USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 26
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VERSHIRE
The Vershire church was organized September 6, 1852. John Kyle was its first pastor. Samuel Maltby, the first deacon. The growth of the church was slow for a number of years, but in the winter of 1866 and 1867, there was a revival and in the spring following, thirteen were received upon profession of their faith. At this time the society entirely rebuilt their house of worship, expending nearly fifteen hundred dollars. In 1867, a commodious parsonage was finished. The pastor's salary at this time was four hundred dollars, wood and parsonage. Rev. J. K. Chase was pastor. Subsequent pastors were S. S. White, 1871-1875; E. P. Merrifield, 1875-1877; G. F. Pay, 1878-1879; H. C. Robbins, 1880-1882; L. B. Steele, 1883-1885; J. W. Merrill, 1886. The prospect for this church about 1870, was that it might become one of the most flourishing Baptist churches in the State.
But shortly after, a decline began from which there was no rallying and the church became extinct about 1888.
Mr. Kinzie, in his account of the church in 1907, says: "The church building is still Baptist property, but is being used by the Congregationalists. There is no one left to transfer the title."
THETFORD
There is some doubt how many Baptist church organizations there have been in this town. A church was formed there in 1783. In 1791, it was a member of the Woodstock Association with thirteen members. Nine years later it had fifteen members.
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This church seems to have united with the Baptists, living in the town of Fairlee, to form the Thetford and Fairlee church. This organization was affected at various times before it became somewhat permanent, in 1792, 1799, and 1808. It continued under this name until 1841, when its territory is again enlarged and it became the Thetford, Fairlee and Vershire church. In 1852, it is called the Post Mills church. This name holds till 1856; then called the Post Mills and Vershire, and later becomes the Thetford and Fairlee church. It did not change its name again, but continued to grow feeble until its death in 1880. The largest membership was in 1835 and 1836, when it was one hundred and six. Among the early ministers of this church were Simon Spaulding, Timothy Spaulding, Perkins Huntington and Artemas Arnold.
UNION VILLAGE (THETFORD)
The Union Village church was organized in 1837, and came into the Association with twenty-three members. It reached its highest strength the next year, when it reported twenty-eight members. After this it loses strength, till it disappears from the list of churches in 1847.
CHAPTER XVIII
CALEDONIA AND ORLEANS COUNTIES DANVILLE ASSOCIATION
The district included in the Danville Association was at an early period distinctly missionary ground. It was the Macedonia of Vermont, and continued so for many years. The lure of these destitute places drew to them the missionaries of the Maine Bap- tist Missionary Society and of the Massachusetts Baptist Mission- ary Society, and the evangelistic pastors of the abler Vermont Associations. These itinerated from village to village, holding meetings on the Lord's Days and as often as possible in the inter- vals between, baptizing converts, organizing churches and caring for them with commendable zeal.
The first church organized was the Danville, in 1792, and from this point missionary tours often began. Its early history was marred by the immorality of its first pastor, Isaac Root, and its growth retarded by dissensions among its members. It had, however, its hospitable and devoted members, among them certain notable women, filled with missionary ardor. One of these was Sally Fisher, secretary of a Mite Society, concerning which, she wrote to the president of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society in 1808. "A few female members of the Baptist church in this town, in July, 1808, agreed to form into a society for religious purposes. The objects of our meetings were to converse on the things of religion, and to comfort and strengthen each other, while surrounded with adversaries and beset with the temptations of this alluring world. And also to pray that God would continue to extend the conquests of his sovereign grace and bring in his elect from the rude mass of mankind. That he would bless the ex-
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ertions of his people, who are endeavoring to spread that religion, which inculcates peace and humility and self-denial, until its be- nign influence may be felt by all the human race. A further ob- ject of our meeting was to contribute our mite toward the accom- plishment of this infinitely important end." Their contribution that year was $8.28 out of poverty.
The Second church was organized in Hardwick, in 1795, a short-lived body, extinct in 1801. Amos Tuttle was its only pastor. In the decade, 1800-1810, five churches were organized, Burke, 1801, Derby Hicks, pastor; Waterford, 1802; Craftsbury, 1804, Samuel Churchill, pastor; Derby, 1807, Samuel Smith, pastor; Coventry, 1809, John Ide, pastor.
Other early churches were Troy, 1818; Greensboro, 1819; Irasburg, 1816; Newport, 1817.
Probably no man was more influential among these early churches than Elder Silas Davison. He was born in Pomfret, Ct., November 14, 1768, came into Vermont in 1779, united with the Baptist church in Hartland, Vt., 1795. In 1798, he removed to Waterford, and while there, as a licentiate, he gathered a small church there, most of whose members later joined the church in Passumpsic, of which Mr. Davison became pastor, continuing such for nineteen years. He was an excellent pastor. Three of his sons entered the ministry, though but one of them lived to be ordained. These were Prosper, Preserved, and Silas Davison, Jr., all young men of promise, and all going in youth almost at the commencement of their ministry.
DANVILLE ASSOCIATION
The nucleus of the Danville Association consisted of five churches, viz .: Littleton and Lancaster in New Hampshire, Crafts- bury, Concord and Coventry in Vermont. Thèse organized as an Association in December, 1809. Although the Association was formed in Danville and took its name from that place, the Dan- ville church did not unite with it till 1812; Bethlehem, N. H. and St. Johnsbury, Vt., uniting the same year. Five years later Derby, Lunenburg and Irasburg were on the list. In 1824,
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the Association included churches in Greensboro, Newport, Mont- gomery, Lyndon and Burke, and the Canadian churches, Troy and Potton, Eaton, Hadley and Stanstead,-sixteen churches and five hundred and fifty-five members. In 1842, the Association numbered twenty-one churches, eleven hundred and twenty-seven members. By this time, churches had been formed in Morris- town, Charleston, Albany, Hardwick, Sutton and Wheelock, Bolton, Barford, Clifton, Compton and Sutton. Ten years later there were ten churches and four hundred and twenty-eight mem- bers, all in Vermont.
In 1868, Canadian churches had again united and there were seventeen churches and nine hundred and three members. The highest membership was reached in 1881, thirteen hundred and seventeen members and twenty-one churches. During the last two decades, owing to the withdrawal of the Canadian churches, the Association has numbered but ten churches and about seven hundred members. Since 1906, there has been marked gain; the total membership in 1910, being two hundred and twenty-two.
The most recent church accessions are the Jay church, 1883, an outgrowth of the North Troy church, Norton, 1907, West Derby, 1908.
Until February, 1907, the Baptists in Norton were members of the Baptist church in Dixville, Canada, and a convenient house of worship and church home was erected for them as early as 1896. W. J. Gregory, pastor of the Dixville church, supplied them until Rev. A. E. St. Dalmas came to them in October, 1904, and gave them faithful service. In January, 1907, Rev. N. T. Hafer, Vermont State Evangelist, came to them and assisted St. Dalmas in a series of meetings, which resulted in the quiekening of chris- tians and the conversion of some souls. Six were baptized at the close of the meetings and an independent church organization formed in February, and recognized in March.
The West Derby church changed from a Free Baptist to Regu- lar Baptist in 1908. After a most helpful supply by Rev. H. A. Buzzell, of Battle Creek, Michigan, Rev. J. T. Buzzell became pastor and soon three new members were received by baptism and twenty-four by letter and experience.
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Comparatively few years have been marked by general revival influences. In 1817, when the Association numbered but seven churches, one hundred and twenty-four were added by baptism, and seventeen by letter; the total membership of the Association being doubled. The Coventry church received forty-nine by baptism and the St. Johnsbury, forty-two. In 1825, one hundred and twenty-one were added to the eighteen churches.
The years, 1831 to 1835, inclusive, were fruitful, during which time eight hundred and twenty-seven were received by baptism. In the years, 1840 to 1844, inclusive, four hundred and ninety-six baptisms were reported. From that time, until 1876, the acces- sions were small; one hundred and seventeen were received then and one hundred and nineteen the year following.
The principal work of the Association has been to foster the interests of the churches within its bounds. It has, however, not been unmindful of the wider work of the kingdom and, in harmony with the other Associations, it has given of its substance for the general missionary societies, and exerted its influence in favor of moral reforms, denouncing human slavery, commending temper- ance, encouraging loyalty to the United States government. In educational work it took an active interest in connection with the Derby Literary and Theological Institution. The Association appointed all the trustees, appointed agents for the collection of funds and for a time became responsible for the debts of the school, and to the extent of its ability, maintained it financially and other- wise.
The relation between the Vermont churches of this Associa- tion and their sister churches across the Canadian border was always affectionate and cordial. When the Canadian churches withdrew and formed a new association within the Province of Quebec, this Association passed the following resolution. "Re- solred, that we cherish with pleasure the memory of the past years in which we have been associated, the precious seasons of our gatherings, the spirit of christian love and sympathy, never bound- ed by any political lines, nor marred by the thought that we were the citizens of different governments,- and that now as they go to work out God's plan in the new Association, we express and
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pledge to them a continuance of our love, and pray that God may make them fruitful to every good work."
The name of Rev. F. N. Jersey was long held in loving remem- brance among the churches on both sides of the Canadian line, and is worthy of special mention here. An appreciative obituary of him is to be found in the minutes of this Association for 1860. He was born in London, England, January 7, 1817, converted at the age of thirteen, and was at once filled with a longing to bring others to the Saviour. His zeal in the cause brought him the name of "The Praying Sailor." For about twenty years after his marriage, he was a regular circuit rider in England, within the Methodist denomination. He was a missionary in Ireland two years, and while there met Rev. Mr. Marsdon, with whom he had frequent conversations on different points of doctrine. Not long afterward he became a Baptist, under the imperative convictions of the Gospel truths.
He came to Montreal in 1842, with his large family, and soon bceame a resident of the eastern townships. For nearly fifteen years he was successively pastor of the churches of Stanstead and St. Armand. His labors were mostly confined to the two town- ships and several of the border towns of Vermont. The field of his itineracy extended over an area of at least two hundred square miles. None but the "Shepherd and Bishop of Souls" can proper- ly estimate this good brother's labors, anxieties and weariness in such a field. In all seasons of the year, and kinds of weather, on every variety of road, by night and by day, he traveled up and down the hills and vales of those two townships, sometimes foreing his way to an appointment through snow drifts higher than the mane of his horse, while a piercing north-wester was driving in his face. At other times he must needs contend with mud and deep, miry clay. As long as he was able he continued preaching, and when his wife tried to persuade him to desist from further attempting to preach, he would say, "I must try or the people will be destitute." He died on the thirteenth of March, 1860, aged sixty-three years. Among his last words were these: "I feel that I am worn out. But the Lord is kind and deals very gently with me. I feel no pain. I ean sleep no more till I sleep in Jesus."
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Another pastor long identified with this Association was Rev. R. Godding, for thirty years pastor of the church in East Burke, a church, which for a time, was one of the strong ones in the Associa- tion.
Orville Dagget was one of the pioneer Baptists, born in New- port, 1799, baptized by John Ide, of Coventry, in 1816, united with twenty-three others to form the Newport church, of which he continued a member till his death, March, 1868. He studied for the ministry in his youth, but was prevented by ill health from carrying out his purpose.
Rev. H. N. Hovey, born in Brookfield, Vt., 1815, removed to Albany, in 1827, was converted in 1822, and with seventeen other constituent members united with the Albany church, ministering to it as pastor twenty-eight years, preaching alternately half the time to the Newport church.
Barnabas Perkins, Samuel Churchill, John Ide, Joseph Ide, Daniel Mason, J. G. Lorimer, N. C. Saunders and other worthy men, left their impress upon the churches by faithful ministerial service.
DANVILLE
This church, after dismissing its first pastor in 1799, was with- out pastor till December 23, 1807, when it ordained Samuel Wake- field, and enjoyed his services one year. Its third pastor was Lewis D. Fisher, who was ordained February 23, 1820, and had a pastorate of twelve years. Israel D. Newell served from 1833 till 1836, and M. D. Miller from 1839, one year. In 1831, work was begun on a house of worship, which was of brick and cost thirty- one hundred dollars. This loaded the church with a debt, which was liquidated only by donations from abroad. The name of the church disappears from the minutes of the Association in 1852, no report from it having been received for several years previous.
BURKE
Derby Hicks, who was ordained pastor of this church in 1806, continued in this office for many years, until his health declined. In 1806, twelve were added by baptism and in 1810, thirty. Near-
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ly two hundred, at various times, were received into the member- ship of this church. Weakened by deaths and removals, it be- came extinct about 1840.
HARDWICK
This church had but a brief life of six years.
WATERFORD
The church in Waterford, organized in 1802, was gathered by Silas Davison, while a licentiate, and its original members were mostly from Hartland. Having no place of worship it did not make much progress, though some converts were baptized and added to it by Elder Baily, of Peacham. It was dissolved by advice of a council in 1811. Most of its members united with the St. Johnsbury and Waterford church.
FIRST CRAFTSBURY
Organized 1804, consisting of seven members. It ordained Samuel Churchill, February, 1806, and Daniel Mason, June, 1812. In 1812, 1817 and 1819, interesting revivals were enjoyed, the fruits of which added largely to this church. About one hundred at different times were received. In 1819, twenty-four members were dismissed to form the Greensboro church. This weakened it, and in 1817 it became extinct.
SECOND CRAFTSBURY
A second church was organized in Craftsbury, September, 1831, of seventeen members. The church was supplied, occasion- ally by Jona Baldwin, N. H. Downs, Prosper Powell, Moses Flint and D. W. Burroughs. They enjoyed some revivals and the church once numbered thirty-five, but difficulties arose and in 1840, most of the members united with the church in Hardwick.
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DERBY
Organized August 1, 1807, with fifteen members. Samuel Smith, installed pastor in 1810, died about a year later. The second pastor, Elisha Starkweather, began his work in 1817, was silenced in 1819, and restored in 1820. In 1822, in consequence of multiplied difficulties, the church voted to dissolve.
COVENTRY
Organized October 9, 1809. John Ide, one of its members, was ordained pastor, June 29, 1815, and continued sixteen years, during which time one hundred and fifty, in various ways, were added to the membership of the church. Prosper Powell was pastor one year, Prosper Davison, ordained September 9, 1834, three years, and until his death three years later. Mr. Powell was a young man of great promise. He died at Lyme, N. H. A. H. House was ordained, June, 1840, and served one year. Rufus Godding, N. H. Hovey, A. W. Boardman and H. I. Campbell held short pastorates. There were large accessions during the years, 1823, 1825, 1828, 1834 and 1839. Several remarkable men were licensed to preach by this church: John Ide; his son, George B. Ide, Alvin Baily, Gardner Bartlett, Joha. Baldwin and Mr. Barker. This church passed through many trials, having had to exclude over thirty members. By removals and death, its numbers were gradually diminished. Other denominations owned a share of its meeting-house, and after 1854 it ceased to report to the Association and about 1860 its name disappeared.
GREENBORO
Organized March, 1819, of twenty-six members. Its pros- perity was never great, although it arose to about fifty in number. For years great harmony prevailed, but at length one Samuel Toms caused the church so much difficulty, that it was thought best to dissolve, which was done, and the church in Hardwick was
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formed from its ruins. Marvin Grow was ordained their pastor, September 5, 1821. The main body of this church is said never to have lost their union for one another, and that this noble charac- teristic was transferred to the Hardwick church, into which they were formed.
PASSUMPSIC
The Passumpsic church, organized September 24, 1811, con- sisted of the following constituent members, viz .: Rev. Silas Davi- son, Jacob Ide, John Clark, Nathaniel Haseltine, Olive Armington, Dolly Elkins, Sally Stowell, Parsis Davison, Esther Benton, Han- nah Baldwin, Ruth Barker, Elnathan Wood, Betsy Ide, Betsy Willson, Esther Hendrick, Olive Badger. These were recognized as a church by a council composed of delegates from Ryegate, Danville, Coventry and Littleton. July 1, 1812, they ordained as their pastor, Silas Davison, who for nineteen years served them with utmost faithfulness. At the end of that time, Rev. George B. Ide was called to the pastorate and served one year, when Mr. Davison again took up the work and supplied the church a year and three months. During the nineteen years of his regular pastorate, he received into the church one hundred and ninety-five members, aside from the sixteen which were gathered by him when the church was organized. Of these, one hundred and sixty- two were received by baptism. During his pastorate, thirty-one were excluded, and forty-four were dismissed to other churches.
This church, at the first, was called The St. Johnsbury and Waterford church. In 1828, the church was reorganized and the name changed to The Calvinistic Baptist church of Passumpsic. Gradually the word Calvinistic was dropped from the name.
The list of pastors who have served this church, and their terms of service, are as follows: Silas Davison, 1812-1832; George B. Ide, 1832-1833; J. Merriam, 1833-1836; B. B. Burrows, 1837- 1841; Levi Smith, 1841-1842; John Ide, 1843-1845; N. E. Smith, 1847-1849; J. R. Greene, 1849-1852; A. W. Boardman, 1852-1854; A. H. House, 1854-1861; A. W. Boardman, 1861-1863; E. Evans, 1864-1867; S. T. Frost, 1868-1869; J. W. Buzzell, 1871-1874; 1.
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W. Alger, 1875-1883; S. A. Reed, 1883-1885; L. F. Shepardson, 1886-1887; J. F. Buzzell, 1887-1894; J. D. Skinner, 1894-1898; C. D. R. Meacham, 1899-1904; W. F. Basten, 1904-1905; A. S. Gilbert, 1905-1910; Archibald Mason, 1910-1912; Lewis W. San- ford, 1912.
The church has had three meeting-houses; the first two were built and presented to the church by Deacon John Clark. Of him, it is written, in a previous record, "If the Jews could say of one ancient, 'He loveth our nation and hath build for us a synagogue,' " this church could say of Deacon Clark, "He loveth our church and hath built for us two meeting-houses." In him the church found a counsellor, and the world a benefactor.
Largely through the influence of Rev. N. W. Alger, the estate of J. G. Lawrence was left to the church. This gift was greatly appreciated, coming from a man who was not identified with the church in any way The gift consisted of the present parsonage, together with the land belonging to the church and parsonage at the present time, some land on the east side of the river, and a considerable sum in cash, besides. This valuable gift enabled the church to erect its present edifice.
The church has witnessed several notable revivals. In 1816, sixty-eight were received; in 1828, fifty; in 1831, twenty-five; in 1832, forty. During Elder Burrows' pastorate, one hundred were added to the membership.
From the beginning, the church has been self-sustaining and a liberal contributor to benevolent objects.
It has sent out many valuable gifts, among which may be mentioned Silas Davison, Prosper Davison, Preserved Davison, Silas Davison, Jr., Jonathan Aldrich, E. C. Eager, A. Harvey and Samuel Graves.
IRASBURG
Organized in 1816, never became large, and its early history has not been preserved. In 1842, they were holding meetings in the Court House. Charles R. Kellum was licensed and or- dained here, and D. W. Burroughs licensed by them. Jona Bald-
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win, A. W. Boardman, W. S. Hurlbut and N. C. Hovey held pastorates. The church became extinct in 1864.
TROY
The Troy church organized in 1818, attained in 1843, a mem- bership of one hundred and twenty-two. In 1844, it reported to the Association as follows: "Somewhat divided geographically and we fear also in heart." In 1850, a new church was organized in North Troy, with sixteen members, which has maintained its or- ganization and services till now. The name of the Troy church drops from the minutes about this time. Church organizations were maintained for a time in both North Troy and South Troy, sometimes served by the same pastor.
The following ministers have served the Troy Baptists as pastors: J. R. Greene, N. W. Boardman, T. M. Merriam, I. H. Campbell, F. N. Jersey, A. J. Walker, A. N. Woodruff, N. Nor- cross, P. W. Fuller, J. W. Buzzell, A. J. Chandler, G. H. Parker, G. W. Clough, R. H. Carey, J. B. Miner, H. S. McHale, W. F. Sturdevant, J. E. Berry and E. W. Puffer.
ALBANY
The little church of nine members, that was organized in Albany, September 12, 1832, was supplied by various ministers for a limited time. Among them, Moses Flint, Amos Dodge, D. W. Burroughs, S. B. Ryder, A. H. Huse and S. A. Fisher; the last of whom was ordained with them, March 11, 1841. In 1835, twenty-eight were added and in 1839, a number more. H. N. Hovey began a pastorate in 1848, that continued till 1864. In 1856, the report from the church stated that more than one-sixth of the members had removed to Iowa. In 1859, twenty-six were added to the membership. From 1864 to 1876, the church was served by J. F. Ferguson, A. Norcross, C. Newhall and Wm. Bevans.
In 1877, their meeting-house was leased to the Methodists and not long afterward sold to them, and stated meetings of the church
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ceased. The little company of survivors, however, were so loyal to the principles of their faith and to the interests of the denomina- tion, that they contributed regularly and generously to the State Convention and other enterprises, and the name of the church apppeared in the list in the Associational minutes till 1910.
A remarkable bit of Baptist history, is that of this little church maintaining its vitality under such circumstances for more than thirty years, without public services of their own, yet interested and loyal and helpful in the work of the denomination.
BURKE
In 1831, six Baptists, in the east part of the town, organized a church, which they called a General Baptist church. Rufus Godding was ordained its pastor in 1832, and held the position for thirty years. Under his ministry, the church attained a member- ship of one hundred and seventeen in 1859. During that year, twenty-five were added by Baptism, the fruit of a revival. When this pastorate closed, in 1862, the church for a time languished under discouragements of various kinds. The church was pastor- less for several years, when J. W. Buzzell assumed the pastorate, and during the year he served, a meeting-house was erected and the outlook became more encouraging.
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