The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-01-25

family, TO devote considerable atton-
ton to agriculture, often laboring with
his own hands in the field, like any
common farmer. This was not rel
ished by some of the members of his
church. They thought he ought to
devote all his time and attention to
spiritual affairs, and that his salary
Of $500 was sufficient to eralle him
to do SO. When he was settled as n
pastor over the church, he required
bond, signed by number Of the most
responsible members of the society,
to guarantee the prompt payment Of
his salary. In the course of three or
four years the number Of responsible
obligors in the bond had become con
siderably reduced by death and re-
moval, which very much increased the
accountability of those VINO remained
Mr.. Strong declined to give up the
bond, and accept as his security the
voluntary and promiscuous subscrip-
tons of the members Of the society.
This.circumstance, together with other
matters which have been mentioned,
created desire in the church for his
dismission. After considerable nego-
tiation he consented to give mp the
bond, and requested a dismission,
provided all arrearages were paid. -
The proposition was accepted by the
church, and council was called by
which he was dismissed October 23d,
1921, with the high concentrations Of
the council In their remarks on the
occasion, the council we're severe ON
certain members of the church, who
had been instrumental in causing the
difiuclty between their pastor and the
church Mr. Strong was soon after
invited to become The pastor of n
church and congregation in the town
Of Phelps, in the State of New York,
to which place he removed with his
family His death took place in that
town several years ago.
The next settled minister over the
First Congregational church was the
Rev Worthington Smith. He was
ordained June 4th, 1923, and on his
acceptance of the appointment of tho
Presidency Of the College at Burling
ton, he was dismissed December II
1919, after a pastoral service of more
than twenty-six years, much longer
time than is usual fox such a conncc
ton to continue between a minister
and his church aud society. Or
Smith, on account OF increasing il
health, resigned his Office of Presi
dent Of the College in August, 1855
He then returned to his family in ST
Adams where he died February l3
} 1856. Few clergymen have sustained
in all respects, better or more hon
orable reputation than the Rev ID
/ Smith in the different situations i
which he was called to act. Hi
) death, probably hastened by to
close application to the laborious du
/ ties of his Office, was deeply regret
: ted by all who knew him His char
! acter needs not our commentator
5 and we forbear to say any more OF
1 the subject, as his biography has bee
5 written by Prof Torrey of Burling
: ton, and published with selection
: his sermons; to which the reader
e referred for more particular accoun
of the life and services Of the Ray ID
WoRrHINGroN SMITH.
a The next m mister of the church wf
:, Ebenezer Cutler, who was ordaine
2 March 6, 1850, and was dismissed Jul
: 10, 1855. He removed to Worceste
e Mass, to which place he had bee
!, invited. Rev David Dobie was il
e stalled over the church October
4 1856. But his health soon gave ON
e and he died February is, 1857, befol
n he had time and opportunity to q
/. hibit those excellent traits of chara'
+ ter and talents which he was suppo
is ed to possess. The Rev. }. b. Rank
h was next called to the pastorate
+ this church, and preached his fir
e sermon March s, 1857 He relil
Z pushed his charge over the churC
d sometime in the autumn of 1862, al
y removed to Lowell Mass, to whiC
, place he had been invited by Coz
J. gregational church there. Mr. RAJ
|, kin has since been settled in Charlie
= town, Mass AS we do not propo
J. to say anything except incidental
d respecting living men, we shall s.
IS nothing more in relation to Mr. Cutl
p and Mr. Rankin, except that they a
g reputed to be able and learned men.
!. Before the year 1926, the first Co
D. gregational church IN st. Adams h'
, ma bousa for nuhlio worehin NJ the