USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 34
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Another revival season is mentioned, with special interest, that was about 1882 or 1883, when Rev. G. W. Schofield was mightily used of God as a messenger of life.
The church bell was given by David Stebbins, in memory of his mother. At the same time he left $200 in cash. During the recent years the church has suffered gradual diminishing in num- bers by death and removals. The present resident membership
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is seventeen. Three men have been ordained by the church and two young men have entered preparatory studies for the ministry. In 1907, the church was closed. In 1908, it was reopened and Rev. Wm. J. Clark chosen to work with this, in connection with the Enosburg Falls church. At the dawn of the new century the out- look is encouraging.
BERKSHIRE
January 3, 1905, a small church was constituted and recog- nized in Berkshire. After adding eighteen to their membership, they secured the services of Elder William Rogers a part of the time. There are no records of any other preachers until 1809, but from other circumstances, and from the records of the St. Armand church, it is probable that Rev. William Galusha did preach to them part of the time from 1806 to 1809, when Rev. Moses Ware was installed pastor and preached for a number of years, until 1813. There are no records after that time to show what became of the church. From the minutes of the Richmond Association, we find that in 1813 a committee was appointed by that body to inquire into the character of their former minister, Moses Ware. In 1814, this committee reported that they had made what inquiry they thought proper, relative to the character of Elder Ware, and they found nothing proved against him, whereby his character could be impeached. It is quite likely that the trou- ble, which gave occasion for the appointment of this committee, had something to do with the disbanding of this church.
BERKSHIRE, SECOND CHURCH
In 1817, another council was called in Berkshire, to recognize as a Baptist church, nine brethren and nine sisters who had banded together for that purpose. Ira Smith was appointed deacon and Cromwell Bowin, clerk. Rev. William Rogers and William Galusha preached to them part of the time. Their covenant meet- ings and preaching services were held in dwelling-houses and school- houses till 1827, when, in connection with the Congregationalists,
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Methodists and Universalists, they built a meeting-house, owned by the four denominations jointly, and occupied by each a quarter of the time. On December 29, this house was dedicated, and in January following, Rev. William Arthur was called and commenced labor in the new house. His work was greatly blessed and this year twenty-four were added by baptism and seven by letter. Eleven were dismissed the same year. Arthur remained two or three years. Rev. Mr. Rockwell served one year, when Peter Chase became pastor in 1835, and continued till 1841. He was assisted in 1839, by Rev. Mr. Baldwin, and twenty-two united this year by baptism and four by letter, making the total membership, fifty- nine. In 1841, Rev. Albert Stone commenced pastoral work and continued till 1843, when the Millerite excitement arose and the pastor was carried away with it. The church was pastorless for a short time. Isaac Cressey came and preached so acceptably that he was ordained in 1846. In 1848, Rev. F. N. Jersey was secured and served till 1851.
A protracted season of depression followed. Removals and deaths were saddening. Rev. S. Adams, a theological student, supplied in 1854. J. W. Buzzell, A. L. Arms and Geo. Parker, a licentiate, preached from 1860 to 1867. A great blow came to the church that year when the church in East Franklin was organized ard twenty members of the Berkshire church were dismissed, to unite at East Franklin. The same year, Deacon Jasper Chaffee, a strong pillar in the church, died. This reduced the membership to sixteen.
During the decade, 1870-1880, they were under the pastoral care of E. Ashton, E. P. Merrifield, A. L. Arms, David F. Estes, M. G. Smith, J. S. Goodall and G. S. Chase. From 1880 till 1885, Rev. A. L. Arms served as pastor, and during the years 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, Rev. William G. Schofield, of Richford, gave them preaching and pastoral care. Since this time, the church has not sustained regular preaching and has not reported to the As- sociation. In 1888, the subject of building a new meeting-house was strongly agitated. Mr. Schofield helped to secure pledges of money for this purpose and succeeded in getting $1800 subscribed. A building lot was secured and it was confidently expected that
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a new meeting-house would be built that year. But through the inaction of the building committee, nothing was done. The op- position of some, who wanted another union meeting-house, was apparently the cause of the inaction, and from that time many lost interest in the church.
FRANKLIN
Franklin began to be settled about 1816, and a few Baptists were among the inhabitants, but there is no evidence of any attempt to organize a Baptist church there previous to 1831. In 1826, Elder John Spaulding became a resident of the town and preached in parts of it, though his labors were chiefly in other places, till the spring of 1831, when he thought he saw signs of spiritual interest, especially in the northern part, and his mind was strongly impressed that there was a field ready for the harvest. He began laboring there with increasing interest. A powerful revival fol- lowed, which appeared to be at its height in November, though the interest did not subside till the next summer. Among the one thousand, one hundred and thirty inhabitants, near two hundred were thought to be converted within a year, and about one hun- dred joined some religious society. Some of the few Baptists, the older ones, thought the time had come to set up a Baptist church. About September 1, a covenant meeting was held in the house of Job Prouty. Six persons only were ready to take up the cross of setting up a standard different from all the other denomina- tions. These were J. Spaulding and his wife, members of the Enosburg Falls church, Dorcas Glover and Harriet Giddings, of St. Armand church, Mary Shepard, of Rupert, and Lydia Bradley, of Fairfield church. These appointed a similar meeting every other Saturday. At the third meeting a convert told her experi- ence and was baptized into the Enosburg Falls church. At the next meeting, Dr. Levi Cushman, an influential citizen of the place, and his wife, members of the Baptist church in Chester, N. Y., and Esq. Clark Rogers, who had long been a citizen of the town, with his wife, aged people, who, in their younger days, had lived in Hancock, Maine, and were members of the Baptist church there,
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joined the little band. Their number was twelve. These called a council which met October 26, 1831, and approved of their organizing as a church and gave them fellowship. In about six weeks, the number was doubled by baptisms. The next September, it joined the Fairfield Association. Its numbers increased to forty-two, in 1833. From that time began serious losses by dis- mission and a few by defection. Elder Spaulding became super- annuated and by 1841 the church was extinct.
EAST FRANKLIN
The Baptist church in East Franklin was organized and recog- nized as a church, June 11, 1867, by a council called by twenty brethren and sisters, who were dismissed from the East Berkshire church for this purpose. G. H. Parker was pastor till May, 1869; E. A. Ashton, till February, 1870; E. P. Merrifield, May, 1870, to May, 1872. No regular preaching till July, 1874; G. M. Smith, one-fourth of the time for one year; G. S. Chase, half of the time; A. L. Arms, alternate Sundays, 1885-1893; W. G. Schofield, 1885- 1893; A. Darrach, 1894. No report to the Association since 1894. Membership then, ten. Largest number, twenty-nine. The church up to 1895, and it may be, longer, sustained covenant meet- ings and bore their part in maintaining union Sunday school.
WEST BOLTON
This church was organized, February 16, 1843, with thirty- nine members, as the Second Baptist church of Jericho, and was so-called till 1862, when it was changed to the Baptist church and society of West Bolton, and in 1873, it became an incorporated church. The first pastor was Elder I. Huntley, who preached one- half the time till August, 1845, and perhaps longer; the records do not say. In August, 1847, Elder S. Parker was pastor. July, 1848, Rev. Wm. S. Hurlbut became pastor and preached one-third and one-half the time for twelve years. He died in the place where he had so long and faithfully served, February 13, 1887. In Nov- ember, 1860, Brother H. C. Leavitt commenced preaching and
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February, 1861, he was ordained pastor and continued to labor with the church until October, 1864.
In the winter of 1865, L. L. Wood, a student from Burling- ton College, was hired to preach half the time. He continued till 1866, and then went to Hamilton, N. Y., to study theology. In March, Rev. L. B. Steele was hired to preach all the time. His was a prosperous pastorate of about eight years. A good number were received by baptism. He was assisted, in 1872, by an evan- gelist, Rev. J. Peacock. During this pastorate the church edifice was built. For four years after Mr. Steele went away the church was without a pastor. Sermons were read. Elder Hurlbut preached when he was able. He was aged and nearly blind, but he kept the church together, administering the ordinances and preaching the Gospel. January, 1879, Rev. A. A. Davis became pastor, preaching half the time till April, 1881, when Rev. De F. Safford became pastor. From June, 1883, till January, 1888, Brother P. C. Abbey preached with acceptance as a supply. In 1889, had preaching but twice by visiting brethren. Rev. Richard Nott, of Burlington, was the next supply, 1890. They were then visited by Brother H. Rider, who came as a colporteur and held meetings and visited from house to house. He was aided by Rev. A. McGeorge and God blessed their united labors. Seven were baptized. A Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized. For several years the church was without pastoral care, but improved their house of worship and maintained church life. They shared the pastoral care of the Jericho minister, Rev. O. N. Bean, 1900-1902, and G. W. Campbell, 1904. Since then, they have had but such occasional supplies as the State Convention can furnish in summer by students and helpers. The church, however, though pastorless and with a membership of but fourteen, sustains a Sunday school, and two prayer meetings and a young people's meeting, and attend the services of the Methodist church in town.
ST. ALBANS
The first regular service of the Baptist denomination held in St. Albans took place December 17, 1865, in the chapel of the court
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house, Rev. J. F. Bigelow conducting the service, at the suggestion and with the assistance of the Baptist State Convention. On January 17, 1866. a Baptist church was organized, consisting of twenty-five members, six brethren and nineteen sisters. An Ecclesiastical council, held in the court house, January 31, gave the name of the First Baptist church of St. Albans to the new organiza- tion. The first church officers were Rev. J. F. Bigelow, D. D., pastor; M. D. Walker and Marshall Mason, deacons; L. J. Swett, clerk; and S. S. Robinson, treasurer. A Sunday school was at once organized and also a missionary concert and Thursday evening prayer meeting. In May, 1867, Dr. Bigelow resigned, having per- formed the initial work of organizing a church. His signal ability, fine scholarship and christian courtesy gained for him the regard, not only of the church and society, but of all denominations of christians. For about a year and a half the church was dependent upon supplies, and held its meetings in the court house, which was its meeting place for seven years. November, 1868, W. G. Walker, a graduate of Hamilton, commenced his pastorate and was ordained to the christian ministry, January, 1869. He remained only one year. Seventeen had then been added by letter and till June the church was again dependent on supplies.
In June, 1870, Rev. M. G. Smith, under the auspices of the State Convention, whose general agent he had been elected, com- menced labor here as pastor, doing very much in addition to his pastoral duties in securing funds for building a church edifice and enlisting the interest of others in the enterprise. The cornerstone of the new church was laid September 9, 1871, and the vestry finished and dedicated August, 1873, after which public services were held there until the whole work was completed.
In September, 1873, Rev. M. G. Smith, having seen the church occupying the new vestry, was called elsewhere by the Convention, leaving many devoted friends, who were called, not long after, to mourn his death. During his pastorate, seventeen were added by baptism and twenty-three by letter. Till about this time the Con- vention had aided the church. Now it became self-supporting and helpful in benevolent enterprises. In May, 1874, Rev. J. A. John- son commenced labor as pastor. On the twenty-eighth of the
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following December, the whole church edifice was finished and dedicated free of debt, through the generosity of Lansing Millis, Esq., prominent Baptists in the State; and townsmen of other de- nominations, helping to provide one of the pleasantest church edi- fices in the State. Mr. Johnson remained pastor until January, 1878. During the three years and more of this pastorate, the church had received thirty-six by baptism and twenty by letter, reaching a membership of one hundred and eight. Seven died among them. Deacon D. M. Walker, had been identified with the church from the beginning and had served as clerk nearly all the time, till his last illness compelled him to resign.
Rev. Geo. S. Pratt was next pastor, commencing labor April, 1878, and continuing till March 13, 1887-a period of aggressive, vigorous work on the part of both pastor and people. In January, 1879, a series of well-sustained meetings, continuing ten weeks, resulted in the accession of fifty-one members; forty-one by bap- tism. May 10, 1883, the church edifice was destroyed by fire, and about three years later, a new church edifice had been dedicated, and a parsonage built at a cost, in round numbers, of $3,500. From this pastorate Mr. Pratt went over to the Episcopalians.
Rev. Geo. A. Smith, of the First Baptist church in Saratoga, was next pastor, February 28, 1887, to June, 1889. Shortly after his dismission, his letter of dismission was recalled and proceedings instituted against him for unchristian conduct. On advice of the Lamoille Association the church called a council, the charges were investigated and sustained, the hand of fellowship withdrawn, and the pastor deposed from the Gospel ministry. The church rallied nobly to the work after this crushing experience and were lovingly led by Rev. L. S. Johnson, from September, 1889, till September, 1891, when ill health compelled the separation between the church and this faithful pastor.
Rev. E. D. Croft was pastor from October 8, 1891, to October 13, 1893, and was succeeded by Rev. Chas. McGlauchlin, whose pastorate was from April 5, 1894, to April, 1895. This half decade was one of serious trouble. At the close of the first pastorate, the church was divided and some thirty or more of those who had been active and influential in the church work withdrew from the body.
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Mr. McGlauchlin's habits, confessedly irregular, brought reproach upon himself and the church and caused his retirement from this pastorate. Rev. W. H. H. Avery was then invited to this field from Upper Alton, Ill., and began pastoral work in July. He found the church disheartened and well-nigh ready to give up all, but the membership rallied about him, put away differences, en- gaged in special meetings, and within a year seventeen members had been received, harmony restored and strong hopes awakened of a prosperous future. This pastorate continued till 1903. Sub- stantial accessions were made to the membership, notably in 1899, when twenty-five were received by baptism and six by letter. The membership attained one hundred and forty-one, notwithstanding the roll had been carefully revised and numbers dropped, and, more serious than all, within four years, more than twenty-five families connected with the church and congregation removed from town, reducing considerably the financial strength of the church and mak- ing appeal to the Convention for generous support a necessity. Since 1904, the Convention has appropriated $300 annually to sus- tain this important work. Rev. John Cameron succeeded Mr. Avery, serving till 1905, when Rev. J. S. Brown was called from Manchester, Vt., and began courageously leading the church in aggressive work. The church has an exceedingly pleasant place of worship and parsonage property.
ESSEX JUNCTION
Established first as a mission. From May, 1877, until May, 1880, Rev. J. A. Leavitt was pastor. In 1878, began the erection of a meeting-house and finished the chapel for immediate use and completed the house in 1889. The Essex church dismissed twenty- four members in 1879, to form a Baptist church in Essex Junction. The church was organized July 5, 1879, and recognized by a coun- cil November 4, 1879; admitted to the Lamoille Association, Sep- tember 1, 1880. The first report of the church is as follows: Baptisms, ten; letter, two; dismissed, two; total, thirty-four; resi- dent members, thirty-four; Sunday school officers, ten; pupils, sixty; average attendance, forty-two.
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Pastors: Rev. I. Coombs, 1880, to May, 1882; W. Gussman, January, 1883, to January, 1885; S. E. Miller, January, 1889, to 1897; D. D. Owen, 1899, to 1902; W. F. Sturdevant, 1903, to 1904; N. A. Wood, 1905, to 1909; I. M. Compton, 1910.
This church has had its trials and discouragements, but the field is an important one, and the Convention has given liberal ap- propriations and encouragements to it.
The following tragic incident is a part of the history of the Lamoille Association.
DAVIDSONISM
In September, 1829, a man by the name of Davidson called on Elkana Reed, who lived in the southeast part of Fairfield. Elkana Reed was a prominent member of the Congregational church in Bakersfield. Mr. Davidson introduced himself as a Congregational missionary, and as there was quite a settlement in the neighborhood, part in Bakersfield and part in Fairfield, that were some distance from any stated place of worship, Mr. Reed asked him to preach in their neighborhood. He readily consented; the appointment was circulated; the neighborhood gathered, and Davidson preached, much to the acceptance of the people. The next evening he preached in the same place to a larger congregation, and all were much interested. He then, by invitation, appointed a meeting on Friday evening at a schoolhouse in an adjoining neighborhood, in the south part of Bakersfield. A good congrega- tion assembled, and all seemed highly pleased with the new preacher. His sermons were a little peculiar, as he dwelt mainly on the prophecies, but they were of a high order; they exhibited great study and research; they were finely arranged, and delivered in a captivating manner. His language was elegant and well cho- sen, yet plain and simple; his style was earnest, but not boisterous; in a word, he was an eloquent preacher. By request, he appointed a meeting for the Sabbath at the usual hour, ten-thirty o'clock A. M., at the house of Timothy Carroll, his house being larger and more convenient for a large assembly than any other in the section.
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The day was fine and at an early hour a very large congregation assembled to hear the eloquent stranger. He was seated near a front window, so that he could be seen and heard by those within and without the house. As soon as ten-thirty A. M. the audience was all seated and ready for the service to commence. He was sitting, looking steadily downward toward the floor, seemingly unconscious that a large congregation had gathered to hear him preach. After a little time, someone told him that the congrega- tion was seated and ready for the services to commence, but he paid no attention, but still remained with his eyes turned downward; a long hour passed away; the congregation remained in profound silence; all eyes were fastened on him; curiosity and excitement were raised to the highest pitch. By and by he raised his head; his eyes rolled in their sockets; his features were distorted, and, in a manner overwhelmingly astounding, he announced to his hearers that he was a prophet sent by God! And then in language the most persuasive, and in tones the most solemn and impressive, he urged his hearers not to doubt on pain of eternal death. He then presented a very ingenious and conclusive argument, based on prophecy, to show that a prophet was to appear at that time. His array of arguments in favor of that position was perfectly astonishing; he seemingly made it as clear as the noon-day sun. Miller never presented an argument so clear in favor of his view of scripture prophecy as did Davidson in favor of his position.
He then proceeded to open his mission. He stated, first, that he was sent to announce to the world that God, the Father, was then on earth; that God, the Son, who was equal with the Father, came in person to introduce the last Gospel dispensation, and that the Father had come in person to close the dispensation and with it wind up the affairs of earth. He stated that the world would end in 1832, and his arguments in favor of 1832 were stronger and more conclusive than any that have been presented in favor of 1843. The effect of these astonishing announcements upon the audience, under the circumstances, cannot be described. Some believed; some ridiculed and at once called him an impostor; but a large portion seemed to be struck with awe, and were disposed to suspend their judgment for the time being. He continued his
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meetings in that neighborhood each evening for some four weeks; much excitement was created, and many professed to embrace his views. In his sermons he labored especially to reveal the dark things in prophecy. His discourses were able, impressive, and thrillingly interesting; some of his views were rational and scrip- tural; others were absurd and ridiculous.
Among other things, he taught that Christ was a woman, and that she would appear on earth with the Father. Not long after this announcement, a Mrs. Thompson, a lady some fifty years old, who had never previously made a profession of religion, but had embraced his views, and become wild with excitement, announced that she was the Christ. At first Davidson seemed to hesitate a little, but soon declared that she was Christ. Other people called her crazy; her husband confined her; the neighbors watched her as a crazy person. These meetings were holden mainly in Fairfield, and a large number gathered from Bakersfield, Fairfax, Franklin, Georgia, Milton, and some from the other side of the lake. Some were Baptists, some were Congregationalists and some were Metho- dists, but a large portion were persons who had never been members of any church.
The meetings were continued night and day and assumed a most ridiculous character. Toward spring, Mrs. Thompson es- caped from her confinement and joined them. She was worshipped as Christ and all her commands were strictly obeyed. A Mr. John Steward, an Englishman by birth, and a joiner by trade, a very pious Methodist man, embraced Mr. Davidson's views. He had no family and for some time had made his home with Mr. Timothy Carroll, in Bakersfield. While Mrs. Thompson was in Fairfield, Mr. Steward, by request or otherwise, called to see Mrs. Thompson, whom he believed to be the very Christ. She had some private conversation with him; what she said to him we know not. On coming out of the room he looked pale and terrified. He walked rapidly some four miles to Mr. Carroll's and without speaking to the family, went directly to his chest of tools, took a cord, went a little way into the woods, a little way back of the house, fastened the rope around his neck and then around a tree, swung off, and soon he was in the eternal world.
DAVID G. CRANE A member of the Burlington Baptist Church over fifty years
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In the autumn following, a Mr. Craw in Fairfield, who had embraced the views of Davidson, had become entangled in the snare, sharpened his knife and deliberately cut his own throat.
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