The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-13
RAYMOND CHURCH CENTENNIAL.
Town Owned the Outside and the So
ciety the Inside of First Building.

How Rev. Zacbarian Jordan's Preaching
Tour Was Rewarded-H Cotton Hand
kerchief and Twelve and a Half Cents
Exercises of the Observance. 9%
Especial Correspondence
Raymond, November H.
The centennial exercises of the Free
Will Baptist church, of which slight
historical sketch appeared in last Tues
days PRESS, began Friday evening.
November 9. The weather was not OF
the best. and consequently the attend
ance was rather small, about IS being
present. The exercises began with a
praise meeting, Led by the pastor, Rev.
Mr.. Paige, after which an interesting
historical sketch of the church was read
by the pastor, the address being divided
into three heads-the meeting house, the
church, and the clergyman who have offic-
lated. After the sketch, the pastor
preached a short sermon, his text being
Hebrews 1875: "Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, and today, and forever"
Saturdays exercises were attended by
a small audience, on account of the in
clement weather. Revs. F. A. Palmer
of West Falmouth, and F. P. Norwood
of Gray, were not pre- sent as was expect
ed, the weather probably keeping them
away.
Saturday morning, ct $50, a consecra-
ton meeting led by Miss Ellen ]. Small
of Gravy followed by short address
by the pastor on Progress for 100 years,
and treated of the progress made in
branches of industry and religion. In
the afternoon the exercises began at
1870, with praise service, led by G. W.
Foss. Mr.. Norwood, who was expect
ed, not being present, there We're no
other services. Saturday evening COS.
pei meeting was held, led by the pastor.
The weather on Sunday, the 18th, wa s
all that could be expected, and as con-
sequence the old church was filed tooy-
erfowing, probably 200 being present in
forenoon. In the forenoon at 9.30, a con-
secration meeting was led by SIS.
WEIGH. After an intermission of five
minutes, and music by the choir, the
centennial sermon was preached by Rev.
J. ALBERT Libby, of West Poland. his
text being Mark, 7:37: He does all
things we.l.n The prayer and scripture
lesson were given by the pastor, the lat
ter being Isaiah, S. The pastor also
read a very interesting letter from Pro-
lessor Cyrus Jordan of Boston, assistant
editor of the Morning. Star, and who for
many years has been we'll known teach.
er AMI editor. He is native of Ray
mond, and formerly belonged to this
church. Mr.. Libby, after the sermon,
read an interesting poem, which is ap-
pended to this article.
The praise service in the afternoon at
100, was led by Wallace S. Hodgdon OF
West Poland. At the request Of many,
Mr. Paige then gave his historical adj
dress again, and Mr.. Libby re-read his
poem, (which brought the centennial ex-
ercises to a close, although evening
meetings are to be held throughout the
week.
From the historical sketch the fol-
lowing items not given in last Tues
days PRESS are compiled:
Rev. Joseph Hutchinson was the first
Free Baptist clergyman who ever
preached in Raymond, and the first to
die in the denomination. His death oc-
CURED February "a, 1901. Previous to
the formation of this church the Free
Will Baptists here were members of the
churches at Gorham and Gray. Other
| early clergymen were Rev. James Nc
Carson, (who was born in a fort in Cor
ham, Decemb Der 4, 1743), Rev. William
Irish of New Gloucester, and Rev. Ma.
| than Merrill of Gray.
1t is said that the outside OF the first
church buiding belonged to the town Of
property of the church. Rev. Zachariat
| Leach was ordained by Reys. Randall,
| Hubbard, Weeks and Russell. In 17Gs
and 1905, there were great revivals. H.
| 1908 there was a period of depression
only to be followed by another reviva
in 1909, there being also one in 1926. MIR.
Leach died in 1912, at the age of about
| II years. Rev. Joseph Wight, who was
another early clergyman, and who
preached the dedication sermon wher
the present church building was dedi
Gated, May II, 1887. Its said of Rev.
Zachariah Jordan, the second pastor
that he made a preaching sstour of ter
weeks. speaking nearly very day, and az
a reward for his labor received besides
his board, a cotton handkerchief ant
the munifcent sum of twelve and one
half cents. He was born July 2, 1887
| was ordained June 10, 1878, and died al
Limerick, Me-, May ~, 1864, being near
ly 81 years of age. Rev. Clement Phin
ny died May 2, 1860. Rev. Hubabri
| Chandler, another early worker, ant
who preached in 120 towns and planta
lions in Maine died at West Poland, No
vemb 5, 1866. Rev. Joseph Phinney