The
125th ANNIVERSARY
of the
LINCOLN BAPTIST CHURCH

Town of Walworth, Wayne County, New York

August 2nd and 3rd, 1941

This booklet was issued by the church as a souvenir of its 125th anniversary in 1941. In addition to the historical contents transcribed below, it also contains religious poetry, and the programs for the Sunday Aug. 3 worship service and vespers. Editor's notes were written in 1941 by Mrs. Wilbur Leaty.

HISTORY

(Editor's Note: The following Historical Sketch was read by J.H. Andrew at the Centennial Commemorative Service on November 19, 1916.)

"We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a dial." Measured by achievements, the past century undoubtedly outweighs some previous periods of a thousand years. It is easy to speak of a century's passing with very little thought of what the words imply. In 1816 nearly all this region was covered with dense forests. Here & there were small cleared areas with little log cabins among the stumps. All was new. It was only 17 years before that the first white man had made settlement in the present limits of the town of Walworth; the first settlement in Wayne County, at Lyons, was only 10 years earlier. The first settlers rowed their light skiffs up the Mohawk River, portaged them across Oneida Lake, and poled them up Mud Creek. Sodus Point and Pultneyville were important lake points. In 1816 there was no city of Rochester, only a straggling village about the mills by the falls. The largest town in this vicinity was Canandaigua.

The war of 1812 had only just closed, a war that came very near these hardy pioneers. I remember hearing my grandfather tell of the excitement in this community as all day long they listened to the roar of British cannon bombarding the port of Pultneyville. He rushed to Canandaigua to enlist, leaving home in such haste that he forgot his coat.

There were no good roads in those days. Many of them were mere forest trails marked by blazed trees. It was not until 1825 that the opening of the Erie Canal furnished easy, and, as they thought, swift transportation to the old homes back east. In 1830 a railroad was opened between Rochester and Canandaigua, which was later extended farther east, but there was no railroad in Wayne county until 1853.

One hundred years ago this locality was a part of the town of Ontario in Ontario county, for there was no Wayne county until 1823, and it was in 1829 that Walworth was formed from the southern part of the town of Ontario.

With these facts to stimulate our imaginations, we may better understand the situation when, about 1815, Rev. Thomas Lewis of Maine felt called to go as a missionary to preach the gospel to the new settlers in the far West, and measured by time and difficulties, western New York was then farther from Maine than China is today. He traveled slowly, preaching at various points along the way. A few families in this vicinity had come from Massachusetts to get away from churches and preachers, but many of the people received him gladly, and soon the entire community was deeply stirred. Most of the converts united with churches already established in adjoining towns, but sometime in the month of November, 1816, eight persons joined Elder Lewis in founding a new church, agreeing to take the word of God as their only rule of faith and practice.

The names of the eight charter members of this church seem worthy of mention. They were: David Salisbury, Ephraim Holbrook, Mrs. Louise Robins, Sarah Lyon, James Andrew, Joseph Strickland, and Mrs. Pamela Strickland. James Andrews continued a member of the church for more than fifty years and Joseph Strickland for nearly as long. Joseph Strickland became the first deacon of the church and was the only deacon until in his old age he became too feeble to officiate, when his nephew, Nelson F. Strickland, and Isaac Camburn were chosen to assist him. Compared with his many years of service, the life of Pamela Strickland, the wife of his brother Samuel, presents a striking contrast. She died barely a year after the founding of the church, but perhaps her influence upon later years was as great as his, for in that year she saw the conversion of her husband, Samuel Strickland who outlived his brother Joseph, and in that year also occured the birth of her son, Nelson F. Strickland, who through combined earnestness and ability during many active years, perhaps contributed more to the success of the church than any other lay member in its history.

During that first year, too, they lost their pastor. Elder Lewis went to Maine on business in the summer of 1817, and, becoming engaged in evangelistic work there, he did not return as he had intended. Before he left them, however, the eight members had increased to nineteen.

After the departure of Elder Lewis the little church came for a time under the care of Elder Nathaniel Ketchum, a circuit preacher. He made an appointment to visit them once a month, but sometimes he sent a substitute, and in the winter they often met without a preacher, yet they prospered and increased in number. Elder Ketchum saw their need of association with other churches, and through his advice they came into the Bethany Quarterly Meeting, the first organization of Free Baptist churches in the state. A session of that body was held with this church in January, 1822. Such gatherings were great events, but were difficult to provide for. They had no church building and the little log cabins were far too small. Many times they were held in the roomy, old fashioned barns. At least two barns that were used for that purpose still remain, those now owned by Charles Dadswell (Ed. Note: George Brown's place now) and George Albright. A session of the Holland Purchase Yearly Meeting was held in the Albright barn in August, 1826.

Elder Ketchum served the church for about two years, and then was succeeded by Elder Josiah Fowler, who continued with the church about four years. Then for two years they were entirely without pastoral care, yet they maintained their services and increased their number.

It was plain that the church needed a settled pastor, and so they called to that work their faithful clerk, David Lyon, and he was ordained by a council of the quarterly meeting in November, 1824. His pastorate of nearly eighteen years was the longest in the history of the church and one of the most important. In those days pastors received little or no support from their churches -- they worked as everyone else and gave to their churches such time and energy as they could spare. Elder Lyon was a tenant farmer, working different farms in this community, and in 1831, when he had served the church as pastor for nearly seven years, it seems to have been thought a startling innovation when a special meeting was called to consider the advisability of circulating a subscription paper for his benefit. The next year they did even better and voted to try to raise for him during the coming year a salary of one hundred dollars. It is pleasant to recall that in later times the church was not entirely unmindful of his long service so poorly rewarded. Some of us remember when collections were taken regularly for the benefit of his widow in her old age.

Elder Lyon's pastorate was a period of great activity. A feature which seems peculiar to us in these days was the organization of branch churches among members who lived too far away for convenient regular attendance at the services of the mother church. Three such branches are mentioned in the records of this period. The first of these, known as the Penfield & Perinton branch, was organized in 1824 with four members, but is so prospered that it had 45 members in 1830, when it was set off as a separate church. A session of the quarterly meeting was held with the new church at that time, and that seems to have been the beginning of the present East Penfield Church. Another branch, known as the East Branch in Ontario was organized in 1826 in the vicinity of the iron furnace. A third branch known as the West Branch in Ontario was organized with fourteen members in 1832 and a year later the East Branch in Ontario was set off as a separate church, but as to its subsequent history I have no information.

On November 26, 1832 a special meeting was held in a schoolhouse to bring about the legal incorporation of the church under the name of "The First Freewill Baptist Church in Walworth" and soon after they began planning for their great undertaking, the erection of a house of worship. Massive blocks of limestone were quarried from the neighboring ledges, and the patient oxen dragged them to the summit of a commanding hill. Slowly the walls went up and it was a proud day for the community when it was finished. It was a large building for those days, with broad galleries on three sides. It was at first surmounted by a steeple, but this was taken down after some years. A very high pulpit was later removed to make way for a more modern one. A session of the quarterly meeting was held at its opening, and on the 18th of January, 1835, Rev. D.M. L. Rollin preached the dedication sermon. The spiritual interest was so great that the quarterly meeting session was prolonged several days as a revival service.

Daniel Lyon passed into the better life on September 26, 1842, and Rev. Thomas Parker preached his funeral sermon from the text, "Lord, help, for the godly man ceatheth," His pastorate was the longest in the history of the church, and his death at the early age of forty-seven was a great loss to the cause.

The story of the next five years is a sad one. The anti-slavery agitation was at its height, and the question being both moral and political, some objected to its discussion in the church. There was also a bitter dispute over the invitation to the communion.

But a brighter day dawned in 1847 with the coming of Rev. D.G. Holmes. Mr. Holmes was a man of great tact, eminently qualified to act as a peacemaker. The disaffected ones were soon brought back and harmony was restored. As a New England man of education and refinement, he was able to bring a new element into the life of the church. He gave the young people thorough training in music, and inspired them with a desire for higher education. Mr. Holmes resigned in 1858 to become the pastor of the Fairport Church, and afterward preached for many years in the West.

The church life ebbed again after Mr. Holmes departed, and the records are scanty and incomplete. Among the several pastors of that period, the most prominent figure is that of Rev. H.S. Limbocker, a man of gigantic stature, stern of manner, rugged and energetic, a man like one of the Old Testament prophets. He was pastor for six years during the Civil War, and later returned for two more years. He was a forceful speaker and a tireless worker, and during his stay more than fifty were added to the church.

In 1867 the church purchased the property now occupied by Jesse Daansen, which was used as a parsonage until the present parsonage was built.

From 1872 to 1876 the church was again without a pastor. During most of that period the pulpit was supplied by Rev. William Taylor of Rochester, and much assistance was given by Rev. C.B. Hart, then pastor of East Penfield church.

The church at that time was facing a very difficult problem. Death and removals had made many changes in the community. The church had few supporters in its immediate vicinity, most of them lived nearer Lincoln. It became more and more evident that the church must move, and, after several years of planning and preparation, in 1876 the change was made. Samuel Strickland in his old age gave five hundred dollars to move the church from his door to a place which he could seldom visit, three miles away. A session of the quarterly meeting was held here on the completion of the building, and on the 21st of December, 1876, Rev. George H. Ball preached the dedication sermon. The old church, thus abandoned, was once afterward used, in July of the following year, for the funeral service of James Andrew, a charter member of the church. The pastor at the time of the move was Rev. J.B. Randall. Mr. Randall remained two years.

The church was then served for one year by Rev. J.M. Crandall. In the spring of 1879 he was succeeded by Rev. C.B. Hart, who had become deeply interested in the church during his stay in East Penfield. Early in his pastorate and largely through his efforts a bell was purchased and placed in the hitherto silent belfry. The year 1880 saw the sale of the old parsonage property and the building of the new parsonage beside the church. Revival services with very encouraging results marked the earlier months of the years 1880, 1886, & 1889. Mr. Hart closed his pastorate of eleven years in 1890. Following Mr. Hart, Rev. G.B. Hopkins served as pastor for three years, and then Rev. A.B. Loomis for five years from 1893 to 1898. In spit of the efforts of earnest pastors, the church during this period showed alarming signs of weakness. Death and removals had again thinned the ranks and the few and faithful workers were becoming discouraged, when, early in 1898, the power of God was manifested as perhaps never before in this church or this community. Mr. Loomis was a man of faith and prayer and he had labored long and earnestly in preparation for such an outpouring. Special services began in January with the week of prayer and continued over two months. There were some occasions which will never be forgotten by those who were present. Among them were three baptismal services, of 47 persons at East Penfield on February 12, of 34 at the same place on March 5, and of 24 at Fruitland on June 23. The whole community was deeply stirred. Mr. Loomis was assisted in these meetings by Rev. James E. Wallace, pastor of the Methodist church and Rev. Marie McLatchy, pastor of East Penfield, as well as Rev. Carrie H. Price, who became pastor and labored for six years earnestly and efficiently, forgetful of either her convenience or her health. The session room was added to the building in 1899 under her guidance.

Mrs. Price was followed by Mr. C. Persons who served for three years, and then by Mr. W.S. Holland. Mr. Holland after a years service was succeeded by Rev. M.C. Campbell who did so much for the church in the five years of his pastorate. Mr. Campbell was the pastor who brought the church into the Wayne Baptist Association; he was our pastor during the midsummer revival of 1911, and his was the guiding hand in the construction of the social hall in the basement of the church. Rev. Campbell's consecrated young life, which to us seemed to hold so much of promise, was cut short by illness which resulted in his death Feb. 7, 1917. His name lives on at Lincoln, however, in the Campbell Class of the Sunday School.

(Editor's note: Parts of the above paper have been edited from place to place for the sake of brevity. Mrs. Wilbur Leaty rounds out our history of the church with the following contribution which covers the last 25 years.)

The past 25 years of church history have been marked by material progress which the church has made as it tried to keep up with the times. These years have seen the church change from the use of kerosene lamps to the use of acetylene gas, and from the use of acetylene gas to the use of a Delco electric plant. These years also witnessed the passing of the horse and buggy and the removal in the early '20's of the old horse shed in the back of the church.

In 1924 electric power lines were strung to the village and the church was faced with an expensive installation program. But under the leadership of the trustees and Mr. George Haynes, the pastor, the work was done and almost all of the $1350 needed for the job raised. Seven years later, in 1931 during the last few months of the pastorate of Mr. Carl Winters, the church undertook an extensive remodelling program which cost almost a thousand dollars. First the church was painted outside, then a new ceiling and floor was installed and curtains hung in the sanctuary. About the same time the furnace which had been installed only a few years before in the church was moved to the parsonage and a new larger furnace placed in the church. During this period, the women's classes paid for the installation of hard wood floors in the front and living rooms of the parsonage.

During the pastorate of Mr. Fred Erion it was discovered that the old church constitution had been lost, so a new one was drawn up and adopted by the church in February, 1933. In 1938, before the coming of Mr. Clifford Hansen, almost $200 was spent on redecorating the parsonage inside and out.

Mr. Campbell and Mr. Clayton, pastors before the First World War, were the first student ministers of the church. Following them, Rev. R.M. Cloud served the church full-time for five years and then Mr. Otis Wheeler for part time the next two years. With the calling of Mr. Haynes in 1923 the church turned again to student pastors, and except for two different occasions when one of its members, Rev. L.B. Newill, acted as interim pastor, students of what is now Colgate-Rochester Divinity School have served the church. Many of these students have gone out into much larger fields of service, which has been a source of much satisfaction to the folks at Lincoln.

The past 25 years have also witnessed a gain in the resident membership of the church of almost one-third. In 1916 there were 89 resident members, today there are 123.

Mrs. Robert Morris can claim membership in the church for the longest period of time. She was received into the fellowship of the church 62 years ago last May 24 by baptism. Mr. Norman Fosdick has been a member just one year less than Mrs. Morris, joining the church by baptism May 20, 1880. It is our fervent prayer that the year just ahead will witness as great and continued progress at Lincoln Baptist Church as these two oldest members have seen in the years just passed.

PASTORS OF THE CHURCH

Early Workers:
Thomas Lewis..........1816-17
Nathaniel Ketchum..........1817-18
Josiah Fowler..........1818-22

Resident Pastors:
Daniel Lyon..........1824-42
William Youngs..........1843-45
H.W. Horton..........1845-47
D.G. Holmes..........1847-58
H. Belden..........1858-59
H.S. Limbocker..........1859-65
A.W. Hendrick..........1865-66
L.J. Madden..........1866-68
H.S. Limbocker..........1868-70
A.W. Westgate..........1870-72
(Without pastor, supplies, four years.)
J.B. Randall..........1876-78
j.M. Crandall..........1878-79
C.B. Hart..........1879-90
G.B. Hopkins..........1890-93
A.B. Loomis..........1893-98
C.H. Price..........1898-04
C.V. Parsons..........1904-07
W.S. Holland..........1907-08
M.C. Campbell..........1909-14
E.E. Clayton..........1914-16
R.M. Cloud..........1916-21
Otis Wheeler..........1921-23
L.B. Newill (interim)..........1923
George Haynes..........1923-25
Albert Gordonier..........1925-28
Carl Winters..........1928-31
Fred Erion..........1931-34
Clarence Gilbert..........1935-38
L.B. Newill (interim).......... 1938
Clifford Hansen..........1938-40
Gordon Gilbert (interim)..........1941
Tracy Greer Gipson..........1941-

CLERKS OF THE CHURCH

Daniel Lyon..........1817
Jared Cady..........1820
Daniel Lyon..........1822
Henry Dunwalk..........1823
SAmuel Strickland..........1826
Hezekiah Hill..........1835
Riley Hill..........1848
Francis Hil..........1854
Joseph Peacock..........1859
James Newhall..........1869
Joseph Peacock..........1873
Nelson F. Strickland..........1875
Joseph Peacock..........1885
Emma S. Rogers..........1886
J.R. Newhall..........1888
O.S. Bancroft..........1891
J.H. Andrew..........1899
Emma M. Andrew..........1907
Frances Morris..........1913
Effie M. Leaty..........1914
Esther Parker..........1940

OFFICERS

Minister - Tracy Greer Gipson
Church Clerk - Mrs. Scott Parker
Financial Secretary - Mrs. Fred Dinse
Treasurer - Mrs. Ed Newman
Missionary Treasurer - Mrs. George Read
Auditor - Mrs. Harry Crane
Deacons: Wilbur Leaty, Albert Dinse, Milton Vane, Douglass White
Deaconesses: Mrs. Albert Engert, Mrs. Frost
Trustees: Ellis Collier, Fred Dinse, Irving White
Ushers: Wilbur Leaty, Scott Parker
Pulpit Committee: L.B. Newill, Ethel Henning, Scott Parker
Collectors: Merle Dinse, Elwood Baker
Choir Director- Mrs. Arthur Brush
Pianist - Mrs. George Baker

CHURCH SCHOOL OFFICERS

Superintendant - Leigh Hill
Assistant Superintendant - Milton Vane
Secretary - Merle Dinse
Treasurer - Mrs. Milton Vane
Pres. Campbell Class - Mrs. George Reed
Pres. Philethea Class - Mrs. Milton Vane
Pres. Young Married Class - Mrs. W. Hershey
Principal, Children's Dept. - Jeanette Dinse

CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS

Campbell Class - Mrs. Murray Brion
Men's Brotherhood - L.B. Newill
Philethea Class - Mrs. Arthur Brush
Young Married Couples - Mrs. George Burrow
Young People - Tracy Greer Gipson
Children's Dept. - Buelah Swadling & Marie Newman

125th ANNIVERSARY & OLD HOME DAY COMMITTEE

General Chairman - Tracy Greer Gipson

Grounds: Messrs. Fred Dinse, Ellis Collier, Irving White, Frank Henning, M. Dinse

Program: Mr. Scott Parker, Mrs. Irving White, Mr. Wilbur Leaty, Mr. & Mrs. L.B. Newill

Publicity: Mr. Leigh Hill, Miss Ethel Henning, Mr. Tracy Gipson

Dinner Committees:

Planning & Cooking: Mesdames. Milton Vane, George Read, Frank Yakley, Irving White, Wilbur Leaty, Albert Engert, Wellington Hershey

Serving: Mesdames. Ed Newman, Frank Henning, Scott Parker, Mertle Church, Arthur Johncox, Harold Pugsley, George Burrow, Harry Crane, George Baker, Murray Brion, Anthony DeMalle, Vivian Church, & Elsie Church

Dishwashing: Mesdames. Ora Foote, Floyd Kier, Fred Brewster, Fred Dinse, Steve Swadling, Fred Bushwood, Arthur Brush

Decorating: Mrs. Emma Collier, Mrs. Ruth Baker

Officer of the Day: Scott Parker

Waitresses: Mesdames Anderson, Schumer, Poulter, Anthony & Wilsen Johncox; Misses Doris Church, Marie Crane, Jeanette Dinse, Marjorie White, Bessie Berbig, Clarice Berbig, Marie Newman, Evelyn Burrow, Buelah Swadling, June Swadling, Jean Collier, Anna Brion, Marie Brion, Irene Brion, & Elizabeth Yakley

Welcoming: Mr. & Mrs. Newill, Mrs. Frost

Stands: Messrs. Milton Vane, Fred Bushwood, Ronald Schumer

Sports: Elwood Baker, Merle Dinse, & Douglass White

Morning Worship: Messrs. Wilbur Leaty, Albert Dinse, Milton Vane & Scott Parker

Young People's Vespers: Bessie Berbig, Elizabeth Yakley, and Evelyn Burrow

Young People's Publicity: Marjorie White, and Marie Newman

Young People's Refreshments: Clarice Berbig, Darwin Read, Harold Fraser

As the site coordinators have no information about individuals, families, or events listed, we thank you in advance for directing ALL questions and requests for information to the Office of the County Historian.

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