USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > A century of history in the First Baptist Church in Waterbury, Conn > Part 8
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I have never considered it wise or well to criti- cise Christian organizations, or methods in Chris- tian work, so long as they were fairly successful, or even gave a reasonable promise of success. But when for a long series of years success has been growing less and less in proportion to the effort put forth until in many cases it seems almost to have reached the vanishing point, while threatening disaster comes nearer and nearer until it seems to be almost upon us, it is not a time for earnest Christians to ignore the situation, or to deceive themselves with false hopes. When the ostrich sticks his head in the sand, the danger is not averted, but is rather increased.
Now, if God has withdrawn or is withdrawing his favor from Protestant Christianity, it is not without a reason, and the fault is not with Him, nor with the Gospel He has sent his Son to pro- claim.
Any explanation of the situation, and any in-
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telligent suggestion or proposal, from whatever source, looking to better things, should be wel- comed and fairly considered.
For my own part I believe that the weakness of our Protestant Christianity, as shown in Dr. An- derson's paper, is due to a general indifference to truth, leading to a disloyalty and disobedience, which is, perhaps, half unconscious, but neverthe- less real, positive, and responsible. And I have, therefore, no apology to offer for pointing out as clearly as I may, some of the errors and moral obliquities to which I conceive such weakness to be due. And in doing this as regards our breth- ren of other names, it is not that I am unaware that Baptists also may be much at fault, nor that we may have much to learn from other Christians in return for such things as they may profitably learn from us. And I trust that we, as Baptists, may have grace to receive such criticisms, re- proofs, or admonitions as our brethren of other denominations may see fit to offer us, in all hu- mility, and in the same kindly Christian spirit in which we may expect our suggestions will be re- ceived by them.
In any case it will be no harm to our pedo- baptist and aspersionist brethren, but rather to their advantage, that they should know the full strength of the Baptist position, as shown by acknowledged facts and the inflexible logic of the situation, however much or little it may be our
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purpose to urge our arguments upon their consid- eration in the future. And I will ask the reader to pay particular attention to the foot notes at- tached to the following pages. I believe he will find them to contain matter fully as interesting and important as anything in the text, where, however, they could not be introduced without making an undesirable interruption in the con- nection of the thought.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN WATER- BURY.
HISTORICAL SKETCH BY PROF. D. G. PORTER.
Baptists are those Christians who insist upon the baptism com- manded by Christ and his apostles, and prac- ticed by all the New Testament churches. They reject all substi- tutes or deviations from the original in- PROF. D. G. PORTER. stitution, whether as regards the act or the subject; and hold that there is, and can be, no other form of baptism than immersion alone. The view and practice thus indicated, whenever and wherever it is fairly stated, inevitably im- plies a disapproval of the practices of other Chris- tians in regard to the matters in question, and to the uncharitable, easily supplies occasion of distrust and even of unpleasant relations between
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the parties themselves. From these and other similar considerations it follows almost of neces- sity that Baptists in New England today are not among the most popular of the Christian denominations, even with those who are most in- clined to look with charitable condescension on the "narrow-minded bigotry " sometimes at- tributed to Baptists, and which it is supposed leads them to an obstinate adherence to an anti- quated and infelicitous custom.
But if such is the case at the present time in our enlightened and liberty-loving republic, it was vastly worse for Baptists when the Baptist church in Waterbury was constituted 100 years ago. The great principle of religious liberty had not then been legally affirmed in Connecticut, and Baptists were regarded as disturbers of standing and established social and religious orders, - to be tolerated in a certain way so long as they kept quiet and did not render themselves ob- noxious by speaking against infant baptism and sprinkling. But when they began to gather in companies and give expression to their senti- ments and opinions, and worse than all, to back them up by arguments from Scripture, it is easy to understand the aversion with which they
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were regarded by the respectable and influential adherents of the prevailing religious systems. It is easy also to understand that only men of firm conscientious conviction and high moral courage would be likely to be Baptists under cir- cumstances like these.
But we have other than a priori evidence of the character of the three men who are especially to be regarded as the founders of the Baptist church in Waterbury. We know of Zenas Brockett that he was peculiarly a man of prayer; that as occa- sion and opportunity offered he would retire with his Bible to the deep woods near his dwell- ing, and spend hours together, alone with God, in reading, meditation, and prayer. We know also of the high esteem in which he was held by his neighbors despite his Baptist sentiments. Of David Frost we know that he was so firm in sup- port of the great Baptist principle of freedom of conscience, that he would allow his property to be distrained rather than pay voluntarily to support a religion in which he did not believe, - thus doing in that far off time the same kind of work which John Clifford and Reginald Campbell are doing in England today. We know also that he was so scrupulously upright in his business trans-
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actions as to cause remark among his neighbors and others, who doubtlessly regarded him as mor- bidly conscientious. We know also that both these men with Isaac Terrell, as the third, before the founding of the Waterbury church, would rise soon after midnight of Saturday, at least once a month, and make their way, generally on foot, 12 to 14 miles to Wallingford, to worship with the church to which from conscientious con- viction they adhered; and returning after the evening service, would reach their homes at mid- night of the following day. These were not the kind of men who would allow convenience, or business or social influences, or any worldly con- sideration to determine their church relations, or in any way to detract from their allegiance to God and his truth. Nor did they ever imagine that any superfluity of zeal in one line of duty or service could compensate for conscious delin- quency and defection in another.
ORGANIZING THE CHURCH, ORDAINING PASTORS, AND BUILDING THE FIRST HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
Arrangements were made by these men for neighborhood religious gatherings to be held in their own houses. These meetings resulted in the conversion of several persons, who joined the
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Wallingford church, and who shortly after, to the number of 20, and just one hundred years ago, were dismissed to form a Baptist church in Waterbury. The little church thus constituted held on its way for 12 years and gradually in- creased in numbers without pastor or house of worship, holding its meetings alternately in the houses of five different members in the outskirts of three different towns. Then, in the month of October, 1815, in the open field near the residence of Deacon Brockett, the church set apart two of its members, Jesse Frost, son of David Frost above mentioned, and Samuel Potter, son-in-law of Deacon Brockett, to the work of the ministry. The ordination services were an occasion of great interest, were largely attended, and were con- ducted by Baptist ministers called in from abroad. The joint pastorate of these worthy brethren was especially blessed with tokens of divine favor, and two years after, the church, which now num- bered about 100 members, divided by dismissing about 60 of its members to form the Woodbridge and Salem church, or, as it would now be called, the Naugatuck and Bethany church, its member- ship being chiefly located about the confines of these two towns.
DEACON TIMOTHY PORTER - p. 153.1
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Elder Potter took charge of the new church, leaving Elder Frost in charge of the original church, which now numbered only about 30 mem- bers, none of them wealthy.
Soon after the separation, the Waterbury church built its first house of worship. It stood in an open space at the Mill Plain cross roads, about two and a half miles from the center. It cost probably less than two hundred dollars ex- clusive of the voluntary labor of the members and their friends. It was without paint, plaster, or chimney, and had only wooden benches with- out backs for seats, and was warmed in winter only by the portable foot stoves of the elderly ladies, filled with coals from neighboring hearths. Elder Frost died after a pastorate of 12 years, and the care of the church, now numbering about 40 members, devolved on Deacon Timothy Porter, who had been given a license to preach about a year previous. He served gratuitously for the succeeding eight years, during which the church prospered and its membership was doubled, every year adding to its numbers.
MOVING TO THE CENTER OF THE TOWN.
But a crisis in the history of the church was now approaching. The little, cheap, plain meet-
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ing house had become too strait for the increasing congregations, so that in summer the meetings often had to be adjourned to a neighboring grove. It was evident that a new house of wor- ship must be built, and that it should be located in the center of the town. On the successful accomplishment of this plan, the success, per- haps the very existence, of the Baptist cause in Waterbury was to depend. The Woodbridge and Salem church, though much stronger both in numbers and wealth than the Waterbury church from which it was separated, and which num- bered at one time not less than 100 members, actually died out because of its remoteness from every possible center of population. But the work proposed was for such a church a great under- taking. It was comparatively little to sustain the worship in the little cross-roads meeting house, where the pastors either served gratuitously, or were content with whatever the people might choose to contribute, and were supporting them- selves largely by the labor of their own hands. It was a very different matter to move into the center of the town, already occupied by compara- tively strong and not over friendly Congrega- tional and Episcopal churches, erect a suitable
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building, engage a pastor at a living salary, and pay the other expenses incidental to sustaining the worship. Yet all this had to be done by the little church in its comparative poverty in order to place the cause on a substantial foundation.
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED.
It is difficult in these times to understand the difficulty which the little community encountered in raising the six or seven thousand dollars neces- sary to its purpose. Money was then a very scarce commodity even with the well-to-do, and Baptist pastors, when paid at all, had often to be paid in kind, that is in produce of the farms. For years after this effort to build was undertaken, the few factories then existing in Waterbury were paying only about four dollars a week for active, capable men, and this was better than the men could do otherwise or elsewhere. The mem- bers of the church, now numbering about 80, well understood the difficulty of the pro- posed undertaking, but determined to go forward according to the measure of their faith. They agreed with each other that their property might be taxed for the necessary amounts according as it was rated in the grand list of the town, and proceeded to the work. It was found, however,
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that this taxing arrangement would not gain credit with contractors, and four men, none of them wealthy, but more fore-handed and well-to- do than the others, came forward and volun- tarily assumed the legal responsibility for the debts contracted, and the church building was erected. Rev. Rollin Neal, originally of South- ington but afterwards a famous Boston preacher, preached the sermon of dedication, in which he admonished the people not to despise the day of small things.
But when the assessments were due it was found that many of the members were unable to pay. Then the most wealthy of the four men, be- coming alarmed at the prospect, drew back from the compact, and in order to free himself from his obligations, caused an attachment to be placed on the house of worship, the legal title to an undivided fourth of which was vested in him. The attachment was brought by a friend as se- curity for a debt he pretended to owe to this friend. This proceeding, besides involving legal embarrassment, delay, and expense, left the bur- den of responsibility on the other three men, each of whom had a large family to support, and whose combined property, if taken by legal
THE FIRST HOUSE OF WORSHIP BUILT BY BAPTISTS IN THE CENTER OF THE TOWN. pp. 151-5.
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process, would at that time scarcely have sufficed to satisfy the claims for which they had made themselves responsible. But these men were not of the kind to look back after putting their hands to the plow. Their hearts were in the work and their honor was pledged to see it safely through. The names of these three men so prominent in establishing the Baptist church in Waterbury seem to the writer to de- serve equal honor with the three who were its original founders. They were Deacon Alfred Platt, son of Deacon Nathan Platt and father of the late lamented Deacon William Platt, of a family which has furnished three generations of deacons to the Waterbury Baptist church, and, for the greater part of its history, also its largest financial support. Another was Deacon Tim- othy Porter, who from an Episcopal training came to the Baptist church from conscientious conviction and who, as above related, had been its preacher and pastor during the eight years last previous to its removal to the center. He was naturally the leader of the movement, and had much to do in managing and directing the enterprise from the start, and in freeing it from the legal entanglements in which it became in-
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volved. The third was Enoch W. Frost, grand- son of David Frost, one of the original founders, nephew of Elder Jesse Frost, the first pastor, and son of Enoch Frost, one of those who opened his house for Baptist meetings before the meeting- house at the cross roads was built, and in which, in fact, the church was constituted at the first. Mr. Frost had probably at this time more of this world's goods than either of the other two, and he was faithful to his obligations to the end.
Three assessments were made on the members according to the plan agreed upon, amounting in all to not less than $250 for every thousand in the grand list of the town, and to over $100 for every man whose head alone stood in the list and who had no other property to be taxed. And still the debt was not paid; and when the great financial crisis of 1837 swept over the country, it found the little society struggling under a burden which it was utterly unable to lift. As a last resort, as a necessary step, but not without a certain sense of humiliation on the part of those chiefly interested, it was decided to make an appeal to more fortunate Baptist churches ; and Deacon Porter and E. W. Frost, either sepa- rately or together, visited several of the more
DEACON ALFRED PLATT, Son of Deacon Nathan Platt and father of Deacons Charles and Wm. S. Platt - p. 153.+
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prominent churches of the State for that purpose. By this means about $700 was raised, which, with another subscription nearly equal in amount to each of the preceding assessments, was sufficient, 12 years after the completion of the building, to place the church on a secure financial basis.
THE DIFFERENT PASTORATES.
The spiritual progress of the church may be briefly traced as follows: Rev. Russel Jennings was the first pastor in the new church building. He was a man of considerable ability, and during his pastorate of something over two years about 40 were baptized into the fellowship of the church. Mr. Jennings having afterwards retired from the ministry was known to the Baptists of the State as the manufacturing philanthropist of Deep River.
Rev. Amos D. Watrous was the next pastor, following a year of supplies. Elder Watrous had quite an unusual power as an evangelist, but was not adapted to long pastorates. During his in- cumbency of about a year and a half, over 80 were added by baptism in one of the most re- markable revivals which the church ever enjoyed.
But financial difficulties had now so far cul- minated that from 1840 to 1844 the church did
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not deem it wise to attempt to support a pastor. In fact, for a year of this period the church building was under attachment on account of the fraudulent claim above alluded to, and had to be kept closed and strongly bolted and barred, except from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, when legal processes could not be served, to pre- vent the title from passing into other hands. During the greater part of this period, however, the pulpit was acceptably supplied by two faith- ful servants of God, Orsamus Allen and Irenus Atkins. These two men were regularly ordained Baptist ministers, but were at this time engaged in a manufacturing business in Bristol. They used to drive over the hills from Bristol alter- nately, or sometimes both together, to occupy the vacant pulpit, at an expense to the church not exceeding three to five dollars for each Sunday, for time, services, and expenses. This almost gratuitous service gave the church time to re- cover its breath, to straighten out the legal com- plications in which its property was involved, and to prepare for its future work.
THE ADVENT EXCITEMENT.
But in some respects this forced interregnum in the pastorate was peculiarly unfortunate. It
ENOCH W. FROST - p. 154.1 Son of Enoch Frost and nephew of Jesse Frost the first pastor.
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was during this period that the great Advent ex- citement, occasioned by the preaching of William Miller, reached its culmination. The final catas- trophe was confidently predicted for April, 1843. A Baptist Adventist named Batcheller, well versed in Miller's theories and having a peculiar facility in presenting them, conducted a series of meetings in the Baptist church in the winter pre- ceding the date fixed for the end, in which he at- tempted to prove, from prophecy, that the time was really at hand. He was a preacher of much power and to many his demonstrations seemed reasonably conclusive, while even the more thoughtful and conservative went so far as to say that in any case it would be well to be prepared for the event. Then, as if to confirm the predic- tions of the preacher, the great comet, the most brilliant and awe-inspiring probably of which we have any record, suddenly blazed in the evening sky, stretching its portentous belt of light, like a flaming sword, upward from the horizon, and across a great portion of the visible heavens, and suggesting that either by impact with the earth, or by falling into the sun, it might cause the heavens to pass as a scroll and the elements to melt with fervent heat. The preaching of the Adventists
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and the appearance of the comet caused in many hearts a certain fearful looking for the judgment. Many were convicted and anxiously asked what they must do to be saved. The Advent preacher was gone to fill other engagements, but Elder Atkins, who at this time was not without a cer- tain sympathy with his views, gave the little time at his command to the service of inquirers, sev- eral of whom joined the church ; but he could do but little as compared with what might have been done by a resident pastor, and the greater part of those who were awakened by preaching in the Baptist church either went back to the world, or were induced to join other churches in the town, whose pastors were fortunately at hand and ready, of course, to take advantage of so pro- pitious an occasion.
But the embarrassments of the church were now so far removed that in 1844 Rev. Allen Dar- row was called to the pastorate. During his ministry of about three years, 19 were added by baptism. Under the six-years pastorate of Rev. N. M. Perkins, which followed, 4I were added, the standing of the church was much improved and its influence greatly extended. Mr. Perkins was a man of ability, who had the courage of his
Will be best remembered without the spire, which was judged unsafe and taken down after a few years.
THE ORIGINAL CHURCH BUILDING (p. 159) EXTENDED WITH ENTRANCE ON BANK STREET.
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convictions, who respected himself, and was greatly respected in the community. Under the pastorate of Rev. J. A. Bailey, which succeeded, the house of worship was remodeled and rebuilt by extending the building towards Bank Street and making the entrance on that side instead of on South Main Street, as it had previously been. The total cost of this work was about $10,000, of which about $4,000 remained unpaid, and the debt was not entirely extinguished till twenty years later. Mr. Bailey's pastorate extended over nearly 18 years, during which there was a net gain in the membership of over 100, and was ter- minated only by his death at the age of 50 years, in Carlsbad, Germany, whither he had gone in hope of recovering his failing health.
The three years' pastorate of Rev. G. A. Stark- weather, which followed, was interrupted by sev- eral months of serious illness, but an unusual degree of zeal and activity on the part of the deacons and others seems to have supplemented quite effectually the disability of the pastor. Fifty-one were added by baptism, a mission was established at Simonsville, and a chapel built for its use at a cost of about $1,600. The honor of this mission, which has resulted in the formation
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of the Second Baptist Church, belongs largely to Deacons D. L. Smith and A. J. Shipley.
About 90 were baptized during the succeeding seven years pastorate of Rev. G. W. Folwell. The indebtedness, which had remained from the re- building of the church 20 years before, was finally paid, as also the debt on the Simonsville chapel. The church property on Bank street was sold for $41,000, and a new building, on Grand street, was erected at a total cost of $58,000, which was sub- stantially paid at the time of the dedication. The church was now practically, but not wholly, free from debt, and had a membership of about 400.
During the three years' pastorate of Rev. J. W. Richardson, who succeeded Mr. Folwell in 1885, the membership was increased to 500. But debt began to accumulate, due probably to the loss of the very considerable revenues which had hitherto accrued from the rents in the South Main street property. Rev. W. P. Elsdon succeeded to the pastorate in 1888. He was seriously handi- capped in his work by severe and protracted ill- ness and by the increasing defect in his vision, which has finally resulted in total blindness ; but after four years of his ministry the accessions to the church numbered 200. During this pastorate
REV. FRANCIS J. PARRY, D.D .- p. 161. t
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the debt which had accumulated under the pre- vious pastorate, or which had remained on the building, was paid; but extensive additions and improvements were made at a cost of not much less than $10,000, for which pledges were taken from the members and others interested, but which, as usually happens in such cases, many were unable to fulfill, so that the church again found itself somewhat seriously incumbered with debt.
PASTORATE OF DR. PARRY.
The church was perhaps never more fortunate than when the late Dr. Francis J. Parry accepted its call to the pastorate after a somewhat pro- tracted period of candidating and supply. Dr. Parry is too well and recently known among us to need extended notice in this sketch. We all remember his indefatigable industry - how that he simply could not stop work so long as he could find anything to do and his strength did not fail; how he was everybody's friend and how easily and effectually he could make his sym- pathetic interest felt. We all know how, besides his regular parish work, he found time to prepare his lectures on literature and travel, thus supply- ing free and instructive entertainment to those
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who did not care to seek recreation in the theater, and how in other ways he entered into the life of the city, helping to smooth its rough places and solve its difficult problems, so that not only the church he loved, but also the city in whose trials and troubles he shared, are the better for his five years of labor and service. We remember also his kindly, genial, half humorous, but still earnest and wholly successful, way of appealing for. the funds necessary to carry on his work, and which reached its culminating triumph in clearing the church of, as we hope, its final debt. The membership of the church at Dr. Parry's acces- sion to the pastorate was about 625, and at the time of his death about 750.
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