The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-03-09
CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF.
OTHER DAYS
CONTINUED from Last Week.


again became pastor of the church.
In March Of that year revival ap-
peared to have been held and at a
conference on March 8, sixty-two ex-
hAortations were heard. Oct. %,
1870. Rev. Mr. Bickford preached his
farewell sermon. closing his labors
With the Christian Church. Shortly
afterward |. :. Jones assumed the
cares laid down by Rev. Bickford, al
though it appears he was not in
stalled until June 4. 1871. This
brings the history down to COM
paratiyely modern period, as this gen
tleman is still living. He remained
in Skowhegan for six years and only
i last April, though advanced in years.
came to Skowhegan to preach a mem
orial sermon before the Odd Fellows,
an organization with which he had
long been affiliated. The companion
of his earlier years is dead and he
is again married while his son, Frank
has also passed away, sometime since
in Liberia. He has pot of late been
actively engaged in ministry, but has
been connected with an undertakers
establishment. His present home Is
in Hampton. ~ II. According to the
records during Mr.. Jones stay many
new members were added to the So
eietys membership. One March IL,
1878 Peter Malbon was made dea-
con. Mr.. Malbon is well remember
ed by many of the citizens of today.
His home was next below the Bison
residence on Water St, and he has
one son living in Haverhill, Mass.
Several of his grandchildren live In
this vicinity among whom two, Mrs.
George Soule and Mrs. Lena Malbon
Cleveland reside in this village. On
January 3, 1874, Rev. Mr.. Jones ten
dered his resignation, the same to
take effect January 10. The church
met in conference January and the
resignation of the pastor was discus
sed and finally accepted. The fol-
lowing persons Peter Malbon, Frank
Whorff. Benz. Herrin, Hiram knoWl-
ton and L. L. Walton were appointed
as a committee to draft resolutions
expressive OF the feelings OF the
church and society on the withdrawal
of Mr.. Jones.
The seventh of February, 1874, a
lowing Rev. o. J. Hancock preached
to the people. He later became pas
tor and was widely known in this sec
ton of the county, where he was emf
nently respected. In the early sum
mer of 1875, there was a substantial
increase in membership. Early in
1877 there was a change in deacons,
William Knights succeeding Peter
Malbon, as the latter wished to retire
from the duties of such an office.
Again in 1877 there was an increase
in membership, many of those who
joined at that time still being resi-
dents of the community. During '79
there were several more new names
added to the church roll. In May,
1880 Benjamin Herrin was released
from the Office of deacon at his own
request and on July of that same
year. Joseph Smiley, who appears to
/ bo, ho1 10 in of-inuannnc with tho
society became again affiliated and
September 4th once more became dea
con. On January 80, Rev. Mr.. Han
cock preached his farewell sermon,
after remaining with the church for
seven years. He lived for a number
of years of his life as preacher
His death occurred within the past
year at Old Orchard.
The society listened to various
preachers following the departure of
Mr.. Hancock and in August 1881, Rev
T. S. Weeks became the established
pastor coming here from Middletown
I N. Y. In 1902 several candidates
were received into the church. In
March of 1888, c. M. Lambert, whose
sudden death is still fresh in the
minds of the people, asked to be dis
missed from the clerkship of the So
ciety after a long period of service
and his request was granted Richard
W. Morrill, was appointed to fill the
vacancy. During the year there