Morning journal and courier., 1892-10-21

tempted to write book against the Bsp-
lists, but his study of the Scriptures con-
vinced him that they were right. He con-
suited with the members of his church, |
and by their request preached seven ser |
mons on baptism, the result of which was
the organizing of Baptist church with
steady advancement of the cause In Maine,
their pastor rendering most valuable mis-
sionary service. A Baptist woman went
from Massachusetts to New Hampshire,
where she lived forty years, firmly hold
ng to her Baptist convictions, and during
that time one woman is known to have
embraced her sentiments. This neighbor
went to Boston and was immersed and
took home with her one hundred copies of
Noroott's work OF baptism, which she dis
tributed, and afterward Baptism church
was organized there. In other places In
New Hampshire churches had been
formed, but none from such beginning.
Amid fines and other prosecutions the
early Baptists in New Hampshire increased
IN numbers and We're loyal to their Lords
commands. The New Hampshire New
port church met in a barn for years. A
minister from Canaan preached memor-
able sermon there one night and the meet
ing held to late hour, but hsv-
ing an engagement in the morn
ing the minister mounted his horse
aud picked his way through the almost
trackless forest as best he could by the
light of the stars, and thinking of the
blessed meeting in the barn, he sang, and
the words that flowed from his lips have
since been sung all over the continent:
From whence doth this union arise
That battered is conquered by love.
Alone with God at midnight this prec-
ious hymn was born in the New Hamp-
shire wilderness.
This church that for years net in a barn
had sfterward meeting house forty feet
square. Elias McGregor played the bass:
VOL, Asa McGregor led the choir, and
alto. In 1924 fifteen missionaries were
employed by the New Hampshire Domestic
Missionary society organized in 1919.
The first Baptist church in Vermont
sprang from great awakening in 1858,
| and was followed rapidly by others, and
| as in other parts of New England, the
Baptists paid great price for their lib.
| erty, everywhere having to fight the old
battle with the Standing Order. They
| met in log cabins, barns, schoolhouses
and at last in churches When the Con.
| necticut authorities found that Rhode
Island Baptists were immersing converts
in the Connecticut river they took thu
| matter in hand.
During the reign of Charles II Connect
cut and New Haven were united unde1
one charter, and thirty years afts
the first convert was immersed
in the Connecticut, few Baptists
whose petition to hold meetings had beer
unnoticed by the general court, organized
the first Baptist church in Connecticut
which is still fourishing church in tn
village of Mystic, 1877 years old. The quie
frmness and sterling worth of their frs
pastor. Mr.. Wightman, had much to d
with the relaxing of the law there, ant
clamor was often silenced by his enlight
ened tact.
were taken in the act of worship and pu
in New London jail in bitter cold weather
among them little babe who lived to
successful Baptist minister. A man wa
kept in the Hartfosd Jail nearly fv
months for exhorting even after publ
wor hip.
i Venerable ministers were whipped at til
, | town post or at the tail of an OK cart 6
they were driven through town. Tw
students of Yale we're expelled for attend
ing several times in private meetings fe
divine worship.
= Later we read that no part of Amerit
/ was mOIo uoeply sIl1IoA GduA SohACSoiS'
under the lsbors of the early Baptist mil
listers, who preached to multitudes in tt
3 | open air, as pulpits were denied them.
] There was a large increase of Baptists
New England during the Revolutiona1
f war. As far as is known not one Bapti
t name is on the list of Tories.
There were many Baptist chaplains wi
set an example Of bravery, devotion
country and purity of character.
! The earliest New England Baptists we
u engaged in mission work, and the pare
of the present home missionary socie
l. was born in 1902 and called the Masssch
q setts Domestic Missionary society II
r | FIRST year it sent out three home missio
aries, who travelled many miles and preac
o ed and taught where they found little
) any religious instruction.
o The first Baptist foreign missiona
n went from New England. In 1882 &
Baptist Home Missionary society W
10 | formed aud the president and secreta
% chosen from New England. Later t
= Rsv. Mr.. Hill. who preached at the FIJI
d Baptist church in New Haven nine year
served the q. N. society twenty-t,
8 years.
l. As it is proven true CT the early Baptis
of New England, SO il is true to-day tn
n che who has the pure gospel is bound
q make patient offer of it to those who 9
r: ignorant, and God opens doors as
% advance in the direction of his CO..
mands."