USA > Maine > History of the Baptists in Maine > Part 11
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In a report of missionary labor made Feb. 10, 1803, Mr. Case says he had visited Meduncook (Friendship), Goshen (Vienna), Thomaston, Camden, Canaan, Vassal- borough, Fox Island, Mt. Desert, Ballstown (Whitefield), Hartford, Sumner and Thompson's Grant. Of the two persons whom he baptized in Camden, one was a woman who had been led to embrace Christ in 1783, by a fitting word spoken by Mr. Case at her father's house. At Vas- salborough he had the aid of Rev. Daniel Merrill, the Congregational pastor at Sedgwick, "who was also out on a mission," and Mr. Case adds : "We mutually joined together as two brothers engaged in the same great cause." At Fox Island Mr. Case felt in some measure as Paul did at Mar's Hill. He concluded his report with these words: "There were so many doors opened for preaching that I hardly knew what course to steer, or what place stood in most need. For if I had had a dozen bodies and as many tongues, they might have been all employed among the poor and destitute who desire to hear, and thankfully attend on the preached word."
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In the preceding year, 1802, some of the inhabitants of the upper part of Arundel (Kennebunkport), wishing to have religious services near their homes, erected a meet- ing-house. The parish minister, however, was not willing to divide his time with them, nor could they secure another preacher of the Standing Order. At that time the foot- steps of Andrew Sherburne were directed thither, and he was asked to preach. He complied with the request, and in December, 1802, the owners of the new meeting- house agreed to consider themselves a Baptist society, and invited Mr. Sherburne to become their pastor. In June, 1803, a Baptist church of thirteen members was organized, with Mr. Sherburne as pastor.1
Rev. Sylvanus Boardman of Livermore performed mis- sionary service for the association early in 1804, visiting Industry, Norridgewock, Canaan (Skowhegan), Anson, New Portland, Greenstown, Carratunk. "I went to the uppermost house in the highest settlement on Kennebec river, and there found a professed brother and sister of our order, the first I had seen since I left Canaan ; and my interview with them was very happy. I was then about ninety miles above Hallowell, but soon returned to the middle and lower settlements." He was absent from home twenty-eight days and preached twenty-eight times.
Rev. P. P. Roots, a missionary of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, received at the close of May an appointment to visit the District of Maine. At Balls- town, Davistown and Greene revivals had occurred. At Northport he met Rev. Isaac Case. After crossing the Penobscot river he came into "a very destitute country." "Mr. Steel of Machias is the only minister I found after leaving Bluehill, till I came to Elder Murphy's at Moose Island [Eastport], which, I suppose, is nearly one hundred and fifty miles."
Mr. Case at this time visited Fox Island and Islesbor- ough. At the latter place an extensive revival was in
1 Mr. Sherburne was pastor of the church until 1819. See Memoirs of Andrew Sher- burne, a Pensioner of the Navy of the Revolution, written by himself, pp. 205-207. His- tory of the Baptist Church, Kennebunkport, by Rev. I. B. Mower, pp. 7, 8.
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progress. Sixty or seventy had been converted within two months, and the work had extended to all parts of the town. "As to the instruments that God hath made use of in this reformation," he wrote,1 "some date their first awakening from hearing Mr. Sewall preach the last fall; and others were awakened under my feeble labors when here last April. But the work hath been mainly carried on under the preaching of Brother Pilsbury, and the prayers, exhortations, singing and private conversa- tion of three pious young men, who have been studying with Mr. Merrill, with a view to the ministry. One of these young men is a member of a Baptist church." The names of these young men were Henry Hale, Phinehas Pilsbury, and William Allen. The latter was a Baptist, the other two were Congregationalists. Mr. Allen became pastor of the Baptist church in Jefferson in 1809.2 Pils- bury was baptized by Mr. Case at Islesborough with other converts on this missionary tour. "By reading his Bible," says Mr. Case, "he was convinced that he was never bap- tized before." He was ordained at Fayette, Jan. 3, 1805, and he became pastor of the Baptist church in Noble- borough in 1808. Mr. Hale was baptized by Mr. Case at Vinalhaven about the same time as the others mentioned, and soon after received ordination as an evangelist. He traveled extensively as a missionary in the eastern part of the State and British Provinces, and was afterward set- tled as the pastor of the Baptist church in Charleston.
During this missionary tour Mr. Case preached in twelve towns, and baptized seventy-two persons. "The blessings bestowed on the people where I have been," he writes, "the comfort I have enjoyed, are beyond what my pen can describe. Our meetings have been refreshing, and our parting scenes affecting."
1 Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Magazine, Vol. 1, p. 87.
2 Mr. Allen was pastor of the First Baptist church, Jefferson, until a year before his death, which occurred April 10, 1836. He was an earnest preacher and an unwearied pastor. To promote the spiritual welfare of his people was the dearest object of his heart. A son, Lorenzo B. Allen, graduated at Waterville College in 1835.
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The object of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, organized in Boston May 26, 1802, was "to furnish occasional preaching, and to promote the knowledge of evangelistic truth in the new settlements within these United States ; or further if circumstances should render it proper." Messrs. Case and Tripp, as we have seen, were in the service of this society as missionaries from its organization, and in this relation they and their breth- ren learned the value of organized missionary effort in advancing the Redeemer's Kingdom. The Baptists in the District of Maine were not slow in following the example of the Massachusetts Baptists. A constitution, closely fol- lowing that of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, was prepared, printed and sent to those who were especially interested in missionary work, and Sept. 27, 1804, in connection with the meeting of the Bowdoinham Association at Readfield, the Maine Baptist Missionary Society was organized.1
The following constitution was adopted :
"ARTICLE 1st. This society shall be distinguished and known by the name of the Maine Baptist Missionary Society.
"ART. 2d. The society shall be composed of such mem- bers only as shall subscribe and pay at least half a dollar annually to its funds.
"ART. 3d. The members at their first meeting, and at their annual meeting ever after, shall by ballot appoint nine trustees, six whereof shall be ministers or professing brethren of the Baptist denomination-the other three may be chosen from the members at large-who shall conduct the business in the manner hereafter described.
1 There is no record of the preliminary meeting. The first record book of the society opens with a transcript of the constitution, to which is added the date Jan. 7, 1804. Evidently this is the date of the meeting at which the constitution was prepared in order to be sent to ministers and others who were interested in the new movement, or whose interest was desired. The organization occurred at Readfield, Sept. 27, 1804. The record in the Minutes of the Bowdoinham Association, under the date Thursday, September 27th, is as follows : "In the afternoon a meeting was held for the establishment of a Mis- sionary Society ; a sermon preached ; society organized, and 120 dollars collected."
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"ART. 4th. The object of this society shall be to fur- nish occasional preaching, gather churches and to promote the knowledge of evangelical truth in new settlements within the limits of the United States or farther if circum- stances may render it proper.
"ART. 5th. The trustees [shall] have power to apply the funds of the society according to their discretion in all cases in which they shall not be limited by special direc- tions of the society.
"ART. 6th. They shall have power to appoint and dis- miss missionaries, to pay them and generally to transact the business necessary for the accomplishment of the important object of the society.
"ART. 7th. The trustees shall annually appoint a secre- tary, who shall keep a correct and fair account of the pro- ceedings, which shall be read at their next succeeding meeting. They shall also make choice of one of their number to preside, who with three other trustees shall be a quorum to do business, or if the stated chairman shall not be present any four of the trustees shall be a quorum.
"ART. 8th. The chairman shall have power to call a meeting of the trustees at his discretion. It shall be his duty to call such a meeting whenever requested by three of the trustees. In case of the death of the chairman, the secretary, when applied to as above, shall call a meeting in order to appoint another, or transact other necessary business.
"ART. 9th. The society shall annually appoint a treas- urer who shall exhibit both to the society and to the trustees a state of the treasury whenever he shall be called on for that purpose.
"ART. 10th. The trustees shall annually exhibit to the society a particular [account] of the missionaries employed by them, the places to which they are, or have been sent, the state of the funds, the receipts and expenditures and whatever relates to the institution.
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"ART. 11th.1 The trustees, and all other officers of this society, shall enter upon their respective offices on Thurs- day following the fourth Wednesday of September annu- ally and shall continue in office one year.
"ART. 12th. The society shall hold their first meeting for the choice of officers at the Baptist meeting-house in Readfield on the Thursday following the fourth Wednes- day in September at 2 o'clock P. M., and in every year thereafter at the place and time which shall be appointed by the society.
"ART. 13th. In order more effectually to aid the inten- tion of the society, it is proposed that a sermon be deliv- ered at the time and place of holding their annual meeting, and a public contribution by the people.
"ART. 14th. It shall be in the power of the society at their annual meeting, from time to time, to make such amendments and alterations as experience shall dictate, or to dissolve the same when the purposes of its institution shall render its existence no longer necessary."
The object of the society, like that of the Massachu- setts society, was exceeding broad. Its operations were not confined to the District of Maine. The missionary work already performed by some of the founders of the society had extended into the neighboring State of New Hampshire. Calls for service might take them into the neighboring British Provinces. Accordingly they made their object in organizing the Maine Baptist Missionary Society "to furnish occasional preaching, gather churches and to promote the knowledge of evangelical truth in new settlements within the limits of the United States or far- ther if circumstances may render it proper." They had caught the breath of the new era, and they did not know what fields the new century upon which they had entered might open to them in our vast domain, and even beyond. Like their Massachusetts brethren, they had in mind, it
1 This article was amended Sept. 26, 1811, so as to read as follows :
"ART. 11th. The trustees and all other officers of this society shall continue in office during the pleasure of the society, and shall have power to fill vacancies which may be occasioned by death or otherwise."
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may be, the work of Carey and his associates in India, and the thought was not wanting that in due time an opportu- nity might present itself for missionary work on the other side of the globe.
At this first meeting of the society, the following were chosen trustees : Rev. John Tripp, Rev. Sylvanus Board- man, Rev. Robert Low, Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, Rev. Isaac Case, Rev. Samuel Woodward, Rev. William Goding, Rev. Oliver Billings and Rev. Nathaniel Chase.
John Tripp, ordained at Carver, Mass., in 1791, had been pastor at Hebron since 1798, and was pastor there until his death, in 1848.1 Sylvanus Boardman, father of George Dana, and whose ancestors in Cambridge, Mass., for three generations had held the office of town clerk, and the stewardship of Harvard College for nearly a century, had for two years been pastor of the Baptist church in Livermore. Robert Low had been pastor at New Glouces- ter since 1800, and spent most of his ministry there and at Readfield. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, father of Hannibal Hamlin, Vice-President of the United States, was then living in Livermore, but in 1805, when the County of Oxford was formed, he was appointed clerk of courts and removed to Paris Hill, where he lived until his death, Feb. 2, 1829. Isaac Case had in 1800 resigned his pastorate at Readfield, but it was still his home, and from that central position in the district he was actively engaged in his ministry at large. Samuel Woodward was one of the earliest converts in connection with Isaac Case's labors at Harpswell, was ordained in his own house at East Bruns-
1 Mr. Tripp was buried in the cemetery in the rear of the Baptist church at Hebron. A monument, erected by the young men of the place, marks the spot, and bears this inscription :
"In Memory of Rev. John Tripp, A. M. who Died Sept. 16, A. D. 1847, Ae. 86 ys ; Minister of the Gospel 56 ys ; Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Hebron 49 ys ; Beloved by his people, and Respected by all who knew him."
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wick, Oct. 11, 1792, but had retired from the pastorate of the Brunswick church in 1801, and was still a resident of the place. William Goding had been ordained as an evan- gelist in 1802, was living in Wayne, where he preached most of the time until 1807, when he became pastor of the church in Acton, continuing in that office until 1835. Oliver Billings was one of the early converts in Fayette, was ordained as an evangelist in 1800, and shortly after was made pastor of the Fayette church, continuing in the pastorate until his death, July 31, 1842. Nathaniel Chase was pastor of the church in Buckfield, having been ordained in 1800; and he continued in the Buckfield pas- torate until 1835. "His father was a Massachusetts sol- dier in the French and Indian War, and was one of a force which came into this district for the protection of the settlers. The father afterward settled in Windham ; and both he and his son Nathaniel fought in the Revolutionary army. In March, 1781, Nathaniel, on snow-shoes, with an ax and provisions, set out through the woods to select a lot of State land for his home. He reached what is now Buckfield, cleared a farm and settled there for life. He was a godless man until twenty-eight years old. Then, after many convictions of sin and struggles for peace, he heard Mr. Potter preach in the neighborhood, and by means of that sermon found peace in believing."1 Stal- wart Christian men were these. They knew the spiritual needs of the district, and they possessed in the largest degree the confidence of the churches.
Rev. Sylvanus Boardman was elected chairman, Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, secretary, and Oliver Billings, treasurer. The employment and superintendence of missionaries were entrusted to a committee consisting of Rev. Sylvanus Boardman, Rev. John Tripp, and Rev. Robert Low.
The imperfect records of the time give us only occa- sional glimpses of the missionary work undertaken by the society. Oct. 14, 1804, Mr. Case visited Northport, Isles- borough, and Castine, holding meetings and baptizing
1 Centennial Review of Bowdoinham Association, by Rev. E. S. Small, p. 22.
**
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thirty-six converts. At Castine, November 9th, he organ- ized a church consisting of eighteen members, "a little handful of despised, solemn, loving disciples." Referring to those whom he baptized on this tour, Mr. Case says : "Two of them are young men by the names of Henry Hale and Thomas Perkins. They are at present studying with the Rev. Mr. Merrill of Sedgwick, with a view to the ministry. It will be natural for you to inquire what effect it has upon Mr. Merrill, his students becoming Baptists. I will just say I have made him a short visit, and find him fully convinced of believer's baptism by immersion."1
At the close of his report of this tour, Mr. Case writes : "Within about fourteen months I have baptized upwards of one hundred and fifty persons upon the islands of the sea, and in the towns adjoining. Two new churches have been planted, and considerable additions made to two more. It is the Lord's doings and it is marvelous in our
eyes. I have lately returned from a journey up
Sandy and Kennebec rivers. The work of God is going on in Readfield. We have received twenty-seven by baptism. The work has lately begun, and is still going on in Mt. Vernon. Elder Billings has baptized twenty-eight in Fayette. Livermore has also shared in the unspeak- able blessing. Elder Boardman has baptized more than twenty, chiefly young people. One of them is his eldest daughter, about nine years old."
The trustees of the Missionary Society met in Fayette, Jan. 2, 1805. At this meeting the chairman was given power to draw orders on the treasurer. It was also voted to give five dollars per week to the missionaries of the society and to pay their expenses. The treasurer reported funds in hand to the amount of $145.00.
Rev. Phinehas Pilsbury was employed by the Maine Bap- tist Missionary Society in 1805. In a letter to the chair- man of the committee, dated Feb. 1, 1806, he wrote: "I set out on my mission on Saturday, Aug. 10, 1805, and rode to Castine and visited at Cape Rosea [Rosier] and spent
1 The Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Magazine, Vol. 1, pp. 107, 108.
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the Sabbath with them, and preached with a good degree of freedom to about fifty or sixty very attentive hearers. Here is a small Baptist church of eighteen members lately constituted. They stand in great need of help. I then crossed to Long Island, and delivered two discourses to a large number of very lively Christians. I next went to the main, and made on towards Penobscot river, and called upon the brethren at Mount Ephraim, and spent one Lord's day with them. I next visited the back settlements in Frankfort and Hampden, upon Penobscot river, and preached a number of times, and spent one Lord's day among them. . . Being under necessity to return to Vinalhaven, on my way I preached a num- ber of lectures to very crowded assemblies. The people in those parts are very attentive to meetings. They appear to have an hearing ear; may God give them an under- standing heart."
Later, on another missionary journey, Mr. Pilsbury "visited Northport, where there is a very needy branch of the church of Mount Ephraim [Swanville]." Then he revisited the places on the Penobscot already mentioned. In prosecuting his work he spent forty-four days in the service of the society, visiting sixteen towns or plantations and preaching fifty-two times.
In the Minutes of the Bowdoinham Association, held at Mt. Vernon Sept. 25 and 26, 1805, there is the following reference to the Missionary Society : "After a short inter- mission a discourse introductory to the missionary business was preached by Brother Tripp from Jonah 3: 2, 'Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.' And by contribution and sub- scription, a considerable sum was collected for the use of the mission."
September 28th, immediately after this meeting, Rev. Isaac Case began another missionary tour to the eastward. October 10th, he was at Steuben (Cherryfield), October 17th, at Addison (where there were converts and thirty- four were added to the church), afterward at Sullivan
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(where "several were melted into tears under the word"), Eden, Sedgwick, Castine, Long Island and Northport. He was absent thirty-nine days, preached forty-eight times and baptized fifty-five converts.1
December 16, 1805, Mr. Case set out again for the eastward, visiting Belfast, where he preached. Passing through Bluehill, where also he preached, he visited Sul- livan, Gouldsborough, Steuben, Columbia, Addison and other places. Jan. 16, 1806, he baptized nine candidates. "What rendered the service more solemn than usual," he said, "a place was cut in the ice which resembles a grave. The air was very cold, but the presence of the Lord made the season delightful." At Addison he baptized six. "One thing may be remarked," Mr. Case added in his journal, "the tide had ebbed about six inches, had it con- tinued ebbing it would not have been so convenient; but as the Lord would have it, there came in an undertow (as they call it), and the water was higher than before, so that the ordinance was attended with convenience. . . I think I was never in any place where Christians were more engaged in religion and where people took more pains to attend upon the word. Some came as much as twenty miles."
While on this journey Mr. Case assisted in organizing the Baptist church at Bluehill. In his journal he says : "After spending some time in fasting and prayer for directions, we formed into a council, and after consulting together what methods to take and giving much instruc- tion to the brethren, thirteen males and six females cove- nanted together and received the right hand of fellowship as a church of Christ. In the evening I addressed them from Psalms 27 : 4. Harmony attended the whole."
At the meeting of the trustees of the Maine Baptist Mis- sionary Society, held at North Livermore Jan. 13, 1806, Rev. John Tripp, Rev. Robert Low, and Rev. Sylvanus Boardman were made a committee on printing, and it was voted that the committee collect and cause to be printed
1 Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Magazine, Vol. 1, pp. 226-228.
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such religious tracts as they deem will aid the cause of religion, provided the expense does not exceed $34.00. This action had reference to the publication of a religious magazine similar to that published by the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society.
In July, 1806, Mr. Case set out on a missionary tour to the eastward, taking with him Henry Hale. They reached Machias July 11th and preached. Then they con- tinued their journey to Eastport, where there was a Bap- tist church of seventy members in a low condition. After spending ten days at Eastport, they received an earnest invitation to visit the provinces. Answering the call they passed over into New Brunswick. Mr. Case baptized twenty-one converts, and organized a church. Returning they visited Eastport, Machias, Addison, Columbia, Narra- guagus (Cherryfield), Surry, Bluehill, Orleans, Belfast and Northport, and Mr. Case reached home September 5th. He had baptized seventy, organized three churches, and administered the Lord's Supper to six destitute churches. "Some days," he says, "I did not preach, but in general I preached once or twice, and when occasion called three times. The people were generally very attentive, and would take great pains to attend upon preaching. Some would come as far as twenty miles on horses, and some women would walk seven or eight miles to hear the word. They are truly destitute of preaching. For two hundred miles in length on these eastern shores there are but three ministers of any denomination, and there are now ten destitute Baptist churches. My poor heart yearns toward them when I think of them, and think of their language to me : 'Do not forget us ; do come again, and if you can- not come, you must try and send some minister to preach to us.' "'
At the Bowdoinham Association in 1806, Rev. P. Pils- bury preached the missionary sermon from Rom. 10: 15, "And how shall they preach except they be sent." By contribution and subscription a considerable sum was col- lected for the mission.
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November 4, 1806, with Elder Robert Low, Mr. Case set out on another missionary tour, which extended across the border. They went as far as St. Andrews. Returning, and preaching in almost every place through which he passed, Mr. Case reached home Feb. 27, 1807. In his report he notes the baptism of forty-four on this tour, and says that since his previous missionary journey he had baptized two hundred and five, and had assisted in organizing six Baptist churches, three of them in New Brunswick and the others in Maine east of the Penobscot river. Of this journey Mr. Low wrote : "There is but one ordained minister between Bluehill and the Province of New Brunswick, within the British government, which is about one hundred and thirty miles. To hear their cry for preaching, and to see them flock together by night and by day, when gospel ministers visit them, is both pleasing and affecting. The longer I tarried in a place, the more zealous they were, and with greater reluctance we parted. I have ridden upwards of six hundred miles in ten weeks and preached upwards of sixty sermons, and attended a number of conference meetings."
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