The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-04-08

church
In 1888, Rev. Joseph NJ Graves,
agent of the Vermont Baptist conven
ton, spent some time visiting the Bap-
fists in town and gathered them into
a company for maintaining religious 1
meetings. They were supplied with |
preaching occasionally by Mr.. Graves, I
and neighboring ministers, the meet
ings being held in the schoolhouse on /
the common.
In the spring of 1910 Rev. Emerson |
Andrews, an evangelist, acting entire |
ly on his own responsibility hired the
Methodist chapel in the south part |
of the village and began series of
meetings. The chapel was located on
Canal street and is now a part of the
Willard Alexander house at the cor
ner of Canal and Clark streets. There
were many converts and frequent APP
phcations for baptism. These condi-
tions created an imperative demand
for the constitution Of Baptist
church. Accordingly a meeting was
called for this purpose, April >, 1910.
the records being made by Jacob
Estey, who was elected clerk 1T was
unanimously voted to organize as a
body to be called The Baptist Church
of Christ in Brattleboro East Village
! Twentyone names were subscribed
to the agreement thus made On the
two following days at regular meet
lngs y persons were received for
| baptism and on the third day 10 were
/ baptised. Six days after this meeting
this record was made: - At the request
of the Methodist brethren the church
voted to vacate the chapel and remove
on the tenth to Mr.. Wheeler : hall =
This hall was located on the second
story of a stone building on the pres
ent site of the plumbing store Of W j.
Pentland, u. Many We're received into
the church by baptism and BIZ letter
until May 6, when a council met and
recognized the church, then consisting
of 65 members
First Pastor Chosen.
Rev. Joseph Freeman was chosen the
first pastor, beginning April 81, 1910,
but on account of i'll health he Yves
forced to resign Aug. IS of the same
year. In the meantime the Baptist
Society in Brattlebnro East Village
had been organized, June 4, 1910, with
% constituent members for the Lur-
pose of building a meeting house
and settling and supporting a pastor. =
lot was secured at the corner OF
Elliot and Church streets and on March
), 1911, the new meeting house was
dedicated; having cost $1,000.
DR.. Foster in his historical discourse
delivered in 1870 says of the old
( Baptist church: ".This first church
, edifice was of commodious arrange
ment and good appearance as well .as
fayorably located. =
, Rev. Moses Field, who had been act
ing as supply, succeeded Rev. Mr.
Freeman and served the church unit
l September p, 1912, when he also re
A signed on account of the condition OF
his health.
j Rev. Joseph G. Foster, who had sup
! piled the pulpit few weeks, wa.
called to the pastorate Dee II, 1912
and his ordination took place Jan 10
: 1913. His salary for the first yea
J. was fixed at 5000, with the stipulation
T IF it could be raised, which ap
J. parently was doubtful As a matte
{ of fact he actually received the frs
r year S197.37 OF this amount $23 81
\ was paid in stoves. SIS in wood, So in
y clock and 500 in rent. This left bal
Il ance of $l02.S7 in money donation
Z visit brought him encouragement ii
l. the shape or sou. Inc next wear Their
Y was little increase.
The Vermont Baptist convention rec
o ords for lS49 show that during tn
l. nine years since the organization o
e the church it had received from tn
e convention in small appropriation
+ about $3.50.
e. pleasant parsonage was built o
i Green street in 1S47 at cost of 81
This u-aS tba "a
4 by Mrs. l.. d. Greene