Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-09-10

stated March 9, 1901, it is recorded
that the committee was directed TO apply
to Rev. Silas Long Bingham, to preach
AS candidate for settlement, and on the
4th of December of the same year it was
voted by the society to unite with the
church i'm calling Mr.. Bingham to settle
with us as our pastor. have been told
that Mr.. Bingham, as the first settled
minister, received the hundred acres of
land which was set of in the Vermont
towns to the first settled minister, but ]
have not found any decisive evidence
that it was so.
Very little is recorded in respect to the
ministry of Mr.. Bingham, which contin-
ued a little more than three years.
There are some indications that he found
himself unable to do the work that was
necessary in this large township, with
bad roads, and scattered people. Some
complaints were made that the pastor
neglected to visit his people. There
were from twelve to fifteen hundred peO-
pie here at that time, and ten organized
school districts. There is a record in
the society book that the society vOt d,
Dee. 10, 1907, to appoint committee to
confer with the pastor in regard TO some
complaints that had been made of his
lack of service; and, April II, lSOS, 1t
was voted that "the society will dismiss
Mr.. Bingham from preaching with this
society"
The must be records of the building
of the meeting house. but have not sue
ceeded in finding them. The building
was going on during the early years OF
this century. The money was raised by
subscription. In some way the contest
that had been going on for about 70
years as to the location, had been de
cided in favor of LanesborO street. The
records show that in 1902 that discussion
was still in progress. The earliest
record which have found In reference to
the meeting house is dated Dec. p, lSO5,
and is as follows: Voted to adjourn
this (sOcietv) meeting to the meeting
house" In the year lSOS the society
voted ITO raise money to finish the out.
side of the meeting house" IN $50 the
pews were sold aud in 1922 it was voted
ITO choose a committee to paint the
west side of the meeting house, and TO
purchase a bell" Last of all the house
was furnished with stoves, for the peO-
pie must have occupied it many years.
while the outside was unfinished. and
while there was no means of warming it
except the foot stoves which the mothers
and grandmothers used to take with
them.
The second pastor of the church was
Josiah Hopkins, who began to preach
late in 1S0S or early in 1903. The so.
cietv voted Feb. t. 1909, ito employ Mr..
Hopkins two months more on proba-
ton" and May they voted to give
him a call to settle and to pay him $3.50
a wear. one-third of it in cash. This
sum was afterwards increased and for a
number of years the annual salary was
5000.
lie was ordained the pastor Of This
church June IA, 1909. lie was at til It
time % years of age.
At the same time and place there was
ordained Jeremiah Atwater president of
Mic lebury college. 1t was in that
year that the publication Of the Vermont
Adviser was commenced ar MiddleburV.
1t i related of Mr.. Hopkins that at
certain time the question went round in
a company Of ministers: Where were
you educated: When it came to him he
answered. "In the chimney corner"
On bis settlement he asked to have the
use of piece of land "fOr exercise and
to tighten the burdens of the parish -
and tract os 20 acres was set off from
the home farm Of Mr.. Reuben Grinncll,
on which was built the house now oe-
cupied by Mr.. Charles \. hunt IN
winch Mr.. Hopkins lived the whole term
of his ministry here.
Notwithstanding the defects IN ms
early education' MT Hopkins became
very able and useful minister. lie had
the power which belonged TO most men
of great native ability. of severe and
continuous application to study. With
i
in few years he had gained an educa-
ton which was quite equivalent to that
which is secured by college course OF
study, so that he received the degree OF
master Of arts from Middiebury college
IN 1873 when he was only - ana me
degree of doctor of divinity from the
same college in lol3.
His ministry in New Haven was
characterized by series OF revivals Of
religion. ! have no means OF determine
Ing the number of members OF the church
when he began his ministry. but the
records show that during the tWenty'one
Ii