Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-19

As onward they marched. undaunted and
untired,
Assured That obeying the dear Lords
At last. they should rest in His own
promised land.
So. gladly do We. here. memorials raise
To Him who hath crowned with rare
blessings our days;
And here 1t this milestone which We've
reached, today.
We've paused Tor a while 10 look Ddck
on our way.
From the time when John Wesley's self
sacrificing manner
OF living for God, ana unfurling Christ :
banner.
Filled followers many. with evangelical
zeal
That the whole world of mankind the
Christ's love might feel;
We have seen how our church, trec-lihe,
tlpuriShcd ana grew.
In spite Of all hardsh hips twas called to
pass through.
sons rolled round.
ground.
own dew
II fed and was nnurlSheu the succeeding
years through;
Withstanding the tempests wild, fierce,
wintry blast.
DER it passed:
Till on valley and meadow, Its shadow
waves Ger,
And shall, till II reaches carth most
distant shore.
We direct here, our notice with much
admiration
And gratitude, that we do owe as ma
tiOn,
To those preachers, so earnest, cour-
agcous ana true,
Who rode DER their circuits in this COun-
try while new:
Selling each opportunity i'll their jour
nCyS round.
To preach Christ to the needy ones
wherever found.
Place CT honor We yield to that pioneer
band,
Who came from lflr 10 our own native
land
Whose presence We feel where their
labors have been.
To the work of whose hearts We have
now entered in:
For they gave with true virtue that spirit
uplifts
A Christian example. the best Of all
gifts.
Twas the year eighteen hundred, in
April, We are told.
That two Of these heralds of Mcthodism
Smith and Kibbcy their names, were by
dutys call. stirred;
And at Bowman'S Point, Farmingdalc
preached from Gods Word.
Surrounded by forests of tall. sombrous
pines.
uTOuSn whose Drd1ltnCS lCIl SUNSHINE, III
long, sloping lines,
In fancy, we see, from the country far
reaching,
The people who'vc gathered to list to the
preaching.
In fancy, we may hear their sweet an
themS roll,
AS they lifted 50 gently, to Heaven
each soul:
And the voice of the preacher. too, in
words full of warning
That fell on his hearers, like the dew of
the morning.
That great interest was awakened, it's
plain 10 be seen;
To the work for the Master. they at once
entered in;
For a place soon to worship, Il building
was erected,
And that Intervale. charming, was the
spot they selected.
There met, on each Sabbath, that de-
voted band.
And for near thirty years. worshipped
there at that stand.
From such small beginnings, our church
here has grown.
Surely faithful hearts treasured seed,
thus early Sown;
They struggled 50 bravely, they strug
gled so long,
But succeeded let this be the theme of
the song.
In eighteen hundred eighteen, the CON
ference first came,
With Bishop Z. George to preside DER
the same.
'Tis said. long remembered was that
Sabbath day;
1T was feared lest the galleries, so taxed
should give way"
Bishop George preached the sermon.
discourse most thrilling.
On Eternity; with deep interest, his hear
ers' hearts filling.
When % came, the oid church was aban-
dOned and sold;
Some place must be furnished to replace
the old
Having Outgrown their quarters, ere
this, new had sought,
And in various places, the Word had
been taught.
But now, one of their townsmen, R. III.
Gardiner by name.
With true generosity, to the front came
A lot for a building on High street he
offered:
And, right gladly. they seized the assist
ance thus proffered.
Stralghtway they began, with purpose
most strong,
And place. for their worship was start
ed ere long
Michael Woodward. by experience and
nature well fitted
Was made master-builder, till the work
was completed.