The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-01-25
More Early History OF the Cornwall
Church.


i Church.
"Nearly Century Ago. in Register
of January IL, has touched many se-
cret spring of memory, and opened
many vistas ofreminiscencc in that far
off time to which the writer of that arti-
clio refers. There were quite number
of families in town, though widely scat
tered, and i'll several of them were per
sons of deep piety. At this particular
time, Mr.. jeremiah Bingham, who was
my informant, on Saturday spent some
time in secret prayer wrestling with
God for the outpouring of his spirit /;
and when he came into his house said to
his wife, Tomorrow his wonders will
appear, such as we have never witnessed
before" The morrow came bringing
with ii furious snow storm. She said
to him, "Now what do you think of
your prediction~ His reply was, "lHv
Jaith IS not shaken" About ten o'clock
A. NJ. the clouds broke, the sky cleared,
the sun shone out bright and beautiful.
The storm had passed away, and soon
after ox-sleds filled with men, women
and children were plodding their way
through the newly fallen snow TO the
log-cabin of Mr.. j. Bingham, West
! Cornwall, for this was to be the house
OF worship on that day. The HOLY
Spirit went with them, and that won
derfu prediction was literally fulfilled,
and this was the nucleus and divine
planting of the church of Christ in Corn
wall. This was in April, 1885, and the
Congregational church was partially or
ganized in May following, think with
about twenty members. 1t was not
fully officcred until two years after.
Mr.. j. Bingham was one of its first off,
GERS. lie was deacon fifty-four years.
The first minister was Rev. Thomas
Tolman, settled by the town, Sept. 26,
1887. His ministry continued q little
over three years. The second revival
was in 1894, while the people were
without a minister. This young church
was not without its trials; one of its
severest was, having goddess man, an
imposter, as its minister for quite a
length of time, but who was promptly
dismissed as soon as the fact was learned
that he was wolf in sleeps clothing.
Rev. Benjamin Wooster was settled Feb.
20, 1897, who labored nearly five years,
and was dismissed at his own request
Ii was the custom for the town to guar
antee the salary of the minister. lie
says ga town meeting was warned, and
they gave me an invitation to settle with
them. One man only dissented, and he
did so, he said 'to take off the curse "
He always spoke in the most affection
ate terms of his people. II was separ-
ated" he says "from the best people |
ever knew lie was q man of sturdy
proportions, of an active, adventurous
spirit, stlunch patriot, with II bravery
that nothing could daunt. The follow
ing incident illustrated the spirit of the
man. ''ln one of his missionary tours
i'll the northern part of New York,
while riding along through an extensive
forest near the close of day, he espied a
man lying across the road before him,
apparently asleep or dead. Riding near
to him, he dismounted and was about to
stoop down to lift him up, when the man
bounded to his feet, presented pistol.
and demanded his money. The case
called for prompt measures. al put my
hand on him." says Wooster. "and he
went great ways. The ruflian rccov-
cred himself from the fall and fed into
the woods out of sight and the mission
ary went on his way" The early his
tory of this church is one of revivals.
During his ministry in Cornwall, 1901
the third revival took place. There was
faith and prayer and conservation to the
work of the Master in those early Christ
ians. There was a jealous honor for the
integrity ofthe church, for the maintain
ance ofChristian character and covenant
obligation among the members that, in
surcd the continued blessing of God.
Church discipline was strictly enforced,
and blessed results ever followed to the
church and to the impenitent. Rev. j.
Bushnell was installed pastor MAY 25.
1908, and continued his successful min
istry precisely tliirty-threc years. Dur
ing his ministry in Cornwall, the church
enjoyed fifteen revivals of religion. As
fruits of these revivals 65S were added
to the church, and during his ministry
6S2. The first revival under his minis
try and the fourth enjoyed by this
church was in 1906, three years after his
settlement; lO6 as fruits of it were adj
ded to the church. Reviyals continued
as follows: In 1908, twenty were ad-
ded TO the church; in 1910, twenty
four; 1918, twelve; 1917, seventy-fivc !:
1919, thirty; 1921, eighty; 1926, twenty
five; 1928, thirty; 1929, thirty-flyc 4;
1880, forty; 1881, sixty; 1882, thirty
1854, sixty-tive; 1886, twenty-five were
added. What a wonderful record! We
have the same faithful God now. In
May 1886 Mr.. B. was dismissed, but
still continued to labor with his people
at their unanimous request for some
months. January 3, 1887, Rev. Samson
Minor was ordained, when general
revival ofreligion the nineteenth was EN-
joyed by this church, as result of which
sixty-one were added to the church. Up
to this period, as the further fruits Of
these frequent successive revivals, about
twenty Young men had been furnished
for the gospel ministry, and eight or len
were then preparing for it, Mr.. Minor
pastorate was brief one, on account of
failing health. He was an earnr-l.
faithful pastor, and was often heart 10
say, "lf this church should run dow II
under my pasforate | could not li,r."
That cstimablc and gifted lady, ,wh inl
many of the present generation knew
as the wife of Rev. Mr.. Lcavitt, anh
who was long time principal Of the
Middlebnry Female Seminary, was hi.
wife, and in connection with her h,is-
band did IA faithful work in this church.
As an appropriate close to this article !
quote n few lines OF Rev. Mr.. Bushnells
farewell injunction TO his people, which
he left them as rich and rare legacy,
after such 4 God-blesscd and God
crowned ministry. Says he, ''Live, my
dear people, together in love. Keep the
unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace.
Make the sanctiilcation of ihe church of
God and the salvation of sinners your
rnling object here below. Subordinate
all other valuable interests TO that last
end Of God among men in this world.
Let your past differences of opinion, if
there he any, be forgotten, and every
person combine in sweet concert to
build up the house of The Lord. Asso-
ciate together, and bear the ark of the
the covenant of the Lord of Hosts for
ward to the salvation of this neonle -