Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-11-26
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
NORWAY uNlvERSALiST CHURCH
OBSERVES ITS CENTENNIAL.
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY IN NOR
WAY AND THE FIRST UNIvERsALIsT
CHURCH IN MAINE.-T THE STORY OF
A PROSPEROUS CENTURY.

f6OStEhOOS
The Norway Universalist church d.
serves congratulations, not only on CON
pleting it's first century of existence
but also upon the happy and successful
way in which it celebrated the event
The exercises began In the evening o
Tuesday, Nov. 10, and extended through
the following day. Everything was pro
pitious, even the weather. which at frs
had threatened. The programme a
sent out had to be somewhat changed
owing to illness and death of some WHIT
were assigned parts, and other causes
but substitutions were made which
proved entirely satisfactory, and thu
affair was well and smoothly carried
out.
The exercises opened with service
on Tuesday evening, when there was ar
address by Rev. Henry Blanchard, D. D.,
of Portland. DIR. Blanchard is the senior
minister of the denomination in the
state, and speaker of great ability and
power. His general topic was the
achievements of the past century
physical, intellectual and spiritual
with special reference to the gain made
by the essential doctrines of the Uni
versalist church. He was heard with
close attention and delight by large
congregation.
THE HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
The service of Wednesday morning
was occupied in addition to devotional
exercises, with the historical discourse
by Rev. Caroline E. Angel, the present
pastor of the church, in the place of
Rev. j. G. Snow, d. D., who was engag-
ed upon this work at the time of his
sudden illness and death. 1t is i'm
possible to make an abstract of such a
discourse that will not omit more or less
important matters, but an attempt is
made in what follows to give the most
important historical facts contained in
the address:
In opening Miss Angel expressed the
general design of her discourse thus:
"This historic discourse will swiftly in
clude first an allusion to the organiza-
ton of Universalism in America, then
reference to the founding of this town of
Norway, and canvass of the establish
ing of the liberal faith here, for these
estates are we'll nigh contemporary, so
that little of the history of the first
two will easily be as factor in the d.
rection of the latter situation which is
the main subject of our address," She
then recounted briefly the coming of
John Murray, the pioneer Universalist,
10 America in ITO, when he preached
his first sermon at little obscure place
in New Jersey called "Good Luck" and
the organization of the first Universalist
society in Gloucester under him in 17S0.
Only few years later, in 1855, the
of Norway were made, when
i've men-Joseph Stevens, Jonas Ste-
1ens, Jeremiah Hobbs, Amos Hobbs and
George Lessly-came into the wilderness
md made what preparation they were
lble in order that their families might
% brought out, the next spring. The
abors and hardships of these sturdy
pioneers, and the courage and determi-
lation that they displayed, were graphic
lily shown.
In 1889 one Henry Rust bought of the
government of Massachusetts tract of
and which included what had been
aiken up by these first corners and his |
,ame was given the settlement being |
low known as "Rustfield." He built |
saw mill and grist mill, and from that
ime that settlement throve, until in
darch of 1897, an act of Incorporation
'assed when these contiguous tracts of
and severally known as Rustfield, the |
lee Grant, Cummings Gore, the Water
ord three tiers and Rust's Gore, COM
in all about $1,000 acres, in
lusive of several beautiful ponds and |
reeks, this later became absorbed in the |
orporate name of Norway.
In 179S religious affairs, which had
ot been entirely neglected, began to be
ctively agitated. The population had
ttained that number which the law of
said should Sustain
ertain amount of preaching each year."
he taxable polls of the town were 10,
oys down to sixteen years of age being
hen required to pay poll taxes. The
standing order" of belief was then
congregational, and 1t was generally the
ase that the preaching maintained
nder the law was of that denomination.
low among the residents of Norway
'ere some who had emigrated from that
lew Jersey town of Good Luck and had
cen convinced of the Scripturalness
nd reasonableness of the Universalist
octrine. So it came about that the first
eligious association formed in Norway
1as Universalist. In November of 1898
he following document was prepared
nd signed:
ublic utility and advantage, to have the doc.
line Of the Grace Of God dispensed among man
ind for their mutual comfort and edifcation,
rat they thereby understanding the nature and
haracter of the Creator God, may be led to put
heir hearts inclined to love him.. and one
mother. and not only view In prospect, but
now In reality, how good and pleasant thing /
10 for Brethren to dwell together In unity,
here all discord win cease and party spirit
Dme 70 an end. 1t IL contemplated to invite
rother Thomas Barnes. (who is man Of sobri. |
~; who sustains good moral character; whom |
'e conceive to have good degree OF understand.
ofed with gin to disperse the same to his fe.
~ men) It is contemplated to invite him to move
Is family Into these parts, where it is conceived
Q will be of great use In the regulation Of soci |
ties. and whose decorum and good department |
dill greatly adorn our profession.
at Ia, furthermore considered expedient, (lest |
re- should bring burden on him and his fam.
~ to assist him In procuring place where his |
smily may be comfortably situated-we, there. |
low upon him, of freedom and choice, the sum |
liked to our names. In case he moves his fam. |
y into these parts, for the purpose above
AIMED"
There were seven signatures affixed to
his paper, Levi Hubbard, Daniel Sta
lies, Nathaniel Bennett, Benjamin Witt,
.evi Bartlett, Anthony Bennett, Benja-
min Herring, and the sum subscribed