Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-06-13
THE BRIDPORT CHURCHS GEN.
TENNIAL.

from the organization of the First Con-
gregational church in Bridport, VT, de-
livered May %, 1890, at the close of the
Addison conference, held Nav q and Is,
1890, in Bridport:'
Brethren and Friends We come to
eulogize no church as perfect, for none
such exists. but gladly to speak of the
Christian aims. sacrifices, labors and re-
suits of this church of our fathers. One
hundred years ago (June, 1870, close
upon the stirring events of the Revolu-
ton, more or less engaged IN its scenes,
trials and triumphs, our fathers in this
place founded this Christian church and
society literally IN the wilderness, as we
term it, there being no carriage road, no
vehicle, naught but foot-paths, the set
tiers finding their way through this al
most untouched forest from one house
to another by marked trees and also to
their places of worship, in some private
house or barn, by the same means; FOR
not two miles south of here they once
met in new barn, and there is one here
today whose mother was one of the
singers at that time. Every lady had
saddle. Horseback conveyance was the
swiftest and best mode of travelling on
those mere foot-ways. Indians trails
were visible across this town, like we'll
worn sheep paths, especially the one
from Chimney Point to Lake Dunmore,
and often the Indian dropped in uncere-
moniously upon the household causing
more or less terror, stealing often what
they could of the scanty, hard-earned
provisions of the settlers. Though prov
ing indigenous soil for wheat, bearing so
abundantly, so stout, when full grown,
as to hold the sickle on top of the uncut
grain and not fall off, yet there was
time when our fathers took of their sill
yer knee-buclles and sold them for
wheat. not to be obtained short of Ben
nington, more than so miles away.
And the most helpful communication
with the outside world was through this
beautiful lake and in contact with the
forts at Crown Point and old ii. Yet to
make this the garden-like picture and
fact we see today the forests had to be
felled, the land TILED. Rude boats and
hatteauX were scarce, yet helpful and
welcome on Champaign. Not steamer
plowed lake or oceanic waters on the
planet. FOR had a railroad engine been
invented, much less the telegraph, tele-
phone or electric light. Nothing but
pine knots or tallow dips lighted their
evening hours in the home, and tin Ian
terms with pierced holes their forest
walks by night
But with all this trudeness and diff
Guilty of material sustenance and transit,
the brightest thing was in the soul of
every God-loving child. a belief and Joy
in a personal power and Providence that
would prosper them materially and
spiritually, as he did. Down went the
forest; up sprang cultivated fields whose
fertility and beauty are not surpassed
in any other section. With like be-
lief and courage, down went British OPP
preston before the sturdy, steady, in
vincible blows of our fathers, led by our
Washington, Allen, Putnam, Warren
and others, and up has sprung govern
ment of, by and for the people. as Lin
coin called it, whose peace and liberty
and benign institutions, all told, are with
out peer on the globe. But the in
strumental power in achieving all this
was and is the church of the living God,
coupled with the educational forces, in
school, academy and college, which the
untrammeled gospel always puts and
keeps in motion. Hence no wonder the
fathers in this place, of good old New
England Puritan stock, noted for intel
lectual strength. moral power and in
vincible will, felt the need of and organ
lied themselves into church and they
had this beautiful custom of christening,
giving names to their children at the
time of their baptism, and fathers and
mothers renewing their covenant.
The names of those who thus Organi-
Zed themselves into "A church here were
James Gray, John Barber, Eliot Gray.
Henry Nicholson, Benz. Southland, Lam
oud Gray and Amos Crane, Leonard
Gray being one of the most scholarly
and accomplished men of his day-town
clerk, church clerk and deacon for Il
long time: and the lady members were
Hannah Barber, Hannah Gray, Mollie
Gray, Isabel Gray and Mable Nicholson
twelve in all. And all this section of
the Slate being then called Rutland
county, Rev. Lemuel Haynes (colored or
mulatto), preacher and pastor at West
Rutland, one of the ablest in this State,
came here as authority from the church.
es to organize and declare this church
so recognized. At this time dune. 1880
james Gray was voted first moderator of
the church: Lamond Gray, first church
clerk. and James Gray, first deacon.
OF the pastors, regularly installed, the
first was Rev. Increase Graves. Il gOdly
man, born in East Haddam, Conn,
July, 1852; installed here Feb. 20, 1874.
He continued has pastorate till Deem
Der, $50, and died here in 1881. lie
was pastor here for 30 years. On ac-
count OF his age and feebleness at length
Rev. James f. McEwen was made his
colleague for two years and five months,
and both were dismissed at the same
time. The next settled pastor was Rev.
Dana Lamb. born in Georgia, VT, in
1900; educated at the university of Yer
mont, graduating in 1925, studying
theology under Rev. Josiah Hopkins of
New Haven, VT. He was installed as
pastor here December IL, 1881, continu-
ing till May, 1917, nearly l6 years. Rev.
f. w. Olmstcd, educated at Middlebury,
was installed July II, 1913, remaining
till Feb. "a, 1864, nearly l6 years, the
bugle of the war calling him to the
front as ii faithful chaplain. Recalled
here rs supply. he served from 1885 to
1SSS. Rev. W. w. Winchester was i'll
stalled Feb 2G, 1861. He was educated
at Mddlebury college, at Andover the
ologican seminary and at the front,
where he was one of the most sacrificing
and helpful of chaplains. He closed his