USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > A record and documentary history of Simsbury > Part 28
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"Voted that John Owen make provifion to Entertain the Ordination Council that have been agreed upon by ye Chh in this place, at ye Expence of Sd Society". "Voted to con- cur with the Sd Chh that the Day for the Ordination of Mr:
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Stebbins in this place Shall be on the Ioth day of December next".
From the record of the Ordaining Council the following facts are gathered:
"December 9th 1777. The Elders present were Revd Messrs Hezekiah Bissell, Theodore Hinsdale, David Rowland, Timothy Pitkin, Joseph Strong, Isaac Foster, Aaron Church, Rufus Hawley, Seth Sage, Dan. Foster & Aaron J. Booge, with dele- gates from neighbouring churches.
"The Council, having been satisfied of the call by the Church and Society, and of his acceptance thereof, proceeded to examine the candidate with regard to his qualifications, his views & aims in entering upon the ministry, and being 'unanimously satisfied', Voted, the way is clear to proceed to the Ordination of Mr. Stebbins. The parts assigned were as follows: The Rev. Mr. Church make the first prayer. The Rev. Isaac Foster Preach the Sermon. The Rev. Mr. Rowland make the Ordaining prayer. The Rev. Mr. Bissell give the charge. The Rev. Mr. Pitkin make the prayer after the charge. The Rev. Mr. Hinsdale give the Right Hand of Fellowship.
Jos. Strong. Scribe."
"On the following day, 10th December, the Ordination took place, according to the foregoing result of Counsel." There was a large concourse of people in attendance.
Though the meeting house was erected in 1740, it was only partially completed at that time, and in 1777 it was voted "to do Something in repairing and finifhing the meet- ing Houfe in this Society, viz To provide Bords, shingles and Clapbords, and other materials necefsary for that pur- pofe". A Committee was chosen to procure "stuff" for this purpose, to employ a joiner "to make ye window frames and Safhes, and Door Caseings &c, to be ready done as Soon as conveniently may be".
From this, it would seem that the meeting house, at first, and for many years afterwards, was only roughly en- closed, without clapboards, and without finished windows or doors.
The following shows the condition of the currency in
34I
1777.
1777.
Soc. Rec. B. 1. P. 81.
Soc. Rec. B. 1. P. 84.
the early part of Mr. Stebbins' ministry, and in the early part of the War of the Revolution. "Voted the Reverend M': Samuel Stebbins Shall be paid for his laft years Salary in Grain and other articles of Country Produce according to the Said Society's agreement with him and the other half Con- tinental bills as they now pafs Eight for One and the firft fifty Pounds for or towards his Settlement Shall be paid if in bills Eight for One."
1778.
And also Voted "that the Debts Due from Said Society to ye Joiners, and all others as Now exhibited and Read by the Meeting Houfe Committee for repairing the Meeting Houfe are accepted, and to be paid with all other outStanding Debts Due from said Society, if paid in said bills, Shall be Reckoned Eight for one excepting only Some Clapbords, & Some Nailes, Coulouring Stuff and some Iron work which ye sd: meeting Houfe comtee were obliged to give Dearer for, & are to be paid as they have agreed".
1780. Soc. Rec. B. 1. P. 105.
In 1780 it was voted "that the Committee make out Sub- friptions to Raife money to procure a Singing mafter, to En- courage Public Singing & learning Pfalm Tunes in Sd Society".
"Voted that the Society defire Mefs" Theodore Hillyer Elifha Cornifh Jun' & Job Cafe Jun' to afsift in tuning Ye Pfalms on Lords Days &c."
1782. Ib. P. 107.
1782. "Voted to Couler the Meeting Houfe, & that the Couler Shall be White". 1783, it was "voted that the former Committee who wer Chofen to Provide Oyl & Coulers to Couler the meeting Houfe Proceed therein as Soon as may be".
P. 108.
In 1784, the Society "Voted that the Singers Shall have So much of the frunt Seets Round the Galeries as they Shall Want."
1787.
"Voted & Chofe Mefsr Oliver Bronfon Charles Cafe Jnr Afa Humphrey & Rofwell Willcox to Quorifters to Lead in Singing in said Society".
P. 111.
In 1786, it was "voted & Chofe the Two Deacons of the Church in sd Society to be the Persons to Publifh the Intention of marage between the parties".
The lower walls of the meeting house, below the galleries, had been plastered many years before, but the upper walls and
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ceiling overhead were as yet unplastered. In 1787 the Society "voted to oppen a Number of Subscriptions to obtain ma- terials to white wafh and plaifter the Infide of the meeting House" .... "and when obtained to apply the same to Said ufe & purpus".
"In 1790, it was voted to 'Raife a Rate' to pay the debts of the Society, and to raise money to 'get a Grave Cloath'," and in 1791, Voted "to finifh the Pews in the Galeries & get a cushin". But it would seem that the "cushin" was not im- mediately procured, as in 1795, it was again voted "to get a Coufhen".
At length, after a period much longer than was required to build the Temple at Jerusalem, the meeting house was com- pleted.
Externally, when completed, it was a plain barn-like structure, and, according to the fashion of the times, stood sidewise to the road, on the site of the present meeting house, on Drake's Hill. As has been before stated, it was "in length Fifty foot, and forty foot, and of a suitable height".
Its front or main entrance was on the easterly side, opposite to which, in the rear and facing the front door, high up against the wall, was the pulpit with a window in rear. There was likewise a door at each end of the building. A gallery extended around and occupied the three sides, ex- cept the rear or pulpit side. This gallery was supported by a row of square posts, all around its front. That part of the gallery next the walls of the building was a tier of square pews, like those below, which were usually occupied by the youthful and unmarried portion of the congregation. The young men occupied the South Gallery pews and the young women the North. The front of the gallery, all round on the three sides, was appropriated to the use of the singers. The leader, or "Quirister", as he was called, - with pitch-pipe to strike the key, - occupied the front, opposite the pulpit, conspicuously beating time with extended hand. Behind the singer's seat rose parallel seats all around, for the boys and girls, on opposite sides, who were kept in order by the watchful eye - and hand if need be - of the terrible-tithing-man.
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Soc. Rec. B. 1. P. 113.
Beneath the front of the pulpit sat two grave old men, behind a falling leaf or board, which when raised and braced formed the communion table, where on Communion Sabbaths was spread out the furniture of that service. This was of pewter, consisting of large platters for the bread, a foot and a half in diameter, and large tankards and mugs for the wine. The ground floor of the meeting house was divided up and occupied by square pews, covering the whole space except that of the three aisles. From the front door to the pulpit was the "Broad aisle". From the "end doors" ran all around, between the "Wall-pews" and the "Body-pews", a narrow aisle. By this arrangement of pews, one-third part only of the audience faced the minister; one-third sat with their backs to the pulpit; and one-third sat sidewise. In the front corners of the building were the winding stairs to the galleries. High above, and directly over the stairs, were the two "High pews", near the ceiling.
There was no means of warming the house, except the spiritual fervour of the preacher and the ardent zeal of his hearers, aided, perhaps in some degree, by the animal heat of the congregation and the ubiquitous foot-stove, now only known by tradition. These latter were filled in the morning with glowing coals, but by the close of the morning service had become cold as the surrounding atmosphere, and required, for the afternoon service, to be replenished from the hospitable hearth of some neighbor's dwelling.
The following plan of the ground floor of the meeting house shows the official seating of the congregation, with the names of families occupying the several pews, as they were seated in 1768, which "seating" has been "kept on file in the Society Clerk's office", as voted by the Society, from that time to the present - 1886.
During Mr. Stebbins' ministry, a great degree of har- mony prevailed, with no disturbing element more serious than the annual "Seating" of the meeting house, or as it was usually called "dignifying the pews". Committees were annually appointed for this purpose, whose duty was to arrange and locate in order the heads of families in such a way that those
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"Dignifying the Pews"
A seating plan of the meeting house built in 1743
The date of the plan is December 27, 1768
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SEATING PLAN OF THE
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N.B. The Seating in the ballary was not aited up on in the society meeting
of nearly the same age and social position should be placed together in the same pew; but sometimes, by their arbitrary course, or by want of proper judgment, great offense was given, and great disturbance created. Often the report of the Seating Committee was rejected by the Society, and a new Committee was appointed. In 1783, it was "voted to Seet the Meeting houfe", and a Committee of five persons ap- pointed for this purpose, and to report at the next meeting, Jan. 13, 1784. "Upon the Report of the Committee appointed to Seet the Meeting Houfe, the Report was Negatived by vote", and a new committee was appointed, and to report at the next meeting, to be held the last Wednesday in January, when again the Committee's report "was Negatived by vote", and a new Committee appointed. The meeting was adjourned to the second Monday of February, when the report of the Seating Committee was again "negatived by vote", and there was no Seating for that year. In November following, it was again voted to seat the Meeting-house. A Committee was appointed, and their report was accepted.
Mr. Stebbins was a man of distinguished ability and learn- ing, and, in business affairs, was regarded as a man of the soundest judgment and sagacity. He was remarkable for his close study and intimate knowledge of human nature. These qualities, combined with good common sense, gave him a high place in the estimation of those with whom he came in contact, as a shrewd business man. His services were often put in requisition in the settlement of estates, as Commissioner or Appraiser. In these offices, as well as Arbitrator in the settle- ment of disputes, his neighbors reposed in him the utmost confidence. It was said of him by his successor in the pastoral office, "Mr. Stebbins was a man of the most rigid economy; he could live and grow rich on a small salary." Before his death he had accumulated a large estate, for those times.
Educated at Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in 1775, he held a high position in his class. He was intelligent, shrewd, witty and sarcastic. These traits manifested them- selves all the way through life. Nor were they excluded from
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1777.
the pulpit, but, as in his daily walk and conversation, even there his wit and sarcasm would break forth.
He was a strong political partisan, at a time when party spirit ran high. A man of strong convictions, he had the courage to maintain them. He did not shrink from expressing his opinions, political, as well as others, in or out of the pulpit. He was not a total abstainer from the use of intoxicating liquors, but, on the contrary, made a free use of them, as was the custom of the times, as well among clergymen as others. Indeed it was sometimes charged, towards the latter part of his ministry, that he indulged too freely in the use of these liquors, not that he became intoxicated, but that he failed to deny himself or discourage their use in others. These charges, together with his habitual outspoken political opinions, led to a degree of dissatisfaction among a portion of his parishioners, which finally induced him to ask for a dismission. Preparatory to this event, having made up his mind to retire, he preached a sermon, in which he took oc- casion to indulge to his heart's content in his characteristic boldness and sarcasm.
The sermon was printed with the following title: "The Policy of the Devil, to hinder the success of the Gospel." His text was "Luke VII, 31-35". "And the Lord said, whereunto shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?" They are like unto children sitting in the market place, and calling one to another, and saying, 'we have piped unto you and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you and ye have not wept'. For John the Baptist came, neither eating bread nor drinking wine: and ye say, 'He hath a devil'. The son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, 'Behold a glutonous man, and a wine-bibber; a friend of publicans and sinners'. But wisdom is justified of all her children."
The text is suggestive of the argument and remarks of the preacher. Under various heads, in a caustic manner, he pointed out the ways by which the Devil effects his object. The delivery of the discourse must have caused some of his audience to wince.
Many anecdotes and sayings of Mr. Stebbins have sur-
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vived him, and been handed down to us. But to appreciate them fully, we need to know the peculiarity of his voice and utterance. To illustrate the character of the man, a few of these anecdotes are here presented.
Mr. Stebbins was an extensive farmer. He owned more than 360 acres of land, of which a large proportion was adapted to the raising of grain. Rye was his specialty, of which he raised annually several hundred bushels, which he sold profit- ably at the distillery of his brother clergyman, and friend, Dr. Strong of Hartford. He necessarily employed a large num- ber of men, especially in harvest-time. His knowledge of human nature enabled him to obtain from these men a much more than ordinary amount of labor.
Having marshalled his men in the harvest field, he would appoint one whom he knew to be ambitious as foreman, to lead the field. The sickle was the only harvesting implement. Grain cradles and reapers were not known. One after another, the men fell into their work. "Now, men", quoth Mr. Stebbins, leaning on the fence, "I want to see how quick you can go through." Fresh and vigorous they went across the field with a rush, each striving "to cut out" the man immediately before him. Having reaped through, they walked back to the starting point, as was the wont of reapers. "Surprising", said Mr. Stebbins, "I don't think you can go through again so quick - but if you think you can, you may try - and I'll hold the watch." Again they set in, and rush across the field and return in less time than before. "Amazing! I didn't think it possible to reap across the field in so short a time. I'm sure you can't do it again - but if you think you can, take a drink of rum, and you may try once more - and I'll hold the watch". They go through with greater speed than before. "Ah, I had no thought you could beat yourselves as you have done. Half a minute less time than before". And thus, under the in- fluence of the Dominie's rum and flattery, a vast amount of work was accomplished.
Mr. Stebbins abhorred profanity and took every occasion to rebuke it. One of his men one day was engaged in plowing an extremely rough, hard and stony piece of land; every few
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moments the plow would strike a stone and "run out", or it would catch a root and stop the team. The man become im- patient and exceedingly profane. "Why do you swear?" said Mr. Stebbins, "Swearing don't make it plow any easier, and besides, 'tis very wicked to swear, and take God's name in vain", and, to show that there was no necessity for it, he took hold of the plow himself and the man drove the team, and, in the mood he was then in, their step was not very slow. Mr. Stebbins, for a while, kept his temper, but before he had come round to the starting point, his patience was exhausted, and he broke out, "It's enough to make a minister swear, and I will swear! 'By Ginger-bread'. 'Ginger-bread'. 'Ginger-bread' ".
Politically, Mr. Stebbins was a strong Federalist. It was in the times of Adams and Jefferson when party spirit ran high, higher than at any period of our history. After the election of the latter, it was observed that one of his prominent parishioners absented himself from meeting. As a good shep- herd the faithful pastor looked up the missing one of his flock. Upon enquiring as to the cause of his absence, he found that it was because the Pastor failed to pray for the new President, as had been his wont, under the administration of Washington and Adams. "Ah, I'll not stand in the way of your worshipping in the Sanctuary. I will pray for the President next Sabbath". The Sabbath came and so did the parishioner. The services proceeded as usual. In the course of his prayer, the Pastor thus addressed the throne of Grace: "We pray, O Lord, for our rulers : may they be good men, ruling in the fear of God. Especially we pray for the President of these United States; give him Wisdom - give him understanding - for God knows, he needs them".
On one occasion, in the course of his discourse, Mr. Stebbins alluded to the different mental qualities of men and women, and their distinctive characteristics. "Women", he remarked, "are quick of apprehension; much more so than men"; - a pause - the female faces of the audience were suf- fused and clad in smiles; bright eyes flashed and fans were put in motion all over the house - "I repeat the sentiment; Women, I say, are quick of apprehension" - a pause - "but
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weak in judgment". Fans ceased to flutter and eyes and faces dropped.
To show his knowledge of men, and his manner of govern- ing them, the following is introduced. Mr. Stebbins was ap- pointed by vote of the Society to superintend the plastering and finishing the meeting house. Capt. Jacob Pettibone was employed to do the mason work, and he loved liquor. While at work one day, a neighbor told Capt. Pettibone that Mr. Stebbins had said he was slighting his work and not doing it according to contract. "Did he say that?" "Yes, I heard him say it". Instantly Capt. Pettibone threw down his trowel, stripped off his apron and indignantly marched to Mr. Steb- bins' house, and knocked at the door. Mr. Stebbins bade him walk in. He did so. "Mr. Stebbins," said he, "you are a
rascal. You say I am slighting my work. You say I am not doing it according to contract; and I tell you to your face,
you are a rascal." Mr. Stebbins arose calmly and opened a door. "Madam Stebbins", he called. "Madam Steb- bins, will you come here a moment?" She appeared at the door. "Madam Stebbins, here's Capt. Pettibone come to tell me my faults: and he comes in a neighborly way and in a Christian spirit; he don't go and talk behind my back, but, as a Christian should, he comes right to me, and makes his complaint. I want to treat him well, and show a proper spirit, and now I wish you would make a good mug of sling, - and pretty strong." Capt. Pettibone was invited to be seated. In anticipation of the soothing beverage, his resentment began to be appeased, his taste for which overcame all other feelings; the "sling" was brought in, and Capt. Pettibone was invited to drink. He was not slow to accept the invitation. Under the influence of the spirit, his anger disappeared; mutual apologies were made, and they parted good friends. On one occasion Mr. Stebbins had arranged an exchange of pulpits with Rev. Mr. Gaylord of West Hartland. There was no travel then on the Sabbath. On Saturday, therefore, previous to the day of exchange, Rev. and Madam Stebbins set off in their chaise for West Hartland. They must needs go through Barkhamsted, then a rough and broken wilderness. On arriving there, Madam
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Stebbins was very sick, and unable to proceed further on the journey. But the engagement must be fulfilled, and Mr. Steb- bins proceeded alone. 'On Monday he returned and found Madam S. greatly improved in health, and his anxiety was removed. He had been greatly alarmed. In speaking of it after- wards, he said, "I was afraid that Madam Stebbins would die; but I felt that if it was God's will that Madam Stebbins should die, I could be perfectly reconciled to the Will of God; but the idea that Madam Stebbins should go to Heaven by way of Barkhamsted, - that was too humiliating - too humiliating".
As has been said before, Mr. Stebbins was an extensive farmer. A large portion of his farm was light plain land. In his Sunday ministrations he was wont, in the Summer season and especially in times of drought, to pray for rain, to water the dry and thirsty earth. After he was dismissed, and his successor, Mr. McLean, was installed, the latter purchased a farm of a different character. It was observed that he was not in the habit of praying for rain; and the question was asked of Mr. Stebbins, "Why don't Mr. McLean pray for rain?" "Ah, his land lies low".
After his dismission, Mr. Stebbins was a uniform and exemplary attendant upon divine service on the Sabbath. His successor had made an exchange with Rev. Mr. Hawley of Northington (now Avon). Mr. Hawley had become well stricken in years, as well as stricken with palsy; hence not a captivating preacher. He had chosen for his text the following: "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab". The sermon was long and treated, as was the custom of those times, under many different heads, and, at the close of each head or division of the dis- course, the text was repeated, - probably as a clincher. Be- fore the close of the sermon, the text had been many times re- peated. "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass and went with the princes of Moab". Mr. Stebbins began to be uneasy and to show signs of impatience. At last the sermon - as all things must - came to an end, and the meeting was dismissed. As Mr. Stebbins walked out of the door, he gave
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vent to his pent-up feelings. "Ah," said he, "I was greatly fatigued, and I did wish, many times, before the Sermon was finished, I did wish that Balaam had gone bareback".
About three years before the close of Mr. Stebbins' minis- try here, Messrs. Thomas Case, Calvin Barber and Benjamin Ely were engaged in erecting and putting in operation a Gin- Distillery on Hop-brook. They were all prominent young men in the Church and Society, and Mr. Stebbins manifested a deep interest in their undertaking. He foresaw that if success- ful it would furnish a market for his grain, as well as that of his neighbors, to say nothing of the forthcoming beverage. No doubt too he felt an interest in the prosperity of his young parishioners. This interest he showed by frequently visiting them while the work was in progress. When it was nearly completed, and its success was no longer doubtful, they com- plimented their Pastor, by sending him a keg of their "best", accompanied by the following presentation note:
"Monday evening Dec'r 5th.
Rev'd Sir: The Subscribers, your parishoners, having under- taken & nearly completed their Distillery, and having been frequently honored with the presence of their worthy Pastor, while building the same, request you to accept this small present, as a mark of gratitude and respect.
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