Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-03-14

March Sd, Rev. John G. Hale, pastor of
the Congregational church at Poultney,
delivered an historical discourse review
ing the history CT that church from its
organization to the present time. After
an introduction exhibiting the propriety
of looking over the years of the past in
their relation to the present, and rever-
encing the memory of those who have
participated in building the institutions
of religion in our community, he pro-
ceeded to a narration of the items found
in the record books of the church, from
which we gather a brief fsnmmary. The
Rev. Thinner Hibbard, who had been
chaplain in the Revolutionary army,
was the first pastor, and, it is supposed,
came with an organized church from
Bennington. In 1928, the Baptists,
who had that year organized a church,
Joined with the Congregationallsts in
building church opposite the burying
ground in East Poultney. 1t was rails
ed and covered by subscription, but
completed by town tax. Until 1895
the two churches were united in sup
porting the gospel in worship and in
communion, when the Baptists, doubling
the propriety Of longer continuing in
connection, united with the Baptist
church in Middletown, but continued
in union with the Congregational
church in support Of preaching and pub.
lie worship.
The first record in existence reads as
follows:
"July 7th, 1895. Took into consider
alton the Request of the Rev'd Mr..
Hebard, which had bin made previous
to this meeting, for a dismission from
the special Charge of this Chh. as their
Paster, and proseaded as follows:
WhGeaS The Rev. Mr.. Ithamar Hebard
in the year 1880 was Prominently set
tied over this Chh. & congrega tion
according to the Strict Congregational
ord. & hath faithfully perlormd the
several offices of his ministerial func-
tion, and now believing an Evangelical
Situation most rulable, be requests to
bee in that Situation. Therefore, no.
tice that the Chh. Release Mr.. Hebard
from the above Obligation and Consider
him in an Evangelical Situation.
Voted to continue Mr.. Hibbard in the
Ministry with US until the minds of the
Society may be none Respecting his
Request"
Therefore there is every reason to be.
lieve the church to have been organized
and MIR. Hibbard settled as early as
1880
When the minds OF the society were
"none," it would seem to have been un-
favorable to Mr.. H. There was some
dissatisfaction expressed with him, and
it was so great that some would not re-
main in the House when he administered
the ordinances and lead finally to the
withdrawal of a large number of mem
bers who organized a church and built
a meeting house in 1885 under the pas
tOral care of Rev. James Thompson. For
four years there were two churches, but
October 3, 1916 they were united, each
receiving the other into fellowship by
vote. Mr.. Hibbard was dismissed in
1896, and removed to HubbardtoD,
where he became pastor of the Congrega.
tional church in 1885, and died in that
town March ., 1902. From all that can
be gathered Of Mr.. Hibbard, he seems to
have been rough and unpolished, and
yet a man of great energy OF character
and deep piety. He wrote several
hymns, some of which are now in use.
He had a large number Of children;
Two or three Of his sons became clergy
nen. One Rev. Ebenezer Hibbard, was
pastor of the church in Whitehall, N.
Y, and while there took part in the or
dination OF one Of his fathers successors
In the ministry.
March Is, 1898, Rev. David Smith
was called to the pastorate but de.
clined.
In Nov, 1899, Rev. Prince Jenny was
preaching to the church but they re-
fused to give him call, by vote Of II
to Il, but at an adjourned meeting to
which the inhabitants of the town were
generally invited to be present, he was
employed to supply the pulpit for one
year.
In January, 1902, the church voted tc
unite with the Middletown church, in
procuring preaching, and a committee
appointed to carry it into effect, but il
was not consummated as far as can bt
ascertained from any records.
In 1902, controversy arose in refer
ence to the occupancy Of the meeting
house, and the proprietors voted that
as the Congregationalists had occupied
1t for twenty years, it was but fair tht
Baptists should control it for the timt
being, and resulted in the building o
the present church edifice, and on tht
18th of Nav. 1909 Rev SamueI Teonarr