Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-11-26

also agrss that, It such society meetings u
scriptions shall be opened for the purpose
deffaying the expenses OF the society. sucn
tho building. or hiring convenient pace !
4 publick Worship; for The support OF puDa,
according 70 the vote Of the tociety; which On
scription shsll be disposed Of by tho vote Of 8
society; each subscriber having an equal re
!. to vote In this and all other matters that perts
r Is Disciples Of Jesus Christ, 70 live In pea
among ourselves; claiming no right % exerci
r authority over the condolences Of each other
spiritual matters. but henceforth stand fast
And furfbermore. We agree that this societ
composed of the following subscribers shl
bear the appellstion Of the frst religious eocie
; In Norway, and subscribe ourselves "Christts
.assRaon e. al mem ~ s.sn. "a
II Universalism in 1898 did not have
very easy existence. 1t contested ever
: step of the way then as it contests nov
|, before discredit and denial; yet, as tru
principles obtain in the beginning of th
Goth century, they obtained at the clos
: of the 18th, though with greater slow
ness, then under the hardship Of nc "ad
vanced scholarship or the "Highe
Criticism" which to-day seems to be re
vealing that the Universalism Of
hundred years ago was not expansive
enough to cover all the liberal inference
which are the finding of the present re
search.
The society in its early days wen
under several names in succession
which, with the dates of their taking on
are as follows: "The First Religious So
ciety in Norway" 1899; "The Christian
Independent Society,"" 1901; 9Th
Universalist Society of Norway" 1902
"The Society of Christian 1ndepend
ents," 1903; 1.-THE Society Of the indie
pendent Universalists," 1904; "Th'
Christian Independent Society o
Universities" 1905; "The Universalis
Society of Norway and Paris" 1922.
The call issued in April, 1902, for the
annual meeting on the 10th of May
states that it will be held at the meeting
house. Previous to this the meetings
had been held at the house OF some
member.
No record is given Of such big event
as the erecting or the buying of build
ing to be called the meeting house! But
one must have been put up or secured
in some way, between these dates, the
first building for Universalist worship
in the State of Maine erected on this
same spot where the one in which we are
to-day gathered stands. And there is
no record of building the same. The
traditions of the society declare this was
the voluntary work and subscription OF
all those proprietors who desired a
special and central place in which to
hold their services. A few months later
Henry Rust decided to the society the
land now occupied.
The records for portion of these
early years are incomplete, and it is the
Memoirs of Sylvanus Cobb, D. D., which
shows that from the death of Mr.. Barnes
in 1915 until 1920 the Norway pulpit was
supplied occasionally by Rust, Farwell
and Streeter. Mr.. Cobb himself, ma
tive of Norway, while a theological
student, taught the village school and
supplied the pulpit most of the time
during the winter term beginning in
November, 1920.
In 1928 the society was desiring
larger house of worship, and the house
then occupied was sold to the Baptist
society then flourishing, and moved
across the street, the Universalists re-
tanning an equal right with the purchas-
ers for one year. The new meeting
house was built on the site of the old, in
1929. Ezra Beal, most active member
of the society, prepared the plans and
superintended the erection.
In the Oxford Observer for Oct. 9th,
1929, there was very congratulatory
account of the "New and elegant meet
ing house of the Universalist Society,
built of good material, finished in the
best manner and handsomest style. The
architect, Mr.. Ezra Beal, spared no
pains or expense in doing his work
honoring himself in its quail
ity. Mr.. Ichabod Bartlett, the contractor
for the material, procured it all of good
quality, TO the entire satisfaction of the
The society has patent
steel bell procured through the agency
of Asa Barton-a bell of the finest de-
scription, most excellent tone, and is
heard six or eight miles away. The pews
are all sold, the whole business con-
Quoted without the least difference be-
tween the committee and contractors,
Mr.. Beal making no use of ardent spirits
in framing, raising or finishing the
building, and we are confident there is
no house of its size that is more salts
factory in all its parts. The day was.
fine, and it was thought there were a
thousand people present. The music
was superior, the great audience giving
profound attention to all the exercises"
Rev. Benjamin Bixby Murray was
pastor at this time, remaining until 1892.
A son of this man is now living, General
B. B. Murray of Pembroke, Maine, and
was invited to this centennial, but was
unable to attend.
In June of 1s32,Rev. Henry Hawkins
a call, and remained four
years, retiring from the ministry after
that time and making Norway his per-
manent home.
In 1887 Rev. Luke Rand accepted a
call, and under his pastorate there was
a signal revival of interest, twenty-six
being added.
In 1910 Timothy j. Tenney, especially
we'll equipped minister, entered upon
pastorate which continued four years.
In 1S49 Rev. Edwin F. Quimby came
and preached more or less for two years.
Rev. John l.. Stevens was called in
1850, during whose pastorate the meet
ing house was remodeled, an organ put
in and the revised building rededicated,
with Mr.. Stevens installed as the resi-
dent pastor. He remained until '54,
when he beanie editor of the Kennebec
Journal, and entered upon notable
career as journalist and diplomat.
After Mr.. Stevens retirement, the So
ciety was supplied for while. Rev.
Russell Streeter preached few times,
also Rev. D. T. Stevens. In 1855 they
gave call to Rev. ]. w. Ford, who re-
manned three years. During his service
there were thirty new members added
and in the annual meeting of 1858 it was,
for the first time, voted to invite the
ladies to become members of the society.
He was succeeded in 1858 by Rev. j.
C. Snow, 80 lately deceased and 30 Ia
mented. He spent five interesting and
valuable years here; much beloved and
we'll sustained, for there was large ac-
cession of members to the society, most
Of whom (he told me) we're taken in by
immersion. His engagement here was
that he should live at Paris Hill, where
he was instrumental in having church
built, which to-day stands active only in
its subordinate functions. He served as
chaplain of the Twenty-third Maine Reg
iment during its term of service. During
his absence Rev. Zenas Thompson was
invited to preach.
Mr.. Snow came out of the army in '63,