The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-24

css,ls IA differcnt parts of the town.
and Other insiitu,icns calculated 10 i'm.
prove and elevate the man. They were
also chureh.peoplc, strictly regarding
the sabba,h ss dsv Of rest set n,art
fcr the worship of Almighty God. Their
meetings IN the winter were held In PR.
vate houses, Ia The simmer 10 barns,
About the year 1850 the Rev l,hamcr
Hibhard. Congregational minister,
came among u to look AFTER the spiritual
welfare Of the people. he was bold.
athletic man, full Of the spirit Of 20
quite limited IN his education. had served
as ohapIain In the army. and was settled
as the minister Of the town. The H..
habiianis were mostly if not entirely
Baptist and Congreeationalis,s, bu, we're
nll united In setting Mr.. llibbari as their
pastor. Under his care the religious
affairs went on harmoniously until 1856,
when a part of the Congregational
church withdrew, formed themselves
into seperaie Church. and built a small
house but soon broke down and dis
banded most returned to the former
church, and again their religious inter.
esis prospered under Mr.. lIibbari's
administration, until about the year
1896, when some began to think he
was not sufficiently refined for Poult.
ney and finally succeeded IN ge,,ins
vote to dismiss him. This almost broke
the poor old mans heart--having labor.
cd with his people so long, and with
very little support-for he could almost
say, with Paul These haads have
ministered to my necessities. I have
not been chargcable to any Of you."---
Poor and disconsolate, he preached
few years to destitute churches in the
vicinity, and was gathered TO his fathers.
" Peace 10 his ashes"
In 1888, they erected house of wor-
ship, on the north side of the road near
the burying ground, Al feet in width,
aad 50 in length. covered it, laid the
lower floor, and built desk. So far It
was done by subscription. and in this
situation it was occupied for several
years. The town finally raised tax
and finished the house. Alter the dis
mission of Mr. Hibbard, they had no
settled minister for several years. In
1901, Mr.. Clark Kendrick, a candidate
for the ministry OF the Baptist persua-
sion, was invited to preach to them
year, which he did. The Baptist church
then gave him a call to become their
pastor, which he accepted and was or.
dained in May, 1902. This movement
caused the Congregational Church 10
withdraw from the Union They oh.
tanned Mr., Samuel Leonard for their
minister; and. in 1903, baili the meet.
iing-house which they still occupy. In
1905, the Bapiists built the house which
they now occupy. And the ,old meet
ins-house, generally styled Hibbard's
Sanctuary" was demolished in 1912.
5, For many years after the settlement
Of the town, such thing as a Wagon
was not known. The first one, the
writer remembers seeing, came from
the west part Of the town, with a load Of
worshppers, drawn by two horses -.
y
aud. as'they started for home, nd the
close Of the service, the Wagon made
! considerable noise. Oae ippn very
gravcly remarked that he wisheJit was,
Dirty shillings fine for any man to drive
a Wagon through the street OH the Sab
bath.
The first inhabitants were generally
from Massachusetts, and Coaneciicu, !,
and proiessed views and feelings pecuI:
lar to their ancestors. They took Wig
liant measures to pregent travelling Oh
the Sabbath. One morning, ms The peo-
pie were assembling for worship, little
Seotchman was walking to the east, and
as he appeared to be going past the
meeting house, the iiihing man stepped
up TO him, aud demanded the reason of
his travelling upon fbe Sabbath lie
replied that he was minister, and VIA
on his way to preach in MidJielown.
by ihis time a number had gathered
around him, being rather suspicion. that
A
his was false prelense, asd questioned
him closely. fmaiy, as,bey were desi
iisu,e Of a minister that day they propos !.
edto hin torcmsin and preacl,io hem.
+ He consented, and ypok for his text -.
" As cold water 10 a thirsty soul, 80 IL
good news from a far country They,
were all well pleased with the sermon.
and permitted him TO 20 on aud preach
10 Middlsfown IN the afternoon.
The first settlers were very much a, !
tached 10 each other, united in their ef
forts to promo,e regularity and good OF;
der, and. for many years, Ipoved on like
band Of brothers
PorLrsEr LiBaARy, to which ailn.
sion has been made, was established
sdoui 1890 Il became large and
iiourishing institution. and Contributed
largely TO enlighien the mind. and im-
prove The morals Of iis Numerous pat
rons. II Hoarished until the country
became flooded with those light and
trashy publications. usually styled mod
ern iiisn,iBre and for this cause Il was
aegleeied, aud finally broken up In 1886,
No observing mind can do.bi for a mo-
neHt that the change that has come
over lhs inha''itanis, especially the ris-
lag generation. has no, been for The bet
Ter.