Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-10-08
Oxford Baptist Association.

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The seventy-ninth annual gathering O
the Oxford Baptist Association met wit
the old and historic church at Paris Hill
This church is the oldest except tn
Hebron church In the association. Bot
were organized in 1791-Hebron in Ma
and Paris in November. The parish o
this church at one time was very large
comprising not only the town of Pari
but also Poland, Oxford, Norway, Wood
stock, Greenwood and Hamlin's Grant
Nine churches wholly or in part hav
been formed by members dismissed from
this old church on Paris Hill. Abou
eight hundred people have been CON
nected with the church since its organi
cation.
The association met this year on We'd
nesday and Thursday, Sept. % and 26
beginning at about II O'Clock. Th'
first session was chiefly occupied IL
organization, reading OF the letter from
the entertaining church, and in the ap
pointment of the various committees
Rev. Z. s. Cotton of Norway was re
elected moderator. and Rev. w. D
Athearn of Buckfield as clerk ant
| treasurer.
Two pastors coming into the associa
ton since the last meeting received thu
hand of fellowship from The moderator
Rev. Bernard Christopher of Mechanic
Falls, and Rev. Harold L. Hanson Of
Rumford Falls.
The chief number in the afternoon
program was the reading of the letters
from the churches. There are twenty
churches in all, and all sent letters ex
cept two. While the tone of the letters
may not be quite as hopeful as last year,
there is still abundance of courage,
and there has been net gain in mem
bership. The most marked gain this
last year has been in the church in Mexi
CO, where the membership has changed
from twenty year ago to fifty-four this
year, a gain of 10 per cent.
The pastor who was to preach the an
nual sermon was sick and unable to be
present, but brother was providentially
with us, who had spent several pleasant
wears as pastor of this Paris church,
some years ago, Rev. Fl. A. Roberts,
d. D., now of New Shoreham, Block
Island. He had come to Hebron Acad-
envy with some young men OF his parish
to place them in this excellent school
there he learned of the association and
came to Paris Hill to be present. This
brother was pressed into service and
preached an interesting sermon without
plan or preparation. He referred, in the
course of bis discourse, to that terrible
night in February last when the steamer
Larchmont was wrecked and when 80
many-some scarcely alive and others
quite dead, were brought to the shores
of Block Island. DR.. Roberts was not
only an eye witness but participant in
those heart rending scenes.
Among the best things of the associa-
ton were two discourses Wednesday
evening, the first by Rev. I. B. Mower,
D. D., Secretary of the Maine Baptist
Missionary Convention, speaking of the
work of the society that he represented.
DR.. Mower is an interesting speaker and
has many good things to say, and people
are pleased to hear him say them.
The other speaker was Rev. James A.
Francis of New York, evangelist at
large, sent out by the American Baptist
Home Mission Society, and engaged by
the Baptists of Maine for ten days
mission. A man of rare spirit, and in
his discourse he gave such picture of
the greatness and glory of Jesus Christ
as will not be forgotten for many day
by many who heard him, and suggesting
how all Christians might be evangelists,
carrying their message to the world and
bringing souls to God. He is pleasing
in his appearance, forceful in his ut
terance and attractive in his influence.
One of the best things Thursday fore
noon was an address by Rev. Geo. b.
Ilsley, D. D., of Westbrook, who spoke
of the work, fields and needs of the
American Baptist Home Mission Society,
which is doing work in nearly every
state and territory in the country, in
Cuba and Porto Rico, among the freed
men of the South, the Indians of the
West, and among almost every nation
atty represented in our cosmopolitan
population, employing about fifteen
hundred missionaries, teachers and
other helpers.
In the last session the audience listen
ed to an interesting and timely address
BY Rev. R. o. Everhart, representing the
Anti-Saloon League. He showed how
Maine had been misrepresented and
vilifed in the South by the liquor inter
est, and showed up the danger that be-
set the best interests of Maine in the
immediate future by this same liquor
interest. 1t ia truly time that the citi-
zens of Maine were awake and on guard.
The closing discourse was sermon by
Rev. j. Wallace Chesbro of South Paris
from the text, Exod. Az, "What is that
in thine hand?" Make use of present
opportunities and present abilities for
the advancement of Gods cause, and the
good of humanity. A very helpful dis
course.
1t was very profitable gathering, and
the visitors were bountifully entertain
ed and will long remember their coming
to Paris Hill.
w. D. ATHEARN,
Clerk Oxford Association.