Chapter V The Young Philander Continued So far as this change affected young Philander, who was then in his ninetieth year and who, as the result of his newly acquired knowledge of the Prayer Book, had become ardently desirous of entering the ministry when qualified, the question who had the divine right and authority to ordain him, thereby giving him apostolic commission to preach and administer the Sacraments, became to him a matter of great consequence. At this early period (1793-94) there were two clergymen of the Church who at rare intervals visited Bethel (Vermont) and Cornish (New Hampshire), one of whom was the Rev. J. C. Ogden, a man of talent and able to preach well. He must have taken much interest in the promising young student at Dartmouth, for he visited him in his room, and by his ardent words and cheerful, self-denying zeal greatly impressed the heart of the growing boy. Books in those days were worth their weight in gold. An English book, written by Jones of Nayland, had been published in England and somehow a few copies had been brought to Vermont. It was an essay on the Church of England, I assume), and the Rev. Mr. Ogden was so desirous of bringing this subject before his people that he determined to re-publish in this country. He had saved a little money with which to buy an overcoat, so much needed in that cold climate, but he could pay the printer with this money and "turn his old overcoat to keep himself decent." The printer agreed to publish this little essay, but for the money given, could only print it in 16mo (?), making a "short, thick, square" volume; but it "told what the world is, what the Church of God is, how to find the latter, and how to know the nature of the other." ......... Another clergyman was the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden, brother of the Governor of Vermont at that time. Hearing that there were a few churchmen in Bethel, Vermont, and in Cornish, New Hampshire, he came over the Green Mountains to visit these few scattered members of the fold. It was no easy journey to cross the Green Mountains then; the distance was not great from Rutland, in Vermont to Bethel, but the dark mountain track was all the way literally a howling wilderness, inhabited in its bleak and lonely fastnesses only by bears and wolves. At this time young Philander taught school in Bethel, when it was possible to leave his studies at Dartmouth, and also acted as lay -reader in Bethel and Cornish. The arrival of the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden at either place was a Godsend to these earnest people. ........ Bishop Chase says in a lettter to Bishop Hopkins almost fifty years after: "It was from this man that I received my first Communion,........ "The poverty and humble clothing of this Ambassador of Christ in no way derogated from the authority he had received....." In the "Reminiscences" is there further proof of the youth's feelings upon this, to him and his family, the most important event of their lives: "Never will the impressions made by the solemnity of this divinely appointed means of grace be obliterated from my mind." It added to his joy and comfort that his father and mother, his uncle, his sisters and brothers, and other relatives were kneeling at his side, and although many of them had been Congregationalist, yet they were one with him now in Christian love. From that day he seemed "strengthened and refreshed" to go on his way. By the advice of the clergy above named, he read prayers and printed sermon in Hatland and Bethel , Vermont, and in Cornish, New Hampshire. He says further: "the conformists to the Church in all three places were considerable in number, particularly in Bethel, thus laying the foundation of what was for many years the largest parish in the diocese." These efforts to build up the primitive Church of God were made when the young man was a student, and principally in time of vacation and when visiting his friends on Sundays. He was graduated from Dartmouth with the degree of A.B., 1795 End Chapter V Harriet M. Chase hatchase@uswest.net