From 1813 to 1815, Vermont was unique among American states, because both its governor and lieutenant governor were diligent and doctrinal Baptists. Aaron Leland was born in Massachusetts in 1761. The Lord saved his soul, and he became a member of the Baptist church in Bellingham in 1785. After the Lord called him into His ministry, he received a letter from some people in Chester, Massachusetts asking him to come and preach. As it turned out, none of those people were Baptists. At first he was disappointed, but when he considered leaving, the scripture, “The Lord hath much people in this city” captured his attention, causing him to stay. For ten years, Leland ministered in Chester before the church experienced a period of great revival. The attendance became so large that four other churches were started in neighboring communities with members from his church. During the time he was pastoring this burgeoning congregation, Leland became a representative in the Massachusetts General Assembly. Then while the Baptist Ezra Butler, was governor of Vermont, Leland was asked to become his lieutenant. After time in this office, in 1828, he was asked to run for Governor of Vermont, but he refused, stating that such a commitment would limit the time he would have preaching the gospel. In fact, even while holding other positions, politics was taking him away from the ministry, so other than serving as a circuit judge, he left public life, preaching Christ until he passed away on this day in 1833.
