The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-24
BUXTON.
uniyerrallst CHURCH at Bar Mills.
To the Editor of the Press:


of revenue among the people OF this VII
lage, there has always been large share
OF free-thinkers, and these have natural
~ become identified with those religious
observers classed as Universalists. Early
in 1891 the Universalists began to hold
meetings in Berry's Hotel, having an oc-
casional sermon in the summer season;
but the first concerted action was had IN
the spring Of 1894 when Merri TIC. WOOD,
student of Tufts College, was hired for
three months from June 1st to sept ISL
preaching at Bar Mills in the forenoon
and at Scarboro Corner, or South Bux-
ton in the afternoon.
In May, 1886, Mr. Wood came here as
pastor, working both here and at South
Buxton. Mr.. Wood S earnest work and
pleasing manr ers won him many friends,
and added many to the cause.
The closing of the services in October
left the young people without any congo
NAL leader and pastor, and without any
place where they could assemble and en-
| JOY their social relations. and it was then
that one person, a lady at Bar Mills VII
lage, opened her doors and called IN all
the young folks, and extended to them
all a cordial welcome to her Preside, and
Novem Der l., 1885, a social religious club
known as the Murray Club, was organ :
lied at her house, and once in two weeks,
on Friday evening, throughout the year,
from that time to the present, that mouse
has been opened and that same cordial
welcome has continued with no abate.
int Th{a olnh H.
bers about thirty-tive members, nearly or
quite all unmarried, and have among
II number some tine scholars ana
ayers, and their social intercourse and
literary and musical exercises have made
them nucleus of attraction, and the
young people have thus become power,
and are really the back bone of the Socie-
ty, adding quite materially to the funds
to support preaching.
Rev. DIR. A Ball, another student OF
Iu1ts College, was hired during the
summer of 1886, and meetings were held
IN McKenny's Hall, on Hollis side of the
river. MIR. Ball was very fine man. and
nlled his place very acceptably for so
young q man, and gave promise of be-
coming leading light in the denomina-
ton.
In May 1897, Rev j. Clifford Dicker-
son, q young man from Detroit and grad
| uate of Tufts, became the pastor, holding
meetings In the McKenny Hall again.
The work of Mr.. Diokerson will be held
longest in remem branoe, for it was
through his untiring efforts that the pa
irons were made to believe that hurch
could be built, and that, too, this very
senson. He set himself to work, and both
in sunshine and in storm he might be
seen bicycling from place to place and
kept his courage good by getting lift
now and then, and when the sum of $500
had been subscribed he began to make ar
rangements for building the house. A
lot 105 feet front, and running back to
the river, was purchased of Mrs. Emma
Smith, and was cleared of bushes and
work commenced and foundation begun
on the 18th OF September. Stephen Towle,
VIM. IL. Dyer and James A. Harmon
were building committee, and James A
| Harmon was the builder.
| There was liberal supply of gratu-
tious labor, and the work when begun
was carried on with o zeal never before
| known here in an enterprise of this kind.
A building 3Sx54, with an auditorium
37x35, and finished throughout, stands in
q commanding locality on the south bank
of the river, q few rods from the center
| of the village on the Salmon Falls road,
and has opened its doors wide to all who
believe in the divine mission of the Mas
ter, unJramelled by the bonds of sectarien
dictation. The dedication on Thursday,
the 18th, was a gratifying success.
! The exercise rally commenced on
Wednesday evening by q sermon by Mr..
| Dioksrson, and was well attended. The
an election, 1.-The Morning Light ia
Breaking" by the quartette, followed by a
sermon by Rev. Frank Baker, of the
Congregational chucrh, from the text,
Matt. 5:14. ''Ye are the light of the
world The novelty of a Congregational
minister standing before an audience on
the platform of Universalist meeting
house was an interesting event. The moss
covered walls of sectarian construction
seemed to crunble and totter, as sentence
by sentence the strong and eloquent
words of this new advocate of the new
born faith in the benevoienoe of Christ
was sounded forth by one who had been
trained in the school of Jonathan Ed
wards, was listened to with mingled feel
ings Of JOY and surprise.
'Harki The progeny that springs
From the forests of cur land,
Armed with thunder, clad with wings,
Shall wider world command"
The addresses and exercises of the af-
ternoon were as follows: Invocation by
Rev. Herbert L. Moulton, nf Biddeford /;
addresses by Rev. Henry Blanchard of
Portland and by Rev. j. ,. Marsh OF
5hco, rev. w. W. Hooper OIL Doeflng,
Rev. M. G. Wood of bingham, Mass. !;
history of the parish. by Rev. d. A. Ball,
OF Someryille; solo by Rev. j. q. Dick
erson; Scripture reading by Rev. Frank
Baker. of Buxton; duet by Misses Fran
ICES b. Dyer and Helen K. Marshall; ded.
icatory prayer by Rev. f. I. Nelson of
Deering With SO many and SO able
speakers it would seem invidious to make
special reference to the merits of either,
put those oil Dr. Blanchard and Mr..
Marsh and Mr.. Moulton were very much
praised by ell who heard them.
The room was crowded, and the au-
dlence seemed to be select one There
was large attendance from Biddetord
and Saco
The platform was decorated with some
large and beautiful pots of different
coIored chrysanthemums, the generous
onering of Alonzo Hill, the popular no
r1st OF North Saco. A beautiful gilt
chandelier, with four lights hangs from
the center Of the audience room. This
with twelve other arc lights and all tie
setting up and furnishing Of the electric
llghting for a year, has been put IN and
PAID Tor By Mr.. VIM. H. Chapman, the
electrician of Portland When the eXer-