24 Yearly Meetings-Attendance-Entertainment 1798

24 - YEARLY MEETING-ATTENDANCE-ENTERTAINMENT 1798 IN a former chapter mention was made of the fact that the sessions of Free Baptist assemblies of all kinds had large attendance. As time passed these assemblies became more and more centers of public interest, and their sessions had corresponding attendance. But we desire here to speak more especially of the New Hampshire Yearly Meeting.

During the early years this body held its regular sessions at New Durham. The time selected was that part of June when the forests had just put on their summer robes, and all nature was on its best behavior. After the enforced confinement of winter and the bustle of " spring work " were over, almost everybody in rural New Hampshire wanted to go somewhere. And, at the time of the Yearly Meeting, representatives of many parts of the State, and persons from beyond, aggregating hundreds, and in some cases thousands, set their faces toward New Durham. There were generally many from Portsmouth, and on one occasion six carriage-loads from Boston. At several sessions the Sunday congregations were estimated to be three thousand. Facts show that most of these pilgrims were actuated by higher motives than simply to enjoy a pleasant outing or to satisfy the cravings of an idle curiosity. An article by the author, published a few years ago, contains a paragraph which so completely fits conditions under description that the substance of it is here reproduced.

If we should theorize we might say that, as these meetings were held before railroad service, at a time when carriages were the luxury of the few and most country roads were crude, it is improbable that three thousand people should assemble on a high hill, remote from common centers, to attend a religious meeting. But here facts are more convincing than theories. Other religious bodies were busy expounding the decrees of God and making good on various lines of Christian work. Meanwhile, the great middle classes of New England were waking to the consciousness of a deep soul-hunger. As to no other body of Christians at that time, the Master was saying to his Free Baptist disciples, " Give ye them to eat." They obeyed the message, and the common people gladly received the Bread of Life at their hands, and were willing to make the necessary sacrifice to reach the assemblies where it was offered.

Another fact should here have consideration. Many had saddle-horses and some had carriages. Those thus provided could travel long distances with comparative ease. But those who had neither were accustomed to walk over space between them and the object of their interest, whatever that might be. So walking was not then regarded as the hardship that it has been since the general introduction of easier methods of travel. As to those who took long-distance walks to attend sessions of the New Hampshire Yearly Meeting, only a few can here have mention. A company of pious women in Kittery and vicinity were accustomed to make an annual pilgrimage on foot to these meetings. This was to them a journey of two days each way. Jonathan Woodman, when a youth of eighteen years, walked from Sutton, Vermont, to, Parsonsfield, Maine, to attend a Yearly Meeting. Mrs. Hannah Thorn several times walked from Lewiston to West-port, Maine, thirty-five miles each way, to attend a Yearly Meeting. Mrs. Joanna Home many times walked forty miles, from her home in Moultonboro, to attend sessions of the Yearly Meeting held in Dover. As the different processions of pilgrims joined each other at highway junctions, they would sometimes, as they neared the place of meeting, aggregate hundreds in line. The surrounding forests would echo with their songs of devotion. And the people no more needed hymn-books than did the birds that responded from the overhanging branches. But how could the people of the town accommodate so many? The largest assembly was on the Sabbath, and at the close of the afternoon service many would start homeward. Yet enough would remain to make it a question requiring no small labor and outlay to answer practically. Some would entertain forty; some, sixty; some, eighty, and even more. For lodging they would assign separate rooms to men and women. They would part their beds and bedding, spread it out on the floors, and then, soldierlike, they would lie down in long rows. Whoever could enjoy the luxury of a blanket between him and the boards might regard himself fortunate.

One New Durham man of considerable property, with a large house and a heart to match, was a regular host on Yearly Meeting occasions. In after years his wife would relate some of her experiences as hostess On such occasions, after furnishing her guests with every available article of softness in the house to lie upon, her only place for rest would be the bare floor of the attic. There she would seek a few hours’ repose, but at one or two o’clock in the morning she "would be astir again, preparing supplies for the table.

Now that we have heard the testimony of the hostess, the story of one of her guests may be of interest. A prominent minister of the denomination, then a young man recently converted, says: On reaching Yearly Meeting, I put up at Esquire Runnels’ with over one hundred others. When arrangements were made for the first night’s lodging, the floors were completely covered, leaving me to get all the sleep I could sitting upon a block in the chimney-corner. As to stillness, there wasn’t any. The house did not cease to echo with the voice of singing, prayer, or private conversation till morning called us to our new-day duties.

Enjoying for a while a similar entertainment the second night, I resorted to the dooryard where the wagons were, for lodgment in one of them. Putting my hand into the first, it fell on the face of a man in sound sleep; and so on to others. Despairing of success here, I returned to my block throne, to spend the remainder of the night as best I could. But the third night, going several miles out of the place, I found opportunity for repose. In providing for horses, the brethren would sometimes hire a large pasture nearby, and keep it unfed till meeting-time, when it would be ready to afford the animals very good fare. Some, after filling their own pastures, would turn horses into their mowing fields, to find them completely fed down when meeting closed. On all such occasions the house, barn, and fields of Mr. Randall were laid under tribute to the fullest extent of their capacity.

Thus the people of New Durham, all through these early years, contributed largely to the support and development of the Free Baptist cause. Inspired by the spirit and example of a leader wholly baptized into the work, they extended this hospitality freely, gladly, and "heartily, as to the Lord."