Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-07-13
Putney's New Ministers.


Notes OF Interest Concerning Rev. w. II.
SparhRwk and Rev. ID. ]. Pierce, Who
Have Recently Been Called to Pasto-
rates In This Town.
The religious work in this community
having recently been stimulated by the ad-
vent of two new ministers it is fitting that
the public should be informed concerning
their qualifications and their experiences
Rev. Willis T. Sparhawk of the Congrega-
tional church, who was ordained to the
work of the gospel ministry June 20, was
born in West Randolph. His grandfather,
Rev. Samuel Sparhawk, was minister of
rare ability and success, and the first church
in West Randolph was built as a result of
his labors. His great-grandfather was
graduate of Harvard and was intimately
acquainted with John Quincy Adams. Mr..
Sparhawk graduated from Dartmouth col
lege in 1898. He taught school four years,
during three of which he taught Latin,
Greek and literature as sub-master of the
Hitchcock Free Academy of Brim6eld,
Mass. He entered Bangor Theological
seminary in 1896, completing the course in
1899. He preached in Vanceboro and
North Ellsworth, Me, in the summers of
1897 and 1898. A minister who was pres
ent at the ordination of Mr.. Sparhawk
writes: 1.-THE examination of the candidate
continued for nearly an hour and three
quarters, the length, however, being deter
mined rather by Mr.. Sparhawk's present
ment of religious belief than by the ques-
tioning of the council, though this was by
no means superficial. Mr.. Sparhawk pre-
scented first statement of religious truth,
which he called his working belief This
was supplemented by more elaborate
paper which showed the breadth and thor
oughness of the studies which the candi-
date had pursued, the conscientious inten-
ton to think out for himself the truths he
accepted, and a hearty loyalty to Christ
and His word as the way, the truth and the
life."
Rev. David Jonathan Pierce of the Bap.
fist church, is a Westerner by birth, but hi:
parents we're both Vermonters. Mr.. Pierce
was born in Montpelier, Ind, in 1S41. He
came to Chester when he was five years old
and remained there until he reached hi:
majority. He graduated from New Hamp
ton Literary and Theological institute il
1865, and from Newton Theological insti
tute in 1870. He was ordained in Chester
Aug. of the latter year From 1870 tt
1874 he was principal of Wyoming insti
tute, and his pastorates have been as fol
lows: Laramie, Wyo., 1870 to 1874; Port
land, Ore, 1874 to 1877; Laramie, Wyo.
1877 to 1881; Walla Walla, Wash, 1888.
to 1888; Seattle, Wash, 1888 to 1888
Fairhaven, Wash, 1890 TO 1892; Berkeley
Cal, 1897 to 1899. From 1888 to 1890 ht
was professor in the University of Wash
ington, and from 1892 to 1895 he was prin
cipal in a preparatory school in Seattle
Mr.. Pierces services in these various pas
torates has been largely as missionar,
pastor, but in Walla Walla his work wa
that of church building. The first churche
in dozen or more far western towns wer
built as a result of his labors.
Miss Ida Young is visiting Miss Mattl
Black in Greenfield, Mass.
Miss Nettle Toole was recent visito
with Miss Ruth Robertson.
Mrs. Young of Granville, n. Y, is visit
ing her son, W. F. Young.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Heenan move
into their new house Tuesday.
Mrs. Coar of Springfield, Mass. is visit
ing Mr.. and Mrs. William johnson.
Miss Maud Smith of Hubbardston, Mass
came Friday to visit in Putney Falls.
Royal Taft of South Hadley Falls, Mass
is visiting his grandfather, II. E. Taft.
Miss Jennie Abbott of AthOl, Mass,
spending her vacation with her parents.
Mrs. Fred Smith of Dover, N. H.,
visiting at her fathers, E. Sanderson's.
Edward Mansfield of Meriden, Conn,
spending his vacation at Horace SCOTS.
Mr.. and Mrs. D. E. Farley of Earle
Mass, were in town Monday on a carrial
drive.
W. S. Adams was in New ork the fir