278
��FREEWILL BAPTISTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
��commencing a new Denomination. But so it proved. He simply thought to have a church in which those holding to the doctrine of a general atonement, and as a result free grace, might live, enjoy themselves and be useful. But a little matter kindled a great fire. The begin- ning was small, but its latter end was g reatly increased. The vine planted at New Durham spread first into Maine, next into Vermont and Massachusetts, and later into various sections of the West, and now is being carried into the South, as well as far off India. It now numbers 1343 churches, 1188 ordained ministers, 114 licentiates, and 75,326 members.
Elder Randall lived twenty-three years after the church at New Durham was formed, and had charge of the same. But he was abroad much, preaching, or- ganizing churches and attending Quarter- ly and Yearly Meetings. Somewhat ex- tended tours were made to Maine, one to Vermont, and one or more to Massachu- setts. Various sections of New Hamp- shire were often visited. His ministerial life was one of great activity and labori- ous effort to do good.
He possessed good powers of mind, but his education was only such as in his early years was obtained in the common schools. He had but few books while in the ministry, but he studied the Bible with great attention. He searched for the truths and doctrine it taught, and then proclaimed them with great earnest- ness. Hestudiedman, and was acquaint- ed with the mazes of the human mind. One of his sermons was printed. From this and the testimony of some living a few years ago, who knew him, it is evi- dent he evinced great devotion, impress- ed those who heard him with his sincer- ity; was a strong reasoner, and often when warm with his subject, his lan- guage was not only accurate and forci- ble, but in reality elegant, for naturally corretness as well as eloquence is the re- sult of clear thought and earnest feeling. He died at his residence, a little to the south-east of New Durham Ridge, Octo- ber 22, 1808, aged fifty-nine years, seven months, and twenty-seven days.
It has been seen that the church in New
��Durham, a few months after its organiza- tion, consisted of twenty-seven members. It should be stated that there was a Bap- tist church in Barrington, (the part now Strafford), and one in Loudou and Can- terbury, that in 1779 had declared inde- pendence of that denomination, having rejected Calvinism. Both would unques- tionably have been in harmony with El- der Randall and the New Durham church, but not long after 1780, they went largely into Shakerism, and were broken up. In a few years that senti- ment died out so that in Barrington a Freewill Baptist church was constituted, and later one in Canterbury.
It remains to give a list of the early churches of this sect in the State, quite a portion of them organized by Elder Randall. Also the names of prominent early ministers. The churches may be mentioned as follows :
Tamworth, 1781 ; Barrington, above the Blue Hills, (now in Strafford), 1781 ; 2, Barrington (now Crown Point in Straf- ford), 1783; Middleton, 1791; Pittsfield, 1791; Wolfeborough, 1792; Gilmanton, (at the Iron Works,) 1794; Canterbury, 1795. These formed within fifteen yeras after the first in New Durham, have gen- erally flourished. Before the last centu- ry closed, and soon after the commence- ment of the present, churches increased more rapidly. They were in Notting- ham, Deerfield, Barnstead, Alton, New Hampton, Andover, Weare, Sandwich, and many other towns. And it should be observed, that only New Hampshire is being spoken of. In all this time churches were becoming numerous in Maine.
Of early ministers born in the State, and a few others whose minority was mostly here, were the following : John Buzzell, a native of Barrington, pastor in Middleton, then being in Parsonsfield, Me. ; Aaron Buzzell, native of Barring- ton, preached in Gilmanton, then settled in Strafford, Vt. ; Hezekiah D. Buzzell, a native of Alton, preached in Gilmanton, Weare and Alton ; Josiah Shepard, born in Gilmanton, and died there. David Knowlton, born in Seabrook, preached in Pittsfield ; Ebenezer Knowlton, his son, preached in Pittsfield and Montville, Me. ;
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