On May 13, 1805, in the waters of the Benjamin River, Merrill, his wife and sixty-three of their number were baptized
Thomas E Kresal
May 21, 2020
Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives
One month later, February 28, 1805, the church voted unanimously to become a Baptist church. They requested the services of their brethren to assist them in the endeavor. Accordingly, in compliance with their request, a delegation of Baptist pastors assembled at Sedgwick. On May 13, 1805, in the waters of the Benjamin River, Merrill, his wife and sixty-three of their number were baptized by Thomas Baldwin of Boston and Elisha Williams of Beverly, Massachusetts. The next day, twenty-three more were baptized and the First Baptist Church of Sedgwick was officially constituted.
The church continued to grow and remained among the largest churches in Maine for many years. The labors of Merrill also increased. In addition to pastoring, he travelled extensively as an evangelist and continued to teach students in his home. Merrill served in the Massachusetts state legislature of 1812 and 1813.
Thomas E. Kresal from: Excerpts from the Autobiography of Pastor Daniel Merrill, 1765-1833 and Memes provided by Shiloh Baptist Church of Gwinn, MI
Recent Comments