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

Of its existence when the prospects, did
not look encouraging. Rev. II. B. GLOW
or followed Mr.. Wilson. He was ordained
in Buxton. but his passionate was short
one. lasting only year. N. W. Williams
then supplied the pulpit for about thres
years. He was followed by the Rev.
Ivory NJ. Thompson, who for seven years,
from 1852 TO 1859 was the pastor. He was
a man who worked hard as the following,
printed IN lions Advocate az the time Of
his death in 1874 will show:
Rev. Ivory III. Thompson was born in
Shapleigh, March /, 1905. In 1928 he was
married to Miss Eleanor Pillsbury of the
same place. They were baptized at the
same time by the Rev. MIR. Fitzpatrick,
then pastor Of the church In Shapleigh.
He entered the vineyard of Christ as an
active laborer and In all positions he was
earnest and devoted to the cause Of his
master. He moved to Buxton In Janu-
airy, 1882. Here be was licensed to preach
and received ordination In January, 1858.
DE labored with the church and people
about seven years, and how he lab0red
may perhaps be best earned from the fol-
lowing statement from his closing dis
course. Il have preached either myself
or BY exchange 728 sermons on the Sab
bath, S3a lectures, attended between 500
and 600 prayer meetings and 90 church
conferences. have made about 1850
family calis, attended "A funerals, 43i
weddings, served five years as superin-
tending school committse ana have al
ways tried to give a religious turn TO my
visits. impressiug ON the minds of the
young the principles of virtue and relig-
ion- have labored for the good of the
Sabbath school, attended the quarterly
meetings, associations, protracted meet
ings. and taught a day school four
months. have baptized GA and added
to the church U.s.
Following MIR. Thompson, Rev. G.. E.
Tucker held the passionate for two years,
II. b. Marshall three years. o. Richard
son six years, j. NJ. Burtt for seven years
h. Grant for two years, and L. u. Hill
for two yearss Then Mr. Burtt returned
for another pastorate of eight years. b.
z. Turner served six years and the Rev.
William Clements, the present pastor, has
been with the church for several years
past.
The first rsferecs to charitable offerings
found In the records of the church Is In
the record for 1922, when 1t Is recorded
that $50 was given for temperance work.
1t is probably that the benevolences were
not neglected In the following years, al
though no further record is found until
1s47.
From 1S47 to the present time the
church has given for benevolent purposes,
$9,l9I63. The meeting house and the al
terations and repairs that have been made
have cost si2,I 76 40. The Sunday school
was organized in 1880, and the teachers
Bibls class In 1891. The large number of
scholars was in 1870, when 1t was sl1.
The whole membership of the church
has been 627, including b66 by baptism
and 81 by letter. Thirty seven have been
excluded. and i've Of the excluded ones
have been restored. The largest mem
bership was in 1869, when it was 100.
Eleven have been dismissed from the
church by letter. and afterwards returned
and renewed their mem bership. The
presens mem bsrship is 1877.
OTHER EXERCISES.
At the conclusion Of the historical ad-
dress, the Rev. William S. Ayres, OF
Portland, preached a sermon appropriate
to the occasion. 1t was an eloquent effort
and was received with marked attention.
The dinner hour which followed will
long finger In the memory of the people
Of Buxton and their guests. 1t was a
time when old friends and neighbors
renewed the associations of many years
ago, and former pastors grasped the
hands OF those whom they had served in
the ancient church. The services in the
church were resumed at 1.S0 with a de-
votional service conducted by Rev. W. B.
Shum way of Springavle. Rev. J. X.
Wilson OF Portland delivered the first OF
the addresses Of the afternoon, speakin Z
in his entertaining and instructive way
of "Our Indebtedness to the Fathers.
A pleasing feature of the programme was
the reading OF Rudyard Kipling's Recess
sional by Miss IN. G.. Sands. This was
followed by an address by the Rev. I. b.
Mower of South Bewrick, whose subject
was 1.-THE Relation Of our Denomination
to Education.''A MIR. Mower is one of
the leaders among the younger clergymen
OF Maine, and he treated his theme Ia a
happy manner.
Among the guests were Rev. Messrs.
Burtt and Marshal, former pastors. and
the words they spoke to the people of the
village came as a message from old and
dearly. loved friends. and were heard with
the closest attention.
FROM HON. MARK. II. DUNNELL.
Another feature of the days programme
which had an especial interest Was the
reading of letters from former members OF
the church. Among these was one from
the Hon. Mark II. Dunnell of Minnesota
who gave a graphic picture of the ole
meeting house as it existed in his youth
In his letter Mr.. Dunnell said:
Owatonna, Mimi, June s, 1890.
10 the mem bers of the Baptist church
at Buxton Center, Maine.
Allow me to send you my most sincere
and cordial greetings for the occasion OF
your! centennial celebration. 1t would
give me- great pleasure II could be with
you. Among my earliest recollections ars
thoss embracing the ministers and people
1 81 tab