RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

"a call" to the Rev. Jedediah Dewey, pastor of a church in Westfield, Massachusetts, and appointed a committee to confer with him and his church, and to make all needed arrangements and stipu lations. The result was, the church in Westfield of which Mr. Dewey was pastor, united with the church in Bennington, August 14, 1763, and under the sanction of a council of two pastors and two "messengers," which met at Westfield the same day, Mr. Dewey became pastor of the new or united church. The union was doubtless formed with the understanding, that the members, who had constituted the Westfield church, were about to remove to Bennington. The present churches in the three towns in Massachusetts from which came the three churches that originally constituted the church in Bennington, all date their organization previous to 1762. It is therefore highly probable, if not certain, especially in view of oral and other testimony, that the three churches,which originally constituted the first church in Vermont, were composed of persons, who in those days were denominated separatists. The separatists disapproved of the authority which the laws then gave the civil magistrates over ecclesiastical concerns, and which was sanetioned by the Cambridge platform. The church in Bennington at its organization made the following record: "It is agreed upon and voted by the church in Bennington, that they make an exception in the fourth paragraph in the eleventh chapter in the Cambridge platform in respect to using the civil power to support the gospel; and also the ninth paragraph in the seventeenth chapter in respect to the civil magistrate's coercive force." Few if any other churches in Vermont ever made any reference, at the time of their organization, either to the Cambridge or Saybrook platform. They were substantially independent, though acknowledging the necessity of councils in ordinations and the utility of them in cases of difficulty; for Vermont was not settled till the era of lay ordinations among congregationalists in New England had passed away. The churches very universally, except in some cases of great disorder,

The materials of the following brief sketch of congregationalism in Vermont are derived almost wholly from original records. The statements, therefore, are supposed to be as correct as the nature of the case will admit.-T. A. Merrill.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

held each other in fellowship, and acknowledged a kind of undefined responsibility to each other.

ASSOCIATIONS AND CONSOCIATIONS.

diah Dewey, Bennington, August 14,1763; Peter Powers, Newbury, February 27, 1765; Jesse Goodell, East Westminster, June 11, 1667; James Wellman, Windsor, September 29, 1768; Abner Reeve, Brattleborough, 1770; Ebenezer Gurley, Guilford, 1770; Samuel Whiting, Rockingham, October 27, 1773; Joseph Bullen, East Westminster, July 6, 1774; Hezekiah Taylor, Newfane, August 1774; Be

The church in Newbury originally composed of members living on both sides of Connecticut river, was organized in the "fall of 1764. Having given Mr. Peter Powers an invitation to settle, they voted, that the council should "meet for said installment down country, where it is thought best." "Mr. Powers was in-najah Roots, West Rutland,October 1774; stalled at Hollis, (N. H.) February 27, 1765, over the church in Newbury," and preached his own installation sermon.

Clement Sumner, Thetford, 1775; Lyman
Potter, Norwich, August 31, 1775.

The associations consist of ministers, who meet for mutual improvement. While they aim in various ways to promote the interests of the church, and have of course a constitution or a few bye-laws, they reither exercise nor claim any ecclesiastical authority. By common consent the licensing of candidates for the ministry devolves on them, though in some instances this is done by the consociations.

The church in Thetford was the only one in Vermont, so far as can be ascertained, which was organized on the principles of the "half way covenant." During the short ministry of Mr. Sumner, persons were "admitted to own the covenant and put themselves under the watch and care of the church" without coming to the sacrament of the Lord's supper. Respecting Mr. S. Dr. Burton, his successor observes: "in the time of the revo-ters in Vermont: Windham, formerly lutionary war, he being a warm tory soon found the times too warm for him, and secretly absconded."

Norwich,

1770

Brattleborough, about

1770

Guilford, about

1770

Rockingham, about

Thetford,

West Rutland,

Newfane,
Putney,
Marlborough,

1770

1773

1773

1774

1776 1776

Associations of congregational minis

Cumberland, October 17, 1775; Rutland, probably, 1788; Royalton, February 1, 1791; Orange, probably, 1798; Addison from Rutland, June 13, 1804; Northwestern from Addison, June 15, 1808; Caledonia from Orange, January 9, 1811; Pawlet from Rutland, September 25, 1811; Windsor, October 1822; Orleans, June 17, 1823; Montpelier from Royalton, October 11, 1826; Black River, afterwards Chester, November 6, 1827; Lancaster from Caledonia, August 13, 1833.

Most of the congregational churches in the western counties, including Lamoille, are united in consociations, with constitutions that much resemble each other and those in Connecticut, which were doubtless their prototype. In some of their constitutions, it is stated that as "great advantages may be derived from visible While New York was exercising juris- fellowship and union among churches of diction over the south part of Vermont, a similar sentiments respecting the great ministerial association was formed, Octo- doctrines of the christian religion and the ber, 1775, in what is now denominated government and regulation of churches, Windham county, and was composed of where their local situation will admit," the Rev. Messrs. Abner Reeve of Brat- they propose "to unite and walk together tleborough, Hezekiah Taylor of Newfane, in all acts of visible fellowship and union, Joseph Bullen of Westminster, and Sam- mutually watching over and assisting uel Whiting of Rockingham. Their pre- each other as sister churches." These amble begins, "we the subscribers, min- consociations generally consist of the pasisters of the gospel in the county of Cum- tor and a delegate from each church, or berland and state of New York," &c. two delegates where there is no pastor, "think it expedient and our duty to asso- and meet annually to hear reports on the ciate and unite in an ecclesiastical body." state of religion; to recommend measThey retained the name of Cumberland ures to promote the interests of the churchtill June 2, 1785. No other association es; to give counsel on practical questions appears to have been formed for 13 years. when requested; and to add impulse to The following ministers were ordained the benevolent operations of the denomor installed before the revolution :-Jede-ination. Most of these consociations,

perhaps all of them, have stipulated in their constitutions, that, when a labor is prosecuted against a pastor or brother, a mutual council shall be granted by the church, if requested by the respondent, before proceeding to final action. They generally require that a majority of every council shall belong to the consociation in which it is called. There was originally but one consociation on the west side of the Green Mountains. This has been divided and subdivided as the churches have become more numerous till the number amounts to five. Their bounds in some instances are county lines.

GENERAL CONVENTION.

ty in the state, where there shall not be more than one regular minister, he shall for the present be entitled to a seat in the convention. It was declared the general object and design of the convention to consult union and friendship among ministers, and the general interest and well being of the churches. They agreed that the first meeting of said convention shall be on the third Tuesday of June next, at evening, at the house of Mr. Whiting of Rockingham, and that the preacher be appointed by the Royalton association."

The first meeting was held in 1796 as proposed, and a leading object of the conThe following is a list of such conso-vention appears to have been the union of ciations, with the time of their organiza- the churches in consociations, and of the tion: Rutland, including Bennington ministers in associations. Their advice county, January 6, 1797; Addison from was generally followed, except as it reRutland, June 13, 1804; Northwestern spected the churches on the east side of from Addison, June 14, 1808; Chitten- the mountain and north of Windham den from Northwestern, July 4, 1828; county. These have never been consoLamoille, October 27, 1840. A consocia-ciated. Within ten years, however, most tion was formed in Windham county, October 3, 1797, which has never been connected with those above mentioned.

of them have become united in county conferences, which secure most of the advantages, and, in their estimation,doubtless all the advantages of consociations. Before the organization of the convention, some churches suffered extremely by the labors of ministers, who had come into the state because they had been repudiated elsewhere. The convention at an early period appointed a committee to certify the regular standing of ministers coming into this state or going from it. They thus, over all the churches that would take the trouble to inquire, cast the 'agis of protection.'

In several counties, in which are no consociations, county conferences are organized, which possess some of the features of consociations, and become to a considerable extent a bond of union among the churches. At their annual meetings, like the consociations, they report on the state of religion and endeavor to give a spring to the operations of benevolence. Organization of county conferences: Orange, October 5, 1830; Caledonia, October 23, 1834; Windsor, September 17, 1840; Washington, November 29, 1837. Though the convention never claimed Previous to 1795, three ministerial asso-any ecclesiastical authority, from time to ciations had been formed. But there was no bond of union between them. Nor was there any organized body to consult for the general interests of the churches now extensively scattered through the state. An overture was made by the Royalton association to the other two bodies, which resulted, as the following extracts will shew:

time they devised means or recommended measures to awaken an interest or promote the welfare of the churches. In 1807, they commenced acting as a missionary society. This society, afterwards modified, but always called the Vermont missionary society, depended for funds on the voluntary contributions of the churches, and continued to aid the destitute portions of the state, till 1818, when its operations were suspended to give place to the Vermont juvenile missionary, now the Vermont domestic missionary society, of which the convention are now ex officiis members. This society annually appoint a board of directors, who receive the voluntary offerings of the communty to the amount of about two or three thousand dollars annually. This sum is expended in grants generally of from fifty to one hundred dollars, appropriated to aid the feeble churches.

"At a meeting of delegates from the several bodies of ministers in the state of Vermont convened by circular letters, at the house of president John Wheelock, August 27,1795, were present Rev. Messrs. Job Swift, Samuel Whiting, Lyman Potter, Asa Burton and Martin Tullar. Mr. Whiting was chosen moderator, and Mr. Tullar scribe. It was unanimously agreed that there be in future a general convention of ministers in the state of Vermont, and that all associations and presbyteries composed of ministers regularly introduced shall be allowed to send two dele- The convention in 1808 secured the orgates to said convention; and in any coun-ganization of a tract society, which print

SOCIETIES AND PERIODICALS

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

ed and circulated tracts for several years, It will be perceived that beside assignand till it was found more advantageous ing two months for the appropriation of to procure them from the large establish- charities to each of the five leading obments in the cities. In 1810, the Adri-jects of benevolence sustained by the deser, or Vermont Evangelical Magazine, a denomination, viz. the cause of the bible, monthly periodical of 32 octavo pages, foreign and domestic missions, education was commenced by editors appointed by and tracts, the convention assign two the convention. This work was generally months to the cause of the seaman's friend patronized by the churches, and during society and such other objects as any conthe seven years of its continuance, it ex-gregation may wish to patronize. The erted a most salutary influence. The convention from time to time has called the attention of the churches and the community to many subjects of deep interest. As early as 1811, they raised a warning voice against intemperance. They have, indeed, repeatedly warned the community against this and other national sins, such as sabbath breaking, including sabbath mails, slavery, profanity, licentiousness, the war spirit, &c. and have often commended with much zeal the various beRevolent objects of the day. In regard to some of the leading objects of benevolence, they have (for the purpose of preventing one object from interfering with In 1825, the convention took measures another) recommended to the congrega- to establish a religious paper. They contional churches specific times to take col-ceived that it was very much needed; lections or contributions, as is exhibited that the congregational interest could in the following table:

RELIGIOUS CHARITIES. The months designated for the several objects In the different counties are→→

*Copies of this work may be found in the libra

ries of the colleges existing in this stato at the time

of its discontinuance.-7. A, Merrill.

cause of the education society, though overlooked by many, has taken deep hold of some minds in Vermont. Probably this state may claim the honor of having instituted the first society in the country, which was organized to educate pious and indigent young men for the ministry. As early as 1804, a society was constituted for this purpose, in the western part of the state, and continued to dispense its blessings till after the organization of the American education society. The Vermont, or "northern branch of the American education society," was organized February 2, 1820.

easily sustain a local paper; that by this means an opportunity would be afforded for individuals to communicate their views and for ecclesiastical bodies and other societies or conventions to publish their proceedings; that individuality and energy would be given to the action of the state; and that the cause of religion and the active operations of benevolence would be greatly promoted. A committee consisting of W. Chapin, T. A. Merrill and C. Walker was appointed to carry the plan of the convention into effect. The committee shortly after made an arrangement with Mr. E. C. Tracy, (who after an absence again returned to the editorial chair,) to commence the publication of the Chronicle, in January, 1826. It was first printed at Bellows Falls and afterwards at Windsor. Though the establishment was always private property, and, as it respected other denominations has been truly catholic, yet it has looked to congregationalists for patronage and has derived from them its chief support to this present time.

The general convention consisted originally of delegates from associations only. The members were of course all ordained ministers. The constitution, however, has been repeatedly altered. The following at present are the leading articles:

"ARTICLE 1. The principal objects of the general convention of congregational ministers and churches in Vermont shall

CONVENTION OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

the convention. The following is ordi- Methodist Episcopal Church in Vermont.

In giving the ontlines of a history of Sabbath School Union with addresses; the Methodist Episcopal Church in VerWednesday, 2 o'clock, P. M., narratives mont, it is necessary to remind the reader