USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > History of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont. Vol. II > Part 6
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We have the best institutions in the world. Think of our system of education. Our schools of different grades-colleges and higher institutions of learning, give every child in the land the privilege of securing an education.
Our charitable institutions, making provision for the unfortunate ; our reformatory institutions, seeking to restore the fallen and vicious ; and then who can esti- mate the power of the press in educating the masses.
And then, who has the mental and moral caliber, to estimate the moral value of the Church of God in this land, with all her benevolent agencies ; who can measure the power of the pulpit speaking to the people upon all the great, living, vital themes of time and eternity ?
Our internal improvements are of great importance to us. What other land has equal means of rapid transit and communication ?
Our railroad corporations, employing a million men in their equipment, enable us to sweep across the conti- nent, with a speed that almost bewilders us.
Our system of telegraphy enables us to impart to, and receive from, every part of our land, intelligence with the rapidity of thought itself ; and by these means, we hold our finger upon the pulse of the world.
When we think of these developments, and of the
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few years that we have had for our national achievement, we stand almost bewildered at our greatness. We won- der in the way we have been led.
Ours is a sublime height. We stand today. and from this high pedestal, we look out upon the future ; a future lies before us full of responsibility ; full of sacred trust ; bright with golden prophecies ; portentious with high hope.
Soldiers. Citizens, let us rise to sublime achieve- ment ! Golden doors of opportunity swing wide open to let us pass through with immortal heroes who contend for highest goal reached by the world's greatest conquerors. Our fathers died to give us this country.
Our brothers died to save it. We live to enjoy it. Let us cultivate the highest type of manhood here.
That our statesmen may possess those qualities necessary to enable them to guide the Ship of State across the sea of time, that this glorious Republic may pass on through the 20th century, and on through the coming centuries, rising higher and higher, till the sun of our national glory reaches the zenith, and from its meridian shine on in undiminished splendor, for ages to come, is our hope.
With this high hope before us, let us rise and march
onward. The eye of the world is upon us.
"Humanity with all its fears, With all its hopes of future years
Is hanging breathless on our fate."
And methinks from the eternal shore many a faith- ful soldier is watching, and the God above us all ex- pects every man to do his duty.
Address at the Unveiling of the Tablets, by Gilbert A. Davis.
We are assembled today to unveil and dedicate four tablets erected to the memory of the soldiers of Reading. It is a tardy act of justice proposed on the
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Old Home Day in 1901, and carried through to a suc- cessful result on this 30th day of May, 1902. You have decorated with the National flag, the graves of those heroes of the several wars who lie buried in Reading, in accordance with our National Custom. By placing these tablets on the walls of this library, you have for- ever perpetuated their memory in enduring bronze.
These are four lists of honorable names. They contain the names of her citizens and natives of this town who have done meritorious service and secured honor- able discharges from the Army in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, War of 1861 -- 5, for the suppression of the Rebellion, and in the Spanish War. Errors may exist. No name has been intentionally omitted. If any names have been omitted, another tablet can be provided at no great expense, bearing such omitted names.
The details of the service of these men will be found in the official records and publications of the United States Armies, of the Adjutant General of this State, and in the War Records of Mass., and New Hamp- shire, relating to the Revolutionary War.
Every known source of information has been exam- ined by kind and interested friends or myself, and the results have been embodied in these inscriptions and in the second volume of the History of Reading now in progress of publication.
The larger part of the expense has been defrayed by the distinguished, generous and patriotic sons and daughters of Reading, who have left the town as a place of residence, but have not forgotten the debt they owe to it as a birthplace, and a place of early training. They love these rocks and rills, these woods and templed hills, and the memories that cling to them. All honor to these generous donors, both resident and non-resi- dent, and to those who have contributed of their time and labor to promoting this noble enterprise.
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Here these tablets of bronze will remain so long as time shall last, to tell briefly the story of the service of Reading's citizens and natives in these several wars ; as a perpetual lesson in patriotism to the youths of this town and State, and also, to strengthen and confirm the virtues of the citizens of all future time.
It is proper that these tablets should be upon the walls of this Library Building that is to be for all time the nucleus of learning and intelligence in this com- munity. Education will foster and develop the love of country, and is therefore the foundation of patriotism. In this Republic, the prosperity of our institutions de- pends upon the intelligence and patriotism of the people, the sovereigns in theory and in fact, and with the school- house and two churches on one side of this street, and the Public Library with these tablets upon the building containing it, the young and old will be environed by such ennobling influences that no citizen of this commun- ity should ever depart from the walks of intelligent virtue and patriotism.
It is fitting therefore, this afternoon, to lay aside the pursuit of trade, the toils of the farm, the workshop, and professional life and do honor to the memory of the men whose names are upon these tablets, a large majority of * whom have "crossed the river" and are numbered with the 'great majority.'
These inscriptions call to mind the courage, priva- tions, sufferings, struggles, and triumphs of the heroes of these several wars.
The Revolution was a severe struggle, by men few in number, of limited resources, determined to be free ; the War of 1812 brought victory, and enabled the United States to remain in peace for many years, except in the little skirmish with Mexico in 1848; "the War of the Rebellion cemented the Union, destroyed slavery and made possible the wonderful growth of the Republic ; the Spanish War united all sections, creeds, and varieties
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of political faith, in aid of the struggling and oppressed people of Cuba, gave us the Phillipines and other new territory, and brought the United States into the front rank of the world's powers.
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CHAPTER VII.
The Baptist Church and the Baptist Society in Reading.
A Baptist Church was organized at Reading Center in 1788, and in that year was received into the Woodstock Baptist Association with 12 members. Isaac Kendall was the messenger. 1789 it reported 15 members, and sent as messenger, Asa Wilkins. The Association appointed Elder Peak to supply their pulpit the third Sunday in Dec., Elder Aaron Leland the first Sunday in Aug., and Elder Elliot the first Sunday in Dec.
In 1790 16 members were added. Total membership 31. Elder Peak appointed to supply the second Sunday in Dec., Elder Drew the last of June.
1791, Joseph Carpenter and Joseph Wilkins, messen- gers. No report as to members. Supplies, Elder Elliot, first of Jan., Aaron Leland, second of March, Elder Hib- bard, last of June. 1792, Daniel Edson and Zimri Ken- dall, messengers. Members, 31.
1793, no messengers, 31 members.
1795, Isaac Kendall, messenger, 4 added to membership. 1798, 29 members.
1801, Samuel White, Ephraim Hubbell, John Moore, messengers. 32 members.
1802, Wm. White, messenger. 33 members.
1803, Wm. White and John Moore, messengers. 29 members.
1805. 28 members.
1806, Samuel Lamson, Samuel Buck, Wm White, mes- sengers. 41 members.
1807, 30 members.
1808, Samuel Buck and John Moore, messengers.
4I members.
1809, 28 members, no messengers.
1810, Samuel Lamson, Dea. Samuel Buck, Lemuel Per- . son, Jr., messengers. 7 added, 35 total membership.
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18II, no messengers, 28 members.
I have been unable to find any further facts about this church, and it undoubtedly soon after became extinct.
The Baptist Church in Felchville, was organized June 24, 1835, by a council comprising, Rev. J. M. Graves. Pastor, Ludlow ; Deacons Parker, Adams, and Brother White, of Cavendish ; Rev. C. W. Hodges, and Deacon Boynton, of Springfield ; Rev. E. Hutchinson, and Brother Colton, of Windsor ; Rev. David Burroughs, and Brothers Bigelow and Lawrence, of Perkinsville ; Rev. Ira Persons, and Brother Edwards, of Chester; Elder Lampson, and Deacon Shaw, of West Windsor, were invited to sit in the council.
The following Brethren and Sisters were recognized as a Baptist Church :-
Brethren-Silas Brown, Samuel R. Kendall, Thomas Kendall, Oliver F. Shattuck, Samuel Williams, John Kile.
Sisters-Roxanna Bowen, Mehitable Bowen. Matilda Kendall, Betsey Kendall, Susan Shattuck, Louisa Adams, Lucinda Poturine, Grace Stearns, Mary Ward, Lucy Williams, Elizabeth Streeter, Lucinda Salsbury, Calista Tarbell, Susannah Densmore, Mariah Streeter, Flavilla Stearns.
Sermon by Rev. C. W. Hodges ; Hand of Fellow- spip by Rev. J. M. Graves; Address to the church by Rev. E. Hutchinson ; Prayer by Rev. Ira Persons. Silas Bowen was elected deacon, and Samuel R. Kendall, . clerk. Mr. Kendall held the office until his death, Oct. 4, 1869.
During the year ending May 1, 1836, Rev. David Burroughs, of Perkinsville, preached one-half the time. February 24, 1836, the Hand of Fellowship was with- drawn from a brother and his wife for six reasons, viz :- Ist. For retailing ardent spirits .
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2nd. For providing for and encouraging parties of pleasure, and, especially, dancing ;
3rd. For violating the laws of the Sabbath, by perform- ing labor, or suffering it to be preformed in their own domestic circle ;
4th. For paying disrespect to the admonitions of the church ; .
5th. For absenting themselves from the regular meet- ing of the church ;
6th. For speaking disrespectfully of the church.
On the 15th of Jan. 1839, the church convened at the house of brother Abel Bayles, and called an ecclesi- astical council to convene on the 29th of Jan. 1839.
The council was duly convened, and Charles Farrar was ordained to the gospel ministry. The council was convened at the Union Church in Felchville, (then stand- ing on the street leading to South Reading) and was composed of the following :- West Windsor, Rev. Sam- uel Lampson ; Perkinsville, Rev. William Guilford ; North Springfield, Rev. M. D. Miller, and Brothers Harry Bigelow, and A. Leland ; Chester, Rev. R. M. Ely ; Grafton, Rev. D. M. Crane ; Cavendish, Rev. B. Russel, Brothers S. Proctor, and S. Pierce ; Cornish, N. H., Rev. David Borrows.
The order of exercises was as follows :-
Ist Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. D. M. Crane.
2nd Sermon. Rev. W. M. Gilford.
3rd Ordaining Prayer, Rev. D. M. Crane.
4th Charge to Candidate, Rev. R. M. Ely.
5th Hand of Fellowship, Rev. D. Borrows.
6th Address to the Church, by Rev. . D. M. Miller.
7th Concluding prayer, by Rev. Samuel Lampson.
· By a will probated by the Probate Court of the District of Windsor, and executed April 30, 1842, Mary R. Robinson of Reading, devised the income of all her property for the support of Baptist preaching mean- ing Calvanistic, so called, Baptist preaching in the
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town of Reading, and provided that the principal be not suffered to diminish, and that the income be so used under the direction, and at the disposal of the Baptist State Convention.
The following clause was added :- "I will moreover that my property be used as above mentioned for the support of preaching in South Reading, when ever and so long as said Board of the Convention shall deem it to be useful, meaning that a privilege of claim be given to So. Reading." , Until the erection of the new meeting house in 1861, the records of the church are very meagre. 1
Rev. Robert E. Johnson began preaching to the church September 20, 1861, and was called as pastor and accepted, Dec. 29, 1861.
The ministerial committee at this time, was Samuel R. Kendall, James M. Stearns, and Doctor James P: Osborne.
Mr. Johnson was ordained Jan. 16, 1862. The exer- cises of ordination were as follows :-
Ist Invocation, Rev. Sem Pierce, of Cavendish.
2nd Reading of Scripture, by Rev. Foster Henay, of Chester.
3rd Opening Prayer, Rev. W. N. Picknell, of No. Springfield.
4th Sermon, Rev. F. H. Archibald. D. D., of Mt. Holly, from 2 Cor .; 4: 1,2.
5th Ordaining Prayer, Rev. C. G. Gurr, of Chester.
6th Charge to Candidate, Rev. S. F. Brown, of Bellows Falls.
7th Hand of Fellowship, Rev. S. Adams, of Grafton, Vt.
8th Charge to Church, Rev. J. Freeman, of Cavendish.
9th Benediction, by Rev. Robert G. Johnson.
Rev. N. Cudworth, and Judge Wm. M. Pingry represented the Perkinsville Church.
In June 1865, the Church was constituted of the following named members, 12 males and 19 females :-
Dea. Abel A. Adams, James A. Besley, Judson
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Bowen, Dea. Silas Bowen, Luther C. Brown, Ezra Fay. Aaron T. Kendall. Charles F. Kendall, Luther R. Ken- dall, Samuel R. Kendall, James Mitchell, James M. Stearns. Nancy Amsden, Maria Bowen, Roxanna Bowen, Sibyl Bowen, Wealthy Dickinson, Rosina Giddings, Susan Giddings, Truth Hook, Celestina Ken- dall, Hannah Kendall, Matilda Kendall, Melissa Ken- dall, Eliza Ann Pearson, Augusta Pierce, Hannah Pierce, Hannah Pratt, Ann Rowe, Louisa Stearns, Calista Tarbell.
Rev. C. H. Richardson became pastor on the 31st day of Dec. 1865, and continued to preach until Jan. 30, 1870.
The death of Dea. Samuel R. Kendall Oct. 4, 1871, is noticed upon the records.
1871, Oct. 6, Geo. W. Kendall was elected clerk of the church and continued to hold that office until his death, Aug. 15, 1897.
1872. July 21, the church elected James M. Stearns, Isaac Glynn, and Luther R. Kendall as deacons.
Rev. Joseph S. Small supplied the pulpit, and was a resident in Felchville from June 1871. to Aug. 18, 1872.
1872, Oct. 6, Rev. Geo. H, Parker became pastor, and continued as such to July 15: 1877.
1877, Aug, 5, Rev. Joseph S. Small again became pastor, and continued as such until he was taken suddenly ill Sept. 22, 1880, at Londonderry Vt., while preaching the annual sermon at a meeting of the Woodstock Asso- ciation, and lived only about one hour.
1881, Sept. 3, Rev. Albert Heald became pastor, and continued as such until his resignation June 3. 1894.
·
Rev. - - - Whittier and wife began a series of religious meetings with this Church, March 26, 1882, and continued 16 days. The Church was revived, and 20 expressed hope.
Charles Lucius Stearns, and Wm. W. Grout, were elected deacons, but the records do not show at what
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dates.
In the Summer of. 1882, the church was extensively repaired, papered, and painted.
In Nov., 1882, the Church by vote, adopted the prac. tice of having but one preaching service on the Sabbath day.
1890, June 29, Rev. Henry Searles commenced a series of meetings, and quite an interest was manifested. These meetings were closed July 13, with the result that eleven were converted, and baptized by the pastor, Rev. S. Heald.
1890, Aug. 17, Mrs. Nancy Amsden, who was over 100 years of age, attended a meeting of the Church, and made some pertinent remarks. She died Jan. 17, 1891, aged 101 years, 5 months, 27 days.
1890, in Oct., Rev, Henry C. Searles held meetings for two weeks at Felchville, South Reading, and Ham- mondsville ; and as a result, eight were received into the Church by baptism.
1892, July 2, by vote of the Church, a license was given to Daniel W. Lyman, to preach the gospel, and a letter of recommendation given him as a young man of promise, to the President and Faculty of Hamilton Theological Institution, of New York.
Louisa Stearns died Jan. 10, 1893. Her will, which was executed Oct. 14, 1890, was duly admitted to probate, and is as follows :--
I give and bequeath to the Baptist Church in Felch- ville, two hundred and fifty dollars, the income of which is to be used for the repairs upon the meeting house and parsonage; and all the residue of my estate is to be placed in the care of three persons, chosen by the society, and members of the Baptist Church in Felchville : one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years ; and the place of the one whose term expires, to be filled by a vote of the Baptist Society, at their annual meeting. Should the Baptists of Felchville at any time become ex-
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tinct these funds shall be paid over to the Vt. Baptist State Convention, and the income only to be used for the purpose of the Convention ; but should the church ever be resuscitated, after having become extinct, the Vermont Baptist State Convention shall pay the income to said church, providing always that the income only, shall be used for the preaching of the gospel.
During the vacancy in the pastorate, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Moses Parounagian, on July Ist, 8th, 15th, 22nd, Aug. 5th and 19th, Sept. 2nd and 9th.
1894, Nov. 4, Rev. F. L. Hopkins of Fayville, Mass., became pastor, and continued as such until the accept- ance of his resignation Sept. 25, 1898, and his removal to Baldwinville, Mass.
1897, Aug .. 15, John E. Giddings was elected Clerk and Clarence N. Hook, Supt. of the Sunday School. Mr. Giddings continued as Clerk until his death Feb. 13, 1902.
The church was without a settled pastor for a season, but kept up the Sunday Services, the pulpit being sup- plied Oct. 23, by Rev. Mr. Kenney, of No. Springfield, Nov. 6, and 13, by Rev. Mr. Davis, of Montague, Mass., Nov. 20th, by Rev. A. Heald, Dec. 18th, by Rev. Thomas Tellier, of Groton, Vt. On other Sabbaths, a sermon was read by either Frank Hook, John E. Gidd- ings, Robert Stewart, Clarence Randall, C. N. Hook, or Judson Penney.
1899, March, Rev. Thomas Tellier, who had accepted the call, began his labors as pastor, and continued as such until his resignation and dismissal in 1902, and re- moval to Cambridge, New York.
1902. May 11, Rev. P. M. Bauknight, of Rochester, N. Y., commenced his labors as pastor.
1902, June, Mrs. Walter Parker was elected Clerk.
The membership has been diminished by death and dismissal, so that it only numbers about ten.
Rev. Robert G. Johnson was fitted for college at
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Fairfax, Vt., graduated from Brown University in 1860, and spent one year at Newton Theological Seminary, studying especially Hebrew and New Testament Greek.
The Baptist Society of Felchville and vicinity, was organized under the laws of Vermont, on the 18th day of September, 1861, by the following named list of persons :-- Paul W. Stearns, Prosper Merrill, Benjamin M. Kendall, Abel A. Adams, Ezra Fay, William A. Wait, A. H. Pierce. Hannah Pierce, Charles Amsden, Levi C. Fay, R. W. Hoadley, Orpheus Coburn, Jonas V. Bowers, Jarvis Pratt, James M. Stearns, James P. Osborne, Aaron T. Kendall, James L. Sherwin, Honestus Stearns, Grace S. Davis, Luther R. Kendall, Samuel R. Kendall.
The organization had been preceded by several meet- ings, having in view the erection of a meeting house- the first meeting having been held on the 2nd day of Feb., 1861, when Abel A. Adams, Prosper Merrill, and James M. Stearns were elected as Building Committee.
At an adjourned meeting holden Feb. 16, 1861, Abel A. Adams was excused from serving on the building committee, and Benjamin M. Kendall was elected in his place.
It was then voted to build a meeting house on a lot owned by Prosper Merrill, opposite Thaddeus E. Conant's house; this would be about on the site of the Library building.
This location was changed at a meeting held March 9, 1861, to its present site north of the R. W. Hoadley house, and the constitution of the society was adopted- the leading feature of which, was that any person owning a slip or half slip in the contemplated meeting house, should be a member of the society ; and any per- son contributing to the support of religious worship in said house, should be called to vote on any questions re- lating to the maintenance of a minister or his dismissal, and on no other questions, provided such minister should always be in good fellowship with the Woodstock Bap-
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tist Association.
It was further provided that the meeting house should always be opened on funeral occasions if request- ed by any person, and when not occupied by the Baptist Society, may be opened to any and all Christian denom- inations.
$2485. was raised by subscriptions, to build the house. The subscribers were: -
Prosper Merrill,
$300.
Levi C. Fay, 300.
James M. Stearns,
300.
Samuel R. Kendall,
300.
Abel A. Adams.
I50.
Aaron Kendall,
150.
Luther R. Kendall,
100.
Paul W. Stearns,
50.
Charles Amsden,
50.
Hannah Pierce,
50.
S. B. Pierce,
50.
B. M. Kendall,
50
Jarvis Pratt,
50
Wealthy Dickinson,
50.
Orpheus Coburn,
50.
Ezra Fay,
50.
Wm. H. Giddings,
50.
A. H. Pierce,
50.
Honestus Stearns,
50.
James P. Osborne,
25.
Otis Baldwin,
25-
Geo. W. Kendall,
25 .
Wm. A. Wait,
25.
Jonas V. Bowers,
25.
Salome T. Stearns,
25.
Sufferanna Densmore,
25.
R. W Hoadley, . .
25
E. W. Watkins,
85.
$2485.
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Samuel B. Pierce was the first clerk, and he was succeeded by Paul W. Stearns, who continued as clerk until Jan., 1867, when Geo. W. Kendall was elected.
Mr. Kendall continued as clerk until his death in 1897.
J. E. Giddings was elected clerk in 1901, and con- tinued as such until his death in 1901.
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HISTORY OF READING.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Universalist Church in Reading. Rev: Samuel C. Loveland. &c.
[The facts in this Chapter were embraced in a paper prepared by Gilbert A. Davis, and read before the State Convention, June 12, 1902, at Felchville, Vt., by Rev. C. E. Pettie. ]
Very many of the young people have found Reading_ a very good place in which to be born and spend their earlier years, but have emigrated early. Reading there- fore, must look around and learn what has been accom- plished, not only by those who have dwelt within her borders, but by these emigrants who have gone forth to make the world.
As I have looked over the list, I have been gratified to discover that so much has been accomplished worthy of mention, and abiding importance. In the limit of this address, there is no time to recapitulate these deeds, but the soon-to-be-published Second Volume of the History of Reading, will contain narrations of special interest, records of deeds accomplished by Reading boys and girls, that have had a remarkable influence in shaping human events.
This afternoon, I am to speak of the history of Uni- versalism in Reading. For one, I am always interested in going back to first principles, in hunting out the sour- ces of influence, the beginning of towns, the starting point of any career. These studies are to me of value, as showing the causes that have shaped and constructed municipal as well as individual careers, and as pointing out the ways to be pursued by the youths and men of the present age.
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Reading is more of an inland town than formerly, when the great lines of stage coaches, and freight wagons went through its borders, and patronized its taverns. Then the village was the important center wherein were represented all the industrial interests, and all the learn- ed professions of the day. The railroads have come, and have changed all these matters. Trusts, and large ag- gregations of capital, have destroyed the small industries, and the inland towns must be content with farming, and the trades connected with, and necessary to supply the farmers.
The cellar hole on yonder hill, marks the site of the first church, and that near by, the site of the first parson- age, both erected of logs in 1787 : and in them resided and preached, Rev. Nahum Sargent, the first clergyman of the town, a graduate of Dartmouth college in the class of 1784. This was his first pastorate. He was settled on the munificent salary of £50 annually ($250) for the first year, and to rise £5 in a year until it came to £60, to be paid annually in wheat at 5 shillings a bushel, rye at 4 shillings a bushel, corn at 3 shillings a bushel, in beef, pork, wood, flax, sugar. butter and cheese to be de- livered to Mr. Nahum Sargent in proportion to the price of grains as above stated, and to cut and draw him 30 cords of fire wood, eight feet long, annually while he re- mains our pastor.
This I find upon Reading Town Records.
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