Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
Its Semi.C Centennial.

FIFTfETH ANNIVERSARY OF sECoN
. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF MOI
II wAY.-AN INTERESTING AND PROFIT
: ABLE OCCASION.
j The Second Congregational Church {
Norway on Wednesday celebrated til
: fiftieth anniversary of its organizatio
with appropriate services, under the in
mediate direction of its pastor, Re,
Bates S. Rideout. The completion of
half-century finds the church possessin
the same characteristics which have dis
tinguished it in the past. 1t has has al
ways been noted for absence of faction
and unity and harmony of action, as wei
as for the loyal support of its members
under all circumstances, as well as tn
valuable assistance of members of tn
parish who are not connected with TIT
church. 1t has had fifty years of usefu
existence.
From a material standpoint probabl!
no church in Maine has suffered more il
fifty years than this one. Twice 1T
property has been completely destroyed
by fire, and on third occasion the build
ing was badly damaged; yet every time
ready hands and purses have promptly
repaired the loss. To-day the church oc
cupieS one of the finest buildings in Ok
ford County, with debt not large, which
is being steadily reduced.
The weather of Wednesday was de-
cidedly unpropitious, the rain fell fast
Hl,A 80, e.. 60
the audience which assembled for the
afternoon service was not so large as
would have been expected under better
circumstances, though it was good one
for the day. The music was by choir
consisting of Miss NJ. Louise Staples,
soprano; Miss Grace Thayer, alto; c.
w. Horne, tenor; II. L. Horne, bass
Mrs. H. l.. Horne organist.
After selections by the choir, and re-
sponsive reading, Rev. Mr.. Rideout read
appropriate selections of Scripture, and
prayer was offered by Rev. Miss Angel
of the Norway Universalist church. Rev.
Percival F. Marston of the Pine Street
Congregational church, Lewiston, was
then introduced to give the address of
the afternoon.
After congratulating the church upon
its anniversary, Mr.. Marston announced
as his subject, "The Worlds Noises, and
the Note of the Gospel" In the Babel
of the modern world we hear three
voices. First, the voice of those who
strive for mastery-not for mastership,
but for selfish mastery. We hear this
everywhere, in all departments of life
the political world, the business world,
the world of pleasure; in the conflicts
between employer and employed, be-
tween buyer and seller, between gambler
and gambler.
Then there is the voice of those who
cry for being overcome. This too we
hear everywhere, and it is inseparable
from the former voice. 1t is the cry of
the poor, of those who go under in the
the driftwood on life's sea, of
those who are overcome by sin.
Finally, there is in the modern Babel
Il third voice, the voice of those who
sing, and there is nothing more discour-
aging than this voice of those who,
amid the conflicts of life, can sit on the
edge of the battle and sing, regardless of
how the battle goes as long as it does
not hurt them.
The world is waiting for another
voice of those who have come
not to strive nor to sink, nor to sing, but
to serve. John the Baptist said, al am
the voice of one crying in the wilderness,
make straight the way of the Lord
The greatest of all Christian graces is
the power to prepare other mems hearts
for the coming of the King, for the ac-
ceptance of the Christ. When the Mas
ter comes to reign over the kingdom of
this world, we shall hear only one voice,
the voice of love, which is the note of
the Gospel, the harmony of the heart.
Following Mr.. Marston's address, brief
addresses were made by the pastors of
local churches-Rev. B. F. Pickett of
the Methodist church, Rev. E. S. Cotton
Of the Baptist church, Rev. Caroline E.
Angel of the Unversalist church, Rev.
W. E. Brooks, D. D., of the South Paris
church, and Rev. Smith
Baker, D. D., of Portland. All made
we'll chosen remarks extending their
hearty congratulations to both the
church and the pastor, and fraternal
spirit among the several denominations
was manifested.
This closed the afternoon session. An
excellent supper was served in the
church at ) 80, to all the guests.
A good congregation filled the house
ut the evening session. Scripture read
ing and prayer were by Rev. DR.. Brooks
Of South Paris, and the historical address
was then given by Rev. B. S. Rideout.
A very brief outline of this complete and
excellent history must serve here.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN BRIEF.
The history of Congregationalsm in
Norway extends over a period of hun |
bred years. About the year 1900 enough |
had settled in the
centre of the town to have occasional
the meetings frequently being
he ID in the summer in barn. A church |
was organized there in 1902, and the
church was built in 1905 and 1909.
BY the year 1852 the number of people
in Norway village had increased consid-
erably, and the Congregational families
there began to feel the need of church
A church had been built
in 1887 on the site formerly occupied by
the Congregational churches which were
burned. This was occupied by the
Methodists, with whom some Congrega-
tionaliSts joined, b-monthly meetings
being held. For various reasons the
Methodists became unable to maintain
services, and in 1852, the house was sold
to the Congregationalists.
The preliminary meeting looking to-
ward the organization of church was
held on the 10Th of December, 1852, and
the church was formally organized Jan.
18th, 1858, with twenty-five members, no
one of whom now survives. Rev. A. T.
LOring was the first pastor. The church
was admitted to Oxford Conference the
following June. The pastors from the
organization to the present time have
been Rev. Asa 7. LOring, Rev. p. B.
Wilcox, Rev. A. II. Tyler, Rev. 7. T.
Merry, Rev. Geo. w. Kelley, Rev. N. S.
Moore, Rev. Chas. l.. Mills, Rev. E. Z.
Bacon, Rev. Alex. Wiswall, Rev. b. S.
Rideout. the present pastor. Mr.. Rideout
has been here since 1877.
In 1860 the church building was raised
up to give room for vestry. A belfry
was built and new bell was hung in the
tower. A reed organ was purchased.
Aid was received from the society then
known as the Congregational Union.
Yearly aid was received from the Maine
Missionary Society for the support of
preaching till Rev. Charles l.. Mills came
and put new life into the church and
wonderfully encouraged and strengthen
ed it. Since his time it has been self
supporting.
While he was preaching on Sunday,
Dec. 10, 1915, the church edifice was