Probably the first public religious meetings were held at the home of Dea. Increase Robinson in 1783.

For several years a few faithful disciples met here and worshiped according to the custom of those days, until the first log schoolhouse was erected, when public services were held there. Meetings on the Sabbath were thus maintained in those rude huts and old "family kitchens" until the first Congregational church was erected on Sumner Hill in 1819.

This old meeting house did duty until 1854, when it was taken down and rebuilt near Parson Sewall's residence, where it still is in use for regular Sabbath services.

The Baptist people, however, settled the first minister, Elder Macomber, who received the grant

of land given to the town's minister. This land, however, was afterward given back, and the proceeds of its sale still constitute a permanent fund, the interest of which is divided annually among the several religious societies in town. The Baptists have been supplied by various pastors among which were Joseph Palmer, who labored for years preaching at different schoolhouses in town and other pla-. On March 20, 1833, Elder Manassah Lawrence moved into town and began a faithful ministry which continued until 1858, a pastorate of twenty-five years. The church numbered when he came fifty-one members. When he left it numbered one hundred and thirty-threc.

ces.

Various societies have sprung up in town and flourished more or less at different periods of the town's history, but the only societies that have erected church edifices are the Congregational, Baptist and Universalist, of which to-day the Congrega.. tional has two, the Baptist two, and Universalist one, making five church buildings kept in good repair and regular Sabbath services held in four of them, and occasional services in the other. This in a rural town of about 900 inhabitants may show that the town is not lacking in love and respect for moral and religious observances. There are at present

three Y. P. S. C. E. societies in town that meet weekly. The first Sabbath school was organized in town in or about the year 1832, by the Rev. Asa Bullard of Boston. Each of the five churches main

tain schools, besides additional ones in the summer

season.

Originally, the pews in the Baptist church faced the high gallery, and the pulpit back joined the gallery front so that the minister could not see the singers unless he faced about, and only those occupying the front seat in the gallery could see the pulpit.

At the time the church was erected it was considered a fine arrangement, as the occupants of the pews could face the minister, the choir, and see all the late comers and strangers.

The choir in those days was large and frequently filled four long, unpainted wooden benches. Several of the grandchildren of those old singers are now serving in a smaller choir near the minister's right. The old "Carmina Sacra," by Lowell Mason, was the tune book.

The first choir that we can remember was composed of about a dozen persons, none of them young, and was led by Col. James Hersey. After the minister had finished reading one of Watts' hymns, the colonel would announce Barby, Marlow or Rockingham as the case demanded. Then after a tremulous far-sol-la, all hands would sing usually four to six verses at a rather slow feed, and usually end half a note, or more, below the key note. No anthems, or set pieces ever greeted our ears then. The sacred music then was of a doleful slow cast and not calculated to awaken much enthusiasm. Things went on in this way until one winter a Mr. Bonney

taught a singing school, after which a new choir was organized with John Conant as leader. Then came quite a change. New singing books were introduced. and the music was of a more lively order. About this time instrumental music by way of fiddles and bass viol came into use here. Greenleaf Conant and Stephen Heald, who had sustained the alto part in singing, were taken out and learned to manipulate the fiddle and bass viol. Bradford Bisbee also assisted. It seemed to our boyish mind that the music • had reached the climax of perfection. Mr. Conant, the chorester, was of a quick and impulsive nature, and there was some jingle in the selections. How we used to stand at a safe and respectful distance and gaze with open mouth and dilated eyes to the music and wonder if we should ever get there. The singing book was the Old Psaltery, and many of the closing pieces are still fresh in mind. How I delighted to tell about our singing. Why, I honestly thought it could not be excelled by anybody.

Singing was becoming an important factor in church services. Mr. Conant led the choir for several years, and after his removal Milton Hersey led the singing for a while, and as he was our first Sabbath school teacher, we thought he was hard to beat. After Mr. Hersey came our well known and efficient chorester, Stephen C. Heald, who commenced 'in that capacity while but a youth of twenty-one and served many years.

1

The first established mail route through Sumner started from Buckfield, came up past Capt. Bisbee's over Sumner Hill to Esq. Barrett's, then back by East Sumner, and through Hartford to Canton. One trip a week was made, and this mail was usually carried on horseback. The driver blew a trumpet `before passing houses, as some of the settlers used to pay him a trifle to deliver their mail, and carry letters to the office for them.

Simeon Barrett, esq., was the first postmaster. Later on, as the town became thicker settled, another office was established at the east part of the town, then known as "Sumner Corner," where Dr. Bethuel Cary was postmaster for many years. After the Buckfield Branch railroad was extended to East Sumner, the office was removed to the Flat near the mills, where it is now kept.

But years before this latter event took place an office was established at Abel Fletcher's and one at West Sumner, in place of the one at Esq. Barrett's. The mail route then started from Paris Hill, came through Sumner over the hills to East Sumner, through Hartford, Cinton to Canton Point, the terminus. One trip per week only. Yet the entire week's mail for all the section traversed was not nearly as heavy as one of the two daily mails that now arrive at East Sumner. Probably the number of Lewiston Weekly Journals that arrive every Thursday P. M. at East Sumner exceeds all the weekly newspapers then delivered over the entire