The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1, Part 24

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 868


USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 24


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79


The house for which the " stake " was now "stuck," was the first house erected for the worship of God, and stood in front of the old burying-ground near the east end of the vil lage. The frame was erected, an i the build- ing enclosed in 1790, but it was unfinished within, and but partially glazed.


MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE.


The same year the Legislature of the State held its session in it. What a contrast both in comfort and elegance to the present noble Capitol ! It was not only uninviting, but insecure. The frame indeed was strong, the timber oak for the most part, and well put together ; and enough of it for two or three houses of modern construction ; but through some neglect to underprop the lower timbers in the center of the house; during the exer- cises of the election sermon, when the house was densely filled, the center of the house gave way, so that the floor settled two or three feet. The alarm was great. Some of the crowd leaped through the windows, some shrieked, some fainted, some pressed for the doors. The true state of the case, however, was soon discovered, and order restore.l. Fortunately no one was seriously injured.


The building remained in an unfinishel and dilapidated state for 6 years. In 1796, it was


finished within, and was the place of worship for the Congregational society for 37 years following. The expense of the building was defrayed in part by the town ; but the great- er part by the sale of pews. Its architecture was exceedingly plain ; its length about En feet, and its breadth about 40: standing the side to the street, with doors at either eni. The pews were square with high backs; the pulpit at the east end, 13 feet high, and gal- leries on either side and across the end op- posite the pulpit. A pew in the gallery, elevated above the top of all others, was the tithing-man's seat ; where, in exalted dignity, he watched the deportment of the boys and girls, whose allotment it was to occupy sea:3 above; where it was not easy to resist the temptation to amuse each other during service.


A steeple was attached to the west end of the house several years later, and a bell hang in its tower, Hon. Chauney Langdon, pro- posing to meet half the expense, if the other half should be secured. It is a noticeable fact that, although there are five houses for religious worship in the village, there bas never been but one "church-going bell." About 2 years since Charles Langdon, Esq., a grandson of Hon. Chauncy, was the es- cient means of procuring a new one.


As early as 1830, the question of a new house of worship began to be seriously asi- tated. The old one was inconvenient and co- comfortable; and in its generel aspect not at all in keeping with other buildings in the village. But there were serious discalties to be overcome. Many pews in the old house were owned by those who felt no interest in the matter, and who refused to relinquish their right at any price. The town also made a claim upon it, as having been built in part by the town. As the only practica- ble thing, it was decided to let the old house stand, use it till the new one was completed; and then dispose of it as best they could. A new site was chosen a little to the west of the old one, and the foundations of the presess edifice laid in 1832. The house was comple :- ed and dedicated in July, 1833; at a cost of about $ 6000. Rev. Mark Tucker, D. D., of Troy, N. Y., preached the dedication sermos. The same year a house and lot for a ras- sonage was purchased.


FIRST SETTLED MINISTER.


We now return to the general history of


* The "old one," was that constructed out of the store-house.


.


527


CASTLETON.


the society, the date of which we have antici- rated. The first pastor of the church, Rev. Matthias Cazier, was installed Sept. 4, 1789, and dismissed Dec. 13, 1792. His doctrinal views were found to be quite unsatisfactory to the church, and his short pastorate con- tributed nothing to its prosperity. He re- ceived and appropriated the lot of 100 acres of land set apart by the charter to the first settled minister. For 13 years subsequent to his dismission there was no settled pastor ; yet public worship on the Sabbath was con- stantly maintained, and most of the time there was preaching by missionaries or other supplies.


REV. WILLIAM MILLER labored here in 1802, with great acceptance and usefulness. There was a general revival of religion at this time, and a season of much interest, long remembered by the church, and often referred to in later years. About 31 were added to the church, the fruit of this revival. The whole number added previous to 1804, was 115.


REV. ELIEU SMITH, the second pastor, was installed Jan. 17, 1804, and remained till Dec. 30, 1826-nearly 23 years. Under his ministry the church prospered. From the time of his settlement there was a steady in- crease of members, but no very extensive revivals for a number of years. In 1816, the church enjoyed a most remarkable and abund- ant refreshing, and the addition of 187 mem- bers. There was a less extensive revival in 1820. There were 205 additions to the church during Mr. Smith's ministry.


The following pleasant incident connected with the ordination of Mr. Smith is related by Mrs. B. F. Langdon, Esq .:


Mr. Smith descended and received the bible, which was presented with the following words, which memory, faithful to its trus:, can at this late day repeat: 'In behalf of the young gentlemen of Castleton, we present to you, Reverend Sir, this sacred volume of di- vine truth.' As a reward of the skilful man- ner with which they acquitted themselves, the children were invited to the Ordination Ball! The bible is still used in the chapel of the Congregational church, and it is to be de- plored that some ruthless hand has abstracte i the engravings and record of names of donors, evincing that veneration had died out of bina (if it ever had any existence), and left this mutilated bible to mark its burial place."


THIRD PASTOR.


After the dismission of Mr. Smith, the church was without a pastor for two years, and the pulpit was temporarily supplied by different clergymen. In Nov. 1825, REv. JOSEPH STEELE, then preaching at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., was invited to become their pastor. He accepted the invitation and was installed Dec. 25, 1828, -sermon by Dr. Bates, Pres. of Middlebury College. During his pastorate of 26 years the church was blessed with almost uninterrupted harmony and prosperity. There were frequent reviva's of religion. The first, in 1829, '30, was one of great interest, particularly in healing dis- sensions, and in uniting the church in active Christian labors. About 70 were added to the church as fruits of this revival, ani about 80 united in 1835, '36. Other seasons of great interest were frequently granted to this branch of Zion during his ministry ; of which we may mention one in 1838, when 40 were added, and one in 1843 and 62 addel. The number received into the church while ne continued its pastor was 468. The church numbered 280 members at the time he was dismissed, August, 1854.


" A bible was presented to the pastor elect for the pulpit by the young men of Castleton. Lney Green Langdon ( Mrs. Williams), Sally Hoit ( Mrs. Cazier) and Jane Cogswell, who Mr. Steele was a native of Kingsboro', Montgomery Co. (now Fulton Co.), N. Y .; was a member of the church of which Dr. Elisha Yale was pastor ; graduated at Union College in 1824, and at. Auburn Theological Seminary in 1827. The first year of his ministry was spent at Saratoga Springs. He was 26 years at Castleton, 2 years principal of Burr Seminary, and for the last 14 years has resided at Middlebury. were about 10 years of age, were selected to present the gift in behalf of the young men. It must be borne in mind that the scene occurred in the depth of winter, before the luxury of stoves or furnaces had crept into our places of worship. The children were arrayed in white, with necks and arms quite exposed, hair powdered, etc. The mothers in Israel used appliances of foot-stoves and firs in the vestibule of the church to kee the children comfortable, until the appointed toine in the services when they were to make ! eir alvent to the great surprise of the THE FOURTH PASTOR crowdlol audience. Then, with the ponderous was Rev. Willard Child, D. D., installe i Feb. 14, 1855. During his ministry the church volume ( a large English bible) nicely bal- added ou their tiny hands, they proceeded up the center aisle to the pulpit, when the Rev. " shared in the extensive revivals of 1958, ani


..


.


528


VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.


49 were added to its number. Dr. Child continued the pastor of this church until Feb., 1864.


He was a native of Woodstock, Ct .; gradu- ated at Yale College, and at Andover Theo- logical Seminary. On his coming into this State his first labors were in Benson. From Benson he was invited to become pastor of the church in Pittsford, and was there or- dained and installed in Dec., 1826. From Pittsford he went to Norwich, Ct., in 1842; then to Lowell, Mass., in 1845; and from Lowell to Castleton in 1855, and remained till 1864 .. He is still living and laboring efficiently in Crown Point, N. Y.


The present pastor, Rev. Lewis Francis, was installed Sept. 23, 1864. Mr. Francis was a graduate of the University of Vt., and Andover Theological Seminary. The church numbers at this time 178.


THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was formed about 1824. Their house of wor- ship was built in 1824, but was not finished within for several years. They were supplied by circuit preaching until 1332, when Rev. C. P. Clark was stationed here, and remained 2 years: since which time they have been regularly supplied by stationed preachers, or pastors. The church has prospered and large numbers have been added to its mem- bership. The present number is 140.


-


The meeting-house, wher first built, stood about one-fourth of a mile west of the village, and was removed to its present location, near the center of the village, in 1839 or 1840. It was neatly and thoroughly repaired and a convenient class-room or vestry appended in 1861.


The society became a responsible charge in 1832. The following were the names of the pastors:


Rev. C. P. Clark, 1832-1835; J. Philips, '35-'36; J. S. Craig, '36-'38; H. Meeker, '38- '40; L. Prindle, '41-'41; J. H. Brown, '41- '43; A C. Rice, '43-'44; G. W. Cotrall, '44-'45; W. P. Gray. '45-'47; B. O. Meeker, '47-'49. E. B. Hubbard, '49-'51 ; T. W. Pierson, '51- '52; S. Halburt, '52-'53; J. H. Patterson, '53-'55; G. G. Saxe, '55-'58 ; S. L. Stillmon, '58-'60; L. Marshall, '60-'62; B. Hawley, '62-'64; R. T. Wade, '64-'67; A. McGillon, '67-'68; P. M. Hitchcock, '68-'69; J. Philips, '69-'71.


THE SOCIETY OF LIBERAL CHRISTIANS was organized in 1867, and a neat church


edifice was erected in 1868, on the corner west of the Bomoseen House.


Present minister, Rev. Wm. L. Ross.


Castleton has been somewhat distinguished for its moral and religious as well as its liter- ary character. The early settlers, as a class were virtuous and intelligent. Coming from "the land of steady habits," they were instructed in the truths of the Bible : and were also well versed in the theology of those times. They understood the importance of education and religion to the foundations of society. The prosperity of the township was materially affected, no doubt, by the estab- lishment of the Rutland Co. Grammar School at Castleton. In many respects Castleton an i Rutland were rival towns. Situated about equally distant from the center of the county, each town very naturally aspired to be the head. Whether it was by accident or com- promise, so it came to pas- that the County seat was fixed at Rutland and the County school and Medical College at Castleton. Br this arrangement the two villages enjorei similiar material prosperity. But the schools tended to produce a better state of society than courts and jails.


The two villages held on their even way until railroads began to be constructed. From this time a great change took place. During the process of construction Castleton may have derived some advantage in busi. ness, but, once completed, they added nothing permanently to the amount of business, ex- cept so far as they ai lei to develop the slate and pencil quarries and the manufacture of marble. There was no longer any show for competing with Rutland, which soon became the great railroad center for the State; and outstripped most of the towns in the State in business and population.


The failure of the Medical College was a loss to Castleton. This institutition had con- tributed largely to the intelligence, as well as the material interests of the place; and hal graduated over 1400 students. But rich sources of prosperity still remain. The Semi- nary still lives, enjoying large prosperity. The slate quarries in the western part of the town are an inexhaustible source of wealth. Also the marble and pencil works. All :> these the attractions of the village and its surroundings, as a summer resort, -particu- larly Lake Bomoseen, unsurpassed in lovli-


5.29


CASTLETON.'


ness; and we see why Castleton may hope to retain its attractive interest and its mate- rial prosperity for the years to come.


REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.


List of soldiers in the revolutionary war, belonging to Castleton.


Capt. John Hall, killed in the battle at Castleton, July 6, 1777.


Nehemiah Hoit was with Col. Ethan Allen at the battle of Ticonderoga, and taken prisoner with him at Montreal.


Col. Noah Lee, one of the expedition that captured Maj. keen, and an officer in the Continental army.


Lieut. Elias Hall, taken prisoner at Cas- tleton ; after his escape, enlisted in the Con- tinental army; was in the battle of Still- water and present at the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne.


Brainard, Samuel,


2


B


Burt, Charles F.,


1st Bat.


Burt, Dunham G., Ist Bat.


Byrne, Patrick, 11


C


Canfield, A. B.,


2d Bat.


Castle, Harry S.,


11


Castle, Wm. H.,


11


C


Chelson, Eugene,


Cav.


K


Cook, Henry W., Cav.


H


Dalabee, John,


11


C


Donnelly, James W.,


7


D


Donnelly, John,


11


C


Donnelly, Peter,


11


C


Dunham, James H.,


11


M


Dunham, Thomas,


2


B


Dunham, Wm., 2


B


Everton, Geo. J.,


Cav.


H


Everton, James J.,


Cav. 2


B


Flinn, William,


Cav.


H


French, Geo. C.,


11


C F


Gibbs, Elias B.,


2d Bat.


Gibbs, Moses G.,


2d Bat.


Goodrich, William,


11


C


Gould, Gile,


11


C


Griswold, Geo. K.,


2


B


Rufus Burnet, in the battle of Bennington :-


Harrington, Wm. C.,


11


C


Jonathan Deming. Cyrus Gates.


Hawkins, Charles A.,


527 5 2


B


Hayes, Michael, 7


I


Higley, Edwin H.,


Cav.


K


Hines, Michael,


2


B


Hosford, Geo. B.,


7


A


Hope, James,


2


B


Howard, Abial S.,


2


B


Howe, John, 2


B


Howley, Thomas,


Cav.


H


Huntoon, Daniel S.,


7


I


Hyde Westover,


- Higby,


Inglezton, Fred A.,


2


B


Jacob Wheeler,


Eliel Bond,


Elam More,


Darius Burnet,


Johnson, Endearing D.,


2


D


Johnson, James M.,


7


I


Jones, Lewis P.,


7


I


Jubar, Henry,


7


I


Kellogg, Charles H.,


2


C


Kellogg, Lyman S.,


1 S. S. F


Killsen, John,


11


C


King, Theodore,


2


B


Liscomb, Orlando P.,


11


M


MeKean, John,


2


B


Mckean, John H.,


2


B


McQuain, Peter T.,


B


Names.


Reg.


Ch.


Alford, Wm. H.,


11


C


Babbitt, Oscar L.,


5


I


Barber, Samuel I.,


11


C


Barber, Wm. H.,


11


C


Benedict, Jasper A.,


B


Blackmer, Rollin N.,


2d Bat.


Bliss, Charles F.,


11


C


Bliss, Nathan G. P.,


11


C


Parkhurst, William,.


B Iton, Jeremiah,


2


B


Bolton, Jeremiah,


11


C


Perkins, Selah G.,


H


Bordeau, Frank,


1st Bat.


Poland, Patrick,


2


I


Doubtless there were others, whose names are not known.


SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1812.


Major Milo Mason, of the regular army.


Col Isaac Clark, commander of the 11th Regiment.


Capt. David Sanford, of the 11th Regiment.


Lieut. Perez Sanford, of the 11th Regiment.


Hyde, James T.,


11


C


Ingleston, Harrison,


5


G


Sam'l Shepard, serg't, John Meacham,


Theodore King, Elijah Burnet,


Jonathan Eaton,


Curtis Hulburt,


Oliver Eaton,


Oliver Moulton.


Augustus Finney,


This list is also very imperfect, doubtless ; but it is the best we can make at this date.


VOLUNTEERS FOR THREE YEARS,


enlisted previous to call for 300,000 Volun- teers of Oct. 17, 1862.


Moody, Henry W., 11


Moody, Horace W.,


11


M


Morril, Charles,


2


B


Murphy, Patrick,


11


O'Brien, Cornelius,


11


O'Br.en, William,


Cav.


C H


Parkhurst, Albert I.,


Parkhurst, Leonard R.,


Peck, Noah A., ? Cav.


H


Freelove, John A.,


Gardner, Henry,


Cav.


Godfrey, Joseph,


1st Bat.


Col. Isaac Clark was an officer in the revolutionary war, and Colonel in command in the war of 1812.


Hall, Benj. P.,


7


I


Hawkins, Gideon,


B


Johnson, Enoch E.,


530


VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.


Poiney, Edwin,


Cav.


H


Park, Leonard C.,


11


5


Potter, Asa A.,


2


B


Parsons, Edwin M.,


11


Potter, Ethan A.,


2


B


Peck, Henry,


11


Potter, Geo. W.,


2


B


Pens, Frank,


11


C


Remington, James H.,


2


B


Poland, Patrick,


17


I


Robinson, Justin E.,


Cav.


H


Potter, Lewis D.,


17


I


Ross, Edgar,


2


C


Roberts, John,


11


Ross, Geo. W.,


2


B


Ross, Hiram A.,


11


C


Ross, Horace G.,


2


B


Scott, William,


11


Russell, James,


2


B


Russell, Leonard,


11


C


Russell, Marcus K.,


11


C


Russell, Th mas,


2


B


Ryan, Patrick,


2


B


Shaw, John M.,


2


Sheldon, John A.,


10


Sheridan, John,


7


A


Andros, Joseph,


2


B


Atwater, Alfred,


21 Bat.


Sherman, Daniel,


5


G


Atwater, Alonzo,


21 Bat.


Shepherd, Zeb,


11


C


Austin, Geo., E,


8


G


Simons, Sylvester,


Cav.


H


Smith, Albert H.,


11


M


Smith, Edward C.,


2


B


Smith, Henry C.,


2


B


Smith, James C.,


2d Bat.


Smith, John C.,


Cav.


H


Solendine, Leonard F.,


7


A


Sprague, Durham,


2


B


Stocker, Samuel E.,


11


C


Streeter, Lemuel,


9


B


Streeter, John,


2


B


Trainer, Lawrence,


2


B


Underwood, Thomas G.,


2


B


Ward, Rollin C.,


2


B


Ward, William A.,


5


G


Ward, William,


7


I


Wheeler, Jacob,


2


B


Wheeler, John D.,


2


B


Wheeler, Nicholas,


2


B


Whitlock, Miles W.,


4


Whitlock, Samuel F.,


Cav.


Williams, John S.,


Cav.


Williams, Thomas,


11


Williams, William,


Cav.


Williams, William, jr.,


9


B


Woodbury, William, 2


C


Young, Thomas, 7


I


CREDITS UNDER CALL OF OCT. 17, 1863, for 300,000 Volunteers, and subsequent calls.


VOLUNTEERS FOR 2 YEARS.


Bailey, Henry L.,


1st Bat.


Burton, Reubin,


54 Mass.


Clark, Joseph,


17


Cull, Frank J.,


11


C


Donnelly, Patrick,


11


Fish, Lyman C.,


Cav.


Gates, Salmon K.


17


.


I


Godfrey, Andrew,


17


I


Haves, John,


11


C 54 Mass.


Ingleston, Frank G.,


11


C


Jackson, Daniel,


54 Mass.


Jackson, Win.,


54 Mass. 2 S. S. H


King. William H.,


17


I


Whitlock. Charles H.,


Knapp, Francis (.,


11


Lawrence, Henry A.,


11


-


Jones, Aaron,


Wikder. Daniel S,, Wood, James H.


Lee, David, jr.,


11


C


-


Peino, Robert, 2


B


Ross, George W.,


2


B


Ross, Horace G.,


Sheriden, Timothy,


7


Wheeler, Nicholas,


2


B


Woodbury, William,


2


ENROLLED MEN WHO FURNISHED SUBSTITUTES. George W. Gibson, Marcus Langisa, C. H. Simpson.


NAVAL CREDITS.


Francis Griswold, Edwin T. Woodward.


MISCELLANEOUS-not credited by name- 4 men.


VOLUNTEERS FOR NINE MONTHS IN 14TH BEG.


CO. F.


Bishop, Harvey, Kidder. Jonathan T.,


Brewster, Oliver E., King, William H., Knapp, Moses, Pond, Henry A., Potter, Fayette,


C Clark, Joseph, H


Delehanty, Patrick,


Shaw, Stephen P.,


Shepherd, F. H., Shepherd, Harry, Sherman, Emme: W.,


Hunter, Israel,


Smith, Frank W., Wari, Ettos E., Ward, Willard D., Wheeler, C'utten, Wheeler. Gro. C.,


Kellogg, James P.,


Dennison, Fred H., Fox, Daniel W., Fox, George II., Gates, Salmon K., Gault, Lyman J., Gault, Truman J., Gould, Franklin, Hosford, Henry H., Jennings, Joseph, Johnson, John F.,


1


Porter, Charles .E.,


1


Ryan. John,


Willard, Henry C.,


2


VOLUNTEERS RE-ENLISTED.


Blackmer, Rollin N., 21 Bat.


Cantield, Albert R.,


21 Bat.


Lowry, Geo. C.,


7


McQuain Peter, T.,


2


Peck, Noah A.,


2


54 Mass.


Ward, Henry H.,


9


D


Wheeler, Cullen,


Cav.


VOLUNTEERS FOR ONE YEAR.


Allard, John W.,


6


G


O'Neil, Hugh,


11


Parsons, Wallace D.,


2


B


Sheridan, Timothy,


A


Simons, Sylvester,


11


Stewart, Henry,


Phillips, Alexander,


C


B


I Brooks, Martin F., Carr, Stephen P.,


531


CASTLETON.


FURNISHED UNDER DRAFT AND PAID COMMU- TATION.


Bishop, Henderson, Gleason, Edward,


Cobb, Nathaniel L.,


Keyes. Henry W.,


Donnelly, James F.,


Langdon, Henry,


Hawkins, Hiram S., Northrop, Wm. H.,


Finnegan, Timothy, Parker, Jehial P.,


Fox, John, Tomlinson, Hale.


PROCURED SUBSTITUTE. Nelson, Lucius C. ENTERED SERVICE.


Briggs, Chancey, 51th Mass.


VOLUNTEERS FOR ONE YEAR.


Donnelly, James W., 1st A. C.


Fox, James, 7 C


King, Theodore, Ist A. C.


Mahar, Hugh, 7


C


McKean, John H.,


1st A. C.


Monroe, Wm. L.,


1st A. C.


Pepper, Robert L.,


1st F. C.


Pattee, Willie A:, 2


B


Russell, Wallace,


2


B


Steward, Archie,


5


Wheeler, John D.,


1st A. C.


Whitlock, Miles W., 1st A. C.


Those marked A. C., are men enlisted into Hancock's Army Corps. Those marked F. C., are in Frontier Cavalry.


WHOLE NUMBER-250 men furnished by Castleton.


FROM THE FUNERAL SERMON BY REV. E. P. HOOKER .* REV. JOSEPH STEELE


Was born in Kingsboro, Fultou Co., N. Y., June 8, 1801, in the early days of this quick- ening and eventful century. He graduated at Union College at the age of 23, and at Auburn Theological Seminary, in the second class of that institution, at the age of 26.


After preaching for a year to the Presbyteri- an church in Saratoga, he was installed pas- tor of the Congregational church in Castleton. Ever since he has been identified with the primary interests of this State.


In 1854, he was dismissed from this pastor- ate of a little more than a quarter of a century, and became one of the principals of Burr Sem- icary. Manchester. After 2 years in that in- stitution he came to reside in this place, (Mid- dlebury.) As a teacher, the agent of the Ver- mont Bible Society, constant or occasional supply for neighboring churches, and as an effi- cient laborer in the Sabbath school of this chinreh. he has continued almost to the last, to al.minister the office of a devoted Christian + rvant.


I go back to childhood to-day. I see the Christian pastor as he was seen by the eye of


childhood-revered-deeply revered, and rever- ently loved. I see him as a power-as the great- est power for good in the community. I think of him most as a power. The thought is not of sensation-ambitious display-impa- tient haste in doing the work of Gol Tie child may have understood little of the written discourse; yet the sanctuary was a place of power. To sit there was to receive formative influence. Those Sabbaths were potential- nothing so unsatisfactory as entertaining; or as days of literary display, or of eloquence. No, they were potential; that is the word. The pastor was earnest. It was not necessary to proclaim the fact. The whole weight of the man was thrown upon the side of others mel- fare. The tone, the bearing, the look-every thing said this matter is important. There was committal of the whole man to the work of the Gospel.


But his earnestness manifested itself in ac- tive forms. The second quarter of the century ushered in a new era in the cause of temper- ance-an era of pledges of total abstinence, and the earnest minister took the field in his parish. Every school district was visited- meetings were held in the school-houses-soci- eties were formed in the several neighborhoods. The influential temperance men of the commu- nity were enlisted as speakers, and nearly all the children in the town enrolled their names upon the total abstinence pledge. Impres- sions were made about the year 1840, which saved a large share of those who were then children from the perils of the cup.


Mr. Steele extended his influence in the tem- perance cause beyond his own town, and be- came one of the influential laborers in this re- form in the State.


The pastor was born in those years when the mother of Mills was beginning to think and pray about the heathen, and a few young men soon devoted themselves to the perilous enter- prise of foreign missions. The earnest minister took up the work-awakened the interest of the people-brought the fruits of faithful re- search to the monthly concert-secured the contributions of the families-of old and young. until the gifts to this cause from a church of merely ordinary ability, that was paying per- haps a salary of $600 to its minister, amount- ed, annually, to between 200 and 300 d Lirs. So it is not strange that his words upon this subject have been so welcome among us.


The earnest pastor was a faithful minister to the children. A children's afternoon at the


ยท Prluted in pamphlet.


:


532


VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.


parsonage-the few pleasant words-the bask. et of Testaments and primers-the name in the hand-writing of the giver, and the gifts sacred- ly kept as mementos. drew us wonderfully within the pastor's influence.


The present thriving state of our own Sunday school,* brought up from meagre numbers to a very large attendance, by the quiet and faith- ful labors of years on the part of the venerable Superintendent, in connection with the earnest co-operation of teachers and friends, was not his first success in such ministries.


The pastor was earnest in promoting a deep religions interest. The year succeeding his in- stallation a very general revival commenced : as its fruits about 70 were added to the church. In 1835 and 6 there was another revival, when 80 publicly professed allegiance to Christ. In 1838 a revival added 40 to the church.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.