Vermont Phœnix

[For The Vermont Phoenix.]
SCRAPS OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

The facts recently put on record in The Phoenix, respecting the rise and progress of the Congregational Church in Brattleboro, must have been read with interest by all who were ever in any way connected with affairs in that town. It is one of the most hopeful signs of the times that an increasing attention is paid to history in all its departments, especially in that even despised—local history. My own attention being now particularly turned towards that sub-species of local history which takes note of ecclesiastical affairs, it will give me pleasure to communicate occasionally to the Phoenix some of the results of my explorations among the dusty records of the past. And first respecting some of the
EARLY MINISTERS IN GUILFORD.

1. Rev. Ebenezer Gurley, the first settled minister in Guilford, was the son of Dea. Jonathan Gurley of Mansfield, Ct., where he was born May 25th, 1747. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1772, and married Desire Dimock of Mansfield. He was ordained at Guilford, Oct. 28th, 1775, and died July 17th, 1776. Thompson's Gazetteer says of him, "He was a young man of science, and much respected for his pious and amiable deportment."

2. Rev. Henry Williams, who succeeded Mr. Gurley, was born in Stonington, Ct., in 1744. He was ordained at Guilford, Oct. 28th, 1778. The Rev. Bunker Gay of Hinsdale, N. H., preached the ordination sermon from 2 Kings 4, 40, "O son of man, there is death in the pot." It was at the time when continental currency was greatly depreciated, and the idea of the sermon was that to pay a minister's salary in the depreciated currency is death in the pot, both to minister and people. Mr. Williams was a violent Yorker, and when Guilford submitted to the authority of Vermont, he found it expedient to depart with others of the same political faith. He was accordingly dismissed in 1783, and was installed Nov. 10th, 1784, the first pastor of the Congregational Church in Leverett, Mass. The installation sermon was preached by the Rev. Gersham Lyman of Marlboro, Vt. He remained pastor at Leverett till his death, which occurred without a moment's warning, while he was sitting in his chair, Nov. 27th, 1811. He was never graduated at any college, but received the honorary degree of A. M., from Dartmouth College, in 1782. His epitaph says: "He was an ardent preacher, eminent in prayer, a faithful minister of truly evangelical sentiments."

3. Rev. Elijah Wallace was born in Bernardston, Mass., about 1769, and was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1791. He was ordained at Guilford March 13th, 1793, and dismissed April 10th, 1797. He was settled at Cambridge Vt., from 1805 to 1806, after which he returned to Guilford and preached till 1818. He was settled in Rockingham from 1818 to 1821, and at Putney, N. Y., about seven years, after which he preached at Wheeler and Starkey, N. Y. and died in Starkey, July 18th, 1847. An obituary notice, published at the time of his death, says: "He ever exemplified the truth he so earnestly preached to others by his daily walk and conversation. He fell, as it were, with his armor on, being struck down by an acute and rapid disease, while preparing sermons for the approaching Sabbath." The following is the epitaph on his gravestone: "For more than half a century he proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and has now gone to receive his reward."

Any one who can fix either of the above dates with greater precision will be worthy of thanks for doing so. The main value of a date lies in its exactness, and it ought always to include month and day as well as year.

P. H. W.
Coventry, Vt., Feb. 21st, 1859.