The Portland daily press., 1893-10-07
Iatinee at Theatre-Fencing Master.
CHURCH CENTENNIAL.
Doings of the North Livermore
Baptists.
Correspondence to tho Press


The centennial of the Baptist church
/ in North Livermore occurred on Thurs
day, October 5. The day was most de-
| lightful one, and large audience as
sembled, including representatives of
many Baptist churches in Maine, who
| had come by special train from the
Baptist anniversaries at Auburn. The
services opened at 10 o'clock. Rev.G. W..
Colby, pastor of the church, presided.
| After the invocation by Rev IT, j. Rams
| dell of South Paris Rev. G.. B. Ilsley of
Bangor, read the Scriptures and offered
prayer Then followed most cordial
welcome from pastor Colby.
| Rev. DR.. George Bullen of Newton
Theological Institution, gave sketch of
the first pastor of the church, Rev.
Sylvanus Boardman, and also of his dis
tinguished son, George Dana Boardman.
missionary to Burma. Reference at the
outset was made toythe New England
lineage of the Boardmans. Sylvanus
Boardman's father was graduate of
Harvard College in 1885, He was born
in Chilmark in 1851. When nearly fitted
for college the War of the Revolution
opened For two years he studied medi-
cine. The death of his father in 1776,
however, changed his plans. A desul-
tory life followed for few years In
1885, he came into Maine and settled up
on a lot of land in North Livermore.
April Is, 1875, when the town was in
corporated, he was chosen selectman. He
was married in 1850 Three years later
he became an active leader in the Con-
gregational church organized in the
town. Passing through deep religious
experiences he became Baptist, and in
June, 1895, he was baptized by Elder
VIM Stinchfield of Litchfield. In a short
time he found his place in the church as
clerk, moderator, and at length minister.
When ordained in 1902, he was "A years
old. He was a man of commanding
presence, and his study Of medicine,
also of law, and his service as a teacher
for ten years, had given a fair prepara-
ton for his duties as a minister. Here
he labored until 1910, when he was called
to North Yarmouth to be the colleague
of DR.. Green. whom he succeeded. Later
he removed to, New Sharon, where he
spent the remainder of his days as pastor
| the New Sharon church, preaching IN all
Of thirty-eight years He was interested
| in educational matters, and was one OF
| the early trustees of Waterville college.
He was interested also in all reforms.
| He die,i when Sc years old. Mr.. Board
man had eight children, five sons and
| three daughters. Reference was made to
| them, but especially to the sixth child,
| George Dana Boardman, who was born
| in 1901.
George Dana Boardman was of large
| statue like his father. A natural
student, he was somewhat retiring in his
| manner. He early determined to enter
| upon college course, and at Is years. OF
| age he entered WaterVille college, one OF
| two of the first class graduated by the
| college. He was not then. a Christian,
| but became such at the close of his first
| year at Waterville. Soon it was settled
| that he would be missionary here at
| home later missionary to the heather.
| A tutorship at Waterville was offered to
him, and he accepted it for year,
although it was against his inclinations.
! The death of Coleman, a missionary in
| Burma, determined his career. He would
| take Coleman's place. After fulfilling
his engagement at Waterville he repaired
| to Andover Theological Seminary, where
4 he remained year. He was ordained
| at North Yarmouth, President Chaplin
| of Waterville college, preaching the ser
| mon He had now become engaged to
Sarah B. Hall, a most gifted soul, and
| afterward married They sailed for
Burma July 20, 49,, but were detained
| in Calcutta year and a half on account
4 of war in Burma. Reaching Burma at
/ last, they settled at Amherst. where they
found DR. Judson just released from his
! long Imprisonment at Ana Then the
Boardmans went to Moulmein, and later
! to Tavoy. Here they labored nearly
| three years, and then, February II, 1881,
occurred the death OF Boardman, after
| the marvellous beginning of a most
| successful work among the Karens.
Rev DIR. George Dana Boardman of
| Philadelphia, followed with a sermon.
| After few gracious words to the people
| of North Livermore, in behalf of the de-
scendants Of Rev. Sylvanus Boardman, he
| called attention to the Apostle Paul's
five-fold prayer, Eph. 8, IA, and in a
| rich, most suggestive way he unfolded
! the meaning Of this well known passage.
| During the intermission many Of the
friends visited the house built by Rev,
! Sylvanus Boardman, and were shown the
| room in which the missionary, George
Dana Boardman, was born. Before
| leaving the house the company gathered
in this room and prayer was offered by
| DR.. Boardman.
| At the afternoon service in the church,
| prayer was offered by Rev G. A, Towne
| Of Auburn. Rev. ID. Il. Wyman of Lewiston
! then delivered the historical discourse.
| He first referred to the influences that led
to the organization ola Baptist church
| in Livermore, especially the revival in
| the spring of 1898 This church was or
| ganized August Z, 1888 Four of The
eleven men who were constituent mem
beers of the church, afterwards became
useful ministers. Almost nine years
| went by and the church was without a
pastor. Sylvanus Boardman had been a
| leader in the opposition to the church,
| and he attemptd to concentrate forces
| against it, but he too, became Baptist,
and in 1902 pastor of the Baptist church.
| In this position he remained nine
| years, and his was one of the pre-emi-
nently successful pastorates of this
| church. The next pastorate was that of
Rev. John Haynes, who was followed by
| Rev. David Nutter Rev. Nathan Chap
! man, Rev.C Charles Miller, Rev. John
| Billings, Rev. A. B. Pendleton, Rev. David
Nutter, lsecond pastorate) Rev. Lucius
| Bradford, Rev W. A. Durfee, Rev. E. S. Fish,
| Rev. G. Parker, Rev.J. r.. Herrick, Rev.
LIP. Quincy, Rev. W. H. Ventris. Rev. o.
4 N. Paw .