USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 35
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* The president with the fellows had attempted to examine one of the. corporation, but he would not submit to it.
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principal reason why they opposed all innovations in the Book II. constitution and government of the college, was, lest they might hereafter have an ill influence upon its orthodoxy ; 1763. which the president and fellows, according to the trust re- posed in them by the founders, and by the General Assem- bly, were fully determined to maintain and preserve, to the utmost of their power,
When the pleadings and arguments of the memorialists, and of the president, had been fully heard and considered, there were but a very small number of the General Assem- bly, who were of the opinion that they were the founders of the college, or that the orthodoxy of it was in danger. The assembly, therefore, acted nothing upon the memorial.
The memorialists, and their whole party, were greatly disappointed and chagrined, and the president got much honour by the defence which he made of the college. He appeared to be a man of extensive knowledge and real greatness. In points of law, especially as they respected colleges, he appeared to be superior to all the lawyers, so that his antagonists acknowledged that he knew more, and was wiser than all of them. The question relative to the assembly's being the founders of the college, and having a right of visitation, has never been publicly disputed since, and it is believed that it never will be again.
About this time, the Rev. Jared Elliot, of Killingworth, in his last will, gave seven pounds ten shillings sterling, to be put out at interest, and the interest of it to be expended in purchasing books for the library, from time to time, at, the discretion of the president and fellows.
While these affairs had been transacting, the president , proposed the scheme of building a new hall, or chapel, for the greater convenience of the college. This, notwith- standing all the opposition which had been made to it, was in a very flourishing state. Though the country had been involved in a long and expensive war, and the burthens had been great, yet the number of the students, for several years, had been not less than an hundred and seventy. It became, therefore, extremely inconvenient to hold all re- ligious and scholastic exercises in the old college hall, and to use it also as a dining room, which had been the custom. 'The library, at the same time, was become too small to contain the number of books and the apparatus. A suc- cessful subscription for that purpose, had been set forward ; and in April, 1761, the foundation of the chapel was laid, and the outside was nearly finished that summer. It was built with brick, fifty feet long and forty feet wide, with a steeple and galleries, in which are three rostra, for ora
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Book II. tions, disputations, &c. with a library over the whole. It was erected near the south end of the brick college, or 1764. Connecticut Hall, with a view, that when another college should be built, it might be set near the south end of the chapel, ranging in a line with the other collegiate build- ings.
The chapel was opened in June, 1763, by a sermon, preached by the professor, in the presence of the president and fellows, and a large number of other gentlemen, who assembled on the occasion. The president and fellows voted, that the chapel should, hereafter, be used for the re- ligious and scholastic meetings and exercises, for which the old college hall had been used before. The cost of the building thus far, was about seven hundred and fifteen pounds sterling .* The conveniences of it were found to be very many and great. It was not finished at this time. A desk only, and some seats, were prepared for present use. The president and fellows had not money, at that time, to proceed any further ; but subscriptions and means, not long after, were found for finishing it with a handsome steeple, which was an ornament, not only to the building, but to the town.
Richard Jackson, Esq. member of parliament, and agent for the colony of Connecticut, gave a hundred pounds to- wards finishing the chapel.
A considerable number of gentlemen in New-Haven subscribed generously towards erecting the steeple.
* £183 was raised by subscription.
£286 10s. was paid out of the college treasury.
£245 13s. 9d. out of the treasury of the colony.
A list of the principal subscribers for building the chapel, may be seen in president Clap's history of the college, published in 1766.
335
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CHAP. XIII,
CHAPTER XIII.
BOOK II.
1738.
Dificulties arise at Milford, on the account of Mr. Whittel- sey. Debates and heat in the council, called to ordain him. There was such opposition to his ordination, that the council, at first, could not agree to ordain. But after- wards, on certain conditions, agreed upon by the parties, proceed to his ordination. The minority, who opposed his ordination, fulfil the condition mutually agreed upon. But the majority would by no means comply with it. They, on the contrary, by all means opposed their aggrieved breth- ren. The minority, some time after, having qualified themselves according to law, separated from the first church and society, and held a distinct meeting by themselves .: As the association would give them no advice, or countenance, they put themselves under the presbytery. They call and ordain Mr. Prudden. Obtain a release from taxation by the first society. They are vested with the privileges of other ecclesiastical societies, and obtain their proportion of the parsonage lands.
VINHE church and town of Milford, had been peculiarly- happy in a long succession of worthy pastors, under whose ministry they had enjoyed great peace and satisfac- tion, until nearly the close of the life of that learned, pious and venerable man, the Rev. Samuel Andrew. But now, by reason of age and many infirmities, he was. rendered unable to perform the labours of the ministry, and Mr. Samuel Whittelsey, son of the Rev. Mr. Whittelsey, of Wallingford, had been invited to preach in the town, and to settle in the work of the ministry, as colleague pastor with Mr. Andrew. This occasioned an unhappy division in the church and town. Though there was a majority for Milford. Mr. Whittelsey, yet there was a strong and respectable minority in opposition to his settlement. The opposition arose on account of his religious sentiments. The peo- ple in the opposition, conceived that Mr. Whittelsey was not sound in faith, but had imbibed the opinions of Armin- ius. They were not satisfied and edified with his preach- ing, as they wished to be. They could not choose him for a minister, either for themselves, or for their children.
When the ordaining council came together, the people in opposition to the settlement of Mr. Whittelsey, appear- ed so strong, and urged their objections with so much ap- porent concern and conscientiousness, that a majority of
Division in
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Book If. the council were against the ordination, under the then present circumstances. This occasioned a great division 1738. and animosity in the council. Mr. Whittelsey's friends urged the ordination with great warmth and engagedness. Mr. Whittelsey's father, who had more influence than any other man in the council, pressed the ordination of his son with great zeal and vehemence. Mr. Noyes, Mr. Hall, of Cheshire, Mr. Stiles, and some other of the ministers in the council, were very much at his devotion. Besides, Mr. Hall was brother in law to his honour, esquire Law, then deputy governor of the colony, who was the principal man in the majority for the ordination. These were the · eldest ministers in the council, and did not know how to bear opposition from younger men, and from the messen- gers of the churches. The debate in the council was, therefore, managed with unusual heat and engagedness .* His honour, the deputy governor, was at the head of the majority, who insisted on the ordination. In these cir- cumstances, the minority were under very great disadvan- tages, with respect to a fair and impartial hearing, and de- The coun- cision of the case. It, however, appeared to a majority of the council, so unadvisable to ordain against such a mi- nority, that a vote for the ordination, under the then pres- ent circumstances, could not be obtained.
In this state of the business, it was necessary to find some expedient, which might induce the majority of the council to concur in the ordination of the pastor elect ; to bring the parties to some compromise, which might, in some measure, ease the minority, and afford a more fa- vourable prospect of preserving the union of the church and town. For this purpose, the following proposal was made : 'That the minority should hear Mr. Whittelsey six months longer, with a view to obtain satisfaction with re- spect to his doctrines, and manner of preaching; and that, if they did not, in that time, obtain satisfaction, that then the church and town should call and settle another man, whom they should choose, as a colleague pastor with Mr. Whittelsey, to preach one half the time. To this the par- ties mutually agreed. This appeared to give a fair pros- pect of peace and harmony in the town, if the parties- would do their duty, and fulfil their agreement. It would give time and opportunity for Mr. Whittelsey to satisfy the minority, and to lay a foundation for a peaceful and exten- sively useful ministry, if he would come forward, and
* I have been told by one of the elders, who was a member of the coun- eil, that the debate was with so much passion, that fists were doubled on' the occasion.
«il at first against or- daining.
.
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CHAP. XIII:
337
preach the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel, and ex- Book II. perimental, heart religion. Mr. Whittelsey would have strong inducements to do this, for the good of the church 1738. and town, for his own honour, peace, and usefulness. As neither of the parties could wish to be at the expense of supporting two ministers, there were motives to influence both to be at peace. At the same time, a way was provi- ded, for the relief of the minority, if they should not obtain Upon satisfaction, and for the preservation of the union of the agreement church and town, by the agreement of the majority to set- of the par- ties, the tle another man, who should be agreeable to their breth- council or- ren. In these views the council proceeded to the ordina- dain. tion of Mr. Whittelsey .*
The minority continued to hear Mr. Whittelsey, not on- The mi- ly the whole term of six months, but for nearly two years, their wishing, if possible, to obtain satisfaction, and continue in agree- union and peace with their brethren, as they had always ment. before done. But, on a full and patient hearing of Mr. Whittelsey, and taking all proper pains for satisfaction, they became more fixed in their opinion of his unsound- ness in principle, and of deficiency in experimental preach- ing, than at the time of his ordination. They judged, that, in faithfulness to God, themselves, and their children, they could no longer continue solely under his ministry. They, therefore, in 1740, applied, first to the church, and then to the town, for relief, according to the original agreement. But neither would the church, nor the town, take any mea- The ma- sures for the settlement of another man, as colleague with jority ut- Mr. Whittelsey. They were entirely satisfied with him terly re- fuse a themselves. He had been examined, and approved, as compli- sound in the faith, was a gentleman of respectable talents, ance. of gravity, and unblemished morals. They judged that their brethren, of the minority, therefore, had no just sal. grounds of uneasiness ; but ought to be satisfied, as well as themselves. They had postponed their application for another pastor, much beyond the time agreed upon. They could not, therefore, by any arguments be prevailed upon to settle another man, nor to adopt any means for their re- lief or satisfaction. So far were they from this, that they opposed all their measures for relief, in any way whatso- ever.
Finding, by sad experience, that no relief was to be ob- tained from their brethren of the church and town, they made application to the association for advice, as they wished to proceed regularly in obtaining what they esteem- ed the truc preaching of the gospel, for themselves and * Mr. Whittelsey was ordained. S 2
nority fulfil
Reasons of their refu,
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Book II. children. But the association would give them no advice, nor countenance. This consisted, in a considerable part, 1740. The asso- ciation will give no ad- of those leading gentlemen who liad so zealously urged the ordination of Mr. Whittelsey, without any agreement be- tween the parties. They had since examined, approved, vice to the and ordained him. Objections against him, as not ortho- minority. dox and experimental, with them, could have no weight. To be consistent with themselves, they could not but con- sider the minority as unreasonable, and faulty, in their un- easiness and opposition. They, doubtless, as well as the church and town, judged, that the settling of another pastor was unnecessary; and would be an unreasonable and un- profitable burthen on the people. They might judge that the agreement had better be broken than kept. In these circumstances, nothing favourable to the minority could be- expected from thenr.
After a state of controversy and perplexity, for about a year longer, they qualified themselves, according to law, as a soberly dissenting society, and obtained leave of the county court to worship by themselves. They then sepa- rated from the first church and society, and held their first worship by meeting by themselves, on the first sabbath in December, 1741. The next year they built them a decent house for public worship. In 1743, they put themselves under the presbytery of New-Brunswick. The brethren, who had been members of the first church in Milford, were formed into a church state upon the presbyterian plan, and made choice of a ruling, elder. But the first society opposed and oppressed them. They taxed them for all society expen- ses, for about twelve years after the ordination of Mr. Whittelsey ; and annually made them pay to his support, and for all other society purposes, no less than themselves. They also excluded them from all benefit in their propor- Released tion. tion of the parsonage lands. It was not until the session from taxa- of the General Assembly in 1750, that they were able to obtain a release from taxation by the first society. Both the town and association made all the opposition to then in their power. They took measures to prevent their ob- taining preaching, either by candidates, or regularly or- dained ministers. By the advice and assistance of the presbytery, they procured a learned and pious young gen- tlemen, Mr. Samuel Finley, afterwards president of the college in New-Jersey, to preach for them ; but governor Law, taking advantage of the persecuting laws then in force, ordered him to be carried from constable to consta- ble, and from one town to another, until he should be con- veyed out of the colony.
They sep- arate, and
them- selves.
339
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The Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, of Hebron, preached to them Book II. occasionally, and he was arrested by a civil officer and car- ried to Hartford to answer for his conduct before the Gene- 1747. ral Assembly. The association of the county of New- Haven, frowned upon and even censured those who preach- ed to them, and who assisted in forming them into a dis- tinct church.
Mr. Prud- den or-
They, nevertheless, endured their troubles with pa- tience and perseverance, until, at length, they obtained Mr. Job Prudden, a pious young gentleman, who had graduated at Yale College, in 1743, to preach with them. In his talents, preaching, meek and prudent conduct, upon proper trial, they were entirely and universally satisfied. He was ordained by the presbytery of New-Brunswick, in dained. May, 1747. The association of New-Haven county, were so displeased with their brethren of the presbytery, in countenancing the minority, afterwards called the second society, and ordaining their pastor, that they passed a censure upon them .* This seems to have been inconsist- ent with the heads of agreement, which had been received as part of the ecclesiastical constitution of the colony. In this, the united ministers, formerly called presbyterian and congregational, expressly say, "We agree that particular societies of visible saints, who, under Christ their head, are statedly joined together, for ordinary com- munion with one another in all the ordinances of Christ, are particular churches, and are to be owned by each other, as instituted churches of Christ, though differing in apprehensions and practice in some lesser things."t
Notwithstanding all the opposition made to this people, continuing united in the calvinistic doctrines, and in the love of experimental preaching, and having in Mr. Prud- den, a prudent, laborious and faithful pastor, they increas- ed and became respectable. Affairs and opinions were much altered in the colony, men of different views and feel- ings were chosen into the assembly, and in the session in May, 1760, they were vested with the same privileges as other ecclesiastical societies in the colony enjoy. Ten years after, in May, 1770, they obtained, by an act of the General Assembly, their part in the parsonage lands.
Though at the time of the separation there was great animosity, and there were hard thoughts and unhappy feelings between the two societies, yet their differences are now overlooked and forgotten. The pastors and churches are united in doctrine and brotherly love.
* Records of the association of the county of New-Haven.
+ Heads of Agreement, Article II. of churches and church members.
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CHAP. XIV.
BOOK II. 1742.
CHAPTER XIV.
Separation at New-Haven. Causes of it. Councils called by the people who were dissatisfied with the Rev. Mr. Noyes. The doings of those councils. The call and in- stallation of the Rev. Mr. Bird.
S 1 OON after the commencement of the religious awaken- ing, in Connecticut and New-England, there arose a great uneasiness and dissatisfaction, in a considerable num- ber of the first church and congregation in New-Haven, under the preaching and administrations of their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Noyes. Though he had the gift of prayer, and was edifying in that part of worship, yet he was unanimat- ing and unpopular in his preaching. His language was vulgar, and his zealous calvinistic hearers did not consider him as so plainly and faithfully preaching the doctrines of human depravity, of regeneration by the supernatural in- fluences of the divine Spirit, and of its absolute necessity that men might be saved; of effectual calling and justifica- tion by faith only, as a minister of the gospel ought by all means to do. They did not conceive him as making proper distinctions between true and false religion, and preaching in such a manner as had a tendency to show to hypocrites and secure sinners, their danger and misery. From the manner of his preaching, especially on sacra- mental occasions, suspicions arose, that he did not hold the real divinity of the Saviour. Besides, he appeared wholly unfriendly to the religious awakening and concern in the country, and to the zealous and experimental preach- ers by whom it was promoted. He excluded them from his pulpit, and openly approved of the persecuting laws and measures of the civil authority of that day. These were all matters of grievance 'to them. They could not hear such preaching at home as they desired, nor could they go abroad without giving offence. After repeated conversations with Mr. Noyes on their grievances, and much pains to obtain satisfaction, they could obtain none either in private conversation, nor by his preaching in public. They drew articles of charge or grievance and presented them to Mr. Noyes, desiring that they might be communicated to the church and society, and solicited a mutual council, to hear and give advice in their difficulties. But instead of this, their grievances were greatly increas- ed by Mr. Noyes' leading his church to vote in the Say,
: 341
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CHAP. XIV.
brook platform, and at the same time excluding some from Book II. the privilege of voting in the affair. In these circum- stances, as they could not obtain a mutual council, nor any 1742. redress of their grievances, they took benefit of the act of toleration, and separated from the worship and ordinances in the first church, to which they originally belonged, and set up a distinct worship by themselves. They pro- fessed their desires, however, to have their grievances heard by a mutual council ; but Mr. Noyes would not con- sent. Therefore, soon after their separation, they pro- ceeded to call a council of their own. It consisted of the Rev. Messrs. Samuel Cooke, John Graham, Elisha Kent and Joseph Bellamy. They convened at New-Haven, on the 5th of May, 1742, After a full hearing of the aggriev- ed brethren, they came to the following resolution, in ef- fect, That the first church in New-Haven were, by their own religious and solemn profession and confederation, a particular church of Christ, vested with all powers neces- sary for their own confirmation, government and edifica- tion, long before, until and at the time of the Synod at Saybrook, in 1708, and consequently were not dependent on it, nor any thing consequent thereon.
That according to the original constitution and con- federation, members had been admitted to full communion, in gospel ordinances and church privileges ; that said church ever continued, in fact, upon their original footing and ecclesiastical regimen, till the 23d of last January, when the Rev. Mr. Noyes, secluding a number of the brethren from a meeting then held, led the rest of the brethren to vote a conformity to Saybrook platform, which they considered as breaking in upon, and depriving them of their long and peaceably enjoyed privileges. That the pastor of the church and their brethren, by this means, had forced the aggrieved brethren, to take benefit of the act of toleration, that they might enjoy their ancient rights and privileges. That as said aggrieved brethren had now qualified themselves according to that act, they stood fair to be reinstated in their former powers and privileges, ac- cording to their original constitution.
They also further resolved, that they saw no inconsisten- cy for ministers well approving of any other ecclesiastical constitution, yet to afford all needful assistance to others of different sentiments, in matters extra essential, on their calling for their help. That others had acted on the same principles ; particularly the congregational ministers in Boston .*
# These had assisted in the ordination of a baptist minister.
$42
HISTORY OF
CHAP. XIV.
BOOK II. That upon the desire of their brethren, seeing their way clear to proceed to reinstate themselves, as aforesaid, un- 1742. der the conduct of this convention, we are ready on the morrow (in case the day be set apart to fasting and prayer) to attend the business openly in the place appointed for their public worship.
Church formed.
Accordingly the next day was attended as a day of sol- emn fasting and prayer. Two sermons were delivered ; one in the forenoon by Mr. Graham, and the other in the afternoon by Mr. Bellamy. At the same time, eighteen brethren and twenty-five sisters, forty-three in the whole, subscribed the confession of faith and church covenant, which had been used in the ancient church of New-Haven, from the beginning ; and on their being distinctly read, publicly and expressly gave their assent and consent to them. They also publicly declared and covenanted in the following manner, viz :
" Whereas, in addition to other grievances too tedious and unnecessary here to enumerate, of which we would not willingly perpetuate the memory, a considerable part of the first church in New-Haven have lately, viz. on the 25th day of January last, under the conduct of their pres- ent pastor, voted a conformity to the Saybrook platform, and in consequence of it, (to show more plainly the design of said vote) at the same time, by their vote, carried to the standing consociation of this county a complaint against sundry members of said church, thereby owning a juridical and decisive authority in the said stated consocia- tion, contrary to the known, fundamental principle and practice of said church, time out of mind, which has al- ways denied any juridical or decisive authority under Christ, vested in any particular persons or class, over any particular congregational church confederated as this :
" We the subscribers, members of said church, firmly adhering to the congregational principles and privileges on which the said church was founded, and hath stood unsha- ken from the beginning, through successive generations, until the 25th day of January last, being by the said inno- vations hereunto necessitated, apprehend ourselves called of God, in company, to vindicate our ancient rightful pow- ers and privileges, and to put ourselves into a proper ca- pacity for the enjoyment thereof, upon the ancient footing. And for that purpose, do now, under the conduct of di- vine providence, humbly sought, by fasting and prayer, assume a church state of the gospel, on the ancient basis of that church, whereof we stood inembers, in fact, as well as of right, until the unhappy period above mentioned,
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