SECTION III.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS IN CONNECTICUT.
In the first settlement of this country, Baptists were persecuted by Pedobaptists, on account of their tenacity for believer's baptism; but all parties were united in oppressing and persecuting the Sabbatarians. Soon after the organization of the church at Newport, the sentiment, that the moral law was immutable and unchangeable, found advocates in New London, Connecticut, where the spirit of persecution was under less restraint than it was in Rhode Island. There is an old work, which was written by a Friend, and published in Baltimore in 1698, and which gives a very detailed and circumstantial account of the sufferings of the dissenting parties in New England. According to his statement, no less than ten Sabbatarians were mutilated, imprisoned, and subjected to barbarous and cruel scourgings by their Puritanical brethren. Of these, John Rodgers, a member of the church at Newport, but a resident in New London, was fined, imprisoned, and sentenced to sit a certain time upon the gallows with a rope about his neck. Another, named Philip Rodney, who was a Seventh-day Baptist in sentiments, although not a member of the church, was scourged, and then deprived of one of his ears. Sometimes their meetings would be disturbed and broken up by the lawless violence of a mob. At others they would be fined, imprisoned, and maltreated for pursuing any ordinary business or labour upon the first day of the week; and such was the opposition to them, in many places, that a man who religiously observed the Bible Sabbath, would much sooner be subjected to fines and imprisonments, than if he had acknowledged it to be the Sabbath. These hostilities against the observers of the seventh-day, occasioned a remonstrance, addressed to the Governor of New England, by Peter Chamberlain, Senior Doctor of both Universities, and first elect Physician in ordinary to His Majesty's person. This somewhat abated the rage of persecution, although the Sabbatarians were continually exposed to great inconveniences. It does not appear, however, that any sect was ever extirpated by persecution, particularly one that had the testimony of Scripture upon its side, and flourished in an age of general inquiry.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, BURLINGTON, CONNECTICUT.
The distinct organization of this church took place in 1750, and Elder John Davis, who had been ordained at Hopkinton, became their first pastor. The place was then called Farmington, West Britain. This church, while yet in its infancy, was considerably weakened by the loss and removal of several of its most influential members. Other difficulties arose of a peculiarly trying and painful character, and few, if any, additions were made to their numbers for more than ten years. But previous to the decease of Elder Davis, which occurred in 1792, they were blessed with a precious revival, and the church received several additions. In the character of Elder Davis, we discover few points that are brilliant or remarkable, but many that are lovely and amiable. It is said, that he pre-eminently exemplified the Christian duty of loving his neighbour. His entire life exhibited a series of actions illustrative of that virtue. The quiet placidity of his mien, his venerable and dignified countenance, were long remembered with enthusiastic veneration by the people of his charge. His glory was not of this world—his name has never been ranked with those of ecclesiastical dignitaries, scholars, or civilians; but it was set in the Lamb's Book of Life—it was known to angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect.
Rev. Amos Burdick succeeded him in the pastoral care of the church, in which station he continued until his death, in 1803. The church, under his ministry, enjoyed great prosperity and union. Rev. Amos Stillman, for some time his colleague, was his successor. Elder Stillman, though subject to many temporal embarrassments, was a preacher of considerable ability and unblemished character; he was universally esteemed. In the autumn of 1807, he visited the churches in New Jersey, where the Conference was being held, in which he presided and preached many times to great satisfaction. But on his return home, he caught the yellow fever, of which he died in 1807, in the forty-fifth year of his age. From the loss occasioned by the death of Elder Stillman, this church never recovered. A general declension in religious feeling almost immediately followed, and although meetings were regularly sustained a number of years, and the name occurs in the Conference minutes, it never after possessed that inestimable blessing, a stated pastor. From 1810, its decline was gradual but sure, and a few years since, it was publicly announced that the Sabbatarian church at Burlington had ceased to exist. Nevertheless, it must not be supposed that the Sabbatarians of this community apostatized from their ancient faith. Without a regular administration of gospel ordinances, there could be few, if any, additions to their numbers. Some of the old members were removed by death to that home where congregations never break up, and Sabbaths never end. Others have been the pioneers of Sabbatical sentiments, and the founders of new churches, in distant regions.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, AT WATERFORD, CONNECTICUT.
Soon after the organization of the Sabbatarian church at Newport, we find that John Rogers of New London, Connecticut, was fined and imprisoned, on account of his adherence to Sabbatical sentiments. Others were subsequently persecuted for the same cause; but they persisted in their adherence to the truth, and ultimately became the founders of a church at the place now called Waterford. The church was organized in 1784, and Rev. Davis Rogers became their first pastor. Their number was sixteen; but soon after, several families emigrated from Hopkinton and settled among them. In 1804, Elder Rogers resigned the pastoral care of the church, and removed to Preston, Chenango County. He was succeeded by Rev. Jabez Beebe, whose ordination took place in 1796, and whose ministry was very acceptable, though not of a long duration.
Rev. Lester Rogers, his successor, was distinguished for sobriety of mien, and although not calculated to shine as the preacher of a promiscuous assembly, was very useful and acceptable as a pastor of this church. He died in 1822.
Rev. Lester T. Rogers,[37] the present incumbent, was licensed to preach in 1822, and ordained in 1824. Rev. Benedict Wescott, for some time his colleague, was licensed in 1828, and ordained in 1831.