Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-12-28
History: of the Episcopal Church in
Vermont.

The l4th State in the Union con
tains the prosperous diocese to whicl
FIR. a. {. a. hall is elected third bisll
OPP. The growth of the Protestan
Episcopal church in Vermont has beel
slow, but, like her industries, it ha
been steady. The history of the Yer
mont church seems an eXemplificatioI
OF the parable OF The mustard seed, 5,
small was lis beginning. The frs
recorded Protestant Episcopal seIvic'
held in Vermont was in 1864 al III,
house OF Capt. Jekicl liawlcy of Ar
lingion, who, upon his removal from
| Connecticut TO this Green Mountain
wilduerneeg, established, and for many
years maintained, in his own house
the Episcopal aerviec, which was al
tended by the pioneers for miles
around. From this beginning, the
present diocese has grown. At The
lime OF the organization OF the first
convention at Arlington, Sept. 20,
1890, there were ouly four Protestant
Episcopal clcrgymcn in the Stale, and
only two, Daniel Barber OF Manches-
tcr and James Nichols OF SYNDICATE,
were present. The first recorded
PROTESTANT Episcopal Clergyman in
this state was Rev. Samuel Andrews,
a missionary sent out by the English
society for The propagation Of the
gospel in foreign paris" He made
tour TO southern Vermont from
Connecticut Until 1910, The life Of
the church ia Vermont was precariOns.
apiscOpalians had 10 c0nieud nOt onil
with nature ia an unIwclaiiued wider
ness, endure the hardships and after
effects OF The iievoluiion, bat suffer
prosecutions al Inc hands Of their
more numerous Pilgrim and Puritan
ncigi,bors who pracliced in the wilds
Of Vermont ~ Intolerance akin a.
otai from which obey fled in England,
on,is,stiing moi onll the church and
slcbe lands, bat The ptivae property
ui The Episcopalians, whom, ~ indi-
sidual instances, they drove out OF The
state. Now after hong l,eaiion, toe
church has NOT recovered hliiiis lands.
In 1919, Tie Y parishes that survived
The pcrilous times, with Two resident
reclors and onc church cdiiiec ia the
state, became part OF the eastern
diocese under ~. l,cv. Alexander
yiei- GriswOld. The church steadily
grew, aud ia 1892 She withdrew from
The eastern and Organized rs the Yer
monl diocese, elccted itt. Rev. john
Henry Hopkins, p. D., bishop lie
was born in Ireland ia lI92, and after
piaeiicing law, was ordained priest
IN 1928. lie was assistant minister
OF Trinity church, Boston. Immediate
~ prior TO his election 10 the Yer
mont bishopric. bishop Hopkins
was consecIated al II. PaIl's chapel
New York City, 0ct.3l, 1882, nmnc-
diately preceding the conservation of
Bishops Smith Of Kentucky, Nell
yaine of Ohio and Doane Of New Jer-
sey-alI men OF national prominence
who have made their indeliblc
mark on the history OF the church.
AZ the lime OF his conservation, there
were in Vermont II Protestant Epis-
copal clergymen. "A parishes, having
,l69 communicates ratio OF | 10
~ Of the population-l4 churches
aud church property valued at S51,-
500. Bishop Hopkins was a great
worker, possessing in no small degree
he Jealous missionary spirit oI 81.
Paul, and during nc Sc years OF his
bishopric. preceding his death, Jan. 3,
1868. the church made great strides,
having n resident rcciors Tor the "a
parishes. 2,3Sl communicates, a ratio
OF 20 1877 - OF the population, 81
church ediiices, and church property
valued at S2S5, 900, and $4,000 in
aud funds belonging 10 the
Vermont Episcopal institute, besides
nearly 500 annual mission
AIRY offerings. His successor. RI. Rev.
Henry Augustus Bissell, DID.
lacked the impctuosiiy, the intrepidiiy
Of Bishop Hopkins, calling TO mind
The gentle, persuasive life OF st. John
but in the - years OF his bishopric
accomplished far more than his pred
acessOr. Each bishop was especially
adapted 10 meet the cXigencies OF The
diocese, the very unIikeness of eaci
,omplimeniing The others work and
il more edectual. Bishop
I}issell was born in Randolph, VI,
Nov. 10, 1914, and consccrated bishop
IF the Vermont diocese June ;, 1865, I
It the annual convention held in
christ church, Montpelier. WhcA he
lied, May "a, 1898, the old churches
n the dioccsc had become established.
he mission outposts had become orig
nal churches and new mission stations
lad been planted.
At the annual convention IN June.
1913. there were reported in Vermont
3 parishes and missions, 33 priests. ,
Ieacons,a aud ; candidates for Holy Or
Icrs. 53 parishes reported, 2,50l iani- !
les of 9,l37 individuals, and 1851 !
ratio OF 10 about IS
n the whole population. There were
0 churches, valued at Si06, 400, and q