USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 16
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As a domestic missionary society, this Association had looked carefully after the interests of its weaker churches. It was specially helpful to the church in Dover, for a long time. For nine years this church was supplied one-third of the time by the pastors of the Association. But for this assistance, and the help of the State Convention for a short time, this church would doubtless have become extinct.
Quarterly meetings were sustained for many years, and were specially helpful to the weaker churches. Special evangelistic
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meetings were arranged at intervals, two or more of the pastors assisting the local pastor. In 1878, at the suggestion of Colonel J. J. Estey, a band of laymen was organized to assist churches in series of meetings, and he was appointed general manager of the band.
Another marked feature of this Association has been its sym- pathetic interest in the widows and orphans of deceased ministers, within its bounds. For more than fifty years, during the first ses- sion of each anniversary, a collection was taken and by vote specially designated to some such needy family. The widow of Cyprian P. Frenyear was thus kindly remembered for several years after her husband's death.
The various objects of moral reform received the attention of the Association. Slavery was denounced in unsparing terms; temperance advocated unceasingly; individual churches appear to have paid special attention to these subjects. The Halifax church had, in 1837, a temperance society, numbering two hundred and eighty-eight members, and an anti-slavery society, numbering one hundred and sixty-two members. The use of tobacco as well as of intoxicants was condemned by repeated resolutions.
In promoting the benevolence of the churches, the Associa- tion made earnest effort. The representatives of the missionary societies were cordially welcomed to the anniversaries and given opportunity to present their cause. In 1871, a resolution was passed, "That for the purpose of economy and efficiency in our benevolent operations, an Associational Agent be appointed to raise money 'for any or all of the benevolent objects that come before the churches." Under this resolution the following appointments were made: To raise money for Ministerial Education, C. P. Frenyear, Jamaica; for Foreign Missions, M. Carpenter, South Windham; for State Convention, A. W. Goodnow, Wilmington; for Home Missions, L. J. Mattison, Brattleboro; and for Bible and Publication So- ciety, S.S. White, Williamsville. In 1872, the Association authorized Mr. A. Stoddard to prepare cards and printed envelopes for be- nevolent purposes, and distribute them to the churches willing to use them, on payment of cost, and assumed the payment for the balance of the same. The benevolent contributions of this Asso-
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ciation from 1835 to 1873 inclusive, so far as reported, amounted to $15,811.95.
From 1874 to 1910 inclusive, the benevolent offerings were:
Ministerial education received the prayerful interest of the Association. A noteworthy instance is the record in 1869 of a reso- lution to pray the Lord to send forth laborers, and the grateful record the following year of the fact that two more of their young men had entered upon a course of study for the ministry, and to these the Association pledged not only their prayers, but their pecuniary assistance, if it should be needed. A committee was ap- pointed to secure, if possible, a collection from each church in the Association for this purpose, and to distribute the same to these brethren. "Resolved, to continue in prayer for more laborers."
Leland and Gray Academy and Vermont Academy, both with- in the bounds of the Association, were often commended to the patronage and help of the churches.
The importance of preserving the histories of the churches has been fully recognized by this body. By invitation of the As- sociation, the churches have prepared historical sketches, which have been read at the anniversaries, and printed in the minutes. The Wardsboro sketch was printed in the minutes of 1864; Halifax, 1865; Guilford, in 1866; Brattleboro, in 1868; Whitingham, in 1870; Brookline, in 1871; Pondville, formerly known as the Marlboro and Newfane, mn 1872; Dover, in 1873; Annals of the Leyden Associa- tion, in 1874; Wilmington, in 1875.
Cyprian P. Frenyear, pastor of the church in South Windham and later of Townshend, 1868-1876, was an ardent collector and publisher of the facts of Vermont Baptist history and to his tireless industry in this line we are greatly indebted.
No feature of the history of this Association is more excep- tional or more interesting than the number of long pastorates its churches have enjoyed.
James Mann was pastor of the Somerset church from 1812 till its union with the Dover church in 1829, and for two years after was pastor of the united body, a pastorate of nineteen years.
Jonathan Huntley served the Baptists of Dummerston thirty- two years, from 1802 till his death in 1834. It was during his pastor-
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ate, in 1817, that eighty-seven converts were baptized into the membership of the Dummerston church. When seventy-two mem- bers of the first church in Dummerston withdrew and formed the second church, he was chosen pastor, and in 1827, was permitted to baptize twenty-one converts. As one of the results of this revival, the two Dummerston churches were united, and Mr. Huntley con- tinued to serve them, and in 1830, three years from the time of the union, he had again the joy of leading a revived people and of bap- tizing thirty-seven converts. He died with the harness on, having wrought a good work on the people whom he so long served.
Samuel Fish was pastor at Halifax for fifty years. He was born in Halifax on October 13, 1788; was converted at the age of twenty; preached occasionally in Halifax, Guilford and Leyden, and more frequently in Colerain, till 1820, when he was invited to preach as supply in his native town, where he was ordained pastor in 1822. In the years immediately following his settlement there were one hundred and twelve added to the church by baptism. He continued to preach in Halifax till 1867, when he removed to Guil- ford, where he remained but two years, when he returned to Hali- fax as pastor, and continued to preach for three years, completing fifty years of service there. In his autobiography, written when he was about ninety years of age, he says: "The whole that I baptized into both churches, east and west, was two hundred; I preached, I dare say, four hundred funeral sermons. As I preached three times one-half the Sabbaths, I think for nearly sixty years, I might have delivered eight thousand sermons." His last sermon in his pulpit was from the text: "I pray God that your whole body, soul and spirit, may be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Mr. Fish was twice married and was the father of fifteen chil- dren, eleven of whom lived to maturity, and these, with one excep- tion, were baptized by their father. One of his sons was the late Rev. Henry Clay Fish, long pastor at Newark, New Jersey.
One who knew him says: "Almost reverential was the regard for him which was inspired by beholding him in his later days." He died on the 25th of January, 1883, at the age of ninety-four years.
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James Carpenter was pastor of the Readsboro church twenty years, 1823-1843.
The Dover church was served by Origen Smith as pastor from July 6, 1852, until the close of 1872, making a pastorate of twenty and one-half years. During this pastorate a meeting-house was built and four revivals enjoyed. In one of these there were bap- tisms on ten successive Sundays. Ninety-two were added to the church; sixty-three by baptism. During seven consecutive years, Pastor Smith was absent but one Sunday. He gave to this church the best years of his life, the wisdom, zeal and piety of manhood, the ripe experience of age.
Phineas Howe was ordained pastor of the Pondville church (formerly known as the Marlboro and Newfane church) October 28, 1824, and with the exception of three years (1832-1835), he was pastor till 1842, making a pastorate of fifteen years, during which one hundred and seventy-five were added by baptism. The Pond- ville church numbered one hundred and ninety-five members in 1841. Mr. Howe was born in Fitzwilliam, N. H., in 1792, experi- enced religion at the age of twenty-eight, and in the spring of 1824, began his pastorate at Marlboro and Newfane. His active min- istry covered about a quarter of a century, during which time he baptized three hundred and eight converts. He was faithful in all the duties of his calling, and left a very fragrant memory among his people. Happy the church that can have such a pastor so long.
The Wilmington church was led by Mansfield Bruce as pastor for nearly twenty-four years. He was born in Grafton, Mass., April 11, 1781; was converted at the age of twenty-three; united with the Congregational church in Newton; united with the Marlboro church in 1806; was ordained evangelist in 1809; soon after became pastor of the Marlboro church. He died February 5, 1843, at the age of sixty-two. His pastorate in Wilmington was a very successful one. He was an humble, devoted christian; a sound and earnest preacher. He married one hundred and one couples, baptized four hundred and three persons, and traveled between sixty and seventy thousand miles.
In 1875, at the time when the historical sketch of the Wilming- ton church was written, A. W. Goodnow was completing a pastorate
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of fifteen years. Up to that time, with a history of sixty-nine years, the Wilmington church had had but nine pastors.
Linus Austin served the Whitingham church over nine years, and then Amherst Lamb, in two pastorates gave twenty-one years, the better part of his active ministry to this church. He was a sound preacher and highly respected in the community, having been several times returned to the State Legislature as representa- tive of his town. Mr. Lamb died May 29, 1870, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years.
Horace Fletcher, who died in Townshend, November, 1871, had served that church for twenty-seven years. It has been said of him that his natural and acquired accomplishments entitled him to the reputation of being a "true gentleman of the old school." He was a man of rare mental and moral endowments, and might well be regarded as a model man and minister. Mr. Fletcher was born in Cavendish, in October, 1796; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1817, with highest honors; read law and practiced that profes- sion fifteen years, then turned to the study of theology, and was ordained pastor of the Townshend church in January, 1844, and gave to that church the remnant of his cultured life.
Mark Carpenter is another name worthy of special mention, whose work in this Association was so long as to leave a permanent impression upon it. He was pastor of the Brattleboro church nearly six years; West Dummerston, in two periods, about five years; South Windham, seven years, and Townshend during his declining days. Mr. Carpenter's history is one that may well encourage any young man who has not enjoyed early privileges. He was born in Guilford, September 23, 1802. Before he became of age he had but three months of schooling. On attaining his majority he set about acquiring an education. He was converted at the age of twenty- four, and soon after licensed to preach by the Baptist church in Northampton, Mass. Spent five years in academy and college at Amherst, taking his last year and graduating at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in 1830, and after three years' course in New- ton, began his ministry at Milford, N. H.
He was active in all the enterprises, both of the churches he served and in the Association with which he was identified so long.
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The minutes of 1848 give the following list of pastors and ordained ministers, who have labored with the Windham Associa- tion since 1782 to that year:
Isaiah Stone James Parsons
Ziba Howard
Moses Kenney Asa Hibbard
Nathan Ames
Isaac Kenney
Bela Wilcox Milo Frary
Rufus Freeman Levi Dunham
Leland Huntley
Josiah Goddard
David Cutler
Denzel M. Crane
Maturin Ballou
Stephen Choate
Joseph Freeman
Simeon Combs
Joseph Elliot
Moses Field
Simeon Snow
Eli Ball
Nathan'l Cudworth
Lewis Allyn
Abial Fisher
Edmund H. Smith
Jonathan Wilson
George Witherel
Manoah D. Miller
Nathaniel Bolls
Asahel Wells
E. M. Burnham
Isaac Wellman
Asahel Wood
Caleb Smith
Paul Himes
Nathaniel McCulloch
Samuel Fish
Jonathan Huntley
James Carpenter
Amherst Lamb
John Spaulding
Alden B. Eggelston
Foster Hartwell
Joseph Gambrel
Nehemiah Fisher
Samuel Kingsbury
Linus Austin
Sem Pierce
Joseph C. Foster
Mansfield Bruce
Obed Spery
J. H. Crowley
Daniel H. Grant
Phineas Gowe
Norman Clark
Aaron Burbank
P. B. Fisk
George B. Bliss
Obed Warren
Emerson Andrews
Abner Bemis
Amos Beckwith
CHAPTER XIV
LATER ACCOUNT OF THE CHURCHES IN THE WINDHAM ASSOCIATION
GUILFORD
The four pioneer churches of Guilford were comparatively short-lived, but as leaders among those who sought to take posses- sion of the land for Christ, they hold an honorable position in the history of Vermont Baptists. Jeremiah Packer, during his pastor- ate of nineteen years, received one hundred persons into the First church. Among the number he baptized was Samuel Fish, who be- came a devoted and successful minister of the Gospel. Matthew Bennett was licensed by this church.
The names of some of the members of this early church can be gathered from the list of the delegates to the Leyden Association, to which this church seldom failed to report itself.
These are some of them: Matthew Bennett, John Burrows, Jeremiah Packer, John Noyes, Jabes Franklin, Solomon Williams, Levi Goodenough, Aaron Wilder, Deacon Simeon Barnes, Benja- min Franklin, David Gaines, Paul Green, Isaac Noyes, Samuel Fish, Deacon Solomon Smith, John Everett, Joseph Weatherhead, Isaac Brown, Uriah Thayer, Deacon William Holmes, Jr., Philip Barnes, Cyrus Carpenter.
The Second church attained a membership of ninety-seven in its short history of nineteen years. Whitman Jacobs, pastor, was originally from Thompson, Conn., where he was pastor twenty years. A part of his church, removing to Royalston, Mass., he went with them and was installed pastor of the new church in December, 1770. He was dismissed from there in 1786, and soon after came to Guilford. Simeon Snow succeeded him in 1798. His pastorate was short, as in 1800, this church united with the Third
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church to form a new one. Some of the members of this church were Edward Barney, John B. Carpenter, Berriah Willis, Benjamin Carpenter, Paul Chase and Benjamin Bucklin.
The Third church, organized in 1782, and united with the Second in 1800, gave to the Baptist ministry Rev. Joseph Carpen- ter, who became a successful pastor in Ira.
The Fourth church, organized in 1797, and extinct in 1821, was never large, its largest membership being fifty-two, but it licensed two of its members who were afterward ordained. These were Joseph Packer, and Samuel Fish, Jr. Mr. Fish gave the following estimate of his pastor: "My old pastor, Elder Benjamin Bucklin, was somewhat peculiar. He was a blacksmith and a farmer. He had a good share of common sense and judgment, as well as a good measure of the Spirit of Jesus. He was quite illiterate but acquired a good property. When asked once by a man of considerable note how he preached, he replied, 'I try to persuade the people to do better.' " When the church disbanded he became a member of the United church, and was its pastor in 1821. He died in Guilford, May 3, 1838, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Some of the members of this church were Edward Barney, Joseph Gallop, Noah Shepardson, Isaac Goodspeed, Enos Martin, John Green, Edward Green, Thomas Barber, Joseph Cary, Joel Bolster and Alpheus Clark.
The United church of Guilford, eldest of our churches east of the mountains, had a meeting June 19, 1800, and chose Deacon Bucklin, moderator, and Cyrus Carpenter, clerk. Chose Deacon Bucklin, Jacob Stoddard, Samuel Nichols and Paul Chase to serve as deacons. Took into consideration some things relative to sing- ing, and voted to sing the old way, viz., by lining. The next year they voted to sing without lining. Lewis Allen succeeded Elder Snow as pastor and was ordained in 1806, continuing pastor till 1816, when he was followed by Jonathan Wilson, who served until 1821. During Elder Wilson's ministry a powerful revival was en- joyed and about fifty were added to the church, two of whom be- came ministers, namely, Amherst Lamb and Ira Stoddard. Ira Stoddard removed to the State of New York where he was ordained and preached to a Baptist church in Eden in 1830, and afterward
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removed to Jamestown. Amherst Lamb was ordained by this church as an evangelist on November 28, 1821, became its pastor, and served six years. Asa Hibbard was pastor in 1827. Beginning in April, 1828, Mansfield Bruce and Benjamin Bucklin preached alternately for several years, and their united ministry was blessed; the church grew in numbers and strength. In 1830, it numbered one hundred and twenty-seven members. A succession of short pastorates followed :
Joseph Gambell, 1832; Daniel Grant, 1833; Mansfield Bruce again, 1834; Alden B. Eggleston, 1835, two years; A. Burbank, 1837, one year; James Parsons, 1838; Milo Frary, 1840, two years; E. H. Smith, 1842, six years; Geo. B. Bills, 1848; S. S. Kingsley, 1849, three years; H. Archibald, 1852, three years; John Hunt, 1855; Joseph Mitchell, 1856, two years; J. P. Huntington, 1859, two years; George Carpenter, 1861, two and a half years; Jonas Bennett, 1863.
During the first sixty-six years of its life, this church had twenty-one pastors, three of whom were ordained by itself, besides one of its number, Nathan G. Collins, who was ordained an evan- gelist, August 27, 1840. In 1818, the church erected a meeting- house at a cost of $1200.00. In 1844, it secured a parsonage.
During the thirty years from 1860 to 1890, the church main- tained a membership of between sixty and seventy members, oc- casionally attaining a higher figure. The policy or necessity of brief pastorates was broken in 1873, when Origen Smith began a term of about six years, followed by C. S. Sherman for a term of more than ten years. Since 1895, short pastorates have been again the rule. G. F. Beecher, 1895-1896; L. H. Morse, 1899-1902; J. E. Irving, 1903; James Jones, 1904-1906; Thomas Sparks, 1907; N. F. Powell, 1909; E. Hatfield, 1910. During this period the membership dropped below thirty, but recent ingatherings have raised it to sixty in 1911.
HALIFAX
Following the close of Elder Hall's pastorate, the church was supplied by Asa Jacobs, beloved of all and very successful. In 1814,
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Paul Himes, a zealous and devoted minister, became pastor, and served seven years. He left the church and society badly divided. In 1821, Elder Samuel Fish took charge and brought the church into harmony. A work of grace soon began in which more than fifty put on Christ by baptism. In 1842, there came another refreshing and continued nearly two years. Father Fish's pastorate continued thirty years, during which time he had the entire confidence of the people. Up to 1853, few country churches have been equally blest. Then came an unfortunate controversy in relation to the location of a new house of worship. This resulted in the division of the church and the building of two meeting-houses. After the division, the church proper located its meeting-house in the west part of the town, and was known as the West Halifax church, while the other branch was called the Halifax Center church. William N. Fay was called to the pastorate of the West church. He was succeeded in 1853, by G. O. Atkinson and S. A. Blake in 1862. Samuel Fish was pastor of the Center church with brief interruption until 1873, when Horace Fowler began supplying both churches. This plan continued for the most of the time till 1885, when a union of the two churches was accomplished, and though meetings continued to be held in both meeting-houses, there was no division, both bodies co- operating as one. While separated, the branches were of about equal strength, the membership of each beginning at about sixty members and waning to about twenty.
Since the union was accomplished the church has prospered under the ministry of A. W. Goodnow, 1887-1822; A. A. Smith, 1893-1897; S. J. Smith, 1898-1901; J. E. Berry, 1902-1905; W. J. Vile, 1905-1907; W. M. Hitchcock, 1908. The membership last reported was thirty-six.
BROOKLINE
For several years after its organization the Brookline church had no settled pastor. From time to time some brother was invited to improve his gifts and conduct public services. June 2, 1802, Amos Beckwith was ordained pastor, and Lemuel Blandin and John Blandin, deacons. The church having no house of worship, these
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ordaining services were held in Josiah Taft's new barn; the record says: "with decency, order and great solemnity." Mr. Beckwith's pastorate was short, not exceeding a year and a half. Isaac Well- man was the next pastor to be ordained. November 3, 1908. His pastorate was twelve years; his salary ranged from forty to seventy- five dollars. His other source of income was a farm of eighty acres, which he owned and cultivated. Two revivals occurred under his administration, one in 1810, when forty were added by baptism, and the other in 1817, of about the same extent. About 1822 there was, in Windham County, quite an extensive reaction against the ex- treme Calvinistic doctrines in favor of the sentiments of the Free Baptists, and Isaac Wellman renounced restricted communion, and was welcomed by the Free Baptists. A council was called and denominational and church fellowship withdrawn from Mr. Well- man. This action was due solely to the church's devotion to its principles, for they loved their pastor very much. Two years later Mr. Wellman returned, renounced open communion, confessed his error, and was fully restored by the church.
David Cutler was ordained pastor, August 25, 1827, and his pastorate was a harvest of souls. At last, however, a grievous trial grew out of the sale of a horse by Jesse Gray to Elder Cutler, that threatened the destruction of the church, but by the aid of a coun- cil, harmony was restored. In 1827, the churches of East and North Townshend were formed, and about seventy members of the Brook- line church were dismissed by letter for this purpose, reducing its membership nearly one-half. Denzel Crane was ordained in Janu- ary, 1837, and on the same day the new meeting-house was dedi- cated. A tragic incident occurred during the erection of this meet- ing-house. At the raising of the belfry, the wall being brick, the west bent of the belfry was raised and stayed, and as the men com- menced to lift the second bent, the supporters of the work gave way, and precipitated forty men a distance of nearly twenty feet below, among the fallen timbers and boards. The jar of the falling tim- bers loosened the stay of the bent that was raised, and that started downward, too, but seemingly by the hand of Providence, it was stopped by a projecting brick. Had this fallen upon the heads of the men below, many would have been killed. As it was, six men were seriously injured.
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In the spring of 1841, Samuel Kingsbury, Jr., of Windham, was called to the pastorate. A revival followed and thirty-one were baptized. Mr. Kingsbury continued pastor till the spring of 1849. In the autumn of the same year, this devoted servant of God, his wife and three children, all died within two weeks. In Mr. Kings- bury's pastorate, the church attained its highest membership, one hundred and ten.
During the next decade, Rufus Smith and C. B. Smith were the only pastors. C. B. Smith, then principal of Leland and Gray academy, was ordained February, 1855, and during his service nineteen were added and the Sunday school was specially prosper- ous. In the next decade, J. P. Huntington and Sem Pierce had very brief terms of service, and C. Farrar one of about seven years. Twenty-two were received to membership under his ministry, and the house of worship greatly improved, largely through the efficiency of Mrs. Elizabeth Farrar. Up to 1871, about five hundred different members had belonged to this church. Meanwhile, there had been constant drain upon it by deaths and removals, the number dis- missed by letter largely exceeding those received in that manner. Sometimes for years together the church was pastorless, but still maintained its discipline and observed the ordinances, and though called to pass through severe trials, maintained its steadfastness. The roll of pastors since 1871, when the historical sketch was pub- lished in the minutes, is as follows: W. A. A. Millerd, J. D. Dono- van, C. D. Fuller, C. Farrar, I. D. Burwell, H. V. Baker, Alvin Parker, O. J. Taylor, I. M. Compton, Geo. H. Nickerson, W. Brew- ster, G. H. Chambers, W. C. Sunbury, C. E. Child, H. S. Metcalf, H. S. McHale. Resident membership in 1912, nineteen.
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