The Republican journal., 1903-04-02
BAPTIST CHURCHES IN MoNrv1LLE.


Montvllle in the early days of the town,
although few persons at this time know
that such churches ever existed. The
first Baptist church in Montville was
organized July II, 1907, in an old school
house which stood near where Nathan
Pierce then lived, in what is now known
as the Frye district. The council con-
sisted of the following brethren: Elder
Isaac Hall of Unity, Elder Nathaniel
Robinson and Nathaniel Stanley of
Palermo, Deacon John Bickmore, Dea-
con Ebenezer Gowing and Joseph Cow
ing They first chose Elder Robinson
as moderator and Joseph Gowing as
clerk. Then prayers were offered by
Elder Robinson. They voted to organ
ize a church and receive the following
members: Nathan Pierce, Mary Pierce,
Joseph Chandler, Mary Chandler and
lydia Lucus. Elder Robinson gave
them the tight hand Of fellowship.
August 18th, 1907, Job Cushman unit
ed with the church, having preached at
Northport the previous year and organ
lied a Baptist church there on New
Years day, 1907. His ordination was
arranged to take place at Northport,
but was postponed to be at Montville
on October It'll. The council was as
follows: Elder Nathaniel Robinson,
Joseph Arnold, Thaddeus Bailey, Henry
Whittier of Palermo, Elder Isaac Hall
and Nathaniel Emery of Unity, Deacon
John Bickmore and Joseph Gowing.
Elder Robinson was chosen as modera-
tor and Joseph Gowing as clerk. Ed
der Isaac Hall gave the right hand OF
fellowship, Elder Robinson preached
the ordination sermon, and Elder job
Cushman was installed as pastor.
That year a reformation followed his
labors, which greatly increased the
membership. Brother Cushman was to
receive salary of $50 per year, but
it often fell short of that sum. The
amount was raised by assessing tax
on the members. Each member paid
poll tax. the ladies paying half that Of
the men The poll tax assessed was %
cents on the men and u II cents on
the ladies' The remaining amount was
raised by a tax assessed against the
male members according to the valua-
ton of the property they possessed, as
was their town tax. In some other years
the poll tax was T. cents on the male
members and cents on the females.
If a member refused to pay his or her
tax. he orshe was excluded from church
fellowship and the communion until 1t
was paid. But if the member was
thought to be too poor to pay, then the
tax was abated and the poor minister
had to do without his pay.
This church shared i'll the great re-
formation of 1872, when nine members
were added to its membership. Elder
Cushman resigned his pastorate in 1920,
having added So members to the church.
The church was without pastor for
SIX years, and was in low state when
Thomas b. Robinson came to its aid,
December 10, 1926, as missionary sent
by the Baptist State Convention from
Waterville College for three months.
4 great revival followed, and he con-
tluued with the church. He was or
daiued July -, 1927. He made plans
for building a meeting house, which
Was completed in 1928. This struc-
ture was of brick, two stories high,
with galleries Oh three sides. 1t was
probably dedicated on New Years
Day, 1925 The quarterly meeting was
invited to meet with them to share i'll
their rejoicing The pastor received
so the first year ard 500 the second
wear The church membership in
creased until there were sixty two
members under his care
Elder Joseph Palmer next became
pastor June - to 1888. June u, 1885,
Elder Z. II. Emery was engaged for
half of the time for one year. Elder
Jameson was installed pastor June %,
1886, and dismissed Mar 90 1887. Elder
Isaac Smith became pastor June &, 1898
and was dismissed Nov q 1899 Elder /
samuel Fogg preached from Dee. IA, i
1889. to Feb, 1910, when he was dismiss !,
r. ed.
jeremiah NJ Mace became pastor
IN June, 1910, and was ordained Seplem- :
Der .th. lie was blessing to the church,
and the meml ership increased to "a
He was a successful school teacher. 1t
was necessary in those day for teacher
10 lie able and willing to fight, as it was
the custom for the large boys to carry
the teacher out and thus break up the
school. The day Of battle came and
Elder Mace was the upper dog in the
tight. The affair made a breeze in the
church. At the church council a member
entered complaint against him, saying
that Elder Mace had knocked the boys
down and then made his brags of it,
which he did not think was showing
Christian spirit. He was dismissed Oct.
%, 1912.
Elder Sweet was pastor in 1S43. Elder
Z. H. Emery, a former PASTOR was