The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-04
Historical Notes on Madison Church

members of the Methodist church and
parish and that will mean much to
the religious interests of the COM
munity was the dedication Friday
evening with appropriate ceremonies
of the newly finished basement of the
Madison Methodist church.
The first Methodist church in this
village was erected in 1884 during the
pastorate Of Rev D. B. Holt at a cost
of $500 and dedicated free from debt
Soon after this commenced the indus
trial development of Madison and ow-
ing to the rapid growth of the village
and church, eight years later it was
found necessary to enlarge the
church building by adding two large
wings. This work was done at a
cost of $1,000 and the remodelled
building we re-dedicated free from
debt. One Sunday morning in March
1900 the church was destroyed by fire
Undaunted by this disaster and al
most before the ashes were cold
under the energetic leadership of Rev.
S. E. Leach, plans were at once begun
for a larger and better building. The
work was pushed and on Dec. Is of
the same year modern church build
ing costing nearly $4,000 was dedi-
Gated free from debt AT the time
the building was erected a large but
unfinished basement was left Two
years ago under the leadership of
Rev. R. A. Rich, an addition was built
onto the back end of the church and
pipe organ installed. Owing to a
large and increasing Sunday school
during the past few years and the
need of a suitable place for the de-
velopment of the social life of the
church it was hoped that at some
time in the near future the church
basement could be fitted up for these
purposes. Last spring Rev William
Wood was appointed to the pastorate
of the church. Plans began to be
again discussed for the finishing of
the basement. Ne definite action
was taken until October, when a
meeting of the official board was call
ed and after considerable discussion
a committee was appointed to secure
estimates of the cost of the job After
several more meetings ending with a
meeting of the whole church it was
voted to finish the basement. A
building committee consisting of A.
NJ. Holden, George W. Haynes and
Reuben W. Head. with Rev William
Wood as solicitor of funds and treas
urer was appointed
No time was lost and work was
commenced at once. First a fine
cement floor was put in. Partitions
were put up, making a spacious dim
ing room capable of seating 10 per-
sons. A large assembly room. a
modern up-to-date kitchen, a parlor
and other improvements were made.
, The rooms are beautifully finished
with hard pine wainscoating and wall
board prettily panelled off and tinted
: in light colors. New coal furnaces
have been installed The rooms are
, brilliantly lighted with electricity
and an ingenious attachment for a
curtain in stereopticon lectures, the
, whole combined giving a working
, plant of which many city churches
would well be proud. Through the
tireless energy of Rev. William Wood
"a large part of the 5000 needed was
provided for before the day of dedi-
cation.
The festivities commenced at 4 D.
m with social hour A little after
) O'Clock the dining room doors were
thrown open and the tables were
quickly filled, Bishop Hamilton and
the other visiting clergymen being
given the seats of honor at small
tables in the center During the pro
eress of the banquet there was a
number of five-minutc speeches as
follows: The Activities of the local
Church. Or. w. H. kcnnison A Big
ger and Better Sunday school. Reu-
ben W Heald; paper The Ladies Aid
and the Church We Love Mrs. Eva
Spear Men and the Church by Geo.
Weston, teacher of the mems Bible
class; A Witnessing Church by Rev.
Gardiner Wills of North Arson. Our
Eyangelistic Calling, Rev. II. c. Gid
den of Scion; Our Indebtedness to
the Sisters of the Church. Rev. f. F.
Harrison of Starks; Militant Metho-
dism Rev. II. S. Trueman of Oak
land; The Challenge of Tomorrow.
/ District superintendent D. B. Holt of
Auburn; greeting from pastors Of the
local churches: Congregational. Rev.
f. II. Means; Baptist, Rev. John A.
4 Harding; closing words by Bishop
/ Hamilton. Following this came a
social hour during which a Victrola
concert was given in the auditorium.
/ At $50 came the evening program
! with Miss Alice J. Spear as organist
A Of