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 50
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" Your remonstrants beg leave to say further, that it is not men, but measures, they regard. They have no per- sonal dislike to the gentlemen who are members of that company ; they would think themselves warranted to com- plain, in any case, where men, the best of men, with the same interest and prejudices, were admitted to debate and decide.
" Your remonstrants would justly be tempted to distrust their own judgments, and quiet their fears, had a disinter-
477
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ested representative of the colony taken any measures of Book II. which they could not discern the propriety, and against which they might have reasons of weight, with them, pre- 1774. suming their rulers, as they were appointed to watch for their good, had both the means and the will to determine wisely, and for their best interest. But, here they beg _ leave to shew to your honors, that they conceive the ex- tension of jurisdiction to those lands by the last assembly, was of dangerous, and, in their apprehension, may be of fatal tendency. The title of the colony to those lands is contested ; should the same, on trial, be found defective, we conceive the colony might be justly charged with usur- ping an unwarrantable jurisdiction, inisusing and abusing their chartered powers and privileges, and thereby a pre- tence be furnished for depriving us of our dearest rights and privileges, and at this time especially impolitic, when debates run high between the parent state and her colo- nies, and we may presume every opportunity will be watch- ed and greedily seized, to extend the power and influence of the crown in America. Again, our humanity is shock- ed when we consider what bloody tragedies may ensue from the clashing of opposite jurisdictions, actually exer- cised, or attempted to be exercised within the same lim- its. We apprehend great numbers of subjects in this colo- ny, taught as they are, from their youth, to place the high- est confidence in the legislature, will be, by the acts of the last assembly, tempted to transport themselves and their effects, and settle on said lands, and in case the ti- tle of the colony should finally fail, they would be reduced to abject wretchedness, dependance and poverty there, or fall back on this colony, by thousands, in extreme penu- ry, to waste the residue of their lives, a burthen to them- selves, and an expense and dead weight upon the commu- nity ; by which means, the support of the poor, already a heavy burthen, will become intolerable.
" Your remonstrants are convinced by arguments, offer- ed by the committee appointed to treat with his honor governor Penn, contained in their reports to the assembly, that the possession of said lands is so recent, that it cannot aid, or affect our title, or be of any use on the trial of the , same, and therefore must be calculated wholly and solely for the benefit of the Susquehannah company, and procur- ed by the great influence and address of their proprietors, who sat in the last assembly : and although we have rea- son to think the title of the colony to those lands slender and precarious, yet that being a matter of which we are not competent judges, nor perhaps furnished with facts and
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Book II. documents, by which a judgment might be made, we are willing and desirous that the right of the colony to them, and 1774. the prudence and policy of asserting that right, should be judged and determined by a disinterested assembly.
" We therefore humbly pray your honors, to exclude the proprietors of the Susquehannah company from a voice on these matters, and to reconsider the aforesaid votes and doings of the assembly, in October and January last ; and as we are willing to do justice to all men, let the Susque- hannah company, by their counsel, and counsel assigned by your honors to manage the opposite side of the ques- tion, be admitted to have a public and open hearing upon the aforesaid matters, which we esteem of the highest and last importance ; and we shall be happy to abide by and acquiesce in the decision that shall be made. In the mean time, we humbly hope, the inhabitants of the new made town of Westmoreland, may be suspended from interfering in the voting, being represented, or otherwise transacting in the affair of government, during such term as the title of the company to the same is in suspense and undecided ; because till then, it cannot be known whether it is in this colony or not. As your remonstrants in duty bound shall ever pray."
This party, and their memorial, met with very little countenance by the people in general; by many, they were made a subject of banter and ridicule.
Susque- hannah company.
Petition The Susquehannah company, at the same time, came for- and propo- ward with a petition, praying the assembly to quitclaim to sals of the them the right and title of the colony, to the western lands, purporting that, to quiet all apprehensions of expense and detriment to the colony, they would give good security to it, to take the whole expense of prosecuting the claim up- on themselves : and that, if, on the issue of the dispute, the lands should be confirmed to the colony, they would (over and above paying the whole expense of the suit) pay in to the colony treasury, for the public use, the sum of ten thousand pounds lawful money ; or that such propor- tion of said lands, when recovered, should be sequestered to said use, as their honors by themselves, or a judicious committee, shall judge reasonable and just.
The petitioners represented that they were the more ur- gent with their honors in the affair, as they were sensible of the rapid population and settlement of America, and consequently of the rising importance of those lands, and equally averse to burthening the people of the colony with expenses which, though small, might be an occasion of
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internal uneasiness ; and that they had not the most distant Book II. thought of giving up and relinquishing so fine a country .*
The legislature persevered in their measures, and the 1774. representatives from Westmoreland were admitted to sit in the assembly, as the representatives of other towns in the colony were.
About the same time, a large pamphlet was written by a Mr. Smith of Philadelphia, who it was supposed had been assisted by Mr. Ingersoll, against the title of Connecticut to the western lands, and attempting to establish the title of governor Penn and the proprietaries. In this, an at- tempt was made to show that the original grant to Connec- ticut, and their charter, did not cover the western land in contest : That the tract of country described in them ran off from the sea, a north or north-westerly direction : That the lands granted in the charter, had been previously granted to the duke of Hamilton. Further, it was urged, that Connecticut, by the settlement of boundaries between that colony and the province of New-York, had cut her- self off from all lands west of that province. This was officiously spread in the colony. The people were thrown into a great ferment. The malcontents were for turning. out the gentlemen of the upper house and forming a new assembly.
A certain clergyman in the colony, who had made a large collection of papers and documents relative to it, though wholly unconnected with the Susquehannah com- pany, and uninterested in it, merely for quieting the peo- ple, and maintaining the peace of the colony, wrote an an- swer to Mr. Smith's and Mr. Ingersoll's pamphlet, in which he attempted to evince, from the most authentic and re- peated grants from the crown, and from the great Plym- outh company, prior to Mr. Penn's, the indubitable right of Connecticut to the western lands in controversy : That the original grant of territory to Connecticut, and the charter of the colony, extended in longitude from Narra- ganset river to the South sea ; and in fact, comprised all the contested lands : and, that the settlement of bounda- ries with New-York, could have no effect on the title of the colony to lands which they owned west of said pro- vince. The original patent, and various documents rela- tive to the title, were printed and laid before the public. This gave entire satisfaction to the Susquehannah compa- ny, and to the people in general. The colony was quiet- ed, and the gentlemen of the council were elected at the next general election.
* Memorial of the company in print.
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BOOK II. The colony's asserting its title to the lands west of the province of New-York, was a happy circumstance. Con- gress, after the American revolution, acknowledged the ti- tle and claim of Connecticut, and the State reserved, for its own-use, that fine tract of country called New-Connec- ticut, by the sale of which, the school fund of Connecticut was made. This is a most happy establishment, which not only does great honor, but is of permanent and incalcula- ble advantage to the commonwealth.
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CHAPTER XXV.
Controversy at Wallingford. Mr. Dana called to preach there. The church and society, without the advice of the association, invite him to settle with them in the work of the gospel ministry. An opposition arises against him on · account of his religious sentiments. Attempts are made to obtain satisfaction relative to them, but none could be obtained. The opposition increaseth. A complaint is exhibited against him to the moderator of the consociation. The consociation is called at Wallingford, and an ordi- nation council at the same time. The church and Mr. Dana deny the jurisdiction of the consociation, and Mr. Dana refuses an examination by it. The ordaining coun- cil separate themselves from the consociation, and protest against it. They proceed to Mr. Dana's ordination in direct opposition to the consociation. The consociation adjourn, and invite the neighboring consociation of the southern district of the county of Hartford to unite with · them in council. This united council declare Mr. Dana and his church guilty of scandalous contempt. The mi- nor part of the church who opposed the ordination of Mr. Dana, are owned as a distinct church, by the consociation. The minority are made a distinct society, and the Rev. Simon Waterman is ordained pastor over that part of the church and town. Disputes and divisions in the colony relative to said transactions.
1758.
A FTER the death of the Rev. Mr. Whittelsey, the first church and society in Wallingford were desti- tute of a settled minister for about six years .* The peo- ple were so divided in their opinions and feelings, that they *. Mr. Whittelsey died, April 15th, 1752.
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had not been able to unite in the settlement of any candi- Book II. date whom they had employed. Mr. Chauncey Whittel- sey had preached among them, to more general satisfac- 1758. tion than any other gentleman ; but there was such a num- ber in opposition to him, that it was not judged expedient for him to settle with them. The association had advised the committee of the church and society to call in three candidates, of whom Mr. Whittelsey should be one, and the other two to be named by the minor party, and to hear them preach six sabbaths each, and then to settle him who should have the major vote, and that the minority should then agree to his settlement. Provided, nevertheless, that if the minor party should refuse to nominate, that then the society might procced in a regular manner to the settle- ment of Mr. Whittelsey. This advice, it seems, was not acceptable. There was no prospect that the majority, who were fixed in the choice of Mr. Whittelsey, would re- cede from their choice in favor of any other man. At the motion of Mr. Whittelsey, another council, consisting of a part of the association, was called, to give further advice relative to the difficulties then subsisting at Wallingford. This advisory council, as it was called, advised the com- mittee of the church and society, to make application to Mr. Holyoke, president of Cambridge college, Mr. Apple- ton, minister of Cambridge, and Dr. Chauncey, of Boston, for direction to some suitable candidate to settle in the work of the gospel ministry in Wallingford. President Holyoke and Mr. Appleton advised to Mr. James Dana, of Cambridge. Dr. Chauncey was gone into the country, and his advice was not obtained. Mr. Dana soon after came to Wallingford, and preached to very general satis- faction ; so that, at the first society meeting which was called relative to his settlement, there appeared a good de- gree of unanimity in giving him a call to the work of the ministry in the society. None appeared in opposition, though some, and two or three of the committee, were not in the vote. They were not satisfied with respect to his doctrines, and soundness in the faith. This first meeting, which was on the 23d of June, was adjourned until the 30th of the same month, with a view to consult with Mr. Dana, relative to his settlement and salary.
Mean while, one of the committee made him a visit, with a view of obtaining satisfaction relative to his doctrines, designing, if he could obtain satisfaction relative to them, to act in favor of his ordination. He, in as mild and de- cent a manner as he knew how, introduced the matter, and asked him a few questions relating to his doctrines and L 3
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Book HI. preaching, expecting that Mr. Dana would, at least, ať- tempt to satisfy him with respect to his religious senti- 1758. ments. But instead of this, to his grief and surprise, as he testified, Mr. Dana answered him very short, and in a loud and boisterous manner, and treated him with such ap- parent anger and disdain, as he never met with from any gentleman before, declaring that he did not regard the op- position a farthing, or words to that effect : That if there were any objections against what he had delivered in preaching, he would answer them before the ordaining coun- cil. Farther, Mr. Dana said, he was too young to be ex- amined.
Some other gentlemen waited on him between the mect- ings, to obtain satisfaction for themselves as to his reli- gious sentiments, and particularly desired him to let them know his sentiments with regard to original sin, the saints perseverance, and with respect to free will and falling from grace. He made them very short answers, and said he should not tell. They asked him how he liked the plat- form. He said he had never seen it, but supposed, if he settled, he should settle upon it. They inquired if he had seen the doctrines of faith which Mr. Whittelsey had used ? He told them he had. They inquired how he liked them'? In reply, he asked them why they did not ask him how he liked John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Æsop's fa- bles ?*
This treatment, and his refusing to give an account of his doctrines, gave much dissatisfaction, and caused a very different appearance at the next meeting, on the 30th. Now a strong and fixed party appeared against him. The society, nevertheless, proceeded to vote him a settlement and salary, and continued their desire that he should be settled with them in the work of the ministry. Mr. Dana, after consulting his friends, declared his acceptance of their invitation.
In consequence of this, some of the leading men in the opposition entered a complaint against Mr. Dana and the church. Against him as unsound in the faith, and against the church for calling him to the work of the ministry un- der such circumstances, against so large an opposition, on the account of his doctrines. A copy of the complaint is in the words following, viz :
"To the Rev. Mr. Samuel Hall, moderator of the consoci- ation, in New-Haven county. "Reverend Sir,
"The petition of us, whose names are under written,
* Rev. Mr. Eells' narrrative.
CHAP. XXV.
CONNECTICUT.
403
humbly sheweth, that whereas the first society and church Book II. in Wallingford have been in pursuit of Mr. James Dana, of Cambridge, to settle in the ministry among us, and the 1758. said church and society have not taken the steps of the con- Complaint stitution of the government, set forth in the Saybrook plat- against
Mr. Dana form, reference thereto being had. Furthermore, we the and the members of said church and society, beg leave to charge church, Mr. James Dana with declaring in public, some time in June last, that there was no sacrifice for wilful transgres- sions under the law or gospel. He also delivered, some time in the same month, that to suppose a man's sins are necessary and unavoidable, is to excuse the man from guilt, and lay and cast the blame upon God. Aug. 20th, Mr. Dana took his text out of Chronicles, 28th chapter, 9th, verse : under which text he undertook to inform us what were the conditions of our acceptance with God ; and saith our obedience must be sincere, uniform, willing, universal, and persevering ; that these were the conditions of our ac- ceptance with God, and what would interest us in his fa- vor ; and that it would be suspended until we had fulfilled the above conditions. Sometime in July, said Mr. Dana delivered, in one of his sermons, that the gospel makes the practice of the duties of morality, the unchangeable con- dition of our future happiness. He declared some time in August or September, that it was not strange if we had new things delivered to us in religion, and supposed we should have further discoveries made to us in every centu- ry, till we arrived at a perfect state : which doctrines we look upon as unfounded, not agreeable to the word of God, or the doctrines of the Saybrook platform, and the confes- sion of faith therein set forth : and he has preached twenty- one sermons in Wallingford, and has wholly omitted the doctrines of the new birth, and the safety of appearing in the righteousness of Christ ; and he compared the doctrine of faith that the Rev. Mr. Samuel Whittelsey taught, to Æsop's fables and John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; which we look upon as unbecoming. We do hereby desire the consociation to be called, to hear these, with other griev- ances, and determine the whole matter ; and we will be at the cost; and the house of Caleb Merriman, Esq. is ap- pointed to meet at. He declares he cares nothing about the opposition. Members of said church.
"Caleb Merriman, Caleb Johnson, Daniel Clark, Street Hall, Levi Moss, of the society.
"A true copy, test, Samuel Hall, Moderator .*
"Dated at Wallingford, September 25th, 1758."
Rey. Mr. Todd's Narrative,
.
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BOOK II. In consequence of this complaint, Mr. Hall, the modera- tor, by the advice of a number of the neighboring elders, 1758. and afterwards by the advice of the association, before whom he laid the matter, called the consociation, to meet at Wallingford on the 10th of October ; and he gave out citations under his hand, to Mr. Dana, and the church at Wallingford, notifying them of the meeting of the consoci- ation, and requiring them to appear at time and place. Agreeably to the letters missive, the consociation conven- ed at Wallingford, and the council, called for the ordina- tion of Mr. Dana, met at the same time. This consisted of the Rev. Messrs. Noyes, of New-Haven, Hall, of Chesh- ire, Stiles, of North-Haven. Ruggles, of Guilford, Hall, of Meriden, Whittelsey, of Milford, John Brown, of Hing- ham, in Massachusetts, and Mr. Whittelsey, of New-Haven, colleague with Mr. Noyes, and Mr. Fowler, of Guilford, colleague with Mr. Ruggles. These were all members of the association and consociation of New-Haven county, ex- cept Mr. Brown, of Massachusetts. They all met with the consociation at Esquire Merriman's.
The consociation having thus convened, the moderator, as soon as was convenient, proposed to form the body, by choosing a moderator and scribe. This brought on a dis- pute on the consociation's being called de novo, or as a new one, and also on account of some of the members not being qualified according to the constitution. This, how- ever, was soon so far overruled, that the council united in choosing a moderator and scribe, and the consociation was opened with prayer.
Upon this, Mr. Dana and the churches' committee, and the complainants, came in before the consociation, and the complaint was read. The church then declined to submit to the consociation. The church pleaded that, according to the constitution, it could have no jurisdiction in that case. But they said they were ready to hear and answer all objections made to their proceedings before the ordain- ing council.
The consociation wishing to conduct an affair of such moment in the most amicable manner possible, chose a committee, of which one was of the ordaining council, to treat with the parties, and attempt some mode of agree- ment. In this conference, the minority made this propo- sal by their agents, "That in case Mr. Dana would sub- mit to an examination by the consociation then met, and they should approve of him as orthodox, they would con- cur in his ordination ; for his principles were their chief
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CHAP. XXV.
difficulty."* But they insisted that this should be deter- Book II. mined by the consociation, and not by the ordination coun- cil only. But to this, Mr. Dana and the committee would 1758. not consent.
The consociation adjourned, to meet in the meeting- house the next morning. In the mean time, the gentlemen who had been invited to be of the ordaining council, met by themselves and formed, as was generally supposed, to keep the council alive, that they might act, when the way should be prepared by the consociation. It was not sus- pected, even by some who formed with them, that it was with a design of separating from the consociation.
When the consociation met in the morning, according to adjournment, they met with it. On declaration being made that the council was opened, and that all parties con- cerned had liberty to be heard, Mr. Dana appeared, and denied the jurisdiction of the council, and insisted, that the complaint exhibited against him, was not cognizable by that body ; for he was not one of the associated pastors, that might be complained of for heresy or scandal to the association ; nor, if he was, had there been any complaint of scandal or heresy made to the association against him ; nor had there been any careful examination of that matter by them.
With respect to this part of his plea, that he was not one of the associated pastors, and that no complaint had been exhibited against him to the associaton, &c. ; it was observed, that Mr. Dana's preaching to, and accepting the call of a consociated church, to take the pastoral charge of it, brought him so far within the reach of the constitu- tion, that he must be subject to the government of the con- sociated churches : That it was a maxim among all na- tions, and so founded in the reason of things that it will ex- tend to all communities, civil and sacred, that whoever comes into a community, and reaps the benefits of that bo- dy, must be subject to the laws of it. That Mr. Dana was reaping the benefits of a consociated church, and therefore, was subject to the laws of the consociated churches, and that, therefore, a charge of scandal or heresy might be brought against him : That a copy of the charge, in sub- stance, was given him, by those who opposed his ordina- tion, and that they certified him that they were going to Northbury, to the association, and that he refused to at- tend. That though the complaint was carried to the mod- erator of the last consociation, yet that it was, by his di-
* Mr. Eells' Narrative. That this proposal was made, at this time, is attested by five of the principal men in the minority.
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Book II. rection, laid before the association, and that they had the same opportunity to examine the matter, as if it had been 1758. directed to them at the first, and to give advice in the af- fair; so that Mr. Dana was subject to the constitution. His cause had been so heard by the association, that they judged it to be the duty of the moderator to convene the consociation, and advised him to the measure, that Mr. Dana might be heard on the charge exhibited against him.
Though Mr. Dana denied the jurisdiction of the council, he expressed his desire, to give the pastors and delegates of the churches satisfaction, by an open vindication of him- self; but at the same time, he gave the council to under- stand that he would not be interrogated by them on any point of doctrine, or upon the charge, or that he would not be wire-drawn .*
When Mr. Dana had finished what he proposed, the committee of the church and society appeared before the consociation, denied its jurisdiction, and pleaded, " first, That the present convention was not a regular consociation., For,
1. " A regular consociation was a council, consisting of all the consociated churches of the circuit, according to the second article for the administration of church discip- line ; whereas all the consociated churches were not noti- fied, called, or invited to be present in this council. The moderator never sent any notification to the first church in Wallingford.
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