Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-25


ed for the opportunity to publish this tribute
of respect to his memory. En-. FREEMAN
Rev. Kiah Bayley.
Good men die. 1t is the appointment of in
finite wisdom and goodness. Removed from our
sight, we no more behold in them the resem-
bance of Him who has "left us an example that
we should follow his steps," We cease to hear
from their lips the accents of friendly greeting
and tender sympathy, or the messages of saliva
tion. When those who have exhibited the spir-
it of the gospel eminently in their lives, and
have labored, by voice and pen, toillustrate and
enforce its holy doctrines and precepts upon the
consciences and hearts of their fellow men, are
removed from earth it is suitable that some
written memorial of them should be preserved
Such was the subject of this notice. He was
bold defender of the doctrines of grace. Fully
assured of their truth and of their adaptation
to remove prevalent moral evils from our world
he ceased not to apply them for this purpose
while life lasted
REV. KIAH BAYLEY was the son of Charles
and Abigail Stafford Bayley. He was born in
the west Parish of Brookfeld, Mass, March IL,
ITO, and died at East Hardwick, Vermont,
Aug. II, 1857.
Speaking of some of the perils of his early
| life, which was passed in Haverhill, N. H., he
once said, "Indians and old tories around, fire.
quently running for dear ife-mother and baby
and all How long his fathers family resided
i'll Haverhill is not known to the writer In
1890 they lived in Newbury, Vermont When
twenty years of age, while at home, during a
vacation in College, he trusted that his heart
was renewed by the Holy Spirit. He states that
'he first indulged hope in his fathers barn al
Newbpry. He graduated at Dartmouth Col
ege in 1893, with a high rank as a scholar, In
class of which Hon. Samuel Bell, of Chester
DR.. Mcfarland of Concord, and President Moore
of Amherst College, We're members.
Mr.. Bayley received his Theological educa-
ton undor the tuition of Rev. Nathaniel En-.
mons, D. d. of Franklin, Mass, and was liccn.
sed by the Mendon Association, June 3, 1874
less than year after leaving college. Mr.
Bayley formed an acquaintance with Miss Abb
| gail Goodhue of Newburyport, who was visit
ing the family of DR.. Emmons; which led tC
their union in marriage in the autumn of 1894
TWAS most intimate, harmonious and profta
BILE connection, Notwithstanding the disparity o
their ages, and continued for more than half ;
century. Her hiographer says, " Whatever tri
ais or Affections she had, after looking to Goo
for help, she fled for refuge to the bosom of con
Ijugal endearment and always found sympathy
Her tenderness and love were abundantly recip
rocated. The confidence was mutual and per
feet 1t has fallen to the lot of few to enjoy 81
perfectly, and for so long a period, the joys o
welded fifo." March 6, 1898, she became tn
mother of two sons whom, however, the par
ents were permitted to enjoy for a brief perio'
only. One of them lived fourteen and the 9th
er t,penty-one days and the Savior took them
They had no other children.
Mrs. Bayley was woman of uncommon pie
ty. Rarely do any of our fallen race attai
such heavenly mindedness, as she exhibited 70
a long course of years. To converse on spiritu
al subjects seemed about as easy for her as t.
breathe. She deceased March, Is, 1916, want
ing only fifty days to complete ninety years 9
life.
Mr.. Bayley preached his first sermon in Tau
ton, Mass. He was afterwards invited to tn
pastoral Office in Milford and Ashby, Mass
and in Cornish, N. H. In 1896, he went
Maine, preached six months in New Castle an
was ordained pastor of the church there (cosif
: ting of three men) Oct, 1877. During tn
tweuty-six years of his pastorate, valuable az
cessions were made to the church. The paste
wasa an enlightened and thorough Hopkinsiar
lie well understood that the doctrines of tn
Bible which are merely statements of facts, wei
the only basis of genuine religion. All tt
duties required, grow out of the dectrine
/ Men can be made to feel their obligation
, obey any divine command no further than the
understand the doctrine from which the con
mand proceeds. Hence he dwelt largely in h
| preaching upon the distinguished doctrines
the Bible. These he presented and discusse,
and showed their practical bearing in luc
and impressive manner. He would exhibit IL
character of God, in its illustrious and sove
eign manifestations as superlatively excellen
: and lovely and glorious. From these facts,
, would prsss the obligation of every moral agel
, to love God supremely From the doctrine,
8 fact, that men are sinners, he urged the duty
{ immediate repentance. So of all other dutie
If his people did not understand the fund
' mental truths of the Bible, it was not becau
they had not been fully and clearly stated b
fore them. Such us loved to hear sound do
trine. and close, searching discourscs, sat wi
delight under his ministry. At his request,
was dismissed from his pastoral relation, in Sc
: 1923. The church has since become ty
: branches, numbering nearly two hundred mer
bers.
The four years, from 1925 to 1929, after b
a. dsmission, Mr.. B. preached in Greensboro,
F.. where his labors were highly acceptable al
useful, and he is still remembered by the old
part Of the congregation with deep-felt intere'
Much good was accomplished there by his j
strumentality. From May, 1929, he preach
three years in Thornton, N. II. In Jun
1888, he commenced preaching in Hardwick,
, Here he labored about six months with the sou
and about three months with the north churc
The last sermon he delivered was at the Bapt
meeting house in East Hardwick, in Sept, l84
his bodily infrmities increased upon him, s
that he afterwards did but little abroad I
9 last time he attended public worship was som
n. l..