USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 48
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In 1879, the Frenyear material was catalogued. Efforts were made to increase the membership; historical papers were written and contributed to the society. In 1885, substantial gifts of historical material were received from Hon. W. M. Pin- gry's heirs and Rev. S. F. Brown.
At the time of its organization, the society appointed Rev. T. H. Archibald, president, which office he held four years and then, after an interval of eight years, he was reappointed and held the position from that time till his death-1888-1900. He was deeply interested in the purposes of the society and prepared valu- able papers on historical subjects, some of which were published in the minutes of the State anniversaries. The preparation of the History of Vermont Baptists was committed to him in 1898, and he gave much time to the arranging of material for it, under the direction of the society, and with the approval of the Conven- tion. It was a matter of great regret that he could not finish this important work for which he was so well fitted. Other presidents who have served short terms are Foster Henry, R. L. Olds, J. A. Pierce, W. A. Kinzie, Henry Crocker and George B. Lawson.
The collection of the society has for several years been kept in the library of Vermont Academy.
CHAPTER XXVII
VERMONT BAPTIST YOUNG PEOPLE'S UNION
In 1891, the aims and methods of the Baptist Young People's Union of America had so commended themselves to the pastors and members of some of our churches that, at the Convention which met at Montpelier that year, Rev. D. D. Owen offered the following resolution, which, after an animated discussion, was adopted.
Resolved, that since the interests of the young people of our Baptist churches will best be secured by alliance with our denomi- national organization, we therefore recommend the young people of our Baptist churches to organize with the constitution recom- mended by the National Union, and that all young people's so- cieties already existing affiliate with these in associational and State organizations.
The following summer, a Convention was called at Burlington, consisting of delegates from all the young people's organizations connected with our Baptist churches in the State, to consider the expediency of organizing a State Baptist Young People's Union. The call was responded to by a large number of delegates. A con- siderable number were strongly opposed to the movement. The principal cause of the opposition was the misapprehension that the movement was antagonistic to the Christian Endeavor Societies. After full and free discussion and explanation of the educational purpose of the union, the vote was taken and a decided majority was in favor of the union.
Rev. W. S. Roberts, of Burlington, was one of the most earnest advocates of the union, and was elected its first president, a position which he held till 1894, and to which he gave much thought and personal effort.
The State Convention, in 1892, passed a resolution endorsing the action taken in furtherance of the young people's movement, and approving the organization of a State Baptist Young People's Union, sincerely believing that it would result in the unification
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of the constituency of our churches. Associational unions were formed in Lamoille and Woodstock Associations.
For a few years the Union did comparatively little beside act as distributing agent for the literature and circulars of the Bap- tist Young People's Union of America, and, by its officers and mem- bers, advocate the study of the christian culture courses.
Annual meetings were held in connection with the State Con- vention, and excellent speakers were secured, who kept the educa- tional features of the Union before the people.
Later, the educational leaders made more systematic effort to organize classes among the young people of the churches and were successful to some degree. In this work Rev. H. E. Thayer, Rev. F. R. Morris, Rev. C. W. Jackson and Rev. Silas Perry, were specially active, and Miss Grace Young, Junior leader, among the younger members.
The difficulty of obtaining full and accurate reports from all the societies makes it impossible to record the extent of the young people's movement in the State. In 1896, fifty-four societies re- ported one thousand, seven hundred and thirty-nine members. In 1900, forty-two societies reported a total membership of one thousand, five hundred and eighty-five, of which one thousand, three hundred and twenty-two were active and two hundred and forty-seven associate members. In 1910, in response to fifty-six communications, the secretary received reports from twenty-two societies (twelve Christian Endeavor and nine Baptist Young People's Union and one Junior), showing active membership, seven hundred and forty-four; associate members, one hundred and sixty- four. Nineteen societies failed to report -- eleven Christian En- deavors and eight Baptist Young People's Union. These, the previous year, reported eight hundred and six members. This would give the probable total membership in the State over one thousand, seven hundred.
In 1904, about two hundred and sixty had been enrolled in some kinds of classes.
At a business meeting held in Middlebury, September 27, 1910, the following resolutions, unanimously adopted by the Ver- mont Christian Endeavor Union in annual Convention, assembled at Barton, Vt., October 5, 1910, were endorsed.
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CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR RESOLUTIONS ON INTERDENOMINATIONAL STATUS AND SERVICE
Whereas, we, the Young People's Societies of the Vermont Christian Endeavor, and the Vermont Baptist State Convention, being of common interest and service in the Kingdom of God, real- izing a deep need of unity of purpose, do hereby state our mutual plan for the successful carrying out of a uniform policy of support for our general State work.
Whereas, the Vermont Christian Endeavor Union in the mem- bership clause of its constitution places all societies of identical purpose and methods, of whatsoever name, on the same plane as those bearing the name of Christian Endeavor.
Whereas, the Young People's Societies of the Vermont Baptist State Convention recognize the value to them of fellowship with Christian Endeavor, and in order to promote such fellowship have disbanded the State Baptist Young People's Union and the local Baptist Young People's Unions, and have united in one organiza- tion all Baptist Young People's Societies of every name for the single purpose of denominational unity: have adopted the policy of organizing all new societies with the Christian Endeavor name and urging all existing societies of other names to join the Vermont Christian Endeavor Union and expect all their societies to be mem- bers of local and county Christian Endeavor Unions; and
Whereas, the method of raising funds for the Vermont Christian Endeavor Union of the Young People's Societies of the Vermont Baptist State Convention has been burdensome to the Baptist societies, be it
Resolved, that hereafter the treasurer of the Vermont Christian Endeavor Union shall send no appeals for funds to any Baptist Young People's Society, but shall receive their contribution from the treasurer of the Young People's Societies of the Vermont Bap- tist State Convention and such contribution shall consist of one- half the amount given by all the Vermont Young People's Societies to their treasurer.
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THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BIBLE AND MISSIONARY INSTITUTES
An interdenominational enterprise, especially in the interests of young people, in which Baptists of Vermont have taken an active part, is the Green Mountain Bible and Missionary Institute, held as a summer conference for several years at Fairfax. In 1907, the Young People's Missionary Movement encouraged the exten- sion of the Silver Bay Conference spirit and work in other places. Dr. W. E. Witter urged the founding of a permanent institute for young people in Vermont upon the Silver Bay plan. In the spring of 1907, a meeting of those interested was held in the vestry of the Baptist church in St. Albans. There were in attendance, Rev. J. S. Brown, pastor of the Baptist church, St. Albans; Rev. Mr. Lowe of the Methodist church, St. Albans; Rev. A. Frank Ufford of Fairfax, Rev. Silas Perry of Richford, Dr. Frank W. Norris of Swanton, and others. An organization was formed, and Rev. A. Frank Ufford was chosen president. Plans were laid for an annual summer conference. Fairfax was chosen as the place, the free use of the commodious school building on the site of the old New Hampton Institution, having been offered for the purpose. Conferences were held annually, 1907- 1912, led by Rev. J. S. Brown, as president, 1908-1909, and by Rev. Silas P. Perry, 1910-1912. Courses in Bible study, missions, teachers' training and general christian culture, were conducted by Rev. Jesse Smith of Rangoon College, Burma, Mr. George Hunting- ton, Miss Ada A. Brigham and others, and the foundations laid for a summer conference of great value.
CHAPTER XXVIII GIFTS OF VERMONT BAPTISTS то FOREIGN MISSIONS AND HOME MISSIONS
The following account of the gifts of Vermont Baptists to the work of both foreign missions and home missions, is from the paper prepared by Rev. S. H. Archibald and published in the minutes of 1903.
VERMONT AND MISSIONS
The part taken by Vermont Baptists in the various missionary enterprises has been so fully shown in the histories of the several Associations and of the State Convention, that a full resurvey of this work is unnecessary. We have seen that the Woodstock As- sociation appears to have the honor of making the earliest record of missionary effort beyond their own bounds, by any body of Baptists in this country, although there was no special organization separate from the Association itself for the promotion of this object. This was at its regular session in 1791, a year before Carey preached his great sermon, "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God," when Jedediah Hibbard, Joseph Call, Nehemiah Wood- ward and John Hebhard were encouraged and assisted to make their proposed journey through the northern part of Vermont, and as far as Caldwell's Manor within the Canada line. The other associations sent their itinerant ministers and missionaries far abroad throughout the infant settlements and to the frontiers, winning converts, planting and encouraging churches and spread- ing the Gospel message. The State Convention, from the begin- ning, has been inspired with the spirit of world-wide missions. In the report of the Board of the Convention for 1832, mention is made
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of the special contributions of Vermont to the Burman mission, and it is there said that, "in the past six years more than $1,000 has been paid out of the treasury to the Burman mission, which, added to the about $1,800 that has passed through the treasury the present year, raised for the special purpose of furnishing the outfit, passage money and support, for a season, to Rev. Nathan Brown and wife, makes nearly $3,000 from the State of Vermont for the Burman mission alone." Subsequent reports of the Board and committees make reference to this matter and show the con- tinued interest in the subject of world-wide missions, which it would be interesting to quote. Summarizing as best we can, it appears that down to March 31, 1839, the total contributions going through foreign missionary channels was $7,290; several hundred dollars being in goods, and, as far as observed, the largest single contributor giving, during his life, was a pastor. Once it is noted that a Revolutionary soldier, a pensioner, gave a tenth of his pen- sion to foreign missions. From this time the money contributions can be stated with only such errors as may be incident to computa- tion, and there is a total to the American Baptist Foreign Mis- sionary Society and its predecessors in name, the sum of $251,020. This includes the contributions of the churches, to 1912, inclusive, the collections of the Woman's Foreign Mission Societies for forty years, the offerings to the work of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and $305.33 contributed to the American Baptist Free Mission Society.
But other contributions to foreign missions made by the Bap- tist churches of Vermont must not be forgotten. Men and women, consecrated to God, have gone from these hills and valleys giving service to the cause of christian missions. Only brief mention of these will be attempted, with hasty sketch of work performed. There are some names to be found on this roll which, in our present day division, would be considered as home missionaries. In this class would be found:
Rev. Lemuel Stannard, born in Dorset; appointed a missionary to the Oneida Indians; died in 1828.
Amanda W. Stannard, of Dorset, Vt., appointed to the Puta- watomies, in 1830. She resigned in 1831.
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Rev. Ambler Edson, born at Brandon, in 1811, and, in 1833, licensed to preach by the Chester church; ordained at Plymouth, 1839; health prevented going to the East; missionary for two years to the Ottoe Indians, when ill health compelled his return; died at North Fairfax, 1873.
Charles R. Kellam, born at Irasburg, 1809, and there ordained in 1836, and appointed the same year a missionary to the Choc- taws and Creeks, dying in 1838.
Elizabeth S. Morse, born in Concord, Vt., 1816, appointed a missionary to the Indians, 1842.
There are at least three who did missionary work in France: Rev. Erastus Willard, born at Lancaster, Mass., 1800, baptized at Saxtons River, in 1820, by Rev. Joseph Elliott, with whom he fitted for college; graduated at Colby, 1829; studied at Newton; ordained at Grafton, in 1833; appointed to France, in 1835, where he remained until 1856; from 1857 to 1859, when he resigned, mis- sionary of the American Baptist Missionary Union to the Ottawas. in Kansas; afterwards a pastor and died at Newport, R. I., December 29, 1871. Mr. Willard married Sarah Clarke, who was born in Rockingham, in 1800; went with her husband, in 1835, to France, and died in 1844, after nine years of service.
Mrs. Harriet Willard, who married Rev. Isaac Wilmarth, was born in Rockingham, in 1807, appointed, in 1833, to France, and by reason of ill health, returned to this country after three years of service. This Isaac Wilmarth, a native of New York, after his re- turn from France, was a pastor at Grafton and Pondville.
Alfred A. Constantine and wife appear to have been the con- tribution of Vermont to the work in Africa. He was born in Massachusetts, in 1812, but early was brought to Vermont, where he was converted at sixteen years of age. July 2, 1840, he was ordained at Mount Holly, where a large concourse of people were gathered. The same day he was married to Mary Fales, a missionary to the Marshpee Indians. Ill health made his stay in Liberia a short one of only some two years. He returned to this country and did some pastoral work in Vermont. He died at Summit, New Jersey, July 9, 1902.
The others have all been missionaries to some parts of Asia, if no mistake has been made. First in point of time, if not as well
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in dignity of service, is the name of the man who gave the Bible to two distinct nations in their own language, Nathan Brown, D. D., who was born in 1807, in New Ipswich, N. H., removed when a few months old to Whitingham, Vt., where he was born again and re- ceived into the church, August 5, 1816; graduated at Williams College, in 1827; having been in the meantime member at Benning- ton and Brandon and then, for a short time, at Rutland, where he was ordained a missionary to Burma, August 15, 1832. He had married in May, 1830, Eliza Bullard, who was born in Charlemont, Mass., 1807, and while residing at Brandon, he had, for a time, edited the Vermont Telegraph, the Vermont Baptist paper; while at Bennington, he had made the acquaintance of William Lloyd Garrison, and so, perhaps, originated or at least strengthened the convictions which led Mr. and Mrs. Brown to object to receiving money from slave-holders in support of missions; and, in 1855, they returned to this country, where Dr. Brown edited the Ameri- can Baptist for a series of years; and after the Civil war, in 1873, he went to Japan under appointment of the Missionary Union. Mrs. Brown died in 1871, having been a foreign missionary twenty- three years; and Dr. Brown died in 1886, having performed thirty- seven years of service on the foreign field.
Next in order of time is Rev. James M. Haswell, born in Ben- nington, in 1810, appointed in 1835, and reached Burma the next year, where he died after forty years of service, in 1876. He married Jane Mason of Massachusetts, who died in 1884; they left three children to continue their work on the foreign field, and, on one side, are the progenitors of a distinguished missionary family.
Durlin L. Brayton, born in Hubbardton, in 1808, early removed to New York state, whence he was appointed as a missionary to Burma, in 1837. He married the daughter of a Vermont Baptist minister, Mary II. Fuller, who died in 1890. Mr. Brayton died in 1900, after sixty-three years of service, having revisited his native country but twice.
John Sidney Beecher, born in Hinesburg, 1820; ordained at the same place, 1846; sailed for Burnia in company with Dr. Judson in that year; returned to this country, in 1854, and sailed again in 1857, and on the way home he died in England, in 1866, after
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twenty years of service as a missionary. The closing inscription on the tablet to his memory in Memorial Hall, in Burma, is, "His is the distinguished honor of establishing the first christian school in Burma, on the basis of indigenous support. The Karen christians of Bassein will not suffer his memory or the Institution he founded to perish."
Mrs. Juliette Patterson, the daughter of a Baptist minister, was born in West Haven, 1808, and became the wife of the Rer. J. G. Binney; was appointed a missionary to Burma, in 1843, died in 1884, after forty years of service.
Edwin B. Bullard, born at Shrewsbury, in 1813, ordained at Middletown, in 1840; one fruitful year as a pastor in Massachusetts, and, in 1843, appointed a missionary to Burma, where he died in Maulmain, in 1847, after only four years of service. He married Ellen Huntley, of Brattleboro, in 1839, who became the third wife of Francis Mason; she was instrumental in founding the first woman's mission society in 1861, ten years before the founding of the present organization. Her later years were clouded by certain hallucina- tions, which led her to work much injury among the converts of Christ.
M. II. Bixby, D. D., a most successful missionary on the foreign field, and equally successful as a pastor on the home field, was born at Warren, N. H., in 1827, converted and baptized at East Hard- wick, Vt .; ordained at Williston, in 1849; was also pastor at Johnson; sailed as a missionary to Burma, in 1851; returned after three years' service, hoping to save the life of his wife, who died shortly after arriving in this country; was a pastor in Providence, R. I., and, in 1860, was reappointed a missionary, where he labored until 1868, when failing health again compelled his return,and he founded the Cranston Street church in Providence, where he was a pastor for upward of thirty years, and died in 1901.
Susan C. Dow, who was the first wife of Dr. H. M. Bixby, was born in Walden, Vt., 1829; converted in 1847; baptized into the church at East Hardwick; sailed as a missionary in 1853, and died in August, 1856, leaving a nine-months old daughter, who became the wife of Truman Johnson, M. D., in Toungoo, Burma.
Miles J. Knowlton, D. D., was born at West Wardsboro, in 1825, in which place he was also ordained, September 8, 1853,
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after graduating at Hamilton, sailed, December of the same year, for China, where he died after twenty years of service, in 1874. He married, in 1853, Lucy Ann St. John. At the Convention service held in Brandon, by special vote, two days before his ordination, an evening was given to "arranged with reference to the departure of Miles J. Knowlton as a missionary." A sympathetic and keen survey of mission work by John A. Goadby, D. D., was given and remarks were made by the missionary appointee, Rev. J. D. E. Jones, Rev. E. A. Cummings and Rev. J. W. Eaton. Prayer was offered by Rev. Ira Pearsons, "with special reference to the de- parture of Rev. M. J. Knowlton and wife," after which they were addressed in behalf of the Convention by Rev. A. Sabin (mod- erator), who gave them the parting hand. The fine monument erected to the memory of Mr. Knowlton, at Ningpo, China, by loving friends, many of whom were native christians, tells of his long journeys and untiring preaching in summer's heat and winter's cold; of his gentleness, patience and wisdom, so that he was often called the Confucius of the West.
Mary E. Blandin was born in Brandon; reared and educated at Townshend; married Rev. Isaac D. Colburn and appointed to Tavoy, in 1863. For several years has been in this country.
Mrs. Julia (Putnam) Cross, the daughter of Rev. Benjamin Putnam, was born at Bethel, in 1819; married E. B. Cross, and was appointed, in 1843, and, after more than thirty years of service, died in 1875.
Edward Payson Scott was born in Greensboro, Vt., in 1832; in early life went West; educated at Knox College and Hamilton; appointed a missionary in 1860, and died in 1869.
Corodon HI. Slafter was born at Norwich, Vt., 1811; educated at Hamilton; sailed for the foreign field in December, 1838; de- signated to Siam. A brief but active missionary life was terminated in 1841; he and his wife had a family boat in which they sought to penetrate to every part of the country. "When informed that he must die, he at first evinced disappointment at so early an end of his work; but soon remarked, "God is able to carry on his work without me."
Edwin D. Kelley was born at Clarendon, in 1846; sailed to the foreign field in 1871, where he was drowned in 1873. His wife was
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Jennie W. Blackador, who took a four years' course in medicine and a term of study at Newton; returned to the foreign field in 1880, and died in 1889.
Edwin Bullard, son of missionaries above named, was born in Burma, in 1847; appointed in 1870, and served until 1878, when he returned to this country and immediately became pastor at Addison, whence he departed, in 1882, for a second term. He is still on the field.
W. H. S. Haskall, born at Pittsford, in 1850; appointed a missionary, in 1872; returned in 1879, reappointed, 1883; returned the second term in 1889; resigned in 1890; was reappointed in 1903; returned to the United States in 1906; sailed again for Burma, in 1912. When in this country he served different churches as pastor.
Samuel W. Nichols, was born in Burlington, in 1846; educated at Hamilton; ordained and pastor in New York for a brief term, when, in 1878, he sailed for the foreign work, dying in 1880.
Rev. George A. Huntley, M. D., was born in 1865; converted and baptized In England and saw service as a missionary of the China Inland Mission; came to this country with his wife; went to Burlington for the purpose of completing his medical education, uniting with the Baptist church there. He was appointed to the mission field by the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, in 1897, and is still in the service of the society.
Sumner R. Vinton, born in Burma, in 1874; baptized at Brat- tleboro, 1888; sailed with his wife, daughter of missionary Bunker, in 1900. Their last return to this country was in 1908.
Mrs. H. Morrow was born at Rochester, Vt., baptized at Wolfville, N. S .; married Rer. HI. Morrow, and sailed, in 1876, for Tavoy. She was a medical missionary, having pursued full studies and practiced one year before her marriage. A few months after the death of Mr. Morrow, in 1905, she returned to this coun- try where, in 1912, she is still living.
Mrs. J. E. Cummings is a native of this State; was married at Bakersfield, in 1887, and went with her husband to Henzada, Burma, in 1887. She died there in 1892.
Miss Anna S. Young, was born at Hartland; baptized at Wind- sor, 1883; a member of the Montpelier church for a time; studied at
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Montpelier Seminary; appointed, in 1888, to Kinhwa, China; severed connection with our missionary work after marriage. She died in 1907.
Miss Ella J. Taylor was born at Perkinsville, Vt., where also she was converted and baptized in 1869; educated at Randolph Normal School, and at Winona, Minn .; taught in Vermont, Iowa and Minnesota; was appointed by The Woman's Society of the West, and sailed for Moulmain, in 1888. Her last return to this country was in 1909.
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