USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > A record and documentary history of Simsbury > Part 29
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With Esteem, Thomas Case, Benjamin Ely, Calvin Barber."
Rev'd Samuel Stebbins.
In answer to this they received the following:
"Tuesday Decem 6th
Respected and dear Friends.
You will please accept my most cordial thanks for your animating present; presented in a manner singularly polite & agreeable. It affords me peculiar satisfaction, that your laudable exertions have been so far crowned with success.
35I
You will believe me to be sincerely desirous to promote both your temporal & spiritual prosperity. Messrs Thomas Case. With Respect.
Benjamin Ely. Calvin Barber.
Samuel Stebbins."
The original of the foregoing pleasant correspondence has been preserved and framed and is in the possession of Mr. Horace Belden, of Simsbury, the present owner of the Old Distillery. It is proper to add, however, that many years ago, its present proprietor extinguished its fires and ceased to carry on the business.
Notwithstanding his faults, Mr. Stebbins was a man great- ly respected and beloved by a large portion of his parishioners, and as a Pastor his labors were greatly blessed. His succes- sor, Rev. Allen McLean, in his "Semi-Centennial Discourse" says of him: "He no doubt hastened his dismission, by preach- ing political discourses, which manifestly savored of the un- happy party spirit of the times".
At a Society meeting held on the 3d day of November, 1806, "a Letter was recd from the Revd M' Stebbins requesting a dismifsion from his Pastoral charge of sd Society". A Com- mittee was appointed "to confer with the Revd Mr Stebbins upon the terms of separation and to report to this Meeting at an adjournment". At the adjourned meeting, on the 17th, the Committee reported the conditions stated by Mr. Stebbins, in regard to the payment of arrearages due on his salary, and that in compliance with these terms, he would "relinquish all claims upon the Society for past Services & future Support." These terms were accepted by the Society, and a vote passed "relinquishing their claims upon Mr. Stebbins for his services as their Minister agreeable to his request."
He was accordingly dismissed, having continued in the pastoral office twenty-nine years.
After his dismission, he continued to preach occasionally in the neighboring towns, as needed, and for a considerable time he was employed as Chaplain to the Old Prison at New Gate. He resided on the place now occupied by Mr. Wilson Gillett, owning a large tract of land on both sides of the road,
352
1806.
Soc. Rec. B. 2. P. 5.
including "Hazel Meadow" and "Hazel Meadow Pond". The house in which he lived is still standing (1887).
Mr. Stebbins died January 20, 1821, in the 70th year of his age, and the 44th of his ministry. His funeral was attended by a large number of people; Rev. Allen McLean, his successor and pastor, preached from the words, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." He was buried in the old burying ground. His monument is a plain marble headstone with the following inscription:
"Reverend Samuel Stebbins Died Jan. 20th 1821. In the 70. year of his age, and the 44th of his ministry.
"He taught us how to live, and Oh too high
The price of knowledge - taught us how to die".
After the dismission of Mr. Stebbins, three years passed before the settlement of another pastor. The call and set- tlement of a minister is an important event in the history of a town or Society. How much of good results from the settlement of a good minister? How important to both preacher and people, that he should be the right man in the right place? These considerations seem to have weighed upon the minds of the people at that time.
Among the candidates for settlement was the Rev. Thomas Robbins, lately well known as the accomplished Li- brarian of the Connecticut Historical Society. Many others were "improved" as candidates or as supplies, - for longer or shorter periods. Preaching was cheaper then than now, though its quality may have been as pure, and perhaps less adulterated than at present. The ordinary price per Sabbath for journey- men-preachers was six dollars - as shown by the following Bills:
"1807. Dr. Elijah B. Wells. To Cash in full. $84. Contra. By Supplying the Pulpit 14 Sabbaths, at 6 Dollars. $84.
Dr. Luke Wood Contra
To Cash in full $30. By Supplying the Pulpit 5 Sabbaths $30.
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Dr. Thomas Robbins.
To Cash in full $180. By Supplying the Pulpit 30 Sabbaths at $6. $180.
1808. Some however worked cheaper, thus -
Dr. Judson Phelps.
To payment made by Mark Humphrey $10. By preaching 2 Sabbaths. $10."
This last, if reports are true, was an exorbitant price for the article furnished.
The price current at the present time is $20. and $25.00. Of those who preached here, after the dismission of Mr. Steb- bins, either as candidates or supplies, we find the following names: Revds Messrs Wells, Marsh, Robbins, Cleaveland, Colton, Wood, Skinner, Walds and Judson Phelps.
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FIRST CHURCH BUILDING . 1683
XXXIII
Rev. Allen McLean
After the dismission of Mr. Stebbins, the Society, having "improved" a large number of candidates, made a strong effort to induce Rev. Thomas Robbins to settle with them as their pastor. At a meeting of the Society in April 1808, it was voted "to appoint a committee ... to confer with him, ... on the subject of his settlement in said Society." At a subsequent meeting, the Committee were authorized "to contract with him for the sum of Four Hundred Twenty Five Dollars a year." A Committee was afterwards appointed "to circulate subscriptions, for the purpose of raising seventy five dollars annually, for the purpose of making up or increasing a salary for Revd Mr: Thos: Robbins."
On the question of giving him a call, "the sense of the meeting ... was taken by the rising or standing up of members and it pafsed UNANIMOUSLY." Furthermore, they gave him a vote of thanks "for his late performances in this Society, and that he be requested to continue his ministerial labors," etc. but all in vain. Probably the sum offered was not satis- factory. The effort to raise $500 annually was a failure, though the Society voted him a salary of $450.
At the Annual meeting of the Society, November 7th, 1808, it was "voted that the Committee wait on Mr. McLean & request him to supply the pulpit four months."
1808.
After hearing him a few Sabbaths, it was voted, on the 5th of December 1808, "that this Society do now give Mr. Allen McLean a Call to settle in this Society in the work
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of the Gospel Ministry. (Two persons only being in the negative.)"
It was then "Voted to give Mr. Allen McLean four hundred fifty dollars annually, as & for his Salary, . . . so long as he shall continue in the work of the Gospel Ministry in this Society."
Church Rec.
In this action of the Society, the Church concurred, as its records show. "At a Church Meeting duly warned, and held at the Meeting house in Simsbury February 27th 1809, Samuel Stebbins being chosen moderator, the Church proceeded to pass the following votes:
'Ist. This Church do approve of the Christian and Minis- terial character of Mr. Allen McLean.
1808.
"2nd. This Church do invite the said Mr. Allen McLean to settle over them in the work of the Gospel ministry.
"N.B. The foregoing votes were passed unanimously." "Samuel Stebbins."
To these votes and invitations of the Church and Society Mr. McLean returned an affirmative answer in writing, which, for the purpose of showing the character of the man, is here transcribed :
"To the Committee of the Congregational Church and Society in Simsbury:
Gentlemen: The object of this letter is to give you my answer in the affirmative, to the invitation which I have received from you to settle with you in the work of the Gospel ministry. To describe to you the anxiety which I have ex- perienced whilst reflecting upon the subject, would be as im- possible as unnecessary. When I have, as I think, been labor- ing to find out my duty, many considerations would arise, which have kept my mind in suspense. It has been, and still is my opinion that a young man should be cautious, lest he crowd himself forward, too fast, into public life. I know that people in general expect more especially from a young man, than it is in his power to perform. When I think of being placed as a Watchman upon any part of the walls of God's Spiritual Jerusalem, I fear and tremble. The work appears great and arduous beyond description. But when I think that through
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Christ strengthening me, I can do all things, my fears and distress are in some measure removed: and I think I am willing to take the charge of a flock, provided they are united, offer me a reasonable support, - and provided there is a prospect of my being useful among them.
"Respecting your call, I have received advice from many pious and judicious men. In giving you my answer, I proceed according to their advice, and according to what I think is, on the whole, my duty. It is my opinion, and the opinion of those whom I have consulted, that the support which you have offered me, is not sufficient to defray the necessary ex- penses of a family. But perhaps I am mistaken; I hope I am. The peculiar situation of your Society, - the apparent una- nimity in desiring me to continue with you, and the hope that I may, by Divine assistance be useful in this part of God's spiritual Vineyard, have influenced me to give you an af- firmative answer. If there be opposition to my settlement with you, I have received incorrect information respecting the subject. I give you this answer, upon condition that the opposition to me is not greater and more formidable than has been described to me." "July 20th 1809." "Allen Mc Lean."
The answer of Mr. McLean gave great satisfaction to the Society, as evinced by the following vote, "that we cheerfully accept of the answer received from Mr. McLean and that we fully adhere to our former vote, and desire the Church of Christ in this Society to wait on him, with an afsurance of our attachment to him, and that the necefsary arrangements be made for his ordination."
At a subsequent meeting -
"Ist. Voted that this Society concur with the Revd Mr. McLean & the Church, in the time agreed on by them (third Wednesday of August) for the ordination of Mr. McLean. 2nd. Voted, that this Society concur with Mr McLean & the Church, in the gentlemen they have agreed on for the ordaining council.
"3. Voted that the Society Committee make provision for the ordaining council, and that they sign the letters to be
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Soc. Rec. B. 2 P. 21
1809.
addrefsed to the gentlemen composing the council, requesting their attendance at the ordination."
"5. Dudley Pettibone, Jonathan Pettibone, Noah A. Phelps, Asa Hoskins, Calvin Barber, Cambel Humphry,
Ariel Case, Seth Case, Solomon Buel,
Were appointed a Committee to draw up & execute a writ- ten agreement with Mr. McLean, agreeably to the votes of the Society."
A contract in writing was drawn up and signed by this Committee, on the part of the Society, and by Mr. McLean, on his own behalf.
On the part of the Society it was stipulated that so long as he should continue in the work of the ministry here he should receive annually the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Dollars.
Mr. McLean on his part covenanted as follows:
"And I the said Allen McLean do hereby accept of the pro- posal and offer made by said Society, and promise and engage on my part to settle as a Gospel Minister over said Society and to take the Church and Society into my charge as their Pastor, carefully to watch over them and faithfully and to the best of my abilities perform the ministerial duties thereof, instructing them in the duties of religion, virtue and morality, so far as God shall give me light and strength." How far and with what fidelity Mr. McLean fulfilled his part of the contract, more than fifty years of his life bore witness; and, could the testimony of his departed parishioners be heard, they would, with united voice, declare his faithful fulfillment of it. They would attest his fidelity, his earnest zeal, his tender sympathy, his watchful care, and his constant solicitude for the good of his people.
The Ordination took place on the 16th of August, 1809. The following ministers and delegates were selected to take part in the exercises. From the Church of Northington, (now Avon), were:
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Soc. Rec. B. 2 P. 23
*
West Hartford, Hartford,
Rev. Rufus Hawley.
Dea. North, Delegate.
Rev. Nathan Perkins.
Dea. Balch, Delegate
Rev. Nathan Strong.
Anson G. Phelps,
Rev. Abel Flint.
Col. T. Seymour,
Rev. Andrew Yates.
Dea. Bidwell,
East Hartford, Wintonbury (now Bloomfield)
Rev. Mr. Miller.
Jos. Goodwin,
Farmington,
Rev. Noah Porter.
Dea. Bull,
Burlington,
Rev. Jonathan Miller.
Dea. Peck,
Canton,
Rev. Jeremiah Hallock.
Dr. Solomon Everest,“
Granby,
Rev. Isaac Porter.
Dea. Hayes,
1809
It was a great day for Simsbury. Multitudes from this and adjacent towns were assembled. The congregation was so large that the lower windows were taken out of the meeting house and seats placed around the house for the accommodation of those who could not enter.
Mr. McLean excelled as a faithful pastor and an earnest, fervent preacher of the Gospel. He was a believer in "Revivals of Religion". In his "Discourse on the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination," he says: "From the first settlement of the town, there had been no extensive, powerful work of grace. There were but about sixty members of the Church. The old half way covenant was then in existence. Numbers were received into the church to have their children baptized, but were allowed to neglect the Lord's Supper. During the first three years of my ministry, there was no special religious movement among the people." Then came a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and many were converted. "They numbered," he says, "not less than one hundred, and I have never heard that so much as one of them has ever made shipwreck of the faith. Since this great revival, there has been a season of refreshing among my people, once in about Seven years. In this manner, religion has been sustained in the midst of us. For our very existence and pros- perity we have been dependent on revivals of religion."
Mr. McLean took a deep interest in the Sabbath School, which was first organized during his ministry, and always gave it his supervision and active support. On the Sabbath he always held religious service three times; and during the week always appointed and attended one, or more than one religious meeting, in the outlying districts of the town. He visited his people as a
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Rev. A. McLean's Semi-Cen- tennial.
Pastor, and rarely left them on these occasions without prayer, and asking the Divine blessing. Were any sick, or in distress, his sympathy was always manifested.
In the cause of temperance, he was ever active and earnest. From the commencement of his long continued ministry all the way through, by example as well as precept, he preached tem- perance. Thus his people were prepared for the great temperance reformation which commenced a few years after his settlement and swept over New England. His theological views were in harmony with those of Edwards and Dwight, which at that time were considered genuinely orthodox.
In one respect he differed from most of the ministers of the present day. He says: "From the commencement of my labors, until I lost my sight, I never spent more than two weeks at a time, for the purpose of enjoying rest and recruiting my strength. I have spent some time in bodily exercise, and endeav- ored to make it profitable. It was productive of good to me and my family. I ever supposed that it was the duty of the ministers of Christ to do something by way of helping themselves; and such was the sentiment of all the ministers of this region of country. They did more or less work with their hands. In this manner they not only preserved their own health, but also se- cured much provision for the benefit of their families." Such a man did not require the recreation of a ministerial vacation, now always insisted upon in the settlement of a minister.
Notwithstanding his uniformly serious countenance, and his gravity and even solemnity of manner, he always seemed to enjoy an inward serenity and cheerfulness of spirit. In his inter- course with his neighbors, he was uniformly courteous and affable.
He had a way of giving advice, or administering rebuke, which was exceedingly felicitous. In the west part of the town lived a Mr. Phelps, whose habits were bad, and whose eyelids in consequence were lined and bound with red tape. He was a great friend of Mr. McLean, and on his way to town always called to see him. On one such occasion, he complained of his sore eyes. "What shall I do for them? What will cure them, Mr. McLean?" "Burn green apple tree," was his laconic reply.
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Mr. McLean and Mr. Belden, notwithstanding the diversi- ty of employment - the one a strong temperance man, the other a distiller, - were good friends and neighbors. After a social visit at Mr. Belden's the latter, on leaving said to him, "Come again, come often Mr. McLean. Don't stay away on account of my business." "Oh no," said Mr. McLean, "and I hope you will come and see me often. Don't stay away on account of my busi- ness."
Mr. McLean continued in discharge of his ministerial and pastoral duties until 1850, when, owing to the loss of sight and other infirmities, at his request a colleague was settled, he however continuing as pastor.
On the 16th of August, 1859, the 50th anniversary of his ordination and installation was celebrated by hosts of friends and admirers who assembled from this and neighboring towns, and even from distant states, who had emigrated, and now re- turned to congratulate their old Pastor and one another on so interesting an occasion. What imparted to it more than ordinary interest was the fact that for eleven years previous, Mr. McLean had not seen a ray of light, having, in 1848, after about two years of impaired vision, suddenly become totally blind. This blindness continued till the close of his life.
The occasion was one of deep interest. It was a day of friendly greetings and congratulations, of present joy and sunny memories. It was a resurrection day of the half century. His interesting "Discourse," suited to the occasion was printed by request of the assembled multitude; and was read and enjoyed by numbers who could not be present to hear it.
Mr. McLean was born in Vernon, in this state. He was a graduate of Yale College, in the class of 1805. He died in 1861, and was buried in the Simsbury Burying Ground. The Society, his family and other friends erected to his memory a granite monument, bearing the following inscription :
"Rev. Allen McLean. The Beloved Pastor, of the Congre- gational Church of Simsbury, Died Mar. 19th 1861, In the 80th year of his Age, and the 52nd year of his Ministry."
"Knowing nothing among us, but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified."
361
During the ministry of Mr. McLean, as during that of his predecessor, the "Seating the Meeting House" was almost the sole cause of disturbance. For several years, a Committee was annually chosen for this purpose, but their acts usually gave dissatisfaction to many persons. The passions of envy and jealousy were brought into action. It was thought the Com- mittees were appointed through favoritism, and that "rings and cliques" managed them. To avoid this, a new mode of appointment was adopted. In 1813, it was voted to seat the meeting house for three years, and that the Committee be ap- pointed in the following manner: Thirty-six names were put into a box, and thirty days preceding the annual meeting the Clerk of the Society was to draw twelve of said names, and the persons whose names were thus drawn were to seat the meeting house and report at the next annual meeting "of their seat- ment." But this did not give satisfaction. The vote was re- scinded, and in 1814, "it was voted to choose one seater in each school district." But the acts of the Committee thus chosen did not satisfy. "The report of the Seating Committee being read three times, it was then voted not to accept said report." "Voted to choose a Committee of five to seat the meeting house for one year."
Soc. Rec. B. 2 P. 29
P. 35
P. 36
1817.
The report of this Committee was accepted. Again in 1817 nine persons were appointed to seat the meeting house and "it was to vote, whether the meeting would accept the said report, and not a hand was raised." At the next meeting, a Committee of three was appointed, whose report was accepted. This mode of seating the congregation was continued till 1824, though the arbitrary thrusting together persons of dissimilar and uncon- genial ways and feelings, though of equal age, always caused unpleasantness.
P. 40
P. 53
In 1824, a new mode was proposed and adopted, viz: the sale of the pews. Up to this time the expenses of the Society were paid by a tax upon its members, like town expenses; but since 1824 all Society expenses for the support of the Gospel have been raised from the annual rental of the pews. For many years it was customary to require of the renter of the pew a note or obligation to secure the payment.
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"Dec. 8th, 1817". . .. "Voted that subscriptions may be opened for the purpose of procuring money sufficient to pur- chase two Iron stoves to be placed in the meeting-house." The Committee appointed to circulate subscriptions for this purpose found so much opposition and apathy, that in 1821, they were by vote "released and excused from further services concerning stoves," but at the same meeting it was "voted, that liberty be given to erect 2 stoves in the meeting-house, under direction of the Prudential Committee." A new Committee of ten persons was chosen to solicit subscriptions for this purpose, and two huge box stoves for burning wood were procured. They were "grand, gloomy and peculiar."
P. 42
NEW MEETING-HOUSE
In 1829, the question of building a new meeting house began to be agitated. Though the old house was decent and comfortable, it was by many considered not sufficiently attrac- tive. It was the second meeting house erected since the settle- ment of the town, and had stood ninety years. The circum- stances of the people warranted and required a better edifice.
At the Annual Society meeting in 1829, a Committee was appointed "to enquire into the expediency of building a new Meeting-house."
P. 64
On the 14th of Jan. 1830, a meeting was called "to see what the Society would do in reference to building a meeting house in said Society," at which meeting it was "Voted, that we will build a house in this Society, for public religious wor- ship."
1830.
P. 66
From the experiences of their ancestors in the erection of the two former meeting houses, fears were entertained by some that like difficulties might ocur in connection with this. But all such fears were groundless. To indicate the preference of its members as to location, it was "voted, that each member of this meeting put a piece of paper into the ballot-box, naming the place for the site of the meeting house." On counting, "there were for Hop-Meadow, or the place of the present meet- ing house the number of 33 & for Wetaug 18." It was then voted "that the meeting House be built on the site of the
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present meeting-house or on the meeting house lot", 58 voting in the Affirmative and 25 in the Negative. "Chauncey Good- rich was chosen & appointed to present a subscription paper to each member of this society & others living in the society who may feel disposed to contribute, for the purpose of obtaining funds to build a meeting house for this Ecclesiastical Society."
The following is a list of persons who contributed for the purpose of building the present Congregational Church edifice which was built in 1830.
This list was taken from the account of William Mather Sr. then treasurer of the Society. Solomon Buel
Thomas Case
Thomas Vining
Calvin Barber
Pinney Case
Salmon Eno
Edwin Vining
George Cornish
Chauncey Eno
Samuel Case
Benjamin Ely
Asa Hoskins Abel Case Jr.
Aurora Case
Noah Hoskins
Mathew Humphrey
Levi Brockett
Elija StJohn
Ursula Stebbins
Joel A Tuller
S. S. Hoskins
Roswell Nobles
Rufus Humphrey Jr.
Friend Case
Titus Barber
Oliver Bradley
Job Case
Judson Wilcox
Asa Cornish
Nathan Goodrich
James Gillett
Elisha Harrington
Chauncey Goodrich
Averitt Wilcox
Rufus Humphrey
Moses King
Ashbel Moses
Sally Miller
Dudley Woodbridge
Elihu Case 2nd.
Oliver C Phelps
Samnel N. Woodbridge
Elam Case
Jeffery O Phelps
John W Pease
Samuel W Case
Mrs Faithy Case
Harvey Tuller
Alexander Phelps
John O Pettibone
Parentha Bodwell
Giles Latimer
Erastus Latimer
Horace Belden
Roswell Phelps
Mamre Tuller
Hayden G Peck
Eilsha Tuller
Dudley Humphrey
Loren Weston
Wealthy Case
Whiting Shepard
Moses Ensign
Abigail Case
Levi Latimer
Daniel Hoskins & Son
Charlotte Phelps
Titus Bissell
Alexander Humphrey
Virgil Pettibone
Ozias Wilcox
Benoni Bacon
William Mather
Grandison Case
Amasa Bacon Jr.
Ehud Tuller
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