Friday, April 27, 2018

1907 Program for the 125th Anniversary of the Free Baptist Churches of New Gloucester, Maine, & Gray, Maine (1782-1907)


Program of the commemoration of the 125th anniversary (1782-1907) of the New Gloucester, Maine, and Gray, Maine, Free Baptist Churches, held on June 30-July 1, 1907.

At time time of this commemoration, the churches' pastor was Rev. James W. Williams, whose name appears at the bottom of the cover page.


Sunday, June 30

10:30 a.m.  At the Gray Church
     Historical address by the pastor, Rev. James W. Williams

2:30 p.m. at New Gloucester Church
     Addresses by
  • Rev. F. E. Freeze of South Gorham, Maine - presumably Forrest Edward Freeze, a native of Lagrange, Maine, and graduate of  Bates College
  • Rev. C. W. Rogers of New Gloucester, Maine - Alma, New Brunswick, native Charles Wellington Rogers
  • B. C. Jordon, Esq., of Alfred, Maine - lumberman Benjamin Clark Jordan, brother of speaker Prof. Lyman Granville Jordan [note the different spelling]
  • Prof. L. G. Jordon of Lewiston, Maine - Lyman Granville Jordan, chemistry professor at Bates College and brother of speaker Benjamin C. Jordan [note the different spelling]

7:00 p.m.  At the Gray Church
     Addresses by
  • Rev. F. E. Freeze of South Gorham, Maine
  • Rev. H. L. McCann of Gray, Maine - Herbert L. McCann, a native of Rollingdam, New  Brunswick
  • Rev. Eleanor B. Forbes of Gray, Maine - graduated in Class of 1878 at Hebron Academy, the  first graduating class
  • B. C. Jordon, Esq., of Alfred, Maine
  • Prof. L. G. Jordon of Lewiston, Maine

Monday, July 1
     Field Day at the "Elder Ephraim Stinchfield Homestead", on the Penney Road, New Gloucester

10:00 a.m.  Outing and social gathering descendants of Elder Stinchfield, congregations of the churches, and interested friends

12:00 m.  Picnic dinners

2:00 p.m.  Addresses reminiscent of Elder Stinchfield and his work


Sunday, June 30

Leading Historical Events
  • July 1, 1782, the "Gray and New Gloucester General Provision Antipedo-Baptist Church" organized, as result of labors of Benjamin Randall.  Elder Nathan Merrill, first minister.
  • November 8, 1792, Ephraim Stinchfield baptized by Randall.
  • February 17, 1803.  Church reorganized under leadership of Elder Stinchfield.
  • July 1, 1824.  Another reorganization.  Attempted division into two churches defeated.
  • January 1844.  Church finally divided.
  • May 1856.  "Union Meeting House" (so called) purchased by the Gray society.

If you have information to share on any of the people mentioned above, or on the Stinchfield family and homestead, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

2 comments:

  1. Are these for sale? What do you want for them?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, this item is still available, as are others I posted about on that same day. Contact info is in the right margin under Inquiries.

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