The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-24

dinary mode of passing from place to place
was on horseback. And when the sexes rode
together it was on what was termed pillion
iris was a kind Of saddle with soft cush-
ion extending behind having in addition to
the ordinary stirrups Of the saddle an adj
ditional one for the female, who mounted
on the soft padding was accustomed to hold
on by putting her arms around the gentle
mans waist behind whom she rode. pre-
sumo some Of the young people would like
this mode of riding now. But 1t was very
hard for the horse and has now gone so en-
tirely out of date that presume a pillion
| has not even been seen by one of thou
sand of the present generation.
have thus spoken of the early settlers
and some of the circumstances of their
early situation. would like to say more
but time will not allow for many other top
les still remain on which at least a word
ouaht on this occasion to be said.
suppose that it must he conceded that in
our New England settlements the churches
| have contributed in no small degree to their
progress-this being the case should feel
| that come short of the demands of the
occasion did | not give some brief sketch
of their organization and progress. In in
wiling your attention TO them then let me
say that the Baptist church was the first in
town. This was was organized Sept. 10th
1880 1t consisted of 22 brethren and sis
tiers some of them residing in Wallingford
and some in Clarendon. 1t was organized
at the house of Titus Andrews. The orig
| inal members of it cannot now be ascer-
tanned as they were not put down seperate
from the others who joined later. The
church as its organization adopted 10 ar
ticles of faith which, while they show it to
have been distinctly Baptist show it also to
lave been sound in evangelical doctrine.
Between the time Of its organization and
1870 "A period of 4S years there were IA
ministerial settlements and the aggre-
gate Of the whole service performed by
them was about 20 years; less than two
! years for each leaving the church destitute
Of u pastor nearly one half of the time.
will give as briefly as | can a list of
these ministers and the time during which
they continued their ministrations.
Elder Rich was the first pastor and con-
tinued with the church till about 1856
when the church numbered A. Z
March 10th, 1877 Elder, Henry Green
! commenced preaching and was ordained
! Oct 3l of the same year and continued to
minister to the church till the same time in
the year 1906. Ten years from his dismis-
sion elapsed, before they secured the SER
vices of another pastor. During this time
the services were kept up by Dea. Joseph
Randall. The next pastor was SedgwicE
Rice who remained with them two years at
a salary of 500 a year. Lemon Andrews
was the next pastor. He was settled in
November 1921 and remained with the
church about years. Another year of
destitution followed when in May 1926
Gebbon Williams came to preach. lie was
] mr. ui nft1 lac. g NJ
| Baptist meeting house was built while he
was with them at an expense of $3.50. The
subscription paper is dated March 81, 1927,
and the house was completed early in De-
cember of the same year. 1t was built by
Simon Cook. Soon after it was completed
Mr.. Williams left having, been with them
less than two years. Elder f. Page was
the next pastor. lie commenced his min
istr' in 1880 and was with the church four
years. -Four years vacancy followed with
only now and then supply. In August
1888 Elder Leland IIuntly came and labored
Il year. Then II. Sherman come and
labored two years. He was followed for Il
year by Prof. Daniel Hascall. In the win
ter or spring of 1913 Elder Joseph Packer
become pastor of the church and minstered
to it a little over a year. Then Elder Con-
stantne preached short time. Elder X.
Myers was pastor in 1916 and AZ. Before
getting another pastor they repaired the
church at an expense of 5000. After the
retitting of the house Elder Page preached
again year or two and was followed by
Elder L. IL. Smith for year. Aug. 10Th,
1851, Rev. Simeon L. Elliot commenced
preaching and was ordained the 10th of the
November following. lie remained about
five years and n half. Rev. Edwin NJ.
Haynes succeeded Mr. Elliot. He was or
daincd in July 1858 and remained with the
church year. Rev. Edward Conover was
installed Nov 1859 and dismissed April lst,
1868. Rev. James w. Grant commenced
to preach in June 1868 and left Nov. Goth,
| 1854. Rev. Robert G.. johnson began his
labors July l2th, 1865 and closed them May
18th, 1867
The church has also had eight deacons
elected in the following order. Dea. Eben-
ezcr Murray, Dca. Joseph Randall, Dea.
Calhorn Preston, Dea Sanford Moon, Dea.
Jacob Button, Jr., Dea. Eleazer Meghills.
Dea. John Mari, Dea. Thomas York.
Of the pastors who ministered to this
church Elder Henry Green deserves to be
singled out as the one who did most for it,
He was a man of great energy of character
and of commanding eloquencc and that the
toNn as well as the church owes much to
his influence do not doubt.
The salary paid by this church and the
manner of paying it may to some be a mat
ter ofinterest. In 1897 Elder Green being
pastor the church agreed to help him on his
farm when he needed to pay his salary and
to meet at the close of the year to see if
each had paid his full proportion. In 1893
they agreed to pay him 40 dollars salary, to
be paid in cattle or grain and averaged on
/ tl,. to thair al aLili-
| ty The next year (lS00) they agreed to
give him E72 and lis. salary which would be
about 60 dollars. In 1901 they agreed to
raise one penny on the pound on their
church list and for the two succeeding years
the same assessment was voted. In 1905
he was allowed 60 dollars.
Another part of interest is that the poor of
the church in its early history was supported
Iby tax on the members according to their
ability.
i will also interest the present genera
ions to know that this church was very
low to adopt the customs of the present
lay of allowing non-professors of religion
70 take the lead in the service of song. For
20 years the singing was conducted only by
,)me member of the church. Dea. Ran
dali was its first and only precentor during
that time. But in 1916 the church passed
vote to allow persons not members Of the
church to take the lead in the absence of
Dea. Randall. The door thus opened to
the ingress of non-professors to this office
has remained open ever since. | would be
| happJ, H.. --y more of this church and its
ministry but the time will not allow.
Of the organization of the congregational
church there is no record. 1t probably
! took place in the year 1892. 1t has no his
I tow, Lofnrq the installation Of Rev Rnuia-
min Osborn, its first pastor, Nov. 10TH 1902.
| 1t has had the following ministers. Rev.
Benjamin Osborn; installed Nov. 10, 1902,
died on the night of the 9th of July 1918.
The circumstances of his death are so inter-
estng that you will allow me to narrate
them. In consequence of the failing health
| ~ Mr. Osborn the church seemed to stand