Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-09-13
WontpeIier and its Surroundings IN
1S34-5.
ny REV. ELIIIu SCOTT.

Mr.. Availing myself OF your
p9rmission, kindly given, resume my
non TO saw something of Montpelier in the
lone, long ago. Of course Montpelier as
his to day is very different thing from
what it was nearly half century ago in
almost every aspect, except in its physical
snrronniings; and yet, relatively to other
Io,,ltias it was held in quite as high estl-
,,,,ion doubtless, as compared with other
,,l,.... ~, il is ,.,liy and was as far III
,l,,n,, Of then III then as now. 1t was
tho shire town of Washington count TN"
capi ii Of ne lit,lc, quiet, Green douhtah
state; p.' Is m, growlng village, nonG
&, brisk . islness in various lines with
large region of country east, west, north
and south; the people largely disposing OF
their produce and procuring their supplies
at that mart of trade. Could one awake
from Rip Van Wnkle sleep OF Sd years
he would likely be puzzled to identity the
place except by the perpetual hills" with
which it is environed, and be amazed at
the changes that would confront him on
every hand. Very little do l propose to
say of Montpelier as it is to-day, my OBJ
ipct being rather TO revive u recollection
of facts AMI incidents of the history and
d,yelepmeats of Methodism in the early
times. 1t was several years after we had
4 eool society in the other parts OF the
town that preaching was commenced at
the village The Congregationalists had
long held undiSputed possession, and were
not ;only the standing order" but the
only order or denomination in the place
They had large, substantial church
building, and numerous memberships and
full congreg ltions. But it was there as in
other places; Ill dill not think alike reli-
qiously any more than politically, and so
Methodist preaching was introduced into
the village occasionally, and sgave great
satisfaction to certain Influential friends
vino from that time identified themselves
with the Methodist interest, and were sub
seouentlv very prominent and helpful in
supportine' preaching and building oul
first church.
The he ,itancy and consequent delay in
introducing Mcthodism into Montpelier
village was not solitary.case, but, rather
characteristic Of our early policy as
church. We seemed almost instinctively
10 shun the centres of population and to
omen our mission, gather our societies and
huid our houses of worship in country
places among the poor anil scattered pop
ulations. For this we hive been sub
iec,cI to unjust criticism. At first 1t was
4 mqtter of necessity. We were undel
the M sect everywhere spoken
AGAINST" we neither attempted nor dc
sired as u general thing to gain admission
to the pulpits of other denom'ntt'ons'
had then no means with which to Oh
church lots in cities and large towns, a II
of erecting costly houses of Worship; an
had no sufficient means Of supporting min
listers in such localities. But we could g
among the people in rural communities
preach in school houses and private houses
live among and with them; and null
itudes were converted and gathered int
societies; and at that time ii WIS na.uTa
under the crcum '1""- p orid o.. lr1
house of worship where hoy would b.
accommoda 91u pcep'" '1g h@ lhn
heinz, W.. u' looking ttr i0t, lie lutTu
And AS l,lr "A --Dn was, and Is, ara
trust ever VIII % iA:-ry 10 The poor, Sh
shall say that the hand %. God va 10. /
this policy? w tn circumstances 50 grea
lv altered by the lapse of time, and t
improved conditions OF society in genera
our policy in tbs regard should, withot
doubt, be modified to correspond, Bn'
will not drop this subject without expires
ing my deliberate conviction, that, AS
church at least, in the older portions {
the land we are Withdrawing our labor
too much from the country, and are su
fcrng severely in consequence OF so dom
Wemight aud ought to visit the peop
oftener in our outlying districts, talk AL
pray with the SICK and well, hold pray
and class meetings with them, and eve
preach on week days where they are +
away from Sabbath privileges, when d
sired and there is a prospect OF dolr
good.
Pardon this digression. In 1881
ceived my appointment to the MontpelI
charge. At this date our Sabbath serVic
in the village were held in the old sta
house, venerable for its age, but then il
dilapidated condition, and was soon ST
sttuted by the new and elegant gran
structure which has ever since been
ornament to the village and an honor
the state. The veteran Col. Sherman,
prominent Methodist of Barre, was
contractor for the stone work. Our chur
at that date WAS comparatively small
numbers and of moderate financial al
ity, but spiritual, earnest, aggressive, a
of course prosperous. The names of |
han, Caldwell, Hubbard, Snow, Wa
bu.n Richards, johnson and others. W
their elect ladies, are still fresh in my +
ollecions. Connected with the church
the center, the other part of the char
we had comfortable house OF worsl
with membership more numerous
more wealthy. The names of Brethl
Morse, Stevens, Arbucke, Culver, Wa
field, Mutt, Wing, Kelton, Bassett, +
Howard and many others are worthy
nllsctionate mention. Mosl Of u csc
lone to their reward; Il few may still
ger, waiting for the summons l
things are worthy Of especial mention
having had a marked influence ON Me-
dism in Montpelier village: one AS has
Ing the permanent establishment
preaching in the village The other as qu
oninG Unto life and energy the incip
efforts to build a Methodist church tn