USA > Maine > Oxford County > Paris > History of Paris, Maine, from its settlement to 1880, with a history of the grants of 1736 & 1771, together with personal sketches, a copious genealogical register and an appendix > Part 27
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285
HISTORY OF PARIS.
1830.
Eben. Drake, Luther Perkins .- 27.
1831. Daniel Macomber, Eben. Drake .- 29.
1832. William Berry, Luther Perkins .- 34.
1833. Luther Perkins, William Berry .- 34.
1834. Luther Perkins, Dea. William Berry, Dea. Cornelius Per- kins .- 34.
1835. Same .- 34.
1836. Luther Perkins, William Berry .- 35.
1837. Deacons Berry and Perkins .- 39.
1838. E. Drake .- 42.
1839. Dea. William Berry, R. Chandler .- 51.
1840. Dea. Berry, Z. Andrews .- 51.
1841. Dea. Perkins, Z. Andrews .- 50.
1842. E. Drake, Z. Andrews, Chas. Perkins .- 62.
1843. Same and Dea. Berry .- 63.
1844. LUTHER PERKINS, Sylvanus Dunham, Z. Andrews, C. Per- kins .- 67.
1845. REUBEN MILNER, Wm. Berry, J. Benson .- 68.
1846. ADDISON ABBOTT, Gibbs Benson, E. Drake .- 71.
1847. ADDISON ABBOTT, Z. Andrews, Dea. Gibbs Benson, C. Perkins .- 71.
1848. ADDISON ABBOTT, Stillman Berry, Harvey Berry .- 71.
1849. Same .- 70.
1850.
Same and Dea. Benson and C. Perkins .- 68.
1851. Same minister and Dea. S. Berry, C. Perkins, L. Whit- man .- 66.
1852. Same minister and C. Perkins, L. Whitman, H. Berry .- 63.
1853. C. Perkins, Dea. S. Berry, H. Berry, L. Whitman .- 72.
1854. Deacons Berry and Benson, H. Berry, L. Whitman, D. Perkins.
1855. C. PERKINS, G. Benson, Z. Andrews, H. Berry .- 66.
1856. C. PERKINS, G. Benson, Z. Andrews, H. Berry .- 46.
The falling off in membership in 1856, is due to the fact that a church was that year organized at Bryant's Pond, which took away most of the members from Woodstock.
The pastors of this church with the length of their pastorates have been as follows :
Rev. Luther Perkins, 2 years, 1836-7.
Rev. Addison Abbott, 7 years, 1846-52.
286
HISTORY OF PARIS.
Rev. Charles Perkins, 4 years, 1855-8.
Rev. M. Lawrence, 2 years, 1859-60.
Rev. R. B. Andrews, 1 year, 1861. Rev. O. Richardson, 1 year, 1862.
Rev. Wm. Beavins, 2 years, 1863-4.
Rev. G. W. Fuller, 2 years, 1870-71.
Rev. T. G. Lyons, 3 years, 1875-77.
Of the above, Rev. Luther Perkins was the son of Cornelius Per- kins of Woodstock. He was born Dec. 10. 1797, and married first, Sally Durell, by whom he had six children. He married for his second wife Miss Brown of Weld, and died in that town when but little past middle life. Rev. Addison Abbott is spoken of elsewhere. Rev. Charles Perkins was brother of Luther. He married Amazina Cushman of Bethel, and went west many years ago. Rev. Manasseh Lawrence was born in Wayne, and his ancestors came from Sand- wich, Mass. He resided many years in Sumner and elsewhere, was a faithful and devoted Christian and an able preacher. He died about twenty years ago. Rev. Russell B. Andrews was a young man, preached occasionally as a supply, but had no permanent settlement in this vicinity. Rev. Oren Richardson, who was here in 1862, was then of Buckfield, but previously of Rumford and Milton. Rev. Wm. Beavins was born in England, and had settlements at Bethel and Bryant's Pond. Afterwards he was at Bowdoinham, and then went South. Rev. G. W. Fuller was ordained by this church ; Rev. T. G. Lyons was at Bryant's Pond before coming here, and Rev. Seth Benson is a native of Paris. The church here was built by the Bap- tists and Methodists in 1833, and has since been repaired and much improved.
ADDISON ABBOTT.
Rev. Addison Abbott for several years pastor of the Baptist church at North Paris, was the oldest son and second child of Jona- than and Betsey (Batchelder) Abbott of Bethel, and was born July 25, 1803. He spent his early years with his father upon the farm, attended school at Rumford under the tutorship of Rev. Daniel Gould, also at the High schools at Bethel and in Brunswick. He began to preach when about twenty-five years old at school houses in Bethel and in the adjoining towns. He also taught schools in winter and sometimes in spring and autumn. About the year 1840, he went to Rhode Island, remaining there several years, teaching and occasionally preaching. He was ordained at North Paris in
287
HISTORY OF PARIS.
1846, this being his first and only regular settlement. He married Rebekah. daughter of Luke Chase of this town, and had two child- ren. He never enjoyed good health, and in the language of the ·centennial paper before referred to, "he lived a live of quiet useful- ness, wisely adapting himself to his people's wants." We may add from our own personal knowledge, that he was a man respected and revered by all, and most by those who knew him best.
UNIVERSALISTS.
Only a few of the early settlers of Paris became Universalists, and this denomination has never been especially strong in point of numbers. The names of those of our citizens of the olden time who inclined to this form of religious faith, may be inferred from the following list of persons, part of whom were residents of Paris, but a majority of Norway, who petitioned the Great and General Court for an act of incorporation as the Paris and Norway First Universalist Society. The act of incorporation was passed March 4, 1805, and the following were the corporators :
Samuel Ames, Levi Bartlett, Josiah Bartlett, Anthony Bennett. Nathaniel Bennett, Josiah Bisco, Jonas Bisco, Peter Buck, James Buck, Ebenezer Cobb, Elisha Cummings, Isaac Cummings, Noah Curtis, Jr., Jacob Frost, Jr., Joseph Gallison, Benjamin Herring, Benjamin Herring, Jr., Levi Hubbard, John Knight, Daniel Knight, Dudley Pike. John Robinson, Joseph Rust, Henry Rust, Jr., Sam- uel Smith, Daniel Staples, Elias Stowell, Daniel Stowell, William Stowell, Jacob Tubbs, Benjamin Witt and Charles Young.
Of the above, Gen. Levi Hubbard, John Robinson, Daniel Staples the three Stowell brothers and Josiah and Jonas Bisco, were of Paris, and Dudley Pike, Daniel Knight, Elisha Cummings and Isaac Cummings, were residents of Paris either before or after this event took place. No minister was settled by this society for many years, but itinerants sometimes visited this region and preached both in Norway and Paris, either in private residences or in school houses. The attendance at such meetings was generally very light, every effort being made by the clergymen of other denominations to keep their people away.
About the year 1840, Rev. D. T. Stevens who is still living, and the oldest Universalist minister in the State, preached in this region, .and the following year an organization was effected. A list of those who assisted in this movement, we have not been able to obtain.
288
HISTORY OF PARIS.
Mr. Stevens was succeeded by Rev. Norris Coleman Hodgdon, who was ordained as pastor in the early part of 1844. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. J. G. Adams, who also composed
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, PARIS HILL.
the opening hymn ; another hymn for the occasion was composed by Miss S. C. Edgarton, and was as follows :
"Father Divine, thy holy seal Bestow upon thy servant's head ; And to his visioned faith reveal Thy Pathi wherein his feet must tread.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
Give truth's great power to every word That falls perceptive, from his tongue,- And let each chord by love be stirred, That Thou within his heart hast strung.
Thy grace, distilling from his lips, Shall give to every soul repose ; Sweet as the fragrant dew that dips From Sharon's meek, unfolding Rose.
Oh! aid him by the weary bed Of pain and want, of doubt and woe; That he in every breast may shed The hopes that from thy mercy flow.
Grant him rich grace when o'er the dead He utters forth the truth sublime, That Thou hast made the spirit fled, A victor over Death and Time.
. And when his own warm pulse grows cold, When death-mists cloud his drooping eye, May he through faith his home behold, And feel that it is gain to die !"
Mr. Hodgdon remained here only a short time, and after he severed his connection with the society, there was no settled minister and only occasional preaching by Rev. Geo. K. Shaw and others, until Rev. J. C. Snow came in 1859. Mr. Snow was settled in Norway, but preached here a part of each Sabbath, until the church was built, occupying the Court house. The church edifice was erected during Mr. Snow's ministry, and was dedicated Oct. 9, 1859. He continued to preach here until he was appointed chaplain of the 23d Regiment of Maine Volunteers in September, 1862.
Mr. Snow was succeeded by Rev. W. W. Hayward who resided in town, but remained only one year. He was a young man and has since had settlements at Plymouth, Mass., and elsewhere. Rev. Selden Gilbert was the next minister. He also lived in Paris and remained here two years. He was a native of Greene, and subse- quent to his settlement here, he went to Chicago and was for a time associated with Dr. Hanson in the publication of the New Covenant. Rev. N. Gunnison came next. Like Mr. Snow he was pastor of the Norway society, resided in Norway and preached on the Hill a portion of each Sabbath. He was an elderly man and had been in the ministry many years. Previous to his coming to Norway, he had preached in Halifax ; was there during our late war. He sup-
19
290
HISTORY OF PARIS.
plied the Paris Hill pulpit three years. After him, came Rev. Zenas Thompson who moved his family to the Hill and preached here one year.
After Mr. Thompson went away, the society was for some time without a minister, but in 1872, Rev. L. H. Tabor, who was settled at Norway, commenced preaching here, and continued his labors for two years. He was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Church who left at the end of a year, and was in turn succeeded by Mr. Tabor, who remained another two years. He, too, was an elderly man and had been long in the ministry. He was an able preacher and the church and society prospered under his ministrations. Mr. Tabor was succeeded in Norway and also in Paris by Rev. J. A. Seitz, who preached here a year or two, started a denominational paper at. Norway called the "New Religion," and subsequently drifted into politics. W. W. Hooper came next, and supplied both societies to good acceptance. He went from here to Mechanic Falls in 1883, and since that time until recently, the society has been without a minister. A Universalist church was first organized at Paris Hill in 1864. Among the leading men of this society are Ex-Governor- Perham, Jarvis C. Marble, Elbridge Fobes, and Hiram Hubbard.
ZENAS THOMPSON.
Rev. Zenas Thompson, pastor of the Universalist church in 1869, and a resident of the town, was born in Auburn, Dec. 4, 1804. He was of Scotch-Irish lineage, his first American ancestor, Archibald Thompson, coming from the north of Ireland to America in 1724, and settling at Bridgewater. Capt. John Thompson, the grandfather of Zenas, married Jeanette Allen and moved to Buckfield. Archi- bald Thompson was a wheel-maker, and made the first spinning- wheel ever made in New England. John Thompson of Buckfield, followed the same trade. The father of Zenas was Hannibal, son of John before-named, and his mother was a Dillingham of Auburn. Mr. Thompson early embraced the Universalist faith, and began to preach when quite young. He had settlements in various parts of the State, in Farmington, Bridgton, Yarmouth, Augusta, Bethel, Bryant's Pond, Mechanic Falls, West Waterville and Paris, and in several places in Massachusetts. He was among the ablest and best. known of the ministers of his denomination in the State, a profound thinker, a logical reasoner and gifted as a pulpit orator. He was among the first in Maine to suggest the prohibition of the liquor
291
HISTORY OF PARIS.
traffic, and one of its most eloquent advocates. He was chaplain of the 6th Maine Regiment in the war of the rebellion, and malaria contracted in the Chickahominy swamps in the Peninsula campaign of 1862, was the remote cause of his death. He inherited the mechanical genius of his ancestors. He could make an elegant fly- rod or a rifle. and was skilful in the use of both. He had marvelous skill in wood-carving, and seemed to have an intuitive knowledge of almost everything in the department of the useful and ornamental arts. He had social qualities of a high order, and was a most agree- able friend and companion. He married Leonora Leavitt of Turner and reared a large family. One of his sons, Geo. W., was killed in action during the war, and the other two are engaged in manufactur- ing in Portland. One of the daughters, now deceased, was the first wife of Prof. Geo. L. Vose, formerly a resident here, and another, Mrs. Julia Schayer of Washington, D. C., is a magazine writer of repute. Mr. Thompson died at his home in Deering, Nov. 17, 1882.
JOSEPH C. SNOW.
Rev. Joseph C. Snow, as stated elsewhere, supplied the pulpit. here while settled over the church in Norway. He was born in Whitewater township, Franklin county, Indiana, September 12, 1833. His father was Crocker Snow of New England ancestry, and his mother Narcissa Marvin. He graduated at Tuft's College in 1858 ; had preached more or less during the last year of his college course, and had his first settlement in Norway and Paris, commenc- ing September 1, 1858. He remained in Norway to July, 1863, except that he was chaplain of the 23d Maine Regiment from Sept. 1862, to July, 1863. He was settled over the church at Auburn, Me., from July, 1863, to Oct. 1869, when he moved to Deering and had charge of Westbrook Seminary to 1872, three school years. He then returned to Auburn and remained until Dec. 1879. He thien went to Newark, N. J., and was pastor of the church there, from January, 1880, to Feb. 1883 ; then was settled at Haverhill, Mass., where he now resides. He was married in Boston, Aug. 11, 1863, by Rev. Dr. Miner, to Miss Sarah J., daughter of Jeremiah Howe, Esq., formerly of Norway, since of Portland. They have had two children, Frederick Elmer, born Sept. 12, 1864, and Charles Joseph, born April 21, 1871. Mr. Snow is a scholarly man, a vigorous writer, a pleasing speaker, and a most excellent pastor. He is a good organizer, and the parishes where he has labored have been. strong and prosperous.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
SELDEN GILBERT.
Rev. Selden Gilbert was born in Greene, Androscoggin county, Maine, December 9, 1839. His father was Lewis Gilbert, and his mother Eunice Alden. He fitted for college at Westbrook Seminary and entered Tuft's College in 1859. He graduated from the St. Lawrence University in 1864, the year after he was ordained. He came to Paris and Norway in September, 1863, and was ordained the October following. He remained here nearly two years, and was then called to Melrose, Mass. Since then he has had settle- ments at Bridgeport, Conn., then went to Illinois and was connected with a denominational paper in Chicago. From there he came to East Boston and subsequently was called to Little Falls, New York, where he still resides. He married Sarah Louisa Whitmore of Bow- doinham, and has one child, Louis Whitmore, born June 3, 1871. On the mother's side, Mr. Gilbert descended from John Alden, the Mayflower Pilgrim ; he is also a lineal descendant from Governor Bradford of Plymouth.
WM. W. HAYWARD.
Rev. Wmn. Willis Hayward was born in Hancock, N. H., Oct. 17, 1834 ; his father was Charles Hayward, and his mother Ann Lakin. He was educated in the common schools in Hancock, at Hancock Academy, at Petersham and Francestown Academies, at the New England Normal School in Lancaster, Mass., and at Tuft's Divinity School. He preached his first sermon in Hancock, in May, 1857. Since leaving Paris, he has had settlements in Fairfield, Me., in Wakefield, Acton, Foxboro, Plymouth and. Methuen, Mass., in Keene, N. H., and is now at South Framingham, Mass. He has also had brief engagements at St. Johnsbury, Vt., and at other places. He was for a time, chaplain of the 13th Maine Regiment. He married E. Ellen Chase of Keene, N. HI.
CONGREGATIONALISTS.
The Congregationalist church was organized at South Paris, Nov. 4, 1812. There were fourteen original members whose names were as follows : Ezra Carey, Rufus Brett, Cynthia Carey, Susanna Brett, Lydia Hall, Lydia House, Joanna Durell, Eunice Robinson, Lucy Robinson, Mary Durell, Anna Durell, Amelia Haven, Mary Holmes Boyden, Phebe Brett. Two males and twelve females. The last member of the organization, Mary Durell, died Dec. 9, 1851.
293
HISTORY OF PARIS.
On the 4th day of December, 1816, four years after the church organization, the bill passed the Senate and House of Representa- tives, Mass., incorporating the First Congregationalist society in Paris, in the county of Oxford.
CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH, SOUTH PARIS.
The following were the corporate members of the society or parish : Abraham Bolster, Jacob Tewksbury, Isaac Bolster, Jr., Luther Brett, Amzi Brett, Ezra Carey, Rufus Brett, David Durell, David
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
Clifford, Cyprian Hall, Abijah Hall, Caleb Prentiss, Haven Hall, Joel Robinson, Asa Robinson, Daniel Stowell, Jonathan Shurtleff, Daniel Stowell, Jr., and Charles Whitman.
The first meeting of the society for organization was held March 24, 1817, of which Daniel Stowell was Moderator, and Abijah Hall was chosen first Clerk of the society, and the first Prudential Com- mittee was Ezra Carey, Abijah Hall and Dr. Jacob Tewksbury.
At the second meeting of the society-a special meeting called by request of five members, and held on Monday, Sept. 8, 1817, at one o'clock, P. M .- among the articles to be acted on, we find the fol- lowing : "To hear the minds of the people respecting the building of a meeting-house, and to act on the subject as they shall think fit."
Hitherto their meetings had been held in what was known as the south school-house, a good sized, unpainted building, which stood at the junction of the Robinson road, with the county road leading to Isaac Bolster's, and being nearly opposite to the burying ground in the Bolster neighborhood.
At the meeting above named, it was voted "to build a meeting- house, to choose a committee to exhibit a plan of said house, and to see what terms land can be procured to build upon." The following were chosen : Maj. Joel Robinson, Wm. C. Whitney, Capt. Thomas Hill and Dr. Jacob Tewksbury. At an adjourned meeting it was voted to accept the plan presented by the committee.
The location of the house seemed to be the bone of contention, although the records are silent in regard to the discussions that arose. Some of the society were in favor of one place and some of another, and it seemed impossible to come to an agreement. Finally, as proposition after proposition was rejected, one of the brethren somewhat discouraged and desperate, proposed that it should be built directly on top of the school-house. It was decided, however, at last, to move the school-house a little, and build the church on its site.
Wm. C. Whitney being chosen auctioneer, the pews were sold as follows :
1st choice, Cyprian Hall, No. 9,
$85.00
2d Daniel Stowell, No. 4, 84.00
3d Maj. Joel Robinson, No. 12, 80.00
4thı Gen. Isaac Bolster, No. 11, 83.00
5th Abijah Hall, No. 13, 82.00
6th Dr. Jacob Tewksbury, No. 16, 78.00
.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
7th
Daniel Stowell, No. 3,
75.00 .
8th
Lieut. Rufus Stowell, No. 10, 71.00
9th
Capt. Thomas Hill, No. 5, 67.00
10th
Thomas N. Stowell, No. 14, 68.00
11th
Capt. David Bolster, No. 6, 65.00
12th
Wm. C. Whitney, No. 15,
57.00
13th
Jonathan Shurtleff, No. 17,
52.00
14th
Luther Brett, No. 18,
52.00
15th
Joseph Swift, No. 19. 51.00
16th
Lewis Stowell, No. 2,
51.00
17th
Dea. Ezra Carey, No. 7,
50.00
18th
Martin Brett, No. 20,
54.00
19th
Abraham Bolster, No. 29,
51.00
20th
Frederick N. Hall, No. 38,
54.00
21st
Asa Robinson, No. 30,
52.00
22d
Cyprian Hall, No. 32,
51.00
24th
Martin Brett, No. 34,
50.00
25th
David Clifford, No. 8,
51.00
26th
Lewis Stowell, No. 36,
50.00
27th
Dr. Jacob Tewksbury, No. 35,
51.00
28th
Benjamin Churchill, No. 40,
50.00
29th
Alfred Gates, No. 33,
50.00
30th
David Durell, No. 39,
50.00
31st
Asa Robinson, No. 31,
50.00
The remainder of the pews were sold by Thomas Crocker, auc- tioneer, June 12, 1819. The purchasers were Capt. George King, Stephen Robinson, David Clifford, James Holmes, Stephen Robin. son, Philip Caldwell, Daniel Stowell, Esq., Barzilla Dwelley, Abra- ham Bolster, Simeon Perkins and Daniel Stowell. There were four- teen pews in the gallery that sold for $5.00 to $17.00 per pew.
At a meeting of the society held Oct. 6, 1817, it was voted to accept the land offered by Thomas N. Stowell in exchange for his pew. The land was eight rods on the county road, and sixteen on the Robinson road. It was also voted that the porch of the house should front on the Robinson road. The frame was of hewn tim- ber. The clapboards were rived, and nearly all from one tree. Capt. George King was the carpenter. The raising was a notable occasion. Parson Hooper was present and opened the exercises with prayer. The raising was accomplished without accident, and
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
as was customary in those days, it must have a name, usually pro- claimed in rhyme by some volunteer, from the ridge-pole.
Martin Brett, then a young man, was the poet of the occasion, he answering to the question proposed by Giles Shurtleff, they standing on the frame. "What shall we call it?"
My friends, here is a noble frame, And what say you shall be the name? If you and I alike can see, It shall be called the Unity.
Now friends and brethren will this do?
Will such a name as this suit you?
And if it will, then let us see We live in peace and Unity.
And may our children worship here When we from time shall disappear, Unless like us they can agree To build in peace and Unity.
To our surprise we have ascertained that no liquor was used at the "raising." The church was completed in 1818, at a cost of $2000, and May 26, 1819, it was dedicated.
The exercises on that occasion we find chronicled in the diary of Dea. Caleb Prentiss. First prayer by Rev. Mr. Hilliard. Sermon, by Mr. Crecy, text, "Except the Lord build the house, we labor in vain that build it." The dedicatory prayer by Mr. Merrill, and an address to the church and society by Mr. Hilliard. A dedicatory poem was sung as an introduction to the exercise, and after the last prayer, a hymn written for the occasion by Abijah Hall. At the" dedication, the treble singers were Apphia and Pauline Robinson, Charlotte Hall, Levina and Polly Caldwell and Ruth Durell. Rachel Shurtleff sang counter, Haven Hall, Frederic N. Hall, Martin Brett, Dr. Jacob Tewksbury and Zadoc Gates, bass. Giles Shurtleff and Luther Brett sang tenor.
It was a plain, substantial structure, two rows of small windows, 24 lights, no steeple, no chimney, lathed and plastered inside. The pulpit was of box-like construction, perched away up on the wall as was the custom, with a flight of stairs on one side, and directly underneath were the communion table and deacons' seat. Here the deacons sat on the morning of communion Sabbaths, facing the entire congregation. The pews were high and straight backed, built like oblong boxes. The pew doors were fastened with wooden but-
297
HISTORY OF PARIS.
tons. When once in, you were a prisoner for the time being. The foot stoves were filled at the house of Abraham Bolster, near by, being now the homestead of Capt. G. C. Pratt. It was not long, however, after the house was built before a stove was put in, which we may judge produced sufficient warmth to take the chill off. The records show that a chimney was built in Oct. 1831, the job being struck off to Luther Brett for $7.70. Rev. Joseph Walker was the first settled pastor of this church. He was installed Dec. 19, 1821, at a salary of $400.
The house at one time narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire. Mr. Williams of Poland, who had exchanged with Mr. Walker, con- ducted the exercises of the evening. In snuffing the candle, the snuff was thrown down, and unnoticed fell into a box of sawdust. One of the singers, after his return home, remembered that he had noticed a smokey smell on leaving the house. He returned and found the sawdust nearly consumed, and doubtless this saved the building.
One of the most constant attendants upon Mr. Walker's ministry, was a man living in the eastern section of the town, who, from his habit of going to church very regularly, was known as "go-to-meet- ing Merrill" or "seven-mile Merrill." He used to ride to meeting seven miles every Sabbath, and was so prompt, that people going to meeting on Paris Hill, judged whether they were late or early by the place in the road where they met William Merrill. It is still within the recollection of some now living, a novel spectacle that was often seen at church. Mr. Ezekiel Merrill and Mrs. Moore were both hard of hearing, but rather than lose the preaching, they took their places in the pulpit, each with a tin ear trumpet, and so they stood during the long sermons, each with a trumpet pointed toward the minister.
On Saturday, June 20, 1835, it was voted that the "house be removed," and "that a committee of five be chosen to procure a situation, take subscriptions, and ascertain the cost and report at the next meeting," the committee being Thomas Hill, Maj. Cyprian Hall, Elisha Morse, David Clifford and Martin Brett. It was also "voted, if the house be removed, it be put up in its present form, and also that a belfry be put on so that a bell may be put in if wanted." The lot since known as the Academy lot was selected, it then being owned by Maj. Dennett. The price, however, was deemed too exor- bitant, and the society accepted the donation of a lot from Abijah
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