The Home of Charles and May Evelene Richmond
Whitnah, by Charles Scott Whitnah (cont.)
My mother's family came from England in 1635, according to the Richmond tradition and settled in Rhode Island. It very likely was on account of religious disagreement that a group of these Baptists settled in Vermont. I do not know just how long that was after the beginning in Rhode Island, but there was a full cemetary in the churchyard on the corner of my grandfather's farm. It might have been 200 years in accumulating the grave stones which I witnessed with my Uncle who lived in Brattleboro. It is quite impossible for me to convey an adequate idea of the strictness and severity of these people. True it was so in their religion, but it extended to every department of life and centered directly in their pocket books and all material affairs.
It must be said that they were very exact in interpreting Christianity as they saw it; and strictly faithful, according to their ideas in following it. Perhaps my heritage from these maternal ancestors is evidenced more by my personal make-up which has been indellibly formed according to their likeness. I have every reason to appreciate this, for integrity was the soul of their existence. The most outstanding conscious though which I have about the viewpoint of these Yankee Baptists, is the explanations of my mother of how she came to be less severe than were her forebears. In the forty-five years that I knew her she acquired a viewpoint of tolerance to the progress of religious thinking which was remarkable.
For example, in her later days she told me of the more liberal attitudes which she had taught my younger sister. As I remember my early childhood, any period of time whatever, during which a Child was not corrected, was just so much time lost in its training. I count it most valuable to have learned from her the value of sparing the most severe course of life, and following a constructive course of suggestion.
The things which my parents did were a far more influential part of may heritage than any formal definition of their religious beliefs. From my earliest recollections the thoughtful interest which they took in each other and my brothers and sister was most evident. Both of my parents were activists in the church, contributing financially and in personal effort to further its activities. They each enjoyed the benefit of more education than many others, and from it they led, taught and practiced a leadership which was an example very challenging for me to follow.
My religious heritage, then was a challenge.