The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-11-15
The Old F. W. Baptist Church in Hope

Two years ago the town OF Hope Gel
ebrated its centennial, and some his
tory of the town written and printed
in the papers at that time greatly in
terested your correspondent. The writ
er has at hand some data of the old
Free Will Baptist church of Hope and
thought perhaps a sketch OF the old
church might be of interest to readers
of The Journal:
The Free Will Baptist church of Hope
was organized on the 4th day of April,
1922, by Elder A. Bridges and Elder
Beniah Pratt, and consisted of eighteen
member, viz, Robert Barker, Hannah
Barker, Benjamin Simmons, Chloe
Simmons, Mary Butler, Mary Alexan-
der, George Ulmer, Rebecca Ulmer,
Huldah Pease, Sarah Conant, Jane
Proctor, Sarah Payson, Mary Bisky,
Freelove Wentworth, Sarah Linekln,
Benjamin Brown, Nancy Pease and
Lewis Robinson. Robert Barker acted
as deacon.
Previous to the organization of this
church there was a Baptist church in
the place, and there had been great
reformation under the united efforts OF
the Baptist church, assisted by Free
Will Baptist ministers. 1t was sup
posed that the converts would unite
with the Baptist church, but there
were eighteen who wished to band
themselves together into a Free VIII
Baptist society. April 9th five others
Joined this little band-Noah Fuller,
Spencer Arnold, Martha Arnold, Eunlce
Fairbanks and James Doyle. May 18th
two others united with this band of
Pilgrims-Lydia Beckett and Margaret
Ulmer. Benjamin Simmons was Sc
lected as their church clerk and it was
agreed that they should hold their
monthly conference on Saturday before
the second Sunday. June 10th Benja-
min Heminway, William Bowly and
John Payson were received. August
10th, Mary McMurphy, Lucy Doyle and
Deborah Bridges were given the right
hand of fellowship. Sept. 18th, Robert
Barker and Spencer Arnold were in
stalled as deacons, and Lucy Thomp
son was received into the fold. Octo-
Der 10Th, Jabez Ames, Benjamin Keen,
William McMurphy, Thomas Webster,
LydiaWebster Margaret Thompson and
William McLain were received, max
ing forty-seven received into the church
during that first season.
March 18th Lewis Robinson was
chosen clerk, the former clerk having
moved away Those who united with
this church later were Jane Frances,
Matthias Ulmer Rebecca Ulmer, I'd,
Hannah Perago, Lydia Ames, Eliance
Fuller, William Perry, Mercy Pease,
Hannah Walker, Susan Smith, Mary
Pease Priscilla Keen, Mehitable Bark
er. Rebecca Meservey, Elsie Cummings,
Joshua Sleeper, Cyrus Simmons, Louis
Simmons, Doyle Ames, Roxy Moody,
Lucy Simmons, Samuel Fuller, Olive
Fuller, Rachel Fuller, James Fuller,
Elizabeth Remission, Charles Sylves-
ter, Judith Sylvester, Hiram Sprague,
sophia Chapman, Elizabeth Chapman,
Sabra NeWbert, Harriet Fuller, Wealtha
Fuller Olive Butler Elizabeth Butler,
Washington Butler, Eleanor Butler,
Fanny Thampson, John Fuller, Jacob
Shepherd, Martha Shepherd, Timothy
Brown, Eleanor Brown, Sarah Dyer,
John Towle Reuben Dyer, Aaron
Clark, Oliver Bickmore, Joseph Rich
ardson, Hannah Richardson, Nancy }.
Moody, Eleanor Smith, Mary Linekin,
Esther Wallace, Julia Pease, Priscilla
mes, Statira Sprague, Gilman Wey
mouth, Alden Wentworth, Freelove
Daniels, Nancy Gould, Jedediah Sim
mons, Huldah Packard, Stephen Leigh
ton, Julia Sibley, Lewis Robinson.
In 1928 there was reformation under
the labors of Elder Joseph Gowen and
several were converted, baptized by
Elder John True, and united with the
church. Their meetings were held at
private houses and schoolrooms. In
1887 this church built a westinghouse
at Smiths Mills with the united efforts
of the Baptists and Methodists. This
church owned one quarter. The cost
was estimated at $1,000. During this
wear while the meeting house was build
ing their meetings were held at Benja-
min Simmons and Jedediah Simmons
dwelling houses, but the quarterly
meeting held with this church at this
time was entertained at the Robinson
schoolhouSe.
The meeting house was opened for
conference January 10, 1888, and for
public worship on the day following
The sermon was preached by their pas
tor Elder John Stephens. A great
reformation followed his labors, in
which he was assisted by Elder Samuel
Written and Elder J. N. Rines, a for
mer pastor. Forty were converted and
reclaimed. Thirty-one of the converts
were baptized by Elder Stephens, as
follows: January 18th three were bap |
tized-Joshua Sleeper, Cyrus Simmons |
and Lois Simmons. January 25th, two |
uora hantized-W William FulIer and |