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Go 974.6 C74c 113578
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01149 3118
CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
OF
CONNECTICUT;
PREPARED
Ander the Direction of the General Association,
TO
COMMEMORATE THE COMPLETION OF
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS
SINCE ITS FIRST ANNUAL ASSEMBLY.
Cc 974.6 C
NEW HAVEN:
PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM L. KINGSLEY.
-
H. BENHAM, PRINTER 1861.
PREFACE.
1135785
A BRIEF statement seems necessary by way of introduction to the somewhat miscellaneous compilation in the volume now offered to the public.
At the annual meeting of the Association of New Haven West, in December, 1857, it was suggested by Rev. E. W. Robinson, then pastor of the church in Bethany, that the hun- dred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the General Association of Connecticut ought not to pass without some special commem- oration. The suggestion was favorably received ; and the as- sembling of the General Association in 1859, (the first Gener- al Association having been convened in 1709,) was fixed upon as the best time for the purpose. A circular to the several As- sociations was issued, proposing certain arrangements, which, if acceptable, might be ratified by the General Association next to be convened.
The General Association for 1858 was to be held at Nor- wich ; and by the rule then in force, the meeting for the next year would have fallen to the Windham Association. But no place in the County of Windham seemed large enough for the accommodation of so great a concourse as might be expected to attend upon the proposed commemoration. The good peo- ple of Norwich, it was found, were ready to accept an arrange- ment by which the General Association for 1859 should have the benefit of their large and generous hospitality ; and, by general consent, the meeting for 1858 was regularly transferred to Danielsonville, in West Killingly.
Accordingly, the proposal for a commemoration came, in due form, before the General Association convened at Daniel- sonville on the third Tuesday in June, 1858. Overtures on the subject from New Haven West, Litchfield South and other
0
iv
Pref ice.
Associations, were referred to the Rev. R. C. Learned, W. R. Long, Jason Atwater, L. H. Barber and Orson Cowles. On the report of that Committee, it was resolved-
1. That the hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of this Associ- ation be celebrated at its next annual meeting to be held in the city of Norwich in June, 1859.
2. That the whole of Thursday, if possible, be devoted to this subject ; the forenoon being occupied with a historical dis- course by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, or, in case of his failure, by the Rev. David L. Parmelee, and the afternoon with addresses by those who have been previously secured for this purpose.
4. That Rev. J. P. Gulliver, Rev. Dr. Bond, Rev. H. P. Arms, Rev. R. P. Stanton, N. A. Fisher, M. D., George Coit, Esq., Lewis Hyde, Esq., and Benjamin Durfee, Esq., be a Central Committee to procure speakers and make all necessary arrangements for said celebration.
4. That Rev. E. W. Robinson, Rev. W. H. Moore, and Rev. M. N. Morris be authorized to collect such facts and statistics as they deem desirable for the purposes of this celebration, and prepare them for presentation at that time, and for subsequent publication, if deemed expedient by the General Association.
5. That the Rev. Messrs. S. H. Allen, Noah Porter, D. D., A. C. Washburn, L. B. Rockwood, S. W. S. Dutton, D. D., A. C. Pierce, A. McEwen, D. D., S. J. M. Merwin, R. C. Learned, J. Eldridge, D. D., D. L. Parmelee, Isaac Parsons and Merrick Knight, be appointed to assist the last named Committee in the collections proposed within the limits of their several Associations.
In conformity with the foregoing arrangements, the hundred- and-fiftieth annual assembly of the General Association was held at the Broadway Church, in the city of Norwich, on the third Tuesday (21) in June, 1859. The first two days of the session were occupied with the routine of business. On Wednesday, " Rev. E. W. Robinson presented the report of the Committee, appointed at the last meeting, on facts and statistics with reference to the celebration of the hundred-and- fiftieth anniversary of the Association,-which was read and
V
Preface.
referred to a committee consisting of Rev. Messrs. Jonathan Brace, D. D., and D. S. Brainerd." In the afternoon of the same day, " the following report, presented by Rev. Dr. Brace, was accepted and adopted :-
" The committee to whom were referred the collections of the Committee on Facts and Statistics, to report what disposition should be made of the same, and of the historical discourse for the celebration ; also to nominate a committee of publication, and pre- sent plans and estimates for accomplishing the work ; report-
That they recommend the putting of these collections and the historical discourse into a pamphlet, or a bound volume to those who prefer it, and nominate as a committee of publication and to complete the collections, Rev. Messrs. Leonard Bacon, D. D., S. W. S. Dutton, D. D., and E. W. Robinson ;- and, since the cost of publishing the same cannot now be correctly estimated, that this matter be left with the publishing committee, in the hope that they will be able to devise some method of publication by which the sales of the work may defray the expense."
On Thursday, after a few items of business, the entire day was devoted to the appointed celebration. The proceedings are recorded on the Minutes of the General Association, as fol- lows :
" The ordinary business of the annual meeting having now been finished, the exercises connected with the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the General Association were opened, under the direction of the committee of arrangements, by the reading of extracts from historical papers prepared for the oc- casion.
Rev. E. W. Robinson read a list of the half-century ministers of Connecticut from the beginning.
Rev. W. H. Moore read a paper, prepared by Rev. Henry Jones, on the Relation of the rise and growth of other denominations in this State to Congregationalism.
At 10 o'clock, after singing, and prayer by Rev. David Smith, D. D., a historical discourse was delivered by Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D.
After prayer by Rev. Dr. Hawes, a recess was taken till half-past 2 o'clock, P. M.
Thursday afternoon, half past 2 o'clock .- The session was opened with singing. Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Calhoun.
vi
Prefacc.
Voted, That each speaker this afternoon and evening be limited to twenty minutes ; and that the Moderator be requested to give notice, when necessary, of the expiration of the allotted time.
Rev. Abel McEwen, D. D., read a paper on Congregationalists in their relations to religious sects characterized by error, fanati- cism, or disorder ; or the Isms of Connecticut.
Prof. E. A. Lawrence, D. D., made an address on the Principles of our Fathers historically considered ; Rev. T. D. Woolsey, D. D., on the Catholicity of true Congregationalism ; and Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D., on the First Church formed in the State.
A few stanzas of a hymn were sung.
Rev. T. M. Post, D. D., of St. Louis, Mo., then spoke on the Mission of Congregationalism in the West; and Rev. E. P. Bar- rows, D. D., of Andover, Mass., on Congregationalism as in har- mony with the Scriptural idea of Christian Union.
Rev. John Waddington, of Southwark, London, being present, and specially invited by the Moderator, addressed the audience briefly, and very acceptably, with reference to the interests of Con- gregationalism in the Old and the New World.
He was followed by Rev. A. L. Chapin, D. D., President of Be- loit College, whose subject was, Connecticut Puritans in the West.
After the doxology and the benediction, a recess was taken till half-past seven in the evening.
Thursday evening, half-past 7 o'clock .- The session was opened with singing. Prayer was offered by Rev. George Bushnell.
Rev. E. W. Robinson read a paper relative to the First Meeting of the A. B. C. F. Missions at the house of Noah Porter, D. D., in Farmington,-prepared by Dr. Porter. Rev. S. W. S. Dutton, D. D., addressed the audience upon the safety and wisdom of entire religious liberty, as illustrated by our history; Rev. Joseph El- dridge, D. D., upon Consociated Congregationalism ; Rev. Samuel Wolcott, of Providence, R. I., upon the Lessons of our day as sug- gested by the leading aim of our fathers; Rev. Joseph P. Thomp- son, D. D., of New York City, upon the Congregational Polity as adapted to the highest development of the individual Christian, in harmony with the practical union of all Christians in the faith and the work of Christ; and Rev. William I. Budington, D. D., of Brooklyn, N. Y., upon the Mission of our Churches as defined by our history.
The promiscuous audience convened to listen to the public ad- dresses was dismissed after the singing of a hymn, by the benedic- tion. It was then Resolved, That, in view of that inheritance
vii
Preface.
which we have received from our fathers,-the principles of which have been so fully set before us on this occasion,-this Association at this closing hour feel called upon not only unitedly to express our deepest gratitude to God for the same, but also to do all in our power to transmit it to the latest time.
Voted, That the thanks of the General Association be presented to Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., for the clear and most important history contained in the able discourse pronounced by him to-day, and that a copy be requested for publication.
Voted, That the thanks of the Association be presented to those gentlemen who have given extempore addresses, and that they be requested to revise them from the printed reports for publication in the forthcoming volume.
Voted, That the thanks of the Association be presented to those who have prepared essays for publication in connection with this occasion.
Voted, likewise, That the thanks of this body be presented to the committee on facts and statistics, and especially to the chair- man, Rev. E. W. Robinson, for his diligent, persevering and suc- cessful labors.
Resolved, That the thanks of the Association be presented to the families of this city and vicinity for their liberal and courteous hos- pitality ; to the two Congregational societies, for the use of their houses of worship; to the committee of arrangements for their del- icate and unwearied attention to our minutest wants; to the choirs of the respective churches, for their attendance and assistance in our public praises ; and to the members of the press who have so largely contributed to awaken and keep alive the interest felt on this important occasion.
In the discharge of the duty imposed upon the subscribers by the General Association of 1859, this volume of contribu- tions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut is now offered to the public. Much labor has been bestowed upon the prepa- ration of it since the materials, in an unfinished state, were put into our hands. It will be observed, as one result of the nec- essary delay in the publication, that the statistical and histor- ical information collected from the District Associations, and from the churches, is brought down to the present year.
In so large a volume, containing contributions of so many different kinds, and from so many different sources, the reader will naturally expect to find some diversity in matters of opin-
viii
Preface.
ion, and will neither be surprised nor offended at unimportant discrepances of statement in matters of fact. On the ques- tion, for example, whether the First Church in Hartford or the the First Church in Windsor is to be regarded as the oldest in the State, the reader may judge for himself, or hold his judgment in suspense. It was not our duty as a publishing committee to decide any such questions. While we have done what we could to perfect the historical and statistical papers which constitute so large a portion of this volume, we trust that neither the Committee nor the General Association will be held responsible for the statements or the arguments of in- dividual contributors. We are sorry to be obliged to add that no inconsiderable number of errors has been discovered in these pages, particularly in the matter of names and dates. It is hoped that most of these will be found to be of no great importance. A full list of ERRATA is given at the end of the volume. It would be well if each person would make the proper corrections in his own copy at the outset.
Important service has been rendered by the members of the committee appointed by the General Association to assist in making collections within their several Associations ; and ac- knowledgments are due to them and to the Rev. Messrs. W. C. Fowler, H. G. Jesup, J. A. Gallup, W. H. Moore, Abram Marsh, J. H. Newton and A. Putnam ; particularly in the preparation of the Sketches of the District Associations and the Lists of Licentiates.
Our thanks, and the thanks of the General Association and of the churches, are also due to Mr. William L. Kingsley, whose diligence and skill have greatly aided our editorial labors, and whose generous zeal has undertaken the publication of these Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of his native State, with no prospect of gain, and with no security against pecu- niary loss. Only a small edition has been printed. We hope it will not be permitted to remain upon his hands.
LEONARD BACON, S. W. S. DUTTON,
E. W. ROBINSON, f Committee
Publication.
ix
- Preface.
NEW HAVEN, Dec. 1860.
Few readers, save those who have had some experience of such work, can understand how great the labor has been of collecting, condensing, completing and editing the Historical Sketches of the District Associations and the Churches ; and how much of correspondence, and of patient waiting, and of renewed and repeated inquiry, that labor has involved. The two first named members of the Committee may be allowed to say that this great labor could not have been performed but for the zeal and unwearied diligence of their colleague, Rev. E. W. Robinson. From the first suggestion of the commemora- tion to the completion of the indexes which will make this volume valuable as a book of reference, his industry has nev- er been weary. He has been, as many of the contributors have had occasion to know, the working member of the com- mittee.
LEONARD BACON, S. W. S. DUTTON.
CONTENTS.
-
Preface, . iii
Contents,
x
Summary, . , xiii
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE, by Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D. . 1
ADDRESSES.
The Three Principles of Congregationalism, by Prof. E. A. Law-
rence, D. D., East Windsor Hill, . The Catholicity of Congregationalism, by Rev. T. D. Woolsey, ·
73
D. D., President of Yale College, . 82 The First Church in Connecticut, by Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D., Hartford, . 85
The Mission of Congregationalism at the West, by Rev. T. M. Post, D. D., St. Louis, Mo., . 93
Congregationalism as in Harmony with the Scriptural Idea of . Christian Union, by Prof. E. P. Barrows, Andover, Mass., 103 The Pilgrim Fathers, by Rev. John Waddington, D. D., London, England, . , 110
Puritan Pioneering in New England, as compared with Puritan Pioneering at the West, by Rev. A. L. Chapin, D. D., President of Beloit College, Wis., . 111
The Safety and Wisdom of complete Religious Liberty, as illustra- ted in Connecticut, during the last One Hundred and Fifty Years, by Rev. S. W. S. Dutton, D. D., New Haven, . 118 Consociated Congregationalism, by Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D., Norfolk, 125
The Lessons of our Day, as suggested by the Leading Aim of our Fathers, by Rev. Samuel Wolcott, Providence, ·
. 128
The Congregational Polity adapted both to Individual and United Action in the Cause of Christ, by Rev. Joseph P. Thompson, D. D., New York City, . 134
The Mission of our Churches as defined by our History, by Rev. William Ives Budington, D. D., Brooklyn, N. Y. 138
CONTENTS. xi
HISTORICAL PAPERS.
Meetings of the General Association, by Rev. M. N. Morris,
Register, . . . 144
Dr. E. Wheelock's (Moor's) Indian Charity School, . 148 First Meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, by Rev. N. Porter, D. D., . 15 [
Foreign Missionaries from Connecticut, . 154 Cornwall Mission School, . 160
Congregational Home Missions in Connecticut, by Rev. Hor- ace Hooker, . 163
Graduates of Yale College who have served as Foreign Mis- sionaries, . . 180
Theological Department of Yale College, 182
Theological Institute of Connecticut, at East Windsor Hill, by Rev. Charles Hyde, . 185
Sabbath Schools, by Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D., . . 190
Revivals of Religion in Connecticut, . 197
Contributions for Benevolent purposes, . 203
Connection of the Congregational Ministers and Churches of Connecticut with the rise and progress of the Temperance
reformation, by Rev. John Marsh, D. D., New York City, 205 Pastors and Stated Supplies, by Rev. George P. Prudden, . 221 History and Results of the different methods of raising Salaries in Connecticut, by Rev. Hiram P. Arms, . 226
Parsonages and Permanent Funds, . 230 The Permanent Fund System, by Rev. G. A. Calhoun, D. D., . 233 A Permanent Ministry, by Rev. Timothy Tuttle, . 239
Common School and Academical Education as indebted to Con-
gregationalists, by David N. Camp, Esq., State Superin- tendent of Schools, . . 248
Separate Churches in Connecticut, by Rev. R. C. Learned, . 253 On the Rise, Growth and Comparative Relations of other Evan-
gelical Denominations in Connecticut, to Congregational- ism, by Rev. Henry Jones,
Presbyterians, . 260
Baptists, . 262
Episcopalians,
, 263
Methodists, . 267
Congregationalists in their relations to other Sects, character- ized by Error, Fanaticism, or Disorder, by Rev. Abel Me- Ewen, D. D.,
Unitarians,
.
. 274
xii
CONTENTS.
Universalists,
. 277
Separates, .
. 280
Millerites, or Second Adventists, . 281
Spiritualists, . 282
Rogerenes,
. 283
Sandemanians,
. 284
Summary of Decisions of the Courts of Connecticut in Ecele-
siastical eases, . . 286
Half Century Ministers of Connecticut, . . 289
Early Theological Education,
. 296
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE DISTRICT ASSOCIA- TIONS, WITH LISTS OF THEIR LICENTIATES.
Fairfield East, . 298
Fairfield West, .
. 301
Hartford Central,
. 304
Hartford Fourth,
. 306
Hartford North,
. 307
Hartford South,
. 310
Litehfield North,
. 313
Litchfield South,
. 316
Middlesex,
. 319
New Haven Central,
. 320
New Haven East,
. 321
New Haven West,
. 327
New London,
. 332
Tolland,
. 335
Windham,
.
. 337
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF CONNECTICUT,
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, .
340, 516
APPENDIX.
List of Towns, Churches and Post Offices of different names, . 517 Early Theological Education, [Supplement.] . 518
Half Century Ministers, [Additional.] . 518
Errata,
. . 520
xiii
CONTENTS.
TOPICAL INDEX. INDEX OF NAMES. BIBLIOGRAPHY.
SUMMARY.
The following statistical items-some of them scattered through the volume, and a few of them not elsewhere to be found-are here grouped together for convenience of reference.
Associations in the State, .
15
Churches now existing and reported, . 284
Whole Number of Church Members, (Minutes Gen. Assoc.) 47,109
Extinct Churches reported,
. 21
" Separate " Churches, extinct, merged or changed,
. 30
Towns in the State, . 161
Town having no Congregational Church, (Waterford,) .
1
Pastors who went on Missionary tours before 1798, .
45
Missionaries sent to New Settlements and the West, . . 279
Amount expended for these Missions, and paid to Am. Home Miss. Society, (June, 1859,) . $654,304.40
Number of Churches formed by these Missionaries, about, . 500 Churches and Congregations aided in Conn., by the Connec- ticut Missionary Society, · 93
Of these there are now self-supporting, .
53
Still receiving aid,
· 35
Have become extinct or changed, .
5
Expended for Home Missions in the State, (June, 1859,) $117,422.29 Foreign Missionaries from Connecticut, 103
Female Foreign Missionaries reported, . 72
Foreign Missionaries, Graduates of Yale College, . 54
Students of Yale Theological Seminary, (1859,) about, . 700
Students of East Windsor Theological Institute, (1859,) 238
Half-Century Ministers, on both Lists, . 250
Those who have ministered in the State, . 175
Natives and Licentiates who have ministered out of the State, 70 Who have left the Congregational ministry, . 5 Licentiates reported, . 1320
Of these there were licensed before 1760, by six Associations, 125
xiv
CONTENTS.
Pastors Reported,
1870
Stated Supplies, mostly for one year or more, . 595
Ministers raised up, (many probably not reported,) 1493
Names in Index, including repetitions, . . 6000
Contributions for benevolent purposes, 224 Churches, 1857, $ 90,870 Contributions, (Minutes General Assoc.,) 275 Churches.,
1859, $121,860 Home expenses of Churches. (Minutes Gen. Assoc , 1859, $344,103
Number of Parsonages,
66 118
Societies having Funds,
197
Value of Parsonages and funds, "
$828,980
Pastoral Libraries, . .
. .
20
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE,
DELIVERED AT NORWICH, JUNE 23, 1859,
BEFORE THE
General Association of Connecticut,
AT THE CELEBRATION OF ITS
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
BY LEONARD BACON, D. D.
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
IN attempting to fulfill the appointment which I received from the last General Association, I throw myself frankly on that Christian liberality and fraternal kindness, of which the appointment itself was an expression. I am not the pastor of a consociated church. I have been sometimes, and in some quarters, reputed to be unfriendly to that form of confederation which our fathers and predecessors established among the churches in this Puritan commonwealth. Others are in many respects more competent than I am, to the duty of setting forth in a historical discourse the origin and design, the working, and the results of that ecclesiastical constitution. Assured that the appointment was not made inconsiderately, nor without the understood consent of the pastors and other ministers re- presented in the General Association, I accept the task in the same spirit in which it was assigned to me. Addressing my- self on this occasion, not to the General Association as a repre- sentative body, but to its constituency assembled as in a mass meeting, I speak in all freedom; for I am sure that what is expected of me is not a set defense of any particular arrange- ment for maintaining that great principle of "the Congrega- tional way," the communion of churches, but only an honest attempt to set forth those facts of our ecclesiastical history, which are most pertinent to this commemoration.
One hundred and fifty-one years ago, that is in the year 1708, on the 9th, or according to our present calendar, the 20th day of September, a meeting of pastors and lay messengers, hardly more numerous than an ordaining council of these times, was convened in the little town of Saybrook. The
2
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time of meeting was the time of commencement in the "Col- legiate School," which has since become Yale College, and in which the seventh commencement was then to be celebrated. The place may be presumed, and is reported by the local tra- dition to have been at the house which Mr. Nathaniel Lynde of Saybrook had generously given for the use of the college, so long as it should be continued in that town. Commence- ment in those days brought no great concourse to the town ; for as yet the degrees were conferred with no public demon- stration, only a few friends of the candidates, in addition to the trustees, being admitted to the ceremony. Nor did the pre- sence of the synod, if we may so call it, add much to the attendance in Saybrook at that commencement; for of the twelve ministers whose names appear upon the roll of that synod, nine were at the time trustees of the Collegiate School. The synod then, (for by that name it will be convenient to speak of it,) was hardly more than a meeting of the trustees in another capacity.
Let us name then, one by one, the men who formed the Saybrook constitution. What else is there to be known con- cerning them ? What sort of men were they in their gene- ration ?
Small as that synod was numerically, it had two modera- tors, not so much for use as for dignity ; not so much because the assembly was expected to be turbulent, as because such had been the way in the preceding synods of New England. The senior moderator was JAMES NOYES, of Stonington, at that time a venerated father among the clergy of Connecticut, being in the sixty-ninth year of his age. His father, of the same name, the first teacher of the church in Newbury, Mas- sachusetts, was one of those eminent men among the first ministers of New England, whose lives are recorded in Mather's Magnalia, and was greatly distinguished in his day, like his colleague and kinsman Thomas Parker, by his dissent from
3
the Congregational way, and by the approximation of his views to the Presbyterian system. Our James Noyes was an alumnus of Harvard College, a graduate of 1659. He had been for forty-four years the minister of Stonington, and for thirty- four years the pastor there ; the first church in Stonington not having been instituted till ten years after the commencement of his labors in the town.
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