USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Jericho > The history of Jericho, Vermont > Part 17
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Mr. Denison was a young man of fine talents and earnest piety, and the church grew during his short ministry; there was a wonderful work of grace in the time. He died March 28th, 1812, of consumption : his grave is in the cemetery here-the only pastor who has died in town. He was born in Lyme, Conn., May 3d, 1793; studied theology with Rev. Holland Weeks of Pittsford. He left one son; Rev. John H. Denison of Williams-
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town, Mass., is a grandson. Mrs. Denison afterward married Rev. E. H. Dorman of Swanton.
May 6th, 1812, Lewis Chapin was chosen church clerk: Mr. Kingsbury kept the records while he was here.
July 5th, 1814, a Council again met at the house of Lewis Chapin, and after due examination Rev. Joseph Labaree was or- dained pastor ; Rev. Thomas A. Merrill of Middlebury preached, and Father Lyon, the sage of Grand Isle, gave the charge. It was sometimes hard to raise the salary, and at one time they voted "that if there are not $400 annually raised for Mr. Larabee, he have leave to missionate a part of the time each year, not to exceed eight weeks in one year." They also organized a Society for his support "to be governed by the majority in all meetings, except in this particular, if one-fourth shall choose that Mr. L. be dismissed, and risk getting another minister, the majority agree to comply."
October 7th, 1818, a council met to consider the matter, and voted that the pastoral relation ought not to be dissolved. They gave three months to raise his support, and adjourned. "At the end of that time no adequate provision being made, and it being impossible that a minister should abide with a people, and be useful unsupported," they advised his dismission.
They say, "We are distressed to leave this people in such a state of melancholy bereavement ; we hope our fears will be dis- appointed, and their sorrow may be turned into joy." Mr. La- baree was born in Charlestown, N. H., June 11th, 1783, grad- uated at Middlebury 1811. He was a cousin of President Ben- jamin Labaree; his wife was Huldah, sister of Daniel and John Lyman. He died in Ohio October 18th, 1852.
August 9th, 1819, the Society gave Rev. L. P. Blodgett a call, and voted $500 for his support, to be paid in neat cattle in October, or in good merchantable grain in January following. September 19th he was installed. The first three pastors began their work here; but Mr. Blodgett came after a successful pas- torate of a dozen years at Rochester. The church grew largely during his ministry, but all did not go smoothly in the parish. In 1824 they debated whether to meet for worship part of the time at the Corners. This made trouble, and division.
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March 29th, 1826, a council was called to consider matters, and advise the church. They appointed a committee to confer, and see whether measures could be adopted to heal their difficul- ties. "We do hope that all parties concerned will, if possible, lay aside all unprofitable reflections on what is past, and come into measures and so terminate this long agitated and distressful transaction." The Council adjourned to May 9th, when it came together, and, finding the two Societies could not agree, dismissed Mr. Blodgett. He then was pastor at the Corners.
Luther Palmer Blodgett was born in Cornwall, March 19th, 1783 ; graduated at Middlebury in 1805 ; was ordained at Roches- ter, Vermont, April 24th, 1807, Rev. Lemuel Haynes preaching the sermon. After leaving Jericho he preached in several places in New York; he died January 26th, 1862. His wife was Mary Jefferson, daughter of Joseph Jefferson, a cousin of Thomas Jefferson, and his secretary when Minister to France-one of the party famous by throwing the tea into Boston harbor.
June 16th, 1826, the brethren and sisters living near the Corners requested letters of their regular standing in this church to form a church at the Corners. The church objected, for sev- eral reasons; some of them were "Because we need them, and they are not needed there"; "because they can be better accom- modated with Christian privileges in this church than in the one to which they wish to be dismissed : there they cannot have preach- ing more than half the time"; "some are nearer this church than the Corners : they must go much out of the way or remain at home, or worship with us half the time; we cannot think that these brethren ought to divest themselves of one-half of their Christian privileges"; "their reasons are insufficient ; and some of them manifest improper feelings towards this church."
A large Council was at length called, for advice. After con- sideration, they said, "A visit from the Holy Comforter would soon remove those mountains which seem to arise in your path, and banish the clouds which hang over you. It would melt your hearts into one mind and lead you to the same course. Then let your prayer be unceasing, and give God no rest until He come and establish you and build you up." The church at the Corners was finally formed that year, and the brick meeting house built
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there, in which the Second Church and the Baptist worshipped until 1858.
September 2d, 1882, Lewis Chapin, Jr., was chosen church clerk. July 10th, 1828, Rev. Hervey Smith was installed pastor. He was one of the best of men, a faithful and judicious minister. There are a few persons living who united with the church while he was pastor. His ministry was prosperous, but they could not raise the salary, and he was dismissed October 22d, 1833. He was born in Granby, Massachusetts, January 6th, 1794, ordained in Weybridge in 1825. He died in Sacketts Harbor, New York, in 1850.
In 1834 John Lyman, Jr., was chosen church clerk; he kept. the records for about forty years. He led the singing for twenty- five years ; was absent in the time only two half days, from sick- ness in his family.
In 1834 fifteen members asked "leave to withdraw, and organize into a church according to the gospel." The church declined to give these letters, and were justified in it by vote of the Council, as the following extract from the records will show. "The Council have no confidence in the soundness of the prin- ciples, or the purity of the motives of those whom the petitioners wish to follow as leaders. They do not come to the church in any authorized character; they do not come to the church as a friend comes to reform a friend, but rather to pluck up and de- stroy. Their professed object is the diffusion of peace, but it is seen that everywhere the result of their efforts is dissension. They strangely propose to promote the union of different denom- inations of Christians by adding yet another party with a silenced, deposed and excommunicated man at their head. Their whole scheme, in the view of the Council, is unscriptural, chimerical, subversive of all gospel order, and fraught with innumerable evils."
The members withdrew and formed the Union Church, without any creed except the Bible. It did not prosper. The church labored with these brethren over two years; sent letters of admonition ; suspended them; and finally voted their excom- munication because they "departed from the faith and order of this church, and united with a church not in fellowship with this." Most of them afterwards came back, confessing that they
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had done wrong in forming the Union Church, and in having unkind feelings toward their brethren. The leader of this re- markable movement was Rev. John Truair. He was ordained pastor of the church in Cambridge November 21st, 1810, and dismissed in 1813. He then settled over a Presbyterian Church in Sherburne, New York. He went to New York city and labored among seamen, and edited a paper. While there he was deposed from the ministry by Presbytery. He preached in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, and in Cambridge, Jericho, and other towns, "known as the head of a new sect who style themselves the Union Church." Some churches were "greatly convulsed and divided by the efforts of John Truair and his followers." He is described as a large, powerful man, a good singer, and impres- sive speaker. Many followers were devotedly attached to him, and enthusiastic in his praise. He was bitter toward existing churches and tried to draw people from them, and was regarded by many as an enemy of good order and a herald of divisions. One now venerable brother who worked with him says, "He told me I should go to ruin if I didn't come out of the church and join his; I told him I would run the risk." The passing years have witnessed more growth and usefulness in the brother who stayed in the church than in those who left it.
Between 1830 and 1840 the church numbered over two hun- dred members. January 25th, 1837, Rev. Elias Wells Kellogg was installed pastor; he had preached some months previous. The new brick meeting house, begun in 1835, was dedicated the same day. President Wheeler, of Burlington, preached the ser- mon. The year its foundations were laid two men were born who were to preach in it half of its first half century. Mr. Kel- logg was dismissed July 7th, 1840. He afterward preached in Highgate. He died at Ringwood, Illinois.
Rev. Samuel Kingsbury, a teacher in the Academy, preached for a while in 1840 and in 1841. Rev. Zenas Bliss preached about two years. He was a man of more than usual depth and origin- ality, of fine character, and profound scholarship; perhaps his preaching was sometimes above the mass of the people. When he preached six sermons upon one text the thoughtful feasted- the many thought he was too deep.
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Zenas Bliss was born in Randolph, November 24th, 1808; his mother was a woman of marked character and metaphysical mind. We need not wonder to find the son a man of uncommon powers. He graduated at the University of Vermont in 1831; studied two years at Andover ; was ordained at Sheridan, N. Y., October 28th, 1835; preached two years at Quechee; after leav- ing Jericho, one year at Winooski. In 1844 he went to Alabama and taught four years. In 1848 he went to Richmond and preach- ed six years. The church and parsonage there were built through his efforts. He died at Amherst, Mass., December 9th, 1865. Rev. J. Henry Bliss of New Hampshire is his son; a daughter is teacher in the Huguenot Seminary in South Africa.
Simeon Bicknell, another teacher in the Academy, was the next preacher for a year.
In 1844 the church called Mr. Francis Brown Wheeler ; he was ordained pastor January 23d, 1845; Rev. O. S. Hoyt of Hinesburgh preached the sermon; Rev. Simeon Parmelee, father of Mrs. Wheeler, gave the charge.
September 18th, 1846, Albert Lee and Ezra Elliot were chosen deacons. Mr. Elliot was excused at his request, but was twice chosen afterward, and in 1856 he accepted. Deacon Lee died in 1863, much lamented; he was a man of talent and piety, and for some years superintendent of the Sunday School. Dea. Elliot was also a faithful and beloved officer of the church until his death in 1880, and left a legacy for the support of preaching.
March 31st, 1849, the church celebrated its fifty-eighth an- niversary. A large choir rendered much of the ancient music "in a manner that elicited universal admiration." An address was delivered by Rev. George W. Ranslow, and a sermon by Rev. Simeon Parmelee. "With joy we recounted the mercies of God to us and our fathers ; with gratitude we inscribed on our hearts 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us'; with confidence in God we looked into the future, feeling that the same goodness which had been extended to us, and to those who had preceded us, would not be wanting to our children in coming time, if they made the God of their fathers their God. The church is God's, and He will care for it. We commend its interests to His gracious care. Leave not this people, neither forsake them, O God of our sal- vation." The record of the proceedings asks "When the year
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1891 shall come, if this church is in existence will not its mem- bers celebrate the one hundredth anniversary, and set up another Ebenezer ?"
The young pastor won the hearts of the people, and they were reluctant to give him up, but he was dismissed January 2d, 1850. The Council gave the people some wholesome advice upon liberal giving, and the support of the ministry, "in order to pre- vent a like sad separation in the future." They said "The salary paid is not enough to command the best talent or help to the best work, and God's blessing cannot be expected."
The people resented this advice of Council as an imperti- nence, and declared they would not settle another minister and have a Council meddling with their affairs,-and they have kept their word. Since that time they have had no Council and no settled pastor.
Mr. Wheeler was born at North Adams, Mass., September 9th, 1819; graduated at the University of Vermont in 1842; studied one year at Andover, and afterward privately. He has been pastor at Brandon, Saco, in Maine, and of the First Presby- terian Church at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he still continues. He received the degree of D. D. from his Alma Mater in 1887, also from Hamilton College previously.
Rev. George Butterfield next supplied the pulpit one year. In 1853 Rev. John W. Pierce became acting pastor for four years. In this time there was marked religious interest, and a goodly number was added to the church-among them some of its pres- ent active members. Mr. Pierce was born in Sutton, Mass., July 11th, 1811; graduated at Bangor Seminary in 1840; was ordained at Sutton, Mass., October 20th, 1840. He was a Home Mission- ary at the West for a time, and then gave up the ministry for some years on account of ill health. In 1851 he preached at Westminster, later at Highgate and St. Albans Bay; also in Maine. He died at Highgate, of consumption, March 2d, 1872.
In 1857 and '8 Rev. Charles Scott was acting pastor. He was earnest, active and successful in his work, and the church was much quickened: the people were greatly attached to him, and wished to retain him longer. He was not strong, and gave as a reason for not staying, the difficulty of speaking in the old church and the liability of taking cold in it in winter-a reason
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all who preached in the old church, and some who used to wor- ship there, can fully appreciate. Nevertheless, that house con- tinued to hurt ministers and keep away worshippers for many years. Mr. Scott was born in Halifax, Vermont, and educated at Hartford Seminary ; has preached in many places in Vermont and other states, always with acceptance and usefulness. He now resides in Reading, Mass.
After him Rev. Wilson Barlow Parmelee, son of Dr. Simeon, preached six months; was much liked, and. wanted longer. He was a native of Westford; graduated at the University of Ver- mont in 1853, and at Auburn Seminary. He was settled over a large Presbyterian Church at Little Falls, N. Y., but on account of impaired health has not preached all the time for some years ; he now lives in Oswego, New York.
In 1860 Rev. Caleb Branch Tracy became acting pastor, and continued four years. He was born in New Marlboro, Mass., July 11th, 1799; graduated at Williams College in 1826, and at Andover Seminary in 1829; was ordained February 10th, 1830, at Colebrook, Conn. In 1837 he was settled in Boscawen, New Hampshire, where he remained fourteen years. He supplied two or three years each at St. Johnsbury Center, Northfield and Rochester. In 1866 he went to Bennington, N. H., where he preached until 1868, when he went to Wilmot and labored there nine years. He died of pneumonia at Potter Place in Andover January 14th, 1881.
After Mr. Tracy left Rev. A. D. Barber supplied the pulpit with acceptance for some months.
September 1st, 1864, Rev. Austin Hazen became acting pas- tor, and continued twenty years. The people were in a discour- aged state; the church was old style and uncomfortable; the parsonage out of repair-the parsonage was repaired the next year, the church not until fourteen years after; in 1878 it was thoroughly repaired, and made one of the best in the region. It was again dedicated in February, Rev. George B. Safford of Bur- lington preaching the sermon. In 1875 and '6 there was a great awakening in town; the prayers of years seemed answered in the quickening of Christians and conversion of sinners. Great changes in the church and congregation took place in those years -one generation passed away, and another grew up.
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Austin Hazen was born in Hartford, Vermont, February 14th, 1835, son of Rev. Austin Hazen, long pastor at Hartford and Berlin ; graduated at the University of Vermont in 1855, and at Andover Seminary in 1857. In August of that year he began preaching in Norwich; was ordained pastor there March 29th, 1860, and dismissed in 1864. In 1875 he began to supply the church at Richmond, in addition to his labors here, and on leav- ing this field removed there. His wife, Mary Carleton, died in 1880, and was buried on the hill-side where sleeps the dust of so many good men and women. Mr. Hazen afterward married Mira F. Elliot of Jericho.
In 1866 Charles H. Lyman was chosen deacon; in 1874 he was dismissed to the church at the Corners. He gave fifty dollars toward the organ, as a token of his continued love for the church of his youth.
July 8th, 1876, Isaac C. Stone and Milo Hoyt Chapin were chosen deacons ; they still hold the office.
After Mr. Hazen left, the people were very fortunate in ob- taining at once Rev. John Kilbourn Williams. He came in the full maturity of his powers, and with a successful experience in former pastorates. Although he lived at Underhill and was pas- tor also there, his work was successful here. In 1887 there was a remarkable awakening, and the church received one of its largest accessions afterwards. Mr. Williams was born at Char- lotte February 21st, 1835; graduated at Middlebury College in 1860: he was afterward tutor there; he spent two years at Au- burn Seminary, but graduated at Andover in 1866.
November 21st, 1866, he was ordained pastor at Bradford; in 1872 installed pastor at West Rutland. He removed from his pastorate here to Peacham in 1889.
Mr. Nathaniel Kingsbury labored earnestly some months, and they gave him a call, which he declined.
Rev. Leonard Baker Tenney became acting pastor here and at Essex in the spring of 1890. He entered upon the work with zeal, and fruits are already apparent. He was born at Jaffrey, New Hampshire, September 12th, 1854, son of Rev. Leonard Tenney; graduated at Dartmouth 1875; studied at Hartford, Union, and Andover; was ordained at Barre April 14th, 1882.
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He has labored as a Home Missionary at the West and in Ver- mont.
This church has had frequent changes in its ministry-too many short pastorates. There are churches organized about the same time which have had only a few pastors, while this has had twelve or fourteen. Some of these pastors might have been kept longer by suitable effort on the part of the people.
This church has had some remarkable manifestations of divine power; would that a full history of its revivals could be written ; the record of both its earlier and later ones would be to the praise of its glorious Lord.
The influence of this church has blessed the town, giving a higher tone to society ; many souls have been saved by its work through divine grace; numbers saved here have already joined the church above; numbers have gone forth to bless other churches.
The fathers and mothers sacrificed, toiled, and prayed for this church: so would you, the sons and daughters, do. Per- petuate its influence and usefulness ; it would be a crime against man, a sin against God, to let it languish and die.
NOTE .- The records of the church in some periods are very meagre; much has been gathered from various sources. I am much indebted to Rev. A. W. WILD, the painstaking and accurate historian of our churches.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The preceding sketches, so full and satisfactory as to preclude the need of farther research, bring the story of the church down to 1891. It remains for the editor to supplement this with some details of the subsequent history.
Rev. Austin Hazen, the historian and the pastor for 20 years at Jericho Center, began supplying, as he states, in 1875 at Rich- mond, removed to that place in 1884 and remained there till his death in 1895. In May of that year he sailed for Europe, but died on shipboard. The Hazens are a remarkable ministerial family. Mr. Hazen's father, whose name was likewise Austin, had a ministerial service of 43 years, all in Vermont. Four out of five of that father's sons entered the Christian ministry, Allen, Austin, William S. and Azel W. Allen was a missionary in India for 27 years and a pastor of New England churches for a con-
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siderable time. William had a pastorate of 42 years at Northfield, Vt., and Azel has preached 47 years at Middletown, Conn. Austin, the subject of this sketch, had seven sons, of whom four went into the ministry. He was unassuming, irenic, capable, practical and efficient. "Few Vermont pastors have been so thoroughly respected and loved within the range of their ac- quaintance."
Pastorates since 1891 .- Rev. L. B. Tenney, who is mentioned in the foregoing history as here at the time of the centennial, re- mained only till July, 1892. During his pastorate much attention was given to meetings in out districts. Mr. Tenney also supplied at Essex Center.
Rev. Edwin Rose followed him for a period of five years. Out district meetings were continued, and, he being particu- larly interested in temperance, many temperance meetings were held and young people signed the pledge. Mrs. Rose conducted meetings for young people. Miss Lydia Hartig, one of the state workers, assisted Mr. Rose for two weeks in evangelistic meetings, which were well attended and awakened unusual in- terest but resulted in few conversions. Deacons' meetings, after- ward called Officers' meetings, were established for consultation, for action upon minor church affairs and for recommendation to the church of action upon important matters. At first the pastor, deacons, clerk and treasurer with their wives, and later in ad- dition to these the Sunday School superintendent, trustees, presi- dents of the missionary societies with their wives or husbands, were invited to participate, and these gatherings have proved a decided benefit. The first one was convened at the parsonage and Mrs. Rose served supper.
Rev. Charles E. Hayward commenced his labors here in July, 1897, and remained five years. He was installed Oct. 20, 1897. Among material improvements are the repairing of the interior of the church and the transfer of the choir from the gallery to the corner at the left of the pulpit. A new carpet was given by the Ladies' Aid Society. The church assumed the financial and business care of the Sunday School and began devoting the greater part of its Sunday offerings to current expenses. Mr. Hay- ward took the lead in forming a village improvement society. There was much agitation about the new theology, and the tran-
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sition from old views to new, which the future historian will not hesitate to say is inevitable everywhere at some time, was attended here by an intense feeling of opposition.
Rev. Charles O. Gill, who began in July, 1902, had been a missionary in China, but was compelled to come back on account of the health of his wife. He was a wise and earnest worker, in sympathy with new views, but sagacious in presenting them. The salary was increased $100, but later half of this amount was taken off and Mr. Gill to the dismay of many sought and obtained an- other field.
Rev. John W. Goffin came in Jan., 1905. The old parsonage needing many repairs, a movement was started to build a new one. One acre of the land was retained, the remainder with the house being sold for $600, and a handsome two-story house con- taining nine rooms with hallways and equipped with a furnace and fire-place, was erected at an expense of about $2,650. A very strenuous effort to raise the necessary funds, both from within and without the parish, met with success. Mr. Goffin was an able preacher. His wife was an invalid, and on account of her increasing weakness he sought a pastorate in California, and closed work here in June, 1907.
Rev. Samuel H. Barnum, the writer of this sketch, Yale, '75, Yale Seminary, '79, began work Oct. 20, 1907, coming from a long pastorate in Cornwall in this state. During the years fol- lowing improvements have been made upon the parsonage and grounds, and the exterior of the church building has been painted. In 1908 an individual communion service was presented to the church in memory of Mr. and Mrs. George Brown. At the close of 1909, fifty dollars was added to the pastor's salary. The du- plex envelope and benevolence pledge system was introduced with success. A goodly number of additions had brought the total church membership up to 144 at the opening of 1914, 38 being absentees. But the total was the highest since 1840 or earlier. A legacy of $950 has been received from Mrs. Adelia Bartlett Davis, late of Hooksett, N. H., whose childhood was spent here; also a gift of $1,000 from a friend of the church. The deacons at the present time are G. C. Bicknell and F. A. Stiles, and the Super- intendent of the Sunday School E. B. Jordan, succeeding Mrs. J. W. Hart who had served six years.
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