USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 40
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1863
" Resolved, that in the present appearances that the beginning of the end of the rebellion is come, we have occasion for devout thanksgiving to God; we see the efficiency and adaptation of our Chief Magistrate to the position Providence has assigned him; that protestantism and evangelical piety are to supplant all false systems of religion and rule the world; and that America is yet to be what her ancient history promised, the missionary nation to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.
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"Resolved, that the policy of the Administration in emanci- pating the slaves and employing them in the service of the Gov- ernment is evidently directed by 'that wisdom which cometh from above,' and is an omen of success in securing freedom, and restor- ing peace and union to the nation.
"Resolved, that we endorse the policy of the Administration in suspending the writ of the habeas corpus, as demanded by the occasion, and a wise measure for the preservation of the Union.
" Resolved, that in the hopeful signs of the times we see no occasion to omit the least effort to overcome the rebellion; and that, as heretofore, we pledge to the President, 'our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor,' to stand by him until the authority of the Government is vindicated, and the honor of our flag maintained, which is the emblem of freedom, equality, justice, and the power of a great law-abiding and liberty-loving people."
Another year passed and the end had not come. The Con- vention met again under the depressing influences of the prolonged and dreadful war, but its utterances were still hopeful and patriotic.
1864
" Resolved, that we recognize, with devout gratitude to Al- mighty God, that divine favor which has given so many and such important victories to our arms, and hail them as harbingers of the complete and speedy suppression of this unhallowed rebellion.
"Resolved, that in this terrible conflict, the insurrection of the southern oligarcy against the constitutional government of the country secures the sympathy and aid of every lover of civil and ecclesiastical despotism throughout the civilized world, as they hope for the overthrow of civil and religious freedom of this con- tinent.
"Resolved, that while we long and pray for a speedy peace, we believe that no peace can be either righteous or permanent, and therefore no peace can be desirable, that does not embrace these three things, namely, the integrity of the whole Union, the complete submission of those in arms against the Government, and
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the entire abolition of chattel slavery-the impelling cause of the conflict-and that for the attainment of these ends, we are willing to bear all needful burdens and make all necessary sacrifices.
"Resolved, that we believe it to be the duty of every christian and of every patriot to rally around the Government and sustain it to the utmost, in its efforts for the preservation of the country and that we pledge it our earnest prayers, our continual sympathy and our steady support."
When the Convention met in 1865, the nation had passed through experiences of unparalleled interest. The victory of Appomattox and the surrender of Lee had wakened ecstatic re- joicings, which were soon quieted and quenched with tears by the assassination of the beloved Lincoln. By autumn, the minds of the people were quieted, and christians were filled with devout thanksgiving to God for his providential care and were seriously facing the problems before them.
"Resolved, that in view of the wonderful and stirring develop- ments of divine providence during the past twelve months connected with our national affairs, while we have abundant reason for humility and abasement for the carnage and atrocities of war, culminating in the unparalleled assassination of our late beloved President, we find cause for devout thanksgiving for the return of peace to our borders and that in deserved wrath God has remem- bered mercy.
" Resolved, that although the surgings of the battle are stilled and the effusion of fraternal blood is stayed, perils of scarcely less magnitude yet gather around us, threatening to destroy the pros- pective good purchased by such terrible sacrifices of treasure and life, it becomes us as patriots, philanthropists and christians, to earnestly and humbly pray Almighty God that he will grant our Chief Magistrate, his counsellors and advisers, all that wisdom requisite for the great and difficult work, 'Reconstruction,' and that the Government may not forget or disregard the entire man- hood belonging to the race manumitted by the stern arbitrament of arms, in which that race have exhibited so much loyalty to the Gov- ernment and faith in God."
Notwithstanding the distress and depression of this condition of things during the war, the State Convention continued its work
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with increasing activity and widening usefulness. Strong men were upon the Board and in the pastorate of the churches. A. Sabin, J. Freeman, T. H. Archibald, M. Merriam, C. A. Thomas, L. A. Dunn, N. P. Foster, W. L. Picknell, .I. Person, R. Sawyer, and others of like ability. I. Person was moderator in 1861; and N. B. Lock, D. D., president of the Board; T. H. Archibald, cor- responding secretary; Deacon E. A. Fuller, treasurer.
Eli B. Smith, D. D., had been recently taken from the scenes of his important labors. No man could have been taken from among us whose departure would have left a wider breach. Re- spected as a christian, wise as a counsellor, mighty in Scriptures and ready for every good work, his advice was of great service in all the deliberations of his brethren. Ezra Butler, C. A. Briggs, R. M. Ely, and E. Megregor, were also among the men who had ceased from their labors and entered into rest.
The Board found itself exceedingly embarrassed by the un- expected financial revulsion, which utterly deranged the monetary interests of the country. They, however, aided fifteen churches. Their appropriations amounted to $1,093.33; their whole expendi- tures, including salary of agent, amounted to $2,059.70. For a time it appeared that the debt of the previous year would be heavily increased, but the receipts of the treasury were unex- pectedly large at the last of the year, and that debt was increased but a little over $160. Rufus Smith was the very efficient agent of the Board during this year.
The anniversaries of 1862 were held with the church in Bur- lington. The place of meeting was suggestive of the good achieved through the instrumentality of this body. The secretary of the Board, in his report, naturally called attention to this fact. "Here, for many long years, an infant church, struggling for existence, was sustained by appropriations from the Vermont Baptist Convention, without which, it is not too much to say, that Baptist preaching could not have been maintained in Burlington. Here and now we witness a portion of the ripened fruit-a self-sustaining church welcoming us here, to hold our thirty-seventh anniversary, and causing us with grateful admiration to ery, 'What hath God wrought?' Long may this church continue a monument of your
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wise liberality, to bless this community, and to bless the world; and may many such be raised up and matured in every part of the State, through the same agency, till our whole people shall become, "The chosen of the Lord, the branch of His planting, that He alone may be glorified in that day.' "
This session was rendered specially impressive by the presence of another of our number designated for the foreign mission field. Rev. C. H. Carpenter, of Brattleboro, designated as missionary to the Karens, was sent out with appropriate services. Rev. J. G. Warren, D. D., addressed the missionary on the qualifications es- sential to missionary success. Rev. Mark Carpenter, father of the missionary, offered the consecrating prayer. Rev. C. H. Car- penter addressed the Convention upon his convictions and hopes upon going forth to his work. The chairman addressed the mis- sionary in behalf of the Convention, and a missionary hymn was sung by the choir.
Fifteen churches were again aided by the funds of the Conven- tion. A part of the report of the Board reflects the condition of the churches and of the times. "They have been perplexed more than they can describe in ascertaining the path of duty. On the one hand the distress and embarrassments have borne, with oppressive weight, upon the feeble churches, which have been accustomed to look to them for aid. Their numbers have been diminished, and their pecuniary ability reduced, by the enlistment of their members, and supporters in the armies of the nation, while those who remain have been called to struggle under unusual pecuniary burdens, and they have urged, with the importunity of distress, for aid as involv- ing not only their usefulness, but their visibility also. On the other hand, the churches that have been accustomed to contribute to your treasury have themselves, in many instances, been crippled, and in all cases rendered less able, than in times of wonted pros- perity."
The balance against the treasury at the end of the year was $380.17. Eleven churches were aided in 1863.
At the commencement of the year it was determined to make an earnest effort not only to defray the current expenses of the year, but also to remove the existing liabilities of the Convention,
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which then amounted to $750. This, together with the expendi- tures of the year, constituted an aggregate of $2,284, besides in- terest. The receipts of the year exceeded this, and cancelling all past liabilities, left a balance in the treasury.
The Board had been specially impressed with the need of enlarging their work, entering new and promising fields, and Rufus Smith, agent of the Board, made a careful survey of the State, county by county, mentioning the towns that were without Baptist preaching, and suggesting where work might profitably be begun. Acting upon these suggestions, the Board appointed a committee to visit St. Albans to confer with the friends there in regard to the establishment of a Baptist church there. The result was that a lot for a house of worship was secured, and a subscription started to build a chapel that could be occupied until sufficient strength could be gained to erect a larger and more commodious building.
During the winter of 1866, the safe of Deacon E. A. Fuller "was feloniously opened, and along with private property, cash, drafts and bonds belonging to the Convention to the amount of $344, were stolen." A part of this was in drafts, the payment of which was stopped; the remainder was lost. The Board, in view of the fact that no blame could by any possibility be attached to Brother Fuller, and that his valuable services as treasurer for a series of years had been entirely gratuitous, unanimously voted to recommend to the Convention to discharge him from all liability for the funds lost.
The anniversary in 1867 was held at North Springfield, and was rendered specially serious and sad by the death of the pastor of that church, the beloved Brother W. L. Picknell, which occurred September 28. The convention met October 2. Business was suspended for an hour in the afternoon of the first day for devo- tional services, followed by services in memory of Brother Picknell. The family were conducted to the house by Brethren Freeman, Cudworth and Dunn. Rev. S. F. Smith pronounced a eulogy upon the life and character of Brother Picknell, and resolutions were sub- mitted which, after remarks by Brethren L. A. Dunn, T. H. Archi- bald, Ira Person and H. Fletcher, were adopted.
Rev. W. K. Picknell was born in Fairfax, in the year 1823. He pursued his studies at the New Hampton Institution and was
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ordained to the work of the ministry at Hinesburg. In 1855, he removed to Windham, and in 1858, to North Springfield, where September 28, 1867, he entered into rest. Brother Picknell was a man of earnest and consistent piety, with as few imperfections of character as are often found in any one, yet he was always deeply conscious of his own unworthiness in the sight of Christ. His con- ceptions of man's sinfulness and need of a Saviour were very clear, and gave impressiveness to his sermons. He was marked by warm sympathies and strong affections. As a pastor he was more than usually industrious and discreet. Free from ebullitions of passion, he preached and practiced forbearance. He lived for the single purpose of preaching Christ, and Him crucified. His ministry was a successful one.
The years 1866-1867, will long be memorable for the great spiritual awakening experienced by many of our pastors and laymen under the labors of Rev. A. B. Earle, the evangelist. The meet- ings in Burlington, Chester and elsewhere, were specially blessed to the development of a simpler faith in God and more perfect consecration to his service. The success of these meetings led to the revival of a policy so successful twenty-five years before, viz .: that of employing missionary evangelists to hold protracted meet- ings among the churches. Rev. M. G. DeWitt was accordingly invited to do this work. He came, and under the direction of the Board, labored with much success. In 1868, the First Baptist church in Vergennes, was constituted under the fostering care of Joseph Freeman, D. D., pastor.
In 1870, was organized the Vermont Baptist Sabbath School Convention, with much promise of good in promoting a more ear- nest and effective prosecution of this important branch of our evan- gelistic work. This year, also, the Rev. M. G. Smith of Connec- ticut, a long tried and efficient pastor, was secured as State mis- sionary, and entered upon his work with good hopes of success.
Thus closes this eventful period, during which the nation was aroused as it had not been for ninety years; and the energies put forth in the defense of a free and united country were terrible. But though the demand upon our people for money, as well as men, was heavy and continued, business, after the first shock, was pros-
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perous, and the Convention was well sustained. Its receipts for the ten years were $22,966, only $300 less than during the previous decade; three thousand, three hundred and seventy-five were added to the churches by baptism, making a total membership at the close of this period, of eight thousand, seven hundred and twenty-seven.
1871-1875
For several years the instability of the pastoral relation was a cause of embarrassment and of special mention in the reports of the Board.
In 1867, the Board called special attention to this. "Never, since the organization of this body, have we so many removals of pastors to record as at the present time. Rev. Messrs. Sherwin, Gurr and Swain of the Board, and R. A. Hodge, W. H. Dean, A. Sabin, J. Upham, J. F. Bigelow, L. B. Hibbard and R. G. Johnson, ten in all, have resigned their respective charges, most of whom have removed from the State. It is a serious disaster to any de- nomination, in any state, when more than one-tenth of its effective ministry are taken from it in a single year."
In 1868, notice was again called to the number of ministers re- moving from the State in considerable numbers. "The Rev. Messrs. Foster, Jones, Pillsbury, C. D. Fuller, Coon, Small, Dean, Nicholson and Peabody have left us and many of the vacancies thus created are unsupplied, while the churches to which they min- istered are in danger of being scattered as sheep having no shepherd. May the Head of the Church in merey save us from the desolation and decay which are the natural results of this constant mutation in the pastoral office among us."
Again, in 1870, comes the same note of warning. "We re- gret to notice the frequent changes occurring throughout the State in the pastoral relation. The feebleness and consequent ineffi- ciency of a large proportion of our churches is due, in a great meas- ure, we believe, to this cause. It is demoralizing to both pastors and churches, but especially to churches. Often more is lost in one change than can be regained in a three or four years' pastorate. The extent of this evil is startling. No less than forty of these
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changes have occurred, within the bounds of the Convention, dur- ing the year under review. In view of the importance of this sub- ject the Board would recommend the appointment of a Committee to prepare an exhaustive report upon it to be read at the next anniversary."
This recommendation was adopted by the Convention and Brethren L. A. Dunn, C. Hibbard and I. D. Burwell, were ap- pointed to make, at the next session, an exhaustive report on the lamentable frequency of pastoral changes, and the remedy therefor.
This committee accepted its appointment seriously, and at the session in 1871, did render an "exhaustive" report, of which Rev. L. A. Dunn was author. It was printed in the minutes and fills thirteen pages of closely printed matter. It was also published as a pamphlet. The discussion was so thorough and the subject so important that but for its length the paper might be inserted here as a part of the history. A summary of it is worthy of preserva- tion:
"Here, then, in brief, we have the cause and the cure for fre- quent pastoral changes. The cause may be found in the want of love between pastor and people, or any real, earnest desire to make the relation permanent, and, consequently, a want of a willingness to make the proper sacrifices and put forth the proper effort.
"To remedy this evil there must be:
"A better understanding of the nature of the relation and of the principles on which it depends.
"Pastors should be more careful and not enter fields that they have not the ability to cultivate.
"The pastor should more thoroughly cultivate his field. To do this, and insure success, he must have wisdom.
"1. To preach the right truths at the right time.
"2. To foresee an evil and shun it.
"3. To adapt his preaching to the wants of the common people.
"4. To enable him to overcome evil with good.
"5. To give point and purpose to his preaching.
"6. To preach the gospel so that sinners may be converted, and the piety of the church strengthened.
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"And, lastly, to secure the blessing of a permanent pastorate, both pastor and people must avoid everything that will tend to weaken the strength or retard the growth of the bond of union."
Whether this report accomplished its mission or not may be judged by the subsequent course of events. It certainly was an honest effort, on the part of the Convention, to expose and to remedy a great evil, and a pregnant cause of weakness; and it is suggestive of a line of work that a State Convention may well de- vote itself to, not spasmodically, by an occasional exhaustive paper, but by constant, studious and well directed effort to discourage short pastorates and secure longer ones.
The year 1871 is memorable for the report of the Committee on a New Educational Institution, the outcome of which was the founding of Vermont Academy, to the history of which a separate chapter is devoted.
At this session the trustees of Derby Academy offered the buildings and other property of the corporation to the Vermont Baptist State Convention, and a resolution was introduced, "That we accept the trust and manage the school." This resolution was referred to the Board.
This year marks the beginning of the Women's Missionary Work, and the Convention cordially recommended to the sisters of our churches the Woman's Baptist Missionary Society, recently formed at Boston, as worthy of their generous support.
In the morning session of the Convention, in 1872, the Board through its secretary, Rev. Charles Hibbard, made an appeal for the immediate liquidation of the debt of $1,873.50. The effort was made and $1,886.82 raised and nearly all paid in.
The ladies held a session by themselves and were addressed by Mrs. C. H. Carpenter, lately returned from Burma, and Miss Hill of Boston, on Woman's Foreign Mission Work.
A notable series of addresses marked this anniversary. Dr. Lorimer, of Boston, addressed the Convention on the subject, "The Mission in Rome," and a collection was taken for that object.
Addresses were made by Dr. Backus, corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. Rev. C. H. Car-
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penter, returned missionary from Burma, and Dr. Gillette, presi- dent of the American and Foreign Bible Society.
In 1873, the report of the Board gave rise to an animated dis- cussion in which twenty of the brethren took part. There was evidence of a strong desire to undertake advanced work.
In 1874, the Board called attention to an important, radical change in their policy and methods of work. Up to about that time, from the beginning, the success of the Convention financially was thought to depend upon having an efficient agent to go throughout the State, as far as possible, representing the Conven- tion and collecting funds. There were always some who chafed under the cost of this method of collection, but it seemed impera- tive. But it was always difficult to find the suitable man for this service, and after one was found in Rev. M. G. Smith, his services became so much more valuable as a missionary, than as a collector of funds, that it was about impossible to get him away from the new fields like St. Albans, Richford and other places, to permit him to spend time collecting funds. At length the experiment was tried of securing several men, in different parts of the State, to collect at the least possible expense, and so far as the treasurer's report shows this expense was cancelled entirely, and the Board devoted itself to purely missionary work, especially in new and promising fields. The result was gratifying.
Their report in 1874 begins, "In presenting their annual re- port your Board desire first of all to make mention of the good hand of our God upon us, both in counsel and in field. The year began with a small balance in the treasury, and has closed, we are thankful to say, without debt. We think the financial success of the Convention for the past few years has fully justified the wis- dom of the Board in dispensing with paid agents for the collecting of funds. And we desire to call the attention of our brethren especially business men, in all parts of the State, to the fact that every dollar that is now contributed to the Convention goes directly, and without loss, to its benevolent work, no fraction of it being absorbed on the way by secretaries, treasurers or collectors. Where else can the gifts and legacies of Christ's almoners do more to advance His cause?"
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M. J. Smith spent most of his time this year in the northern part of the State, half of it at Richford. Another missionary, Rev. J. H. Parmelee, was employed in the central portions of the State.
The fiftieth anniversary of the Convention was held at St. Albans, October 6, in the beautiful and well-appointed meeting- house which had recently been dedicated, free from debt. Its cost was about $36,000.
Of those who were present at the first anniversary of the Con- vention, but two were known to be living at that time, viz .: Rev. Alvah Sabin, of this church, and Rev. Pharcellus Church, of New York.
At this session Rev. Charles Hibbard gave a most excellent historical address, covering as fully as could be in a single address the fifty years' history of the Convention. It has been the basis of historical papers since then, and most of the facts he mentioned have been noted in the preceding pages. In a concluding paragraph he says, "Since the first anniversary of this body fifty years ago, more than one hundred churches have been aided by its funds, either by appropriation of money or by missionary supplies (seventy-four by grants of money) and all have received its foster- ing care. Of the present leading churches, Burlington, Brattle- boro, Bennington, Manchester and Rutland were for a time thus aided. In carrying on its work the Convention has received and expended $94,438. (For the first fourteen years small contribu- tions for home and foreign missions are included in this sum). In the meantime, $57,014.02 have been contributed for foreign missions, and twenty-one thousand, seven hundred and seventy- one converts, have, during the same period, been added to the churches by baptism.
"During these one hundred and forty-two years since the found- ing of the first church in Shaftsbury, many churches have come into existence, been sustained for longer or shorter time, with more or less of vigor, and then passed away. There have been about eighty of such. The causes for such decay and death are various.
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