The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-02-15

ed TO DC 100 StllOuS du ODotdsic " w
overcome. Mr. Ball still remains in
the ministry and besides attending to
his duties of his South Paris charge,
is trustee of the Ferry Beach As
sociation. In the summer of 1904
Mr. Balls resignation was accepted
by the Skowhegan parish with re-
luctance.
In an attempt to enrich the Golfers
of the church, a portion of the church
lot was sold, similar effort to the
one put forth years before, when the
Society owned the lot on the Island
In the years intervening since 1904,
occasional preaching services were
held in the Church, Rev. A. A. Blair
of Belfast being among the substitute
preachers. In July, 1910, meeting
was called to see if the Parish wish
ed to sell or lease the church proper
ty as the town considered the hir-
ing of the same with view to buy
ing it for schoolhouse purposes. II
was voted however. TO deed the
church property to the State Con-
vention and this transaction has been
effected Consequently the proper
ty has now passed out of the hands
of the Parish. but is still in the pos
session of the mother organization
of the State. For two summers the
Christian Scientists conducted their
services there, but for the most part
it has stood unoccupied, altho still in
good repair. During the summer a
group of liberal minded people. most
or all of whom are professional fol-
lowers of Spiritualism, leased the
church and have held services there
regularly Sundays under the minis
tering of Rev J. H. Yeoman, d. d. of
Boston. The former Uniyersalsts
are in no way connected however
with the so called Liberal Church"
who now worship in their former
temple of religion.
or the weddings and funerals with
their joys and sorrows which have
hallowed the walls OF the structure
we have no records, but of christen
ings there were not a few. The
records from those already quoted
give the following: June 2. 1888.
julius Algernon Forbes, Earl Cor
son, Linn Foss Playze, Robert Byron
Simpson, Ray Arnold Pierce; June 9,
1883, Jennie Cass, Louise Haskell
Cass; June 20, 1897, Hattie Olive
Flagg, Ray Alton Nye, Berle Frances
Nye
An important auxiliary to the Uni
versalist Church and Parish was the
Universalist Sewing Circle. a band of
earnest women who worked diligent-
ly in the Masters cause and aided
greatly in paying the running expens-
es of the Church. Thru their eff
forts fair was conducted in the
church building before the pews were
installed, an event which will be re-
membered by many as highly sue
cessful and enjoyable affair. Mrs.
S. L. Whittier. Mrs. w. II. Pearson,
Mrs. C. p. Sawyer. Mrs. w. H. Full
Ter, Mrs. Chandler futile, Mrs. Mary
W. Varney, Mrs. w. R. Clifford and
others, many of whom are still with
us, were among the workers in this
auxiliary. But for their united eff
forts it is probable that no house Of
worship for their denomination
would have ever adorned our town.
Long after the church was closed
these ladies still attended to their
tasks and not until all debts were
paid did they rest from their labors.
Occasionally now the Circle meets,
these gatherings being particularly
observed on birthday anniversaries.
In 1912. feeling that they could still
work for the Church at Large and
their own spiritual advancement, a
few ladies' formed Mission Circle,
Mrs. Mary w. varney, that staunch
Universalist of liberal but fearless
convictions, was elected president,
and since her death her daughter