Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-28
The congregational Church in
Observation-Disclosures Sketch-- Bio.
graphical sketches of its Clergy.
Observation-Disclosures of n New Pas
tor.

The first Congregational church in
Rutland was organized in 1878, the whole
town being included in the parish over
this church, the Rev. Benajah Roots was
settled, in October, 1774, and continued
as pastor until his death in 1877, when
the town was divided into two parishes,
and the Congregational church in the par.
ish of East Rutland was organized the
meeting house having been erected some
year or two previous.
The pulpit was supplied by different
candidates till near the close of the year
1888, when Rev. Samuel Williams, LID,
was employed. He continued to supply
the pulpit until October, 1895, when he
relinquished preaching, and was succeed
ed by Rev. Heman Ball, d. d. Since the
death Of DR.. Ball there have been four
pastors-Rev. Charles Walker, Rev. Will
liam Mitchell, Rev. Silas Aiken, d. d.,
and Rev. Norman Seaver, d. D.
REV. HEMAN BALL, d. d., son OF
Charles Ball, was born in Springfield,
Mass, July 5, 1854, and graduated at
Dartmouth College, in 1901. He studied
theology with the Rev. Joseph Lathrop
ID. d., of West Springfield, Mass, and
was ordained pastor of the Congregational
church here, February LIST, 1897, the SER
mon being preached by Rev. DIR. Lathrop
and remained pastor until his death.
In 1894, he received the honorary de-
gree of a. ~, from Yale College, and that
of ID. d., from Union College in 1916, and
was one of the Trustees of Middlebury
College from its organization until his
death
Several of his sermons were published,
among which was one on the death of
Washington, and an Election Sermon in
1904.
Rev. DIR. sprague says: "He was highly
respected for his talents'a and virtues, and
exerted an extensive influence in the
church" He died, here, December 18th,
1921, and was buried in the West street
cemetery, and is the only clergyman who
has died during his pastorate of this
church.
2. REV. CHARLES WALKER, D. D.,
was born in Woodstock Connecticut, in
1891. He studied theology at Andover
Mass Theological Seminary, graduating
in 1921. He was ordained pastor of the
Congregational Church here, January LIST,
1928 and was dismissed March 18th 1888.
He was installed over the Congregational
Church in (the east village Of Brattleboro,
January 1st, 1885 and was dismissed Feb
ruary 18th, 1916, and on the 9th of De-
oember of the same year, was installed
over the Congregational Church in Pitts
ford, and was dismissed December 9th,
1864, since which time he has resided in
Pittsford without charge"
He received the honorary degree OF
A. NJ, from the University of Vermont in
1928, and from Middlebury and Dart
mouth Colleges in 1895, and that of ID d.,
from the University of Vermont in 1S47,
and has been a Trustee of Middlebury
College since 1887.
He delivered the annual Election Ser
mon before the Legislature of Vermont in
1899, which was published, as were also
some of his occasional sermons.
3. REV. WILLIAM MITCHELL, son of
John and Abigail (Waterhopse) Mitchell,
was born at Chester, Conn, December
10Th, 1893, and graduated at Yale Col
lege in 1918. He studied theology at the
Andover Theological Seminary, gradual
ing there in 1921, in the same class with
his immediate predecessor, Rev DIR.
Walker, and was licensed June 9th, of
the same year, by the Middlesex Conn.,
Association, and engaged as Home Mis-
sionary in Northwestern N. Y.
He was ordained October Goth, 1924,
and was settled over the Congregational
Church, in Newtown, Conn, from June,
1925, to May, 1881.
He was installed pastor of the Congre-
gational Church here, March IA, 1888,
and was dismissed June ID, 1916. He
was acting pastor in Wallingford from
August Sth, 1S47, to March 2Sth, 1852
In the fall of 1852 he became agent of
the Vermont Colonization Society, and
served in that capacity three years; after
this he served, some two years, as agent
of the New York and then of the New
Jersey Colonization Society.
In 1858 he removed to the residence of
his son, John B. Mitchell, at Corpus
Christi, Texas. During his residence
here he organized church at Casa Blan-
ca, about forty miles from his residence,
to whom he preached two Sundays
monthly till the war scattered them
About year before his death he organ
lied a Presby terian Church at Corpus
Christi, and by his own exertions secured
the funds for church building, which
was partly erected at the time of his
death. He died August LIST, 1867, of the
yellow fever, which also carried off two
others of his household.
4. REV. SILAs AIKEN, ID, son of Phin-
cas- and Elizabeth (Patterson) Aiken, was
born at Bedford, N. H, May IA, 1899, and
dU dartmouth cOli62e III 1890,
with the highest honors of his class, being
saledictorian. He studied theology with
Rev. Bennett Tyler, D. D., and Prof.
Howe, and was ordained pastor of the
Congregational church in Amherst, n. H,
March A, 1929, and was dismissed March
5, 1887, having accepted call TO Park
street church, Boston. He was installed
over that church March %, 1887, and re-
signed his pastorate and was dismissed in
July, 1S4S. March %, 1910, he was in
stalled over the Congregational church
here, Rev. Benjamin Labaree, d. d. Presi.
dent of Middlebury College, preaching
the sermon, and was dismissed, at his own
request, July l, 1868, from which time
until his death, he remained in Rutland
without a charge. He had been at differ
emit times Chaplain of the Massachusetts,
Senate, Trustee of Dartmouth College,
Member of the Prudential Committee OF