USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Shrewsbury > A history of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia : including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > Salemville > A history of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia : including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey > Part 12
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August 15, 1879. The committee on ways and means reported that the four surviving members of the committee,-Lodowick H. Davis, Richard Ford, Preston F. Randolph, and Jesse F. Randolph-(the fifth member, Jepthah F. Randolph, had died on the 19th of the preceding July), would become personally responsible for the salary of the pastor for one year, and that an arrangement had been effected with Rev. Uri M. Babcock, whereby he would become pastor of the church about the first of the following November.
November 19, 1880. Rev. Uri M. Babcock accepted the call of the church to continue as its pastor for another year.
May 20, 1881. Rev. Uri MI. Babcock offered his resignation to take
THE NEW SALEM CHURCH
effect at the close of the annual session of the South-Eastern Asso- ciation, which was to convene on the Fifth Day of the following week. The resignation was reluctantly accepted.
August 18, 1882. The church extended a vote of thanks to Rev. Samuel D. Davis for his services rendered to the church since it had been without a pastor. He was requested to continue his services, and the church pledged contributions for his support.
February 20, 1885. Presley Chedester was granted licence to preach within the bounds of the church for one year. He was requested to preach once a month at the school house on Buckeye Run.
May 15, 1885. The church took action designed to encourage Marshall L. Chedester to enter the ministry.
February 19, 1886. The licence of Presley Chedester to preach within the bounds of the church, was continued for another year. Again on the 18th of February, 1887, his licence to preach was extended until the next Quarterly Meeting, at which time, May 20, 1887, his licence was again renewed, and he was requested to preach for the church at Salem, on the second Sabbath in each month for the following six months. Finally on November 18, 1887, the licence was made per- manent "to preach the Gospel wherever a door of usefulness is open to him."
November 18, 1887. The church appointed a committee "to take such steps as in their opinion would be best calculated to secure a pastor at an early date."
November 18, 1887. Boothe C. Davis was granted licence to preach the Gospel "wherever a door of usefulness might be open to him."
February 19, 1888. The church voted to employ Rev. John L. Huffman to give one-fourth of his time to pastoral work in the church, at the rate of one hundred dollars ($100.00) a year, until more satis- factory arrangements could be made. The following resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote :-
"RESOLVED, That we hereby express our heartfelt thanks to Elder Samuel D. Davis for his faithful services and pastoral care of the church, in the years past, and ask that he still make the church his special care, and give it such needed services as he may be able."
June 18, 1888. The church extended a call to Rev. Ira L. Cottrell to become its pastor at a salary of five hundred dollars ($500.00) a year.
August 17, 1888. Rev. Ira L. Cottrell declined to accept the call of the church to become its pastor. The committee was instructed to continue its search for a pastor.
August 16, 1889. Pursuant to the recommendation of the com- mittee, the church voted that Rev. Sanford L. Maxson be employed "as pastor at a salary of four hundred dollars ($400.00) per year." Under the direction of the committee, he had already entered upon his duties as pastor about July 20th, immediately preceding the date of this meeting.
August 30, 1890. Rev. Sanford L. Maxson presented his resig-
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nation at the regular Sabbath morning service, to order to devote his entire time to his duties as president of Salem College.
September 7, 1890. The church accepted the resignation of its pastor, Rev. Sanford L. Maxson, and extended a call to Rev. Oscar U. Whitford to become its pastor.
September 21, 1890. The clerk of the church reported that Rev. Oscar U. Whitford had declined to accept the call of the church to become its pastor. The church now extended a call to Rev. Lucius R. Swinney.
October 12, 1890. The church received a communication from Rev. Lucius R. Swinney, declining the call of the church to become its pastor. The committee was instructed to continue its search for a pastor.
November 2, 1890. The church extended a call to Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner to become its pastor at an annual salary of five hundred dollars ($500.00), and a home. At the regular Quarterly Meeting of the church, which occurred on the third Sabbath in November, the church received a communication from Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner accepting this call.
August 19, 1892. Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner presented his resig- nation as pastor of the church, by means of the following communication :---
"Salem, West Virginia, August 19, 1892.
"To the Salem Seventh Day Baptist Church; in regular business meeting assembled;
"DEAR BRETHREN :- It is well known to most of the membership that your pastor has received an urgent call to accept the presidency of Salem College, to give his entire time to that work. Nothing but the great importance of that work, as it relates to all our people in West Virginia, would induce me to consider it for a moment, since it involves the necessity of resigning this pastorate. But the circum- stances are such that it seems to be my duty for the present at least, to accept their call to the school work. This I do with great reluctancy, and not without many misgivings.
"I have decided, however, to accept that work for one year only, with the privilege of making final decision later in the year, as to whether I accept it as a permanent work. Some months will elapse before I can fully settle the question as to the future. Meantime, I am willing to do all of the Sabbath preaching that I am able to do for the church, until such time as the church may find it convenient and feasible to settle another as my successor.
"I, therefore, do hereby ask the church to release me as their pastor, my resignation to take effect, August 31, 1892.
Respectfully, and with great regard,
"THEODORE L. GARDINER."
The resignation was accepted, and the offer to preach on Sabbath, as a supply, was likewise accepted. In return for his services in
THE NEW SALEM CHURCH
preaching, he received the privilege of occupying the parsonage free of charge.
February 17, 1893. Samuel Hoffman Davis "was granted licence to preach the Gospel wherever a door of usefulness is open to him."
March 26, 1893. The church extended a call to Rev. John L. Huffman to become pastor of the church. On April 16, 1893, a com- munication was received from Rev. John L. Huffman, accepting the call of the church to become its pastor, at a salary of five hundred dollars ($500.00) annually, and the use of the parsonage, from July I, IS93. He further stipulated that the engagement should continue indefinitely, but that it should cease upon three months notice given by either party.
May 19, 1893. A communication was received by the church from Rev. Arthur E. Main, corresponding secretary of the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society, stating that that society had appropriated one hundred ($100.00) a year toward the support of a pastor of the Salem Church.
August 24, 1894. The church granted the pastor leave of absence to enable him to engage in evangelistic labour, for a period not to exceed four months. The church was not to be responsible for his salary during his absence; but he was to occupy the parsonage, in return for the use of which he was to engage Rev. Theodore L. Gardi- ner, the president of Salem College, to preach at the Sabbath morning service.
November 16, 1894. The clerk of the church was instructed to inform the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society that the church was willing to endeavour to meet its own expenses for the ensuing year.
December 15, 1894. Rev. John L. Huffman's leave of absence was extended, at his request, until the Ist of the following April, if in his judgment, circumstances should so require. A committee was appointed to arrange with Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner to preach for the church, during the pastor's continued absence.
May 25, 1895. Rev. John L. Huffman presented the following letter :-
"To the Salem Seventh Day Baptist Church;
"DEAR BRETHREN :- I hereby offer my resignation as pastor of this church, to take effect the 30th day of June, 1895. My reasons for doing so are,
"First, The great demands on the part of our people at the present time for evangelistic work, and my especial adaptation to that kind of work, and my desire to engage in such work while I am able.
"Sccond. I do so, hoping that you may get some one to serve you as pastor, who may be better able to succeed in building up the cause of God among you.
"J. L. HUFFMAN."
June 9, 1895. At a special meeting of the church, the pastor with- drew his resignation, at the urgent request of the church, and he was granted leave of absence for a period of one year, from the first of the
118 SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
following July. The church engaged Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner to occupy the pulpit and to perform such pastoral labour as he might be able. For this service, he was to receive two hundred dollars for the year, and have the use of the parsonage besides.
August 18, 1895. Darwin C. Lippincott "was licenced to preach the Gospel as opportunity is presented."
December 28, 1895. Rev. John L. Huffman again offered his resig- nation, to take effect April 1, 1896. At a church meeting, held on the 14th of the following February, the resignation was accepted, and a committee appointed to take steps to obtain his successor.
March 29, 1896. The church extended a call to Rev. Lely D. Seager to become its pastor, at a salary of four hundred dollars ($400.00) a year, and the use of the parsonage. The call was accepted. and the church acceded to the request of its new pastor that he be allowed to wait until the following fall to move his family to Salem.
November 20, 1896. The church accepted the resignation of the pastor, Rev. Lely D. Seager, to take effect January 1, 1897, and appointed a committee to obtain another pastor.
September 12, 1897. The church extended a call to Rev. George W. Lewis, of Hammond, Louisiana, to become its pastor at a salary of four hundred dollars ($400.00) a year, and the use of the parsonage. The call was accepted, and the new pastor entered upon his labours on the first of the following November. In the meantime, the church had in- vited Riley G. Davis, a licentiate of the Greenbrier Church, attending Salem College, to occupy the pulpit, until the arrival of the pastor.
November 13, 1898. Flavius J. Ehret was granted licence to preach "wherever a door of usefulness was open to him to do so."
February 12, 1899. The church took action encouraging Aldis L. Davis to make preparation to enter the Gospel ministry.
July 2, 1899. Rev. George W. Lewis presented his resignation as pastor, urging as the reason for this action, the ill health of his wife, and of his parents. The church regretfully accepted the resignation to take effect the 20th of the following August, and appointed a committee to obtain a new pastor.
August 13, 1899. The church adopted the following recommenda- tion of the committee on pastor :-
"That Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner take pastoral charge, tempora- rily, until a permanent pastor be secured, and that he have at the rate of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) per year, and the use of the parsonage, for the benefit of himself and such supply as he may see fit to employ. The church may not terminate this arrangement until at least three months' notice thereof be given."
October 2, 1899. Samuel B. Bond, who had previously been a member of the Lost Creek Church, by which he had been licenced to preach, was received into the membership of the Salem Church, and his licence to preach continued.
May 12, 1901. Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner presented his resig-
REV. THEODORE LIVINGSTON GARDINER, D. D.
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THE NEW SALEM CHURCH
nation as acting pastor, to take effect at the close of the spring term of the college year, in the following month. The resignation was accepted.
May 25, 1901. The church extended a call to Rev. Ellis A. Witter to become its pastor. On June 22, following, a communication was presented to the church from him, in which he stated the conditions upon which he would accept the call, which were accepted, as follows :
"First. The term of service shall be indefinite, but not less than three years; and three months notice shall be given by either party wishing to terminate the agreement, after three years. Service shall begin about the Ist of October next.
"Second. The church shall pay him six hundred dollars ($600.00) per year, and give him the use of the parsonage. It shall also pay him half of his expense in moving to this place."
The deacons were instructed to make arrangements for the services of the church, pending the arrival of the pastor. On October 26, 1901, at the Sabbath morning service, Rev. Ellis A. Witter, his wife, and two daughters, were received into membership of the church, and his term of service as pastor began. It continues at the date of this writing, August 1, 1902.
RULING ELDERS.
After the removal of the church to New Salem, the church records show the following action regarding ruling elders :-
November ;: , 1798. Jacob Davis was appointed a ruling elder.
August 11, 1799. The church voted that the office of ruling elder was not scriptural, unless they were ordained ministers of the Gospel.
November 16, 1799. After a protracted discussion of the subject, it was voted that laymen should be appointed to the office of ruling elder, and John Davis was appointed ruling elder. The church voted fur- ther that he should be ordained, for the purpose of administering the ordinances of the church. He was also granted licence to preach.
June 8, 1800. The ordination of John Davis as a ruling elder, which was to have taken place on this date, was postponed till the first Sabbath in July, for lack of necessary official assistance.
August 10, 1800. Jacob Davis was appointed an elder.
May 14, 1819. George J. Davis, of Greenbrier, was appointed a ruling elder. On the same day, Simeon Maxson was appointed a ruling elder, on Middle Island.
August 16, 1822. It was voted that the office of ruling elder should be abolished.
DEACONS.
The following records appear relating to the deacons of the New Salem Church :-
January II, 1795. Zebulon Maxson was chosen deacon on trial.
May 10, 1795. The church on this date recognised two deacons, but their names are not given.
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August 9, 1795. It was voted that Zebulon Maxson should be ordained deacon, at the first opportunity.
February 12, 1797. It was again voted that Zebulon Maxson should be ordained deacon at the first opportunity.
August 11, 1799. Jacob Davis was chosen deacon.
August 10, 1800. Simeon Maxson was appointed deacon.
November 8, 1801. Samuel Lippincott was appointed deacon.
April 10, 1802. Simeon Maxson and Samuel Lippincott were ordained deacons, by Rev. John Davis, and by Thomas Maxson, deacon of the West Fork River Church.
June 19, 1818. Peter Davis was chosen deacon.
February 20, 1824. William F. Randolph and Jacob Maxson were appointed deacons.
May 20, 1831. John Sutton was appointed deacon.
May 12, 1833. Jonathan F. Randolph and Amaziah Bee were appointed deacons.
June 12, 1836. The church accepted the resignation of Amaziah Bee as deacon.
February 12, 1844. Jonathan F. Randolph resigned his office as deacon.
February 12, 1844. Lodowick H. Davis was appointed deacon.
November 17, 1855. Jepthah F. Randolph was appointed deacon, to serve in connection with Lodowick H. Davis.
May 18, 1866. Judson F. Randolph was appointed deacon, to serve in connection with the present deacons (Lodowick H. Davis and Jep- thah F. Randolph).
May 18, 1867. Rev. Samuel D. Davis and Rev. Jacob Davis sol- emnly set apart by ordination, Lodowick H. Davis, Jepthah F. Ran- dolph, and Judson F. Randolph, to the duties of their office as deacons, by prayer, laying on of hands, extending the right hand of fellowship, and a charge as to the duties of their office.
August 19, 1871. Lloyd F. Randolph was ordained to the office of deacon.
November 8, 1887. Frederick M. Swiger was appointed deacon.
February 20, 1888. Frederick M. Swiger was ordained to the office of deacon.
March 19, 1892. Flavius J. Ehret, a deacon in the Ritchie Church was received into the New Salem Church as a member and authorised to continue his functions as a deacon.
May 7, 1899. Stillman F. Lowther, M. Wardner Davis, and Martin Van Buren Davis were appointed deacons, and ordained to that office on the 17th of the following June.
MODERATORS.
After the last record was made before the church deserted its New Jersey home, no mention is made of a moderator until February 18, 1831, when, after due deliberation, the church voted to have a permanent moderator, and Ezekiel Bee was
Delthan to Randolph
I2I
THE NEW SALEM CHURCH
.
elected at once, to that office. How long he acted in that capacity, the records do not state explicitly.
Business meetings of the church were held in various places, such as on Halls Run, Greenbrier Run, Meat House Fork, and at Lewisport, as well as at other places perhaps, in order to bring the various groups of the membership living at points too remote to attend such meetings at the village of New Salem conveniently, into vital contact with the business inter- ests of the church. Consequently, it was by no means convenient for the moderator and clerk to attend all, or any large proportion, of the church meetings. As a result, some one who happened to be present at any given meeting, was elected moderator for the day.
Then again, after it became the practise to hold the business meetings of the church at the village of New Salem, only, it was the custom to appoint, with greater or less frequency, as moderator for the day, some visiting minister, or some promi- nent lay member of another church, who happened to be pres- ent. This was looked upon as a sort of honour, which it was the privilege of the church to bestow upon a guest. Such action was doubtless inspired in part also, by a realising sense of ignorance, on the part of the members of the church, of parliamentary usage.
In this way, the records of the church show that James Bailey, David Clawson, Azor Estee, Walter B. Gillette, Charles A. Burdick, and Charles M. Lewis, presided over the business meetings of the church. Some of these, particularly David Clawson and Charles A. Burdick, acted as moderator almost continuously for a year or more at a time.
Previous to 1840, the following named persons served as moderator pro tempore :- Asa Bee, Amaziah Bee, Peter Davis, and James Bailey.
During the next decade, the following names appear :- Amaziah Bee, Peter Davis, Lodowick H. Davis, Jesse J. Davis, George J. Davis, and George Ford.
From 1850 to 1859, inclusive, Azor Estee, Lodowick H. Davis, Jepthah F. Randolph, Jesse J. Davis, David Clawson, and John LaForge F. Randolph, all occupied the moderator's chair, pro tempore.
During the next ten years, are found the following named
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moderators pro tempore :- Samuel D. Davis, Lodowick H. Davis, and Judson F. Randolph.
During the following ten years, 1870-1879, Lloyd F. Ran- dolph, Walter B. Gillette, Charles A. Burdick, Moses H. Davis, Jacob Davis, Charles M. Lewis, Samuel D. Davis, and Jepthah F. Randolph, were all elected to the the chair for the day.
In the absence of any record to the contrary, it is fair to assume that Ezekiel Bee was regarded as the permanent moderator from the date of his election in 1831, till he severed his connection with the New Salem Church, August 30, 1844, in order to become a member of the Middle Island Church.
The church then seems to have been without a permanent moderator until November 17, 1848, when George J. Davis appears to have been elected to that office.
In order to lessen the burdens imposed by the official duties of the moderator, George J. Davis, the office of assist- ant moderator was created, on November 17, 1854, and George Ford was elected to fill it. On the 14th of February, 1862, on account of his advanced age, the church relieved George J. Davis from serving as moderator ; and George Ford, the assistant moderator, succeeded to the office of moderator. George J. Davis died February 10, 1868.
On the 17th of February, 1865, Lodowick H. Davis was elected assistant moderator.
August 15, 1879, the church voted to elect a moderator annually, beginning with the next regular church meeting, and on the 14th of the following November, George Ford was elected moderator for one year.
November 19, 1880, Lodowick H. Davis was elected moderator. He was succeeded on February 17, 1882, by Lloyd F. Randolph, who served continuously for many years, being re-elected from year to year.
On February 19, 1898, W. Franklin Davis was elected moderator for the ensuing year, and at the expiration of that period, he was re-elected and has served down to the date of this writing, August 1, 1902.
CHURCH CLERKS.
For a period of fifty years and more, the records of the Shrewsbury and New Salem Church fail to show the name of
LODOWICK HUGHES DAVIS.
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the church clerk, as the minutes of church meetings are unsigned, and mention of the name of the clerk is not otherwise made. The records contain the name of the clerk, for the first time, January 10, 1796. That record and subsequent ones are as follows :-
January 10, 1796. William Davis was discharged as clerk of the church, and Mosher Maxson was appointed in his stead.
November 8, 1801. William Davis appears again as clerk; and also on May 9, 1803.
July 15, 1804. Joshua Davis was appointed clerk.
January, 1828. John Sutton was appointed clerk, probably for the day only.1
August 12, 1832. Jesse Davis was appointed permanent clerk to serve co-ordinately with Joshua Davis.On this date. Jonathan F. Ran- dolph and John Sutton were appointed to supervise the beginning of the new book of records.
February 10, 1833. The name of Jesse J. Davis appears as clerk.
April 14, 1835. The church accepted the resignation of Joshua Davis as clerk, and John Sutton was appointed to serve in his stead, along with Jesse J. Davis.
May 15, 1836. Jepthah F. Randolph was chosen permanent clerk.
May 19, 1843. The resignation of Jepthah F. Randolph as clerk of the church was accepted.
December 7, 1843. William B. Davis was appointed assistant to the clerk, Jesse J. Davis.
May 18, 1855. Franklin F. Randolph was appointed assistant to the clerk, William B. Davis.
May 20, 1864. Franklin F. Randolph was elected clerk, inasmuch as the duties of that office had fallen upon him, wholly, since August 15, 1855.
On November 16, 1883, Franklin F. Randolph served the New Salem Church as clerk for the last time, as he had joined the Greenbrier Church on the 22d of September previous. In recognition of his twenty-eight years of faithful service as clerk, the church adopted the following resolution, offered by Rev. Samuel D. Davis :-
"WVhercas, Brother Franklin F. Randolph has served this church for twenty-eight years as secretary, in all of which time he has been faithful and efficient; therefore,
RESOLVED, That we wish to place on record our heartfelt thanks to him, under God, for this self-sacrificing service."
1. An entry made under date of May 20, 1831, may indicate that at Middle Island (Lewisport), another record book was kept by Nathan Davis. If such a record book did exist, the present writer has been unable to find it.
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Although he served as clerk at the church meeting on the 16th of November, 1883, the last record entered in his handwriting is that under date of August 17, 1883.
November 16, 1883. Alexander F. Randolph was elected clerk.
February 15, 1884. Alexander F. Randolph declined to serve as clerk, and Marshall L. Chedester was elected in his place.
May 18, 1888. Marshall L. Chedester presented his resignation as clerk. The church accepted it, and Preston F. Randolph was elected to that office, and has served continuously up to the present time.
CHURCH MEMBERS.
This is a list of names of members of the New Salem Church, as they appear in the church records, from the date of the arrival of the church at New Salem, down to the close of the year 1845.
This list and a similar list in the chapter on the Shrews- bury Church contain all the names of members of the church, which appear in the records for a full hundred years.
In the absence from the records, of a formal list of names of the members of the church, the names are given as they appear in the records from time to time, as follows :---
December 24, 1792. WILLIAM MAXSON and MOSHER MAXSON are named as the principals in a dispute, regarding their private business affairs.
June 28, 1793. ISAAC MORRIS and "DEACON" MAXSON were appointed to represent the New Salem Church at the organisation of the West Fork River Church.
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