The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-05-30
The Baptist Church at China
Fittingly Obst rves Its Tooth Anniversar

Fittingly Observes Its Tooth Anniversary.
The one hundredth anniversary of the
founding Of the Baptist church, China was
observed Thursday, May 23d. Many for
| mer members, pastors of the church and
visiting clergymen were in attendance.
After singing, Scripture texts and prayer,
the church clerk, Frank Metcalf, called the
roll, which was responded to by short
speeches from members present.
Mrs. Mary Ward, aged 81, answered to her
her name. She and Mrs. Jane Metcalf are
the two oldest living members of the church
and were born in the same month and year,
March, 1911 Mrs. Harriet Foster of Water
| vile, who has belonged to this church for
IS years, was also present. Many cordial
letters were read from former members and
pastors, all expressive of love for and inter-
est in the church and this memorable occa-
sion. At the noon hour dinner was served
to all in the vestry.
in the afternoon greetings were extended
from the Baptist church in Waterville
through Rev. G. d. B. Pepper. Histories
of the China and Palermo churches were
given by Rev H. f. Wood and Allen Good
win. Palermo was originally branch OF
China church. The centennial sermon was
then preached BY DR.. Pepper. 1t was most
able and hopeful. At the evening service
more letters were read, and Mrs Pepper
gave short but most excellent address, and
Rev. E. c. Whittemore preached fine ser
HUI llUl tlt tcAG L HdNC lOdl HCu INV W
be abased and how to abound" Rev. F. L.
and Mrs. Clark of Windsor, added to the pro-
gram by their singing during the day and
evening.
The China church was organized, May %,
1901, with membership of 10. 1t was then
within the limits of the Bowdoinham Assc-
citation. 1t is now in the Kennebec Associ-
alton. At first its meetings were held in
private houses and barns The first church
was built in 1914, near the old mill across
the lake, where the whole settlement was
then located. This church was moved to
the site of the present one in 1922 and re-
built in 1882. The first pastor was Jabez
Lewis, and in the congregation on this
10Gvh anniversary sat two children be-
longing to the sixth generation from him.
The salary paid to the first minister was
$780, which was voted payable in money,
require" There have been many and glori
Gus revivals in this church. In the memoir
able one of 1913 there were more than so
converted. The largest number of mem
bers on record at one time is 300. This was
under Dr. Shaw's pastorate. In 1868 the
parsonage was purchased. The Christian
Endeavor was organized in 1889.
One of the specially interesting features
of the program was the singing by the
whole audience OF an anthem composed for
the dedication Of the China and Albion
Injecting houses" in 1882 by }. C. Wash
burn. One hundred copies of this had been
printed for this occasion and it was sung
with the fervOr, if not perhaps the melody,
of century ago. A tithing stick was ex-
hibited such as the tithing men used 100
years ago to arouse sleepy and inattentive
youngsters. 1t is said that the feather end
was used on the girls and the hard, knobby
end on the boys. Also large tray was
shown, the identical one often appearing at
the ordination of ministers bearing it's load
of liquors. Much of the success and in
terest of this anniversary is due to the wise
planning and indefatigable labOrs of the
present pastor of the church, Rev. H. E.
Wood.