor slopes toward
the pulpit, five-eighths of an inch to the foot,
falling 2S inches in all. The walls are tinted
tastefully, the wood work is finished in
oil with black walnut pulpit set. a bright
aar floors
With the Bailey re1ectors for lighting pur-
poses, and a mild and pleasing light stream
ing in through the stained glass windows,
this new church presents very attractive
appearance, and is an ornament to the viii
lage, which which the bailders and all 9th
ers are well pleased.
The building was erected under the super
vision of S. p. Maxim, Esq.
The dedicatOry services opened with an
organ voluntary; invocation BY Rev. w. S.
Hooper Of the Methodist church; anthem;
Scripture reading by Rev. Mr.. Smith, late Of
Yarmouth; hymn; sermon by Rev. Dr. Small
of Portland, Rev. iii :S, Behold, have set
before thee an open door," dedicatory prayer
by Rev. DIR. Burrage of Portland. The state
ment of the financial committee was next
made. The church has cost $4,000 it mad re-
ceiyed gifts and subscriptions to the amount
of 5000; the members had pledged 81, 200
conditionally; S370 was pledged ON the spot;
leaving balance of 81 ,230. Rev. Mr.. FitZ of
the Congregational church gave short ad-
dress OF welcome to the new church. An an
them was then sung, followed by the bene-
diction by Rev. DR.. Small.
At the evening service the following pro-
gramme was carried out: Invocation, Rev.
Mr.. Goodwin of Bryant's Pond; Anthem,
choir; Reading Scriptures, Rev. N. G.
French Prayer, Rev. DIR. Kicker of Bangor;
Hymn; Sermon by Rev. MI. Dunn, text, Rom.
i :26; Hymn; Rev. DR.. Small at this point
made an eloquent exhortation, particularly to
young men to make this occasion the starting
e L14N1 A.
choir; Benediction, Rev. Mr. Dunn.
The society now numbers AZ. The deacons
are III. Z. Morton, Addison Tirrell, Herbert
Ripley: treasurer, Geo. Pulsifer; clerk, G. b.
Crockett.
Tnls church is the seventh colony that has
gone out from Paris Hill church. One pleas
ant feature of the service was the presenta-
ton Of pulpit Bible. by the mother church.
Rev. j. E. Cochran will preach in both hous-
es for the present-at Paris Hill in the
morning and South Paris in the afternoon,