USA > Vermont > Orange County > Chelsea > Manual of the Congregational Church in Chelsea, Vermont : with historical sketch and catalogue of membership, from organization to June, 1882 > Part 1
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AUG 2 5 1926
MANUAL .
OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
IN
CHELSEA, VERMONT ,
WITH
HISTORICAL SKETCH
AND
CATALOGUE OF MEMBERSHIP.
FROM ORGANIZATION TO JUNE, 1882.
-
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02851 1027
Gc 974.302 C41cha Congregational Church ( Chelsea, Vt. ) Manual of the Congregational Church in Chelsea, Vermont OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
IN
CHELSEA, VERMONT.
WITH
HISTORICAL SKETCH
AND
CATALOGUE OF MEMBERSHIP,
FROM ORGANIZATION TO JUNE, 1882. .
BURLINGTON : FREE PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1882.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801 2270
HISTORICAL NOTES.
The settlement of the town of Chelsea was begun in the year 1784 by Samuel Moore, Thomas Moore and Asa Bond, with their families, all coming from Winchester, N. H. Among the early settlers there were not a few men and women of re- ligious convictions and character. Eminent among these were Asa Bond, Samuel Linkon,* Enos Smith and Ivory Douglass. The Congregational church, the first in town, was organized April 10th, 1789, in presence of Rev. Messrs. Isaiah Potter of Lebanon, N. H., Asa Burton of Thetford and Stephen Fuller of Vershire, Mr. Fuller serving as moderator. The records leave us in the dark as to the number of persons thus formed into a church, the place where this meeting was held, and all other circumstances connected with it; tradition also is lack- ing, and it is to be feared that these facts are irrecoverably lost. The names of twenty-nine persons are preserved, who probably became members of the church before the settle- ment of Rev. Mr. Thompson, but this list is undoubtedly im- perfect, and there may be many omissions which cannot now be supplied. It should also be said that the list of ad . missions is probably more or less incomplete up to about 1826.
For the first ten years of the church's history there was no settled pastor. There was occasional preaching, and in the absence of a minister sermons were read by some of the laymen, most frequently, it would appear, by Dea. Linkon. Among those who are known to have preached here during
*So he wrote his name ; the modern spelling is Lincoln.
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MANUAL OF THE CHELSEA, VT., CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
this time is Rev. James Hobart, then a theological student with Rev. Mr. Burton of Thetford, and subsequently pastor at Berlin. Dr. Abial Jones also, who, before coming to Chel- sea, had studied theology and been licensed to preach, is said to have officiated occasionally.
For several years the meetings were held in various parts of the town, in houses, school-houses and barns. One fre- quent place of meeting was the barn of Asa Bond, on the farm now occupied by N. G. Moore. In 1796 the first court-house was built, standing on the present site of E. R. Hyde & Co.'s store, and thenceforth the meetings for public worship were held there. In 1811 a society of the denomination called Christians was formed here, and a dispute arose concerning the occupancy of the court-house, as a result of which the Congregational society gave up the use of that building and decided to build a church. Work was begun on the present building October 4th, 1811 ; it was completed in June, 1813, and dedicated September 1st, 1813. Before its completion meetings were held in the hall of the lower hotel, situated where L. G. Hinckley's house now stands, and kept by Elihu Hyde, Sr. In 1848 the building was repaired and remodeled, the galleries being taken down and the house divided into two stories, the upper being taken for the audience room. Exten- sive repairs and improvements were also made in 1874.
The ecclesiastical society was formed in 1799. According to the law then existing, the expenses for the support of preaching were met by a tax raised on the grand list of all the inhabitants of the town, only those being exempt who could present certificates that they contributed to the support of some other church. This law was repealed in 1807, about which time the "Voluntary Congregational Society" was formed. which now exists.
The society was formed with the intention of procuring a pastor, and Rev. Lathrop Thompson was soon called to the pastorate of the church and society, and was installed Novem- ber 20, 1799, in the court-house. He was to receive $334 per
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HISTORICAL NOTES.
annum, "payable in wheat, rye or Indian corn, at cash price, upon the first day of January, annually." He remained pas- tor between five and six years, when it was deemed best on both sides to sever his relations with the society, owing to a lack of harmony between himself and his congregation. He seems to have been a sound doctrinal preacher, very rigid and conservative, and a zealous believer in discipline.
The additions to the church during Mr. Thompson's resi- dence here were few, but a change soon took place in the pas- torate of his successor, Rev. Calvin Noble, who was ordained pastor in 1807. During his pastorate, which was terminated by his death, in 1834, there were three powerful revivals, in 1809, 1819 and 1831, and many other seasons of special relig- ious interest. Mr. Noble was universally esteemed by his people, and no one can now tell how much the subsequent pros- perity of this church is due to his wise and zealous care. Of the later pastors mention need not be made here.
The origin and early history of meetings for conference and prayer can with difficulty be traced. A vote is recorded under date of March 28, 1800, "That the church will set up and attend religious conferences in rotation on the first Thurs- day in every month." This seems to be the origin of the monthly church meeting. Early in Mr. Noble's pastorate prayer meetings were held at noon, between the services, the men meeting at the pastor's and the women in the jail-house, then occupied by Harry Hale.
The music employed in the church services was for many years entirely vocal. Subsequently a bass viol was introduced and other similar instruments, forming a considerable orchestra. A melodeon was afterwards substituted, and about 1861 an or- gan was purchased, which was replaced by the present organ in 1874.
In the summer of 1816 the first Sunday-school was held, in the school-house in District No. 10. During the next sum- mer it was held in the church at noon, and has since continued without interruption.
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MANUAL OF THE CHELSEA, VT., CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
During the first two pastorates the society did not own a parsonage. Rev. Mr. Thompson built the house now occu- pied by Orcutt Bixby, and resided there, as did also Mr. Noble. Soon after Mr. Buckham came, the house in which Mrs. Clara Skinner now lives was purchased for a parsonage, and was so used until 1866, when it was sold and the present one purchased.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH.
LATHROP THOMPSON, the son of Hezekiah and Hannah (Thompson) Thompson, was born at Farmington, Ct., Sept- ember 3, 1760. His father early removed to Windsor, Vt., and was a deacon of the Congregational church there. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1786, and studied theology with Rev. Dr. Asa Burton of Thetford, Vt., being his first theological student. He was ordained pastor at Sharon, Vt., December 3, 1788, and was dismissed March 21, 1793; was then acting pastor at South Britain, Ct., from May 1796, two years. He was installed over the church at Chelsea, Novem- ber 20, 1799, and was dismissed April 29, 1805. He was installed May 2, 1810, at Cutchogue, Long Island, and after his dismissal there, August 29, 1826, preached at different places for brief periods, and finally returned to Chelsea, pass- ing the last years of his life with his son-in-law, his successor in the pastorate here. He was four times married, but left only one child. He died at Chelsea, July 19, 1843.
CALVIN NOBLE, the son of Morgan and Patience (Averill) Noble, was born at New Milford, Ct., January 9, 1777. His father was a captain in the revolutionary army, and his mother was a sister of the mother of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Day, presi-
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MANUAL OF THE CHELSEA, VT., CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
dent of Yale College. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1805, and studied theology with Rev. Dr. Asa Burton of Thetford. He was licensed to preach by the Orange Associa- tion, at Peacham, January 8, 1806, and after preaching some time as a home missionary began preaching at Chelsea in March, 1807, and was ordained pastor September 7, 1807, Rev. Dr. Burton preaching the sermon. He remained pastor of this church twenty-seven years, until his death, April 20. 1834. He left several children, one of whom, Calvin D .. entered the ministry, and was pastor at Rochester and Springfield.
JAMES BUCKHAM, the son of Robert and Ellen (Todd) Buckham, was born at Yetholm, near Kelso, Scotland, Janu- ary 4, 1795. He was educated at the parish schools of his native place, and at Wymondley, Hertfordshire, and Rother- ham Seminary, Yorkshire. He was licensed to preach by the committee of Rotherham Seminary in June, 1818, and was ordained at Hinckley, Leicestershire, April 1824. In 1834 he came to America, began preaching at Chelsea. November 9. 1834, and was installed over the church February 25, 1835, Rev. Dr. Nathan Lord, president of Dartmouth College. preaching the sermon; he was dismissed from this charge February 16, 1841. He supplied at Sorel, Que., 1845-7, at Winooski, Vt., 1847-50, and at Milton Falls, Vt., 1850-1, and was installed at Phillipsburgh, Que., in 1851. From Novem- ber 1856, to June 1863, he supplied at Fairfield, Vt. He was principal of Ellington Seminary, Ct., in 1844-5, and taught in various places where he preached. He now resides at Burlington, Vt., with his son, M. H. Buckham, president of the University of Vermont.
BENJAMIN BALL NEWTON, the son of Josiah and Lydia (Ball) Newton, was born at St. Albans, Vt., July 29, 1808. He fitted for college at St. Albans Academy and graduated at the University of Vermont in 1831. He was principal of
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE PASTORS.
Bennington Academy one year, and then studied theology at Andover, graduating in 1835. He began preaching at Platts- burgh, N. Y., in the spring of 1836, and was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church there July 27, 1836, being dis- missed in 1839; he was then a home missionary in Pennsyl- vania two or three years. He was extended a call by this church October 14, 1841, and probably began preaching here at once; he was installed June 28, 1842, Prof. C. B. Haddock of Dartmouth College preaching the sermon, and dismissed March 11, 1846. He then resided at St. Albans for a number of years, and represented St. Albans in the legislature of 1849. In 1855 he removed to Kansas, and assisted in making it a free state. Late in life he connected himself with the Epis copal church, and was admitted to deacon's orders by Bishop Potter of New York, January 11, 1867. He was for two years rector of St. James's Church, Woodstock, Vt., and sub- sequently assistant rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity Brooklyn, N. Y. He died in Brooklyn, January 17, 1875.
THOMAS SWAN HUBBARD, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Swan) Hubbard, was born at Franklin, Vt., Dec. 20, 1811. He fitted for college at St. Albans Academy, and graduated at Middlebury College in 1834 and Andover Seminary in 1838. He was ordained at Stockbridge, Vt., June 18, 1839, and in- stalled over the church there, January 1840, being dismissed June 1846. He began to preach at Chelsea in January, 1847, was installed February 13, 1849, Prof. C. B. Haddock of Dart- mouth College preaching the sermon, and dismissed August 31, 1854. He then supplied at Rochester and Stockbridge one year, and another year at Stockbridge alone, then at Cabot two years from March 1857, at Bethel, 1859-62, and at Dunton, Ill. (Presbyterian), two years from May 1862. He has since been located at Pittsfield and Stockbridge, Vt.
1
JAMES CLAY HOUGHTON, the son of William and Marilla (Clay) Houghton, was born at Lyndon, Vt., May 13, 1810 2
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MANUAL OF THE CHELSEA, VT., CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
His early life, from five to twenty years of age, was spent with his maternal grandfather at Putney, Vt .; he then fitted for college at the academy at Bradford, where his parents resided for a few years, and entered Amherst College in 1833. At the close of the fall term of 1836, he left Amherst for Dart- mouth, and graduated there in 1837. He graduated at the Theological Institute of Connecticut, East Windsor, in 1840, having been licensed to preach by the Windham (Ct.) Asso- ciation, August 28, 1839. He was ordained pastor at Storrs- ville, Mass., December 22, 1840, and dismissed April 27, 1843. He then supplied two years at Hartland, Ct., and at Granby, Ct., from June 1845, to April 1847 ; he was then installed at Middle Haddam, Ct., September 1847, and was dismissed February 1851, in the next December being installed at New Hartford, Ct. He was dismissed from this charge in Febru- ary 1854, and supplied at South Wilbraham, Mass., 1854-6. He was acting pastor at Chelsea from February 1, 1857, to April 1, 1865, declining installation. In 1865-6 he supplied the church at Royalton during the illness of the pastor, and was one year, from September 1868, at Middletown, Vt. An affection of the throat prevented further ministerial labor, and he removed to Burlington and engaged in insurance bus- iness. In 1877 he was disabled by a paralytic stroke, and went to reside with a son at Montpelier, where he died April 29, 1880.
SALEM MARSH PLIMPTON Was born at Sturbridge, Mass., April 27, 1820. He at first learned the shoemaker's trade, but on being converted, commenced preparation for the min- istry. He fitted for college at Monson (Mass.) Academy, and graduated at Amherst College in 1846, and at Andover in 1849. He was licensed to preach by the Brookfield (Mass.) Associ ation in April, 1849, and supplied at Fayetteville, Vt., during 1850. He was ordained pastor at Wells River, Vt., May 8, 1851, and dismissed April 30, 1861. From September 1861, to September 1862, he was chaplain of the Fourth Vt. Vols.,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE PASTORS.
then supplied the North Church, St. Johnsbury, during the pastor's absence as chaplain of a nine months regiment. Then he was for a time supply at East Douglass, Mass., and came to Chelsea, January 1, 1866, remaing acting pastor of the church until his death, Sept. 14, 1866.
WILLIAM ALBERT JAMES, the son of William and Abby Watson (Davis) James, was born at Pomfret, Ct., March 4, 1833. Most of his early life was spent at Danielsonville, Ct. He fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and graduated at Williams College in 1862, and at Union Theo- logical Seminary in 1865. He was licensed to preach by the Congregational Association of New York and Brooklyn, April 5, 1865. He preached nine months at Killingworth, Ct .; was ordained over the Chelsea church May 1, 1867, and dis- missed December 29, 1869. He then labored three or four years at North Woodstock, Ct., and about four years at Marysville, Ohio. Went then to Marshall, Mich., but during his second year of service there was compelled by ill health to give up preaching, and was for more than a year at Minne- apolis, Minn., without charge. In the latter part of 1881 he went to Fort Benton, Montana, to undertake the work of or- ganizing the first Congregational church in that territory. Ill health compelled him to give up work here in a few months, and he returned to Minneapolis, where he now is.
EDWARD ELISHA HERRICK, the son of Elisha and Samantha (Martin) Herrick, was born at Randolph, Vt., December 4, 1835. He fitted for college at West Randolph Academy, and graduated at the University of Vermont in 1856. He was principal of Bradford Academy, 1856-8, and West Randolph Academy, 1858-9. He entered Andover Seminary in 1859, leaving in the spring of 1862. He was then in charge of Lin- coln (Mass.) high school during the spring, and in May went to South Merrimack, N. H., and preached there some weeks. He enlisted as private in the 15th Vt. Vols., September 3, 1862,
3 1833 02851 1027
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MANUAL OF THE CHELSEA, VT., CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
was elected Second Lieutenant, September 11, 1862, appoint- ed First Lieutenant, January 9, 1863, and mustered out Au- gust 5, 1863. Soon after he began preaching at Rochester, Vt., and was ordained there February 24, 1864, not being in- stalled pastor. He left January 1, 1866, and supplied at Col- chester till January 1869, and at Wilmington from May 1869 to May 1870. He began preaching to this church the first Sunday in May 1870, and was installed pastor February 14, 1871, Rev. Dr. William H. Lord of Montpelier preaching the sermon.
MANUAL OF THE CHURCH.
NAME.
This Church shall be called the Congregational Church of Chelsea, Vt.
CONFESSION AND COVENANT.
Dearly beloved: Drawing near to God with a sincere heart, having faith in Him and a true repentance for sin, and desiring to make a confession of your faith in Christ, and to unite with this church, you will now join with us in the following
CONFESSION :
I believe in God, the Father, Maker of all things; in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and King; in the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, ever present in the church to renew and sanctify the soul.
I believe in the common sinfulness of our race; in the death of Jesus Christ for our sins; in His resurrection from the dead, ascension, mediation and intercessions ; in His com- ing again to judge the quick and dead, and to receive His fol- lowers to the glory of His kingdom.
I believe in the Holy Scriptures as the word of God; in the church, the body of Christ; in the ministry of the Word; in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; in the
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MANUAL OF THE CHELSEA, VT., CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
communion of the saints; in the forgiveness of sins, in the re- generation of the soul during this life of probation; in the resurrection of the body, and in the life everlasting.
Address to those Baptized in Infancy.
Do you, who in infancy were dedicated to God by your believing parents in the ordinance of baptism, hereby declare your personal acceptance of the same, and your belief that the regeneration of the soul has been wrought within you by the Holy Spirit?
Address to those who are to be Baptized.
You, who believe that your hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit and who have never received the outward seal of the covenant, will now, upon this profession of your faith, receive the ordinance of baptism.
Baptism.
You will now enter into
COVENANT.
You do now, in the presence of God and before His holy angels and this assembly, consecrate yourself to God, the Father, as your chief good; to the Son of God, relying on Him as the Prophet, Priest and King of your salvation, and to the Holy Spirit as your Teacher, Guide and Comforter.
You also promise to walk with us as a Church of Christ, in due submission to and attendance upon all the ordinances and services of the Church, that by the help of the Holy Spirit you may adorn your profession by a holy and fruitful life.
The Church will Rise.
We, then, give you our Christian Welcome. We promise to you the watchful care, kindness and love of the Christian household. We welcome you to a common work, self-denial and consecration. We will strive with you for purity of heart,
15
COVENANT.
for holiness of life, for the progress of the Redeemer's cause, if by any means we may attain to the resurrection of the dead and the rewards of the Kingdom of Christ.
Then the Pastor may give one or both of the following Benedictions.
Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy; to the only 'true God, our Saviour, be glory in the church, both now and forever. Amen.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Then shall be said or sung the doxology.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.
The confession is to be repeated audibly by the church with the pastor at every communion service, whether new members are received or not.
ARTICLES OF FAITH.
While in admitting members we use a shorter form of confession, we expect our pastor and deacons will subscribe the following
ARTICLES OF FAITH.
Adopted Sept. 3, 1831. Amended March 30, 1882.
1. We believe: That there is one GOD, infinitely perfect ; the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things; the self- existent, independent and immutable Fountain of good: and that He exists mysteriously in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, who are the same in substance and equal in all perfections.
Isa. xlii. 8 .- "I am the Lord; that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another."
1 Cor. viii. 4 .- "There is none other God but one."
Deut. xxxii. 4 .- "A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Col. ii. 3 .- "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
John i. 3 .- "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made."
Neh. ix. 6 .- "Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all."
John x. 30 .- "I and my Father are one."
Matt. xxviii. 19 .- "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
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ARTICLES OF FAITH.
2. We believe: That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, and are the only rule of faith and practice.
Heb. i. 1, 2 .- "God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."
2. Tim. iii. 16, 17 .- "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc-
tion, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
2 Peter i. 21 .- "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Psalm cxix. 105 .- "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Isa. viii. 20 .- "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
3. We believe: That our first parents were made per- fectly holy, but, by disobedience, fell from the state in which they were created ; in consequence of which all their posterity are, by nature, destitute of holiness, alienated from God, and subject to his just condemnation.
Gen. i. 26, 27 .- "And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,' so God created man in his own image; in the image of God created he him."
Eccl. vii. 29 .- "God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."
Gen. ii. 16, 17 .- "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surely die."
Gen. iii. 6 .- "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food," &c., "she took of the fruit thereof and did eat ; and gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat."
Rom. v. 12 .- "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men ; for that all have sinned."
Job xiv. 4 .- "Who can bring a clean thing out of an un- clean ? not one."
Rom. viii. 7 .- "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
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MANUAL OF THE CHELSEA, VT., CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
4. We believe: That GOD, in His infinite and sovereign mercy has provided a Saviour, even JESUS CHRIST, His dearly beloved Son, who, having become incarnate, by His own obedience honored the law, and by his death made a complete atonement for sin; so that all who believe in Him obtain for- giveness of their sins and a sure title to eternal life.
John iii. 16 .- "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Matt. i. 21 .- "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
Matt. xviii. 11 .- "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."
Isa. liii. 5 .- "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities," &c.,-see the whole chapter.
1 Cor. vi. 20 .- "For ye are bought with a price," &c.
1 Tim. iii. 16 .- "Without controversy, great is the mys- tery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh."
1 Tim. ii. 5, 6 .- "For there is one God, and one Mediat or between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave him- self a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
1 John ii. 2 .- "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
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