Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-08-28
The First Church of Burlington-An In
teresting Chapter of Local History.


teresting Chapter of Local history.
! IFrom the last Manual no. - of the church,
The town of Burlington was chartered
in June, 1863 The first settlement was
begun in it about the year li15, but was
mainly abandoned during the war of the
Revolution. In the spring of 1888 nine or
ten families came from Connecticut and
a more permanent settlement was effect
ed BY 1900 the population had increased
from about 40 persons to GOO Until nearly .
the close of this period no provision APP
pears to have been made for the support
of preaching or for the ordinances of re-
ligon, and only the occasional visit of
missionary minstered to the religious
wants of the people.
In August, 1899, Rev. Daniel c. Sanders,
who had just been released from his pas
torate in Nergennes, was invited by GER
tain leading citizens to come to Burling
ton to preach the gospel and attempt the
enterprise of getting the University into /
operation. He came accordingly and
began preaching in the court house, and |
teaching a preparatory school in his own
house and on his own responsibility. /.
The first year his stipend as preacher
was provided for entirely by voluntary
subscription after that, for some years,
partly by voluntary subscription and part
ly by a tax upon the town. But as yet
there was no church, and Mr. Sanders,
= soon regularly appointed to the pre~den,,
| cy of the University, was only expected
, to preach once ON the Sabbath no pasto-
raj duties being expected of him.
This state of things was very unsatistac-
tory to the few pous people in the place,
= and on Friday, the 2lst of February, 1905,
fourteen persons, viz: Alexander Catlin,
5 Abigail Catlin, Lucinda Catln, OHias
+ Buell., Abigail Buell., Daniel Colt, Amelia
futile, Daniel G. Sanders, Nancy Sanders,
EbeneZer Lyman, Anna Lyman, Clarissa
Lyman, Sarah Atwater, Miriam WetmOre,
all having been members of churches in
the places from which they came, assem-
n bed at the house of Moses Catlin, Esq,
= and adopted articles of faith, and Il cove
: nant prepared for the purpose by Presi-
i dent Sanders. On the following Sabbath
= morning. Feb %, 1905, after sermon. the
&, Articles and Covenant before subscribed,
: "were read and assent to the same cOntin-
I ued, when the members associated as be-
+ fore named were declared by Rev. Daniel
n &. Sanders, president of the University of
t Vermont, to be Il regular church of the
f Lord Jesus Christ. established in Bur
' lngton." Church Records, Feb. %,
J. 1905
). June l5 1905 the inhabitants of Burling-
e ton i'll town meeting assembled, acting
l. under the provisions of AN Act for the
It Support of the Gospel, passed Oct 2,
e l197," and with view to the erection of
d a house of worship, organized themselves
|, into a society by the name of The First
e Society for Social and Public Worship in
It the Town of Burlington" Some prelimi-
nary steps We're taken towards the cree
d ton of house of worship. but without
IS result and in 1907 that section of the
lie statute of 1891 under which they had act
II ed in the matter was repealed. President
IF Sanders was still employed to preach, but
G others also preached at various times. TO
- al ,,,.,l tl,..
W church gave Il call in 1906, and to another,
e. Rev. Willard Preston, atterward president
II of the University, in lSOS, but neither call
y was accepted, and the church continued
|, without pastor until $50.
lie Meanwhile two parties had been form
| ing in the community, the Liberal and the
$ Calvinistc as they We're called, the latter
IS favoriug what we should call at this day
IA more evangelical tone of preaching than
ii the former This difference eliminated
z in $50 in the procuring of two candidates
u for the pastorate, Il call by the society tC
is Mr. Samuel Clark, the refusal of the
To church to concur, tie consequent dissolu
m ton of the old society, and the formation
10 oftwo new societies, the one first organic
in ed taking the name of THE first Congre
to gational Society in Burlington" the Other
If of the First Calvinstic Congregational
5. Society in Burlington" Then followed
"A the settlement of Mr. Daniel Haskell
1t April 10, 1910. over the church formed in
! tional society, and of Mr.. Samuel CLARK
Of April 10, 1910. over the First Congrega
t;onal society and II church organized
he by the council which installed him
$, The two churches were now in har
re mony, if not with each other ye
IS. each with its own pastor and witt
" the society by which he was supported
al and the cause of evangelical religion. treet
he from Il great embarrassment was undoubt
ne eddy, in the final result, greatly promot
be ed
n This somewhat peculiar combination OF
De circumstances the union of First Con
al gregatonal church with IA Second Con
k, gregational church, has led to some very
ST. natural mistakes. 1t is not strange if the
II church connected with the First Congre
ly gational society has by some been sup
e., posed to be the First Congregations
ue church; and certainly it is but natura
ps that the church which was organized be
rs, fore any other church in Burlington, ant
he which has been Congregational church
as from its organization, has called itself
ad among other names the First Congrega
he tional church in Burlington, as in historic
ld truth it Is
rs There were now two congregations an(
sc two ministers but no house of worship anC
re- but one court house To the occupancy o
OF this at the more convenient hours OF pub
d !: lie worship the first society after some at
| tempt at an adjustment, asserted thei
en- exclusive right, and partly in consequence
ot of this no doubt, the orthodox societ,
Sc, was the first to erect church edifce
o. This was built of wood, stood on the sit
of the present church, facing the North
is and was dedicated December II, 1872.
was large and commodiOuS, and stood 70
NC twenty seven years. Before dawn, on
rs, sabbath morning, June %, 1899, this edi
of flee was set on fire by an incendiary, an'
Up totally destroyed The society immedi
ell atcly set about the erection of another
at In the course of three years they wer
nd enabled to complete the present house o
he worship, which was dedicated April "A
III 1912.
lat Two colonies have gone ont from thi
ad church. In oct 1896, twenty-three pei
,k- sons were dismissed from its membership
81 to be organized, with others, Nov. 9, 1876
into the Congregational church at w
in nooski Falls.
he In October, 1860, forty-five members @
,ch the church were dismissed, and fOrme
up Nov 4, 1861 the Third Congregations
nj III il. IllI. liL1t