The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-09
THE CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE.

THE CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE.
After the usual devotional service, con-
Quoted by Rev. &. A. Thomas, d. D., and
Rev. w. n. Wilbur, the semi-centennial
discourse was preached by Rev. Charles
Hubbard of Chester.
1t was entitled historical discourse en-
bracing history of the Vermont Baptist
state convention from its origin to the
present time with sketch of the early his
tory of the denomination the state.
1t is wise to learn wisdom from the history OF
the fathers.-Job viii:lO.
This review is due not to ourselves alone
but to the memory of the fathers. | ven-
crate their memory for l am of them.
hold in my hand the Bible from which my
vencrated grandfather preached the gospel
in this state. The first Baptist church in
this state was formed in SALISBURY, ia
1868. The second in Gullford in ITO. BY
1900 there were already 80 churches in the
state with membership of 1900. By the
end of the century they were in every part
of the state. OF their preachers few or
any had received liberal education, but
they were men of strong bodies, Of strong
minds and of strong faith They came Ia
JlCtCu tIt hpolfCi tNNt bDtIiS, hUu you
largely blessed them. Elder Caleb Blood
was one of these men who came from
Newton, Mass, to SALISBURY n strong
man mighty in the scriptures. Joseph Cor
nell was another of these men, who came
to Manchester in 1910, and was ordained
there in 1880. Elisha Ransom was another
of these men who came TO Woodstock and
was pastor there for twenty years. Aaron
Leland was another honorcd name, pastor
of the church in Chester for forty years
Jedediah HIbbard. born in Connecticut,
and as early as 1893 did much missionary
work in Vermont; all this part of the
state owes much 10 his labors. John Hib-
bard was the first pastor AT Ruya.lUn.
Joseph Call first labored in Vermont at
Georgia about 1890 an able preacher and
| devoted christian. Roswell Mears was
ordained at Fairfax in 1904, and was long
a pastor in Georgia.
In 1912 there were so churches. 30 min
listers and 5,1S5 members in the state.
Wide missionary labor was performed.
Salisbury association was the first in the
state formed in 1888. West Woodstock in
1885. The Vermont in 1903. The Yer
mont Baptist state convention was formed
in 1924 at Brandon. Help was extended
within four years to churches in Rutland,
OluIcuuOll, burlington anu many OtNeT
places. The year 1880 was one of great
encouragement, 1,320. were added to the
churches by baptism, and the same is true
of 1881 when 1,260 were baptized. Eleven
missionaries were employed and eight
churches were aided and measures were
taken to found an institution of learning.
which was accomplished ut Brandon two
years later when about 1,G00 were bap-
tized. AT the close of ten years much had
been accomplished. Then the speaker
gave glowing account of the results
achieved, which showed that the hand of
God was in the work.
From this point the review Of events by
the preacher was so rapid as to admit of
no abridgemcnt and therefore our report
will not attempt to follow it further. From
1910 to 1850 was period of great trial
and decline. Declension. division and bit
| terness were its great characteristics. The
Brattleboro church during this period was
organized and nourished by the convention
into self support. The causes of declen-
sion were Milerism, infidelity, the anti
slavery discussion, an inefficient ministry,
and worldly spirit.
From 1850 to 1860 was a period of in
| crease and enlargement. The New Hamp-
ton institution was removed to Fairfax and
for time was a great blessing to the
| churches. The Burlington church be-
came independent Of aid from the conyen-
| ton. The period from 1860 to 1870 opens
amid the horrors of civil war but was one
| of enlargement. A signal bereavement in
4. b. Smith, d. d. 1866 and 1867 were
eras Of great and blessed revival
From 1871 to 1874, the period is brief but
| of great importance, chiefly from the be-
ginning and prosecution of the enterprise
connected with the founding of the Yer
mont Academy, the independence of the
church at Bellows Falle, as respect to aid,
and the building of the Baptist meeting
house at st. Adams.
| The discourse WIS closed with notices of
Aaron Leland Woods, g. NJ. Graves, Peter
Chase, Isaac Sawyer, Isaiah Mattison,
Hutchinson, Fletcher, Hodges Hascall,
Hendrlch and many others. During its
existence the convention has aided about
one hundred churches, at an expense of
more than $94, 900.
THURSDAY EVENING.
The convention met at s o'clock and
spent on hour in prayer Resumed bust
ness. Prayer by Rev. s IL. Stackpole.
| buoihSoS was vermont
mont academy, which WAS presented in an
effective speech by the agent of the
academy, Rev. w. N. Wilbur, who was
followed by Messrs. Henry. Estey, Carpen-
ter, Chase, Stackpole, Davis. Foss, Rugg
aud others. During the progress of the
discussion considerable sum wa, secured
to the funds of the academy, after which,
the report Of the committee on resou-
tions was adopted.
Res0lred That the success which has At
tended the labors of the trustees of the Yer
mont academy, in their efforts to endow
that institution is cause of gratitude to God.
and that in view Of the need of the speedy
increase of the building fund TO at least
$4,000, we present TO all the members of
our churches the importance of concentrat-
ing their educational efforts upon this work
until it is accomplished, and also that we
recommend the prosecution OF the centen-
NAL roll dollar movement until it includes
all the members of our congregation.
Some time was spent on the condition of
the convention treasury, after which the
report on ministerial education was pre-