USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > The history of Norway: > Part 6
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THOMAS BARNES, . JOSEPH RUST,
Norway, January 17th, 1803. ANTHONY BENNETT.
On the back of the foregoing certificate are the following, endorsements :
Norway, Sept: 14th, 1803.
Sir, please to pay Mr. Thomas Barns sixty-three cents it being Benjamin Tucker's proportion of Minister tax for the year 1802. BENJAMIN WITT, > Selectmen NATIIAN NOBLE, S of Norway. To JOB EASTMAN, Esq., Town Treasurer.
To Mr. William Hobbs Collector of the town of Norway, please to pay the contents of the underwritten order, and this shall be received in the Treasury the same as cash.
JOB EASTMAN, Treasurer.
N. B .- The certificate was duly backed over by Tucker.
The Baptist denomination labored under the same embar- rassments, as the following certificate will show :
This certifies to whom it may concern, that John Parsons: of Norway joined the Baptist Church of Christ in Paris in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, and has, and does now attend publick worship with us.
JAMES HOOPER, Minister.
JOHN WILLIS, Committee. LEM'L JACKSON, S
Paris, June the 6, _1. D., 1801.
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
It appears by the record, April 21, 1804, that the society numbered thirty-six.
The meeting-house built in the Village was the first in the town, and as some (who ought to know) say, was the first Universalist church crected in the District of Maine. In 1805, the Universalist Society of Paris and Norway was in- corporated by an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts. During several successive years things went along with the usual progress of matters, like all other societies. Mr. Barnes continued to preach with them, with occasionally some other preachers, and among others Sebastian Streeter. In 1822, there were forty paying members, (and such are, in all soci- eties, the best members.) Nov. 22, 1828, the society, having it in contemplation to build a new house, voted to sell the old one. Nov. 28, 1828, they voted to build a new house, and chose the following committee to superintend the building of the same : Nathaniel Bennett. Elijah Hall, Asa Danforth, Asa Barton, and Joshua Crockett. Benjamin B. Murray became the preacher in this society a short time previous to building the new house, and continued till some time in the year 1832. The new house was finished and dedicated in 1829. In 1833, the Rev. Henry IHawkins was invited to preach to the society, and continued its teacher and preacher for a short time. In 1837, Rev. Luke P. Rand was called by the society to become its religious teacher, and remained till some time in 1840. In 1838, there was a great revival in the society, and an addition of twenty-six members was made, which was almost four times the number of its first founders. Soon after the withdrawal of Mr. Rand, the Rev. T. J. Tenney was invited to become the teacher of the soci- ety, and remained till 1846. In 1849, Rev. J. L. Stevens was called to become the pastor of the society, and continues with it up to the present time. In 1851, the society remod- elled and rededicated their house, and put into it an elegant organ. As a religious society it appears flourishing. The paying members now number fifty-eight.
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
Since the first organization of the society, very many of the old members have bid adieu to all sublunar things, and passed to the spirit land, " from whose bourne no traveler returns ; " but their places seemed to be filled with others, (with many additions) who are springing up after them. May the society, and its teachers, ever enjoy the smiles and guidance of that Being, "whose right it is to rule."
CONGREGATIONAL DENOMINATION.
I now proceed to give some account of the Congregational church and society in Norway, as that was the next in order of organization, except what was done to fulfil the require- ments of the law, before any society was formed.
It seems, by the best authority within my reach, that Mr. Gould, some years afterwards settled in Bethel, was the first minister that was hired to preach in the town; and it being summer-time, he preached in Jeremiah Hobbs' barn-length of time unknown. A minister by the name of Chapman, who probably resided in Bethel, used sometimes to pass through the town, and preached a few times ; and occasionally a mis- sionary made a visit, and ministered to the people. Mr. Nathan Merrill, of Gray, a Baptist preacher, sometimes vis- ited the settlement, even before its incorporation, and generally preached when he came here; he likewise solemnized several of the first marriages in the place.
A minister by the name of Stoddard, about 1801 or 1802, preached for a considerable time, and the people were so well satisfied, that they came to the conclusion to settle him ; but some things derogatory to his character as a preacher coming to light, they finally dismissed him from any further duty- as they believed him to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, who might devour some of the lambs. Mr. Stoddard was proba- bly witty, if not good ; and thinking (rightly too) that Capt. Jonathan Cummings exerted considerable influence adverse to his settlement in the town as a minister of the gospel, on
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
preaching what he termed his farewell sermon, he paid rather a sarcastic compliment to Cummings. He pretended to have ยท had a remarkable dream, and obtained the latest news from the infernal regions. Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils, had hastily summoned a grand council of his co-workers in evil, to consult on the furtherance of his nefarious designs. He stated to his compeers that he had received intelligence that the town of Norway, on this earthly ball, was about to settle a minister of the gospel, and that there must be some plan contrived to prevent such a terrible obstacle to his own rule and reign in poor Norway. After much elaborate discussion, his Satanic Majesty ordered his best and fleetest horse to be brought up, while he was making hasty preparations for his- journey. In the meantime, some one of his sage counselors inquired of him if there was not some person in Norway who could be furnished with an agency to do the business for him, and save the journey. He began to deliberate on the subject, and suddenly exclaimed, "O yes ! there is Jonathan Cum- mings ; I had at first forgotten that he was there ; he can do the business just as well as I can, so you may put up my horse again." And it seems he was not mistaken in his agent, for he has done the business just as well as his master could, had he come on purpose.
On the 6th. of October, 1802, the Congregational Church was organized, and the following are the "Articles of Faith :"
1st .- We believe that there is one God, who is the Creator, Lord, Governor and Judge, both of angels and men, and the Sovereign Lord of providence and grace, and who is eternal, self-existent, almighty, Infinite in knowledge, wisdom, love, goodness and holiness.
2d .- We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; that these three are equal in power and glory, and that equal honour belongs to them.
3d .- We believe that God made man in his own image in
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moral rectitude ; that man fell by eating the forbidden fruit, involving his whole posterity with himself in sin and ruin ; that all, who, by natural generation, are born of flesh, are depraved and children of death; that no one without being born again, can enter into the kingdom of God.
4th .- We believe that as God reserves fallen angels to the Judgment of the great day, so he might justly have left all mankind to everlasting death ; but in the riches of liis soy- creign love he gave his son to be born and die for them ; raised him from the dead for their justification and salvation, and by his spirit keeps all, who truly believe, to eternal life in heaven.
5th .- We believe the scriptures of the old and new testa- ment to be the word of God; and a revelation from him of his will and man's duty, and that it is a perfect rule both of faith and practice, teaching the true knowledge of God, the redemption of man by Jesus Christ, the justification of be- lievers by his righteousness, and the renovation of the elect by his Spirit.
6th .- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ requires the first day of the week to be sanctified as the Lord's day ; that he has appointed his ministers to preach his word and to ad- minister christian ordinances, particularly baptism to believers and their sced, and the Lord's supper to Christ's family, as the memorial of his death, and that he requires secret, family, and publick worship of God, the singing of his praises, and the reading of his word, with the keeping of all his moral commands.
7th .- We believe that God does all things by Jesus Christ according to his eternal counsels and decrees, and requires mankind to do all acts of obedience, and worship in Christ's name and with the assistance of his grace, going always to God through Christ, and by the holy spirit.
8th .- We believe that Christ, who is exalted at the right hand of the Father, and governs the world as head over all
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
things to the church, will at the last day descend from heaven in glory with the holy angels, will raise the dead, and judge the world in righteousness, condemning the wicked according to their works to eternal death, and giving to the righteous eternal life in the kingdom, and blessed presence of God.
COVENANT .- In presence of the Holy God, and in the be- lief of the glorious truths of his word, we avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to be our God, and do solemnly covenant with him, and promise, in dependence on his grace, to believe, worship, and obey him in all things, at all times, according to his word ; making the scriptures the supreme rule of our faith and practice ; honouring him in all his ordinances ; doing every duty in the name of Christ ; re- lying on the grace of his spirit, and walking with his saints as joint members of Christ's body, keeping the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, hoping in the Lord Jesus Christ; and waiting for his coming unto eternal life. Amen.
The names of those who signed the Covenant :
Joanna Upton, Amos Upton,
Lydia Frost, Jacob Frost,
Rachael Stone,
Joseph Stone,
Miriam Foster,
Nathan Foster,
Lydia Stone,
Timothy Stone,
Joanna Jones,
Chad Wallader F. Jones,
John Hor,
Mary Bancroft,
Huldah Case,
Enoch Merrill,
Benjamin Flint, Jonathan Gurney, Norway, October 6, 1802.
The foregoing confession of faith and covenant were assent- ed to, and signed by the subscribers, whose names are above written, whom we declare to be a regular Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, denominated the Church of Christ in Norway.
Done with the approbation, and in the presence of us Mis- sionaries and Pastors of Churches.
ENOCH HALE, of West Hampton, SETH PAYSON, of Ringe, JONATHAN GRANT, of Hawley.
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
October 6, 1802. The church being formed, chose Timo- thy Stone Deacon, Moderator and Clerk.
ENOCH HALE, JONATHAN GRANT, S Missionaries.
It appears that the church records were to be kept in the house of Amos Upton, who had previous to this time built himself a large house for that day, and for many years it was used as a place for religious meetings. He was a zealous professor, and spent much time in fitting his house with seats to accommodate those who attended meeting on the Sabbath. On Saturday afternoon he would bring in blocks and planks, or boards, and arrange seats in his long kitchen, in prepara- tion for meeting the next day. Mr. Joseph Martin was a good singer, and understood the rules of church psalmody well for that early day. Occasionally a missionary would come along, and stop and preach a few Sabbaths with the church and people ; and sometimes a minister was hired to preach a Sabbath or two, or a month, and once or twice for three months.
In 1803, June 24, I find there was a town order given to Timothy Stone, for money paid by him to Rev. Enoch Whip- ple, for preaching two Sabbaths, $10,00. And the same year, an order to Nathan Noble, for money paid by him to Rev. Mr. Smith, for preaching one Sabbath, $5,00. In 1805, there was an order given to Joseph Stevens, for money paid Mr. Spaulding, for preaching eight Sabbaths, at $5,50 per Sabbath, $44,00 ; and another town order was given for boarding the said Spaulding, and horse, $16,00.
Thus it appears that we were not entirely destitute of the preached word ; and when there was no minister, the people assembled in Mr. Upton's house, and held what used to be called a Deacon's meeting; there would be a sermon read, (the writer has read many in our Sabbath meetings, ) and prayers offered up by some of the more gifted members of the church, and singing, good enough. There were many good singers of the old school method of singing, and uncle Jo
1
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
Martin (as we used to call him) would give us the pitch of the tune with his pitch-pipe, and we could make first-rate church melody of such tunes as Old Hundred, St. Martins, Wells, &c.
In the summer-time, when there was a minister, the mect- ings were often, and usually, held in some barn-perhaps in Jeremiah Hobbs', or Esquire Eastman's-and the elderly people with the ladies generally occupied the lower part of the barn, while the boys and younger portion of the assembly ascended to the scaffolds. In such humble places of worship, the little swallows would twitter the praises of Almighty God over our heads, while an attentive audience would eagerly listen to the words of truth which flowed from the mouth of the speaker.
Thus things went along till the carly part of the spring of 1807, when Noah Cresey came to Norway, and was employed to preach by the Congregational order. He gave almost uni- versal satisfaction to all hearers, especially to those of his own denomination ; but an attempt to settle him proved abor- tive, on account of there being many Universalists, Baptists, and some few Methodists, who were just. beginning to appear amongst us as a religious sect.
In 1808, Maj. Jonathan Cummings, though not a professor of any particular order of religion, undertook, on his own. responsibility, to build a Congregational meeting-house, on the same site now occupied for a similar house. The building ing was large-forty-eight feet by sixty, and thirty feet posts. It was raised early in July, and nearly finished in that and the succeeding year.
The attempt to settle Mr. Cresey having failed, only served to stimulate the church and society, and they then applied to the Legislature for an act of incorporation. They finally obtained their request, as will be seen by the following act :
An Aet to incorporate a religious society in the town of Norway :
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
SECT. 1 .- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives in General Court assembled, and by the autherity of the same; That the following persons, viz., Joseph Brad- bury, Job Eastman, Joel Stevens, Cad W. F. Jones, John Hor, Benjamin Fuller, James Flint, Joshua Crockett, Jona- than Pottle, Darius Wilkins, Eliphalet Watson, Silas Meriam, John Pike, Aaron Wilkins, Amos Hobbs, Amos Town, Increase Robinson, Asa Noyes, Enoch Holt, William Lessley, Ward Noyes, John Needham, Stephen Pingree, Jr., Micah Upton, Jonathan Gurney, Joseph Martin, Benjamin Flint, Robinson Hobbs, Enoch Merrill, Joel Frost, Thomas Wood, Jeremiah Hobbs, Jeremiah Hobbs, Jr., Daniel Hobbs, Jeremiah Hobbs, 3d, Jonas Stevens, Jr., John Case, Daniel Holt, Jacob Rus- sell, Frye Lovejoy, Ephraim Twombly, Francis Butcher, Dustin Patch, Zephaniah Frost, Philip Abbott, John Ordway, Jacob Frost, Daniel Town, Amos Upton, Amos Upton, Jr., Jonathan Shed, Jonathan Cummings, Luther Farrar, William Hobbs, Benjamin Peabody, Amasa Lessley, Joseph Stevens, Jr., Moses Ayer, Elijah Flint, Amos Cummings, Jonas Ste- vens, Nathan Noble, Ebenezer Watson, Stephen Bartlett, Timothy Stone, Nathan Foster, Isaac Lovejoy, Ebenezer Bancroft, together with their families and estates with them, be and they are hereby incorporated into a Society by the name of the Congregational Society in Norway, with all the power, privileges and immunities to which other Religious Societies are entitled by the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth.
SECT. 2 .- Be it further enacted that any Justice of the Peace in the County of Oxford is hereby authorized and em- powered to issue his warrant directed to some suitable inhab- itant of said town of Norway requiring him to notify and warn the members of said Congregational Society to meet at such convenient time and place, as shall be expressed in said Warrant for the purpose of choosing such officers as Parishes,
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
are by law empowered to choose at their annual meetings in the months of March or April.
In the House of Representatives Feb. 25, 1809. This Bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
In Senate Feb. 28, 1809. This Bill having had two sev- eral readings passed to be enacted.
II. G. OTIS, President.
Approved March 1, 1809. LEVI LINCOLN.
Secretary's Office, March 7, 1809. True Copy. Attest WM. TUDOR, Sec. of Commonwealth.
The first annual meeting of the society under their act of incorporation, was called on the tenth day of April, 1809, and measures were taken to give Mr. Cresey a call to become their pastor and teacher, and to be ordained over the church and society at some suitable time. In accordance with this resolution, the following Committee was chosen to carry this matter into effect : Job Eastman, Nathan Noble, Joseph Ste- vens, and John Hor. They forthwith addressed to him the following Call :
To Mr. Noah Cresey, Candidate for the Gospel Ministry. DEAR SIR :- The church and people of the Congregational Society in the town of Norway, being united in their desires, to have you continue with them to preach and administer to them the ordinances of the Gospel, and as a manifestation of their attachment to you as their teacher and instructor in di- vine truth, their approbation of your walk and conversation, their thanks for your love and labour with them in the Gospel hitherto-Have at a legal meeting held on the tenth day of April Inst. by said society, unanimously voted to renew their invitation for you to settle, and be ordained as Pastor and Minister over said church and society. And for your encour- agement to settle and labour with them in the Gospel, do agree and engage to pay you two hundred and sixty-six dol-
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IIISTORY OF NORWAY.
lars and sixty-seven cents as your salary for the first year ; and add sixteen dollars and sixty-seven cents yearly, until the sum amounts to three hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-four cents to be your stated salary, so long as you shall labour with the church and society in preaching the Gospel, and administering the ordinances thereof to their sat- isfaction as a teacher, and you be satisfied in them as a people under your care and charge. And for your further encour- agement, do agree to pay you three hundred dollars as a settlement, to be paid in labour and materials for crecting buildings for yourself in said town of Norway as you may want. And may God direct you in the path of duty, and grant you all needed aid and assistance whereby you may be enabled to came unto the church under your care and charge from time to time in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of peace.
JOB EASTMAN, NATHAN NOBLE, JOSEPH STEVENS, JOIN HOR,
1 Committee of the Congregational Society.
Norway, April 13, 1809.
A true record. JOB EASTMAN, Clerk.
After taking a short time for consideration of the subject, Mr. Cresey returned the following answer to the aforesaid Call :
To the Congregational church and society in Norway :- BRETHREN AND FRIENDS, as you have renewed your invita- tion expressing as you have formerly donc, a desire to have me become your Pastor and teacher, I now proceed to com- municate my answer to the same.
The Gospel is at once the most glorious and important object, which ever engaged the attention of man. It origi- nated in the love and compassion of God : and is now in operation in the world for the merciful purpose of destroying sin, of reclaiming fallen men, and guiding them to Heaven and eternal happiness. From the instruction of this Gospel,
.
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
which has been ordered to be preached in the world, results that important relation, which subsists between a minister and people. In forming a connexion of this nature, serious great and interesting consequences approach in view. Though this connexion may dissolve, yet the consequences resulting from it remain eternal. A Minister should not choose to take the charge, and moral instruction of a people for any other pur- pose than to advance the Glory of God, and to seek the salvation and happiness of immortal souls. And a people in settling a Gospel minister should be actuated by the sincere and laudable motives of gaining spiritual knowledge, and pro- moting their future peace and welfare,
You have invited me to an important situation, to take upon me a solemn charge, to engage in a work, in which the Glory of God, the prosperity of Zion, and your own salvation are deeply concerned. Here my thoughts extend beyond the grave and bring into view the interesting realities of eternity. I shrink from the sacred and solemn task. This is a great resolution to form, it is a weighty trust to devolve on a mortal. After much serious consideration upon your situation, and the sincere attachment, which you have manifested to me, in an- swer to your invitation as an incorporated society I cordially consent to become your Pastor and teacher; praying that the Lord would make me a faithful embassadour of Jesus Christ ; that he would grant his blessing to our expected union, and make it a means of promoting his glory and our eternal salvation.
NOAH CRESEY.
A true record. Attest JOB EASTMAN, Clerk.
In the meantime, Maj. Cummings was pushing the building of the meeting-house along rapidly. The time fixed for Mr. Crescy's ordination was the twentieth day of Sept., 1809. The affairs of the church and society were going along very prosperously, and both minister and people indulged pleasing anticipations in regard to their future prospects.
It will be recollectod that the society was to give Mr. Cresey
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
$300 as a settlement, to be paid in materials and labor towards erecting buildings ; and in the summer of 1809 he erected a house on the hill above the meeting-house. It was raised in August.
In old times, in this town, it was a custom at the raising of buildings, when the frame was completely up, to have what was called a name for the frame, which was always either a poetic couplet, or several verses, according to the taste or inclination of the person giving the name. The ceremony of naming a frame was as follows : The hands on the frame paraded either on the ridge-pole, or front plate, and the two persons who were to be the speakers were stationed, one at each end ; a bottle of good liquor was sent up by the owner, .and after it had passed from one end of the frame to the other, one of the speakers sung out, "Here's a fine frame, that deserves a good name, and what shall we call it ?" The other speaker then gave the name, and when through, the first cried out, "Will that do ?" Those on the ground answered, "O yes !" The hands on the frame then gave three rousing cheers, which were responded to by three more from those on the ground; then one closing cheer from the frame, and the bottle of liquor was thrown from the frame by the person who gave the name. The circumstance of raising a house for a favorite minister called forth the following poetic effusion for a name from one of the boys-D. Noyes.
It's customary in this town Our buildings for to name- I'll thank you all who are standing round To listen to the same.
And since the task I undertake, A name for to compose, Don't censure me if I mistake, And do myself expose.
According to the owner's will We've raised this stately frame ; 6
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
May love and friendship ever fill, And peace adorn the same.
Long life and health may he enjoy, And sweet contentment find ; And in God's work find full employ To exercise his mind.
As the good shepherd guards his sheep, In danger them protects, So may this man his followers keep, Through life their steps direct.
The sacred desk long may he fill, With honor and applause , May he be fired with Heav'nly zeal To aid Religion's cause.
A pattern of true piety I hope this man will stand ; And instrumental may he be In saving fallen man.
In days of old, the Israelites Were through the wilderness Led by a cloud, and fire by night, Safe to the land of rest.
A fire by night, and cloud by day, Instead of, may he stand, To guide mankind in the right way Safe to the Heav'nly land.
May good success his works attend, And wisdom him direct, The way of truth may he defend, And error's ways reject.
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