USA > Vermont > Addison County > Shoreham > History of the town of Shoreham, Vermont, from the date of its charter, October 8th, 1761, to the present time > Part 10
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hundred and fifteen. Four were added in 1811, and eight in 1813 and 1814, all probably fruits of the same revival.
Rev. Samuel Cheever was a practising physician before he became a minister, and preached some time in Rochester, Vt., before he came to this town ; but I have no evidence that he was ever settled as pastor over any church. He is said to have been better adapted to labor in revivals of religion than to perform the duties of a permanent pastor. After leaving this place, in 1812, he preached in Hubbardton, and Stillwater, N. Y., in both of which places there were revivals under his preaching. He died at the lat- ter place in 1814.
July 19th, 1813, the church united with the society in extend- ing a call to Rev. Amos Pettingill to settle with them in the gospel ministry, by the unanimous vote of both bodies. He preached three months, but declined the call. He was an eminent minister, and was afterward settled at Plattsburgh, N. Y., and died in early life.
On the 6th of May, 1814, the church and society voted unan- imously to call Mr. Daniel O. Morton to the work of the ministry among them, and on the 30th of June, of the same year, he was ordained as their pastor. He was dismissed after a successful min- istry of more than seventeen years, October 13 1831. There were partial revivals of religion under his ministry in 1816 and 1817; also in 1830, but the one of greatest power and interest was in 1821. September 2d, of that year, twelve persons were admit- ted to the church, and November 4th, of the same year, eighty - nine, and several afterward as the fruits of the same revival, amount- ing in the whole to about one hundred and twenty members added to the church. Other denominations shared largely in this work of grace. The whole number of converts was more than two hundred. There were admitted to the church, during his ministry, two hun- dred and seventy-seven members, two hundred and thirty by pro- fession and forty-seven by letter. After his dismission, Mr. Mor- ton labored for about one year in the service of the Vermont Do- mestic Missionary Society, and was its Secretary. In 1832, he was installed pastor of the Congregational Church and Society in Springfield, Vt., where he remained about five years. He then
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moved to Winchendon, Mass., where he also labored five years.
Prof. Eli B. Smith, D. D., in an address delivered at his fu- neral, thus speaks of his successful labors in these two places : "In Springfield, the work of grace, while he was pastor, was both con- stant and powerful." Speaking of one season of special refreshing, he says : " The whole number of hopeful conversions, exclusive of children under fourteen years of age, is, as nearly as we could ascer- tain, from three hundred and fifty to four hundred. For seven days in succession they averaged more than thirty a day, and one day there were forty. On one Sabbath, ninety-three were received in- to the church ; on the succeeding Sabbath, forty-five; on another, shortly after, sixteen. During the five years of his labors in Win- chendon, there were yearly additions ; in all, one hundred and twenty-five."
Daniel Oliver Morton was born in the town of Winthrop, in the State of Maine, December 21st, 1783. When he was quite young his parents moved to Middleboro, Mass , which had been the home of his ancestors for many generations."
"In March,'1807, while engaged in teaching school, at the age of eighteen," he says in a letter to his daughter, "here the Lord met me ; convinced of sin; of righteousness and judgment, and gave me peace and joy which the world knoweth not of." "From that time, I indulged a hope in Christ, and have never for a moment thought of giving it up." "For several years I have seldom had a doubt of the work of the Holy Spirit on my heart." The sin- cerity and truthfulness of this declaration could never be called in question by any one acquainted with Mr. Morton. Dr. Smith, President of the New Hampton Literary and Theological Institu- tion, located at Fairfax, Vt., under the patronage of the Bap- tist denomination, who from his boyhood, was intimately acquainted with him, for nearly forty years, and who was for several months a member of his family, gives the following truthful repre- sentation of his character : " Mr. Morton never, in any place, for- got that he was a Minister of Jesus Christ. No one could see him as he passed among his people, or in his own house, without feeling that he was in the presence of an aceredited ambassador of God.
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No man ever had to inquire whether he was a minister. The coun- tenance, the whole style of the man, showed that. Such an intro- duction to those he met, gave him an immense advantage. It al- ways produced the expectation that if he opened his lips, it would be to give utterance to thoughts of solemn and worthy import. The way was prepared for him to say whatever he wished to say, in respect to the relations of men to God, to Christ, to the Holy Spirit, or to the eternal state; and it is worthy of remark that the expectation was rarely disappointed."
Mr. Morton relied greatly upon pastoral conversation with his people, for fixing divine truth upon their consciences and hearts. He spent more time than most ministers in visiting from house to house. It was in this department of ministerial labor, more than in the preparation of elaborate sermons in the study, that Mr. M. excelled most ministers. Ilis social and genial disposition, easy and pleasing manner of address, readiness of utterance in terms ,un- studied and natural, in tones of voice dictated by the spirit of kind- ness, that ever seemed to be a law of his nature, eminently qualified him for such work, and he appeared greatly to delight in it. Says Dr. Smith, " Religious conversation seemed perfectly natural to him. It came forth like water from an overflowing fountain. It seemed to cost him no effort." It was the possession of these quali- ties that contributed so much to render his ministry successful in his several fields of labor. It was probably the consciousness that in this direction lay his greatest power of usefulness, rather than in superior genius, or intellectual vigor, that led him to devote a por- tion of time to visiting among his people, which some thought to be disproportionate to the demands of the study ; and this probably led him to change his field of labor so often during his ministry, impressed with the belief that in so doing he could accomplish great- er good, than by a longer pastorate. Dr. Smith further says, that " Mr. Morton was a frequent visitor of the children in the common schools. These visits were anticipated with pleasure, and they were seldom without profit." His happy talent in addressing children and youth, says Dr. Smith, " gave him a hold upon the young peo- ple, such as we have rarely seen surpassed. The impression made
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was thus deepened by his frequently, on the Sabbath. pointing to the young people in the gallery and addressing them especially, and turning towards any part of the house in which there were children, saying to them a few words, thus assuring them that they were not forgotten, and that they had souls to save or lose." The estimate of character which he had formed of Mr. Morton in his youthful days, Professor Smith says, " has only been confirmed by the ac- quaintance of the last ten years. In old age I have seen the ful- filled promise of early manhood. The path of the righteous has shone brighter and brighter unto the perfect day." In person, Mr. Morton was a little abore the common height, rather slim and erect in form ; had dark hair, and eyes, and a countenace indicating be- nignity and kindness. "In his intercourse with his brethren," says Rev. Dr. Bouton, who preached at his funeral, " he seemed to be free from selfish and ambitious ends ; never harsh and censorious in judging ; but in his words and manners combined mildness, ur- banity and decision. The pleasant smile that lighted up his face, was a true index of the charity that ruled his spirit. This impart- ed an agreeable suavity to his couversation, and gave him ready ac- cess to others." "As a proachier, he was sound in doctrine, instruc- tive and practical ; his style of writing flowing and diffusive, rath- er than terse and argumentative."
His last sickness and death were in keeping with the whole his- tory of his ministerial life. A few days before his death, he was asked, " What is the state of your mind ?" He replied by saying, " Sing the hymn, 'The man is ever blest ;' after that, 'Behold the morning Sun ;' then, 'How calm and beautiful the morn,' " adding after the singing, " There, now you know my feelings." To a sis- ter in the church, he left this his last message : " Give my love to the church ; to the Sabbath school ; to the singing choir, and to the people. Peace be with them all, now and forevermore."
In this frame of mind, in the assured hope of a blessed immor- tality, Mr. Morton died at Bristol, N. H., where he had labored in the gospel ministry ten years, on the 25th day of March, 1852, aged sixty-four years. He was a good man and just, who will be long held in grateful remembrauce by many in this town, where he
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spent the first seventeen years of his ministry. For nearly two years after the dismission of Mr. Morton, the pulpit was supplied most of the time by President Bates and Professor Fowler of Mid- dlebury College, and Rev. N. C. Clark. During this period seven members were added to the church.
On the 1st day of September, 1833, Rev. Josiah Fletcher Good- hue received an invitation to supply the pulpit, and commenced preaching on the 8th of the same month. On the 14th of Novem- ber, 1833, he received a unanimous call of the church and society to take the pastoral charge over them, and on the 12th of February, 1834, he was installed pastor. Mr. Goodhue, in March, 1857, asked of the church and society a dissolution of the pastoral rela- tions, on the ground that he could no longer be useful to them in the ministry ; a mutual council was called, by which he was dismissed with the usual recommendations of good standing in the ministry, and his services as pastor were to be closed on the first of October following.
On the 13th of September, 1857, Mr. Goodhue preached his last sermon, Rev. Archibald Flemming supplying the pulpit two Sab- baths, until the 1st of October, when his pastorial duties ceased. He had preached statedly to the same congregation more than twenty-four years. During his ministry, one hundred and seven- ty-three persons were added to the church. In the latter part of the year 1834 and the fore part of 1835, there was more than usual seriousness in the congregation, and a few persons united with the church. This seriousness continued through the summer of the latter year, until a protracted meeting was commenced October 27th, 1835, during which, Rev. Jedediah Burchard preached and held meetings for inquiry sixteen days in succession. A general revival of religion accompanied and followed his labors, as the fruits of which, fifty-four persons were added to the church at one commun- ion season, November 8th, 1835 ; and on November 11th, 1835, twenty-eight were received on profession of their faith, and fifteen more were admitted, mostly the fruits of this work, January 3d, 1836. In the years 1838 and 1839, there was more than common attention to the subject of religion, and at two communion seasons
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in these two years, seventeen persons were added to the church. In 1850 and 1851 there were several additions. During the whole period of Mr. Goodhue's ministry there were added to the church, one hundred and seventy-three members.
He was born at Westminster, Vt., December 31st, 1791; enter- ed Midelebury College in 1817, and graduated there in 1821; studied Theology one year at Andover Theological Seminary ; was Tutor in Middlebury College one year, in 1822 and 1823 ; was li- oensed to preach September 1823, and in the same month began to preach in Williston, Vt .; in June, 1824, he was ordained Pastor of the Congregational church and society in that place, and was dismissed in September, 1833, having labored among that people ten years. He now resides in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and is with- out pastoral charge.
After Mr, Goodhue's dismission, Rev. A. Flemming supplied the pulpit, the most of the time, unt.1 May, 1889, when Rev. E. B. Chamberlin commenced his labors here.
Edward B. Chamberlin, the fourth pastor of the Congregation- al church, was born in Strafford, Vt., January 18th, 1826. He prepared for college at Royalton and Montpelier Academies ; enter- ed University of Vermont, in 1844; graduated in 1848; was en- gaged in teaching in Gloucester, Newburyport and Bolton, Mass., from 1848 until 1851, when he entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, where he graduated in 1854. Before ordination, he supplied the churches in Lee and Lancaster, N. H., Barnstable, Nass . and Ann Arbor, Mich .; began ministry in Plattsburgh, N. Y., January 1st, 1856 ; was ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church by the Presbytery of Champlain, March 12th ,
1856. He was dismissed, at his own request, by the Presbytery of Champlain, June 15th, 1858, and from July, 1858, until May, 1859. he supplied the Presbyterian church in Green Bay, Wis., when his ministry began in Shoreham. Having received a unani- mous call of the church and society to settle as their pastor, he was installed by an ecclesiastical council, September 27th, 1859.
In December, 1356, he was married to Miss Mary Jane Moore, of Lancaster, N. H.
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Since the first organization of this church, there has been re- ceived, up to this time, August 1859, as nearly as can be ascer- tained, six hundred and seventy-four members, of whom one hun- dred and eighty are known to be dead; three hundred and twenty- nine have been dismissed by letters to other churches ; thirteen have gone out without letters ; twenty-four have been excluded, and the names of some, whose places of residence are not known, are dropped from the record. Of the wbole number, added since the church was formed, more than three hundred probably are dead.
The first Meeting House was built in 1800, by a society formed for that purpose. The subscribers of the constitution were to be stockholders in the same. At their first meeting they voted to call it a "Congregational House," but did not designate in their con- stitution by what society or denomination it should be occupied. Some time after it was finished, the Universalists petitioned for the use of the house a part of the time on the Sabbath. The society voted not to grant that petition, but gave them the privilege of using it for public worship on week days, when not occupied by themselves. That house was located on the common, on the site of the present Universalist Meeting House. It was sixty feet long and well propor- t.oned. There was a porch on the north and south ends, through which there were entrances to the main body of the house below, and to the gallery above, which ran around the east, north and south sides of the house. On the outside of the gallery there were square pews, all around, which were entered by a broad aisle, and inside of that there were three rows of seats, designed for the ac- commodation of singers and others. There was in the south gal- lery one pew, in the centre, elevated several feet above the others, to which there was a separate entrance from the porch, called the negro pew. There was an entrance to the main body of the house below, by a large door in the centre of the front side, east. The lower floor was occupied by one broad aisle, leading from the front door to the pulpit, on the west side, and two aisles, running par- allel with that, east and west, and three other aisles running north and south. The pulpit was elevated nearly as high as the galleries. 16
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In the year 1847. that house was taken down and put up again at Larabee's Point, and used some time as a wool depot. The model of that house is said to have been taken from a meeting-house in Worcester, Mass. It was capable of seating one thousand persons, and cost more than $6000.
The present Congregational Meeting House was built in 1846, and is about seventy-two feet long by fifty-four wide." The walls are of brick, twenty-seven feet high. The basement is divided into a furnace room, and a large room for the transaction of town busi- ness and for other purposes, and a smaller room for church meet- ings, lectures and conference meetings. The house was built by James M. Lamb, Esq., the architect; of the best materials, and finished inside and outside in the best style of workmanship, and does great credit to the builder as one of the best edifices of the kind in the State. The whole cost of the building with its appur- tenances,"was over $8000. It has seats for the accommodation of about five hundred persons. It has a bell of fine tone, weighing about 1600 pounds.
HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH,
The materials for which were furnished by Joseph Smith, Esq.
About the year 1788 or 1789, Elder Samuel Skeels came to this town, and preached in this and other towns. His labors were ac- ceptable to the people, but as the Baptists were then few in num- ber, and unable to give him a comfortable support, after remaining two or three years he left the town. About that time there were what were then called traveling preachers, from different parts, visit- ing and preaching in the new settlements. Those of the Baptist denomination were Elders Ephraim Sawyer, Henry Green, Henry Chamberlain and others, generally traveling on foot. They preach- ed in this and other towns. The meetings were well attended, with- out distinction of name. The people were conveyed to meeting with oxen and sleds in winter, or on foot in summer, two or three miles, male and female, and thought it a great blessing that they had hearts to do their duty, and strength to perform it.
In the year 1784, Eli and Stephen Smith, who, previous to the
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Revolution, had removed from Nine Partners, Duchess Co., N. Y., to Spencertown, and thence to Manchester, Vt., came to this town ; cleared three acres of land and put up a house that season, and in March, 1785, moved their families here. June 2d, 1794, these leading men in the denomination, with other Baptists, who had set- tled in town, and were members of churches, where they had pre- viously lived, were formed into a church, consisting of fifteen mem- bers-eight males and seven females, and appointed Eli Smith Dea- con. At the same time, Mr. Abel Woods was preaching with them, and by request of the church was ordained their pastor, Feb- ruary 26th, 1795, and continued to preach with them until the year 1811, when he asked of the church to be released, and re- moved to Panton, and from thence to Albany, N. Y., where he died. During his residence in Shoreham, one hundred and seventy members were added to this church. After he left, the church was supplied with preaching by Elder Ephraim Sawyer, about three years, from 1813 to 1816. Elder John Spaulding preached about three years, from 1817 to 1820, and Elder Thomas Ravlin three years, from 1820 to 1823, and Elder Henry Chamberlain for some time, when he became unable to preach on account of the infirmi- ties of age. He died in this town. Elder Henry Green began to preach in 1824, and continued about three yecrs. After he left there was only occasional preaching, until about the year 1837. Eighty members were added to the church after Elder Woods left, making in the whole period of the existence of this church, the number of members admitted about two hundred and fifty. In con- sequence of removals by death and otherwise, at the time just re- ferred to, the church lost its visibility, though there are several members of that denomination still residing in town, several of whom are connected with other churches.
In the records of this church, it is stated, August 5th, 1798, " this is the second revival with which the church has been favored." There were revivals also in 1810, 1817 and 1821, in which the church received valuable accessions, and gained much strength, Among the ministers of this denomination who have preached in town, there were several men eminent for their ability and useful-
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ne33. Elder Ephraim Sawyer was distinguished as a preacher, and was very successful in his labors while here. He was a zeal- ous and devoted servant of his Master; held still in grateful re- membrance by those whose recollections extend so far back in the history of the church, as the time in which he labored here. Elder Chamberlain was an eminently meek and godly man, and was re- spected by all. Elder Henry Green possessed strong native pow- ers of mind, energy of character, and a commanding eloquence. He is still remembered as a very efficient preacher, while he labored in this town. He went from this town to Malone, N. Y., as it is thought, and is supposed to have died there many years since.
Among others eminently pious and useful in this church were Deacon Eli Smith, the first elected to that office in 1794, and Dea- con James Baker. Of the early members, Deacon Smith was the most active and influential man of his denomination in sustaining meet- ings before any church was formed, and was afterward looked up to with deference for counsel and as an example of consistent christian character, worthy of imitation.
Deacon James Baker came from Bridport in 1814, and in 1816 was chosen Deacon ; a lovely man, eminently gifted in prayer and exhortation, against whom no one ever had anything to say. After a few years he returned to Bridport, and from there went to Geneva, Wisconsin, where he recently died.
HISTORY OF THE METHODIST CHURCH. Materials furnished by Mr. Lorenzo Larabee.
The ancient records of this church are lost, and therefore a full account of its history cannot be given. From inquiries made, it ap- pears that Elders Chamberlain, Shepherd, Wickton and Mitchell preached here at an early day. Lorenzo Dow, celebrated for his eccentricities, often preached here between the years 1805 and 1810. About the year 1804 or 1805, it is thought that Jabez Barnum, Samuel Ames, Ezra Snow, Timothy Larabee, Jonathan and Lemuel Barlow, Isaiah and John Wallace were among those first formed into a church.
Between the years 1807 and 1820, Rev. Tobias Spicer, Rev.
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Stephen Boynton and Rev. Samuel Draper, with others, were pre- siding elders of this district, and the society was regularly supplied with preaching part of the time. Meetings were held at a School House, near the house formerly owned by Elijah Wright, and now by ; George W. Doane, and at a School House at the Four Corners near Deacon Lewis Hunt's.
In the year 1832, the records to which access has been had, show that there were then forty members in regular standing in the church, and this, it is thought, is the greatest number it has ever had at any one time. It has been favored with several seasons of re- vival, and it may be safely said that since its organization, it has had in its "communion more than one hundred members. Since about 1837, it has decreased by removals and deaths, until at the present time very few remain, and for the last two years the society has not been supplied with regular preaching.
To the three churches already named, there have probably been added since their "organization more than one thousand members ; but now, by reason of frequent removals and deaths, it is probable that the whole number of church members, of these denominations, is considerably less than two hundred.
THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY. By their Pastor, Rev. K. Haven.
Of those who embraced the sentiments of this seet, a larger number originally settled in this town, than probably in any other town in the State. Immigrating from the towns of Warwick, Ox- ford, Sutton, Hardwick, &c., in the County of Worcester, Mass., where they had listened, more or less, to the promulgation of the sentiment of the final holiness and happiness of all mankind, on the broad Trinitarian Substitution Platform, they imbibed, retained and disseminated the same when settled here.
Elder Caleb Rich, who was born in Sutton, in 1750, and who located himself in Warwick in 1771, commenced proclaiming that sentiment there and in the vicinity, as early as 1773. About 1775, Mr. Thomas Barnes and Adam Streeter embraced, that faith, and assisted Elder Rich, laboring in that county and throughout the
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State. A church was gathered in Warwick, and Elder Rich was ordained its pastor in 1781.
About this time, Rev. Elhanan Winchester embraced this faith, and resigned his pastorate over a Baptist Church in Philadelphia. He also visited and labored some in the aforesaid County and in the State. In 1791, Rev. Hosea Ballou commenced preaching in said place.
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