SECTION IX.
GENERAL SUMMARY.

The reader who has followed me through this brief and imperfect sketch of the history of the Seventh-day Baptist Denomination, cannot fail to perceive that our churches have gradually and healthfully increased in numbers, notwithstanding the continual opposition which is manifested to the cause we advocate, and the continual discouragements that we have to encounter both in society and business. It is now about one hundred and seventy years since the first Seventh-day Baptist church was organized in America; and the efforts which have been made within the last thirty years have accomplished more to advance the interests of the cause than what was done for nearly a century and a half preceding. This has not been produced by any special excitement, but by increased energy and courage, and by the multiplication of means for disseminating the truth; and those means have but just begun to develope their influence. Our Education, Missionary, and Tract Societies are yet in their infancy; our denominational paper is only beginning to acquire a circulation corresponding to its merits, indicative to other denominations of Christians of our literary resources,—and yet effects that would have astonished our ancestors have been realized. In 1805, we numbered eight churches, and about one thousand five hundred communicants. Twenty-five years increased that number to three thousand four hundred; but the five subsequent years to more than four thousand five hundred. In 1840, we numbered a fraction over five thousand members, which in three years increased to six thousand. At this period, there are about seven thousand communicants in the connexion. There are sixty-five churches united with the Conference; sixty ordained ministers, and about thirty licentiates.

RECAPITULATION OF CHURCHES FOR 1849.

Date of Number of
Designation. Organization. Communicants.
EASTERN ASSOCIATION.
Newport, 1671     28    
First Hopkinton, 1708     344    
Second Hopkinton, 1835     173    
Third Hopkinton, 1835     166    
Marlborough, 1811     131    
New York, 1845     33    
Piscataway, 1707     174    
Pawcatuck, 1840     172    
Plainfield, 1838     83    
Richmond, 1843     25    
Shiloh, 1787     261    
South Kingston, 1840     25    
Waterford, 1784     110    
Westerly, 1837     72    
CENTRAL ASSOCIATION.
Adams, 1822     230    
First Brookfield, 1797     200    
Second Brookfield, 1823     109    
Third Brookfield, 1823     128    
De Ruyter, 1806     111    
Diana, 1846     18    
Hounsfield, 1841     65    
Lincklean, 1831     104    
Otselic, 1830     50    
Preston, 1806     81    
Richland, 1845     14    
Scott, 1820     176    
Truxton, 1824     51    
Watson, 1841     66    
First Verona, 1820     70    
Second Verona, 1837     31    
Berlin, 1784     272    
Petersburg, 1829     109    
WESTERN ASSOCIATION.
Amity, 1834     27    
First Alfred, 1816     437    
Second Alfred, 1831     249    
Clarence, 1828     77    
Friendship, 1824     155    
First Genesee, 1827     171    
Second Genesee, 1834     60    
Third Genesee, 1842     39    
Hartsville, 1847     54    
Hayfield, 1771     85    
Hebron, 1833     61    
Independence, 1834     118    
Pendleton, 1844     20    
Persia, 1832     59    
Scio, 1834     40    
Ulysses, 1845     17    
Wirt, 1827     34    
SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION.
First Hughes River, Va., 1833     12    
Second Hughes River, Va., 1840     7    
New Salem, Va., 1745     71    
Lost Creek, Va., 1805     68    
Jackson, Ohio, 1843     40    
Northampton, Ohio, 1837     20    
Port Jefferson, Ohio, 1840     31    
Sciota, Ohio, 1842     20    
Stokes, Ohio, 1842     22    
Pike, Ohio, 1824     30    
Madison, Ia., 1843     12    
Woodbridgetown, Pa., 1780     4    
NORTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION.
Albion, Wis., 1843     90    
Milton, Wis., 1838     112    
Walworth, Wis., 1849     21    
Fredonia, Ia., 1842     9    
Farmington, Ill., 1849     16    

In dating the organization of the churches, I have had recourse to Clarke's History, and to the old Conference Minutes; between which and the minutes for 1849, I discovered some discrepancies. Should the reader wish to institute a comparison between my work and other documents, he will please refer to these sources, by which, for several reasons, I consider it safest to be guided.

Besides these churches, there are many scattered families of Sabbath-keepers in different parts of the Union. The Rev. Isaac P. Labagh, a minister of eminent ability and attainment, in connexion with the Episcopal Church in New York, is an observer of the Sabbath.

CONCLUSION.

It may be observed, in conclusion, that these churches exhibit nothing peculiar in their forms of worship. Psalmody is universally practised, and the science of vocal music is cultivated in all the older churches.

Previous to 1822, Rippon's Collection of Hymns was generally used. About that time a new collection, designed particularly for this denomination, was made and published by a committee appointed for that purpose by the General Conference. Recently that collection has been superseded by another, which is in present use.

Sabbath schools and Bible classes have been instituted, and generally receive attention in all the churches; and the same may be said of conference and prayer meetings.

There are also tract and missionary societies within the bosoms of the different fraternities, whose officers constitute the board for the transaction of business.

[36]   It is questionable, however, whether Mr. Jones will be an addition to our society or not, since he appears to be a man of inferior abilities and attainments, and one disposed to meddle with subjects above his capacity or information.

[37]   In the autumn of 1850 Elder Rogers was removed by death.

[38]   The large and respectable families of the Swinneys, Tomlinsons, and Thomases, were among the earliest members of the Shiloh Church.

[39]   Since the above was written, this church has been visited by a most extraordinary and afflictive dispensation of Providence. Elder Crandall, supposed to be labouring under a temporary fit of insanity, put a period to his existence by suspending himself from a beam in his barn, in September, 1850.

[40]   Since writing the above, I have been verbally informed that Elder Joel Green was called to preside over the church at Hounsfield, as colleague to Elder William Green, to the great dissatisfaction of the latter, and in consequence of which, such a great difficulty arose, that the ministrations of both were suspended,—but I will not vouch for the accuracy of this statement.

[41]   For all the incidents relating to the early history of this organization, I am indebted to Rev. John Davis, of Shiloh.

[42]   One of these fathers, who was considered no mean preacher in his day, and who was instrumental, not only in organizing, but in supporting and bringing to maturity an infant church, used to remark that he desired no better time for studying a sermon than when following the plough.