The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-02-14

Mrs. Pickett Here he was instructed III
regard to the doctrines of Methodism and
here received his call to the ministry. AT
the early age of fifteen years he began MS
long and successful career. year later
he was received into the New DIRK CONFER
ence and was the youngest, save one, ever
admitted to an American conference. He
preached in Boston, Philadelphia and 9th
er large cities. He was author of several
books, Hebrew Grammar. History, OF
Martyrs and an Ecclesiastical History. lie
was principal OF the New Hampshire Con
ference Academy, president OF augusta
College and founder and preSld mt or tle
Allegheny College. in Pennsylvania, Al
preached in Montreal. Afterwards ne
went to Texas, where he formed Met lod'St
societies. built churches, and founded col
leges. He died IN Washington, Texas III
1888.
Besides the persons already mentioned
there are many other distinguished men
who have gone out from this church and
congregation One was Franklin Rand,
who was for several years connected WIN
lions Herald, was member OF the Yves
leyan Association and one OF the Leading
members of MethOdism in New England.
Another was Hon. II. 0. Houghton, of the
we'll known firm of HOughton, Mifflin d
Co. of Boston, who was very much inter
ested in education, and was an active, In
fluentig and liberal member of the Metho-
dist church in Cambridge, Mass: Another
was DR.. d. K. Pearsons, who lived In ms
early days on the lower plain and attended
school in the same district, No. l, where
Laban Clark, Martin Ruter, William Peck
EFT, N. w. Aspenwall and Joseph Aspen
wall received their early education. lie
always attended the Methodist church when
in town. He is now the great chicago
philanthropist, who has already given large
amounts to different schools, colleges and
libraries. He gave, as many OF, you know,
one thousand dollars to our public library,
some books for our Sabbath School library.
and one of the memorial windows In our
church in memory of his father and mother,
who were for many years ueVOteu meM
bers of the church,
There have been many loyal and devoted
women as we'll as men, connected with the
church. Mrs. Pickett was really It's found
er and mother, and we might name many
other faithful workers. but we VIII only
dross, Mrs. Russell Andross, Mrs. John
Pearsons, Mrs Elsie Young, whose self
sacrificing devotion many OF us remember
and Mrs Matte Powers Glazier, who is
now missionary among the Indians. Inc
number who have gone out from the church
and become Methodist preachers is eigh-
teen. The whole number of pastors is
eighty three. Thirty -one of these preached
here when the church was part OF Yer
shire circuit, and often there were two
and sometimes three the same year.
Among the whole number are many emil
nent men. The most noted were Nicholas
Snethen Bishop Elijah Hedding and Lewis
Bates. Nicholas Snethen. the first preach
err "Was dligent student and acquired
knowledg of Greek, Latin and French"
He preached in New Jersey, Connecticut,
Vermont, Maine, South Carolina, Virginia,
by Bishop Asbury for travelling companion.
He was elected secretary of the General
Conference in 1900 and was member OF
the Conferences in 1904 and 1872 At this
last, he took an active pat In the debate
on lay delegation and made the declara-
ton that he would never appear on the
floor of any General Conference unless sent
by the vote of the laity as well as of the
preachers" While resident OF George
town, Va. he was elected chaplain of the
House of Representatives and became In
innate with the leading men of the day."
For few years he lived on farm and
owned slaves, but he early became an adyo,
\ gate eot anti slavery ~ inciples and freed
ges y ssSdf sT go nH1eRe of
. seSDnS and delivered course of theology
carlectures. He was clear and forcible
writer and an eloquent speaker" Elijah
Hedding who was here as pastor In 1876,
filled various appointments in New York,
Vermont, New Hampshire and MaSsa
chusetts he was presiding elder on New
L
"The amount of labor he performed was
Incredible" During the first ten years. of
his ministry he averaged one sermon day,
and travelled three thousand miles year
mostly on horseback He received for Il 9
whole time (ten years. $3.50, averaging $40
per year." One year on the New Hamp-
shire district he received only $3.50, above
hisnecessary travelling expenses" Edward
+. Taylor, the famous sailor preacher, was
converted and brought into the church I'M
der his labors at the BrOmfield Street church
in Boston. Mr.. HeddiDg was ,one of the
committee appointed by the New England
Conference to establish a religious news
paper to represent the denomination, which
resulted in the publication of lions Herald
in 1928 and it was one of the first denOmlna-
tional papers printed in the country. He
was elected to the General Conference in
1908 and in MAY 1924 at the General Con
ference held in Baltimore he was elected
and ordained bishop. Gle performed the
duties of his office with great ability" for
twenty-eight years, "He had few equals
and possibly no superiorS in the church"
Lewis Bates who preached in 1917 was a
descendant of the martyr John Rogers. He
spent sixty Zone years as minister and was
noted for his 'cheerfulneSs of spirit"
Many were converted through his inStru-
mentality, some of whom became ministers
of the gospel. }. &. Switzer a much
loved aud sanity pastor, organized the Ep-
improvements in connection with our
church, but before he could carry them out
his summons came. We gladly give him a
place among our most devoted and faithful
pastors. Some of the pastors are filling
important positions today; two of the most
notable are DR.. Charles Parkhurst, editor
of lions Herald and DR.. L. P. Frost of
Baltimore. We doubt if any church in the
state has a better record, and when the
General Conference which meets in Cleve-
land next May, is looking ABOUT for new
bishops it will find good material among
the pastors that have served the Bradford
M. E. church For thirty three years after
the first class was formed the public wOr-
ship was conducted in barn, at the home
of some member or at the school house near
Mrs Pecketts and for a time the quarterly
meetings were held at the Academy which
was built IN 1920. In 1881 when Rev. VIM.
Cass was pastor the first church building
was erected little south of the house
where Hon. j. w. Bliss now lives. In 184e
when Rev. p. Mason was pastor the church
now occupied was built but in few years
il proved to be too small and in 1859 when
Rev III. p. Cushing was in charge 1t was
enlarged and twenty new pews added. In
1876 wnen Rev. Charles Parkhurst was pas
tor the large vestry was added to the church
building and in 1879 when Rev. A. b.
Truax was pastor the new towers were
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