The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-25
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
HISTORY
Continued from issue of February 4


Continued from issue of February a
The year books of 1852, 1853, 1854
and 1855 report no settled pastor of
the "Bloomf1eld' church, but it is
thought Rev. D. N. Sheldon. D. D.,
Rev. C. Miller and Prof. Brooks of
Waterville College, may have supplied
during that time In 1855 it appears
there was slight disturbance of
some sort which was however AMIGA
bly, settled and in September of that
same year A. B. Clark was ordained
here and was pastor of the church for
three years. After brief passionate
In California, in 1868, he returned to
Skowhegan, where he died September
8, 1865. Mr. Clark's stay here in this
church of more than half a century
ago was marked in 1857 by something
of a revival, some IL persons or more
having been converted and from rec
ords of Mr.. Clark we quote May we
recognize with devout gratitude, this
gracious visit of the Lord to his back
slidden people" In the year 1858,
there were AZ persons baptised and
joined the church, but 1859 was not
as successful in point of conversion
and it was during that year that Mr..
Clark left owing to poor health. The
next regular minister to take up the
duties of the parish work was Rev.
George Bullen and as far as is known
Mr.. Bullen is the Oldest minister now
living, who has served the First Bap-
fist Society as pastor. We have
lately received letter from this rev.
erend gentleman which we publish as
follows:
Dear Mr.. Editor
Your request, that 1 would write
you letter upon my pastorate in
Bloomfield, awakened many pleasant
memories.
My introduction to the First Bap-
fist church of Bloomfield, was a de-
cided surprise. l was in Germany
engaged in study, when l received a
letter inviting me to visit the church,
on my return, with view to becom-
ing it's pastor. To accept this pro-
posal seemed unwise for me and for
the church, as | was to be away still
ing home and learning that the church
was yet without pastor, l felt it my
duty to report my return. Negotia-
tons were Immediately opened, with
the result that in midwnter of 1859
60 l became the pastor elect, and soon
entered upon service.
/ found a body of strong men and
strong women, strong parish. There
were Biblical theologians there, and
| felt in no danger of shooting over
their heads. There must be, even at
this late day, some survivors of that
sturdy stock Think of the Coburns,
the Clevelands, the Stewards, the
Parkers, the Emerys, the Bigelows,
the Goulds, the Lords, and others, IN
village and in country. The people
were widely scattered, somewhat If
regular in attendance. in the winter
many of the farmers in the logging
camp, in the spring "mudtime' often
interfering for weeks almost to pro-
hibit travel, but as | recall, good
number of people generally greeted
me and always good hearing. Al
that time the Academy was in opera
ton and contributed an interesting
element to our congregation. The
hindrances named worked especially
against the evening seryices-the Or
der of the time being two public ser
vices in the day time and a prayer
meeting in the evening, and yet these
services were interesting and profta-
BILE. The names of several helpers
rare personality, an acute mind,
some of the time his brother, Samuel,
Mr.. Norris. Deacon Priest, Father
Mitchell, Mr. Thomas, Mr.. Gushing,
the Lord brothers, Deacon James with
his tuning fork to start the hymns,
these and others at the village, some
of them the main-stay Lords day
evenings, and others the main STAY
week day evenings. And there were
those in the country for help in the
school-house meetings. And the help
ers were not all men. / found an ex-
cellent choir, presided over by the
genial, friendly General Dyer, and a
Bible school with the jolly but earn
est Dr. Wilbur at its head. | ought
also to name the Rev. Father Miller