Sunday Jany 4th, 1885, Rev. C.E. Smith still unwell and not here. Sunday School & young peoples meeting the only services.
Monday evening January 5th, 1885 The observance of the week of prayer commenced Bro. H.W. Thompson, by appointment of Com. was the leader, a fair attendance & interest, but the room too highly heated. Clerk read request from Stockton Ch. for Pastor & one Bro. as delegates to a Council 28th inst, at 1 P.M. to examine & if approved, ordain their Pastor, Bro. J.C. Hale, so that it might be understood & hereafter acted upon. with some other remarks, Clerk left, in hope to preserve his own health. Meetings continued through the week except Sat. evening Also most of the following week.
January 11th, 1885. Rev. A.E. Rose preached in A.M. only, from Rev. 21:1. last clause, and there was no more sea. An ingenious discourse, and many good remarks interspersed.
Jany 16th, 1885. Rev. C.E. Smith & family came & stopped at Park House, in severe cold & Storm for several days. He was in the last meeting for that week & those then present regarded it a meeting of interest.
[Note to the side: Dr. Smith came. Famous storm of 1885.]
Sunday A.M. Jany 18th, 1885, he preached his first discourse as pastor from Mat. 6:10th Thy kingdom come. A very excellent sermon & closely listened to by a fair audience. Pastor sick & no preaching eveng.
Thursday evening Jany 22nd an excellent Prayer & conference meeting reported by some who were present. Clk not there on account of his health.
Sunday Jany 25th. Rev. C.E. Smith preached his 2nd discourse from [blank].
Monday January 26th, 1885.
Dr. Palmer corroborated that which S.S. Crissey had said to Clk a day or two before, Viz: That on the 8th inst. in evening prayer meeting the request of Stockton Church as read by Clk 5th inst was called up, and it was learned that Dr. Palmer had been specially invited to attend the Council to be convened 28th inst. at 1 P.M. On motion made & seconded, Resolved that our Pastor Rev. C.E. Smith and Sister Louisa M. Edmonds be our delegates to said Council, and, that in case Sister Edmonds can not attend, Bro. S.S. Crissey be her substitute.
As reported, A.Z. Madison Ch Clk
Covenant Meeting Jany 31st for Feby 1885
Present Rev. Chas. E. Smith, Pastor, 15 Brn & 31 Srs. (Weather mild & fair after 2 weeks about zero.) Pastor read Scripture, and offered remarks, and presented three letters from 1st Bap. Ch. of Syracuse for himself, his wife & their daughter to wit: Rev. Charles E. Smith, Mrs. Kate A. Smith, & Miss Grace L. Smith. On motion of Dr. Palmer, seconded by Dea. H.A. Buck, Clerk called the vote, and they were severally duly recd. as members with us on their several letters of commendation & dismission. Then beginning with Bro. H.W. Thompson all or nearly all Brn & Sisters offered remarks making it a more interesting meeting than usual, conducted more in the former way of Covenant meetings. Pastor made further remarks, prayer & benediction to close. Clk distributed Minutes of Asson. recd. 5 months after the meeting.
Sunday Feby 1, 1885
Another mild and pleasant day & best of sleighing. Congregation larger than usual. Pastor Smith preached from Mat. 6:22, 23 & at close of sermon administered the Communion service, before Sunday School service. Prior to this Bro. F.B. Palmer appropriately gave, in behalf of the Church the right hand of fellowship to Pastor, Rev. C.E. Smith, his wife & daughter. A larger number than usual, of communicants present, and the services pleasant & satisfactory to all, especially the more aged, being nearer the customs of former days.
Thursday evening prayer meeting & Missy Concert February 5th, 1885.
Prest Rev. C.E. Smith Pastor and an increased number of both sexes. Agreeably with prior arrangement between Pastor & Clerk, after singing & prayer by Pastor, he called on Clerk to read letters of request, for letters of dismissal and commendation to wit: Sister Helen R. Parker of Chatsworth Ill. who does not expect to be a resident of Fredonia again & desires a more efficient work for the Lord where she is. On motion of S.S. Crissey, seconded, her request was duly granted by unanimous vote. Sister Helen S. Wright wrote at greater length the circumstances she had been for the past 9 years surrounded in San Jose (Ho-sa`) California while Principal of the Ladies department in the State Normal School at that place. Of the late division of the Ch. and the new interest, of the large minority, to be organized as a Chh. Feb. 24/85, and she desired a letter before that date. On motion of [blank] seconded, her request was unanimously granted. Clerk then reluctantly retired from the over heated room for prudential reasons. (Health)
Sunday Feby 15, 1885, after A.M. service of preaching by Pastor Chas. E. Smith from Gen. 2:16 & 17 and before Sunday School, the church being together fully represented, the substance of a letter of request from the Baptist Ch. Brocton, dated Feb. 10, 1885, & signed by Rev. J.M. Bates Pastor & O.J. Chamberlain Clerk, was stated, to wit, that the Fredonia Bap. Chh. send its Pastor, and the brethren who attend the Council that met with same Chh Nov 5, 1884 Viz: Henry W. Thompson & Saml. S. Crissey, to sit in council Wednesday Feby 18, 1885 to advise further concerning the same difficulty, which is not yet settled. On motion of [blank] seconded Resolved that the Fredonia Bap. Church in response to the request of the Baptist Chh Brocton, late 1st Bap. Chh. of Portland do hereby appoint our Pastor Rev. Chas. E. Smith and Brethren Henry W. Thompson and Samuel S. Crissey, delegates to sit in a council to be convened at Brocton February 18th at 1 Oclock P.M. 1885.
Covenant Meeting Feby 28th, 1885. for March
Present Rev. Chas. E. Smith, Pastor, 11 Brn & 29 Sisters. Pastor was talking of the Covenant of its deep meaning embracing Christ &c. Then sung. Then remarks of Brn & three Sisters, when Pastor said time had passed that we would commence with Sisters next time. Some further remarks of Pastor when a lady handed him a letter which he read from Rev. J.M. Bates Pastor & O.J. Chamberlain Clk commending Sisters Hannah Mayborn and Selina Mayborn & dismissing them from Brocton Ch. On motion of W.J. Noble, seconded, they were recd. by unanimous vote. Dismissed with benediction.
Pursuant to prior public notice from the desk, and in the Village papers, and Committees letters to absent members of the Church so far as residences were known, a Covenant and fellowship or partnership meeting of the Fredonia Baptist Church, was held in the Auditory Saturday at 2 Oclock P.M. April 4, 1885. Present, Rev. Charles E. Smith Pastor & Chairman, and some 125 Brn & Sisters, (say Brn 34, Srs 91) Some 24 Brn, 61 Srs [Total 85] residing in the Village and vicinity, not present some aged some sick some indifferent Others absent in N.Y., P.A., Ohio, Wis., Iowa, Ill. and in California. Religious services, were singing, prayer and remarks by Pastor, after which he, himself, called the roll of members, alphabetically, commencing with Sister Laura Adams & so on to W. omitting a few by accident. Those present responding with remarks, briefly. Pastor placed a blackboard with a written question, What will you do for Jesus this year? with five methods of service, as Watchcare, Teaching, Visiting. Members were expected to answer to one or more of these inquiries. Many did so. There was very little said of absentees, for want of time, except an occasional brief explanation by Clerk. In the investigation, it was learned that about a year ago, two members had been received on, or without letter, whose names were not in the list, for the reason, that they had been voted members, in a prayer or Covenant meeting, in absence of Clk, and neither Pastor, Deacons nor any other member had reported them to the Ch. Clk. One, Miss Harriet Baxter, with letter from Bap. Chh. at Patterson N.J. now Mrs. H.A. Morrison. The other, Miss Hattie R. Holcomb, who told Clerk this day, that she was received (on Exp.) just a year ago which Covenant Meeting day was April 5th when Clerk was very sick, and received no report of the meeting, as see top of page 277 & interlined in list with red ink. Quite a number of responsive letters from absent members who had been invited, had been received by Pastor Smith, and were read by him to the meeting. One letter was from Vacaville Solano Co. California, from one first entered in our list June 6th, 1858, baptized by Rev. A. Wheelock during the great awakening, Viz; Miss Harriet S. Brown, later married and Mrs. Harriet S. Thompson, then a widow, and went to California, Rio Vista, Solano Co. now, Mrs. Harriet S. Korns, of Vacaville in same county. In her kind and satisfactory epistle, she asks for a letter of commendation and dismission. On motion made and seconded, it was Resolved that her above request be granted, and Clk mailed letter to her April 13th, 1885 to any Bap. Ch. of same faith as us. Pastor read a letter from Washington Street Bap. Church, Buffalo, commending and dismissing John M. DeWitt and wife, Josie H. DeWitt, to this Ch. On Motion made & seconded, it was Resolved to receive John M. DeWitt to our membership on the letter. About at this point in the meeting, Miss Jennie M. Merrill related her religious experience and on mo Dr. F.B. Palmer seconded she was duly recd. a candidate for baptism & then for Ch. membership. Because Mrs. DeWitt was at present, deranged, & now in the Asylum at Buffalo, action was, in her case, omitted. Several could not see the propriety, and two, Fanny A. Lord & Leonora G. Lathrop came to Clk to inquire. He could not, and then explained the case and after, moved the reception of Mrs. DeWitt, regardless of her temporary condition, on the letter containing her name. Same seconded, and the vote carried, without dissent. (Mrs. Josie H. DeWitt was recd. on profession, and baptized here by Rev. L. Williams Jr. Feb. 29, 1880.) After the close of reading names of members and letters recd. Pastor made further remarks & expressing satisfaction with the exercises, & prayer adjourned to basement where an abundant supper had been prepared by Mrs. E. Haywood & numerous assistants, and all seemed pleased. A.Z. Madison Ch Clk
Covenant Meeting May 2nd, 1885.
Present, Pastor C.E. Smith & 6 Brn & 30 Sisters. Prayer by Pastor, singing, Pastor read Covenant and remarked on the same interestingly. Then called on Sisters to commence remarks first, Sister Bishop & so on, till all had spoken. Prayer & singing interspersed. Pastor read several letters from absent members, which had been received since the 4th of April, Fellowship day. Clerk then read a letter received by him, to Pastor & Members from Mr. & Mrs. David A. Smith of Petaluma Sonoma Co. Cal. Closed with prayer by Pastor.
Sunday evening May 3rd, 1885, at the close of preaching service, Pastor Smith baptized Miss Jennie M. Merrill, mentioned in red ink on the opposite page 298, as reported by Geo. W. Blood. Clerk not present.
Sunday May 24th, 1885. Rev. C.E. Smith preached in A.M. a very interesting discourse from John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh, away the sin of the world. At the close a Collection was taken for the Am. Bap. Missionary Union, in cash & on Cards both paid & unpaid & well mixed up. Amount finally collected & pd to A.Z.M. and by him sent to E.P. Coleman Treasr June 20th/85 $45.74 with bal. collection Moly Concerts $12.52 = $58.46 Recpt in suspense a/c a small bal to be collected on pledges.
Thursday June 4th, 1885, in Prayer Meeting, requests were made for letters for Joel E. Hendee & Katie A. Hendee, and their daughter, Katie E. Hendee, to unite with the Baptist Church at Stockton, near which they now reside, On separate motions, Letters of commnn & dismission were granted to each, and Clerk mailed them together to Delanti, June 5/85.
Covenant Meeting June 6th, 1885,
Present Pastor Chas. E. Smith, & about 35 Brn & Srs. Pastor, after singing & prayer, spoke of the Preamble and Ch. Covenant, especially in regard to Christian Watchcare of members. That it was neglected, and sometimes a member would be sick weeks, and even die before other members or himself would know of it, hence the efforts of watching lately organized. Very good. Then remarks of Brn & Sisters, at least, of some, were of increasing interest. Mrs. Harriet M. Ellsworth and Mrs. Minnie Berg each related Chr. Experience. On motion of Dr. F.B. Palmer, seconded, Mrs. Harriet M. Ellsworth was received a candidate for baptism, & when baptized, to membership in the Church. On motion of A.Z. Madison, seconded, Mrs. Minnie Berg was recd. a candidate for same. On request by Pastor, and motion made and seconded, Frederic Lilly was granted a letter of commendation & dismission to unite with the West Portland Bap. Ch. P.O. Westfield N.Y. (mailed June 12/85) Also, on motion made and seconded, on similar request, Resolved to grant the request of Anna M. Lawson, (recently married, and now Mrs. Anna M. McCollum) for letter of commendation & dismission to unite with the Bap. Church at Cherry Creek, as told by Pastor June 12th. Pastor to close, of offered thanks to the Lord, and invoked his blessing in merciful answers to the requests of desires that had been made.
(Mailed to Cherry Creek June 12th On day Pastor told Clk)
Covenant Meeting July 3rd, 1885. (Friday)
Present Pastor C.E. Smith, 9 Brn & 38 Sisters. Opened with singing. Prayer by Pastor singing. Pastor read Mayville Ch. letter commending (Mrs. Chas.) Altima A. Tarbox. On motion of Dr. Palmer seconded she was duly & unanimously recd. Remarks of Pastor on that part of the Covenant containing our pledge to uphold the worship of God. The remarks commencing with Sisters & closing with brethren. Singing & prayer again, by Pastor in middle. Closed with Br. A.R. Thompson. Pastor read another letter from Bap. Ch. of Stockton commending Sister Hannah T. Roberts & on Motion of Dr. Palmer seconded she was also recd. Remarks in regard to prayer for the Pastor & the aid so given to him. Closed.
Previous to Communion service, July 5th, 1885, Pastor read a letter from 1st Portland Bap. Church commending & dismissing Bro & Sr. John M. Hardenburg & wife Julia Ann Hardenburg. On motion of Prof. Palmer, seconded they were together received as members with us. At evening, same date, after the sermon, the two recd. as candidates for baptism June 6th/85, were baptized by Pastor, Viz. Mrs. Harriet M. Ellsworth & Mrs. Minnie Berg.
Pastors vacation from July 26th, 1885, except that he was present in the next Covenant meeting Augt 1st, 1885, with the few who met at the ringing of the bell, (see next page) till Thursday eveg Sept. 3rd, 1885 when he was again present & led the meeting. He read & explained Ex. 33rd feelingly, & applied it to our case solemnly.
A.Z.M. Clk
Covenant Meeting August 1st, 1885 though not noticed Sunday last because house might be torn up for repairs. Left Thursday evening, to be governed by ringing of the bell. Bell rung. Present Pastor C.E. Smith. Brn. R.B. Morgan, A.Z. Madison, W. Higgins, H.A. Buck, Srs. Wiggins, M. Green, Gates, Lord, B.J. Noble, H.N. Lull & L.M. Edmonds. Sung 336 Hymn (small Book) Prayer by Clerk. Pastor read Scripture & remarks after. Then remarks by Brn & Sisters, each one present. Spoke of Letter to Asson Clk to write. Sung He leadeth me to close. No business done.
Meeting for prayer, & Church business, hearing letter of Church, & statistics, to the Chautauqua Bap. Association at Forestville 25th inst. to which our delegates were appointed, was held in Basement August 20th, 1885. By mutual consent, Geo. Tate Chn, A.Z. Madison Ch Clk & some 30 in all, pursuant to notice in Sunday Sch. last Sunday, & also in Censor of 19th. Chairman Tate read scripture, and Dea. H.A. Buck offered prayer. Sung a hymn, Miss E.I. Davis playing organ. (Geo. Tate made Chn of this meeting.) Clerk then read some preliminaries regarding funds for printing minutes, & contribution for the Widow & Orphan, or Relief fund, and settled on those, by a resolution. On motion of H.P. Perrin seconded, Resolved that from the general fund of the Ch. & Soy in hands of Col. & Tr. (?) E.J. Crissey, there be taken $10. for Ch. contribution to the Widow & Orphan fund of the Association, and $3.50 from same fund for printing the minutes of the Association, both to be refunded to said general fund by a Ch & Soy contribution, after we finish the repairs now in progress & resume ch. services. Clerk read the letter he had prepared as from Church, with the statistics of the past year, & the account of benevolence to the Chautauqua Bap. Association. On motion [blank] seconded, Resolved to adopt the letter read as our letter to the Association. On Nominations made the following persons were duly appointed as the delegates of this Church to the association. Viz: Rev. Charles E. Smith, Charles L. Goulding, Dr. F.B. Palmer, Prof. S.H. Albro (not member of ch.), Mrs. Malinda S. Grant, Mrs. Sarah E. Shepard, Mrs. Julia P. Clark, Mrs. Harriet Morrison, Henry W. Thompson, John E. Webster, Mrs. Cornelia J. Webster, Miss Elsie Skillman. On motion of A.Z. Madison seconded, Resolved that we accord to the above named delegates, the power of substitution in cases where they cannot personally attend the meeting of the Association. Here this meeting closed, as H.W. Thompson remarked that a meeting of Trustees &c was to follow, in order to submit the question, whether the Auditory should be frescoed or papered, &c (maj. for frescoing). Some things which Clerk had prepared for submission were in the hurry, forgotten, and he may submit some of them to the Association over his own signature only, as, an amendment to the Standing Resolution on 4th page of minutes of 1884. Clerk left the meeting, still considering the questions concerning the Ch. building &c.
Covenant Meeting Sept. 5, 1885
Present, Pastor Rev. C.E. Smith, 10 Brn & 32 Sisters. Pastor engaged in prayer when Clk entered. Sung There is a fountain filled with blood. Remarks of Pastor on that part of our Church Covenant that treats of closet religion & the training up of our families & those under our care &c. Followed by remarks from Sisters & then brethren. Increased searching of the heart. Sung a hymn to close.
Sunday Sept. 6th, 1885. The staging being up for frescoing the ceiling which is in progress. Meeting was held in Lecture room & Parlors. Pastor Rev. C.E. Smith preached from 1 Pet. 2:5 & repeated Rev. 1:6 & 5:10 to show that all true Christians are an holy priesthood &c. The weather fair after a month of rain, or 26 days in Augt, less or more rain. After sermon Communion & then S. School prior to Comn. on request of H.A. Morrison & on motion of Clerk seconded by W.A. Noble Resolved that a ch. letter of commendation & dismission be granted to Sister Susan Burrows to some Church of same faith & order, in Worcester Mass. where she has gone. Letter handed to H.A. Morrison to send.
Thursday evening Sept 10/85 Missionary Concert. Pastor & near 50 present After singing, reading scripture and prayer, Pastor remarked that he would depart from usual course, & read of things of the Indian Territory the cheating of the tribes by the cattlemen and the determination of President Cleveland in removing them from the Territory, just now. It was an interesting meeting.
Sunday Sept. 13th. Meeting again in Lecture room, & a fair congregation for a rainy morng. Text from 1. Pet. 2:9 A peculiar people. Illustrations about home, & very plain.
Sunday Sept. 20th. In same place & good attendance & fair day. The best discourse for the unconverted, yet, in A.M.
Prayer meeting Thursday evening Sept 24th. Present Rev. C.E. Smith & a fair number of members & of youths. On request of Miss Scott and on motion of A.Z. Madison, seconded, Resolved that a letter of commendation and dismission be granted to Sister Elcie B. Scott to unite with the 1st Portland Baptist Church at Brocton. Then exposition of Leviticus 2nd Chap.
Sept 27th. Mrs. R.E. Morian informed Clk, that Miss Conger married about a year ago now Mrs. Scott, living near the Thayer Hill in Portland, and as Clk wanted to write to O.J. Chamberlin Chh Clk Brocton, he inclosed letter to said O.J.C. Ch Ck
Sunday Sept. 27. Services in Lecture room. Pastor preached in A.M. of Na?aman the leper and in evening from N.T. the other story of lepers, the words, But where are the nine? Bro. A. LeRoy & family present in audience at both.
Covenant Meeting October 3rd, 1885.
Present at 2.30 P.M. Pastor C.E. Smith and 4 Brn and 12 Srs. More came later 4 Brn 21 Srs = 8 Brn & 33 Srs. Sung, My hope is built on nothing less. Prayer, by Pastor. Sung again. Pastor then read a letter from 1st Bap. Chh. Dunkirk N.Y. commending and dismissing to our fellowship Sister E.D. Bacon & her son Bro. Henry Bacon. On motion of Bro. H.A. Buck, seconded, Resolved to receive them as members with us. [Note in margin: 1886 May 30th. A.Z.M. inquired of Mrs. Bacon her 1st name & learned the E.D. was her late husbands initials & that her own 1st name was Zipporah.] Pastor then read another letter from same Dkk. Church commending and dismissing to our fellowship, Rev. Alphonzo LeRoy and Sisters Clara LeRoy, Bertha LeRoy and Minnie LeRoy. On motion [blank] seconded, Resolved that they too be received as members with us. A Resolution in regard to the separation from Dkk Ch. accompanied the last letter. Then Pastor read part of Covenant and explained. Commenced with remarks by brethren & afterward part of Sisters spoke, one, not a member here, at length of Chr. Experience. Closed with singing Praise God &c
Sunday Oct. 4th, 1885, Service in Lecture room still. Pastor preached to fair audience from Luke 17:20 The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, or outward show. Pastor read letter from Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone Ireland commending Mrs. Elisabeth Black. On explanation by Dea. Barrell & on his Motion seconded she was unanimously recd a member with us. Hand of fellowship to her and communion followed.
Sunday Oct. 11th, 1885, the repairs being so near done inside Ch, paint & varnish dry, cushions newly colored & covered & red carpet died [sic] in aisles, Services were with full attendance in the auditorium. Pastor C.E. Smith preached in A.M. from Ex. 20: 24 in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee. In evening from [blank] on the character of Gen. U.S. Grant.
Also, Sunday Oct. 18/85 A.M. & evening
Sunday Oct. 25th 1885 on exchange with Pastor Smith, Rev. R. Harvey of Jamestown preached in A.M. & in evening. A fair day, & full congregation.
Covenant Meeting Oct. 31st, 1885 for Novr.
Present Pastor C.E. Smith, 8 Brn & 26 Srs. After the opening by singing & prayer, Pastor spoke plainly and feelingly on part of Ch. Covenant as to walking circumspectly in the world, that we may win their souls. Then nearly all Sisters present spoke in turn, and after, the few brethren present, also. Pastor offered prayer to close.
Sunday Nov. 1, 1885. Present Pastor Rev. C.E. Smith and preached very instructively in A.M. from an old Testament text regarding the first born of the Hebrew.
[Note in the margin, in handwriting different from A.Z. Madisons: Communion now held after A.M. sermon & S. School to follow. For first time in all ch. history.]
Communion, as generally since he became Pastor, immediately after sermon, & then S. School. He urged subscribing 30 for Examiner & also gave notice of request, & that there would be memorial services on account of decease of Rev. L. Williams, next Sunday evening.
Sunday Nov. 8th, 1885. Services as usual. Rev. C.E. Smith preached in A.M. from Isa. 32:20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters. Hardly in his ordinary style of preaching, but very suggestive and instructive, showing the multitudinous ways and opportunities for dropping a word at home & among strangers, that would help on to the sowing beside all waters. After sermon a collection was taken up for the Am. Bap. Home Mission Society, Amt. Cash paid $16.34 and card pledges $19.50 in all $36.84 & some added afterwards making in all the sum $42.09.
At 7 oclock P.M. a fair congregation met for the Memorial service, including members of other Churches amongst whom were Dr. Landers, A.C. Cushing & Judge Geo. Barker [my uncle above judges name, written in the same handwriting as the note about Communion above.] & others of Episl Ch. The desk was appropriately draped, with black & white flowers. A portion of the membership took front seats. Others occupied their own slips in different parts of the house. The organ was well played by Geo. Manton, and the Choir also sung well. After the preliminary services, & notices, Rev. C.E. Smith offered remarks suited to the occasion of a memorial, of a former pastor of this Church Viz: Rev. Lester Williams decd. He was brief in remarks, yielding to those who had had more personal acquaintance. He was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Palmer, who gave an ingenious address, culminating in integrity attributable to the subject. Then followed Rev. A. Kingsbury of longer and more intimate acquaintance with Rev. L. Williams. He said many true and appropriate things in his eulogy, and comparisons with Elders A. Wheelock, J.D. Cole, B.N. Leach, E. Tucker & even Dr. F. Wayland, he came well up in the superlative. Here, as singing commenced, and the house was overheated by a red-hot stove in the Vestibule and a full head of gas in the Chandeliers, the Clerk for his own personal safety, left the Church and went home. On the 9th inst Deacon H.P. Perrin informed him, the closing part of the services, was the reading by Pastor Smith of preamble and resolutions, and their adoption by the Church present. These were written by Samuel S. Crissey, who was appointed a Committee for that purpose, at the last Thursday evening prayer meeting, and were as follows:
Whereas the sad news has reached us, of the sudden death of Rev. Lester Williams, for seven years pastor of the Fredonia Baptist Church, We the members thereof, do adopt the following:
Resolved That we most sincerely mourn our beloved brother and ex-pastor, as one who was a true and steadfast friend: a wise and valued counselor: a sympathetic and faithful spiritual guide and instructor: and whose broad and catholic impulses, whose ready and constant charities, whose pure and consistent life, had won the respect and love of this entire church and community.
Resolved That in his official and public labors, there was ever shown an unswerving loyalty to the distinctive principles of our faith a fearless and untiring advocacy of the great reforms of our times and a profound and conscientious devotion to the special work of the sacred office, to which he was called, - and that in this bereavement, we believe the Baptist ministry and denomination, sustain a great loss.
Resolved That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the family of the deceased, as an expression of our regard, in this, their hour of trial and deep affliction.
Closed with the benediction.
Tuesday morn Nov. 10th/85 I wrote letter & copy of Preamble and resolutions at home last evening, & mailed to Mrs. A.E. Williams this morning. A.Z.M. Ch Clk
[A.Z. Madisons handwritten note at the top of a printed pamphlet: This was placed in Slips Nov 15/85 A.M. prior to the Collection of $35.84 and some more added after (6.25) = $42.09]
American Baptist Home Mission Society.
North America for Christ!
What it Involves.
The motto of the Am. Bap. Home Mission Society is North America for Christ. This means the evangelization of the people of North America that the entire continent is the field of its work. This field embraces British America, the United States, Mexico and the Central American States. It extends from the Arctic Ocean to the Isthmus of Panama, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This field is larger than two continents like Europe, and has in it about 75,000,000 of people. The inhabitants of Mexico and the Central American States numbering some 13,000,000, are a mixed race of Spanish and Indian, nominally Roman Catholic but largely Pagan. Among the 4,500,000 in British America are a large number of Pagan Indians, and also a large ignorant Roman Catholic population. In the United States with a territory almost as large as Europe, we have about 300,000 Indians two-thirds of whom are Pagan nearly 7,000,000 of Freedmen the most of whom are ignorant and unevangelized about 8,000,000 of Foreign population most of whom are strangers to evangelical religion and our own native American people. Last year the missionaries of our Society preached the gospel to Americans, Germans, French, Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Mexicans, Indians, Negroes and Chinese. This shows the peculiar character of the field, its different nationalities, and the vast amount of work that needs to be done. For the occupation and evangelization of this field, the christians of America are responsible. It is their own home and special work. The christians of other countries will not come here to do this work for them. North America must be won to Christ, if at all, by the christians of North America. It is their work.
Consider now the three departments of this work, as carried forward by our Home Mission Society.
First Christian Education. This relates particularly to the Freedmen and the Indians. Its object is to furnish them with preachers and christian teachers of their own color and blood. Qualified native workers can do among and for them what no others can. Upon the emancipation of the Freedmen, it was seen that their greatest need was qualified preachers and teachers, of their own race. Of this kind they had almost none. They formed churches, but very few among them were qualified and competent to be pastors. Slavery with its oppression and ignorance had not produced such men. The destitution in this respect was general and alarming. Hence the Society began its schools. These have been increased until now there are fifteen as follows: Wayland Seminary, Washington, D.C., Richmond Institute, Richmond, Va., Hartshorn Memorial College, for women, Richmond, Va., Shaw University, Raleigh, N.C., Benedict Institute, Columbia, S.C., Atlanta Seminary, Ga., Spelman Seminary, for women, Atlanta, Ga., Roger Williams University, Nashville, Tenn., Jackson College, Jackson, Miss., Leland University, New Orleans, La., Florida Institute, Live Oak, Fla., Alabama School, Selma, Ala., Bishop College, Marshall, Texas, Kentucky Institute, Louisville, Ky., Creek Freedmen School, Tullahassie, Ind. Ter. In these schools there were last year over 3,000 pupils, about 400 of whom were preparing for the christian ministry. From these schools have already gone forth scores of the most able and effective preachers and teachers among the colored people of our country. Some have gone as missionaries to Africa, others are preparing to go. The hearts of these people turn to their father-land. The millions of Pagans in Negro Africa are to be evangelized mainly through the christianized Freedmen of America. In our schools we are preparing the laborers who shall go forth to this work; as in them we are also preparing the preachers and pastors for the 800,000 colored Baptists, and one-half of the colored population of the United States. If we will furnish them with qualified preachers and laborers, they will in the main support and take care of them.
We also have a school in the Indian Territory at Muskogee, for the education of Indian preachers and teachers. Native Indian preachers and christian laborers, can do among their people what white men cannot do. Scores of Indians are now preaching the gospel successfully to their countrymen. Our school will help to largely increase this number and qualify them better for their work. We also have a christian school in connection with our missions in Mexico, at Monterey.
The Home Mission Society is thus one of the most important agencies in ministerial education, in our country. Many of the students are poor and need to be helped in obtaining an education. Fifty dollars will sustain a pupil in our Schools for a year.
Second Our Mission Work. This is of course the direct and principal work of the Society, to which its efforts and funds are mainly appropriated. This work is carried forward among the Foreign population in our country, among the Indians, the Freedmen, our native American people, and the Mexicans. Among these different classes the Society had last year 702 missionaries and teachers. These organized 139 churches; received by Baptism 3,317; by letter and experience 3,474; and had under their care 740 Sunday Schools, with an attendance of 48,802.
The work is great and prosperous; but the existing need and destitution are far beyond the ability of the Society to supply them. Hundreds of villages and settlements in the great and growing West, are without a preacher or a church. More laborers are needed among the Foreign population, which is increasing upon us at the rate of half a million a year. The work among the rapidly multiplying Freedmen needs constant enlargement. The field in Mexico is opening and calling for increased laborers and means. The needs and claims of the Indians press upon us with constantly growing force. Of the 300,000 of them in the United States, about 200,000 are still Pagans. These hundreds of thousands and even millions in our own country and field, are perishing without the gospel and the means of salvation. They cry unto us to come to their rescue. What shall be the response?
Third Our Church Edifice Work. There are hundreds of our churches in the West and South that are without houses of worship, and are unable of themselves to build them. Many of these churches are in growing cities, villages and prominent fields. They can do but little in the way of permanent and successful religious work, without meeting houses. A suitable place of worship becomes vital to their existence and growth. Delay in many of these cases will not only increase the expense of building, but peril all their interests. Now is the time to strike. The Society aids such churches to build, by gifts of from two hundred to five hundred dollars, and upon the condition that the house shall be free from debt when dedicated. A legal paper is also given by the church to the Society, by which it can reclaim its interests in the property should the church become extinct or fail to use the house for worship. In the last year the Society thus aided 74 churches to build meeting houses. The Society also has a fund form which it makes loans to churches for a series of years, to aid them in building. This is often a very great help. But the plan of giving in small sums directly to the churches, seems the most useful. The fund from which these gifts are made, needs to be largely increased. This church edifice work, is one of the most important and promising departments of the Societys service. In all 113 churches were aided last year.
Such in brief, is the field and work of our Home Mission Society. It is entitled to the confidence and appeals to the aid of every christian citizen, and lover of his country and race. No more important and imperative work is on the hands of the Baptists of America. The receipts from New York the last year were $79,472,68, and from northern New Jersey $8,193,25, - total $87,665,93, and not including the receipts of the Womens Societies. The receipts of the Society from all sources was $447,379,05. It needs and ought to receive the present year $500,000. Let all, pastors, churches, individuals, ALL aid to secure this amount and help on this great work. It is a duty and an honor committed to our hands by our divine Lord and Master. Shall we Retrench? God forbid!
C.P. Sheldon, Dist. Secretary. Troy, N.Y.
American Baptist Home Mission Rooms, Temple Court, New York City; Rev. H.L. Morehouse, D.D. Corresponding Secretary.
Sat. Nov. 14/85 Rev. M. MacGregor was here, but left in P.M. to preach in Washington St. Bap. Ch on 15th in Buffalo.
[Note in margin: See name in list on page 602.]
[Other note: Death of my grandfather Geo. W. Lewis. Insert by Edith Lewis Morse Jan. 1948 (63 yrs, later)]
After a few days illness with pneumonia on the evening at 7 oclock of Thursday Nov. 12th George W. Lewis, (who had been a member of this Church about 35 years, though really a Disciple, in faith,) died. His funeral was attended in his Chh of that denomination, on Free Street, Sunday P.M. at 2 Oclock Nov 15 the service by [blank] of that Ch., Rev. C.E. Smith & Rev. A. Kingsbury the house well filled & the exercises deemed good. The first considerable snow, some six inches deep fell the night before. The other Clergymen of this village Viz. Dr. J.J. Landers of Epis., Rev. W.P. Bignall, Meth. & Rev. M.D. Kneeland Presbn were all present in the congregation. The use of the Bap. Chh. Edifice, being larger, was offered for the funeral but the children of deceased present, Estelle Daniels had left Wed before her father died, (2 sons & 1 daughter thought best that the services should be in his own Church.
Sunday Nov. 22nd/85 Pastor Smith preached from Mat. 23:36, 37 with great plainness directed to me and all professors who would receive it. At close took collection for benefit of the Infant class in S.S. He said $25 was wanted, doubtful if raised. Closing S.S. Dr. Palmer with a diagram on Bk-board explained the Temple.
Thursday Nov. 26th, 1885 Thanksgiving in the Meth. Ep. Church at 11 A.M. Present Rev. W.P. Bignall Meth., Rev. M.D. Kneeland Presb., Rev. Chas. E. Smith Bap & a full congregation. Singing by Meth. Choir. Mr. Bignall read a Psalm. Mr. Kneeland offered prayer. Mr. Smith preached, from Ps. 28: 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Referenced to Gen. Grant & his compatriot(?), and then to the doings of the Lord for this people. All interested. A.Z.M.
Sunday Nov. 29th, 1885. An exchange between Rev. C.E. Smith & M.D. Kneeland of Presb. Chh. Mr. Kneeland preached a good scriptural discourse from Prov. 4:23rd. Keep thy heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life.
[Note to side: Minutes, Dec 3rd Recd 55 copies from Clk asson A.A. Jones of Panama]
Thursday evening Decr 3rd, 1885. Prayer meeting. Clerk carried in some copies Minutes of the Association & gave notice of them. Then explained as to Rev. A. LeRoy, now the Pastor of the Forestville Bap. Chh. and that he requested letters to unite with that Church for himself, wife & one daughter, and Clerk moved & it was seconded that Rev. Alphonzo LeRoy receive the usual letter of commendation and dismission to unite with the Forestville Bap. Church and the vote unanimously carried. Clk then made similar motion, & it was seconded, for a letter for Sister Clarissa LeRoy his wife, & it was carried as above. The Clk moved a similar letter for Miss Bertha L. LeRoy their daughter, which was seconded & carried same.
Covenant Meeting Dec 5, 1885 in cold & snow storm
Present Pastor C.E. Smith & 9 Brn & 16 Sisters. Opened by singing, prayer, reading 2nd Ps. & remarks by Pastor. Remarks by Brn & then by Sisters. Minutes of Asson distributed. Sung Doxology to close.
Church Meeting Monday evening Dec. 14, 1885.
Present Rev. C.E. Smith Pastor & Chn., Chas. L. Goulding Clerk Pro. Tem & some 20 others. Meeting opened by Pastor reading & prayer. Pastor announced an invitation from the Presbn. Chh that we unite with them in services, will alternate in regard to place, during the approaching week of prayer. H.W. Thompson moved and it was seconded that we accept the invitation. Remarks by Brn A.R. Thompson, H.W. Thompson, Ely Davis & S.S. Crissey. Question called and was carried without a dissenting voice. Pastor spoke of the Executive Committee of the Church, and the need of some additions to that Committee for efficiency, and of the necessity of action by it. Clk P.T. thinks that Bro. Buck moved and it was seconded, That our Pastor be instructed to make nominations of proper persons to fill vacancies in said Executive Committee. Motion was carried.
Sunday Dec. 20th, 1885, Pastor C.E. Smith preached to pretty full congregation the true gospel of Christ from John 19th 30th especially, the words It is finished. Unexcelled. A.Z.M.
Dec 27/85 John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Also good.