USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 35
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MINISTRY OF REVS. ELIADA BLAKESLEY, AND OTHERS.
As has been said, Mr. Dodge was still here as late as October, 1802. There is nothing to show when he ceased to preach. But at a meeting of the society, January 10, 1803, the following action was taken to call a successor-"Vot-yt ye Baptist society should give Mr Elida Blakely a call to Preach with us ye year insuing. 2ª vot yt Maj Wightman and Noah Durren is to inform him yt he has a call from ye society to Preach with us the insuing year. 3ª Vot y' we will contribute to him for his reward on ye Sabbath."
Mr. Blakesley had preached here a few times, and it was a general desire that he should settle. He came upon the ground after the above vote was passed, but remained only a short time. So brief was his ministry that it is doubtful whether he should be named among the pastors of the church. At any rate, within six months he had come
1 Rev. T. L. Shipman says : " Nehemiah Dodge became Universalist preacher-kept tavern at New London-was a great horse jockey-bad man-disagreeable even to the Universalist body-died very old and buried in New London." See also History of New London, p. 598.
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and gone. There was hut little in the condition of the society to en- courage any one to settle. The members were mostly poor, and conse- quently unable to give much toward supporting a minister. And it was a question seriously debated as to whether, as a denomination, they should not disband. If it was difficult to secure a pastor, it was equally so to get occasional supplies for the pulpit. "From two to four dollars a Sunday " was all the compensation they could offer. But still there was that pious persistency that we look back upon with admira- tion, and which enabled them to hold on their way. If they had no preacher they would still have a meeting. June 17th, 1803, the church " voted to hold meeting at the meeting house the whole of the time when there is no preaching until further agreed on. Voted to appoint Decon Huff, to lead in the above said meeting."
Sept. 18, 1803, the church made another effort to secure Mr. Wild- man, and " voted to petition Elder Wildman to preach with us one- half of the time for the year insuing or a less part if he cannot be ob- tained one half. Voted Brother Stoddard Wightman to petition as above."
But this application was made in vain, and the effect was only the more to depress the church. The attendance upon the services had so much decreased that it was deemed advisable to hold no services during the following winter, unless a preacher was present on the Sabbath, and it was voted, Dec. 18th, "to Discontinue the meetings at the meet- ing house only when we have preaching."
So impoverished was the church that even the small salary of Mr. Dodge (three dollars, thirty-four cents per Sabbath) had not been fully paid, and as late as May 4th, 1804, a committee was appointed to in- quire concerning the members who had been "delinquent in paying their proportion to Elder Nehemiah Dodge."
During the years. 1804-5-6-7, there was only occasional preaching Feb. 16th, 1806, another vote was passed appointing Deacon Hawley a committee " to request Elder Wildman to preach with us as much as he can the insuing summer." This request having been denied, it was voted April 3d, "to send brother Jeremiah Neal on behalf of the chh to request Bristol Baptist chh to release Brother Miller that quarter of time he is to preach with them, that he may preach the same with us." It was also voted to send Deacon Hawley "to request Deacon Mills to come and preach with us a Sabbath." This Deacon Mills, I suppose, is Jared Mills of Simsbury, and later of Canton, who in 1812, appears on the records of the Association as an Elder from the latter place. For several years before he had represented both places as a lay dele- gate.
For the following nine years, the experience of the church was
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gloomy enough. During 1810, Elder Miller of Meriden, occasionally supplied, and he supplied at intervals until 1815. In 1814, Mr. Miller was sent by the church to represent it in the Association held at Strat- field. In 1811, Mr. Wildman preached four times. And also in 1812, Mr. Wildman alternated with Mr. Miller, and each supplied the pulpit seven Sabbaths. According to a brief note in the records there was preaching five Sabbaths; and in 1814, twelve Sabbaths, by Elder Miller, Wright, and Wildman.
MINISTRY OF REV. DAVID WRIGHT.
It was in July, 1814, that the church had first engaged Mr. David Wright, a licentiate, to preach occasionally. As has been stated, he had alternated with Elder Miller and Wildman. There is no recorded vote, of church or society, concerning the fact, but Mr. Wright himself, in a private letter, states that he was called in November, 1814, to be- come pastor, and "immediately entered upon the service to preach to them every alternate Sabbath." The intermediate Sabbaths he preached at Kensington. Thus, it seems, he supplied the pulpit during the win- ter of 1814-15.
The church voted, April 15th, 1815, "to have preaching three- fourths of the year. Voted, that we agree that Mr. David Wright preach with us half' of the time for Nine months beginning immedi- ately." Mr. Wright continued to preach according to this vote, and in . October, represented the church in the Association that mnet at Cole- brook. March 23, 1816, the church " voted to invite Elder David Wright to remove his standing to this church and to take the charge and lead of the same." -
Mr. Wright gave a favorable answer, and, April 26th, the church voted as follows, " Pursuant to a vote passed on the 23d of March," to invite Elder David Wright to remove his standing to this church, and to take the charge and lead the same; upon his acceptance of said invi- tation, with a letter of dismission and recommendation from the church in North Haven, dated the 31st of March, read to us-Voted that he be received and recognized as a minister of this church, and as the El- der, Pastor, or Bishop of the same so long as he may in Providence be continued amongst us."
The membership had been reduced to less than forty, but during the first year of Mr. Wright's ministry, twenty-two were added by pro- fesssion, and four by letter. But even with this increase of strength, it was found hard work to support the pastor. A healthy principle of the church was that each member should pay his proportion of the ex-
1 Mr. Wright had begun services at Kensington, to be held half the time.
41
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penses. As far back as 1804, action had been taken upon this matter, and every inember was required to bring forth his " tithes." A great deal of self-dental and patience was demanded to maintain a church of this faith and order. The struggle lasted for years. Mr. Wright dili- gently labored, but discouragements met him day after day. He shared the anxiety, toil, and sacrifices of his people until 1818, when he sought a dismission. This was granted at a church meeting held April 10th, when it was voted .. that Elder David Wright be dismissed from the care and charge of this church according to his request. he having removed his residence to Wallingford." It seems he had already removed to Wallingford and taken charge of the Academy in that place. He continued to supply this pulpit, however, a part of the time, and Oct. 18th, of the same year, it was voted to rescind the action touching his dismission. He appears to have remained acting pastor until January, 1819, preaching a part of the time at $4.50 per Sab- bath. Sept. 19, 1819, a letter of dismission from the church was voted him.
May 24, 1818, the church passed the following: " Whereas a ques- tion has arisen with certain relation to the external appearance and apparel becoming a christian, therefore it was voted that each member have the privilege of conforming to the dictates of his own conscience and the light he has from the word of God."
During the years 1819-20, preaching was secured so far as the means of the society allowed, and Rev. Josiah Graves preached a few Sabbaths. In 1821, the society voted to have preaching half the time, and voted the same for 1822.
There are no records of the society for years 1819-26.
The Rev. David Wright was born in New London, July 30, 1788, and was the son of David and Martha (Hubbard) Wright.' He is the sixth generation from Benjamin Wright, who settled at Killingworth (now Clinton), Conn. His father was David Wright, a graduate of Yale College in 1777, and an attorney-at-law, in New London, until his death, Sept. 4, 1798. His mother was Martha, daughter of Capt. Russell Hubbard, a shipping merchant of New London, [ who? removed to Norwich during the Revolutionary war, and died in 1785, leaving three daughters. His wife was Mary Gray of Windham]; she died March 7, 1836, aged 70. She was a godly woman, and trained her six orphan children in the fear of God. The subject of this sketch was ten years old when his father died. At twelve he entered a select school and began the study of Latin. but pecuniary stress led to his leaving school at thirteen, when he was sent to Boston to learn the
1 Married in 1786.
2 History of Norwich-Miss Caulkins.
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printing business. From this time on he was dependent upon his own resources, and continued at his trade until he was twenty-two. At this age he had such a desire for an education, that he collected his " goods " and returned to Norwich, to see if his desire could not be gratified. He was here introduced to Rev. Joshua Bradley, of Walling- ford, with whom he afterward pursued his studies. Mr. Bradley was from Rhode Island.1 a graduate of Brown University, and a thoroughly educated man. He came to Wallingford in 1809, and tanght a select, school in that place. The second Baptist society having disbanded, he preached to the remnant on the Sabbath. He met with great opposi- tion, but overcame it so far as to build up a large school and quite a strong church. It was under this teacher and preacher that Mr. Wright placed himself. He pursued his studies in the sciences and the- ology, assisting in the school to pay expenses.
While in Boston, he had attended the church of that celebrated Bap- tist divine, Dr. Stillman, and as one of the subjects of a revival in that church, was baptized, April 26, 1805. Almost immediately arose his desire to preach, and the purpose to qualify himself for the work.
While at Wallingford, a new church was organized at North Haven, with which he connected himself. By this church he was licensed to preach, June 17, 1811. For three years he continued his studies, and preached in various vacant parishes, until he settled in Southington.
In the spring of 1819, he removed to Westfield, Mass., and there remained for eight years, and in four years of this ministry baptized about one hundred persons. After leaving Westfield he preached at Becket and Cummington in the same State, and finally accepted a call to the latter place, remaining there till 1835. He then spent a year in Worcester county, when he was appointed by the Mass. Baptist Con- vention, a missionary to the feeble churches west of the Connecticut river, and in this service he was engaged two and a half years. In the winter of 1838-9, he was employed in instructing the Indians on Martha's Vineyard. In May, 1839, he went to Northampton, Mass., to labor with a feeble church-thence in March, 1840, he went to Con- way, where he preached a year. In April, 1841, he went to Water- ville, N. Y., for two years; then to Romulus four years. In 1847, he returned to New England, and in July, entered upon a year's service for the American and Foreign Bible Society, in New Hampshire. The winter of 1848-9, he spent at Milford, Conn. Four months, in 1849, he spent again in New Hampshire. In Oct., 1849, he began labors at Colebrook, Conn., continuing them for three years. In 1853, he visited, and preached in several towns in New Jersey, and a portion of the .
1 History of Wallingford, by Davis.
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same year he spent in Litchfield Co., Conn. For fifteen months he preached at Wethersfield, beginning in May, 1853. Then for two or three years he visited several of his former fields of labor, when in May, 1857, he accepted a call to North Lyme, Conn., where he remained about three years. He was afterward at Clinton, for a few months, since which time he has preached as opportunity offered. He lives at present with one of his children at Essex, Conn.
Mr. Wright was married, April 21, 1814, to Abigail, daughter of Rev. Thomas Goddard [formerly a merchant at Newport, R. I., who afterwards studied theology, and was settled at Preston, Conn.]. Mrs. Wright was born Aug. 14, 1796, and was baptized by her father when she was twelve years old.
REV. IRENUS ATKINS.
Mr. Atkins was born in Southington, Nov. 15, 1792, and was the son of Samuel and Eunice (Wightman) Atkins, and grandson of Rev. John Wightman. The house in which he was born stood about twenty rods from the old school house in Mt. Vernon district. With- out the advantages of education in his youth, he grew to be a man before he gave much attention to reading or study. He had learned a trade and was diligently working for a livelihood, when he felt him- self called upon to preach the Gospel. The gifts exhibited in religious services, persuaded his friends that it was his duty to devote himself to the Gospel ministry. He received license to preach, from the church of Bristol. into which he had been received a member.
He began his labors in the school house under West mountain, on the last Sabbath of 1826. The meeting house at Southington center had been deserted, and only " four brethren and ten or fifteen sisters remained of the former church." It was these ruins that Mr. Atkins felt called of God to try and rebuild. His first service in the school house was attended by about thirty persons. Gradually, religious in- terest was awakened, until his congregation became quite large. During the winter of 1826-7, there was quite a revival in that part of the town. Only one Deacon of the church (Ezra Clark) was living. He and a few others felt that the time had come to reorganize and attempt service anew at the center. The church (that now had been somewhat increased by the revival) met July 8, 1827, and passed the following votes:
" Voted that they give a call to Brother Irenus Adkins to the Pas- toral care of this Church. Voted-that Brother Joel Neal and Anson Merriman be a Commity to confer with him on the subject of being Ordained to the ministry and make report to the Church."
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" The Comitty report to the church August 4, 1827, that said Ad- kins consents to be Ordained over the Baptist Church in Southington and that Ordination be at the Meeting House Aug. 29, 1827."
" the Comity for to make arrangements for the Association are Deacon Ezra Clark, Joel Wightman, Jessey Thorp."
" Baptist Church unanimously agreed 4th August to except the re- port of the Commity and Voted to Ordain Brother Adkins over the Church in Southington."
"The Ordination of Brother Irenus Adkins is posponed untill the Ist Wednesday of October, 1827."
" 3d October, Brother Irenus Adkins was ordained to Preach the Gos- pel as an Evangelist where he might in the course of Providence have a call."
"Feb. 1, 1828. At a Church Meeting held at the Meeting House the Church voted to give a call to Rev Irenus Adkins to take upon him- self the watch and care of the Church as soon as he shall join the Church."
"3d Feb., Rev Irenus Adkins was dismissed 1 from Bristol Baptized 2 Church by letter and received in to the Baptist Church in South- ington."
The ministry of Mr. Atkins shared extensively in the revivals of 1831-5, and his church was much enlarged and strengthened. He
1 " The following incident in connection with the removal of Brother Atkins from Bristol, and his settlement here, may not be wholly uninteresting.
The Church here were desirous that Brother Atkins should settle with them per- manently. He also was impressed with the duty of continuing with the people where God had so marvelously blessed his labors, and where such rich blessings had de- scended upon the people. This feeling was not responded to by the Church in Bristol. Deacon Hawley, the senior deacon of that Church, was unwilling that his brother and associate in office should leave them for another field of labor.
It became a question of so much importance, with no prospect of a harmonious set- tlement among themselves, that a council of ministering brethren from other churches was called to advise with them in relation to it. The matter was presented to the council, Deacon Hawley, with great earnestness and deep feeling, insisting that his associate deacon should not leave them, while Brother Atkins felt that it was plainly his duty to 'go and preach the gospel.' When nearly all the ministers had expressed their views in the matter, one of the youngest among them arose and said that he was reminded of an incident which occurred some 1,800 years ago. When the King in Zion was in Judea on a certain occasion, he said to two of his disciples, ' Go ye into the village over against you, and you shall find a colt tied; loose him and bring him hither, and if any man say unto you why loose ye the colt, say unto him, the Lord hath need of him.' 'And now,' said he, ' my advice to this Church is that if the Lord needs Brother Atkins to preach the gospel in Southington they should let him go.' Deacon Hawley arose, and with trembling voice and tearful eyes withdrew his objec- tions, and acquiesced in the decision of the council."-Baptist Manual.
2 So spelled in the records.
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continued to act as pastor until the spring of 1839, when he resigned. His people reluctantly consented to release him. which they did, March 13. By his zeal in their service, he had secured their respect and affection. He retired from his field of labor with a consciousness of having faithfully attempted his duty.
The church now entered upon a period of trial that thoroughly tested and sifted it. That it escaped utter dissolution was owing to Divine protection.
In Sept., 1839, a candidate appeared before the people and preached with such acceptance that immediately it was proposed to make out a call for him. Some of the wiser members of the church (and among them the late pastor) saw that this action was hasty and inconsiderate, and sought to arrest it. But it was in vain.
This candidate was the Rev. E. C. Rogers. At first he had given brilliant sermons. but there was something lacking, that awakened dis- trust 1 in the more thoughtful. He continued to preach until the au- tumn of 1840, when those who had been led to distrust him desired that a council might be called to satisfy them that Mr. Rogers was evangelical.
.They saw that a desperate effort must be made to become relieved of him, or else the church itself, as an Evangelical Baptist Church, must perish. The choice was plainly before them, either to tamely submit to the Unitarianism struggling for dominance, or heroically fight for church life. This latter alternative they adopted. Hence at a special meeting, which was very largely attended, held on the 21st, the mo- tion to employ Mr. Rogers for another year, was lost by a vote of 46 to 23. And again at an adjourned meeting, Aug. 28, the motion to hire him for three months, was lost, 46 to 42. These votes were car- ried by " the female members." and it was felt by the friends of Mr. Rogers that if only " male members " voted they could carry the day. Hence at a meeting held Sept. 11, Mr. Olney moved "to exclude fe- male members from voting except by invitation by a majority of the male members," and the result showed a tie? vote. It was then voted as follows: " Whereas that as many in the Church have for a long time been dissatisfied with the preaching and doctrines as advanced by Mr. E. C. Rogers, and believing it to be not in accordance with the scriptures but highly detrimental to the interest of the church and
1 He was from the first suspected of doctrinal nusoundness. Mr. Olney afterward detected him in preaching sermons of Channing, Parker, and others of the liberal school.
2 The widow of Deacon Huff was so concerned for the church that, although aged and feeble, she walked three miles to attend this meeting. Her presence decided the question. She always felt that she was led by a special providence to this duty.
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Cause of Christ and as some of the Members (it is believed) are em- bracing the same doctrines or supporting Mr. Rogers in propagating them,
Resolved therefore, that we call a Council of our Brethren of sister Churches to sit with this Church in Council to examine the Doc- trines by him advanced and taught, and give us their opinion and advise.
Voted to send to the following Churches to send delegates to sit with this Church, Ist Baptist Church, Middletown; 2d do., Suffield; Ist Bristol, do .; New Haven, do .; Branford, do .; Wallingford, do .; Meriden, do .; Ist Hartford, Ist Philad-
Voted the following as Com" to present the Business before the Council and also to wait on Mr. Rogers to see what time will suit him best for Calling the Council also fixing the time for said Council to meet and offer him the privilege of selecting one half the Council from any of our Sister Churches, and Erasing a part of those invited by the Church and adding to the Comt of half the number Composing the Council.
The Com" appointed to lay the subject before the Council are Jesse Thorp, Lloyd Lewis, Rollin Dickinson, Levi B. Frost, Jeremiah Male."
The council convened Sept. 22, of which the following is an official сору:
"Church met with the Council agreeably to appointment. Council organized by the Choice of Rev. Simon Shaler Chairman and Rev. D. C. Haines Clerk. The following Churches were Represented; Ist Mid- dletown, 2d Suffield, Bristol, Meriden, Ist Hartford, New Haven. Council voted to Invite Brethren of Sister Churches to take part in the Council. Brethren Thorp, Dickinson, Frost, Neale & Lewis were Re- ceived as Comt of the Church in Southington. The Committee the following Charge & Specifications against Rev E. C. Rogers who has been Preaching for the Church. He Preaches false Doctrine in Regard 1st to Depravity; 2d Agency of the Spirit; 3d Existence of Fallen Angels; 4th Personality of Satan; 5th Miricles; 6th Change of heart; 7th Punishment. After Patiently Receiving all the Evidence Presented by the Committee, and those approving of Br Rogers' Course, the Council Retired and after mature and Prayerful Deliberation Pre- sented the following Preamble and Resolutions. It is due to the Council and the Cause whose Interests they have met to Promote to State that in Discharging the Solemn and Responsible Duties which Devolved upon them, they have felt the full force of the Circum- stances of Delicacy which necessarily attend an Investigation of Per- sonal Sentiments affecting alike the Ministerial Character and useful- ness of a Professed Embassador of Christ. They have therefore En-
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deavored to proceed Cautiously, Deliberately and Prayerfully in the Investigation of matters Intrusted to them, and they Cannot but Ex- press Sincere gratifications which they have experienced from the fact that perfect unanimity has Characterized their Deliberations and that they are entirely unanimous in the Result to which they have been Conducted. They Deem it proper also to Say that they Indulge a pleasing Consciousness of having been Influenced by no undue bias or predilections in forming an opinion in the Case before them, and they Beg the Church to Receive the assurance that there has throughout the Investigations but one feeling of Respect on the part of the Council for all Concerned in this Case of Difficulty and one unanimous and Strong Desire that the peace of Zion here may be Restored. Painful to them as has been the necessity for their advice, they Indulge the hope that when it is given it may not be Recklessly Contemned or heedlessly set at naught by any portion of the Church. Relying there- fore upon the magnanimity of the Brethren and Especially upon their Christian Courtesey and Principle the council proceed to announce the Result of their Deliberations. Resolved that in the opinion of this Council Mr. E. C. Rogers has Departed from the Simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus. Ist by Denying the Existence of fallen Angels, and the personality of Satan. 2d by So Stating and Explaining the hu- man Depravity, Regeneration, Agency of the Holy Spirit, Attonement, Miricles, and future punishment, as to misguide the unskilful and oc- casion misunderstanding and Difficulty in the Church of Christ. 3d by attempting to Explain and Reconcile what Lies beyond the prov- ince of human in the present State, and are properly the Secret things that Belong to God.
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