The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-24
81, 1884 at woodfords (Deering). Me.

1856 and 1857, and as far as we have
thus far determined his first charge
was at Palmyra. From 1886 to 1890,
he vas at Kennebunk Depot ard died
there April "a, 1890 at the age of rs
years. During his stay here it Is re-
corded that there was a big revival
many being brought to Christ.
Next came the Rev. Joseph Colby
from Augusta to lead the little flock
of r%eliglonists In their performance
of righteous duties in the months from
1858 to 1859. He had previously
preached in Bartlett, N. H. and after
leaving Skowhegan became chaplain
in the army in 1862. In 1863 and 1866,
he was presiding-elder of the Lewis
ton district, in ct and 10, presiding
elder of the Readfeld district and in
II and IA was presiding elder of the
Readheld district. He died In Cor
ham, Sept. 6, 1893 aged 81 years.
Rev. Charles F. Allen, who was born
in Norridgewock, Jan. 2S, 1916, was
another of the noted Maine Preachers,
who occupied the Skowhegan pulpit.
He was converted in 1882 at Farming
ton and joined the church in Norridge-
wock that same year. He twice oc-
cupied the Skowhegan charge, the first
time in 1860 and 1861 and the last
time in 1867 and 1868. Mr.. Allen grad
uated from Bowdoin College in 1889
and afterwards engaged in teaching
in what is now Hartland Academy in
Hartland, then called ST. Adams Acad-
envy, and at Maine Wesleyan Semi
nary. His first appointment as a
preacher was at Kent's Hill and he
afterwards preached at some of the
most important charges of the Con-
ference. For seven years he was Pres
ident of the College of Agriculture at
Orono, but later resumed his minis
terial duties and became presiding ell
der of the Lewiston District. His
death occurred when he was 83 years
old in the city of Portland. The date
of his demise was February 9, 1899.
Much religious interest was manifest
ed during the first ~pastorate of MI.
Allen, concerning a class at Cornville,
and many were converted; among
them Rev. John Cass.
Succeeding Mr.. Allen was Rev. D. B.
Randall, who came to Skowhegan
from Biddeford and remained here
during 1862, going from here to Lew
iston. He received the degree of d.
D. from Bates College in 1891. Mr..
Randall passed to his reward, Sept. 8,
1899 at Old Orchard, Maine.
Rev. William Nick. Bray, a pastor
of the Skowhegan Church in 1863 and
first charge and he was transferred
from here to Portland in 1866, joining
the Providence Conference in 1866.
Next came Rev. Charles Munger who
occupied many important charges in
the state. being appointed here in
1866. 1t appears from the records
that during the stay of Mr.. Munger in
Skowhegan there was an agitation to
erect a new and more spacious house
of worship. A committee to estimate
the cost was chosen and a building
committee which consisted of Henry
Plummer, Their a dry goods merchant
in business near the present location
of E.. B. Carriers tailoring establish
ment and the late Gen. Isaac Dyer,
druggist, soldier and postmaster of
S~kowhegan Island of Henry Plummer,
who owned the land adjacent to that
upon which the church was built as
it was thought to be more easily ac-
cessible to the members living on both
sides of the K~ennebec. Through the
generosity and energy of Mr.. Plum
mer, Genl Dyer and Mr.. Dinsmore the
enterprise was carried through and
the new church was dedicated in 1868.
In the meantime Mr.. Munger who had
labored diligently in the building of
the new ediice, went from here to
Gardiner and continued to preach up
until 1888, being at the last mentioned
date located in Cornish. He passed
away in Rochester, N. H., April 29n
1898 aged 70 years. Rev. Charles AL
len again returned to Skowhegan and
during his stay it seems the church
was finished and rededicated in 1868,
Mr.. Allen preaching the dedicatory
sermon. It's completion marked the
n hundredth anniversary of the dedi-
cation of the first Methodist Church
in America, which was situated In
John Street, New York City, and while
we have found no definite record of
this being the source from which the
name of the Centenary M. E. Church
was derived, 1t is thought without
doubt that the appellation was
thus bestowed. This enterprise in
volved the society in heavy debt.
More ministers came to labor in the
righteous cause and after Mr.. Allen
Rev. C. c. Mason assumed the pasto-
raj dutipg He had prpviousIv hold