The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-02-15
History Of st. Adams.
by an old Resident.
PART Mi.
DEE uNIvERsAIIsr soclrrY.

but its activity has been Intermittent.
, and its prosperity irregular and fuc-
tuating. Among the early preachers
of their faith may be mentioned Rev.
William Bell, about the year $780,
Rev. Joseph Wright in 1881, and 1882;
Rev Joseph Baker, who lived and
preached in St Adams for several
years; and Rev Eli Ballou at various
periods, formerly and recently Rev
William J. Goss, preached here some
in 1916. After that year the records
Of the society are defective until the
year 1859, when Rev Joseph Sar-
gent, of Wiliston preached to the So
ciety half Of the time during two
years, and Rev Mr. Ballou preached
here half the year 1660-61 After
that time the society had no stated
preaching until january 1864 when
meetings were resume under more
favorable auspices, with preaching
every Sabbath.
The old Society organization was
dropped, and the old church revived
and re-moddled on a new plan.
The Universahsts Of St. Adams have
met for public worship wherever they
could, i'll school-housss, in the open
air, around the steps Of the Court
House, sometimes not being allowed
to enter its precincts But for the
last twenty years or more, their meet
ings have been held in the lower story
Of the Court House, in room which
was built at the expense Of the society
The town, by paying one hundred dol
lars use the apartment for town meet
ings The Chapel thus built for the
use of the society will accommodate
with seats, about three hundred per-
sons.
The first formation of Universalist
society in st Adams, was on the 9th
of January, 1880 1t has been subjec.
ted to occasional declensions, and re-
yiyals, as above stated A church of
twenty members was organized, in
connection with the society, on the
9th of March, 1859; but owing to the
want of preacher it has not enjoyed
n GREAT depree of prOsneritv.
On the 4th of January, 1864, a new
body was organized TO supercede both
the former organizations, denominated
The First Universalst Church in St
Adams, and intended to take the
place and do the work OF the society
and the church previously existing. -
Provision was also, at the same time,
made for holding public worship on
every Sabbath And this may be
called the beginning of organized sys-
tematic efforts on the part of the Uni
versalists of st. Adams, towards the
permanent establishment of their dis
tinctive faith, in this town. The in
crease Of business in the village. and
the influx of new corners, consequent
on the location of the extensive rail
road shops here, has added largely to
the population of the village, and, of
course. to the Universalist congrega-
ton. which numbers in its connection,
at the present time, about fifty fami-
lies. The Rev. j. o. Skinner, for
two or three years, was the able
and worthy pastor of the church and
society. But he has recently been
called to another field of labor, and
the society is now. dec. 1866 with
out minister.
THE BAPTIST SOCIETY.
Very recently, Baptist church has
been organized in st. Adams. The
congregation is not large, and is made
M ofthose who have for a considerable
time been residents in the place, aud
of those who have lately become resi-
dents. The number of church mem
bers is not large at present, but there
is prospect of a considerable increase
before the lapse of great length OF
time. Meetings are now held on the
Sabbath, in the Universalst Chapel,
which has been offered to them, du-
ring the suspension Of regular wor-
sbipby the Uniyersalists. Rev. DR.. }. j.
Bigelow is now pastor Of this society,
It is contemplated by the friends OF
the order to build respectable house
Of worship as soon as funds can be
raised for the purpose
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIETY
The Catholic congregation IN this
town is probably larger than that oil