News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-07-04
News and Citizen,
Friday, July 18th, 1890.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.


his first rude hut erected III LOU,
could be found his trusty gun and his
well worn Bible, two Instrumental
ties that have done more to spread
the blessings of Christian CIVILIZATION
over the Western Continent than all
other agencies combined, and the
only disturbing noise that echoed
over the hills of our town in that
dav, were the report of that gun,
when called into requisition for de
fence. and the uplifting of his voice
in PRAYER and thanksgiving with
timely regularity each morning and
every evening. Long before the or
oanization of a Baptist church IN
town. Mr.. Walker held meetings for
religious services at his own house
and at the houses of his friends III
different parts of the town. 1t Is
needless to add that he was the ac-
knowledged leader in these meetings
and IL cannot be doubted that quite
as much pure devotional spirit was
manifested in these simple services OF
song and praise and prayer, III the
humble cottages of the early pioneers
of our town. as is found in the mod
ern more snowy and demonstratlVe
cOnventionalities of religious Wor-
ship.
Upon the organization of the first
BaDtist church in 1911 Mr. Walker
and John Hubbard were made its
first deacons and Mr.. Walker its
scribe. The records of that church,
kent in n neat and readable hand by
Mr.. Walker. are in my possession ana
give to us the best photograph OF the
men and women, who subscribed to
that faith, that can anywhere be
found The church met regularly on
one Saturday in each month to SIT IN
Judgment upon all matters that al
fected the members of whatever kind
or character. Having bed-bugs IN
the house, getting drunk on special
occasions, Gossiping by the ladies,
voting taxes upon unwilling tax-pay-
ers &c. were subjects that the church
undertook to regulate. Every mem
Der of the church recognized the Jur-
isdiction over these subjects and
gracefully submitted to whatever
Judgment was pronounced. The noel
ity and impartiality of the church III
administering its corrective discipline
and dealing out its rigorous anathe-
mas to offending brethren is seen IN
the fact that nearly every member OF
the church. minister and all were at
some time brought before 1t upon ac-
cusationS of misdOing.
You smile at some of the matters
that engaged the serious attention OF
this tribunal, but who is the man
that has the courage to say that
these were not God fearing and God
serving men and women, and that they
did not faithfully anG in all sincerity,
exemplify in their lives, all the graces
and all the excellencies of character,
that crown the eonduct of sincere and
devoted followers of the Master. But
although Mr.. Walker in his own per-
sonality exemplifies the rigor OF John
Calvin and John Knox, nevertheless
he scanned the shortcomings of 9th
ers with forgiving and charitable
eve. He could say with Miller
aIn men whom men condemn as i'll,
| find so much of goodness still:
In men whom men pronounce divine,
| find so much OF SIN ana dot,
/ hesitate to draw the line
Between the two. where God has not
The first minister settled over the
Baptist church was Thos. ii. Brown
who came from Newport, \. H., an6
who lived at the Corners in the hrs
house erected there by Giles Roo'
which now stands at the north en-
ofthe viIIage and is occupied by MI
Rurdick Elder Brown was a man c
bad temper and questionable con
duet. He was brought before tn
church on a charge of lying when TAX
ing the poor debtors oath to Obtain
his release from jail, and was convict
ed and dismissed. A year or two at
forwards he came back to Morris
town. confessed his guilt, and witt
true christian Ienity, was forgiven anC
restored to fellowship. Among tn
members of this church, we find tn
names of Jacob Walker, Earl West
gate. Samuel Green, James Earl
Moses Weld. Richard billiard, lib;
Spaulding, John Hubbard, Josepl
Earl. Moses Rankin. Robert Green
Joshua Merriam and Others, some G
whom are known to the older res
dents in town. The church, as a
first organized. many years since be
came defunct, by the death of mos
of it's members, and by tho more vic
orous growth of other denOmin;
tiOns.
The Congregational church VIZ
first organized in 1907 but had II
settled preacher till about the yea
1924 when David Rockwell was Sc
tied over it and was given the mini
trail lot of land granted to the fir
settled minister The old Collin
place is the ministral lot.
Mr.. Rockwell was an exemplal
man. much beloved by his church al
bv townsmen generally. He contin
ed as pastor from 1924 to 1928 al
was succeeded in 1880 by Rev. Sept
mus Robinson, who first settled
the Corners and continued his paste
atestill his death in 1860. The Co
EDUCATIONAL church when first orga
lied was supported by tax upC
the grand list, voted in town NEE
inc. agreeably toa statute law of T.
State first passed in 1884. Amor
its earliest members we find t.
names of Ozias Boardman, Jol
Cole. Cyril Goodell, Nathaniel Goo
ell. Elisha Brigham, Dennison Coo
Samuel Cole, Erastus Eaton, Phil
Edwards. James Mathews and Jar
Spaulding.
The Methodists first had stat
preaching in 1929, Hiram Chase h
inc the first minister. The chur'
was small until about 1910 when t
church now at the Corners was bu
and from that time forward, I'll
church has rapidly increasedits mel
bership and is now one of the leadil
churches in town. The UNIVERSAL
church was prosecuted by pref
much every body till about Is
when the Union church was built
the site of the present Universal
church, and from that time forwa
this church has for much of the TIL
maintained stated preaching. Ebt
ezer Shaw was the first man in to-
of this belief. The Christian chur
has had an existence in town
many wears, Rev. j. p. Hendee acti
as pastor at first, but never had
place of worship of its own till Is
when Rev. A. w. Williams was
pastor.
The old brick church at the Cornf
used by the Congregationalists a
Baptists was confessedly the fine
church ever erected in the county.
- ,,,,,1-o,,o ono Thousand neon