First Baptist Manlius

On September 19, 1869, Brother Melancthon Stilwell and the Trustees were appointed to call on Reverend J.W. Taggart for the purpose of ascertaining whether he would supply the pulpit for the remainder of the year or until April 1870. The Committee reported even better results, "that Elder Taggart would indeed supply the pulpit and take Pastoral charge of the Church." The Church then gave him a unanimous call to become their Pastor. Reverend Taggart was one of our older Pastors, when he came to serve the Church at the age of 64. On October 2, 1869, at a regular Church and Conference Meeting, Reverend Taggart and his wife, Harriet, were received as members from the First Baptist Church of Wheeling, West Virginia. A cordial and warm welcome was given them. Apparently, Reverend Taggart had forgiven us or forgotten that in 1833 we paid him $3.00/Sunday for supplying our pulpit when he asked for $4.00.

At the same Church Meeting and Conference, the members present resolved “hereafter we hold regular Church Meetings for business every alternate month, on the Saturday before the first Sabbath of the month, at which time all business matters related particularly to the Church shall be attended to. Also on every alternate month on the Saturday before the First Sabbath we will hold our regular Covenant Meeting for religious exercises only.” The new system was to start in November with a Covenant Meeting.

Joseph Wanton Taggart was born in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1805. He entered the Hamilton Seminary in 1828. He was called to the Fayetteville Baptist Church in 1832, where he was ordained on July 2, 1833, the same day he was married to Harriet M. Stilwell of Manlius. The Pompey and Manlius Baptist Church participated in the ordination. He stayed in the Fayetteville Church two years. His pastorates included Homer, First Baptist of Syracuse, 16th Baptist of New York City, Detroit, Michigan, without charge from 1861-66 (Civil War Duties?), and First Baptist of Wheeling, West Virginia.

There is a question about where Reverend and Mrs. Taggart lived during their stay in Manlius. Our letter to the Onondaga Baptist Association meeting of September 1870 reports that Reverend Taggart came here with the intention of making Manlius his home, but Mr. Mary Avery Woodworth does not mention him as occupying the parsonage after Elder Wright's stay. "Then came a reign of young men and bachelors and the old house had to be rented."

On March 5, 1870, Miss Yettie Loomis related her Christian experience and was received as a candidate for baptism. Miss Loomis was baptized, probably by Reverend Taggart, and later became the wife of Charles E. Harris, our pastor from 1877-1879.

Although there was no information given in the Church minutes about a change, apparently the pews, for which members paid money and received deeds saying the pew was theirs and their survivors for eternity, reverted to the ownership of the Church. In the April 1, 1870 edition of The Weekly Recorder (Fayetteville), there was printed the following notice: "Renting of the Pews. The Baptist Society rent the pews of their Church on Monday next at 1 o'clock P.M. All interested are expected to be at hand."

The report of the Pompey and Manlius Baptist Church to the September, 1870, Onondaga Baptist Association Meeting told about a series of evening meetings held in the Church for which we have no other record. "We were blessed by the gentle outpouring of the Holy Spirit at a series of evening meetings. A number were converted. This was at a time when darkness seemed to be resting down on us... (we were) few in numbers and depressed in spirit. We bowed before the Lord, our prayers were answered in ways we least expected." The Clerk was pleased with the appointment of Reverend Taggart as Pastor. "His labors have been blessed. Sabbath School and Bible Classes (are) in successful operation.”

The practice of a Church renting pews was distasteful to the Manlius correspondent to The Weekly Enquirer (Fayetteville). He was pleased when the Church changed its policy. On May 4, 1871, he reported on the subject: "The Baptist Church Society in Manlius Village has made a very important and desirable arrangement in the seating of their Congregation. The seats are now all free and the clergyman is sustained by a liberal subscription of the members and patrons of the Society. This is a move in the right direction; all seats should be free in a house of worship, consequently, none will consider themselves intruding upon another in the house of worship. The wealthy and the lowly are equal in the sight of God, and all that seek him in faith believing shall truly find him."

The report to the September 1871 Meeting of the Onondaga Baptist Association was hopeful. "Although few in numbers, we enjoy faithful ministrations of the Word by our Pastor (Elder J. W. Taggart)." The Sabbath School was described as excellent. Members of the Church, old and young, were interested in Bible Classes. The Clerk ended the report with the hopeful statement, "We are not discouraged for we serve a Master who says, `Lo! I am with you always.'"

Reverend Taggart completed his pastorate here early in 1873. Reverend and Mrs. Taggarts' memberships were transferred to the First Baptist Church of Syracuse on August 17, 1873.

Reverend Taggart became Pastor of the Euclid Baptist Church in Clay, New York, and served from 1877-1880, until he became an invalid and moved to Syracuse. He died on September 3, 1893, at the age of 88. (Mrs. Taggart preceded him by two years into the "better land.") Reverend Taggart's passing was lamented in the Association Meeting of 1893. He was remembered for his wise counsel, kind sympathies, a devoted consecration to Christ and His Kingdom, and an unfailing courtesy and genial spirit which marked his Christian Character.

More  financial details were beginning to find their way into the minutes. The Treasurer's Report for 1873 was as follows:

This must have been exclusive of the money paid to Rev. Taggart.