USA > New Hampshire > Minutes of the New Hampshire Baptist Convention, 1878 > Part 7
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3. The report of the Secretary and Treasurer was read and adopted.
4. The following resolution was presented by Rev. E. E. Cummings, D. D. Resolved. That we so far reorganize this Association as to accept the charter prepared by our Legislature, last July, incorporating the "Confer- ence of Baptist ministers in New Hampshire," and we hereby assume the name and act under the provisions of said charter. Laid on the table.
5. The statistical report was read and adopted.
6. Voted, That the officers of the last year continue to serve during the present session.
7. The Committee of Arrangements made their report which was adopted.
8. The Committee on Obituaries reported through Rev. W. H. Eaton, D. D., as follows :
Your committee on obituaries would state, as a cause of special grati- tude to our Heavenly Father, that during the last year no pastor within the limits of our State Association has been removed by death. Still, dearly beloved ministers, who, heretofore, have served churches in this State, have been called to their reward. These were of ripe age, having served their generation by the will of God. Their works not only follow them, but remain after them, as a testimony of that divine grace which perfects in the heart of the believer what it first plants there.
The following outline (slightly modified) is from the necrologist of Brown University :
Rev. James Barnaby died in Harwich, Mass., December 10, 1877, at the age of 90 years, 5 months and 15 days. He was born in Freetown, Mass., June 25, 1787, and was the son of Ambrose and Philena (Burt) Barnaby. He prepared for college at Bristol Academy in Taunton, of which the Rev. Simeon Daggett was then the Principal, and after graduating at Brown University in the class of 1807, he was for a year the teacher of a school in Taunton. It had been his intention to stully law, but while here he abandoned his purpose and began to prepare for the Christian ministry. During his college residence he had been baptized and admitted as a mem- ber of the First Baptist church in Providence. After a brief period of such theological study as was then within his reach, he was ordained in July, 1811, and immediately became the pastor of the Baptist church in Harwich, Mass. Of this church he remained in charge till 1819, when he became the minister of the Baptist church in New Bed- ford. IIe removed to Amesbury in 1823, and was subsequently min- ister, for periods of various lengths, of the churches in Deerfield, N. H., in Salisbury and Amesbury, Mass., in Danversport, in Lowell, in Townsend, a second time in Harwich, and in Nantucket, where he spent three years, from 1846 to 1849. During the following three years he was in the service of the Baptist Sunday School Union. In 1852 he again be- came pastor of the church in Harwich, where he remained seven years. He afterwards had charge of other churches for brief periods and was with the church in Campton, N. H., during the year 1861, but in 1862 he returned to Harwich and became for the fourth time the pastor of the church there, and continued in its service to the end of his life, a period of fifteen years. His entire ministry covered a period of nearly sixty-seven years, of which not less than thirty-nine were spent with the church with
63
which it began and ended. He baptized 2800 persons. So vigorous was his constitution, that in all the numerous settlements of his long and va- ried ministry, he was very seldom detained, even in his old age, from the pulpit services He used to say that he "had not lost a meal of victuals, or failed to preach the gospel on a Sunday for more than forty years." His death was without disease or premonition of any kind. He married Aug. 10, 1810, Abigail Burt of Berkeley, who survives him with five children three sons and two daughters.
Rev. Philip Chamberlain died in Milford, Feb. 19, 1878, aged 82 years and 10 months. He was born in Turner, Maine, April 25, 1795. He was converted when about thirty years of age. His attention was soon called to the ministry, and with this in view he spent a short season in Water- ville College, now Colby University. He was licensed to preach by the Baptist church in Hebron, Me., Aug. 30, 1830, and was ordained by that church as an evangelist Jan. 11, 1831. The first part of his ministry was spent in Maine, with the churches in Sangerville and Kennebunk. He also was pastor of the church in Lunenburg, Vt. But a large part of his pas- toral work was in connection with churches in this State; in Jefferson, in Campton, in Hillsborough, and in Bradford. After retiring from the active duties of the ministry, he lived in Franklin, Londonderry and Milford. Having entered the ministry late in life, with very limited advantages for intellectual improvement, he sought those fields demanding hard and ear- nest labor, which could render a meagre salary in return. He understood economy, and so lived honestly before the world. His preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but as an ambassador of the Lord Jesus he commended the Word, as he understood it, to every man's con- science as in the sight of God.
By his genial and social nature, with a ready fund of anecdotes, with a strong desire to win souls, he made his pastoral visits entertaining and useful. In the last and quiet years of his life he was not the source of an- noyance and hindrance to his pastor, but his real co- laborer, his true and sympathizing friend. He matured for heaven like as the fruits of the earth ripen for the garner, and came down to the grave in full age, with an unfailing hope of an eternal weight of glory. His wife survived him only a few days. They had been lovely and pleasant in their lives and in death they were not long divided.
Rev. Horace Eaton was born in Goffstown Oct. 5, 1811, and died in Wakefield, Mass., June 15, 1878, aged 66 years, 8 months and 10 days. He was baptized into the fellowship of the Baptist church in Goffstown on the second Sabbath in September, 1833. He had a severe struggle in his own mind in regard to his call to the ministry. For a long time he could think of nothing else, and yet could not entertain this thought on account of his apparent unfitness. Still the call was so distinct, "now therefore go and I will be thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say," and the woe so impressive if he refused to preach the gospel, that he dared not de- cline. With this work in view the church in Goffstown voted to "encour- age him in his studies " Dec. 11, 1834. He graduated at New Hampton The- ological Institution in 1841. While a student there in 1839, he supplied the church in Dunbarton-then worshipping in the east part of the town-for some three months. In connection with his labors there several persons were converted, which he always regarded as a providential indication that he was in the path of duty. He was ordained the pastor of the Baptist church in Bradford Oct. 26, 1842, where he spent some three years, and then labored one year in the West under appointment of the Home Mis- sionary Society. Subsequently he preached in Chester, in Milton, and in Dunbarton, about four years in each place. He served as Agent of the Convention from July 1, 1859, to April 15 1862. He then preached in
64
North Reading, Mass., about a year after which, for private considerations, he gave up stated pastoral work, and moved to Wakefield, Mass., where he spent the last fifteen years of his life, occasionally supplying vacant pulpits as Providence opened the way. When the church in Salem was unable to sustain a pastor, though aided by the Cenvention, he was their stated sup- ply from June, 1871, to April, 1873, during which time they increased in strength. About a year he preached in Richmond, closing in June, 1876. Under God he called this old church to life, it having been for years "with- out fruits." In 1877 he supplied the church in Chester, which had lost its house of worship by fire. Under his labors the church was building a new house, which he greatly desired to see finished, and that without debt. But God called him from his labors before this work was done. On Sat- urday morning, Feb. 23, he was stricken down with apoplexy, from which he had but partially recovered when a second attack, in less than four months, closed the gate of this life, and opened to his enrapturing vision the mansions of glory.
Horace Eaton was a good minister of Jesus Christ. He was true and faithful in all the relations of life. He suffered greatly from natural dif- fidence, especially in public speaking. But he was independent as most men in the formation of his opinions. He was remarkably conscientious, which was a strong impulsive power in all his work. He had a logical turn of mind, and leaned strongly to Calvinistic views of the great doc- trines of grace. He was clear and often very impressive in unfolding these doctrines. The Saviour, in his all-sufficient power to redeem the lost, was the joy and crown of his rejoicing. He left a sweet and inspiring influence on all the churches with which he labored. He was twice mar- ried ; first to Sarah Chandler, of Nashua, by whom he had three children, two of whom are now living; second, to Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Wiley, of Wakefield, Mass., who survives him with one child.
Rev. Phineas Bond died in Jay, Me., July 8, 1878. He was born in Watertown, Mass., Aug. 20, 1797. He was converted under the ministry of Dr. Sharp, and was baptized by him into the fellowship of the Charles Street Baptist Church, Aug. 15, 1819. He was deeply convinced that God called him to preach the gospel, and his pastor and the church were of the same opinion. He closed up his business affairs and commenced studying, and at the same time he commenced preaching. So whether he was pursuing his studies under Rev. Charles Train, of Framingham, or in connection with Waterville College, he was preaching as he had opportu- nity in the neighboring towns. He was greatly blessed in preaching, and soon enjoyed quite a reputation as a revivalist. He remained in Water- ville less than a year, and after preaching in East Winthrop and Cherry- field several months each, he was ordained in the latter place May 25, 1825. Here in the Spring of 1827, he was the grand agent in the forma- tion of a Temperance Society, which, it is claimed was the first organiza- tion on the principle of total abstinence in Maine. He labored successive- ly as pastor in Eastport, Warren, Fayette and Brewster, Mass. Then he was settled in Rumney, this State, from July 25, 1847 to March 5, 1849; and he was pastor in Cornish for some two years, from 1856 to 185S. He afterward returned to Maine where he continued in the active duties of theministry till 1868. The last ten years of his life was spent in Jay, where was his last work in the pastorate. His ministerial life was a sort of pioneer work. In a letter written in 1876, he says : "I have preached one or more times in over one hundred different towns, and in all over nine thousand sermons. I have preached in meeting-houses, court-houses, academies, school-houses, barns, state-prisons, dwelling-houses, log cabins, and out of doors. I have travelled sixty miles on horse-back to baptize. and from one to twenty often, to attend funerals. And now in my old age, I rejoice in the high stand the Baptists take in missions, in Sunday
65
schools, in education and in the various benevolent operations of the day. I believe in a thoroughly educated ministry. My prayer is God bless and prosper the Baptists more and more in their plain and scriptural presenta- tion of truth." Dr. Shailer says of Bro. Bond: "Christ was most emphat- ically the theme of his preaching, and Christ owned and blessed his labors. Though not a great or faultless preacher, he was in the leading elements of his character a thoroughly good man, honest, faithful, true, sound in belief and practice; and we say this after a personal acquaintance of forty years."
Three of the four names constituting the subjects of these obituary no- tices were over eighty years of age at their death. One by reason of strength had attained to fourscore years and ten. Yet the silver cord was loosed, and the golden bowl was broken, Then the dust returned to the earth as it was, and the spirit to God who gave it. Brethren, we may say as Paul said, "Though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers." Let us rise up before the hoary heads, and honor the faces of the old men, who still linger to cast the hallowed influence of their declining life, especially upon those whose sun has al- ready passed its zenith and is hastening on in its path beyond the visible horizon. "Brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord ; forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
Adopted.
After singing by the choir and congregation, and prayer by Rev. W. V Garner, the Annual Sermon was preached by Rev. C. A. Towne of Dover. Text, 2 Kings 2: 19, 22. Theme, "The Proclamation of the Gospel the Salt that purifies and Saves.
10. A collection amounting to $10,00 was then taken.
11. The Pastoral Association then a djourned subject to the call of the Chairman.
12. After a short recess the Association was again called to order.
13. The following resolution was offered by Rev. E. E. Cummings, D. D.
Resolved, That all records, papers and money now in the hands of the Secretary and Treasurer of this Association be delivered to the Secretary and Treasurer of the Conference of Baptist Ministers in New Hampshire, respectively, and that all legacies and bequests made to the New Hamp- shire Baptist Pastoral Association shall be legally claimed by the Confer- ence of Baptist Ministers in New Hampshire, and that this Association adjourn without day.
Adopted and the Association adjourned sine die.
J. N. CHASE, President. A. J. HOPKINS, Secretary,
CONFERENCE OF BAPTIST MINISTERS IN N. H.
Rev. E. E. Cummings, D. D., having stated before the Pastoral Associa- tion his views and feelings with regard to aged and indigent Baptist Min- isters, and submitted a plan for their relief, the Association adjourned to the call of the President, that the persons named in a charter for carrying out the plan of Dr. Cummings, might be called together for action; the persons named in the Charter were called to order by Dr. Cummings, and Rev. W. V. Garner was chosen Chairman, and Rev. W. H. Eaton. D. D., Clerk.
The Charter was read and adopted.
The Constitution, as proposed by Rev. Dr. Cummings, which was a mod- ification of the Constitution of the Pastoral Association, was also adopt- ed. A list of officers under the new Constitution was presented by Bro. Sherwin, pending the election of which the Conference, after prayer, ad- journed to meet in the small vestry to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
The Conference met this morning as adjourned. Prayer by Rev. W. H. Alden, D. D. It was voted that the officers be chosen by hand vote. The list was again read, and the officers were elected as nominated :
For President, Rev. E. E. Cummings, D. D .; for Secretary, Rev. E. C. Spinney; for Treas, Rev. N. Hooper; for Directors, Revs. J. D. Tilton, W. H. Eaton, D. D., W. V. Garner, G. W. Nicholson, W. H. Alden, D. D., S. C. Fletcher and S. A. Read; for Auditors, C. H. Martin, and D. A. Brown.
W. H. EATON, Clerk.
A Committee of Arrangements for next year was appointed, viz: Revs. W. B. Smith, J. S. Swaim and J. F. Fielden. The Committee of Arrange- ments reported as follows; for place, same as Convention ; time, Tuesday before the Convention at 2 o'clock P. M.
Preacher, Rev. W. H. Eaton, D. D .; alternate, Rev. W. H. Leavell; Es- sayist, Rev. E. C. Spinney ; alternate, Rev. R. B. Moody. Report adopt- ed. At the suggestion of Rev. Dr. Cummings, a Committee of conference, with the proper officers of the Sunday School Convention, was appointed viz: Revs. E. C. Spinney, J. F. Fielden and R. B. Moody. Rev. Wmn. Hurlin was appointed Statistical Reporter. A Committee on Obituaries was chosen, consisting of Revs. J. D. Tilton, W. H. Alden, D. D., and W. H. Leavell. Adjourned to the call of the President. Prayer by Rev. D. Gage.
E. C. SPINNEY, Secretary,
67
ACT OF INCORPORATION. STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-Eight :
AN ACT to incorporate "The Conference of Baptist Ministers in New Hampshire."
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court convened :
SECTION 1. Ebenezer E. Cummings, Wm. H. Eaton, George W. Nich- olson, Wm. H, Alden, Alden Sherwin, Wm. V. Garner, King S. Hall, Wm. Hurlin, Franklin Merriam, Wm. B. Smith, Jeremiah D. Tilton, Edmund C. Spinney, Harry O. Walker and Stephen C. Fletcher, their associates and successors, are hereby made a Corporation by the name of "The Con- ference of Baptist Ministers in New Hampshire," for the purpose of re- lieving aged and disabled Baptist Ministers who are indigent; with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties, liabilities and restric- tions of similar Corporations under the laws of this State.
SECTION 2. Said Corporation may for the purposes aforesaid hold real and personal estate to an amount not exceeding seventy- five thousand dol- lars.
SECTION 3. This Act shall be in force from and after its passage.
Approved July 2, 1878.
CONSTITUTION.
ART. 1. The name of this Society shall be "The Conference of Baptist Ministers in New Hampshire."
ART. 2. Every ordained Baptist Minister resident in New Hampshire, who is a member in good and regular standing of a Baptist Church in the State, shall be a member of the Conference.
ART. 3. The chief objects of the Conference shall be to promote mu- tual improvement and the increased usefulness of its members and the re- lief of indigent and disabled Baptist Ministers in New Hampshire.
ART. 4. The Annual Meeting of the Conference shall be held on the Tuesday preceding the third Wednesday in October. The exercises shall consist of a sermon by some member of the Conference previously ap- pointed, to be followed by a free conference, and such other services as may from time to time be deemed proper. After the sermon a collection shall be taken in aid of the object of the Conference.
ART. 5. The Conference shall annually elect by ballot, unless otherwise ordered, a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one Director from each Association in the State, who together shall constitute a Board of Direc -- ors for the management. The Conference shall also choose as above, an Auditing Committee of two.
ART. 6. The President shall preside at all the meetings of the Confer- ence and Board of Directors, and have the general oversight of the affairs of the Conference.
The secretary shall keep a full record of the doings of the Conference
5
68
and Board of Directors. He shall also keep a record of the settled pas- tors in the State, including their names, 'residences, and the date of their dismission.
The treasurer shall have charge of the funds of the Conference and dis- burse them only by order of the Board of Directors. The Board of Di- rectors shall supervise the investment of funds, and decide an appropria- tions, and have the general management of the affairs of the Conference.
The Auditing Committee shall examine the treasurer's account and ev- idences of property and report to the Board of Directors at each Annual Meeting.
ART. 7. All gifts and legacies made to the Conference, and all money's coming into the treasury in any way shall be safely invested, and if at any time the income of the Permanent Fund is not needed for the purposes of the Conference as specified in the Article of Incorporation, the surplus shall be added to the Permanent Fund. But in no case shall a draft be made on the Permanent Fund to meet appropriations or for any other purpose. The interest that accrues shall only be used.
ART. 8. This Constitution may be altered at any Annual Meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.
Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite, as long as thou livest upon the earth .- Deut. 12:19.
TO THE BAPTIST CHURCHES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Beloved Brethren :- You will learn by the foregoing proceedings, that an organization has grown out of the New Hampshire Baptist Pastoral Association, which is empowered to hold funds for the relief of aged, in- firm, and indigent Baptist ministers in the State. This charity has hith- erto been sadly neglected. In most of our Associations, provision is made for the Widows and Orphans of deceased Baptist Ministers, but nothing for the minister and his family, while he is living. Is this just ? Should not the man who has spent the vigor of his manhood, for the good of oth- ers be provided for, when his "strength faileth." Most of our ministers lay up nothing. If, during their active ministry, they receive a comfort- able support, it is considered that they are well dealt by, and hence when they cease to labor there is nothing left to support them. Here is a want that should be met, and the conference of Baptist Ministers in New Hampshire proposes to meet it by creating a fund, the annual income of which shall be applied to aid aged infirm ministers in our State. We pro- pose three ways to raise money for this fund: First,-by personal gifts. Second,-by public contribution. Third,-by legacies. Money may be forwarded to Rev. N. Hooper, Exeter, N. H.
In behalf of the Directors,
E. E. CUMMINGS, President.
GENERAL TABULAR STATEMENT,
Embracing the names of the churches, ministers, messengers to the associations, membership of the churches, Sabbath-schools, and moneys raised for benevolent and religions purposes, at home and abroad, by the churches in 1878. The names of ordained ministers are in Roman ; unordained in italics ; a * denotes ministers with- out pastoral charge ; a i stated supply ; a ¿ ministers absent; a - churches without pastors. N. B .- The column for home objects includes all moneys raised for religious purposes in the parish-as pastor's salary, repairs on meeting-house, fuel, S. S. library, &c. The miscellaneous column includes all moneys for benevolence not reported in the other columns.
MEREDITH ASSOCIATION.
MEMBERSHIP.
SABBATH-SCHOOLS.
MONEYS CONTRIBUTED FOR
CHURCHES
Date of
MINISTERS.
Date of
MESSENGERS.
Baptized.
Experience.
| Dismissed.
Excluded.
Res. Memb's.
Superintend's.
Teachers.
Scholars.
Average.
Missionary
Woman'sF'r.
Mission.
Home Mis.
Society.
Convention.
Minutes.
Miscellan'o's
Home
Objects.
Total.
SANBORNT'N,1st 1793 F. W.A. Rankin,# 1872 Dea. A. Kimball.
A
5
63
98
C. S. Morrison.
9
105
$4.00 $1.00
$3 00 $3.70
$0 60
$12.30
A. Kimball, Franklin.
() E. Brown.
Jly.
O. E. Brown.
1799 I. W. Coombs. # 1878
My. ....
No Report.
60 W. M. Mayhew
8
111
60
15.00
2.10
2.37 384.19
402.66
WOODSTOCK, T. V. Smith.
Al. 1872
43
J. D. Danforth,
67
50
20.00
5.00 20.00
2.00
113 00
410 00
570 00
DANBURY. T. H. Danforth.
1818 F. Merriam, C. C. Spear. J. A. Knowlton. E. Merriam.
No.
No Report. John B. Huse.
82 111 J. P. Sanborn.
6
50
42
5 50
9 90
1.95
4 00
21.35
NEW HAMPTON, 1821 SANBORNT'N,2d, 1822. Orrin D. Huse, Laconia. CAMPTON,
1827|A. V. Tilton.
84 118
A. V. Tilton.
10| 130
65
20.00 10.00 20.00 30.00
4.00
39.25
600.00
723.25
D. Goodhue. MEREDITH,
1831 T. M. Merriman. 1877 Dea. A. Canny. My.
2
49
73
Emory Eaton.
8
65
50
17.50
25.00
2.00
4.50
600.00
649.00
J. M. Wiggin, · Meredith Vill'e
N. SANBORNT'N, 1833 V. E. Bunker.
1875 No.
2
68
82 C. P. Brown.
4
52
2
4.85
4.58
15.00
3.65
1.00
300.00
329.08
Thos. Webster. NO. CONWAY, E. Whitaker.
1836 T. C. Gleason.
1875 Dea. L. Seavey. Oct C. H. Whitaker.
2, 38
41 T. C. Gleason.
7 100
60
2
10.64
25 00
1.30
276.69
313.63
BAKER'S RIVER, 1866 J. D. Tilton.
1873 Au.
1
86
A. M. Buzzell.
9
80
60
1
18.51
14.75| 15.48 40.00
5.00
900 00
993.74
A. M. Buzzell.
12 Churches.
13 Ministers.
8 Messengers.
14 7 7 . 11| 5 7 16 626 828
10 Superint's.
80| 850 490
102.50
35.65 47 51 173 00 §32.75
160.72
4145.88
4698.01
.
AND
Organization.
Settlement.
Letter.
Restored.
Erased.
Died.
Total.
-
--
91
116
C. c. Smart.
12
90
75
1.50
50
5.00
675.00
682.00
RUMNEY, 1st, J. W . Pease. HEBRON,
1804
1807 W. M. Mayhew.# 1876
18
36
7
2
67
. .
§ $5. of this paid for services of Clerk.
Baptized.
Union.
CLERKS.
1876 S. H. Dow. Jan F. Spencer.
28
DUBLIN ASSOCIATION.
CHURCHES
AND CLERKS.
Date of
Organization.
Date of Settlement.
| Baptized.
I Letter.
| Experience. | Restored.
| Dismissed.
| Erased.
Excluded.
S| Res. Mems.
Superintend's.
Teachers.
Scholars.
Average.
| Baptized.
Missionary
Woman'sF'r.
Mission.
Home Mis.
Society.
Convention.
Minutes.
Miscellan'o's
Objects.
Total.
POTTERSVILLE. 1785 J. W. Merrill. G. W. Mason.
1878 W. A. Brown, Sep L. L. Howe, G. W. Mason. 1864 A. S. Clark. NO. H. Parker
3
76 A. C. Phelps.
15
37
$3.75
$2.00
$275.00
$280
TROY, A. S. Clark.
1789.J. S. Herrick.
W. I. Smith. #
W. I. Smith. 1875 J. Hammond, Mr. Z. Ware, II. Holbrook.
2
2 67 108 J. Hammond.
9 90
63 3
11.00
4.00
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