USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Centennial memorial of the First Baptist Church of Hartford, Connecticut, March 23d and 24th, l890 > Part 11
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THE CHURCH ORGANIZED.
In the year 1789, this good brother, with a few others, came to the conclusion that the time had arrived to or- ganize a Baptist church in the city of Hartford. Meet- ings were held in the Court-house and in private houses, and on the 5th of August of this year the first baptism was administered in Hartford At a meeting held Sep- tember 7th, at seven a. m., at the dwelling-house of Luther Savage, it was resolved to hold regular public services on Sundays, as a Baptist congregation. Accord- ingly, the first meeting was held October 18th, in the dwelling-house of John Bolles. These meetings were continued, and in the ensuing season a number of per- sons were baptized " on a profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." March 23d, 1790, sixteen brethren and sisters were recognized as a church of Christ, by a regularly called council, over which the Rev. John Hastings presided as Moderator.
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An earlier mention of Baptists in Hartford occurs in Stiles' "History of Windsor," p. 439. This is simply a record of imprisonment in Hartford of Deacon Nathaniel Drake, Jr., for non-payment of the minister's rates and the tax for building a meeting-house. The date goes away back to the more intolerant times of 1767. Deacon Drake pleaded his Baptist connection as a sufficient ex- cuse for paying the unjust tax. But he was imprisoned nevertheless. Neither appeal from one court to another, nor from the courts to the legislature, secured him release from his persecutions.
A succession of obstacles prevented the early settle- ment of a pastor. But the church enjoyed among others the pulpit ministrations of the Rev. John Winchell and the Rev. Adam Hamilton.
PASTORATE OF THE REV. STEPHEN SMITH NELSON.
In the winter of 1796, the church, through the good providence of God, secured the labors of the Rev. Stephen S. Nelson. Under his faithful minis- trations they were greatly cheered and strengthened by the addition of a considerable number of con- verts. The congregation, at first small, was much increased, so that they were encouraged during Mr. Nelson's early pastorate to erect for the worship of God a moderate-sized frame building on the corner Temple and Market Streets. This building was subsequently improved and is now used as a place of business. Mr. Nelson was born in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Mass., October 5, 1772. He was converted at the age of fourteen, and was baptized in his sixteenth year by
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the Rev. William Nelson, and united with the Baptist Church at Middleboro, then under the pastoral care of Isaac Backus, the venerable Baptist historian, and the earnest advocate, in early times, of the rights of con- science and the true freedom of the soul. Mr. Nelson was graduated at Brown University, with distinguished honor, in the 22d year of his age, and was subsequently, for many years, a member of the Board of Trustees of that institution. On leaving college, he studied theology with the Rev. Dr. Stillman, the devout and eloquent pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boston, and often assisted him in his labors by visiting and otherwise. By this means he acquired a thorough practical training for the work of the ministry. In his twenty-fourth year he was licensed to preach the gospel. After laboring two years with the church in Hartford, as a stated supply, he was ordained June 15th in 1798 as their pastor, preach- ing to them at first in an upper room in the Old Court- house. As already stated, however, the church soon secured a convenient place of worship, which, though humble in its appearance, and rough in its furniture, was found to be a true Bethel, "the house of God and the very gate of heaven."
At this time there were but three or four liberally educated Baptist ministers in Massachusetts, and none but Mr. Nelson in Connecticut. Nor were there any other churches in Hartford but the Center and South Congregational, and Christ's Church, Episcopal.
The accurate scholarship, courteous manners, and con- sistent piety of Mr. Nelson, served greatly to aid in the es- tablishment and increase of the Baptist church in the city.
THE FIRST CHURCH EDIFICE.
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The following is an enlarged fac-simile of an advertise- ment, recently clipped from a copy of The Courant of March 22, 1798. No satisfactory bidder could have ap- peared. For the cupola was not built until nearly twenty years later, during Mr. Cushman's pastorate :
NOTICE.
PROPOSALS will be received from any perfon
willing to contract for eredting a Tower and Spire, for the Baptift Meeting-House in this City -the dimentions of which muft be as follows, viz. The Tower to be 14 feet fquare, and in height and diameter in proportion to the Tower. The whole to be done in a plain, but workmanlike manner. The propofals must include all the materials, toge- ther with the erecting and finifhing the fame com- plete. The payment to be made in a valuable tract of New Land, on the banks of Connecticut river,
Propofals will likewise be received for finifhing the infide of faid houfe. Payment as above. Apply to
John Bolles, Samuel Beckwith, Ebenezer Moore, Luther Savage, Zecheriah Mills,
Committee.
Hartford, March 22.
I3
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There was no man, perhaps, to whom the church, in the early period of its history, was more indebted than to
DEACON JOHN BOLLES.
He was a remarkable man, a Nathaniel indeed, in whom there was no guile. Shrewd beyond most men, he never failed to command the respect of his acquaintances, and everybody loved him. Decided in his principles, his soul overflowed with love and charity. Easy, nimble, cheerful, he was ready for every good word and work. He lived for others. The young, especially, loved him. The aged, and, above all, the poor, hailed him as their friend. He was perpetually devising something for the benefit of the church or the good of souls.
How or when he was converted he could not tell. He was brought up under the care of pious parents, and in early life had given his heart to Christ, but all he could say about it was that God had been gracious to him and brought him into his fold. When he related his experi- ence before the church at Suffield, some of the brethren hesitated to receive him. John Hastings, the pastor, shrewdly remarked, however, that it was evident that Brother Bolles was in the way, and that this was more im- portant than the question when or by what means he got into it, upon which they unanimously received him. He was very happy in his connection with the church in Suffield. The members were all his friends. To illus- trate his kindness, the following story may be told from his subsequent life in Hartford. A certain widow Burn- ham lived all alone on the outer edge of East Hartford. One severe winter a fearful snow-storm had raised the
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roads to a level with the tops of the fences. The deacon was anxious about the widow; he was afraid that she might be covered with the snow and suffering from want. He proposed to visit her, but his friends thought it perilous to cross the meadows. Being light of foot, however, he resolved to attempt it. The weather was cold and the snow slightly crusted on the top. By means of this he succeeded, with some effort, in reaching the widow's house. As anticipated, he found it covered with snow to the chimnies. He made his way into the house, and found the good sister without fire or water. He cut paths to the wood-pile and to the well, and as- sisted her to make a fire and put on the tea-kettle. He then cut a path to the pig-pen, and supplied the wants of the hungry beast, by which time breakfast was ready. After breakfast he read from the Scriptures and prayed, and was ready to start for home. In the meanwhile, the sun had melted the crust of the snow, and as he was passing through the meadows he broke through. He tried to scramble out, but failed. He shouted, but there was no one to hear him. The wind blew keenly, and he knew not but that he must remain there all night and perish with cold. But he committed himself to God and sat down for shelter on the lee side of his temporary prison. He finally made a desperate effort, succeeded in reaching the edge, and found, to his joy, that the freezing wind had hardened the surface of the snow, which enabled him to make his way home.
Deacon Bolles was born in New London in 1752, and died in this city in 1830, at a good old age.
About the close of the last century, the cause of evan- gelical piety in Hartford, and, indeed, throughout New
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England, was in a most languishing condition. The churches of the "standing order," as they were called, suffered from the indiscriminate admission of members and laxity of discipline, consequent upon the " half- way covenant system." Intemperance was common, and by no means infrequent among church members. Infidelity, too, produced by the reaction from the Re- volutionary War, and the influx of French principles, had infected the community. No revival of religion had been experienced in Hartford from the days of Whitefield, and, indeed, the idea of a true awakening among Christians was scarcely cherished, except among the few who, both in Congregational or Baptist churches, " sighed and cried over the desolations of Zion." The Baptists, indeed, had experienced such revivals in other, places, and their earnest desire in Hartford was that God might appear for them with life-giving power. The desire was fulfilled in 1798. A work of divine grace commenced in the Baptist congregation, under the labors of Mr. Nelson, which soon extended to other congrega- tions throughout the city and vicinity.
A conference meeting in Hartford was held in the fall. Nearly all the members of the Baptist church were present, with their families, and one or two Congrega- tional brethren, among whom was the excellent Deacon Colton, who, like Deacon Bolles, was a lover of good men, and a true disciple of Jesus Christ. The power of the spirit was manifest, and great grace was upon the assembly. Two brothers were brought into the liberty of the gospel, and others inquired the way to God. Meetings were appointed every night in different places.
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By Sunday the meeting-house was full. It was obvious to all that God had begun to revive his work.
Next morning Dr. Strong called upon Mr. Nelson, and, taking him aside, he said, "Brother Nelson, the great God is at work in the city by the power of his Spirit. The work evidently has begun with you, and I honor the grace of God in you. Now, when I bow the knee before the throne of grace, I pray for you first, and I pray that the work may increase and spread through the whole community. But we must be careful not to grieve the Spirit by any collision. Now, I propose that those awakened in your congregation shall belong to you, and those in mine to me." Mr. Nelson replied that he honored the feelings of Dr. Strong, and hoped that nothing would occur to hinder the work. "And now," said he, "as we both believe the Bible to be supreme authority in matters of religion, I propose that we refer all to that for guidance. I will charge every one to be not brother Nelson's disciple, nor Dr. Strong's disciple, but Christ's disciple. Therefore, I will direct them to Christ and his Word, and I wish you to do the same." "Very well," said Dr. Strong, "that will do," and so the matter passed.
At this juncture the Rev. Mr. Boddily, an English " Independent" or Congregationalist, of excellent char- acter and gifts, who had been known in Boston to Mr. Nelson, made him a visit and consented to preach for his brethren. The Baptist church was over-crowded with hearers, and they adjourned to the Center Church. Mr. Boddily preached from the text, " If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." Thirty persons
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were awakened under that sermon. The work went on with mighty power. Dr. Strong and Mr. Nelson pro- posed to hold union prayer-meetings, which was readily agreed to. And such was the origin of those conference and union prayer-meetings which have been observed in Hartford, more or less, since that time, in all the evan- gelical churches.
All this, of course, could not advance without opposi- tion from the world, and even from some professors of religion. It was a new thing in Hartford. It appeared extravagance and even fanaticism to some. Others opposed, because the great work was something new, and others because they saw in it a condemnation of their own lives and a dark shadow thrown over their future. The Baptists were objects of special aversion. Their evening meetings and their frequent baptisms in the river, excited contemptuous remarks, and occasion- ally threats of violence. "Such a man," it would be said, referring to some active Christians among them, " holds to-night meetings. He ought to be tarred and feathered." Scurrilous poetry was circulated through the groceries and bar-rooms. And the piety of the Separatists and Baptists, as they were styled, became the song of the reveler at convivial feasts. But Dr. Strong and a number of the more spiritual Congregational brethren, among whom were Deacons Colton and Chapin, sympathized in the work of God, and did all in their power to promote it, not only among themselves, but among their Baptist brethren. Dr. Strong even went so far as to baptize two converts in the river. This de- lightful revival continued, with more or less power, till after the year 1800.
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At the first election of Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency of the United States, Mr. Nelson was appointed, with others, by the Danbury, now the Hartford Baptist Asso- ciation, in behalf of that body, to prepare and forward to him a congratulatory address, recognizing his acknow- ledged attachment to civil and religious liberty. Mr. Jefferson himself happened to be somewhat among Baptists in the earlier period of his life, and always admired, as he said, the freedom and simplicity of their democratic form of church organization and government. It is not, therefore, a matter of marvel if the Baptists of that day universally recognized the well-known love of liberty cherished by the illustrious framer of the Declaration of American Independence.
One hundred and twenty-one members were added to the church during Mr. Nelson's ministry.
In 1801 Mr. Nelson resigned his charge in Hartford, and became, for a number of years, the principal of a large and flourishing academy at Mount Pleasant, now Sing Sing, N. Y. But he continued successfully to preach the gospel there and in the neighboring towns. In 1825 he removed to Amherst, Mass., and there died December 8, 1853, in his eighty-second year, leaving an unblemished reputation.
Brief, pointed, earnest, evangelical, Mr. Nelson's 'preaching was eminently sound and practical. His voice was clear and ringing; his manner was impressive and dignified, as became "an ambassador for Christ." His life was simple, serene, and, especially in his later years, heavenly. " He seemed," said a dear friend and rela- tive, "to move among men in the quietness of his own
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reflections, above and aside from the cares and the con- flicts of outward life, at peace with God and at peace with men. 'Mark the perfect man, and behold the up- right, for the end of that man is peace.'"
After the removal of Mr. Nelson from Hartford in 1801, the church was supplied temporarily by the Rev. David Bolles of Ashford. Mr. Bolles did not long retain his connection with the church, but at his own request was dismissed, and returned to his former residence in Ashford. For some years the church was supplied by Deacon Robins, a licensed preacher and himself a mem- ber of this church. He was the father of the Rev. Gurdon Robins, and grandfather of the Rev. Henry E. Robins, D. D., LL. D. . He died at Hartford, June 30, 1829, in his seventy-seventh year.
PASTORATE OF THE REV. HENRY GREW.
In 1807, the Rev. Henry Grew of Providence, R. I., became the pastor of the church. His ministry began acceptably. Soon after his settlement an interesting revival of religion was enjoyed, and a considerable num- ber of converts were added to the church. Coming to adopt sentiments and usages different from those of the church, his connection was dissolved May, 1811, after a pastorate of four years.
Fifty-six members were added to the church during Mr. Grew's ministry.
Mr. Grew was born in Birmingham, England, Decem- ber 25, 1781. His father, John Grew, was a merchant, and, believing that his sons would find better opportuni- ties in the United States, he removed hither with his
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family in 1795. He died four year later, and his eldest son, Mr. John Grew, succeeding to his business, became one of Boston's influential citizens. Henry, the second son, was designed by his parents for a mercantile career, but he was drawn by conviction of duty to the ministry. His studious tastes and habits no doubt strengthened this tendency.
His parents were members of a Congregational church, but in his youth their son Henry, through his study of the New Testament, came to a belief that immersion is requisite to Christian baptism. And he joined a Baptist church in Providence, whither he went to reside very early in the century.
It is evident that a degree of freedom of thought, unusual in those days, was encouraged and exercised in his father's family, for the mother afterwards became a Baptist, and the eldest son a member of Dr. Channing's congregation.
Mr. Grew began his ministry with this church. After the termination of his pastorate he resided many years in Hartford, subsequently in Boston, and later in Phila- delphia, where he died on the 8th of August, 1862, in his eighty-second year. He continued his work of preaching until near the close of his life.
He was a man of strong character and decided convic- tions ; skilled in polemics, and of quiet and gentle manners. His most prominent characteristic was absolute loyalty to truth and right, as they were apprehended by him. From such loyalty no con- sideration of consequences could turn him aside. For his faith was that right is absolute always, and neces-
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sarily, expedient, and that the Ruler of the universe could be trusted with the results of obedience to his own laws. He might have said, "Let justice be done, though the heavens fall." But he never for a moment feared that they would fall. Accordingly, he was an earnest and active Abolitionist. And during the long conflict between liberty and slavery, he faith- fully served the cause of the American slave with his voice and purse.
His life of active philanthropy was not limited to one field of labor. His quick sympathy and large generosity led him to respond promptly and liberally to the numer- ous claims made upon all benevolent persons. In the joy of giving he was abundantly recompensed for the self-denial in his personal expenditures which made it possible for him to impart freely to others.
Twice he visited his native land; the second time a delegate to the World's Anti-Slavery Convention, held in London in 1840.
As he lived so he died, in serene trust, in vigorous faith, and undoubting hope of blessed immortality.
PASTORATE OF THE REV. ELISHA CUSHMAN.
Mr. Cushman became pastor of the church in 1812. He was a lineal descendant of the celebrated Robert Cushman, who had much to do in establishing the Ply- mouth colony. After serving the church for a number of months as preacher, Mr. Cushman was ordained June 16th, 1813, and continued in the pastorate until April I, 1825, when, after his repeated request, he was honorably dismissed for another charge. He was a man of superior
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natural gifts, which he had sedulously cultivated by reading and reflection. This, aided by his heart-felt piety, made him one of the most successful of the early pastors. His memory is dear to some of the older members still living. During his ministry the church enjoyed three revivals of religion, and was greatly in- creased and encouraged. The old meeting-house on Market Street was raised, a basement was provided, a tower or cupola added, and a church bell placed in the tower. The bell was the gift of Bro. Caleb Moore. And the house was otherwise improved. A church in East Windsor was formed from members belonging to this body, over which the Rev. Gurdon Robins, a licensed minister of the church, presided. The work of Foreign Missions was taken up in earnest. The church, with its pastor, incited by the presence of the Rev. Luther Rice, who had returned from India, took the initiative in this matter. A circular was issued to all the Baptist ministers and churches in the state inviting a council, and resulting in a state organization auxiliary to the Boston society.
Two hundred and thirty-five members were added to the church during Mr. Cushman's pastorate.
Mr. Cushman was popular as a preacher even with other Christian denominations, and was often called to preach or deliver addresses on public occasions. He had unusual gifts of utterance, with deep sensibility, and a fine play of genial wit and fancy. His discourses were well arranged, simple and scriptural, with apt illustra- tions and impressive figures. Above all, they were per- vaded with a fervid piety and appealed directly to the conscience.
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He was born at Kingston, Mass., in 1788, and was converted in his twentieth year. He soon began to preach, and supplied the church in Grafton for a year. After this he aided the Rev. Mr. Cornell, of Providence, R. I., in preaching and other pastoral duties. Then he came to Hartford, whence he removed to Philadelphia, and labored with success for years in the New-Market Street Baptist Church. From this place he returned to Connecticut, and preached with acceptance and useful- ness to the First Baptist Church in New Haven. The last scene of his pastoral activity was Plymouth, Mass. He gave up his pulpit labors on account of his health, and returned once more to Connecticut, becoming a resident of this city. Here he edited the Christian Secretary, which, when a pastor, he had helped to estab- lish, in connection with Mr. Robins, Mr. Canfield, Mr. Dimock and others.
His health gradually gave way, and he died among his old friends and family connections October, 1838, at the age of fifty.
In 1824 the basement of the house of worship on Market Street was used by the new Episcopal College, now Trinity, then called Washington.
PASTORATE OF THE REV. CYRUS PITT GROSVENOR.
Mr. Cushman was succeeded August 30th, 1825, by the Rev. C. P. Grosvenor, who, at the end of one year, at his own request, was dismissed to accept the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Boston, Mass. He was born in Grafton, Mass., October 18, 1792, and was a son of the Rev. Daniel and Deborah (Hall) Grosvenor. He died in
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Albion, Michigan, February 11, 1879. His early years were spent in school, on the farm, and in part as a mer- cantile clerk. He entered Dartmouth College at the age of twenty-one, and was graduated in 1818. In his first college year he united with the Congregational Church. The year following his graduation he was Principal of the Academy in Haverhill, N. H. He then commenced the study of theology with his father in Petersham, Mass. Soon after he spent a year as a student at the Theologi- cal Seminary at Princeton, N. J., where began his change of views in regard to baptism. In 1821 he was licensed by the Brookfield Association of Congregational Ministers. After continuing the study of the subject of baptism, he was baptized May 18th, 1823, by the Rev. Richard Fuller, D. D., in Charleston, S. C., and the next day was ordained as an evangelist.
Mr. Grosvenor was a man of culture and character. He was a pronounced Abolitionist in advance of the spirit of the times. He expressed his views fearlessly, and endured the opposition resulting manfully.
Nine members were added to the church during his ministry.
The church was now supplied for a year by the Rev. John E. Weston, of Reading, Mass., a devout and affec- tionate minister of Christ, to whom the members of the church became warmly attached. His health, however, was too feeble to admit of the multiplied duties of the pastorate. He was subsequently settled in East Cam- bridge, Mass., and was drowned at Wilmington, in that state, while on his way to preach in Nashua, N. H. Mr. Weston was the father of the honored President of
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.
Crozer Theological Seminary, the Rev. Henry G. Wes- ton, D. D.
PASTORATE OF THE REV. BARNAS SEARS, D. D., LL. D.
For two years the Rev. Barnas Sears discharged ac- ceptably the duties of the pastoral office. He commenced his labors May 19, 1827, was ordained July 11th, and was dismissed, at his own request, in March, 1829. He was soon after elected a Professor in the Theological Seminary at Hamilton, N. Y.
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