USA > Maine > History of the Baptists in Maine > Part 20
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1 Mr. Colby's son, Rev. Henry F. Colby, D. D., of Dayton, O., in his memorial sketch of his father, pp. 38-40, makes mention of the circumstances, so providential, which led up to this gift : "It was the evening of the day of prayer for colleges. The late Dr. Samuel B. Swaim was present at the prayer meeting [at Newton Center], and related, as in har- mony with the thought of the hour, an incident which occurred in his early ministry at Portland [he was then a student at Newton and was in Portland as a supply]. As he entered, he said, the house of one of his parishioners for a pastoral call, he met Dr. Chap- lin, then president of Waterville College, just about to leave it, evidently an unsuccessful solicitor for aid in behalf of the college. As he stood there, hat in hand, he groaned out, 'God help Waterville College!' The picture of the self-denying servant of Christ standing in that doorway and thus giving vent to his overburdened heart, had remained indelible in the memory of Dr. Swaim; and of course he described it with earnest feeling. Mr. Colby was present at the prayer meeting, and heard the story and its application. That night meditating upon his bed, as he was wont to do, sleepless and restless, he finally said to his wife, 'Suppose I give fifty thousand dollars to Waterville College.' Always ready to encourage him in any noble purpose she gave her approval to his thought. He con- tinued, as the days rolled by, to think of the matter. He considered what might be the results of the gift, and what would probably be the sad results unless he or some one else should come to the rescue of that seat of learning. . . . The more he thought and prayed over it, the clearer the conviction became that God called upon him to do it, and the next August the gift was made."
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actually been paid on the other subscriptions, all on the condition that the president, and a majority of the faculty, shall be members in good standing in regular Baptist churches. Should either or any of these conditions be broken, then the $50,000 would revert to Mr. Colby, or to his heirs or assigns.
The contents of this letter were made known to the alumni and friends of the college at the commencement dinner. Rev. F. W. Bakeman, D. D., who was then a student in the college, has given a graphic account of the scene when the announcement of this proposed gift was made.
"Dr. Champlin arose and stood a brief pause, as if to command the unreserved attention of the company. How pale he looked ! How strangely his voice seemed to shake as he spoke! There were no tears in his eyes, but there was in his utterance what makes tears. As long as I live I shall recall the grand old man in that historic hour, which was to him the victor's crown, after years of hard- est warfare. And now the announcement was given that the gentleman at his side, a short, plump little man, with a benevolent appearing face, who might have been taken for one of the Cheeryble brothers, had made the definite and formal proposition to give the college the sum of $50,000 as a permanent fund, on condition that the friends of the institution should add $100,000. The announce- ment ran through the company like a kindling fire. Mr. Colby was known to few; his intention was known to fewer still. The rumor had not got abroad. It was a genuine surprise. For a moment there was stillness, as in the hush before the breaking of the tempest-and then-there was a tempest-a wild demonstration of joy and glad surprise, such as I have never since witnessed. Hands, feet, voices, knives and forks rapping on the tables, all bore part in the concert of applause. Men shook hands, and fairly hugged each other in their trans- ports of joy. Such unfeigned delight is seldom seen. The hall rang again and again to their cheers. It seemed as if
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they would never stop. The fountains of affection had been broken up, and their torrents could not be easily checked."
Mr. Colby's challenge to the alumni and friends of the college was promptly accepted. All beheld the signs of a new era, and Dr. Champlin and his associates entered at once upon the great task before them.
CHAPTER XV.
THE MAINE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY AND THE MAINE BAPTIST CONVENTION.
Toward the close of the first quarter of the nine- teenth century, the Baptists of Maine felt the need of a closer union and fellowship. The associational relation- ship had been in the highest degree helpful in bringing the churches together, and in awakening and developing interest in missionary work at home and abroad. But the inquiry became urgent, Would not an organization sup- ported by all the churches in the State, and having in view the advancement of the general interests of the denomination, give an added impetus to the work in which the churches had become so deeply interested ? At the meeting of the Cumberland Association at Bridgton, Oct. 2 and 3, 1822, this inquiry was evidently in the minds of some of the delegates, for it was voted, "that brethren Chapin, Haynes and Tripp be a committee to inquire into the expediency of a general association throughout the State." In all probability Mr. Chapin, still pastor of the church in Yarmouth, was the leader in this movement.
At the meeting of the Cumberland Association at Bruns- wick, Oct. 1 and 2, 1823, the above committee made an extended report, recommending such a general conven- tion : "It would have a happy tendency to cultivate a spirit of brotherly love-to concentrate religious intelli- gence from the several associations and from other reli- gious societies with which they may correspond-and to promote an increasing unanimity among churches in devis- ing and carrying into execution such gospel measures as may be thought to subserve the general interests of Zion in this State, and as far as its influence may extend."
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The report was accepted, and five delegates were ap- pointed to assist in organizing the Convention, viz., John Tripp, Benjamin Titcomb, Thomas B. Ripley, John B. Swanton and David Nelson. John Haynes was appointed a committee "to give information to the church in Read- field that the delegates will hold the proposed meeting in that town if agreeable." For some reason it was decided to hold the proposed meeting in Winthrop instead of Read- field. June 23d, delegates from the York, Cumberland, Bowdoinham and Lincoln Associations assembled in the Baptist meeting-house. After devotional services and a sermon by Rev. Stephen Chapin, the delegates presented their credentials. The following were present : From the York Association, William Goding, Ebenezer P. Kinsman and Charles Blanchard; from the Cumberland Associa- tion, John Tripp, T. B. Ripley and David Nelson; from the Bowdoinham Association, Robert Low, Avery Briggs and John Haynes ; from the Lincoln Association, Phinehas Pilsbury, Adam Wilson and Hezekiah Prince. The East- ern Maine Association was not represented by delegates. Rev. William Johnson, of that association, was present, however, and with Rev. Stephen Chapin, Rev. Daniel Chessman and Calvin Stockbridge, of other associations, was invited to a seat in the Convention.
Rev. John Tripp was made chairman, and Rev. John Haynes, clerk. The expediency of organizing a Baptist Convention was then considered by the delegates, and after discussion it was voted unanimously that such a Con- vention should be formed. A committee was appointed to prepare a constitution for the proposed organization.
On the following day this committee made a report. The objects of the new organization were thus stated : "1. To promote a more general acquaintance between the churches and associations in the State. 2. To afford more effectual assistance to feeble and destitute churches, and at least to sympathize with aged and infirm ministers, and such as are otherwise in distress. 3. The better to assist such as are entering into the ministry. 4. To cultivate
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brotherly love. 5. To promote a still greater union in doctrine and church discipline. 6. To promote domestic and foreign missions. 7. To concentrate the wisdom and efforts of the denomination in the State, in devising and carrying into execution such gospel measures as may be thought to subserve the general interest of Zion in this State, and as far as our influence may extend."
This statement of the objects of the Convention was followed by a note: "It is deemed proper to state explic- itly that the design of this Convention is not to create an ecclesiastical tribunal to take cognizance of cases of church discipline, or to infringe in any measure on the independence of the churches or associations." The Bap- tist churches in Maine, like Baptist churches elsewhere, prized their independence and were not inclined to submit to any interference with their rights as believers in Christ. Evidently opposition from this point of view had been made to the proposed organization, and it was deemed wise that the views of those who were active in the formation of the Convention should thus distinctly be placed on record. The draft of a constitution was also presented.
After the adoption of the preliminary statement and the constitution, the following officers were elected : Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Chaplin, president ; Rev. John Haynes, clerk ; Rev. Thomas B. Ripley, corresponding secretary ; Prof. Avery Briggs, treasurer. An agent, also, in each asso- ciation was appointed "to receive all moneys and pay the same to the treasurer," viz., York, Joshua Roberts ; Cum- berland, Calvin Stockbridge; Bowdoinham, John Hovey, Esq. ; Lincoln, H. Prince, Esq. ; Eastern Maine, Daniel Faulkner. President Chaplin was appointed to preach the annual sermon at the next meeting. A committee was raised to devise means for securing funds for missionary and other objects in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, and it was voted to place the proceed- ings with reference to the organization of the Convention before the several associations.
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One of the objects of the Convention as formally stated was "to afford more effectual assistance to feeble and destitute churches," while the constitution indicated how funds might be applied "towards the extension of the religion of Christ by means of this Convention." The missionary objects of the Convention were early made prominent. At the second meeting held at Nobleborough, June 22, 1825, it was voted "that the money now in the treasury, and all that may come into the treasury during the recess, designated for foreign missions, be paid over to Dea. Heman Lincoln of Boston." A committee, to determine in what way the money now in the treasury designed for domestic missions shall be appropriated, reported that one-half of the money be expended in Ban- gor and vicinity, and the other half at Belfast, on the islands, and in the vicinity adjacent. A committee was also appointed to obtain and employ missionaries, and another committee was appointed to draft a plan for mis- sionary circuits.
Rev. Adam Wilson evidently inspired this last action. During the session he read a paper in which he said : "Let these destitute churches be arranged into circuits of from two to four churches in a circuit. Let a preacher for each circuit be appointed by this Convention for one year. Let the Convention stipulate the compensation which the indi- vidual shall receive. Let the preacher have his stated appointment through his circuit ; and let each church con- tribute according to its ability to his support. Some will wholly support their ministers, others will nearly do it, and all will do something. If at the close of the year one church is found able and disposed to settle a pastor, let them be encouraged to do it. The other churches in that circuit may be attached to other circuits, or the remaining churches in the circuit may have so much increased as to need all the labors of the circuit preacher."
At an adjourned meeting of the Convention held at Bath Oct. 6, 1825, it was stated that the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society had offered the services of two
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of its missionaries, Ezra Going and Whitman Metcalf, for three months each, under the direction of the Convention. The offer was accepted and Messrs. Case, Fogg and Wash- burn were appointed to designate their fields of labor. Fifty dollars, also, had been voted to the Convention by the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society upon condi- tion that a suitable missionary be stationed for one year in the vicinity of the White Mountains, and Rev. Nathaniel Chase was assigned to this field. The sum of fifty dollars from the treasury of the Convention was also appropri- ated to him. Rev. Isaac Case was appointed to labor six months in four churches in Gardiner, Litchfield and Barden, and an appropriation of fifty dollars was made to him. Rev. Duncan Dunbar was employed for three months to solicit funds in aid of the benevolent objects of the Convention.
Meanwhile the Maine Baptist Missionary Society con- tinued its work, expending annually several hundred dollars. In 1822, it reported $450 in the treasury and in 1823, $335. On the day following the organization of the Convention, a meeting of the Missionary Society was held at the home of Rev. Isaac Case in Readfield. The officers elected were prominent in the organization of the Convention. Appointments were made for missionary ser- vice as usual, and the society voted to hold its annual meetings at the place where the meetings of the Conven- tion were held and on the following day. There is no indi- cation in the records of either organization that any but the most harmonious relations existed between the two, yet both organizations were receiving funds, appointing missionaries and superintending missionary work in a sim- ilar manner. The question soon inevitably arose, Why two Baptist organizations for missionary work in Maine ?
At the meeting of the trustees of the Missionary Soci- ety, held in Nobleborough June 23, 1825, it was "Voted, to raise a committee of five to take into consideration whether it be for the interest of Zion that the Maine Bap- tist Missionary Society should be dissolved and incorpo-
*
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rated with the Convention of Maine." This committee reported at an adjourned meeting, held in Bath October 7th, but the character of the report is not indicated in the records. As the Society voted that the report be laid over till the next meeting, and the records of the next meeting, held in Livermore Oct. 5, 1826, contain no refer- ence to the report, it may be inferred that it was not deemed best to take any action, certainly at that time.
Indeed at this meeting, Oct. 5, 1826, the Maine Baptist Missionary Society voted to appoint an agent "to visit the destitute parts of the State, to ascertain where missionary labor is most needed, where it may be employed to the best advantage, to advise with missionaries, to originate societies, to encourage societies which already exist and to make every possible exertion to increase the funds of the Society." Rev. Adam Wilson was made this agent, but the records give no evidence that he accepted the appoint- ment. The missionary work of the Society was continued, however, Messrs. Case, Tripp, Kendall, Titcomb, Macom- ber, Chase and others receiving appointments.
No meeting of the Convention was held in 1826. From the report of the meeting held in Thomaston Oct. 10 and 11, 1827, we learn that Rev. Samuel Fogg, pastor of the church in Thomaston, had meanwhile received an appoint- ment as "agent of the Maine Baptist Convention," and the Minutes contain his report for the year ending Oct. 10, 1827. Mr. Fogg resigned his pastorate in order to accept this appointment. At the meeting of the Convention at Readfield, Oct. 8 and 9, 1828, Mr. Fogg was elected record- ing secretary of the Convention. A committee appointed at the previous meeting to revise the constitution made a report, and the proposed new draft was adopted. This new constitution made the object of the Convention "to concentrate our efforts in the cause of Christ and particu- larly in the promotion of domestic missions." The record- ing secretary was required to make an annual report. Such a report for the past year was presented and had reference wholly to the missionary work of the Conven-
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tion, giving an account of the services rendered by its missionaries.
It was evident, however, that the existence of two organizations, having the same general object in view, was not conducive to harmony of action, and the wisdom of continuing such a state of things was questioned. A conference of representatives of the two organizations was held in Livermore Feb. 18, 1828. There were present on the part of the Missionary Society, Ransom Norton, John Haynes, Nathaniel Chase, Adam Wilson, Thomas Merrill, Horace Seaver and Gilbert Hathaway, and on the part of the convention, Henry Kendall, Ezra Going and Samuel Fogg. After a full and free discussion the following reso- lutions were adopted :
"Resolved, That an entire and complete union of the two bodies represented in this conference appears to us desirable, and will in our opinion conduce much to the interest of the missionary cause.
"Resolved, That in our opinion there should continue to exist among our brethren in this State such a body as is contemplated in the constitution published in the last Minutes of the Maine Baptist Convention ; and also that there should be in this Convention a corporation to hold in trust any legacies which may be made to the Convention ; and whereas the trustees of the Maine Baptist Domestic Missionary Society are already an incorporated body, we recommend that their incorporation be retained and that they petition the next Legislature to change their style to that of the Trustees of the Maine Baptist Convention."
At the meeting of the Convention in Readfield, in 1828, a committee was appointed "to confer with the Board of Missions of the Maine Baptist Missionary Society on the subject of a union of operations between the said Society and the Convention."
At the meeting in Jefferson, Oct. 14 and 15, 1829, this committee made a report, which was accepted at the same session, but the nature of the report was not indi- cated. The committee on domestic missions was directed
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to have a further conference with the Missionary Society, which was to meet in Jefferson that evening. There is no report of what occurred at that meeting, but on the records of the Missionary Society, under date of Oct. 14, 1829, is the following entry : "Resolved, That it will be for the interest of the two societies, and for the gen- eral interest of the Baptist denomination throughout the State, that they be united and become one. Resolved, That be a committee, to be joined by a committee raised by the Convention, to carry the above resolution into effect, and to petition the next Legislature for an act of incorporation."
The Convention took similar action, and a committee was appointed "in conjunction with a committee of the Maine Baptist Missionary Society to petition the next Leg- islature for an act of incorporation of this Convention in lieu of the act of incorporation of the said Missionary Society." In accordance with this action the Legislature, March 10, 1830, granted an act of incorporation to the Convention, but it was not "in lieu of the act of incorpora- tion" of the Missionary Society. That organization took no steps with reference to a surrender of its charter.
The Missionary Society, however, ceased its missionary operations. According to the records no meetings of the society were held from Oct. 14, 1829, until Jan. 7, 1835, and to the Convention was left the work of caring for the destitute fields in the State. The amount of money con- tributed for missionary work since the organization of the Convention was as follows : 1824, $126.23; 1825, $199.57 ; 1826, $279.05 ; 1827, $392.44 ; 1828, $553.25; 1829, $350.37; total, $1,900.91.
At the meeting held in Readfield, Oct. 9 and 10, 1833, it was voted to employ an agent to have charge of the missionary operations of the Convention, and Rev. Josiah Houghton of Hallowell, secretary of the Conven- tion, received the appointment.
There had been an increase in the contributions of the churches since 1829, but the conviction in many was
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strong that more should be done by the churches in order to meet the needs of the field. A resolution was adopted to this end, that an endeavor should be made to raise dur- ing the current year for missionary purposes in Maine the sum of $2,000, and the agent of the Convention was instructed to make strenuous efforts to carry this resolu- tion into effect.
At the next annual meeting of the Convention, Oct. 8 and 9, 1834, the agent reported that the object contem- plated in this resolution had been accomplished. The treasurer reported receipts to the amount of $1,618.21, including a balance of $419.54, and in addition to this sum the agent said he had taken subscriptions amounting to between $600 and $700. Mr. Houghton, as agent and sec- retary, was instructed at this session of the Convention to devote his whole time to Convention work, organizing aux- iliary societies, procuring donations, visiting the churches, the more prosperous for financial aid in the work, and the destitute, looking into their condition, discovering their needs, stirring them up to effort and advising them as to the best means of securing ministerial supplies.
The receipts reported at the next meeting of the Con- vention, held in Portland Oct. 7 and 8, 1835, including a balance of $293.71, were $1,873.41, and the limit of endeavor for the following year was fixed at $4,000.
But during the year measures had been taken to revive the work of the Maine Baptist Missionary Society. In the records of a meeting held in Buckfield, May 13, 1835, reference is made to a bequest of Isaac Lovell, late of Livermore, giving to the Maine Baptist Missionary Soci- ety "one-third part of said residue of my estate, to be expended for the support of a Calvinistic Baptist mission- ary who has not a regular settlement over any society, or church, to be employed in this State under the direction of said Society." The executor of the will was directed to pay this legacy within fifteen months "from the probate of this instrument." It was doubtless this bequest that
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was the occasion of reviving the work of the Maine Bap- tist Missionary Society.
As the Missionary Society had not held a meeting since 1829, it became necessary on account of this bequest that attention should be given to the legal status of the society. At a meeting of the trustees, held in Minot Jan. 7, 1835, a committee was appointed to revise the constitution and by-laws. This committee reported that "through an inad- vertence the by-laws and constitution of the Society were not in a formal way adopted after receiving the act of incorporation. And as it is doubtful whether the trans- actions of the corporation are to be regarded as strictly legal, it was therefore voted that the secretary be directed in the name and behalf of the Society to present a petition to the Legislature praying to have its proceedings made valid, and to take such measures as shall protect its future movements from similar embarrassments."
In accordance with an act entitled "An act directing the mode in which meetings of corporations may be called in certain cases," passed Feb. 24, 1835, a meeting of the Maine Baptist Missionary Society was held in Buckfield May 13th. Officers were elected and a committee was appointed to prepare and present a system of by-laws by which the future proceedings of the Society should be gov- erned. This committee made a report, the heading being "Constitution and By-Laws of the Maine Baptist Mission- ary Society," and the report was adopted.
At a meeting of the trustees of the Society, held at Sumner Oct. 1, 1835, it was voted "To propose to the Maine Baptist Convention to open a friendly correspond- ence to cultivate and cherish a mutual understanding in prosecuting the great and good objects they respectively have in view." A committee was appointed to bring this action before the Maine Baptist Convention at its meeting in Portland. This was done, and it was voted, "That this Convention cordially reciprocate the friendly overtures of the Maine Baptist Missionary Society, and invite their
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delegates to a seat in this body." Delegates also were appointed to attend the next meeting of the Missionary Society.
The trustees of the Missionary Society, Sept. 22, 1836, authorized the delegates appointed by the Oxford Asso- ciation to attend the Maine Baptist Convention to repre- sent them "in that body, to consult and devise the best means of promoting the general operations of both bod- ies in union." Evidently there was the utmost harmony between the officers of both organizations, and the work of both was carried forward with the most friendly rela- tions. But the country was soon called to pass through a period of stress and storm in financial matters. Both were affected by it. The Convention suffered serious embar- rassment. The report of the board made at the meeting of the Convention at Waterville, Oct. 3 and 4, 1838, stated that the debt of the Convention had been reduced about one-half, and the hope was expressed that the coming year would enable the Convention honorably to discharge all of its liabilities. But the hope was not fulfilled. At the next annual meeting it was said that the debt was about $2,000. In 1840, in the annual report of the board, it was said to be $3,680.
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