The churches embraced in this Association, are situated on what was
formerly considered missionary ground, although some of them are at
present among the most efficient bodies in the denomination. The
principal ornament of this section is the Alfred Academy, a very
flourishing literary institution, of a high classical character. It
appears to have originated from a High School, and went into operation
two or three years previous to the De Ruyter Institute.
FIRST SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH ALFRED, ALLEGHANY COUNTY, NEW YORK.
This church was originally composed of emigrants from the Rhode Island
and New Jersey fraternities, and was constituted in 1816. The region at
that time was extremely destitute, and these pioneers of our faith were
required to undergo many hardships, and experience great deprivations in
the prosecution of their schemes. Generally their means were moderate,
and their worldly advantages limited; but they were zealous for the
truth and rich in faith. They found a wilderness, here and there broken
by the hand of man: they left smiling fields and growing villages. They
found penury and destitution: they left wealth and plenty. They found a
region where the songs of David were not repeated, where the Sabbath was
not observed: they left flourishing schools and churches. Did they live
in vain?
Rev. Amos Satterlee was installed as pastor of the Alfred Church in
1820, which station he filled with great acceptance for several years.
His successors, Daniel Babcock and Richard Hull, were ordained in 1824,
and remained with this church about fifteen years, when they removed to
other fields.
Rev. James R. Irish became their pastor in 1837, in which relation he
continued until 1846.
During the ministry of these brethren, the church has been blessed at
intervals with many precious revivals; and it appears to have been from
the first in a sound and healthy condition.
Rev. Hiram Cromwell, his successor, remained for only a short period,
and was succeeded by
Rev. N. V. Hull, the present incumbent.
Elder Hull is endowed with talents of the very highest order, and
perhaps no minister in the denomination is better qualified to shine in
a promiscuous assembly. His fine understanding, ready wit, and brilliant
imagination, are united to the most fascinating powers of oratory, a
demeanour of princely elegance, and the highest style of manly beauty.
His services either as a settled pastor, or visiting evangelist, have
been highly efficient in this region, and his preaching has been
attended with many powerful revivals.
SECOND SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, ALFRED, ALLEGHANY COUNTY, NEW YORK.
This church, a branch of the former, was organized in 1831, and Elder
Ray Green became its pastor. In 1835 Clarke Potter and N. V. Hull were
returned as licentiates in its connexion. In 1842, Amos Burdick was also
licensed, who continued to serve this church after the removal of Elder
Green, until 1844, when
Rev. James H. Cochran assumed the pastoral charge.
He was succeeded by Amos Burdick and P. C. Witter, the present
incumbents.
FIRST SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, GENESEE, NEW YORK.
This church was organized in 1827, and Henry P. Green served as
licentiate until 1835, when his ordination took place. Under his
ministry, which continued until 1847, the church received many
additions, and became a large and efficient body.
Rev. James Bailey, his successor, was installed in 1848.
SECOND SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, GENESEE, NEW YORK.
This church, a branch of the former, was organized in 1834, and was
served by Prentice C. Maine as licentiate, for some time. At present it
has no settled pastor, but is supplied with ministerial assistance by
travelling missionaries.
THIRD SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, GENESEE, NEW YORK.
This church, likewise a branch of the former, was organized in 1842, but
remained until 1843 without a settled pastor, when their spiritual
charge was assumed by L. D. Ayres, who remained until 1847.
Rev. H. P. Green, the present incumbent, was installed 1848.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, CLARENCE, ERIE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
This church was organized in 1828, although Sabbatarians had for some
time previous been among the inhabitants of the country, and maintained
worship upon their holy day. They remained for a long time without a
pastor, but, in 1838, Rev. Nathan V. Hull consented to settle among
them. In 1839, James H. Cochran was returned as licentiate, and
subsequently, in 1846, as pastor.
At present they have no settled minister.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK.
This community, like that of Alfred, dates back to an early period. It
originated, likewise, from an emigration of the members of older
churches. Between the years 1812 and 1820, many families in connexion
with the New Jersey fraternities removed to this place, and became the
pioneers of our faith in its then lonely regions. In 1824 a church was
constituted. Rev. John Green became its first pastor, in which relation
he continued until 1833, when
Rev. Walter B. Gillette succeeded him, and remained until 1842, when he
removed to another field.
Rev. Zuriel Campbell followed, who continued until 1845.
Rev. A. A. F. Randolph, his successor, had been for some time his
colleague.
Rev. B. F. Robbins, a man of deep piety and irreproachable character,
who embraced the Sabbath in 1845, is the present incumbent.
A short time since Elder John Green visited this place, and his
presence, as usual, was attended with a gracious revival.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, HARTSVILLE, ALLEGHANY COUNTY, NEW YORK.
This infant community, a branch of the Alfred Church, was organized in
1847.
Rev. Hiram Cornwell is its present pastor.
It gives a cheering promise of future efficiency and usefulness.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, HAYFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.
This church is the oldest one in this Association, and originated from
the Keithian Seventh-day Baptists, who, in 1770, resided in the
neighbourhood of Philadelphia. About this time it appears that Rev.
James Dunn, with several families of Sabbatarians, removed to this
place, where he instituted meetings and organized a church, over which
he assumed the pastoral relation. Elder Dunn lived to be very old, but
sometime previous to his decease, his reason failed, and he became
partially insane. This misfortune, combined with other disadvantages,
brought the church into a state of deep depression. In 1821, Rev. John
Davis, of Shiloh, made them a visit, and by their unanimous request
ordained Isaac Davis to the work of the ministry. Subsequently, however,
the church remained in very low circumstances, and in 1829, at which
time it was admitted into the General Conference, it only numbered
twenty-four members, and was without a settled pastor.[41] Beside the
occasional visits of missionaries, it remained thus destitute until
1836, when
Rev. Job Tyler removed into that region and assumed the pastoral charge.
Rev. Thomas B. Brown, his colleague in 1840 and 1841, and subsequently
his successor, was installed in 1842, and continued until 1844.
Morris Cole succeeded him as licentiate, in which relation he served the
church until 1846, when
Rev. A. A. F. Randolph, the present incumbent, was installed.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, INDEPENDENCE, NEW YORK.
This church was organized in 1834, with very auspicious prospects, and
Rev. Stillman Coon became its pastor, in which relation he continued
until 1842, when, being transferred to another field, the church was
served by Decatur M. Clarke, as licentiate, for two or three years.
Rev. Sherman S. Griswold, assumed the parochial charge in 1845, and
continued two years.
Rev. T. Babcock, the present pastor, was installed in 1848.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, WIRT, ALLEGHANY COUNTY, NEW YORK.
At a very early period in the history of this district, Sabbath-keepers
were found among its inhabitants, chiefly emigrants from the older
settlements, but they were not gathered and arranged into a church until
1827. Subsequent to that period they remained in low and depressed
circumstances, which may be chiefly attributed to their want of the
services of a settled pastor. Recently, however, they have been mostly
supplied with ministerial assistance by
Rev. James L. Scott, until 1845, when they engaged the services of
Rev. Zuriel Campbell for one year; who was succeeded by Rev. Thomas E.
Babcock.
C. T. Champlin, the present incumbent, is a licentiate.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, SCIO, ALLEGHANY COUNTY, NEW YORK.
This church was organized in 1834, but remained for a long time without
many additions, or the services of a settled pastor.
Rev. Ray Green assumed the parochial charge in 1845, and continued until
1847.
Rev. Rowse Babcock, the present incumbent, was installed in 1848.
In reviewing the progress of Sabbatarianism within the bounds of this
Association, we find abundant reasons for encouragement. An interest
hitherto unprecedented in the modern history of the Sabbath-keepers, has
been awakened. Many have embraced the truth in opposition to the popular
sentiments of the day, among whom are several ministers of eminent
talent and piety, who may be reckoned as pillars in the cause of God.
The number of churches has proportionately increased, but it must be
confessed that many of them are infant bodies, utterly unable to support
the pastor whose services they require, and without whose presence they
can never rise to any degree of strength and usefulness. They want such
pastors as the Hopkinton, the Berlin, the Piscataway, and the Shiloh
Churches possessed during the first century of their existence. Men who
could preach the truth for its own sake, who could share with and for
their brethren—live as they did—dress as they did—and even work as they
did.[42] Under such plain but substantial guidance, these churches all
rose to great spiritual strength and permanence. Whatever honour belongs
to him who is instrumental in gathering and organizing a church, much
more is justly due to the one, who, at the expense of personal
sacrifices and temporal inconveniences, adopts the spiritual infant,
administers to its necessities, leads it through the green pastures and
by the still waters of the heavenly pilgrimage, and finally brings it to
such a degree of maturity that it is able to go alone. It is a
lamentable fact, that some of these churches for the want of such
leaders are even now threatened with extinction. Upon whom in such cases
must the delinquency rest?