Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-10-08

denomination was organized By Elder
John Colby Of Sutton. That was the be-
ginning Of what is now 8 strong and
efficient association. John Colby also
marked out the trail as the first one Of
our people through Pennsylvania and rs
far west as the state OF Ohio. The first
Freewiil Baptist minister that located in
Pennsylvania was Elder Daniel Chase Of
Hardwick, and he laid the foundation Of
the SusquehanDa Y. M. Elder Eli Sted-
man Of STAFFORD organized the hrst Free
Baptist church in the state Of Ohio,
which ultimately gave to the denomina-
tion the Ohio X. NJ, and from Vermont
the Ohio Y. M. received the doctrines and
usages Of the denomination.
Elder Charles Bowles of Huntington
was the first to gather churches OF our
faith in northern New York and Is an
outcome We have the st. Lawrence Y. NJ.
Elder n. w. Bixby OF Wnliamstown was
the first to unfurl our UNCONVENTIONAL
banner in the state Of Iowa and was
largely Instrumental in the rise OF the Y.
M. as it is today. Such instances of ag-
4 gressive work and success are worthy Of
record and the Y. NJ. cannot do less than
honor their memory by transmitting
these facts to those who have come after
them.
Many Of our early ministers were emf
nently successful as revivalIsts. They
preached the word with power and the
people were deeply moved under their
faithful labors. Th5 ministry OF Ed T
John Colby OF Sutton was brief, but few
among our own ministers or the minis
tiers of any denomination accomplished
more or even as much in the conversion
OF souls in 50 short time. In less than
seven years he baptized $40 persons. II
IL said that John Colby would enter a
meeting singing and in fifteen minutes
after he began service nearly the whole
congregation would be so deeply moved
that they would be in tears. He died in
Norfolk, Va, where he had gone for the
benefit of his health. in November, 1917,
aged 80 years. and his remains were there
Z buried and remain there today. Elder
Nathaniel King OF Tnnbridge was q man
Of marked ability, many precious revivals
were had under bis labors. As q Bible
student and theologian, his equal was not
in the Y. NJ. and he was largely instru-
mental in the preparation Of our articles
Of faith in our treatise as used at the
present time. He died In October. 1852,
aged IS years and six months. Elder
Charles Bowles OF Huntington was very
successful in revival work. Elder Ma
thanisl Bowles Of COrinth was q success
, fol pastor aud revivalist. Elder Jona-
than Woodman OF Sutton was very sue
cessful as 3 revivalist in the hrst years of
his ministry. In his younger days he
went to the n. II. Y. NJ. and Il is said
, that more than one hundred souls were
} converted by . single sermon that he
, preached at that meeting. As preacher,
} he ranked high; but few were his equals.
! His FIRST and last pastorates were with the
church In Sutton and in all be gave be-
, tween 50 and 40 years labor at sutton.
He died in January. 1885, eyed nearly 90
years. Elder Abial Moulton Ct Ssanstead
, was very successful as pastor and evan
/ gslist. As the fruit OF a revival in Hat
: ley. in q few weeks be baptized 100 con-
= verts and during his ministry he baptized
: more than 1000 persons. He died in
1855, aged 81 years, 5 months. very
j large number OF others equally success
J full might be named had We the time 10
do 50, among whom are Clarissa Dam
! forth, Daniel Quimby, David Cross OF
Sutton and many others. II was the
Vermont Y. NJ. that gave Rev. Ransome
= Dunn, ID. D., whose praise Is in all Of cur
, churches, to the denominations. In
! 1929, the revival spirit was in our
/ churches in q remarkable manner. Near
+ " all OF our churches had the gracious
: visitations. There were large accessions
E to the churches giving strength and en-
e couragement. There was also large re
enforcement Of ministers. But too soon
e many OF them left the state and labored
: elsew here who could have made the Y
v M. what il might and should have been.
Q This was an important era in the history
= of our people in the state, standing then
- ~ srI
q bers and strength. Il also proved q eri
j. sis. From that date decline followed, oc-
< casioned by deaths and removals. Al
q that time, there were strong churches IN
Is STAFFORD, Tunbridge, Vershire, Corinth
d Orange, Windsor Randolph. Northfield
: Montpelier, Cabot, Huntington. Under
+ hill, Wheelock, Sheffield, Sutton, Hatley
:. Stanstead, Lyndon, and q very lsrg'
a number OF other places.
s In Tunbridge, in 1927, the general con
: ference was organized and held its frs
!. session. The seventh session was held il
! STAFFORD in 1888. The thirteenth session
, was at Sutton in 1s47, when the first del
, egation from the general Baptists Of Eng
land met in conference with us. DR..
d Burns and J. Goadley. The hrst deleea
J. tion sent to the general Baptists received
e their appointment at sutton, Elders ]
Re WOOuman ana T. a. NOye8s Inc IN
!. crease of our ministerial force from 1885,
u to 1645 was unprecedented in any ffteeI
E. years before or since in the history o
II the Y. NJ.
d The great relig'o Gus excitement of 1912
d 43, occasioned largely by preaching tn
u coming OF Christ in '43, and what sooi
3. followed, s'the come-out doctrine,
" claiming the churches were Babylon ant
n their destruction inevitable, IL they dil
D. not sever their connection with tn
IN church, produced an unfavorable effect OF
a. some portions OF our Zion. This beinl
" followed by the removal OF some of on
e excellent ministers to other states, leav
10 ing churches pastorless. produced mucl
Ne discouragement. Also previously on
es ministers had depended mostly upo
rs some kind OF manual labor for supper
he and the churches had not been trained I
Of provide a competent remuneration 70
Z service rendered, which had its efieC
ID upon our CHURCHES and decline followe
n in many instances. From the first to th
= -. I. L