USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 41
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"But with all these drawbacks, it is of great importance that the feeble churches be generally aided, even though they continue
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weak or die. The smallest and shortest lives of them all have lived long enough to be the means of saving precious souls. And if the strong men who were raised up among them were not re- tained by them, they were sent forth to do noble work elsewhere and to make other fields 'blossom as the rose.' I have but to name a few of them to make this apparent: as Chase, Culver, Conant, Cutting, Church, Woods, Kendrick, Ide, Haskall, Hodge, Hovey, Parker, Fish and others like them, a long catalogue; be- sides Brown, Haswell, Brayton, Bullard, Beecher, Knowlton, Carpenter and others who have carried the Gospel to heathen lands. Moreover, the sons and daughters of all our churches are, by thousands, carrying light and joy and a purer morality and deeper piety into the homes and churches of all the West. It pays to support churches which send forth such streams of in- fluence as these; churches that are the mothers of Gospel ministers and missionaries; churches which, if they die here, yet live broader lives in other states and lands. Finally, brethren, shall not this inquiry of the former age, this search of the fathers, incite us to yet greater diligence and self-denial and singleness of purpose in prosecuting the work which the Master has set before this Con- vention."
1876-1885
The Convention entered upon its fifty-first year, and the centennial year of national history, in the midst of a session of financial depression, and burdened with a debt of over $1,000. Rev. M. G. Smith, who, since 1870, had served the Convention as missionary, finished his life work in Preston, in November, 1875. "He literally wore himself out in the service of Christ among us, and his memory will long live in grateful remembrance here." Rev. Charles Hibbard of Chester, was elected State missionary in his stead.
After assisting in evangelistic services at Abbotts Corner, P. Q., by the direction of the missionary committee, he went to Vergennes, with instructions to do the work of a pastor, and especially to lead the people in an effort to build a house of wor-
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ship. In the face of great difficulties $5,000 was raised, and a contract let for the erection of the house. The Board, though burdened with the debt, yet feeling the responsibility of the great commission to preach a pure Gospel throughout our bor- ders, and to establish churches, according to the pattern shown us by Christ, dared not retrench to any considerable amount. Trusting God and the liberality of the churches, they appro- priated something over $3,000. "God and the brethren," say they, "have justified our faith."
The next two years, 1877 and 1878, the financial stringency continuing, the number of aided churches was reduced in 1877 to ten; 1878 and 1879 to eight; and the amount appropriated cor- respondingly reduced $2,218, $1,080, $1,065, for the years respec- tively. From that time the number of churches aided increased from eight to sixteen, and appropriations from $1,065 to $2,254.
Strenuous efforts were made to reduce the debt, but the de- mands upon the treasury were such that appropriations exceeded receipts each year, and at the anniversary, in 1885, the debt was $1,749. Meanwhile, however, the permanent fund increased from year to year. In 1870, the permanent fund was $2,296, and in 1885, it had increased to $15,430.
This increase in the permanent fund necessitated a change in the articles of incorporation, and in 1879, an amendment was secured authorizing trust funds to the amount of $100,000, to be appropriated for the benefit of foreign and domestie missions and any other religious or educational purpose.
During this period some new and promising fields made en- couraging progress, notably St. Albans, Vergennes, West Randolph, Montpelier and Essex Junction. The church in Middlebury was organized with the encouragement of the Board in 1879.
The Shaftsbury Association and the Woodstock Association completed their hundred years of history, in this decade-the Shaftsbury in 1880, and the Woodstock in 1882. Rev. T. H. Arehi- bald delivered appropriate historieal addresses on both occasions. Ministerial changes were frequently causing anxiety. In 1883, more than one-third of the pastors enrolled had changed church
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relations. In 1877, Rev. S. F. Brown served efficiently as mission- ary. Rev. N. G. Alger served as State missionary in 1883, 1884 and a portion of 1885.
The report of the committee on convention work in 1880, presented by Rev. J. K. Richardson, is of special interest because of its comparisons and recommendation. "In the past fifty years we have a little more than held our own in the State, while as com- pared with forty years ago we have fallen off. While the denomi- nation has increased six-fold in the country during the fifty years, it has increased but one-fifth in Vermont. During this period the population in the country has increased three and three- fourths times, and in Vermont, one-half. Approximately, the denomination has increased six-fold, and the population four-fold, in the country, while in Vermont, the increase has been one and one-fifth. Had the same increase obtained denominationally in Vermont as in the country, we should now number about fourteen thousand Baptists in this State.
"A comparison for the last thirty years will give a very dif- ferent result and will show that our denomination in this State has increased three times faster than the increase of the denomina- tion at large and population might have led us to expect. The reason for this remarkable difference between the two periods of fifty and thirty years is to be found in the reasons for falling off from 1840 to 1852, and the steady gain since then. Among other causes, it was shown that during the period of decline there was a very great falling off in funds, and that the change in progress is nearly coincident with the increase of funds; that the period of progress was marked by special emphasis being laid on helping the churches to secure permanent pastors; that something had been done by better Sunday school work; and lastly, that missionary work had been an important factor of progress. A glance was taken at the State by counties, showing that there was one county with no Baptist church, two counties with only one each, one with two, and one hundred and sixty-one towns with none. It was further shown that if any great progress was to be expected there must be a State missionary, who should be one of our very best
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men, and should receive a salary as large as though he were a pastor, and that this work must not be done at the expense of the work we are now doing."
(The above is a very brief abstract of quite a lengthy paper published in full in the November number of Vermont Baptist, by special request of the Convention).
The closing paragraph of the report of Convention work, presented by Rev. W. N. Wilbur in 1885, ends in the same key, and is prophetic of action soon to be taken, the fruits of which commend the wisdom of the recommendation. It reads:
"Brethren, we ought to visit every village and hamlet of the State, bearing the glad tidings of salvation, and carrying the gospel in its purity and completeness to the multitudes who are yet ignor- ant of the way of life. This thought leads me to express the con- viction which has weighed upon my mind for years, namely, our Convention should keep constantly in the field, at least one mis- sionary- a man of God, thoroughly qualified for his work, the equal of our best pastors, who, by his wisdom and piety, shall commend himself to the affection and cooperation of all the pastors and all the churches. Hitherto the difficulty in sustaining such a missionary has been a financial one. Now our "Permanent Fund," wisely invested, will yield an income nearly sufficient to meet the entire expense. Such a man would be a tower of strength in our Convention work, and with the divine blessing and the cooperation of the churches, he might reasonably hope to accon- plish more for the cause, and secure larger results, than he would in strictly pastoral work."
Another suggestion in this report was that the Convention carefully consider the wisdom of electing its Board of Managers in three classes, each class to hold office for the term of three years.
The baptisms during this decade were three thousand, five hundred and ninety-eight and accessions by letter and restoration made the additions reported five thousand, eight hundred and two. The losses, however, seem to have over-balanced the gains, and the membership of the churches of the Convention numbered in 1885, eight thousand, nine hundred and eighty.
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1886-1895
ALEXANDER MACGEORGE, STATE MISSIONARY
With the annual session of 1886 began a period of expansion and progress in the work of the Convention. By appointment of the Board, Rev. S. Henry Archibald, Rev. R. L. Olds and Deacon D. M. White, had canvassed the State for the purpose of raising funds and, early in this session, the glad announcement was made that the Convention was free from debt. The hearty thanks of the Convention were expressed by vote to the members of this committee for their energetic and successful work. The incubus of a debt was not allowed to weigh upon the Convention again during this decade. The permanent fund had reached the sum of $16,365. The time for enlargement had evidently come.
Encouraged by che outlook, the Board listened to the appeals of a larger number of churches and appropriated aid to eighteen churches, the largest number ever aided directly in one year up to this time. But more important than any other action of the Board, about this time, was the engagement of Rev. Alexander MacGeorge as State missionary, at a salary of $1,200, and traveling expenses. Toward this increased expense a special subscription had been made for one year amounting to $442.
Col. J. J. Estey, president of the Board, was especially in- terested in this enterprise. The convictions of the executive com- mittee as to the need of a State missionary were strong, and their conceptions of the sphere of his duties clearly defined.
The views of the executive committee on this subject were clearly outlined by J. J. Estey, in 1888, in a paper read to the Con- vention, and reveals the arduous work which was laid out for the new official.
"The State missionary labors under the immediate direction of the executive committee of the Board, doing such work and accomplishing such things as they may direct. The executive committee hold the view that the work in which they can most widely employ a missionary 's efforts is as follows: Looking after the weak, pastorless churches in the State-especially those that
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have been aided by the State Convention-and undertaking to get for them suitable pastors; helping them on the field to raise money for the support of the pastor; doing the same thing for churches that are not aided by the Convention, but, from all appearances, will very soon need aid unless assistance of this kind is given them; helping to settle difficulties in the two classes of churches mentioned above; aiding the weaker churches in evangel- istic work; helping to raise money to liquidate debts in these weaker churches; looking after new fields where should be Baptist churches, and visiting, as far as possible, the different associations in the State, presenting the needs of the State Convention, and in this way assist in the raising of funds necessary for the work of the Convention.
"It seems to me that the first duty named above is the most important one to the feeble churches in the State. With due respect to the brethren who have given themselves to the preaching of the Gospel, it does seem to me that the first requisite for a preacher has been neglected in many cases; viz. : practical common sense. This is needed to a greater degree in the smaller churches of our State than in the larger ones, where there is strength enough to carry on the work even if the pastor is not well-fitted for the field as he ought to be. But in the smaller churches, where the pastor must be the leader in all the affairs of the church, it needs a man peculiarly fitted for the work, and it seems to me that a lack of such pastors is one of the reasons why so many of our churches have been compelled to be aided by the Convention, year after year. There are, I am aware, exceptions to this rule, but this is the general rule, and while we cannot, as a denomination, have a bishop, I do believe that the most important work of the State missionary is to see that proper pastors are procured for these small churches.
"There are many other ways that the missionary can be made useful, but I think I have named the principal ones."
For the multiplex and delicate duties of the State missionary, Mr. MacGeorge was peculiarly well-fitted. He was in the prime of young manhood, of fine physique, easy manners, fluent in speech and of evangelistie spirit. Besides, he was unusually gifted with
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executive ability to bring things to pass. He was enthusiastic in his work and inspired courage and enthusiasm in others. He made himself familiar with the past history of the churches he visited, and with their present circumstances; ascertained their financial ability; studied their peculiar problems; examined their property, and noted what repairs or improvements were needed and possible on the church edifices or parsonages. He promptly made up his mind what the church could do and ought to do, and usually suc- ceeded in leading them on to the accomplishment of it. His recommendations to the Board were based on careful study of each church, and were made with commendable judgment. His first report to the Convention, through the Board, in 1887, was of special interest, a practical introduction of the man to the Con- vention, and of the aided churches to the Board.
He entered upon his work June 15, 1886. He was directed to visit Enosburg. On the way he made a short call at Colchester and became interested in that church. At Enosburg, he writes, "I began a visitation from house to house and was much pained to hear complaints made against the State Convention, in some re- cent transactions between the church and that body. The com- plaint was based upon the action of the Convention in refusing to aid to support a particular pastor called to settle with them. I learned all I could, met objections as fast as I could and as well as I was able. Called a meeting for the Sabbath, June 27, intending to remain but a few days. Our hearts were gladdened by the response to our invitation and the evident relish for the word of God. We came together in the evening and God poured out His Spirit. Souls began to ask the way to eternal life. Meetings were then announced for an indefinite period; and as night after night brought a crowded house, I saw it was best to stay until the work was finished. For five weeks I labored with this church, visited the baptismal waters four Sabbaths, and had the great blessing of leading many to the Saviour. Result of the meeting: Baptized, nineteen; received by letter, four; by experience, one; organized a Sunday school of seventy-eight members; raised for State Conven- tion, $16 in money; also secured the entire dismissal of old difficul- ties and promise of future cooperation with this body; raised $40
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for library books and received one hundred and one volumes of very interesting books from our great publication society; raised $10 more for Sunday school literature, which I insisted upon should be received from the same great society; and left the school in active operation with a corps of competent teachers."
He introduced to the church Geo. H. Page, of Montreal, who subsequently became their pastor. Of this work he says, "The work with this church has thoroughly convinced me of this fact: Churches that have grown weak and refused to aid the State Con- vention, can be reached and brought to a paying basis only in the same proportion as they increase in spiritual life. A revived church will give way to the needs of the Gospel. I consider it a useless task for your agent to present the needs of this body to a weak and spiritless church. To reach them preach the living Gos- pel in a living way, and then the money needed to carry on the Convention work will be furnished. Another fact is the necessity of careful nursing of a work begun in these weak churches. I am aware of the fact that fault has been found with the prolongation of my stay at Enosburg. I went there to do the work I was sent to do, and had I remained but a week or two I could not have made this report. To resurrect a church takes time and hard work, and any other method employed by this Board will prove disastrous to both the Convention and the missionary, whoever he is."
After leaving Enosburg he made short stays in North Troy and Jay, finding that they were contemplating uniting these two fields under one pastor, he commended the step. "Better for a weak church to clasp hands with another weak church and try to support a strong man, than for a weak church to try to support a weak man." He studied the complexities of the conditions at Richford, Berkshire, East Franklin, Essex Junction and Fairhaven. At Montgomery he held a series of meetings and laid the founda- tion for a revival that he was permitted to share in the following year, when fifty-one were added to the Baptist church there, twenty or more with the Congregational, and some to the Metho- dist. Most of the additions to the Montgomery church were adults, and long residents of the community, bringing with them a strong influence for future prosperity.
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The zeal and enthusiasm with which Mr. MacGeorge entered upon his important work, he maintained throughout the lengthened period of his service. The temporal and spiritual interests of the aided churches received his unremitting care. In the report of the Board in 1893, special mention was made of his work. For seven years and three months he served the Convention as State mis- sionary, and the Board was a unit in thinking that he was an in- strumentality used and blessed of God. During the years of his work he visited and labored with sixty-five churches. With fifty- seven of these he held revival services, varying from four days to five weeks with each. In the summer of 1892, he made a tour of the State, spending three months, traveling two thousand miles, visit- ing eighty-five churches and presenting Convention stems to six thousand, five hundred people. "In summer's heat and winter's cold he has gone up and down these valleys and on these hills and we have all been made glad by his coming; we have received him as God's messenger to our churches, and we do assuredly know that at the last many shall be found who will affirm that his was the human instrumentality through which they were led to see the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour. To many pastors and churches he has been the welcome counsellor, who has helped them through many a difficulty, and we cheerfully award him our commenda- tion and hearty good will and christian fellowship."
He was re-elected to his position in 1893, and spent the time until February with the churches in St. Albans, Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Brandon and Bennington, beginning his work in the latter place during the week of prayer. After seven weeks of special meetings the Bennington church requested the Board to release the missionary to finish the work begun, and the request was granted. Ninety were added to the church by baptism and letter, and all departments of the work were quickened. In September the missionary sent in his resignation to take effect October 1.
The Board adopted this minute, expressive of its appreciation of the labors of Mr. MacGeorge:
"Desiring to place on record some expression of our apprecia- tion of the consecrated and excellent work of our brother, Rev. A.
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MacGeorge, who had heard a call which he believed to be of God, to give himself wholly to the work of an evangelist, and therefore, to decline a further appointment to the office of State Missionary of the Convention, it seems eminently fitting that this minute be entered upon the records of the Board of the Convention. Rev. A. MacGeorge, having served the Convention as its missionary for more than seven years past with distinguished fidelity and devo- tion; and God's abundant blessing having resulted in such vast good to the churches throughout the State, we desire to express the sentiment that, while we part with him most reluctantly, we will yet pray that in the sphere of service into which he enters he may be blessed in even greater degree than in his greatly successful work among us. We earnestly commend him to the fullest con- fidence of the churches everywhere, and do assure our beloved brother that our earnest prayer and heart-felt interest will follow him in his new work."
The Convention cordially adopted this minute of the Board.
It would be difficult to sum up adequately the progress made in this decade. Added churches grew stronger, some of them com- ing to independence after many years of partial dependence upon the Convention, notably the churches in Montpelier, Newport, Richford and West Randolph. The Barre church was organized and entered upon a most promising career.
At the close of this period the Convention was assisting with its funds twenty-nine churches, a larger number than ever before. The permanent fund had increased from $16,365 to $20,585.
The executive committee of the board of trustees carry a responsibility heavier than that which is felt by the other mem- bers of the Board. The work of the State missionary and the mis- sionary pastors is always under their direct control, and much de- pends upon their wisdom and management. During the whole of the decade under consideration Col. J. J. Estey, of Brattleboro, was president of the Board and chairman of the executive committee. To the Convention work he gave unsparingly of his time and thought and means. He was always in intimate, friendly relations with the missionary, and in warm sympathy with the weaker churches and their pastors. Rev. S. H. Archibald, of Wallingford.
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was continuously secretary of the Board and a member of the executive committee. His acquaintance with the churches and pastors was probably more extensive and intimate than any other person on the Board. He gave careful study to all the details of the work, and much weight was given to his judgment when diffi- cult and delicate problems were under discussion. For a few years, Guy C. Noble, of St. Albans, and Rev. R. L. Olds, of Ludlow, were influential members. The death of Mr. Noble and the removal from the State of Mr. Olds, were losses seriously felt. Deacon Willard Crane, of Burlington, Hon. W. W. Stickney, of Ludlow, and Rev. E. A. Herring, of Brandon, each possessed peculiar quali- fications for the work of the executive committee and they heartily cooperated with the other members.
1896-1900
Early in the year 1895, the Board appointed the Rev. Thomas Cull its State missionary at a salary of $1,200, and expenses. Mr. Cull entered upon his work in January, and for about three years, in his own quiet, judicious, winning way, sought the good of the churches. He gave to the Convention work the benefit of ripe experience, mature judgment and sincere devotion. But the Con- vention had entered upon a brief period of financial depression and, in 1897, the Board decided, for financial reasons, to dispense with the services of the missionary; and, at a public meeting of the Board, on Tuesday morning of the Convention day, in Chester, the following was adopted:
"In view of the high christian character. carefulness of deport- ment, judiciousness of action and esteemed services of our bro- ther, Rev. Thomas Cull, during the years that he has been the missionary of the Vermont Baptist State Convention,
"Resolved, that it is with sincere desire and heart-felt regret that the Board, on account of the stringency that is upon our treasury, feels its inabliity to reappoint him as the missionary of this body."
Rev. Thomas Cull was born in England, in 1835, and came to America in 1854. He worked at shoemaking in Troy, N. Y., till
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1855, and joined the Fifth Street Baptist church by a letter brought from England. Rev. James Warren. D. D., afterward secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union, was then pastor of the church. Mr. Cull was a modest, retiring young man, yet Dr. Warren picked him out as one who ought to preach the Gospel. Dr. Warren told him that he did not suppose that anyone else would think he was adapted to the work, but that made no differ- ence. When Dr. Warren had an opinion, he did not stop to inquire what other people's opinions were, but held fast to his own. He told the young brother, also, that he believed he had longings him- self for the public work of the ministry, and in this the doctor was correct.
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