The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-08
PLYMOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH.

ssForty Years q Pastor''-Record Of IN
Eveniful Life-Sermon by Rev. DR.. Wcs-
colt.
The little church West Fifty first street, called
the Plymouth Baptist church, was filed to Its
utmost capacity yesterday morning Dy the members
o. the congregation who came to listen to an inter-
esting detail OF the lie OF their PASTOR DR.. Wescott
RISE AND PROGRESS OF DIR. wEsCoTrs CHURCH.
The Baptists in the upper part Of the city having
no suitable place OF worship, Plymouth church was
organized October l, 1865 with only twenty men,
bers. DR.. Wescott who was well known as one OF
the most talented ministers OF the Church,
was called to the pastorate in the following April.
Under his wise management the new church was
rapidly formed, ana 1t soon became necessary to
have new building Money was subscribed, the
present site was obtained and ground was broken
the 9th OF July, 1850. The building is OF brick
with brown stone trimmings, and the design, both
inside and out, IS neat and beautiful The church
has now been establlsne about two years. and dur
course Of prosperity.
AN INTERESTING CAREER.
DR.. Wescott yesterday gave an account Of his
labors IN the cause OF Christ. These labors extend
period OF forty years. His text was from
Deuteronomy L., 7--"For the Lord thy God hath
blessed thee In all the works Of thy hand: He know
eth thy walking through this great wilderness
these forty years the Lord tiny God hath been with
thee thou hast lacked nothing"
All these forty years, said the speaker, God had
been with HIM, and he stood to-day a monument OF
His mercy and one oil His most unworthy servants.
Before being ordained continued the reverend doc
tor, ne was the pastor OF little church in Vermont,
when the Lord sent ana led MIN to seek wider field
OF influence at Whiting, In the same State, on the
9th OF May, 1881,
JUST FORTY YEARS AGO,
Previous to his being called TO Whiting there had
been held there three days meeting, at which
there was mighty outpourlng OF the spirit, and
many influential men were converted. He renamed
there but TWO years, during which tine the member
snip increased from sixteen 10 $50, and egnty.one
In 1858 he preached his first sermon in saltwater,
Saratoga county N. y. The church 10 winch he was
called mad but fifty members and there was little
no enthusiasm among them In religious matters. A
series OF revlvais were started and several promt-
nent members being invited TO attend TO preach the
people came from miles around. Their Old ardor
was stirred up and nity persons were baptized
the hrst year. The church became highly
prosperous AMI In short time another building Tor
purposes Of worship was erected. Both churches
were prosperous ana unanimous; there never was
diylalng vote, and no business church meetings
were ned. The speaker characterized business
church meetings AS an invention or the devil. lie
remained at Saltwater for eighteen years, and when
lie left there were two stone buildings aud The mem.
bcrshlp had increased to four hundred and fifty.
While there he had baptized over SIX hundred per.
sons. He received eighteen calls In eighteen years,
all OF which he declined, as he loved the people he
was with.
lie CONES TO NEW YORK.
In January. 1851 Dr. Wescott came to this city
anu became the pastor OF the Laignt street Baptist
church. He renamed here five years, and during
his pastorate the church enjoyed unexalnped pros.
perty. Here he bapuzed 24l persons, representing
every rank OF lie, and though twenty years had
passed he met them fIequenlly While at LaIgnt
street his health began to fail aud 1t being ncces
sary he should leave the city, lie accepted call TO
GloveIsvle, n. Y. Here he commenced series OF
meetings, which continued FOR thirteen weeks and
they were successful beyond oil his expectations
About 500 persons united with the different churches
4 ana the result was a new meeting house. He re-
1 NAMED at Gloversve for four years ana during
that time 24g persons were baptized me next pas
toratc OF DR.. Wescot was ut New burg where he re-
NAMED two years. and succeeded In building a ne W
church, when was illed every Sunday.
| AGAIN IN NEW YORK.
i His next call was TO BoomnGtiale, In 1851 Here
he found the congregation worshipplug In "A small
wooden house on Eighth avenue Ie tnouynt he
had come 10 very poor cnurch but in this lie " az
mistaken. There was an abundance OF wealth. and
IL only needed the influence OF Cod to draw IL on
! During the first year new church was erected in
| Fory-second street. and $4,000 OF the cost was
| raj ed among the people themselves.
! After leaving the Eorty-aecOnd street church Dr.
Wescott spent about two years at the Bible Rooms
and IN 1863 accepted cali from the congregation uf
/ Plymouth church. -
At the END of his discourse, which was listened Ia
with great attention, he gave a brief summary OF
THE RESULT OF HIS LABoRs
During the forty years OF his Passionate he stated
| ne mad baptized l,64 persons, or an average OF
lbirty -elght persons per year, and had preached
| 1872 sermons. Six houses Of worship had been
built by churches while lie with them ana Their
Increase IN membership had amounted TO l. $50. The
number OF persons married by him was I,Os4 Dur.
ln4 his Iofy years IaDors he had but one Sun.