USA > Maine > History of the Baptists in Maine > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
The trustees of the Education Society now, through a committee, petitioned the Legislature of the new State for an act of incorporation. This was granted Feb. 5, 1821.1 The trustees met annually, the Society triennially.
1 An Act to incorporate the Trustees of the Maine Baptist Education Society.
SECT. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, That Sylvanus Boardman, Jeremiah Chaplin, Thomas B. Ripley, Robert Low, Calvin Stockbridge, John O'Brien, and their associates and successors, be, and they hereby are incorporated into a body politic, by the name of the Trustees of the Maine Baptist Education Society ; with power to sue and be sued ; to have a common seal and to change the same ; to make any by-laws for the management of their affairs not repug- nant to the laws of this State; to take, hold and possess, any real or personal estate to the value of sixty thousand dollars; and to give and grant, bargain and sell or lease the same.
SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That the number of said Trustees shall not exceed twenty; and they shall have power to elect a President and Secretary, and such other officers as they may deem necessary ; and to fill all vacancies in their number, occasioned by death, resignation or otherwise.
243
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
Rev. Sylvanus Boardman was the first president and Rev. Thomas B. Ripley the first secretary. Agents were appointed to solicit funds for the Society, and to organ- ize auxiliary societies. Copies of the American Baptist Magazine and of the Christian Watchman were taken for use in these auxiliary' societies. Books and money also were solicited to form a library for the use of the young men studying for the ministry. "How highly important is it," adds the address, "that our destitute and infant churches should be supplied with pious and faithful pas- tors. We cannot therefore but indulge the pleasing hope that the above objects will make a strong and success- ful appeal to your benevolent notice. Our invitations are not confined to any single class, but are extended to all who are inclined to come forward to the help of the Lord. Let the farmer consecrate the produce of a selected spot of ground. Let the mechanic, the physician, the lawyer, the merchant devote a portion of their annual income. Let the mothers and daughters in Israel imitate their pious ancestors, and spin, and weave, and bring the fruit of their labor to adorn the spiritual temple. Let those who have but little to bestow remember that the ocean is made up of drops, and that the day of small things is not to be despised. The cup of cold water and the widow's two mites will not be forgotten."
The resources of the Society in the early period of its history were exceedingly limited, and its appropriations
SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That all deeds, grants, covenants and agreements, that may be made for and in behalf of said corporation, shall be executed under the seal of the same, and signed by the President and Secretary.
SECT. 4. Be it further enacted, That all the estate of said corporation, both real and personal, shall be used and improved to the best advantage, and the annual income thereof, and so much of the principal as the said Trustees shall judge proper, together with the annual subscriptions and contributions which shall be made to said corpora- tion, shall be applied in making such provision as the said Trustees shall determine for the education of such persons for the ministry as they may deem fit subjects therefor.
SECT. 5. Be it further enacted, That the powers granted by this act may be enlarged, restrained or repealed, at the pleasure of the Legislature.
SECT. 6. Be it further enacted, That the Rev. Thomas B. Ripley, of Portland, be, and he hereby is authorized to fix the time and place of holding the first meeting of said cor- poration, by publishing a notification thereof in the newspapers printed in Portland, at least three weeks successively before the time of meeting.
244
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
were small. At first the Society aimed to pay the board and tuition of its beneficiaries, and to supply them with needed books. Afterward, the annual appropriation was from twenty to fifty dollars. The young men in the col- lege were required by the Society, for two hours each day, to till a piece of ground, which was officially assigned to each. It was also "Resolved, That churches in whose vicinity there are academies be requested to afford aid to beneficiaries of this Society, by furnishing them with board and such other aid as may be needed, while they are pursuing their studies."
But there were still those in the churches who failed to sympathize with these endeavors to secure an educated ministry. In the Circular Letter of the Bowdoinham Association for 1822, in a reference to the various objects which should be remembered in the benevolence of the churches, mention was made of "the education of minis- ters, a very important object, though misunderstood and consequently not approved by some, but an object which we apprehend will finally receive the approbation of all." Not until 1824 do we find in the Minutes of the Lin- coln Association any reference to the Education Society. The meeting that year was held in Woolwich, and Presi- dent Chaplin of Waterville College closed the session with a sermon "to the great satisfaction of those present." Doubtless in private he had a word to say with reference to the Education Society. Rev. Hadley Proctor of China prepared the Circular Letter that year, and in it he found an opportunity to make a plea for ministerial education. "An impression too generally prevails among us," he wrote, "that nothing further is necessary to qualify a man to preach the gospel than to be called of God. We would humbly sit and receive instruction from the experience of elder but unlettered brethren ; we would not detract from them the least share of that praise which is indeed their just due. Their zeal, their prudence, their industry, their sincere piety, should have our unqualified approba- tion. But, dear brethren, the times are rapidly changing.
245
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
Your children are becoming acquainted with all the arts and sciences. Knowledge is indeed increasing among all classes of people, and it is more and more necessary that those who are set for the defence of the gospel should be acquainted with all those branches of literature which can aid them in the sacred cause. A minister to teach must at least know as much as his hearers. There is no branch of learning but may be profitably employed by a Christian minister. Perhaps a good number of those whom God has seen fit to renew in the past year he may call to the great work of the ministry. If this should be the case, it certainly is desirable that they should have a good stock of useful knowledge. But many of them are poor, and unable to purchase the necessary books, or to defray the expenses which must necessarily be incurred in obtain- ing such knowledge. They must therefore look to the churches for aid. And will you not assist them? Will you leave them to feel all the embarrassment, which the want of knowledge must at times bring upon them? There are at this period subtle enemies to encounter, and Christian ministers must be prepared to meet them."
With such appeals as these the friends of ministerial education endeavored to secure the means they needed in promoting the interests of the Education Society. But little can be learned concerning the work of the Society in its earlier years. Oct. 5, 1830, the trustees voted to form a branch of the Northern Baptist Education Society, which had taken the place of the Massachusetts Baptist Educa- tion Society, and which organized branches in all of the New England States. The Maine Baptist Convention met at North Yarmouth Oct. 5, 6 and 7, 1830. On the evening of the 6th a public conference was held, in which there were addresses with reference to ministerial education by Messrs. Thresher,1 Pilsbury, Barron and others, and in the Minutes appears this record : "About seventy dollars
1 Mr. Thresher had been pastor of the First Baptist church in Portland, but resigned March 14, 1830. May 26, 1830, he was elected corresponding secretary of the Northern Baptist Education Society at its first annual meeting. The new Society entered upon its work with sixty-seven beneficiaries.
246
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
were subscribed upon the spot, and nearly the same sum the preceding evening, when the Maine Branch of the Northern Baptist Education Society was formed." On the following day, Oct. 7th, the committee on ministerial education made a report, and the following resolution was adopted: "That this Convention recommend to the churches of the State to seek out and cherish with a fos- tering and diligent hand all such persons as give evi- dence that they are called to the sacred ministry, and to encourage all such in their efforts to obtain a suitable education."
At the meeting of the Maine Baptist Convention held at Bloomfield, Oct. 12 and 13, 1831, it was reported that there were nine young brethren, having the ministry in view, who were receiving aid from the Maine Branch of the Northern Baptist Education Society.
While the work of providing for the support of students for the ministry had now been turned over to the North- ern Baptist Education Society, problems connected with ministerial education received attention, especially in the Convention. In 1832, at the meeting in Warren, the com- mittee on ministerial education said that while much had been done there was no fair prospect that with the means now provided a suitable supply of ministers would be obtained, and suggested the necessity of encouraging and bringing forward "in a short process of education," either at Waterville or elsewhere, those whom the Spirit of God was prompting to devote themselves to the work of the Christian ministry, leaving "a protracted education of seven or nine years" to "those who have the means at their own command," and that "some person or per- sons capable of the service should be authorized to take the superintendence, and aid and direct the course of studies by which the servants whom the Lord may call may be the better prepared for the infinitely important work to which he is calling them." This report from the committee on ministerial education, consisting of Rev. Daniel Merrill, Rev. Wm. O. Grant and Rev. J. Hatch,
247
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
was accepted. It gave expression to the strong convic- tion of many in the churches, who were not satisfied with the change at Waterville in accordance with which the Maine Baptist Literary and Theological Institution had become Waterville College. The Newton Theological Institution was designed for college graduates, and many men who wished to devote themselves to the work of the ministry could not take the extended course of study which college and seminary training required. Accord- ingly the Convention appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Pilsbury, Fogg, Kendall, Haynes and N. Robin- son, to take into consideration the report of the committee on ministerial education. The report of this committee was as follows: "That it is the opinion of your commit- tee that such a school as is contemplated in the aforesaid report, the object of which should be to give men called of God to the gospel ministry an opportunity to obtain such an education as duty and circumstance may make appear, ought to be established in some suitable place in the State. Your committee therefore recommend that it be recommended to the board of trustees of the Maine Branch of the Northern Baptist Education Society to authorize some person or persons to devise and mature a plan to carry into operation such a school as is contem- plated above."
At its annual meeting in 1833, the Education Society took the following action : "Voted, That it is deemed expedient that in some place in our State a school be established in which young men, designed of God for the Christian ministry, might receive such an education as by a short course of instruction might prepare them for the labors of ministers in the vast fields of our widely extended State."
But the vision tarried. The report of the Society for 1836 was written by Rev. S. F. Smith, pastor of the church in Waterville. The beneficiaries had increased to sixteen. "The object and principles of the Society, we believe," said the report, "are becoming more and more
248
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
clearly understood. It is now so perfectly known that no man can reasonably have a doubt, if he will but see and hear for himself, that we do not seek to make ministers, but only to prepare those whom God has already called to the work for more abundant usefulness and efficiency."
At the meeting of the Convention on the following day this report was adopted : "While we view with spe- cial interest the continuance among us of our fathers in Christ, the remnants of a former age, who have been abundantly honored in the successful ministry of the Word, and while we acknowledge the necessity of piety of a deep and abiding permanency, and an evident call of God to the work, as the first and pre-eminent qualification for the gospel ministry, still under the circumstances of the present age, Resolved, That it is the duty of every brother now entering the ministry to obtain the highest possible degree of mental discipline and training which his age and circumstances will admit."
But evidently a strong remnant remained. Certainly the movement in favor of some shorter way into the ministry than was possible by a course at Waterville and Newton was still strong enough for a vigorous effort in behalf of the establishment of a theological school in Maine, and in the Minutes for 1836 the following announcement appeared : "Our brethren who have felt so deep an interest in the establishment of such an insti- tution will be gratified to learn that the prospect in this respect has greatly brightened. We hope to be able soon to say something more definite. . The permanent location of the institution is confidently anticipated as early as the spring."
The movement to which reference is here made resulted in the establishment of a distinctively theological institu- tion at Thomaston. It is probable1 that the conception and the plan originated with Prof. Calvin Newton, whose connection with Waterville College as a professor had just
1 This was the opinion of the late James Upham, D. D., who became connected with the institution at Thomaston as a professor in 1840.
E
BAPTIST CHURCH, THOMASTON.
249
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
closed. The requisite charter was obtained. Dea. Nehe- miah Boynton was elected treasurer, Rev. Amariah Kal- loch, secretary, and the institution was opened in +1838, with Rev. Calvin Newton, professor of Hebrew and bibli- cal theology, and Rev. Lorenzo B. Allen, teacher in the preparatory department. The institution announced a full course of study, substantially the same as in the Newton Theological Institution, also a limited course of two years, embracing the English branches of the full course, and a preparatory department, with studies varied according to the needs of the student. The institution was open to any pious young man who presented from the church of which he was a member a certificate of his purpose to study for the ministry.
The catalogue for 1838-39 gives the names and resi- dences of nineteen students, three in the full course, eight in the limited and eight in the preparatory. The cata- logue for 1839-40 gives the names of four students in the full course, five in the limited and fourteen in the prepar- atory, or twenty-three in all. The catalogue for 1840-41 records seven in the full course, four in the limited and thirteen in the preparatory, or twenty-four in all.
But the enterprise had no adequate financial support. Moreover, says Dr. Upham, "Both Waterville and New- ton frowned on it, and not all of the uneducated pastors around it, and on whose sympathy and aid it largely rested, proved friends indeed. . It had but one large-hearted friend, and he lost hope before I resigned, - Nehemiah Boynton, a young, successful merchant of Thomaston, beautiful in face and form, and still more beautiful in character, and a faithful steward of the Mas- ter. He subsequently removed to Massachusetts, where for years he served the denomination as treasurer (with- out salary) of the Missionary Union."1
At a meeting of the Convention, held in Turner, June 15, 1842, a special session was held to consider the condi- tion and needs of the Thomaston Theological Institution.
1 Communication in Zion's Advocate.
250
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
Rev. T. B. Robinson, who had been appointed by the trus- tees of the institution chairman of a committee to bring the state of affairs in the institution before the Conven- tion, was present, and as the result of the conference then held a committee, of which Rev. Adam Wilson was chair- man, was appointed "to consider and report what advice should be given to the board of trustees at the present crisis." On the following day this committee presented a report which was unanimously adopted. This report expressed a lively interest in the college at Waterville, and regarded the existence of a theological institution in the State as very desirable, but made no mention of Thom- aston. "In respect to relieving the institution from its pecuniary embarrassments," while too little acquainted with the details of its business to give advice on that point, the committee added that, in their opinion, "the trustees would do well to take immediate measures to pay all the debts of the institution and to prosecute those measures to an early completion, even though this should require the sale of the property." They wished the trus- tees to understand that, in the view of the committee, the sale of the property need not involve the suspension of the institution.
But it did, and the suspension was a permanent one. An attempt was now made to unite the Baptists of Maine and the Baptists of New Hampshire in the support of the New Hampton Literary and Theological Institution, and at the meeting of the Maine Baptist Convention at War- ren, June 21, 1843, this matter was referred to a commit- tee of one from each association. This committee, at the meeting of the Convention in China, June 19, 1844, reported that eight of the associations had adopted reso- lutions in favor of the proposed union "on such terms as will not prejudice the interests of the college at Water- ville or interfere with our relations, as they have here- tofore existed, towards Newton Theological Institution," and recommended that the churches encourage young brethren, who give evidence that they have been called
251
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
to the work of the gospel ministry, "and whose age or other circumstances will not allow of their taking a full course of collegiate and theological instruction, to avail themselves of the advantages of the institution at New Hampton."
In this way a solution was found for a difficult problem. But it was impracticable to raise the $250 which the Con- vention voted to raise annually for the institution at New Hampton. "The mass of our pastors and churches in the State," said the committee in its report to the Convention in 1846, "cherish a very inoperative approval of the New Hampton movement." This "inoperative approval" con- tinued, and at the meeting of the Convention in Dover, June 15, 1847, it was "Resolved, That the subject of a co-operation with the Theological Department of the New Hampton Institution having been prominent in our delib- erations during five annual meetings ; having adopted res- olutions and plans of action upon the subject without effect, we are satisfied that the general tone of feeling in the State, while entirely cordial to the prosperity of New Hampton, renders it expedient that any official connection existing between this Convention and the Department at New Hampton should be dissolved, but that we hold out to them the encouragement to send an agent into this State."
Meanwhile the friends of ministerial education had con- tinued their work, but under certain embarrassments. The financial crisis in 1837 had its influence upon the Maine Branch of the Northern Baptist Education Society. At the meeting of the Society in 1838, two of its members were appointed "to collect funds to replenish an empty treasury."
The Bowdoinham Association met at Topsham, Sept. 25, 1838, and in connection with its meeting was held the first anniversary of the "Bowdoinham Baptist Educa- tion Society." This had no connection with the Maine Branch of the Northern Baptist Education Society, and was organized, it would seem, in the interest of the newly-
252
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
established theological seminary at Thomaston. Mention is made of a second meeting of the Society in 1839, but as no further record of its proceedings appears, it is prob- able that the Society had already ceased to exist. At the annual meeting of the Maine Branch of the Northern Bap- tist Education Society in 1843, a proposition was made to raise $400 to meet the needs of the Society. To this prop- osition a favorable response was at once made, and the amount was pledged by twenty individuals. An altera- tion was made in the rules of the Society at this meeting, discontinuing the requirement that beneficiaries should give notes promising to refund the sums loaned to them. "The money given to the young men is to be a gift, rely- ing on their piety and sense of honor to aid to the utmost of their power the Society that has come cheerfully and disinterestedly to their aid."
But the branch relationship with the Northern Baptist Education Society was not regarded as altogether desir- able,1 and at the annual meeting of the Society at Bruns- wick, June 15, 1846, this relationship was terminated, and a committee was chosen to revise the constitution, and if necessary, apply to the Legislature for a charter under the name of the Maine Baptist Education Society.2 This
1 Rev. E. S. Small, in reviewing the history of the Society in the annual report of the board in 1887 (Minutes, pp. 30, 31), referring to this branch relationship, says: "There are no signs of prosperity to vindicate the wisdom of this new plan. Not even a record- book seems to have been kept by this Branch. In some years the minutes and report appear together with those of the State Convention ; sometimes only the election of offi- cers is deemed worthy of record. In 1834, it was left for the State Convention to tell us that the Maine Branch of the N. B. E. S. held its annual meeting, and even to pass the resolution, 'That in view of the increasing demand for intelligent ministers of the gospel ministry, it is incumbent on the religious community to take measures to sustain those young brethren in a course of preparatory studies.' It was also left for the State Con- vention to resolve : 'That it be recommended to the churches in this State to form edu- cation societies auxiliary to the Maine Branch of the N. B. E. S., and to contribute liberally to its support ; and that it be recommended to the Maine Branch to take up every suitable applicant.' So, between the State Convention and a secretary of the N. B. E. S., who was present, and who offered one of the resolutions, the Branch, though somewhat withered, was adorned with a few tokens of life."
2 The charter secured was as follows :
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows :
SECTION 1. Nathaniel West Williams, Handel G. Nott, Franklin Merriam, Joshua Millet, David N. Sheldon, James Gilpatrick, Benjamin F. Shaw, Arthur Drinkwater,
253
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MAINE.
committee made a report at the annual meeting of the Society held in Dover, June 15, 1847. A new charter was announced and alterations in the constitution were adopted.
At the annual meeting of the Society in 1849, Rev. T. F. Caldicott, financial secretary of the Northern Baptist Edu- cation Society, was present. Continued co-operation was evidently desired by that organization, and again it was "Resolved, That the Maine Baptist Education Society be in future auxiliary to the Northern Baptist Education Society, so far as this can be done consistently with the legal rights of the Maine Baptist Education Society as an incorporated body, the object being to secure a more inti- mate and practical co-operation in the accomplishment of those great objects at which both Societies aim."
The secretary of the Northern Baptist Education Society was invited to visit the churches in Maine and receive con-
William Tilley and William R. Prescott, together with such others as may be associated with them, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name of the Maine Baptist Education Society, and they and their successors shall be and continue a body politic and corporate by that name.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.