Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger: Fourth EditionHolland, E. G. (Elihu Goodwin)
History
Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger: Fourth Edition
Holland, E. G. (Elihu Goodwin)
Badger, Joseph, 1792-1852
As his own congregation was now established on a good foundation,
numbering upwards of a hundred members, he began to think of devoting
his labors one half of the time to the churches generally, to raise in
them a higher tone of religious feeling. In the winter of 1842 he
visited Yates County, preached thirty-one sermons in the village of
Dundee to large assemblies. His sermon on temperance raised one hundred
and four signers to the pledge; his personal visits to the
liquor-sellers took every drop from their stores, so that none of it
could be bought. His sermon on profane swearing changed the tone of
language among young men, and gave rise among them to an association
whose object was the cultivation of a pure speech. Being unable this
year to comply with the invitation of his brethren in Michigan to attend
their Conference, he addressed them a letter, in which he offered the
counsels he supposed adapted to their condition in a new country, among
which was the idea, that if they would prosper as a people, they should,
in building chapels, be careful to select the best locations, to build
in thriving villages and in cities; for he pleaded that a village,
however small or wicked it might be, is a far better location than can
be gained a mile or so distant, inasmuch as it is sure to finally
centralize the interest of the surrounding region.
In the fall of 1842, Mr. Badger resigned his pastoral care of the church
at Honeoye Falls, that he might travel among the churches, and be free
to attend the many calls for ordination, dedication, and other services
that were made upon his time and labor from abroad. This separation was
in the kindest feeling, and on the part of the society was accompanied
by a commendatory letter that expressed the highest regard for his
services and character, a regard based on an acquaintance of twenty five
years. The society, with the counsel and approval of their former
pastor, engaged the labors of Rev. Oliver Barr, whose tragical death in
the late railroad disaster at Norwalk, May 6th, 1853, has given occasion
to many expressions of appreciation and sympathy. Under the labors of
Mr. Badger, this society stood on a solid basis of prosperity and union;
all in all, their position was stronger and their influence sounder
under his pastoral care than they ever have been since they were
organized as a church. Mr. Badger is again free to obey the
miscellaneous calls of his brethren and of the community in general,
December 7th, he attended the dedication of the church at Shelby; the
8th, he preached the ordination sermon of Chester Covel, and for several
weeks continued meetings with success. He valued this revival, because
its subjects were persons of character, talent and influence, "who would
do honor to any cause," and because they embraced Christianity
understandingly, and not from excitement and fear. "Where men are
frightened, abused and stormed into sectarian measures," said Mr. B.,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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