USA > Vermont > Windham County > Newfane > Centennial proceedings and other historical facts and incidents relating to Newfane, the county seat of Windham County, Vermont > Part 10
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During the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Taylor, of something more than thirty-seven years, there were received into the church, not including the nine at its organization, one hun- dred and twenty-six members, forty-eight males, and seventy- eight females.
The Rev. Jonathan Nye, the second pastor of this church, was installed November 6, 1811, and was dismissed Decem- ber 29, 1819. During his pastorate of eight years and more, there were received into the church eighty-eight members, twenty-seven males and sixty-one females.
The Rev. Chandler Bates, the third pastor, was settled July 4, 1821, and was dismissed January 12, 1831. During his pastorate of nearly ten years, eighty-five were received into the church, eighteen males and sixty-seven females.
In 1832-3 the Rev. C. M. Brown supplied the pulpit and received six into church fellowship, one male and five females. Mr. Brown preached the first temperance sermon in the place. It produced some sensation, as such sermons were apt to do, at that early period in the temperance reformation. He apologized for preaching such a sermon upon the Sabbath, saying he " could not catch 'em (the people) at any other time." One man present, not over much pleased with the discourse, was heard to say, when the meeting was out, "The minister says he preached this sermon upon the Sabbath because he could not catch 'em at any other time, but, by the laws," (a favorite expression of the man), "he won't catch me here again." It appears, however, that upon reflection,
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he thought better of the discourse, and taking off his hat and holding it out in his hand, he said, "I do not doubt I have paid out my hat full of four-pences for flip and toddy."
The world has moved a long way in its temperance orbit since then. God speed the day when the circuit shall be complete, the battle fought, and the victory won for tem- perance.
In 1833 the Rev. Rodger C. Hatch labored here eight weeks. The Rev. John F. Griswold was installed pastor of this church April 1, 1834, and was dismissed July 30, 1839. Rev. L. S. Coburn was settled here October 2, 1839, and this present house was dedicated to the worship of God, at the same time. Because of continued ill health Mr. Coburn was dismissed June 14, 1842.
May 18, 1843, the Rev. Dana B. Bradford was installed pastor of this church, and was dismissed June 10, 1845. The Rev. Darwin Adams was installed pastor of the church January 28, 1846, and was dismissed February 21, 1850. The Rev. Mr. Plimpton supplied about ten months, in 1850, and was followed by Rev. Charles Whiting, who continued here till his death, in May, 1855. The Rev. Mr. Estey supplied about six months, in 1855, and was followed by the Rev. Mr. Eastman in 1856. The Rev. Mr. Bixby came in 1857, and remained five or six years. He was dismissed from the church in May, 1863, and was succeeded by the Rev. Benjamin Ober, who continued about five years, and was followed by the Rev. Messrs. Parkinson, Chase, Shurtleff and Dow, who averaged about one year each.
During the past hundred years this church has had twenty pastors and acting pastors, beside those who have supplied for a few weeks only. The average pastorate has been less than five years. Such frequent changes in the pastoral office is disastrous to the best interests of the church, since it culti- vates an unsteady, fickle disposition in both church and people.
Your experience, in this respect, has been remarkable, and one by no means desirable to continue or repeat. Some- times, often perhaps, ministers are in fault, in the matter of frequent changes, and sometimes the people. We gain
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knowledge by experience, and experience ought to lead us to' do better in the future than we have in the past. You are called to-day to review your past history, and gather up its lessons of instruction.
In a serious review of the past you may see where you have made mistakes. It should be your purpose to avoid these mistakes in the future. You have just entered upon the second century of your history as a church. Improve upon the past. Be more active and enterprising as a Christian church. Do more for Christ.
One thing is greatly to your credit. You have uniformly felt that you must have the regular ministrations of the gospel. This has been a right feeling, and as a result of it, this people for the past century have enjoyed a stated ministry, with very small or inconsiderable interruptions.
The whole number of members in this church from its organization until this time has been four hundred and seventy-one ; one hundred and eighty-eight males, and two hundred and eighty-three females. The present number of members is ninety-five ; twenty-four males, and seventy-one females. The present number is more than ten times the original one. God has not forgotten this church, nor left it to die. While many have finished their course, and have gone to their reward ; while many more have removed to other places, God has raised up others to fill their places. Your losses in numbers have been made more than good by addi- tions. You commence this century of your history with nearly one hundred members; one hundred years ago, and nine, all told, constituted Christ's flock in this place. How much better your position in this respect, than it was one hundred years ago !
Your ability to sustain religion at home, and to send it to the destitute has increased even more rapidly than your numbers. Your facilities and opportunities for doing good are vastly greater than they were a century ago. If so, then a corresponding degree of responsibility rests upon you. Let it be your aim to meet fully and manfully these responsibilities. To this providence now calls you. Do not prove recreant to the high trust committed to you. Who can estimate the amount of moral influence this
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church has exerted during the past century? What would this place have been had no Christian church ever existed in the town? Here from Sabbath to Sabbath the people have assembled to worship God, and seek his protection and guidance. For nearly three quarters of the past cen- tury, the people here emphatically " went up to the house of the Lord," when they assembled upon the top of Newfane hill. Then the great mass of the people assembled upon the Sabbath, nor thought of absenting themselves from the sanctuary, if health permitted them to be present. They went through the storms and cold of winter,-yes, and remained all day. and sat in a cold house, in a house that never smelt fire. The summer's heat did not wilt them. They met to worship God, and clasp hands in friendship and sympathy. On this point, we ought to learn a lesson from the past. We, too, should hold fast to the worship of God, and cultivate a stronger sympathy with each other. Let there be more hand-shaking and kindly greeting, and we shall see more in God's house upon the Sabbath. If we would see fewer vacant seats in the sanctuary, we must greet all those around us with greater cordiality, and with a deeper and more heart-felt sympathy.
5. Revivals.
Revivals of religion are the crowning glory of our churches, and a very marked characteristic in the history of Christianity in our land. This church has repeatedly been visited by rich effusions of the Holy Spirit, and as the fruits of these revivals many have been added to the membership of the church. Under the pastorate of the Rev. Chandler Bates there was a revival of much power. Hollis Read, a native of Newfane, and at this time a mem- ber of Williams College, spent a vacation here, and took a deep interest in the spiritual condition of the people, and was greatly instrumental in promoting and helping forward this work of grace. His labors of love and his fidelity are held in grateful remembrance by many now living in this community. In 1843-4, under the pastorate of Rev. D. B. Bradford, there was a season of deep religious interest, and numbers connected themselves with the church. There was special interest also under the labors of Messrs. Bixby,
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Shurtleff' and Dow. These seasons of refreshing are to be desired and sought for; then Christians grow in grace, and " Zion lengthens her cords, and strengthens her stakes." God grant that the century upon which you have now entered may be far more fruitful in revivals than the past has been.
6. Sabbath Schools.
The first Sabbath School was opened here in the sum- mer of 1818, by Miss Lucy Burnap, sister of Dea. Asa Burnap. Some still remember that school with gratitude and love ; and some of the little cards, given as rewards for attendance, or good behavior, are still preserved. They had no superintendent then, no question books, or beautiful books for the library, as we now have. Miss Burnap was accustomed to open the school with prayer. The exercises consisted almost wholly in repeating passages of scripture, or some little hymn. It would be very interesting, could we tell who, and how many have been connected with the school from its origin, and trace their subsequent history. This cannot now be done. How much progress has been made in Sabbath School instruction, during the fifty-six years since ISIS! How many facilities we have for understand- ing the Bible, above those who started and attended this school in its small and feeble beginnings! Honored and revered be the name and memory of Miss Lucy Burnap ! We are reaping a glorious harvest from her sowing.
Another influence for good this church has exerted must not be overlooked. Seven Congregational ministers have here been nurtured, trained and sent forth into the world to do their work.
The Rev. Bliss Burnap was brought up in the family of the Rev. Aaron Crosby ; he was a good man, and still lives to bless the world by his example, faith and prayers. He has preached in Malone and Bangor, N. Y., and in other places of which I am not informed.
The Rev. Luke Whitcomb was born in this town in 1789. He possessed a strong mind, and was fond of books, and ardently desired an education. After many struggles he fitted for 'college, and was admitted to the Junior Class, at Middlebury, where he graduated in due course. " He
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left college," says his biographer, the Rev. H. Beckley, of Dummerston, " with an excellent character as a man, as a scholar and as a Christian." He became pious during a revival in college, in ISII. His convictions of sin were decp and pungent, and .his conversion thorough. He com- menced the study of theology immediately after he graduated, but under private instruction. He preached in several places while a licentiate, but soon received a call to settle in Townshend, Vt., which he accepted. The church at Townshend had been much distracted by divisions, but by his wise and judicious labors, it became united and pros- perous. This was his only settlement, which continued about five years, until his death. Without being dismissed. he sought restoration to health by going south to spend the winter, and died in Savannah. Ga., Jan. 2. 1821, about two weeks after his arrival there. He was a good man, " full of faith and the Holy Ghost." He died loved, respected, and greatly lamented by the people of his charge.
The Rev. Hollis Read graduated at Williams College, and was sent by the A. B. C. F. M., as a missionary to the Mahratta mission, in India. Here he continued till the failure of his health led him to return to his native land, where he still lives. He is the author of a number of works of great value: "God in History," " India and her People," " The Palace of the Great King," " The Footprints of Satan in History." a counterpart to " God in History," and a Prize Essay, " Commerce and Christianity." This last is a work of rare merit, and does honor to the head and heart of its author.
Rev. Ephraim H. Newton, D. D., was born in Newfane. June 13, 1787. In his younger days he assisted his father in the blacksmith's shop, but having an ardent desire for knowledge, and after many hard struggles he fitted for college and entered at Middlebury, in 1866, graduating in ISIO. He then entered the Theological Seminary, at Ando- ver, and graduated there in 1813. His first settlement was at Marlboro, Vt., March 16, 1814. His ministry there continued nearly twenty years and was very successful. 133 additions were made to the church under his ministry. He was afterwards settled at Glen's Falls, N. Y., where
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he continued more than three and a half years. In , 1837 he was settled at Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y. In each of these places he was greatly blessed in his labors. He was a great lover of the natural sciences, and collected a very fine cabinet of minerals. These specimens attracted much attention from learned and scientific men ; he was often solicited to sell them, but declined to do so. He finally gave them to the Theological Seminary, at Andover, Mass., and spent weeks in arranging and putting them in order. He valued this cabinet at $3000. The seminary puts a much higher value upon it. Mr. Newton died October 26, 1864. It is not a little credit to a church to have raised up and sent out into the world such a man. His influence yet lives and will continue to live for years to come ; and through his works, like Abel, " Though dead, he yet speaketh."
The Rev. Lewis Grout was born in the southwestern part of Newfane, January 28, 1815, the eldest of nine chil- dren, of whom eight were sons. His father, John Grout,* was for some years one of the deacons of the Congregational church in Marlboro, where he and his family were accus- tomed to attend church. In 1836 they removed from New- fane to West Brattleboro. Lewis graduated at Yale College, in 1842, after which he was engaged for a time in teaching at West Point, N. Y. He spent two years in the study of theology at New Haven, and one at Andover, where he graduated in 1846. In the autumn of this year he was
*The genealogy of the Grout family is briefly as follows: Deacon John Grout, of Newfane, was son of John Grout, of Westminster, Vt., who was the son of Thomas, of Spencer, Mass., who was the son of John, of Sudbury, Mass., who was the son of John, of the same town, who was the son of Capt. John, of Watertown and Dudley, who came over from England to America, about 1634, at the age of eighteen, who is supposed to be the son of Richard Grout, or Groutte, of Walton, in the county of Derby, England, whose family is supposed to have settled in Cornwall, in the west part of England during the reign of Henry I., 1154-89, and to have originated in Germany, where they bore the name of Grotius or Groot, alias Grote, Gross, Gros, or Graus, who are believed to be the descendants of the Grudii, or the Great, of whom Cæsar speaks as among the daring tribes of Belgic Gaul, upwards of fifty years previous to the Christian era .- See Genealogy of the Descend- ants of Capt. John Grout, by Rev. Abner Morse, A M., member of the New England His, and Geneal. Soc. [L. G.].
IS
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ordained as a missionary and married in Springfield, Vt., and went out under the American Board to the Zulus, in South Africa. Here he spent fifteen years. In 1862 he returned to this country, and preached for a year at Sax- ton's River, Vt., after which he was settled for two years as pastor of the Congregational church, at Feeding Hills, Mass. In 1865 he entered the service of the American Missionary Association, as their agent for New Hampshire and Vermont, in behalf of the freedmen, in which he is still engaged, having his residence at West Brattleboro.
Among the fruits of Mr. Grout's literary labors are the following :
" An Essay on the Zulu and other Dialects in South Africa ;" Journal of the American Oriental Society, 1849. " A Plan for Effecting a Uniform Orthography of the South African Dialects ;" Journal American Oriental Society, 1851. " An Essay on the Phonology and Orthography of the Zulu and Kindred Dialects of South Africa ;" Journal American Oriental Society, 1853. " Observations on the Prepositions, etc., of the Isizulu and its Cognate Languages ;" Journal American Oriental Society, 1859. " History of the Zulu and other tribes in and around Natal ;" printed by the Colonial Government, Natal, 1853. " Reply to Bishop Colenso on Polygamy ;" pp. 56, Svo, Natal, 1855. ' Answer to Dr. Colenso's Letter." etc. : pp. 103, Natal, 1856. " The Lord Loveth the Gates of Zion : a Sermon at the Dedication of the Congregational Church in Durban :" Natal, pp. 24, 1857. " The Religion of Faith and that of Form ;" two discourses, pp. 48, Natal. 1857. " The Christian Ministry," etc. ; two discourses, pp. 4S, Natal, IS5S. "The Primitive Polity of Christian Churches ;" an Installation sermon, pp. 39, Natal, 1857. " The Isizulu : A Grammar of the Zulu Language, with Historical Intro- duction and Appendix ;" pp. 474, Svo, Natal, 1859. "Zulu-Land, or Life among the Zulu-Kafirs of Natal and Zulu-Land, South Africa ;" pp. 351, Philadelphia, 1864. " Translations of Psalms, Acts and other portions of the Bible into the Zulu Language :" printed and published in Natal. " Reminiscences of Life among the Zulu-Kafirs :" Boston Review, November, 1865. .. Colenso on the
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Doctrines ; A Review of his Notes on Romans ;" Congre- gational Review, September, 1869. "The Church-Member- ship of Baptized Children ;" Bib. Sacra., April, 1871. " The Early History of the Congregational Church in West Brattleboro ;" a discourse preached December 31, I876.
Rev. Admatha Grout was born in Newfane, February 19, 1817, fitted for college at Brattleboro Academy, graduated at Dartmouth College 1845, and at Union Theological Sem- inary, in 1851. But failing health did not allow of his being settled in the ministry. He died in Kansas, in 1855.
Rev. Henry Martyn Grout, brother of Lewis and Adma- tha, was born May 14, 1831. Graduated at Williams College, in 1854, after which he taught for a time as Prin- cipal of the Brattleboro Academy, and subsequently as Principal of Monson Academy. He was licensed to preach in 1856, and labored for a time in Marlboro. He was ordained and installed over the church in Putney, Septem- ber 1,. 1858. Subsequent to this he was called to the church in West Rutland, where he was installed, August 26, 1862. His next pastorate, a term of four years, was over the church in West Springfield, Mass. He is now settled in Concord, Mass. He was, for several years, associate editor in the literary department of the Congregationalist of Boston. Among the fruits of his pen aside from the above, are the following :
" A Sermon, commemorative of the Hon. Edward Southworth," West Springfield, Mass., 1869. " Trinitarian . Congregationalism in Concord ; An Historical Discourse," etc. ; 1876. Among the "Sermons by the Monday Club," of Boston, the following were written by Mr. Grout: In the first series, " David and Jonathan," "Honest Industry," " The Early Christian Church," " Philip and the Ethio- pian ;" in the second series, " Elijah on Carmel," " The Famine in Samaria," "Paul at Athens," and " Paul at Jerusalem."
Another name here deserves mention, though it cannot be numbered with the ministers. Willard Keyes was born and brought up in this town ; while quite a young man he went to the then far west, and settled in Quincy, Adams
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county, Ill. There be purchased land at government price. and became wealthy by its increase in value. He was a pillar in the Congregational church at Quincy. He was a stanch, unwavering anti-slavery man.
One branch of the under- ground railroad passed through Quincy. and I suspect the cars often stopped at his door, to let out passengers. He gave $10.000 to the Congregational Theological Seminary at Chicago, and one of its halls is named " Keyes Hall," in honor of his memory and his noble benefaction. I am persuaded, he also gave a large sum to Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., but the amount I am not able to state.
Thus have the sons of the town and the church, as they have gone out from the old homestead, from the school-house and from the sanctuary, gone to bless the places where they have lived, build up society upon that only sure and perma- nent foundation, the Bible. Would you willingly have the influence, which this church has exerted during the past century all blotted out? "No. no !" you all will say with united voice, " let the church live. and let her influence, during the present century upon which she has just entered, be increased ten fold." "God bless the church for what it has done, and preserve it for generations vet to come !"
The church has had a goodly array of deacons in its past history. There have been two deacon Knowltons. Luke and Nathan; two Holdens, Josiah and Forbes; two Pratts. Putnam and Morton. The other deacons were Moses Kenney, Jonathan Park. Caleb Mayo, John Wilder, Jonathan Hall, Asa Burnap, Lyman Gould, Jacob Allen, John Kimball, W. A. Stedman, Asa Kidder and Ephraim C. Walker, eighteen in all. Those who have occupied this position need not be ashamed of it, or of the service they have been called to render. It is an important and responsible office, and like the ministry, it does not always receive an adequate reward in this world. Patience will sometimes be tried, and benevolence taxed beyond measure. Let it be remembered that the Bible says: " For they that have used the office of a deacon well. purchase to them- selves a good degrec. and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." The success and prosperity of a church are greatly dependent upon the piety, ability and
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efficiency of its deacons. These ministers, deacons, and church-members, who have been here in the past, where are they? Very many of them have passed from earth, and have, as we trust, "entered into the saint's everlasting rest."
" Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?" " One generation passeth away, and another cometh," and "instead of the fathers shall be the children." It is so to-day, the fathers of the town and church are not here; some of their descendants are; so it will be in the future. When the second centennial shall come round, we shall none of us be here, though some of our descendants may be. The memory or history of what we say and do on this occasion, will perhaps pass down to that second centennial. Let it be a memorial worthy of us. These exercises and this occasion are our memorial, the stone we set up; and like Israel of old let us inscribe upon it " Ebenezer," for "hitherto hath the Lord helped 11s."
You can not only gather wisdom from your past history, but strength also, and encouragement for the future. You have experienced trials, toils and discouragements ; there have been dark days in your history, but in the good provi- dence of God, the trials and the toils have been coura- geously borne, the discouragements are things of the past, and the dark days are no more. Prosperity now smiles upon you. Let your motto be " Onward and upward," and hand in hand, and shoulder to shoulder, unitedly let us march along the king's highway, to do and dare more for the Master in the future than in the past. Let us strive together " To keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," and " God's banner over us shall be love." " For- getting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, we will press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Amen and amen.
A SKETCH OF THE PROCEEDINGS
AT THE
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
OF THE
CHURCH AND TOWN OF NEWFANE,
JULY 4, 1874.
The morning broke with a slight fog, which soon gathered into light, fleecy clouds, leaving the day bright and beautiful with a clear, bracing air. The committee who had the matter in charge, met early at the court house. in front of which an ample stage had previously been erected for the occasion, and completed its final arrangements and decorations. Within the portico, upon the walls of the house, were hung several portraits of the carly settlers and their direct descendants ; that of Mrs. Moses Kenney being the most ancient. The Newton and Kimball family were among the number represented.
Suspended over the center of the back of the stage, between the two central pillars of the portico, was the fol- lowing motto in large letters, covered and beautifully trimmed with evergreen : " One generation passeth away and another cometh." On the stage was a table covered with ancient relics. The speaker's table and chair were in the front center. while the officers of the day and invited guests were to occupy the seats back and to the right of the speaker, those on the left being reserved for the choir. In front of the stage was the following motto : " Our fathers, where are they?"
Having thus briefly sketched the arrangements of the platform, we will now proceed to note the various signs of joy and glad tidings in the street. Coming from the south,
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the eye of the visitor met with mottoes and signs of a public welcome in front of the residence of A. J. Morse, president of the day ; this is the first house on the left as you enter the village, and was originally built by Gen. Leavitt. Again were signs of public rejoicing displayed in front of the residence of the late Gen. Field, now occupied by S. P. Morse. The emblem presented by these gentle- men was the coat of arms of the ancient Morse family, and their motto : " I trust in God, not in arms." Suspended across Main street, just north of the center of the common, between the two tallest elms, was the American flag, with the following motto in large letters across its lower edge : " Welcome."
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