Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-08-03
MethOdism In Cabot.


the days old cen i ssd he he VIZ '.ih e%
R tRss! E sdsFs ana III they ny Wi
The history of MethOdism in Cabot
dates back almost to the first settlement
of the town The first family that moved
into town and erected the first shanty'
afterwards became identified with Method
ism, the wife of Benjamin Webster being
one of the first members who joined the
class.
II is difficult to state the precise time
when Methodism made its appearance in
the town. 1t is stated by one of the oldest
members of the church that her mother
attended quarterly meeting on CABOT
Plain about 1908. This seems to be the
first commencement of the society, al
though the first class was not formed until
few years later, or about the year 1911.
The class consisted of The following men,
bers: Mrs. Judge Dana, Mrs. DIR. Scott,
Mrs. N. Webster, Mrs. B. Webster. Mrs.
Hills, Mrs. Durgin and Mrs. Rogers.
There may have been others connected
with the class at that time, but we have
only been able to find the above names,
and have:no doubt but that they were the
original members. The first men TO Join
the class, a year or so after. were Judge
J. w. Dana, DR.. Scott and Daniel Smith.
The first Methodist sermon preached in
town was delivered by Thomas Branch in
| 1907 or 1908. One of the Oldest inhabit-
ants says he romenlhara going to meeting
when quite boy, and hearing him preach
the first Methodist sermon in Cabot. see
about that time Thomas Branch was pre-
siding elder Of Vermont district.
The first circuit preacher was Bro.
| Stearns.
The first presiding elder who seemed to
have had anything 10 do with Cabot as a
circuit was Eleazsr Wells.
In 1914 Lorenzo Dow preached his first
sermon in this town, in The old Congrega-
tional meeting house at the Center before
it was finished, using the work bench for
his pulpit After announcing his text. he
said: Jesus Christ sat down and taught
the people; 50 shall L. and sal during the
delivery OF his discourse with his legs
hanging down over the bench.
There seems to have been quite ref
ormation in the winter of the year 1916.
The summer following the Methodists held
their meetings in the tannery (Which is
now used AS a dwelling house by Widow
f. Perry next to Sprague & Wells block.
Up to this time they had held their meet
ngs in the houses and barns, chiefly at
Cabot Pla ms, the quarterly meetings being
held in the Congregational church at the
Center.
The first camp meeting held in town
wassin 1920, in the grove now owned by
A. NJ. Foster. then owned by Daniel
Smith. The presiding elder at the time
was John Linsey, who is said to have been
!. man of thunder. There were eighty.
three tents.
The first church was built about 1922 or
1928, The land and timber being furnished
by Judge Dana, who had connected him
self with the poor and despised Melho
|
munity, that man of his standing and
ability should be so short, sighted as to
connect himself with such people. 1t was
owing to Judge Dana's influence and lib
crafty that the church was built. The
first church was built on the lot where the
present church now st nds; was plain
building, without any tower or steeplc in
fact, it was that part of the present church
cast of the steeple, and was known as the
chapel.
In 1925 and 1926 the great reformation
took place, commencing with the watch
ueetng service in the NJ. E. church. Bro
E. Ireson was the preacher in charge. The
work spread throughout the town, both
churches taking part in it.
The facts up to this date we have had to
gather from whatever source we could,
there being no records to be found.
fnomas Lyford has supplied Us with most
Of the information, he being a small boy
md went to hear The first Methodist SER
aon. His folks afterwards became metn-
oers of the society.
! In 1928 We find the Cabot circuit to |
contain the following places Cabot, CAL
u.s. "ooooury' reacham, Walden, Goshen
Gore and Mar.hfield, with membership
of three hundred and twelve.
We find a record of the first quarterly |
conference dated July b, 1928, copy of |
which We here insert:
At a quarterly meeting conference holt
ut Cabot. July B, 1928, William Peck was
o.iosen secretary, Luxe Richardson was
Rrp Horace A wasno S'o y" licensed
loc.L ca,a';,n. ,;oan.nd p W. P1eIon IN "
ton as an exHor,er. l,cen.aJ Rro c. ,aous
Stocker "a ;, local nrasnlar. 49,, ,'t'm ~
William, SimnnS o p'" o, .,oonSeu bro;
the fnllowing hre,bran oHo,'e,' erected
ARRANGEMENTS fnr Ihs ve,r an.vina G', "i
b. Richardson. Timothy HAYNES 1nhn w
Dana; voted that the next quarterly meet.