The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-05-01

W.. itifttN i''Nb NaitAV ~
one Of the most valuable farms ia tho
town hui nh examination Of the ioNu
record shows that this lot. together with
another 10, Of a hundred acres on the
opposite .,dc &c the Oucr Greek. and
four hundred acres Of the INDICATED
land in the township were purchased
Ivy him and decided 10 him, before he
hal moved TO Rutland. for one huud.
red aud ninety five pounds paid in hand
The ministers lot was located near the
northeast corner Of the town. among
lands, which till within twenty wears
have been regarded ~ having little
more than a nominal valac. ff,tr the
lalso of five year. some feeling is sad
TO have arisen amongs, the people. be-
cfuse their pastor was unwilling to
preach longer without further eoaSen-
saiion. and other ministers were en-
ployrd io. some extent; bat he i, sup.
posed TO have onlciWet most Of the
IN when hc was able, I'LL his death a
period OF about fourteen years.
A. frs, constituted. the church con-
sisted Of only thirteen members, aud
for twelve years there were only six
additions TO ii. lhi, embrace. the PEE
Rod Of the revolutionary war, which
was not II time Of prosperity 10 any Of
our churches.
In l7si-j, there was a powerful re.
yisal which brought fnrty-iivc into the
church. The season immediately pre-
ceding This revival mus, have been
dark time TO the feeble church. Only
twenty members had ever been connec-
ted with it, The providence Of God
had undoubtedly removed some Of them
during the twelve preceding years; and
about four years before, colony had
left to establish the church in the east
parish. The number then remaining in
the church must have been very small,
and the pastor wa. in poor health, frc-
qnently unable TO meet with the people.
On one Sabbath morning We are told.
when in Consequence Of his known i'll
health. he was not expected to attend
meeting. as the people were gathering
together, their pastor rode up among
hcrs,---hls residence was two or three
miles distant When some Of the
brethren expressed surprise at seeing
linn out that day,he replied that he dare
not stay at home, for it was strongly i'm.
pressed upon his mind that the Lord
would be there. Those asse mbled tho'i
they never heard their pastor preach az
he did tha, Sabbath and it was realised
by many before the day closed, that
the Lord had verify come amongst them.
Thus commenced that refreshing from
the presence Of the Lord which chang.
ed thc whole aspect Of thp compY,ni,y,
and while it added greatly To the mum.
bcrs, gave strength and stability to the
( church. Into the labor Of this revival
Mr.. Roots entered with all his heart,
assisted part Of the time by Mr.. Asa
, Burton q Ihetford, and Mr.. Job Swift
soon after settled in Benninston now
known as DR.. Burton and Dr.. Swift
But he was dong his last work. Con.
sumption had already marked him foi
a victim. Slowly he sank down into
his rest, and was gathered to his faith.
ers. AT the head Of the grave where
he now sleeps with the generation to
whom he preached, stands stone, the
Inscription upon which informs US thai
he died March lG, 1887, in the G2L
year Of his age.
From the little that is lief, of tho
writings Of MIR Roots, il may be gath
cred that he was man of strong mind
clear and comprehensive views, and &
sound scholarship. lie received Tho
degree Of A. NJ from hi, Alma Mater
and also from Dartmouth snd from
Yale. In Rutland he acquired the rep
utation Of a strict disciplinarian il
church matters, offence having beer
given TO some by the excommuaicatiol
OF a prominent member. As preach
er lie is said not to be eloquent in man
ner, but he gave plain uticrance to i'm
por'ant and we'll arranged truth ant
he Spase in earnest.
The aged man before alluded TO, nov
. living IN Sinsbury. says After Mr.
, Roots had been settled some years il
Rutland, be came on "A visi, to The seen
: OF his former labors. and preached from
Luke iv: 1920. The discourse wa
= very appropriate and excited much in
tcrrst.
The sermon which ! have a,rcad
r mentioned, preached Il, the organize
lion OF the church IN RuiRnl. may b
t taken / suppose as a specimen Of hi
n style. lie speaks OF "'he preiac
I "a having been prepared in the wilder
= ness, without the ordinary helps whic|
1 ministers have and he consents 10 i,
| publication because he expects "man
, OF them will be scattered IN the wilder
4 ness where books are scarce. And
g they may be Of service In The mind, {
J. any, lu-t sentiments Uf the true charat
ter Of Christ, and awaken in them Il
Z earnest solicitude TO belong 10 ia
!. church, my end is in some measure an.
g wcfed. The sermon j. certainly 10
o such a one n we are sometimes give
4 To understand are needed 10 inter,
the people ia our new settlements 2
Is the west but ! have no doubt ihe-
If sron2--inewed, strong minded me,
- who hai turned aside for day fror
I. the rugged labors Of the FIELD, 10 esral
!. lish ro.pelins,liuiions for themseive
q, Al A tl.-ir i,-ceTlauts rnuil fnlln,. M