USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 47
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"Rewards. Let tickets be given to the first and second classes for attendance, one ticket, for lesson one, and for their answers, one." Following this plan is a plea for systematic study of the Bible.
In 1828, the Convention appointed Revs. A. Sabin, Hadley Proctor and Jona. Merriam, a committee to consider the expediency of forming a State Baptist Sunday School Union auxiliary to the American S. S. Union and to report the next day. This committee recommended that the whole subject be referred to the churches, to be taken into consideration and to be reported on by delegate or letter at the next session.
In 1829, the Convention suspended its exercises long enough to form a Sabbath School Union. The organization was effected by choice of Rev. Hadley Proctor, president; Rev. Isaiah Matti- son, 1st vice-president; Rev. Peter Chase, 2nd vice-president; Rev. Richard M. Ely, 3rd vice-president; Rev. Mansfield Bruce, 4th vice-president; Ezekiel Ransom, Esq., 5th vice-president; John Conant, Esq., treasurer; Rev. Jonathan Merriam, corres- ponding secretary; Rev. Eli B. Smith, recording secretary; Rev. J. M. Graves, Rev. Alvah Sabin, Rev. Leland Howard, Rev. J. Freeman, Rev. Cyrus, Rev. W. Hodges, Rev. Willard Kimball, trustees.
The object of the Union, as defined in its constitution, was "To promote the opening of new, and the increase of old Sabbath schools, within the limits of the State of Vermont; to establish a regular intercourse among the schools, by which improvements in
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
teaching, and all other communications, may be transmitted; to provide a Depository for supplying schools with suitable books, on the lowest terms; to furnish destitute schools with books, gratis, when the funds of the Union and circumstances of the school will justify such a measure; to stimulate and encourage each other in the instruction of the ignorant; to establish auxiliary societies to be connected with the Union in different parts of the State and to correspond regularly with the American Sunday School Union."
At the first meeting of the Board, which was on the same day that the Union was organized, viz .: October 29, 1829, it resolved to establish two depositories, one at Brandon, the other at Wind- sor. For the accomplishment of this object, the Board resolved to use their utmost exertions to raise $500 the ensuing year in shares of $5, one-half to be used as a permanent fund, the other half to be drawn by the subscriber at prime cost. Notwithstand- ing considerable effort was made, and several appeals were made to the churches upon this subject, less than $100 were paid into the treasury for this object. The inconvenience arising from this failure was partially lightened by the generosity of Brother Ira M. Allen, who, at his own expense, procured a good supply of class and library books. The Board appointed one Sabbath school mis- sionary in each county, and requested them, at their own expense, to do all they could to forward the general cause of Sabbath school instruction in their several counties, by forming new schools, regulating, encouraging and strengthening these already estab- lished, but very little was done that year.
In 1832, there were eight auxiliary unions connected with the Vermont Sabbath School Union. These were the Addison County Union, organized in 1830; the Bennington County Sabbath School Union, organized in 1832; the Fairfield Sabbath School Union, organized the same year; and Unions connected with the Vermont, Danville, Barre, Woodstock and Leyden Associations. None of these auxiliaries made careful reports, and the Board com- plained somewhat bitterly of this neglect. This Union kept up its organization several years, holding its annual meetings in connec- tion with the Convention, and its Board presented an annual re- port, which, with the minutes of the annual meeting of the Union, was published with the Convention minutes. For lack of funds
562
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
and other causes, however, the organization did not accomplish the object for which it was founded.
As early as 1838, the report of the Board was practically a confession of failure. In 1841, the Board reported. "It is now eleven years since the organization was formed. It has, doubtless, been the means of accomplishing some good, by diffusing informa- tion, and to a limited extent combining the moral power of the denomination in support of Sabbath schools. Its operations have, however, met with several serious interruptions. It manifestly has never enjoyed the sympathy and favor which its importance demands. Its claim to an equal place among the institutions for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom, seems never to have been practically admitted.
In 1844, by mutual agreement between the Union and the State Convention, the Union was merged into the Convention and was dissolved as a separate organization.
Rev. B. Burroughs, last president of the Sabbath School Union, was appointed by the State Convention as Sunday school secretary, and in the first session, after the dissolution of the Union, he reported from thirty-seven schools, thirty-eight superintendents, three hundred and ninety-seven teachers, and two thousand, eight hundred and ninety-three pupils. He made a strong appeal for increased interest in the work.
In 1848, the Board reported "The Sabbath school cause, we have reason to think, is very low in our congregations."
In 1850, the need of more thorough organization was felt by the Sabbath school committee and a futile effort made to secure it. From this time the mention of this subject drops from the published reports and discussions until 1863, when a committee was appointed to attend a Union State Sunday School Convention and to assist in the organization, if such should be called.
In 1869, the Convention met in Brattleboro. The interests of the Sunday school received special attention. W. C. Child, D. D., representing the American Baptist Publication Society, called attention in his address to the fact that the Publication So- ciety had inaugurated a new movement by calling a National Bap- tist Sunday School Convention.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
At the same session, a resolution was adopted, viz. : that a com- mittee be appointed, consisting of S. F. Brown, L. J. Mattison, E. M. Mills, M. A. Wilcox, L. K. Fuller, to confer with the different Sabbath schools and associational conventions, to arrange measures for calling a State Convention to settle all preliminaries, and to designate the time and place for the first session. This committee carried out their instructions with great care, and a Convention was called for Wednesday, June 1, 1870, at Rutland. Forty-seven schools were there represented by twenty-nine pastors, forty-one superintendents, and forty-four delegates.
Among the pastors were M. A. Wilcox, C. A. Thomas, L. J. Mattison, Charles Hibbard, S. F. Brown, A. N. Woodruff, Dwight Spencer, H. L. Grose, Luman Kinney, C. P. Frenyear, N. Cud- worth, J. Goadby, E. Mills, Wm. Rugg and J. Freeman. Among the superintendents, whose names are now familiar, were S. Big- wood, A. M. Kendall, A. F. Sherman, S. L. Armington, E. S. Hib- bard, Wm. M. Pingry and E. W. Horner. Among the delegates were W. A. Felt, E. A. Fuller, S. H. Archibald, Ex-Governor R. Fletcher, Alpheus Haynes.
The Convention organized by choice of Wm. M. Pingry, president; Deacon E. B. Stuart, secretary. Rev. E. Mills, of Rut- land, gave the opening address. The question, "Is there a demand for a Sabbath school missionary in the State," was discussed with animation. The question was finally tabled without action upon it. The committee on permanent organization reported against the proposition. Lengthy discussion followed this report, until, finally, the resolution was amended to read, "Resolved, that in the opinion of the delegates here assembled, the temporary organiza- tion formed today should be made permanent." This resolution was unanimously adopted. S. F. Brown, L. K. Fuller and J. Freeman were appointed to draft a constitution. The name adopted by this constitution was The Vermont Baptist Sabbath School Convention.
1870-1890
The object of the Convention, as defined in the constitution, was "to promote the interests of the Baptist Sunday schools in this
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
State, either in connection with the church or in destitute places.
The membership consisted of pastors, superintendents, and not more than three delegates appointed to represent each Sab- bath school in the State. The officers to consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and five directors. The time fixed upon was the first Wednesday in June, annually.
Thus was organized the Vermont Baptist Sabbath School Convention, which, for thirty years, vied with the State Conven- tion in popular interest. In some respects it rivalled in interest and popularity the parent Convention. The time of its annual meeting was the most inviting of the year, and it became like an annual festival. Delegations came in large numbers, till at times more than two hundred representatives of the schools were in at- tendance. Laymen took a specially active interest in the business and upon the programs of the Convention. L. K. Fuller, J. J. Estey, Guy Noble, A. F. Sherman, L. W. Hawley and others were enthusiastic supporters of the Convention. The programs were prepared with great care. The most talented speakers on Sunday school questions were engaged, regardless of expense. The annual expense of the Convention for speakers and incidentals averaged about $150. Geo. A. Peltz, Warren Randolph, W. F. Sherwin, C. R. Blackall, Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Stebbins, Ira D. Sankey and Dwight L. Moody were among the speakers. Singing was led by the most skilled conductors. A very wide range of topics was treated. Time was allowed for devotional services, and for gen- eral discussion.
From the beginning to the end, the Convention was of the nature of an institute. It was not a Sunday school missionary organization. The projeet of employing a Sunday school mission- ary was agitated now and then, but was not adopted. The Conven- tion was educative and inspirational.
One of the special eharms of the Convention was its harmony and the homogeneity of its constitueney. All were of one mind. There was the opportunity for the freest expression of denomina- tional sentiments, narrative of Baptist history, and instruction in the cardinal principles of the denomination.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
The tax upon the entertaining churches was heavy, but was cheerfully borne. The traveling expenses of the delegates amounted to no small sum.
The practical results of the Convention it is difficult to meas- ure. The delegates returned to their homes unquestionably better fitted for work, and with deepened convictions. The evangelistic character of many of the sessions kindled interest among the per- sonal workers and leaders of the Sunday schools throughout the State. A glance at the statistical tables appended, shows a rapid gain in the enrollment of the schools for a few years after the organi- zation of the Convention. This increase may be partly due to more complete reports of the schools, but this cannot wholly account for the increase. In 1876, nine thousand, nine hundred and thirty pupils were enrolled. During most of the life of the Convention the enrollment was upward of eight thousand. In 1900, the num- ber enrolled was seven thousand, seven hundred and ninety-two, with one thousand, twenty-seven teachers and officers.
1900-1910
At length, interdenominational organizations and assemblies were becoming more and more popular. The Vermont State Sun- day School Association, auxiliary to the International Sunday School Association, became more active in institute and missionary work. Its annual anniversaries were becoming, not a counter attraction, but in some measure a substitute for the Baptist Sun- day School Convention. Many of the most active Sunday school workers found in the union organization a wider sphere of useful- ness. The cost of maintaining both Conventions had weight as a motive for discontinuance of the Baptist Sunday School Conven- tion. Strong appeals were made for the cooperation of the Bap- tists in the State Association, and in the thirty-first annual meet- ing of the Vermont Baptist Sabbath School Convention, held in Ludlow, June 5 and 6, 1900, Gen. J. J. Estey made a motion, which amended, read, "For the purpose of facilitating a more active cooperation in the State Sunday School Association work on
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
the part of our Sunday schools, Resolved, that this Convention dissolve at the close of this annual session." This was carried by a rising vote of forty-one to ten.
The last resolution of this body was as follows: "Resolved, that this Convention, about to dissolve, recommend that it do all in its power to advance the work of the union effort of the Inter- denominational Sunday School Association of Vermont."
The last address of the Convention was given by Rev. H. S. Johnson, pastor of the Warren Avenue Baptist church, Boston, on "A Child's Soul." After singing, the benediction was pro- nounced by Rev. F. J. Franklin, of Mount Holly, and the Conven- tion was dissolved.
The State Convention in 1900, the same year that the Vermont Baptist Sunday School Convention was dissolved, amended Article II of the Rules of Order, by adding the words, "which shall provide for a session in the interests of the young people." Pro- vision was thus made to supply, in part, the loss of the Sabbath school convention. Since then a Sunday school session has been held at each annual anniversary of the State Convention, and live Sunday school topics have been presented by such able speakers as L. W. Hawley, C. H. Spaulding, D. D., Rev. E. H. McEwen, Rev. E. M. Fuller, Rev. Woodman Bradbury, Rev. O. S. C. Wallace, Edwin P. St. John, Rev. Hugh T. Mussleman and others.
While thus maintaining a denominational interest in their own Sunday schools, the Baptists of Vermont have not been in- different to the obligations assumed in connection with the Inter- denominational State Sunday School Association.
In April, 1869, Dr. O. B. Douglas, then living in Brattleboro, and a member of the First Baptist church in that place, went to the Fourth National Sunday School Convention at Newark, N. J. He returned thoroughly convinced that some organized effort ought to be made by the various denominations in Vermont to pro- mote the Sunday school interests. He laid the matter before the State meetings of the various denominations, with the result that a convention of Sunday school workers was called officially by the denominations to meet in Rutland, in October, of the same year. At that meeting The Vermont Interdenominational Sunday School
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
Association was organized. Its first president was Deacon E. A. Fuller, who was a member of the First Baptist church in Burling- ton, and its first secretary was Capt. Geo. E. Davis of the same church.
During all the years up to the time of the abandonment of the Baptist Sunday School Convention the Baptists of Vermont were prominently engaged in the interdenominational work. The names of Gen. J. J. Estey, L. W. Hawley, and others associated with them, are a sufficient indication of their interest. There is no question but that the Baptist Sunday schools bore their pro- portionate share of the burden of the interdenominational work, and some individual Baptists contributed very largely.
In 1903, Rev.E.A. Fuller had resigned the pastorate of the Bap- tist church in Barre, and became State secretary of the Interdenomn- inational State Sunday School Association, and held that position for about six years, and, naturally, Baptist schools rallied to his lead- ership. At the time of his appointment, John A. Greenwood, a member of the Baptist church in Chester, was president of the organization. Mr. Greenwood and Mr. B. A. Park, of Chester, with a few leaders in other denominations, became practically responsible for the financial obligations of the Association for at least two years. Since that time, such men as C. J. Ferguson, F. S. Retan, W. A. Clark, of Rutland; R. S. Benedict, of Middlebury; C. A. Crampton, of St. Albans; Rev. A. H. Gage, Rev. F. S. Tolman, Rev. W. F. Meyer, Rev. S. P. Perry, Rev. J. S. Brown, and many others who have held prominent places in the State and County Associations, are abundant proof of the interest of Baptists in this work.
F. G. Safford, of the First Baptist church in Burlington, has been its treasurer.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
SUNDAY SCHOOL STATISTICS
Year
Teachers
Pupils
Year
Teachers
Pupils
1868
717
.7245
1879
1143
9416
1869
788
8435
1880
1162
9291
1870
711
7664
1881
1213
8440
1871
512
5383
1882
1086
7524
1872
709
.6864
1883.
1059
7622
1873
524
7146
1884
1078
8257
1874
860
7745
1885
1039
7673
1875
924
9916
1886.
1103
7796
1876
917
9930
1887
1127
8245
1877
1020
9601
1888
1122
8041
1878
1146
9153
1889
1070
8370
Teachers and
Teachers and
Year
Officers
Pupils
Year
Officers
Pupils
1890
1082
8528
1901
1054
7597
1891
1134
.8546
1902
991.
7266
1892
1087
8285
1903
936 6406
1893
1063
8098
1904
940
6765
1894
1038
8249
1905
1028 7083
1895
1015
7641
1906
1033
7007
1896
1118
7998
1907
1073
7501
1897
1034
7429
1908
1068
7115
1898.
1003
7410
1909
1130
7367
1899
1059
7242
1910
1083
7602
1900
1027.
7792
1911
1096
7990
1912
1064
7630
ARTHUR G. CRANE Treasurer of Vermont Baptist Minister's Conference
CHAPTER XXV THE VERMONT BAPTIST BIBLE SOCIETY
The Baptists of the State commenced early with other de- nominations in the promotion of the Bible cause, and continued their efforts in that direction until 1836, when their interest re- ceived a new impetus in new channels.
In 1834, Adoniram Judson, after long, long years of toil, com- pleted his translation of the Bible into Burmese. In a letter dated January 31, 1834, he wrote: "Thanks to God, I can now say I have attained. I have knelt down before Him, with the last leaf in my hand, and, imploring his forgiveness for all the sins which have polluted my labors in this department, and His aid in remov- ing the errors and imperfections which necessarily cleave to the work, I have commended it to His mercy and grace. I have dedi- cated it to His glory. May He make His own inspired Word, now complete in the Burman tongue, the grand instrument of filling all Burma with songs of praise to our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen."
Up to this time Baptists of this country had been cooperating with other denominations in the Bible work of the American Bible Society, and they had reason to suppose that this society would hail with delight and gratitude the accomplishment of Dr. Judson, and aid in distributing it among the people for whom it was in- tended. But after American Baptist missionaries had translated the Bible into half the languages of the globe, this society, in 1835, resolved that we should have no aid from their treasury in cireulat- ing the versions made by Baptist missionaries. The reason for this resolution was solely that the word "baptize" and its cognates, had been clearly and correctly translated immerse, instead of being transliterated as in our authorized English Bibles.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
Baptists, protesting in vain, were thrown upon their own re- sources, and preliminary steps were taken to organize a new society. The Vermont Baptist State Convention appointed as delegates to the proposed Bible Convention, that was called to meet in Philadelphia on the last Wednesday in April, 1836, D. Haskell, chairman, Daniel Packer, Samuel Eastman, E. Hutch- inson, J. D. Farnsworth and Samuel Greggs. The following year, 1837, upon report of the Bible committee, the Convention passed a resolution approving the formation of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and recommended the immediate formation of a Vermont Bible Society, auxiliary thereto; and that, as soon as possible, branch societies be formed in each Association; and that means be adopted to bring all the churches and benevolent in- dividuals to aid the society by their contributions. They resolved, further, that it was inexpedient to restrict the American and For- eign Bible Society to the circulation of the scriptures in foreign languages. Upon the passage of these resolutions the Conven- tion suspended its business long enough to organize the Vermont Bible Society.
J. D. Farnsworth was appointed president; W. Walker, B. Carpenter, J. Ide, A. Sabin, L. P. Parks, L. Fisk, D. Packer, I. Pearsons, M. Bruce, S. C. Dillaway, vice-presidents; J. Freeman, secretary; J. P. Skinner, treasurer. J. D. Farnsworth, A. Sabin, S. Greggs, D. Packer and J. P. Skinner were appointed delegates to the next annual meeting of the parent society.
Meanwhile, the Associations were aroused on this subject. The Vermont and the Woodstock Associations passed resolutions upon the subject. The Woodstock Association had a record-mak- ing session in 1836. In the afternoon of the second day, although upward of $200 had been previously subscribed for the Vermont Branch of the Northern Baptist Education Society, Brother Packer, of Mount Holly, made some remarks upon giving the Bible to the heathen, and closed by saying that he would pay $150 to constitute Adoniram Judson a life director, and $30 to con- stitute Nathan Brown a life member of the American and Foreign Bible Society. A proposition was made that the ladies present should raise the sum necessary to constitute Mrs. Brown a life
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN VERMONT
member of the same society. This was soon done. Then the spirit went on till a subscription was filled to constitute Brother Haswell and wife and Mrs. Judson life members of the same so- ciety. In 1839, the Vermont branch paid to the treasurer of the parent society, $303.78; in 1839, the receipts were $423.89. In 1841, and 1842, the receipts fell off considerably, being $106.20 and $102.18, respectively. In 1843, owing to the personal solicita- tions of Rev. H. Seaver, agent of the parent society, the receipts for Bible work were much larger, amounting to $789.91. At the anniversary in 1845, Missionary Kincaid, of Burma, addressed the society in support of the Bible cause. Mr. Seaver had col- lected $534.89, and upward of $50 had been received for books and Bibles sold. In 1846, $671.82 were forwarded to the parent so- ciety. Of this sum, $217.57 were from the Rutland County branch.
The last meeting of the society was held in Chester in 1846.
Upon report of a joint committee of the Bible Society and the Vermont Baptist State Convention, the society was dissolved, and the organization of associational or sectional societies recom- mended.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE VERMONT BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The origin of the Vermont Baptist Historical Society is due very largely to the efforts of the late lamented Rev. Cyprian P. Frenyear. For several years previous to his death, he spent much time in the collection of material pertaining to the history of Ver- mont Baptists. In the report of the committee of obituaries, presented to the State Convention in 1876, the opinion was ex- pressed, that the time and labor thus spent was equal to a year of continuous toil. In 1875, Mr. Frenyear prepared a paper on "Our denominational history, its scope, sources, importance and means of preservation." In its closing paragraph he says, "I sincerely hope that the denomination will not let the centennial year pass without organizing a Baptist State Historical Society upon so broad and firm foundations as to give it immediate and perpetual success." This paper was printed and circulated in the State. At the semi-centennial of the State Convention at St. Albans, in 1875, the matter of organizing a historical society was considered, and a committee of three appointed to report a basis of union at the next meeting of the Vermont Baptist Sabbath School Convention. This committee consisted of C. P. Frenyear, C. Hibbard and F. Henry. Before the time designated, Brother Frenyear died and W. H. Rugg was chosen to fill his place. After the close of the Convention in Chester in 1876, pursuant to a call previously issued, a few brethren met in the Baptist church at six o'clock P. M., October 6, and organized a society to be called The Vermont Baptist Historical Society. A constitution drafted by the hand of Brother Frenyear was adopted with some amendments.
At the first meeting, a committee consisting of W. H. Rugg and J. J. Estey was appointed to confer with Mrs. Frenyear with a view of securing the material left by her husband. This com- mittee, after visiting Mrs. Frenyear and examining the material,
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concluded that $500 would be a fair offer for it. This offer was confirmed by the society and accepted by Mrs. Frenyear, and the material turned over to the society on condition that the docu- ments to be made over to the society should be placed in the cus- tody of a librarian, and, secondly, that the society should pay for the documents the sum of $500, in installments of $100 per year, for five years, payable on or before October 10 in each year. The society thus began its life with lofty incentives and sacred obliga- tions and a heavy financial burden. The agreement with Mrs. Frenyear was carried out. The most valuable part of the material was transferred to the care of a librarian and placed in the fire- proof safe belonging to Judge Pingry in Perkinsville.
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