The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-01-04
TNIYFRSALISM ONCE IN SHOW
HEGAN
CONTINUED from First Page

John W Weston. J. p. Boise, S. Phil
brick and Greenleaf L. Hill applied to
James B. Dascombe, one of the JUS
tees of the Peace, to call meeting
of the society, because no person
was duly authorized to call legal
meeting because of neglect on the
part of members of having held the
same. This was called primarily to
see what measures would be taken
in regard to the sale of the Island
lot, which they had probably begun
to realize could never be utilized for
their church building purposes.
March 81, that same year they voted
to sell the land the proceeds there
off to be. divided among the share
holders pro rata. Hiram Bigelow
who lived in the house now occupied
by Gertrude S. Weston, became the
owner of the property.
Just why the property was sold
and why the brick church has never
graced Skowhegans historic old Is
land, the landing place of Benedict
Arnold on his way to Quebec, is not
in the ancient record book. 1t is
said however on the best of authori-
ty that efforts were being put forth
at that time To bring the Railroad
into Skowhegan and in order to have
this accomplished large sum of
money had to be raised. The men
of the Universalist Society could not
build churches and railroads the
same year, consequently the spare
funds went. to aid the railroad and
the building of the temple was put
over until some future time when
there was less demand for money.
In August 1859. interest appears to
have been awakened enough to raise
subscription sufficient to have SER
vice or two and Rev. Mr.. Ballou and
Rev Mr. Leonard We're probably the
officiating clergymen,
however, appear to have beer held
only spasmodically for mum II of
years The records from 1859 the
early eighties are missing. h. a
fairly accurate data of the timel yer
vening by those interested in thu vel
fare of this society has been obtain
ed. Rev George W. Bicknell was
one of the earlier ministers, services
under his leadership having been
held in Coburn Hall. The death of
this good man occurred June of the
present year in Cambridge, Mass,
fifth anniversary of his settlement as
pastor of the First Universalist
Church and of the fiftieth anniyer-
sary of his entrance into the Chris
tian ministry. He was born in
Topsham, Nov. >. 1897. Five years
later his family moved to Bath where
he received his education in the pub
lie schools supplemented with a
course at Westbrook Seminary. He
was one of the first volunteers at the
opening of the Civil War, enlsting as
a private in the Fifth Maine Infantry.
Four months later he was made or
derby sergeant. and soon promoted to
be second lieutenant and then first
lieutenant and adjutant of the regi-
ment. He was in seventeen heavy
battles and was severely wounded at
Fredericksburg and the wilderness
and because of these wounds was dis
charged after serving hree years.
Immediately after returning home he
began to prepare for the ministry
and in 1867 was ordained to the Uni
vcrsalist Ministry. He held pastor
ate at South STAFFORD and West Fair
les, Vt. and then came to Skowhegan.
| He went from here to Portland where
he remained for seven years and then
went to Portsmouth, n. Il. He had
brief pastorate in Philadelphia and
then one of twelve years in Lowell.
Mass. His last pastorate was in
Cambridge where he remained for
nearly twenty-five years.
Rev. W. W. Nutting, who in later
years went to the western states was
another preacher, who minstered to
the society when Coburn Hall was
Church headquarters. The State
Convention was held here during the
days of worship in that well known
public building. An incident of
1875, had great influence upon the
Society was the founding of Sun
day School by Rose Varney and Mary
Emery. The former who was the
daughter of the late Josiah and Mary
W. Narney. has long since been de-
ceased but the latter is living and
still laborng in the cause of Univer-
salism She married Rev. Asa
Bradley. the Universalist State or
ganizer and Is herself state organizer
of missions. The little school had
but thirteen members, but in spite Of
the unlucky number, it grew and
thrived until 1t became a prominent
adjunct in the religious life of the
community. 1t was through its eff
forts that Rev. H. c. Munson was
procured to become settled minis