Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-02

! lie pOSoCcSAOi "a SAAS > ~ ~AASA -
and parish.
Owing to dwindling numbers the
First church and parish have been
without a resident pastor since 1874,
but for most of the time have main
tanned public services during the sum-
mer, have maintained the church or
CARNATIONS. maintained the property,
and administered the ministerial lot as
before. In 1913 Mr.. Page. being in
terested in the buying Of lumber,
urged the people Of the parish to sell
| the standing timber on the lot, as t
had reached a state where it would
begin to depreciate in value. AS there
were only three members living OF the
old parish, other members were Sc
cured and the parish was incorporat-
ed under the new general statute. and
measures were taken by the parish IN
! its new form to sell the timber lot.
Unfortunately there was some uncer-
tainty in the procedures. but the tim
Der was sold in 1914 to Mr.. {. w.
Freeman of Wiscasset for $500. Mr..
| Page as one of the bidders then
| brought suit against the parish to
break up this sale on the ground Of
alleged fraud and illegal procedure,
Offering a, the same time to pay $500
for the lot. The M. E. church at
Sheepscot also entered the suit with
an interpleader, alleging that the old
First Congregational church and par
ish were extinct, that the new incor-
poration was a new body. and that
therefore the ministerial lot by virtue
of the original grant should revert to
them. as the only religious represen-
tatives of the inhabitants of Shcepscot.
The suit was contested with great in
tensity, but as it involved SO many
points of law Interpretation, it was re-
ferred to the Law Court for decision.
In November 1915 this the highest
| tribunal in the State handed down a
decree in the matter which lawyers
say will stand as a precedent in all
such matters in Maine and New Eng
land forever. which very clearly set
tied the points at issue The Court
held that there was no evidence of
fraud in the procedure of the parish;
that the new Incorporation was a
bona fide reorganization of the old
First Congregational parish. succeed
ing to all it's rights: that the title to
liic liiiHlSttl IdI lOt WIS NeStSu III lIlS
settled ministers of the parish in sue
ces3ion as a corporation sole forever:
that the NJ. f. church has no rights or
interests in the lot whatever: and that
in the absence of a minister the title
to the lot was in allegiance. and there
fore, as the parish had no power to
convey, the sale was void, and the lot
reverted to its former status.
After receiving careful legal and
ecclesiastical advice, the church and
parish installed Rev. o. W. Peterson
of the Second Congregational church
in Newcastle, as pastor in April 1916.
by which installation he succeeded to
the title of the lot in right of the par
ish with legal power to convey the
same with the consent of the parish.
In due time the parish voted to ap-
prove the sale of the timber by adver-
Using for sealed bids, which were
opened at the First National Bank Of
Damariscotta on June 1. when sale
| was made to Mr.. Page the highest
bidder, for s11.555. subject to the ap-
| prevail of the parish. On June 16, the
parish voted to approve, and on July
| II. on the full payment in cash, Mr..
age received HIS Oeeu, executed by
Mr. Peterson as pastor and Mr. Ed
win Flye as agent of the parish Thus
ended long and a not always pleas
ant chapter.
| The pastor and the parish have
Joined in petitioning the Supreme
Court for decree authorizing them
20 pay out Of the proceeds of the sale
| al just bills of the lawsuit, including
the personal expenses of Mr.. Freeman,
and to deposit the remainder as a per.
! manent trust fund with the Congre-
ga tional Conference and Missionary
Society Of Maine, the income of which
TO be paid semiannually to the First
Congregational parish in Sheepscot
! forever to be used for the support of
| its work
Thus the generous hand of Chris
topher Tappap. clerk" after 1T years
of uncertain success. through the
happy ending of this stormy venture,
will provide forever a religious largess
for the Inhabitants settled on Sheep
scott River" truly noble monument
to his good will and affection" for
the community he founded May it
also produce good will and affection"
among those inhabitants" henceforth
and forever!