The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-03-30
Those Horseback Missionaries of Vermont.

From the Vermont Chronicle,
That is all changed now, but some sixty or
seventy years ago missionaries used to go about
on horseback with saddle-bags | had to wait
on them when they came to my fathers, and,
while | had no particular dislike of them, |
liked their horses. Then the extreme Northern
and Northwestern sections of the State We're
comparatively new, and the population seat
tered. In many, perhaps most. of the towns,
meeting-houses had not been built, and, as the
people had very few carriages, it was com
mon thing to make long journeys in the saddle.
And well do remember that it was common
and piouS custom to go to meeting on horse
back, and two on horse. not TO mention the
child carried in front. And the horses hitched
at the posts and along the fences near the meet
ing-houseS, looked much more thoughtful and
religious than they do now.
| recollcct about where | stood and saw the
frame of the first meeting raised at EnOs
burg Center, Some awfully solemn deacons,
and several very piOu> women, and many of
the plain people, old and young used to come
to that house on the rocky hill on sundays.
And what has become of the members of the
church: | presume all the timbers of that
house are aS sound in orthodoxy now as they
We're then The long prayers that used to be
made, and the singing that used to ring III that
house, and the brakes and garden weeds, Cana
da thiStlcs and lcdgcs of that old hill. | have
never forgotten
Now, a missionary goes to preach in the meet
Ing-house for three or six months or year and
possibly occasionally gives Il lecture in large
scho0lhOuse of an outside district. Then, he
went through half dozen towns. stopping in
each only few days or weeks. visiting and
talking with the people from house to house,
and preaching almost every day in small school
house, or i'll private houses. The fact is the
churches in Northern Vermont do not know
how much they are indebted to those righteous
old horseback missionaries of years ago, They
gave them plain. substantial food though the
tiXng> may not have been as nice as they get
now. They gave them the keynote of the
church harmonies which have ever since been
sung i'll their families and places of worship.
| do not say how the New Version may rem
der them, and do not undertake to say that
Paul had me distinctly i'll mind when he uttered
the words, They are not all Israel which are
of Israel. but still claim to bt registered with
Gods Israel, though not Of tho Vermont dvi-
sion: and though have been out of the State
for half century, | feel related. at least as
cousin. to every Congregational Christian in
Vermont, and to some, too. who do not belong
i'll that company. And this is the reason think
of those early missionaries. Several of them ]
kneW-or rather knew their horses-and re-
spected them, though in some eases | was
very busy with my chores as to 90 without my
supper, and give them no opportunity to talk
religion to me. The one | knew most about
and remember best was Rev. James Parker.
He I'Ncd in EnOsburg several wears, and there
he buried his wife i'll the Summer of 1919: |
wish Vermont ministers could all pray as well
did WHY do We mourn in old china at her
bnrial And hy the yyay She was very nosi
tiyr ,,ions woman. a rrai Puritan, did NOT
Understand nor do I now. how reneatin@ the
-As>embly'S Catcchi>m with the reasons annex
i,nnortont inlunnrn M ! froIirtsome hov ten
years nld. Another's ryncrienre NAY hive
bnen ditl;rcnt from nine hut tbosn irv ana
har,i hts ike ton toIgh meat in . chiId.s
>tom0rh Law iuicclcss and undiocsted in my
mind ever aftrrwardS I couid not see thmi
nnG ,.,,t t..ntl,, a NOW, hn,,. # ,,.n hat ~