USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 23
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The first Baptist minister, who preached statedly in Ludlow, was Benjamin Pierce, a licentiate member of the Cavendish church. His successors were Jonathan Going, Thomas Starkweather, Reuel Lathrop and Ariel Kendrick. Rev. Joseph Freeman was the first minister to serve the church after its organization. He resided in Proctorsville, and preached alternately to the churches in Caven- dish and Ludlow, each church paying one hundred and sixty-five dollars annually, and sharing equally in the cost of keeping his horse. He remained till the autumn of 1827, when he entered upon a course of study at Newton Theological Institution. Dur- ing the year, 1826, he baptized sixty persons. In 1828, he returned to the work again in this field. Rev. Elias Hurlbut succeeded Mr. Freeman and remained two years, the first minister to reside in town, and first to preach all the time. In 1834, Rev. J. M. Graves became pastor, and preached till the formation of the Second church in 1835, baptizing twenty-one and adding thirteen by letter. Later, Rev. A. Allen, of Stockbridge, Vt., preached part of the time to the First church, and their records continue for a little more than two years, until September, 1837, when it lost its visible connection with the Woodstock Association, and became extinct. During the twelve years of its existence it received about two hundred and twenty-five to membership, one hundred and forty- three by baptism. Three of their number, Frederick Page, Horace Wilcox, and Atwell Graves, were approved of the church as having personal qualifications for the ministry.
June 30, 1835, by the aid of a council, a Second Baptist church was organized in Ludlow. Rev. J. M. Graves transferred his relation from the First church to the Second, and became its pastor.
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Jesse Bailey, having made like transfer, became clerk. Janna Wilcox, Moses Dodge, and Asa Fletcher were elected deacons. On the twenty-first of September, 1838, after the First church ceased to be recognized by the Association, the second Church took the name of the Baptist church in Ludlow, simply.
According to the written and verbal testimony of this church, the principal cause of the division was the subject of temperance. For some time the members of the First church had been about equally divided on this question. Some favored the organization of temperance societies, and some did not. Some justified the use of alcoholic liquors, and others did not, and the discussions were not always consonant with the spirit of christianity. The difficul- ties assumed large proportions; the power of discipline was, in a large measure, lost, and the work of the church was finally paralyzed. Accordingly, it was thought best by the temperance party, either to dissolve the church, or ask for letters of dismission. In a meeting the twenty-seventh of June, 1835, the vote to dissolve was lost, and Parker Pettigrew, son of Deacon Andrew Pettigrew, moved for letters of dismission without recommendation. This was carried, and the clerk was instructed to give the same to all who would apply within a week. The same day, June 27, a meeting was held by those who withdrew, and was organized by the choice of Rev. J. M. Graves, moderator, and Dr. A. G. Taylor, clerk. After due consideration they voted to organize another church, and were also in favor of calling a council of delegates for the purpose of deciding upon the propriety of the same. The council assembled with the result as already stated. Seventy-eight members seceded and formed a new church, and in the covenant for their adoption they inserted an additional clause, viz., "We engage to use no ardent spirits except for medicinal purposes." Rev. J. M. Graves served as pastor about one year, when he was dismissed at his own request. He was succeeded by Rev. D. H. Ranney, who served one year. Rev. William Upham, preceptor of the Academy, was his successor till May, 1838, when Rev. J. M. Graves became its pastor the second time, remaining till October, 1840. Up to this date, sixty-five had been baptized into the fellowship of the new church, and thirty-eight received by letter, most of whom united
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during the pastorate of Mr. Graves. In 1840, a meeting-house was built.
In March, 1841, Rev. Baxter Burrows began a pastorate of seven years, in which he baptized fifty-eight and received thirty-five by letter. In April, 1849, Rev. N. Cudworth became pastor, and served till ill health compelled his resignation, August, 1852. He was a man of excellent spirit, a faithful pastor in whom the flock could place confidence. In May, 1853, Rev. Ira Pierson com- menced his ministry among this people, serving nineteen years. He baptized eighty-nine, and welcomed to the church seventy-six by letter, a total of one hundred and sixty-five. The benevolent contributions during this time was $3718.21, of which the pastor paid nearly one-tenth. The church edifice was repaired and reno- vated in 1869, at a cost of $1828. Brother Pierson walked among his people as a man of God, an able preacher, a wise counsellor, a fatherly pastor, a beloved citizen. He, therefore, greatly endeared himself to the church and the people of Ludlow. In his eighty-first year he resigned his charge and removed to New- port, N. H. Long will the "Old Pastor" be remembered by a grateful and loving people.
During the period thus far covered, three members of the church had been approved as having qualifications suitable for the ministry, Samuel Johnson, Albert B. Putnam and Moses Burbank. In June, 1872, Rev. J. P. Farrar commenced a five years' pastorate. Mr. Farrar prepared the historical sketch, printed in the minutes of 1878, from which the foregoing items have been taken. A remarkable awakening occurred in 1875. Gospel meetings were held in February, and many were converted. Union meetings were held every evening for several weeks. Rev. E. A. Whittier and wife assisted ten days in April. One hundred gave evidence of conversion. July 2, 3, and 4, a Gospel celebration was held in a tent, assisted by brethren from Massachusetts. People came to it from far and near, and thus spread the revival influences. Rev. Ira Pierson visited his old field, and assisted the pastor in giving the hand of fellowship to thirty-one new members, twenty-seven of whom had been baptized the same day. During the associa- tional year, forty-six were baptized, seven received by letter and
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eight by experience, sixty-one total. The membership reached the number two hundred and twenty-three. Deacon Ora J. Taylor received license to preach the following year, and was or- dained in 1878.
Rev. J. A. Johnson was next pastor, 1878-1880, and was followed by Rev. J. B. Child, 1882-1883, and Rev. R. L. Olds, 1884-1889. The second year of this pastorate was marked by an- other ingathering. Union services were held, conducted by resident pastors, and during that associational year, twenty-six were bap- tized, seven received by letter, and three by experience. Rev. D. D. Owen began a pastorate of about eight years, in 1891. That year the Society and the "Meeting House Society" were abolished, and the church incorporated. The next year a new church edifice was in process of erection, and a lot purchased for a parsonage. Pastor Owen's work was of high character, and the missionary interest in the church received a special impetus. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. H. E. Thayer, who served from 1899 to 1904, with a cultured, edifying, fruitful ministry. Rev. E. L. Bayliss followed, 1905-1910, under whose ministry the church continued to prosper, attaining a membership of two hundred and twenty-eight. In 1911, Rev. J. H. Thompson took up the work as pastor.
FELCHVILLE
Organized June 24, 1835. Brethren, Silas Brown, Samuel R. Kendall, Thomas Kendall, Oliver F. Shattuck, Samuel Williams, John Kile. Sisters, Roxanna Bowen, Mehitabel Bowen, Betsey Kendall, Susan Shattuck, Louise Adams, Lucinda Poturine, Grace Stearns, Mary Ward, Lucy Williams, Elizabeth Streeter, Lucinda Salisbury, Calista Tarbell, Susannah Densmore, Mariah Streeter, Flavilla Stearns. Rev. David Burrows supplied the church one- half the time during the year, 1836. Charles Farrar was ordained pastor January 15, 1839, and served till 1842. For a number of years the changes in the pastorates were frequent and the terms short. W. M. Guilford, 1843; A. H. Houes, 1844-1845; E. Page, 1848; I. Sherwin, 1850; R. P. Amsden, 1852-1853; C. L. Frost, 1855; J. Freeman, 1857; B. Burrows, 1858-1859; J. Freeman, 1860;
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R. G. Johnson, 1862-1865. C. H. Richardson, 1865-1870, Joseph Small, 1871-1872; George H. Parker, October 6, 1872-July 15, 1877; Joseph Small again, 1877 till 1880. Death terminated this pastorate under impressive circumstances. He was taken sudden- ly ill while preaching the annual sermon at Londonderry, before the Association, and lived only an hour. Rev. Albert Heald was pastor from September 3, 1881, to June 3, 1894. Rev. E. A. Whittier and wife assisted him in a series of meetings in 1882, sixteen days, and twenty were converted. Rev. Henry Clay Searles assisted in 1890, and eleven were converted and baptized August 17, 1890. Mrs. Nancy Amsden, who was over one hundred years of age, attended a meeting of the church and made some pertinent remarks. She died January 17, 1891, aged one hundred and one years, five months and twenty-seven days. Mr. Searles led in another series of meetings in October, 1890, and eight were received by baptism. In 1892, a license was granted to Daniel W. Lyman. F. L. Hopkins was pastor from 1894 to 1898; Thomas Tellier, 1899-1902; P. M. Bauknight, 1902; George Pomfrey, 1904- 1907; W. E. Baker, 1908-1912.
April 30, 1842, Mary R. Robinson devised the income of all her property for the support of Baptist preaching in Reading, under the direction of the State Convention. Louise Stearns died Janu- ary 10, 1893, and her will provided two hundred and fifty dollars, the income of which was to be used for repairs on the parsonage, and the residue of her estate, under trustees duly appointed, for the sup- port of Baptist preaching, so long as a Baptist church existed in Felchville, the State Convention to receive the bequest in case the church became extinct. Removals and deaths have depleted the church till from fifty-nine members in 1899, it has been reduced to nine members in 1912.
PERKINSVILLE
The Perkinsville church is an offshoot of the church in North Springfield, and was organized and recognized by a council, called by the mother church, May 27, 1835. Bana Bigelow was appointed deacon, J. M. Aldrich, clerk. David Burrows was first pastor,
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dividing his time between this church and the one at Felchville. The State Convention has fostered both churches. Twenty-one united with the church by baptism, and eleven by letter, before the close of Mr. Burrows' pastorate in 1837. Rev. William Guilford removed from Waitsfield to Perkinsville in the fall of 1837, and was pastor till November, 1839. During this time twenty-seven were baptized and nine received by letter. June 24, 1841, Theodore H. Lunt was ordained pastor, and served one year. Seventeen were received by letter, none by baptism. Rev. Mr. Guilford was invited to return, and he remained four years. A part of this time, Mr. Guilford was principal of the Perkinsville Academy. Rev. F. Page and Rev. Luke Sherwin each served two years as pastor. Then C. H. Frost was ordained November 18, 1852, and served till January 27, 1856. Joseph Freeman then supplied for one year, and baptized twenty-two converts, and received five by letter. Charles Frost returned for a second pastorate, February, 1857, to February, 1860, and was followed by Rev. N. Cudworth, who re- mained eleven years, February, 1860, to August, 1871. Twenty- two were added by baptism and twenty-seven by letter. William Rugg began a pastorate in 1873, which continued until 1881.
This church has had the happy faculty of obtaining and keeping good pastors. Within the last forty years it has had but five pastors, viz: William Rugg, 1873-1881; W. H. Stewart, 1884- 1885; H. M. Hopkinson, 1887-1898; O. C. Winestock, 1899-1905; A. J. Hopkins, 1906. The territory from which the church draws its resident members is not thiekly populated, and there is a Metho- dist church in the same field. It has been exceptionally free from occasions for discipline, and has maintained a good degree of har- mony. It has been able not only to maintain its numerical strength, but with all the losses has been able to make advance, attaining its maximum number of one hundred and seven during the efficient pastorate of Rev. O. C. Winestock in 1903. Its membership in 1911 was ninety-eight.
BELLOWS FALLS
In 1854, a large couneil from neighboring churches was called in Bellows Falls, to advise with reference to organizing a Baptist
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church in that growing village. That council finding but twelve persons, who were prepared with letters, to unite with the church, adjourned to a future day without taking any further action than to recommend the organization of a church, provided about thirty persons could be found ready to unite with it. The council met according to adjournment, and a church of thirty-four members was recognized April 4. Rev. Ahira Jones, agent of the State Convention, supplied them with preaching from that time till June. Rev. N. B. Jones became first pastor, February, 1855, and resigned after about a year's service. Having no meeting-house, services were held for a time in the hall connected with the Island House. S. F. Brown, then a student at New Hampton Institution, began supplying the church in May, and was ordained pastor the follow- ing September. Mr. Brown patiently labored under the difficul- ties attending a new enterprise, until March, 1863. Under his leadership a meeting-house was erected and completed in 1862, and the prospects of the church greatly improved. For the next two years the church was unable to secure a pastor, and was de- pendent upon supplies. Rev. N. Pieree was employed in 1866, but shortly after resigned. C. F. Nichols served a few months in 1869.
In 1870, J. R. Haskins became pastor, holding the position till 1877. This was a period of encouraging development. The congregations increased in numbers, accessions out-numbering losses brought the membership from fifty-nine to seventy-eight.
In 1872, after fifteen years of dependence upon the State Convention, which had been liberal in its appropriations, it became self-sustaining. Friends in Brattleboro met a great need by build- ing for the church a parsonage. The ladies bought a bell and painted the meeting-house. In temporal and spiritual lines there was progress. Rev. E. A. Herring held the pastorate in 1878 and 1879, and was succeeded by Rev. S. H. Emery, who, during a five years' term, baptized forty and welcomed twenty-seven by letter. The membership increased to one hundred and nineteen in 1882. Edward Green was chosen pastor, after the resignation of Mr. Emery in 1884, but changing his theological views, resigned after a very short stay, and N. W. Alger became pastor, beginning his work
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in 1885, and closing it in 1889. Illustrative of the fluctuations in a manufacturing town, in 1887, there were twenty-seven additions by letter, and in 1890, twenty were dismissed by letter. In 1890, Rev. C. R. B. Dodge began a pastorate which continued nearly twelve years, during which time the church made steady and substantial growth, and fulfilled its beneficent mission in the com- munity. Mr. Dodge, with remarkable administrative and pas- toral ability, shepherded his flock and gave the church a position of influence in the town and State. In Sunday school work and missionary effort, the church was specially interested. The meet- ing-house was remodelled and enlarged, and greatly improved. Forty-one were baptized and eighty-two received by letter, bring- ing the membership to one hundred and sixty-two.
Rev. C. W. Jackson was next pastor, 1902-1906, under whose ministry the church continued to grow and exert its in- fluence. In 1905, a house to house ministry, with the assistance of Miss Grace Brooks, was blessed, and twenty were baptized that year. Rev. J. W. Moore, whose work began in 1907, has been permitted to welcome upward of thirty by baptism and about the same number by letter. The dismissions by letter have been a good many. In 1909, membership had reached within six of the two hundred mark. Present number, one hundred and eighty-six (1912).
EAST WALLINGFORD
The beginnings of the East Wallingford church appears in recent minutes to date from 1861, but it really dates as far back as 1830, when the Mount Holly church dismissed forty-three of its members to constitute a church under the name of the Second Wallingford church. This new church united with the Wood- stock Association the following year, with Artemas Arnold, as pastor, Oliver Allen and Isham White, deacons, and a membership of fifty-five. It appears to have had early trials, but by its aggres- sive evangelistie efforts it won fifteen to Christ in 1832, and twenty- one in 1833, who united with the church by baptism. H. F. Dean became pastor in 1833, serving three years. S. B. Thompson was
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ordained pastor in 1837, serving two years. During the decade from 1840 to 1850, the pulpit seems to have been somewhat irregu- larly supplied by J. Sanders, and failed to report regularly to the Association.
In 1852, it secured the pastoral service of Elder Daniel Packer, pastor of the mother church, and an ingathering of upward of thirty soon followed as the result of special effort, aided by William Grant, in a five weeks' series of meetings.
Elder Packer continued to shepherd the flock until 1857, when A. A. Constantine was chosen pastor. It became evident at that time that the permanence and influence of the church de- pended upon having a meeting-house in a more central location, and the enterprise was undertaken, resulting in the completion of the present East Wallingford meeting-house near the railroad station in East Wallingford.
When the change of location was made, the Second Baptist Church of Wallingford was considered dissolved, and a new church, but practically the old church in a new meeting-house, was or- ganized under the name of the East Wallingford Baptist Church. It was then, and still continues to be, the only church in that village. Concerning its history little can be given more than the succession of pastors, which is as follows:
J. P. Farrar, 1861-1862; C. P. Frenyear, 1863; C. Coon, 1865- 1866; E. P. Merrifield, 1866-1867; J. Fletcher, 1869; J. P. Farrar, 1870-1871; E. A. Wood, 1872; S. Wright, 1873; H. C. Robbins, 1875; A. S. Chick, 1876-1878; I. P. Kellogg, 1881; T. H. Archibald, 1882-1883; W. S. Patterson, 1884-1888; R. B. Tozer, 1890-1892; Geo. S. Wrigley, 1892-1893; S. H. Meyers, 1895; F. T. Kenyon, 1896-1897; A. S. Chick, 1898-1901; Charles Parker, 1902; Lyman H. Morse, 1903-1905; R. A. Burrows, 1906; I. M. Compton, 1907- 1909; Frederick Emerson, 1910-1911; George Buck, 1912.
Present Membership (1912), thirty-five.
WESTON
On the twenty-eighth of November, 1815, the Baptist church in Londonderry, Vt., dismissed its pastor, Rev. Gershom Lane, and five members, to unite with other members of the churches in
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Andover and Mount Holly in organizing a Baptist church in Weston. On the same date a church was there organized by advice of a council, of which Elder Joel Manning was moderator, and Samuel Manning, clerk. The names of the constituent members were Elder Gershom Lane, Deacon Henry Hall, Timothy Watts, Abigail Hall, John Wait, Dolly Wait, Elizabeth Watts, Parker Shattuck, Sarah Shattuck, Betsey Wait, Abigail Negus, Lucy Brown, Nancy Holt, Betsy Richardson, Sally Lund, Augustus Pease, Patty Pease, Sarah Goss, Jacob Foster, Hannah Foster, Anna Stertin, Sally Davis, Phoebe Pierce, John Brown, Samuel Stertin, Abiel Gray, Ebenezer Farnsworth, David Stertin, William Stertin, Martha Farnsworth, Keyes Hall, Mary Gray, Joel Chand- ler, Lucy B. Chandler, Sarah Lawrimer, Polly Windship, Prudence Pease and Jonathan Tenney.
Elder Lane continued pastor six years, and the church re- ceived additions increasing its membership to forty-eight. For the next nine years the church was without pastor, but reported to the Association a membership of upward of fifty. In 1831, Friend Blood became pastor, and began the harvest that was so abundant in this region, baptizing thirteen and receiving four by letter.
In the next two years, 1832-1833, Rev. M. L. Fuller, as pastor, witnessed the climax of that ingathering, and baptized thirty-one and received seven by letter, carrying the membership to one hundred and three. He was followed by Joseph Parker, two years. In 1836, Samuel Pollard was ordained, and for seven years served the church during what appears to have been the period of most rapid continued growth and prosperity in the history of the church. Substantial accessions were made annually by baptism and letter, and notwithstanding losses by death and removal, the membership reached its maximum number, one hundred and forty-six. In 1836, the church resolved itself into a Benevolent Society for the circulation of the Bible among the destitute, and for other bene- volent purposes. In 1838, a meeting-house was erected and dedi- cated, Elder R. M. Ely, preaching the sermon, and Elder D. Packer offering the dedication prayer. Rev. G. S. Stockwell preached in 1844, and was followed by Rev. Rufus Smith, who continued in
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office about five years. In 1847, the church made special effort in evangelism, calling to its help a Mr. Kingsley, of New York, and the result was accession of twenty-two by baptism and nine by letter.
Rev. L. Chickering was pastor two years, 1851-1852, then followed two years of discouragement without pastoral care, then four bright years under the pastoral care of Rev. I. H. Wood. In 1858, sixteen were baptized. The membership was then one hundred and six.
C. J. Rugg, a licentiate, preached in 1859. Rev. T. B. East- man was pastor during the years, 1861-1865. This was the dark period of the Civil war, when all our churches were in mourning for the fallen. Many from this church and congregation entered the Union army. In 1866, Rev. L. Kinney was minister, and the following year, assisted by Evangelist Swain and others, the church had another season of refreshing. The succession of pastors con- tinued as follows, L. Kinney, 1868; C. Brooks, 1869; L. Chicker- ing, 1871; C, Blaisdell, 1872-1873; J. Munroe, 1875; L. Kinney, 1876-1879; I. P. Kellogg, 1882 -- 1883. During the years, 1884- 1890, the church was pastorless, a season of discouragement and depression. Then came Rev. H. C. Searles with encouraging voice and energetic effort and under his short pastorate of one year, twenty-eight were added by baptism and thirteen by letter. Rev. George E. Boynton followed with a five years' pastorate. The church began a decline which became the more manifest in 1898, when thirty-one were dropped from the roll for various reasons, and the reported membership was fifty. Rev. J. R. Conrad served 1898-1899; I. P. Farrar, 1900; H. C. Searles, 1901-1902; Chas. W. Safford, 1904-1906; R. H. Tibbals, 1907; W. H. Bishop, 1908-1910; E. B. Russell, 1911, ordained by the church in Septent- ber. In the village of Weston there are two other churches, a Congregational and a Methodist. The Baptist church has owed the continuance of its life for a number of years to the watch care of the State Convention, under its energetic Secretary, W. A. Davison. Its difficulties have at times seemed almost insur- mountable, but its existence has appeared of no small value. For years it has been a feeder of other neighboring Baptist churches,
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and a means of grace to the community. With the coming of Pastor Russell it has put on strength and beauty. It has thorough- ly renovated and beautified its house of worship, secured the use of a parsonage, reorganized its societies, and entered upon work along new lines with very promising prospects. Mr. Russell shep- herds the Andover people also, and the relation between the two churches is close and friendly.
CHAPTER XVII.
BARRE ASSOCIATION, NOW KNOWN AS THE VERMONT CENTRAL ASSOCIATION
The Barre Association was organized in 1807, and received its name according to the usual custom from the place where it was organized. The earliest records accessible are the minutes of 1810. It then consisted of the churches in Calais, of about twenty-eight members; Williamstown, membership not reported; Barre, thirty- four; Chelsea and Tunbridge, thirty-nine, Elder Samuel Hovey, father of Alvah Hovey, D. D .; Randolph, thirty-one; Braintree, forty-four, Elder E. Huntington; Topsham, forty-seven; Royal- ton, fourteen; Warren, fifteen; Hanover, N. H., one hundred and seventeen; Lyme, N. H., thirty-eight.
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