Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-12-23
RECALLS BAPTIST
CHURCH YEARS AGO
"reminiscences by VIM. H. Nichols Re-
suit From Recent Contest Be-
tween Bible Glasses

the cary days OF the bapllSt ChuIch
in Midd.ebury He writes as TO lows
"All Hail the Middlebury Baptist
7io Sc DOL and its victorious Mems
Class. 1t has been with more than a
passing interest that have read in the
columns of the Middlebury Register
tie progress of the contest between
the Middlebury and Bristol Baptist
Mems classes, and while | would rot
ave been entire Y downcast If Bris-
tol had won, l having been at one
ime communicate OF that church, l
have better reason to rejo ce with the
Middlebury contestants because that
school is a child OF my own l being
its first superintendent when it was
organized in 1879. Mrs Nichols lat
that time Miss Minnie Peck was tie
1rganist. 1t is, therefore, with our
hearts overlooking W tn graft ude 10
the Lord for His sustaining grace that
always stood by the little band in the
early days, giving us faith that some
day, some how, the Middlebury Bap-
fist church would grow and prosper,
we now extend through the columns Of
the Register hearty congratulations for
the great achievement attained by
those in charge of the contest, that has
brought together the largest ass OF
men ever attending Sunday sess on Of
Bible study in any church in that sec
ton, as the Register says, and probab-
ly has never been equalled by any
other church in Vermont.
perhaps this large c ass of men may
not be a part of the Bible school pro-
per, as is the case sometimes in such
organizations, and in the Register &C
counts is not stated, so the mark may
be over-reached in tn S vain g'orll-
cation as the first head of the Bible
school. Well, that does not make "
difference, either, because there can be
no mistake but what it was a part of
the service conducted by the Middle
bury Baptist church, and in addition
to being superintendent of the Bible
school, | was also the first clerk and
treasurer of the church, leader of the
choir, head usher, manipulated the bell
rope in ringing the old court No17e
bel in chime with the other church
bells on Sunday, and when our pulpit
supply would fail us, as it occasionally
did, | was pressed into service and
read a sermon.
$50 there you are, no matter from
what point of view, there is certainly
reason for having pleasant recollections
of the early work among those few fol-
lowers of the Baptist faith, meeting
weekly, at first, in two or three homes
for conference and prayer service, and
under advice and guidance OF Elder
Charles H. Hubbard of Vergennes, who
was then missionary agent of the Yer
mont State Baptist Convention, our
meetings continued to increase in in
terest and attendance, when it was
deemed advisable to organize a church
society and secure quarters for regular
services. The old County court house,
afterwards removed to the Fair grounds
and used as an exhibition building,
was our first house of worship, we hav-
ing secured the use of the entire upper
portion comprising the court room and
other apartments, without any cost
whatever, except for janitor service
which amounted to one dollar a week,
consequently the Middlebury Baptist
church started under most favorable
conditions, out of debt, and with at
tendance at all of our preaching ser
vices, as a rule, fairly good, we had
reason to believe as Elder Hubbard Of
ten would assure us, have faith, the
Lord will bless our efforts and at the
proper time will provide a church home
of our own How true was the pre-
dicton it is needless to state at this
time, especially to Middlebury readers.
"Of the original promoters OF the
new church and who became members
at the start, l believe all have been
called to the Great Church beyond,
except Isaac l. Rogers, who is il. a
member, and myself The member
ship gradually increased and while
quite a number of outside people ex-
pressed doubts about the success in
establishing a new church in Middle
bury, some predicting failure, the hand
of fellowship was pretty generally ex-
tended by the other churches, and the
little school was given a cordial wei
come at the next convention OF the
Addison County Sunday School asso-
citation, our delegates being well repre-
sented upon the various committees
and myself chosen secretary.
"The same spirit which undoubted-
" prevailed in the mems class contest
with so great success, predominated in
the earlier efforts to grow. We were all
united and the Lord did bless album
dainty. A few months after the church
had been organized, a series OF evan
gelical meetings were planned that per-
haps was as remarkable in results as
that of the mems class. There was no
comparison with the fine marble edi-
flee with its elegant interior, OF the
present day, to that of the Court
house. While the interior was as COM
Portable as an old fashioned court
house of that day could be expected,
it was hardly up to the standard OF
Middlebury churches, the approaches,
as many will remember, were not as in
viting as might be, but was the best
that could be offered under the circum-
stances and so the arrangements were
made, little suspecting that there would
be any question about not being able
to seat all who attended The lady
evangelist, Miss Fanny Townsley, who
IN, xyarioVc