Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-06

Monmouth has sometimes been
called The birthplace Of Main
Methodism AS carly as 17S3 James
Potter Of Litchfeld, endeavored to
arouse Il religions sentiment in this
town. Til 1923 jesse Lee the circuit
rider, the founder Of Methodisn in New
England visited the town. Jesse lee,
it Will De remembered, was 4 parsonage
Of great magnetism and widespread in
llurnCe. He became chaplain of the
House Of Representatives at Washing
ton early in the 10Th century, and after
three years experience there was ap
pointed to the same service in the
Senate. These offices were given him
entirely Hnsought as ne in no way
catered to public life and notoriety
more than to preach the word in
quiet transformations manner. The year
following Lees eXhortations in Mon
mouth Philip Wager, the circuit rider.
formed a class of some dozen or 30
church members in the town and that
was the first permanent organization of
Mcthodists formed in Maine. The old
est nhabitants will tell you of those
members. The few names of these
I'tiiijtIS lIlC JDAi itftl 1ctii DDAeilii ar
Gilman Moody and wife; Phneas
Blake and wife; Daniel Smith and
wife; Nancy Nichols.
Jesse Lee came the second time to
Monmouth when revival of great in
terest prevailed and yet q little later q
third time did he visit the new church
when large concourse met him This
third meeting with Monmouth people
was on Christmas. His text, For
unto US child is born; unto us son
is given" was peculiarly adapted to
the occasion and received deep and
lasting impression. Following the ser
mon the sacrament Of Lords supper
was observed. At the first annual
meeting Of the town following the
munificent sum of nine pounds less
than $50 was voted to be raised for
preaching.
For nearly 20 years church service
was held in the homes of the pioneers
of the town. At length the town voted
to build a church to worship in and 200
pounds was to be raised. This was in
l17J, but the plans failed to material
i2e. 1t was another 20 years when the
subject of building a church was again
aeitated, and it was five years later
when the church was finally finished.
In 1896 the first Methodist church of
the town of Monmouth was finished as
far as the exterior went and dedicated
by jesse Lee. That was the second
Methodist church ever built in Maine,
the first having been erected the year
previous in Readfield. Monmouth was
first in the State in the organization of
4 Methodist church.
Soon came Joshua Taylor as presid-
ing elder and Robert TaIlahe, an Eng
fish mission worker, and large addi-
tons We're made to the little colony of
Mcthodists. In 1898, midsummer,
Bishop Ashbury of great renown,
came to this church and preached with
great inspiration q forcefuI sermon OF
great strength and eloquence. The
event of that period Of Methodism IN
this community was one never to be for
gotten. Bishop Asbury was then the
best known and most powerful Metho-
dist preachers in the country. 1t is
recorded that the biship's text was
from Ephesians, vi:6-13, and he gave
mastery discourse.
Following Bishop Asbury came
Epaphras Kibby. and several of the
good Methodist families in this town
have handed down this name to their
children IS DR.. I<ibby Prescott, Kibby
CONTINUED on page %