USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 39
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"Resolved, that robbery for offering is an abomination to God. Resolved, therefore, that in future we will seek channels for our contributions to the cause of benevolence, uncontaminated by the offerings of those who extort without wages."
The first resolution was adopted unanimously after thorough discussion.
The second gave rise to an animated discussion of great length. It was manifest that a large majority were at any time ready to adopt it. But there were a few who thought that the time had not yet "fully come." Most of this class appeared to think that the time would come, but they confessed that they had not yet discharged the duty which they felt to be incumbent on themselves, preparatory to such a step. The number was small who did not look to action of this kind, and in this degree, sooner or later. At length the following substitute was offered and adopt- ed by a large majority: "Resolved, that the time has fully come, when we can no longer invite slave holders, either to our pulpits, or our communion tables, or in any other way countenance the sin of slavery."
By this time it was near eleven o'clock and the meeting ad- journed without taking up the third and fourth resolutions, hoping there might be another opportunity to give further attention to the subject, before the close of the Convention, but no opportunity was found.
It is evident that the Convention was divided between the more radical members and the more conservative. In 1841, a resolution was introduced by Brother J. A. Beeman. " Resolved, that our connection with the American Board of Missions for Foreign Missions and the American Baptist Home Mission So- ciety, as an auxiliary, be dissolved." This resolution, after long discussion, was divided, and the last item taken first in order. In the afternoon, after another long discussion, it was rejected by a vote of seventeen affirmative and forty negative. Another resolu- tion was introduced at the same session by Rev. H. D. Hodge: "Resolved, that we view the doings of the Triennial Convention.
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at Baltimore, in which, in our opinion, the Convention became com- mitted in favor of the South on the subject of Slavery, as a breach of the neutral ground which the Convention as such has heretofore occupied, and that we hereby enter our protest against it."
This resolution, on motion of D. Haskell, was indefinitely postponed.
October 13, 1842, the Vermont Baptist Anti-Slavery Society was organized at Ludlow. A large number of the brethren as- sembled in the Baptist meeting-house to deliberate upon their duty to the colored population of our country, enslaved and free, and the best means of discharging that duty. Brother Wm. Warner, of Andover, was chosen chairman, and J. W. Sawyer, of Shafts- bury, clerk. Brethren B. Brierly, T. H. Lunt, J. Ide, T. Galusha, and A. Beecher, were appointed a committee to report a declara- tion of sentiments and a constitution. The following declaration of sentiments was adopted :
"We, the undersigned ministers and members of the Baptist churches in Vermont and vicinity, adopt the following sentiments:
"1. That God, as the moral governor of the universe, justly claims the right to give us such laws as He, in infinite wisdom, sees fit.
"2. That God, in His word, has given laws for the regulation of our intercourse with Himself, and with our fellowmen.
"3. That in giving us these laws, He has clearly defined man's relation to his fellowman, and the duties growing out of this rela- tion.
"4. That this relation and these duties, as revealed to us in the Bible, render, in our view, the chattel principle of slavery a fearful infringement of human rights, and no small violation of the law of God.
"5. That such being the facts we conceive that under no circumstances, whatever, can man hold the right of property in his fellow man, as he may in the soil or its products.
"6. That with these views we cannot believe that slavery, in the modern acceptation of the term, ever did exist, or ever will exist, by divine right or with divine sanction.
"7. That if slavery did exist anciently, by divine authority,
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the American slave-holder can claim no such authority, the former system can be no justification or palliation of the latter.
"8. That American slavery is a fearful violation of the divine law, a gross outrage upon human rights, a plague spot upon the purity of the American church, a stain and reproach upon our na- tional character, exposing our professions of religion and liberty to the contempt of the civil and christian world, endangering the purity and safety of the church, and the permanency of our civil institutions, and worse than all, exposing us, as a church, and a nation, to the rebukes and judgments of God.
"9. That we are called upon by our duty to man, by our pro- fessions of attachment to liberty and religion, by our piety and our patriotism, to bring all the influence that we possess to redeem the nation and the church from its moral and political evil.
"10. Believing that our relation to the Baptists of the South and the mutual relation of both them and us to the cause of Christ gives us the right, and makes it our imperative duty to remon- strate with those of them who are directly or indirectly fostering this sin, and that we may labor more effectively, we agree to form ourselves into a society, and to be governed by the following Constitution:"
The object of this society was, "To aid in forming correet abolition sentiment in our churches at home and among the church- es of the South, and to exert our influence for the elevation of the free colored population of our country.
"It shall endeavor to accomplish these objects by resolutions and addresses at the annual meetings, by the circulation of informa- tion among the churches at home, and by the opening and conduct- ing, by means of committees appointed for this purpose or by its corresponding secretary, a correspondence with the Baptist church- es and Associations in the South, and with such individuals at the South as may be thought desirable."
The officers chosen were, for president, W. M. Pingry, of Perkinsville; vice presidents, M. Bruce, V. Church, A. Angier, F. Blood, T. Galusha, J. Conant, R. Fletcher, L. Bottom. Each of these represented an Association to which he belonged. Record- ing secretary, J. W. Sawyer; corresponding secretary, B. Brierly;
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treasurer, L. H. Cheney. Brethren Brierly, Sawyer and Angier were appointed a committee to prepare an address to the churches of the South, stating our grievances, and entreating them to break every yoke and let the oppressed go free. The society recom- mended to the churches to hold a concert of prayer for the Slave, in connection with the monthly concert of prayer for missions, on the first Sabbath evening of each month.
At the second meeting of the society resolutions similar to those referred to were passed and another address prepared to be sent to the churches in the south.
In 1854, the society expressed its approval of the action of the Foreign Missionary Board in the following resolution :
"Resolved, that while our acting Board of Foreign Missions is bound to confine its attention to the one great object for which it was appointed, we hear with pleasure that several of its members, in their individual capacity, are decidedly opposed to slavery, and that as an associated body they have deliberately and fully de- termined that they can never be a party to any arrangement which would imply approbation of slavery. Resolved, that as by righteously refusing to appoint a slave-holder as a missionary, they have incurred the displeasure of the slave-holders at the South, and the consequent loss of their cooperation and pecuniary aid, it behooves us, as anti-slavery Baptists, and as the Friends of Foreign Missions, to tender to the acting Board our warmest sympathies, and to offer on their behalf our fervent prayers, and to diminish their pecuniary embarrassment by contributing liberally to their funds."
There are no further records of this society in connection with the minutes of the Convention.
In 1848, the Convention, by resolution, expressed its pleasure that the Executive Committee of the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Union, in April last, speedily and unanimously refused a legacy of about six hundred dollars, when the money offered them was a part of the proceeds of the testator's slaves.
A final resolution, expressive of its stand relating to slavery, until the outbreak of the Civil war, was passed in 1855: "Whereas, this Convention has, in various ways, and at various times, ex-
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pressed its convictions of the wickedness of the whole system of slavery, and its abhorrence of it, therefore, Resolved, that we deem it unreasonable and improper for any persons or person to demand any reiteration of views on this subject. We do, however, now re-affirm our past declarations, that we do not in any manner sanction that iniquitous system and have no brotherhood or fellow- ship with its supporters or advocates."
In 1854, a resolution was introduced by T. H. Archibald and adopted by unanimous vote :
"Resolved, that we deem it our duty to express our deep abhorrence of the late act of Congress of the United States, known as the Nebraska Bill, opening the extensive territories embraced in its provisions, to the enormities and horrors of slavery, as being alike a violation of plighted national faith, an outrage upon the principles of human liberty, and a disregard of the Divine law, which demands a stern rebuke of every friend of humanity and of God."
In 1859, immediately after resolutions commending the American Baptist Publication Society, a resolution was introduced by T. H. Archibald :
"Resolved, that in the judgment of this Convention, the American Baptist Publication Society ought to bear the same out- spoken testimony against the system of American slavery which it has already recorded against intemperance, Sabbath breaking, and other kindred sins.
"Resolved, that a committee of three be appointed whose duty it shall be to present the above resolution to the American Baptist Publication Society and urge action in consisteney with the opinion therein expressed."
T. H. Archibald, R. Fletcher, and I. Person were appointed.
The following year the report of this committee was recom- mitted to the same committee, awaiting the final action of the society on that subject.
Before the next session the Society had taken the stand desired, and upon the motion of T. H. Archibald the following resolution was adopted:
"Resolved, that we hail with peculiar gratification the action of the American Baptist Publication Society at its last annual
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meeting affirming its duty to publish on the sin of American Slavery as on other sins; that we pledge our hearty cooperation with them in their new position on this subject, and respectfully, yet earnestly, urge upon the Board an early compliance with the practical in- structions of the Society."
1851-1860
With this decade a brighter period opened, but with no sudden outburst of light. Pursuant to the policy which the Board be- lieved had been wisely prescribed, they set themselves to the task before them. The closing action of the Convention in 1850 was a vote which was prophetic of good things. On motion of Brother N. W. Smith, " Resolved, that we go home and go to work and raise $2,000 for the Convention." More than $400 were subscribed on the spot.
The Board, confidently anticipating that God would stir up the people to increased liberality, did not feel at liberty to turn a deaf ear to the urgent entreaties of need, and every application was carefully considered and none wholly denied. God honored their faith, giving them an income of $1,845-against $513 of the year before. Brother M. G. Hodge served three months as agent, soliciting funds, and Ahira Jones was secured for the whole of the ensuing year as agent of the Convention.
In 1851, we find the first record of aid extended by the Conven- tion to the Grande Ligne Mission. Two incidents made the ses- sion of 1852 memorable. In the afternoon session of the first day the business was suspended to see if the sum of $2,000 could be raised, to complete the endowment of the New Hampton Institute, to be transferred to Fairfax. The effort was successful, and a prayer of thanksgiving was offered.
The next morning Rev. Moses H. Bixby, who, with his wife, was about to sail for Burma, made a farewell address, and Rev. L. A. Dunn, in behalf of the Convention, gave the parting hand, and Brother H. I. Parker commended to the kind guardianship of the God of missions. Dr. Bright then addressed the Conven- tion on the subject of foreign missions.
HOWARD CRANE Treasurer of Convention since 1902
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A similar service made impressive the session of the Conven- tion at Brandon, in 1853, when Rev. M. J. Knowlton who, with his wife, was under appointment of the American Baptist Mis- sionary Union, addressed the Convention, and prayer was offered in their behalf, led by I. Person, after which Alvah Sabin addressed them and, in behalf of the Convention, gave them the parting hand. The following December they sailed for Ningpo, China, and began their service of twenty years, which made their names dear to all American Baptists, and gave them a lasting monument in the China mission.
The year 1853 was made memorable by the removal of the New Hampton Academical and Theological Institution from New Hampton, N. H., to Fairfax, Vt. The legal transfer had been effected in November, 1852, but it was not until the summer of this year that the removal of the school was fully effected. The open- ing of this institution in Fairfax, with its able faculty and full classes, was a happy augury for our denomination in Vermont. It did very much to change the ebbing tide of disaster into the flood tide of success.
During the remainder of this decade the Convention pros- ecuted its work with steadily increasing success. A review of the whole period shows on an average ten churches aided per year, against three the last decade. The Bellows Falls church was formed in 1854. The Burlington church, which had been steadily aided by the Convention since 1828, in 1859, with grateful thanks, declined further assistance. Many a time this little church had been ready to die; and many times the Board sent a committee to see if it was not better to let it die; but in every instance a little handful of devoted christians, for the most part women, plead for assistance with a faith that could not be denied. Many and bright will be their jewels in the day of the Lord Jesus.
There were baptized during these ten years, three thousand, three hundred; and the total membership was eight thousand, two hunded and sixty-three, against seven thousand, six hundred and fifty-three in 1850; or a gain of six hundred and ten, against a loss of three thousand, four hundred and forty-eight during the previous ten years. The advance will be still more apparent when we com-
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pare the receipts of the treasury for the two periods-$23,351, against $5,133, being a gain of $18,218. In both cases only funds raised for the purposes of the Convention are included. "Besides, it is to be borne in mind," says the report for 1860, "that during said period there has been raised among the churches comprising this Convention a subscription of more than $2,000 for an endow- ment of a Theological Institution among us."
Another event marks this period. In the year 1851, an Act of Incorporation was passed granting a charter to the Convention, which, after a slight amendment the following year, was accepted, and the Convention thus incorporated entered upon a new era in its history, as the guardian and manager of trust funds sacredly consecrated to its work. That expectations of the Convention at that time were not extravagantly large is indicated by the limit fixed to the amount which might legally be received in trust. Ten thousand dollars was the measure of their faith. The possibility that this body might ever be the guardian of funds amounting to over $200,000 was beyond their fondest dreams. The text of the charter is as follows:
"ACT OF INCORPORATION
"Passed November 18, 1851, and amended November 9, 1852.
"It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, as follows:
"Section 1. Joseph D. Farnsworth, John Conant, Truman Galusha, Peter W. Dean, Nathan N. Bottom, John P. Skinner, Frederick W. Baldwin, Jacob Estey, Samuel Griggs, and Samuel L. Armington, and their associates, are constituted a corporation and body politic, by the name of 'The Vermont Baptist State Con- vention' and by that name may sue and be sued, prosecute and de- fend, and be vested with, and enjoy, all the privileges and powers in- cident to corporations of a similar nature.
"Sec. 2. Joseph D. Farnsworth, John Conant, Truman Galusha, Peter W. Dean, Nathan N. Bottom, John P. Skinner, Frederick W. Baldwin, Jacob Estey, Samuel Griggs, and Samuel Armington, and their successors in office are hereby constituted a
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Board of Trust, to control and manage the funds, and all the pecuniary interests of said Convention. The persons named in this section shall hold office until their successors shall have been chosen by said Convention. The said Convention may increase the number of said Board to a number not exceeding twenty-one, and may elect such Board, or a part thereof, from year to year, according to such methods as the Convention may prescribe.
"Sec. 3. Joseph D. Farnsworth is hereby authorized to call the first meeting of said Board of Trust, at any suitable time and place, by giving such notice to the members thereof as he may judge sufficient; and said members, or a majority of them present at said meeting, may choose a moderator and clerk, and establish such rules and by-laws as they may deem expedient, and not re- pugnant to the Constitution and laws of this State.
"Sec. 4. Said Trustees may receive, hold and alienate real and personal estate, to an amount not exceeding $10,000 in trust, for the use of said Convention, to be appropriated for the benefit of Domestic and Foreign Missions.
"Sec. 5. This act shall be under the control of the Legislature to alter, amend or repeal, as the public good may require."
The number of trustees authorized by this act is not to exceed twenty-one. The old number, thirteen, was for some time con- tinued as sufficient.
In 1869, the number of trustees was not less than twelve.
In 1878, the articles of incorporation were amended, making the amount of funds authorized $100,000 instead of $10,000, and the purposes designated are "for Domestic and Foreign Missions and for any other religious or educational purposes."
In 1885, Art. VI. of the Constitution was amended to read, "At the annual meeting, in 1886, a Board of twenty-one managers shall be chosen in three classes of seven each, to serve respectively one, two and three years. Annually, thereafter, one class of seven shall be elected for three years, and vacancies in the other two classes shall be filled. Five members shall constitute a quorum. All shall be nominated by a committee appointed for that purpose. The Board of Managers shall annually elect from their members a president, two vice presidents, cte." Hitherto the officers of the
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Board were appointed by the Convention at the annual meeting.
November 13, 1900, the Act was again amended and the limiting clause in Sec. 4, "not exceeding $100,000," was removed and no limiting clause substituted.
1861-1870
This period opens at the beginning of a chapter of national history of unparalleled tumult and trouble. The wrongs and abuses of slavery were to yield their legitimate fruit of suffering and blood. The year 1861 had hardly begun before the mutterings of the impending war became distinctly audible, and before it had closed the war was casting its dark and fearful shadow over the whole land. The part that Vermont took in that Civil war has been told by those who witnessed its terrible scenes and shared in its perils at the front. The stories of camp and march, siege and battle, have been rehearsed for many years. The story, however, of the homeward side of that dreadful war, the anxiety, suffering, sacri- fice and sorrow of those who remained at home, has never been as fully told, and probably never will be told. If it could be, it might be impossible and perhaps undesirable to separate from the rest the narrative of the part taken, the trials endured, by the Baptists of Vermont. Still one cannot help wishing, at times, that when it was possible to gather the facts we might have preserved the knowl- edge of the suffering and the cost in life and treasure to our churches of that terrible strife. The history of our part of that war is a record of a small and rural commonwealth, heavily drained of its able bodied men by emigration, without large towns or floating population, and having thus much less than the average proportion of the material out of which modern armies are made, but which, nevertheless, sent to the war ten men for every one hundred of its total population.
In proportion to her population Vermont had more of her sons killed in battle than any other northern State.
The deaths from all causes are reckoned to be five thousand, two hundred and twenty-four, or one hundred and sixty and forty- nine hundredths men lost to every one thousand of her population.
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How many families were thrown into mourning, how many homes and hearts made desolate! It could not be otherwise than that the churches should feel heavily the burdens and the depres- sion of this period. But no portion of the people were more loyal than the Baptists.
The annual sessions of the State Convention, and of the sev- eral Associations, gave opportunity for the expression of patriotic and loyal sentiments, and these expressions are an interesting and honorable part of Baptist history. They were usually made by men who penned with care the resolutions that they presented, and the hearty adoption of them by these representatives, assemblies of the delegates from the churches, bears witness to the prevalent sentiments among the membership.
In 1861, the committee on National Affairs reported the fol- lowing resolutions, which, after interesting remarks, were adopted and ordered to be printed in the minutes:
"Resolved, that in the present state of our national affairs, we witness the culmination of a strife, which has long been pro- gressing, between the principles of freedom incorporated into the frame work of our government, and laying at the foundation of our national existence, on the one hand, and the system of American slavery on the other.
" Resolved, that in our judgment, every just principle of reason combines with all the signs of the times, and all the events of the conflict, to indicate that the conquest can be determined only by the complete and permanent subjugation of one or the other of these contending elements.
" Resolved, that every principle of right, and every considera- tion of expediency, continue to call upon this government to emancipate the slaves, of every person engaged in the rebellion now going on against the authority of these United States.
"Resolved, that as citizens, as christians, and as christian ministers, we tender to the Government in this contest our constant sympathy, our earnest prayer, and our cordial and persevering aid in all righteous means for the suppression of this unholy rebellion."
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1862
In 1862, the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed and the Convention expressed its satisfaction by the following:
" Resolved, that the proclamation recently put forth by our Chief Magistrate, looking to the emancipation of more than three million of slaves, increases our confidence in the wisdom and in- tegrity of Abraham Lincoln, and meets our hearty approbation, gives us great reason to thank God and take courage, places before us additional motives for labor, and affords new encourage- ment for prayer for the emancipation of every slave, and for the suppression of the wicked rebellion which seeks to overthrow and destroy all our liberties, both civil and religious.
"Resolved, that, as citizens and as christians, we tender to the Government, in this contest, our constant sympathy, our earnest prayers, and our cordial and persevering aid in all righteous means for the suppression of this unholy rebellion."
The progress of the war was watched with intense interest. Fervent prayers were offered to God for the return of peace. The hand of God was recognized directing events, and strong faith was exercised that He who founded the nation had beneficent purposes for the world through it, yet unfulfilled, and that he would, in due time, suppress rebellion and preserve the nation from disruption. Though the longed for end of the war had not come, yet there were indications of final victory, and the resolutions in 1863 were hopeful and loyal.
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