Page 10, Crouseville Missionaries
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Moses W. Corliss
and
Benjamin Spaulding

1860 Crouseville Missionaries

 

Moses W. Corliss, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was a travelling missionary who came to Crouseville in 1860, accompanied by Elder Benjamin Spaulding, an Adventist.

 

Ray H. Carter wrote of their experiences in Crouseville in his book, An Informal History of Washburn, Maine:

 

            “They travelled on foot out of Presque Isle and called along the way at private homes to distribute religious tracts and pray with the people. As they approached Peter Bull’s home, Spaulding assured Corliss that they would find friends. Spaulding had visited the Bulls before, and they had subscribed to the Crisis, an Adventist paper. However, according to Ruth Flewelling, custodian of the Advent Christian Church records, Corliss and Spaulding were doomed to disappointment, for they were told the Bulls had been informed that the paper was an infidel sheet, and they had discontinued it. This was all very discouraging to Corliss, who now felt that Adventism was not going to receive a very warm welcome in the area.”

           

            “They then crossed the [Aroostook] river and stopped at the home of Job [and Annie (Crouse)] Churchill, where they found rest and welcome from their tiresome journey. William Churchill, son of Job [and Annie], was later to be the founder and pastor of most of Advent churches in northern Maine. In the resulting meetings, Brother Spaulding did most of the preaching, but Corliss had the satisfaction of baptizing five converts. With Spaulding’s help, he was able to organize a church group in East Washburn [Crouseville].”

 

This would lead to the building of the Crouseville Advent Christian Church in the mid-1880’s. The church would become the focal point for the community to the present day.  

 Click  here  to see a photograph of the Crouseville Advent Christian Church.

 

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The Early History of Crouseville, 1800-1875, is reprinted with permission, from the book Crouse Family History, 2nd Edition, copyright (c) 1995-2000, Rogue Publishing, Seattle, Washington.