The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-15

give In their names In the months of
April or tiay to the clerk of the town
and shall likewise pay up their proportion
OF all money already raised for the sup
port Of the said Congregational society. 80 :
In the beginning OF the century, she
church and the town were still closely
connected. 10 was necessary for the Bap-
tists 10 get action by the town nesting
before they could establish their church
as they desired to do. IL was still tthe
custom for the town to appropriate money
for the support Of the preacher and TO
erect the church ediHce In Buxton this
course had been taken when the Coners-
gst:onalists were the only religious body
there. The new church sought for d
share In these benefits and at town
meeting held October Is, 1900, the follow
ing articles were presented In the war
rant. but they did not lind favor with the
voters, and were dismissed:
To see II the town will build q meeting
house ut such place rs may be agreed
upon and complete 80 far ms the old one
was at the setting of OF the pews.
To see II the town twill traise money to
support a minister who snail be called
to preach at said house
To see u the new parish shall be poll
parish.
TO see II the new parish shall have the
privilege Of choosing their own minister
and TO agree with him for his support
While the town refused the first action
asked by the Baptists relative to the con-
struotion Of the church and the payment
of the preacher. second attempt was
more successful, for in January, 1901, the
town voted "that the new parish or
Baptist society shall have the use of the
north district grammar school house for
public worship ON Sundays until a meet
ing house shall be provided there for, pro-
vided a society shall pay all damages the
town or district may sustain thersby and
shall have the privilege of the key ofithe
door Of said schoolhouse on said Sundays
II any of them shall call for the same"
The town was evidently disposed to
deal generously withlthe new society, for
on April 6, 1901, 1t was further voted
that sum of money be raised by the
town and assessed by the assessors of the
said town yearly in the same way and
manner that the Rev. Paul Collins sal
airy IL raised and assessed to be appropri-
atsd for the support of the public teachers
of religion and morality in the said new
parish In the same proportion to the said
Rev. Paul Coffin's salary as the ratable
property of the said new parish bears to
the whole ratable property OF the said
town, provided Ii shall never exceed the
sum of $2ae and twenty i've cents and to
be drawn from the treasurer by COM
mittee of the said society who shall be
responsible TO the two parishes aforesaid
for the faithful discharge of their trust in
appropriating any such sums as may be
drawn for that purpose"
These are the records Of the beginning
of the church which today celebrated its
centennial 1t Is worthy of note, how
ever, that the house of worship which was
soon built was erected without aid from
the town. The church was first built In
June. 1909, and cost about three thousand
dollars. The lot was secured by Major
Thomas Harmon and by him sold to n
COMMITTEES of the parish. consisting of
Brioe Boothby and others, for s45. The
deed was signed May 30, 1909, and record
cd April a. 1907. The house was so feet
long and 60 feet wide with some go or 20
pews. 1t had deacon's seat, high pull
pit and an immense sounding board.
This place of worship was in constant use
until 1881 when 1t was replaced by the
building afterwards remodelled into the
present commodious house of worship.
The rebuilding in 1881 cost the parish the
sum of 5000. The building committee
at that time consisted of Deacon Apple
ton, Samuel Parker, Thomas Emery,
Samuel Dunnell and Phineas Hanson. In
1879, during the passionate Of Rev. j. N.
Burt, the house was again remodelled at
q cost of some $1,000. The building was
raised. yestry added and modsrn decora-
tion and furniture used to adorn tbs In
terror. A line organ, formerly in the
Free street church. Portland was given to
the church by former member then
resident In Portland. The building COM
mittee In 1879 consisted of Rsv. j. M.
Burtt, Joseph Davis. Daniel Leavitt,
John L. Porter. Mark p. Emery, Joseph
G. Steele, Samuel Hanson, Joseph Dun
nell and Isaac Hutchinson.
The list of the pastors of the church is
long one. The first man to minister to
the new church was the Rev. Abner Elan
ders of whom the speaker said:
"Abner Flanders deserves more space
than can be given him. not only as the
first pastor. his pastorate covering a
period of years, but as one of the three
pastors who have been most instrum en- tai
In giving the church the standing it has
today among the country churches. He
was born in Salisbury, N. H., in l777.
1t Ia not certain when he came to Buxton
but 1t is certain that ne was present ct
the organization OF the church and the
town treasurer's books show that he
taught school that winter ''for ten dollars
a month and board at one dollar week. ;"
In fact he supplemented his salary as
pastor By teaching some part OF each year
until 1915. Frequent reference is maue TO
him In the church records and there Is
nothing to show that the church had
any other supply from its organization
until his call. From his call to his ordi-
nation, period of nearly twelve months.
he steadily supplied the church The his