The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-05
RUTLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Its Organization and History, as Given by
Rev. J. @. Johnson.

Its Organization and History, as Given by
Rev. J. @. johnson.
The Congregational church was well
filled Sunday to listen to a sermon by Rev.
J. Gibson johnson on the history of that
church. The text was Deut. xxi /.
Remember the days of old consider the
years OF many generations. ASK thy father
Will tell thee.
II has been said that history Is philosophy
teaching by example. A wiser insight
would make God the teacher. This 10 ex-
empli6ed by the chosen people, who while
making that history which was to be a
guide to all future time yet studied the
past The days had not grown old before
the people were commanded to remember
them. l comply the more gladly with
your request for history Of this church
since it is in accordance with the divine
method. The early records of the town
show that religious instruction was not
neglected, but was provided for by vote of
| the town, with civil business. The first
church in town was formed October %,
| 1913, with fourteen members. Over this
church was settled Rev. Benajah Root.
| The meetings were held at Center Rutland.
| In 1887 the town was divided into two
parishes, and October 8, 1888 this church
| was formed with thrty-seven members.
| During that year Augustine Hubbard
! preached, and was paid in wheat, corn,
and other grain and produce. Near the
close of the year 1888 Rev. Samuel Will
liams, LII. ID. was employed and continued
to preach till 1895, though he was never
installed pastor. He was born April %,
| 1743, graduated at Harvard college in
| 1861 received the degree of LII. ID. at
Edinburgh in 1885 and, also, at Yale was
| professor of mathematics and natural
| philosophy at Harvard from 1880 to 1888,
died in Rutland 1917.
Rev. Heman Ball, d. D. was ordained
pastor of the church Feb. LIST, 1907. The
| church at this time was weak, the member
ship having fallen off from thirty-seyen to
| twenty-three. 1t was at the time when
| the influence of French infldelity was so
| powerful in the country. The Influence of
the leading citizens was in opposition to the
| church, many of them being atheists and
| iudulgiDg in openly immoral practices
| Gov. Williams said in letter at that time
that there was not lawyer from Middle
bury to Bennington who was member Of
the church or who was willing to be known
as friend to christianity. DR.. Ball rapid
| Y strengthened the church, thirty-two
II nj led to the roll of membership
Trims The second year Of his pastorate.
lie war IA graduate of Dartmouth college
al r'clv>d the honorary degree OF A. Nj.
,Om ! al His sermons were powerful.
II re- l. general impression that they
| I ii in
hen Is uutuunded. His sermons were
r4rrical ~ her than dOctrlnal or contro-
'r nl and Il Influence was much greater
"iu la, tact. 1nstead of defending doc
trince VII II his enemies were satisfied they
n. ~ rlhrrwn in their philosophical
iu1-. Re he Il before them manner of life
II Gil 10y could but approve. Ia this way
!" m'd' many converts whom otherwise
y would have failed to reach. Undoubt-
| dy ~ re were members of his church
VUn felt that he was pursuing a wrong
uourse, but in watching his success these
became his warmest friends and supporters.
In the work of his tba. remains to US there
is no word which indicates in any way I'M
| soundness of doctrine. On the contrary
be was offered the chair of theology in
| Dartmouth college. His work here was
| good one, and his sudden death universal
| sorrow.
| The first church was log building
standing just south of the old burial
| ground on Main street. During DR.. Balls
pastorage this building was abandoned and
a more suitable structure erected on the
site now occupied by the residence of Col.
| Geo. A. Merrill, in 1917.
Jam r., 1850. iss~- oh"ries wniher,
d. D., wss installed as the second pastor
of this church. He was born in Wood
stock, Conn.,, Feb. 1st, 1901. Although
not college graduate he studied theology
in Andover theological seminary, gradual
ing in 1891. Although the condition of the
church had greatly improved under DIR.
Ball, still it was anything but pleasant
when Mr.. Walker came. The increase to
membership had been made mostly from
the ranks OF the farmers. There we're only
three men in the village members of the
church, and many leading men were still
openly immoral. His style Of preaching
greatly differed from that of Mr. Ball. He
was doctrinal and controversial. He
preached the truth earnestly. Although
many did not like the style of sermon, he
was so thoroughly and heartily in earnest,
and so plainly believed what he preached,
and lived up to it so closely that they could
/, l uuu no lhull Will tuc NAL. OuuCi ulo liz
fiuence there were several REVEALS, large
numbers being added to the church. In a
short time the sentiment of the town to-
ward the church was changed. Open
blasphemy and ridicule had in measure
ceased, and one need not apologize for
going 10 church. Mr.. Walker was a pio
neer in temperance work. When he came
it was customary for merchants to bind a
bargain with glass of spirits. He went
among the merchants and collected facts
from which he preached so powerful a
/ Temperance sermon that that the merchants
, voluntarily got up pledge not to cell intoxi
eating liquor. which many of them signed
OF course he did not do this without the CO.
operation of the Holy Spirit, but it is honor
enough for one man that he gave himself
up 80 entirely to the spirit that such works
could be done through him. AS an illus
tration of MIR. Walkers religious spirit 6
portion of sealed paper, written by hin
and found after his death, was read as fol
, | lows:
Oh the 2lst day of April, 1915, on full consid
, | Grafton and serious reelection, ! came 10 TIL
r | resolution, that whatever others may do, vii
| serve the Lsrd. Accordingly, having set THU
= day apart for a day OF private fasting ant
, | prayer, have thought proper to enter into sol
emn covenant with my Almighty Father.
f The spirit of this covenant never depart
e ed from him. In that spirit he lived an'
lsbored here.
In that great year of the churchs har
: vest (1633) he was stricken with sever
0 bronchial afiliction, and asked for dismis
sal ON this account which was reluctantly
> granted. His voice returned afterwart
and he laborcd long in neighboring town
: diving in Plttsford November 2Sth, 1870
, n c snesker paid glowing personal trib
ne ~ D. Walkers character.
l. 1872 occurred one of those severe sur
{ al operations which arc sometimes d
~ tici"l t. corporations as to individuals
IN Ep, nj church was organized whlcl
"es iaiR ! from the church, and 1t wa
cough ''rr time II might prove dlsas
aus. But me additional effort needed Z
keel no Ihr CHURCH proved rather beneh