Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-02-26

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The facts recently put on record in TIE Pnn.
MN, respecting the rise and progress of the
congregational Church in Brattleboro. must
have been read with interest by all who vert
ever in any way connected with affairs in tina,
town. 1t is one of the most hopeful signs OF
the times that an increasing attention is paid to
history in all its departments, especially in that
even despised-local history. My own attcn-
ton being now particularly turned towards that
sub-species of local history which takes note OF
ecclesiastical affairs, it will give me pleasure to
communicate occasionally to the Phoenix some
of the results of my explorations among the
dusty records of the past And first respecting
some of the
EARLY MINISTER'S IN GuIIFoRD--l. Rev.
Ebenezer Gurley, the first settled minister in
Oulliord, was the son of Dea. Jonathan Gurley
OF Mansfield, Ct, where he was born Nav 18th.
I'4'. lie was graduated at Dartmouth College
IN ~, and married Desire Dimock of Mans
field. He was ordained at Guford, Oct. 2sth.
no, and died July 18th, l776. Thompsons
Gazetteer says of him, ale was a young man
OF science, and much respected for his pious
and amiable department"
,. Rev. Henry Williams, who succeeded Mr..
Gurlcy, was born in Stonington. Ct. in 1744.
lie was ordained at Guilford, Oct. 2Sth, IT'S.
The Rev. Bunker Gay Of Hinsdale, n. H..
preached the ordination sermon from . Kinps
4, 40, so son of man, there is death in the
pot" 1t was at the time when continental cur-
fency was greatly deprecated, and the idea of
the sermon was that to pay minister's salary
In the deprecated currency is death in the not
both to minister and people. Mr.. Williams
was violent Yorker, and when GuiIford sub
mitted to the authority of Vermont, he found it
eXpedlent to depart with others of the same DO
lltical faith. He was accordingly dismissed in
1888, and was installed Nov. 10TH 1884, the
first pastor of the Congregational Church in
Leverett, Mass. The installation sermon was
preached by the Rev. Gersham Lyman of Marl-
Doro, Vt. He remained pastor at Leverett till
his death, which occurred without a moments
warning, while he was sitting in his chair, Nov.
9th, 1911. He was never graduated at any
college, but received the honorary degree of A.
NJ, from Dartmouth College, in 1882. His
epitaph says ale was an ardent preacher, en-
inent in prayer, faithful minister Of truly
evangelical sentiments"
B. Rev. Elijah Voltage was born in Bernard
ston, Mass, about 1869, and was graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1871. He was ordained
at Guilford March 18th, 1893, and dismissed
April 10th, 1897. lie was settled at Cambridge,
VT, from 1905 to 1906, after which he returned
to Guiliord and preached till 1918. lie was
settled in Rockingham from 1918 to 1921, and
at Putney, N. Y, about seven years, utter which
he preached at Wheeler and Starkev. n. Y.
and died in Starkey, July 18th, lS47. An obit-
uory notice, published at the time of his death,
says "He ever exemplifed the truth he so
earnestly preached to others by his daily walk
and conversation He fell, as it were, with his
armor on, being struck down by an acute and
rapid disease, while preparing sermons for the
approaching Sabbath" The following is the
epitaph on his gravestonc; "For more than
half a century he proclaimed the gospel of Je-
sus Christ, and has now gone to receive his re-
ward"
Any one who can fix either of the above
dates with greater precision will be worthy of
thanks for doing so. The main value of a
date lies in its exactness, and it ought always to
include month and day as well as year.
p. II. W.
Coventry, VT, Feb 2lst, 1850