Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-01-30
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
From the N. Y. Baptist Register.

TThe following letter from Brother S.
s. Whitman, late professor in the lnsti-
tuition at Hamilton, to the editor Of the
Pioneer, will be pleasant epistle to ma
ny Of his friends in this State.-Ed. Reg.l
To the Editor of Tie Pioneer:
Dear Sir--It may not be uninteresting
10 you and some of your readers to be in
formed Of the organization of Baptist
church at Rockford, especially as DR..
Haskell, and some others from your
place, are among its members. Il is not
yet three years since there were but two
houses in the place. and those made of
logs. But even now its society of intel
ligent and enterprising citizens, combined
with its religious and other privileges,
makes it desirable place of residence
Situated, as il is, upon one of the most
beautiful rivers in the world, and sur
rounded by a country that is second to
none ia the health Of its climate, and in
the beauty and fertility of its soil. it is
destined TO be one Of the. most important
places in northern Illinois. Three hous
es for public worship are already begun
and will soon be completed. Indeed, we
could ourselves hardly imagine that these
fine prairies and woodlands were so re
Gently the abode only Of savages, were
il not that their deep and frequent trail:
are still fresh, and their .wigwam frames
still standing among US.
The Baptis. church in this place (Bel
videre) was the first that was formed In
this region, and already numbers abou
forty members. The church at Rockford
Is twelve miles west of this, and begin:
with only sixteen members; but they are
of one heart and one soul, and will, nc
doubt, be an important church in, wha
we hope will soon be, the Rock River
Association. 1t begins upon the RICH
foundaiion-that those who preach the
gospel should live by the gospel so that
untrammelled by worldly cares, they ma,
attend to the duties Of their holy call
ing; and farther-that the burdens of the
church shall be borne by the individual
members, according to the ability which
God has given them. This will appear
from the following extracts from the arti
cles Of the church, which were unani
mously adopted:
at is the duty of those who are called
Of God to preach the gospel, TO devot'
themselves wholly 10 the work, and it !
the duty Of the church to sustain them
by their prayers, and by contributing II
their support; SO as to render il unnecessa
nv to entangle themselves with the care
Of this world
Every member should feel bound t.
bear Just and equal proportion OF tn
burdens of the church; and in all case
where means are 10 be raised by tn
church for the support of the ministry, o
any other purpose, the same, unless other
wise ordered, shall be assessed among In
members thereof, according to theft a5lll
~ 10 pay, which shall be determined il
the manner directed by the church"
am. indeed, stranger IN many part
of this State, but have often heard of tn
condition of the Baptist ministry through
3, out it {; and can not believe, that ifou
churches had been constituted upon tn
above foundation, it would have been S
often asserted that there are not NOR
than two. Baptist ministers in the whol
State Of Illinois who are fully supporte
bv the several churches to which the
preach the gospel.
Very respectfully. your brother.
s. S. WHITMAN.