USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > Historical sketches of Meriden Connecticut > Part 4
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Mr. Hall was pastor of the Church about thirty-eight years, and died in March, 1767. During his ministry about 250 persons were added to the Church. In his personal appearance he is said to have been quite small of stature. He was "a man of strong intellectual powers, much esteemed as a preacher, of great firm- ness and stability, and a zealous advocate for civil and religious liberty." He lived in a house, not now in existence, which stood on the lot where the present residence of Mr. Willard Hall-one of his descend-
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MINISTRY OF THE REV. MR. HUBBARD.
ants,-now stands. He also owned a farm of about one hundred acres which comprised all the central part of our town. It was bounded by a line, drawn from a point near the house of the late Roswell Cowles, and running southerly about one hundred rods, then easter- ly to a point on the main street opposite the old x Episcopal Church, thence northerly to the house of Mr. Samuel Yale, and thence to the point of departure.
On this farm he built a house for his son. That house now stands, in its original location, and is occu - pied as the Central Hotel.+
During his ministry, a new and much larger house of 1752 worship was erected. It was built in the year 1755, on land given by the Rev. Mr. Hall, out of his farm for that purpose, and stood nearly on the spot where the present Centre Congregational Church now stands. The population in the central and western portions of the town, had so much increased at this time, that we hear of no objections to the erection of the new Church, at a point distant nearly one mile from the spot where the old house stood.
MINISTRY OF THE REV. MR. HUBBARD.
In Nov. 1767, about seven months after the decease of Mr. Hall, the Church voted to invite Rev. John Hubbard to become their Pastor. This vote however was not unanimous, as 42 were in favor of the call, and 21 were opposed to it. At the Society meet- ing, the votes on the proposal to present a call to Mr.
× Charles Street + Francis Alevater derdance
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MINISTRY OF THE REV. MR. HUBBARD.
Hubbard stood, 65 in the affirmative and 37 in the negative. They also voted to give him a settlement, as it was called, that is, a gift of £100 at his settlement, and an annual salary of £80, which was about equal to $250 ; one-half of which was to be paid in wheat, rye, and corn.
But the division indicated by these votes appears to have been a very serious one, and the feelings excited in the Church very strong. For before these votes could be carried out, the minority opposed to Mr. Hub- bard, invited the Consociation of the County to meet in Meriden, and laid before them certain charges against the orthodoxy of Mr. Hubbard. The Conso- ciation cited Mr. Hubbard to appear before them. He refused on the ground that they had no authority in the case. Whereupon they voted to withdraw his li- cense to preach, and so far as they were concerned, silenced him.
The Church proceeded nevertheless, and invited a Council to assemble Dec. 29, 1767, to ordain Mr. Hub- bard. They met; but on the same day, the Consociation of the County, also assembled in Meriden at the invi- tation of the minority. The Council, prepared to ordain Mr. Hubbard, agreeably to the wishes of the majority ; the Consociation, assembled to aid and advise the minority, in opposing the ordination. There was thus presented the unseemly spectacle of two ecclesias- tical bodies, assembled as rallying points, for the two little parties into which the Church was divided.
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MINISTRY OF THE REV. MR. HUBBARD.
Both of these bodies continued in session four days, sending from one to the other, letters, resolutions and remonstrances, becoming themselves more and more excited, and of course, exasperating the feud among the people which had already become intense. At length both bodies adjourned, and the ordination was deferred. But it seems the difficulties only became worse. For at the next session of the legislature in May, 1768, the minority party opposed to Mr. Hubbard presented a petition to that body, with an account of their condition and grievances. The legislature in Oct. 1768, heard the petition, and granted the minority a release from all taxes laid for the support of Mr. Hubbard. The legislature, further advised the Church, to refer the whole affair with all their difficulties to a certain number of ministers and laymen, selected by a Committee of the legislature, and to yield unreserved compliance with their decision. But the majority refused to assent to the recommendation of the legis- lature.
The affair seems to have excited a good deal of attention throughout the State ; for letters and state- ments respecting all these proceedings appeared in the papers, and several pamphlets were published, in which the affair, with all its bearings and the principles in- volved, were earnestly discussed. At length in June 22, 1769, after nearly two years of unhappy controver- sy, Mr. Hubbard was ordained. But so strong was the feeling among the ministers of the State, that few
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MINISTRY OF THE REV. MR. HUBBARD.
or none of them would take any partin the ordination, and a Council, composed principally of persons out of the State, convened at Meriden, and performed the required ceremonials.
In consequence of his settlement a portion of the Church and Society seceded, organised themselves as a separate body and maintained public worship. They met for some years in a private house, belonging to Capt. Shaler, situated near the spot where the house of Mr. George Hall now stands, on the road leading to the north-east part of the town, and about one mile from the centre. In 1770, there were but eight or nine families who met there. Gradually they all re- turned. Mr. Hubbard was said to be a man of unusually kind and amiable disposition, and his perse- vering course of conciliatory conduct, slowly affected the minds of those who had opposed him, until they all returned to an attendance on his ministrations.
About the year 1783, Mr. Hubbard was seriously injured by being thrown from his sleigh, and thereby disabled from preaching. He lingered until Nov. 1786, and died. He built and occupied the house in which Mr. Joel Miller now resides, near the centre of the town.
By those persons now living who still remember him, he is said to have been a man of about the middle size, with an unusually pleasant and benignant counte- nance. His pleasing manners and amiable disposition won for him the affections of the people. As a preacher, he is said to have been animated and interesting.
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REV. MR. WILLARD.
Rev. John Willard was settled as colleague pastor in June 1786, a few months before the death of Mr. Hubbard. His salary was £100-about equal to $330, and thirty cords of wood, annually, and by agreement the wood was to be taken at 8s. per cord. He also received a settlement, as it was then termed, of £200. Since that time, the custom of making donations at the settlement of a pastor-once almost universal in our Churches-has been entirely abandoned here, and throughout the State.
At the time of Mr. Willard's ordination, serious difficulties arose in the Congregation, similar in their origin, to those which appeared at the settlement of Mr. Hubbard. The theological doctrines, styled Ar- minianism and Calvinism, were then warmly debated throughout the State, and had their respective advocates among the ministers and Churches. It seems that Mr. Willard's doctrinal sentiments on some of these controverted points, were distasteful to a portion of the people, and they consequently opposed his settlement. Although there was no organized secession from the Church on account of these differences, yet the dissat- isfaction remained and increased. Very great numbers during his ministry, either deserted public worship altogether, or transferred themselves to other denom- inations, so that the Congregation, was very much diminished and weakened. In consequence of which, Mr. Willard was dismissed in the year 1802. He
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REV. MR. WILLARD.
subsequently removed to Vermont and died there not many years since.
He is said to have been in his personal appear- ance very tall and slender : and to have preached with a good deal of animation. While residing in Meriden, he built and occupied the house, now owned and used by Mr. Samuel Yale, on North Market street, just at the head of Liberty street.
In Feb. 1803, Rev. Erastus Ripley, was settled. His salary was fixed at $400. In the course of his ministry, the Congregation rapidly diminished. Great numbers joined themselves to other denominations, and at one time it seemed as if the Church, would become quite extinct. He was dismissed in Feb. 1822, after a ministry of 19 years.
He was a very large, and commanding man in his personal appearance, and possessed of a strong mind. But his manner of preaching was dry, metaphysical, and destitute of all animation. While, here he built , and occupied the house opposite the residence of Dea. Walter Booth. He was subsequently settled in the eastern part of this state ; and returned here to spend his old age. He died, Nov. 16, 1843.
In Nov. 1822, Rev. Charles J. Hinsdale, was settled. His salary was 8550. During his ministry, the Church and Congregation increased very much in numbers and prosperity ; there were repeated revivals of religion, and a new house of worship was erected. He was dismissed in Dec. 1833, after a ministry of eleven years.
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HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
In March, 1836, Rev. Arthur Granger was settled, and after a brief and troubled ministry of about two years, was dismissed, in July, 1838. The present pas- tor was settled May, 1841. Salary, $700, and a house.
HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
A 1757-2
The erection and location of the first house of wor- ship within the limits of our town has been already noticed. It was occupied twenty-eight years. second house was built in the year 1755, which was about sixty feet long and fifty broad. Originally it was without steeple or bell. It so remained until the year 1803, when a steeple was added, and a bell pro- cured. This house was occupied for public worship, seventy-six years. In June, 1831, a new house was erected on the spot where the former one stood, and is now occupied by the Centre Congregational Church. The cost of this house was about $7,000. Its dimen- sions were 78 feet long, and 50 feet wide. But as the population increased rapidly, there soon was need of another house of worship. As this increase was mainly in the western part of the town, it was decided to erect a new house at the point usually styled " the Corner," or " West Meriden." According- ly the house we occupy at this time was here built, at an expense of $8000. It is 90 feet in length, and 56 feet in width. In addition to the cost of the house, the land was purchased for $800; a large bell and a town clock of superior workmanship, were also
daled - 1751 +2 refer to the
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OLD CUSTOMS.
procured ; and the interior of the house furnished with elegant lamps, with carpets, and cushions through- out for every pew, and with two furnaces ; all of which raised the cost of the house as we now have it, to about eleven thousand dollars. In the rear of the Church is a lecture room, 50 feet long and 36 feet wide, erected at a cost of about $1200. It may perhaps be proper also to insert here, that in the year 1841, a beautiful parsonage was erected on the hill, which in 1847 was sold, and another was built near the new Church, the cost of which was about $3000.
OLD CUSTOMS.
For many years it was the custom in Meriden,-as it had been in their parent Church, in Wallingford, and indeed throughout the State-to " dignify and seat the meeting house." On this practice and its con- sequent evils, a few words have already been said on a previous page. The custom was maintained here until the occupation of the house which was built in 1831. The Society then adopted the plan of renting the pews annually, at public auction, thus giving to each person the opportunity of selecting a pew suited to his taste.
The younger part of my readers may be interested in some information relative to another custom, now obsolete and fast passing into oblivion. In the " good old times," the houses of public worship were never warmed. Indeed, some would have deemed it an inno- vation sadly ominous of degeneracy, if not of actual
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OLD CUSTOMS.
profanation, to make the house of God, comfortable. Of course, the hearers, in the cold weather, must have sat in an atmosphere, the very thought of which makes one shiver. Those who had travelled several miles to reach the place of public worship, as many of them did, and entered the house half-frozen, literally found " cold comfort." As prayers and sermons then, were much longer than moderns will endure, the winter hearers of those days must have endured a species of martyrdom. It is said that sometimes preachers com- plained bitterly that their voices were drowned by the noise of persons stamping, or knocking their feet to- gether, in the attempt to get up a little warmth.
As a partial relief to such suffering, some persons built near the Church, what are often mentioned in the old records, as "Sabbath day houses"-little cabins about ten feet square, furnished with a fire-place, chim- ney and some chairs. Here the owner retired with his family at the intermission, and partook of some refreshment preparatory to the freezing process of the afternoon. It is a curious illustration of the tenacity with which old habits are cherished, that here as else- where, the proposal to make the house of God comfortable and healthful by means of stoves, was met with very decided opposition. Even in 1831, when the new house was built, it was with great difficulty that the Society could be induced even to allow chimneys to be built, though they were to be erected gratuitous- ly. But warmth is now esteemed as appropriate to
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THE STATE OF RELIGION.
the house of God, as to one's parlor ; and the "Sab- bath day houses" which once nestled down around the Church, have all disappeared.
THE STATE OF RELIGION.
Of the general state of religion in this Church, in the earlier periods of its existence, we have very scanty information. But we know that from the year 1700 and onward, thoughout all New England, experimental and vital godliness had very much decayed. This is not the place to enter upon a discussion, or even a full enumeration of the causes of this declension. The " half way covenant"-the numerous and almost inces- sant wars which oppressed and harrassed the people, fierce political agitations of the day, were, no doubt, among these causes. But in the fact of such declension, all accounts agree.
An accurate historian speaking of those times says, " there is a fearful decay creeping, I cannot say, but rushing in upon these Churches, a visible shrink, in all orders of men, of that greatness and goodness which was the first grain that our God brought into this land."
In 1715, the General Association say, "that there was a great want of Bibles, great neglect of public worship on the Sabbath," and complain of intemper- ance and other vices. Trumbull remarks, " that there was little of the power of religion, that professors were worldly and lukewarm-the young people were
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THE STATE OF RELIGION.
loose and vicious-family prayer was neglected-the Sabbath was profaned-taverns were haunted, intem- perance and other vices increased ; and many of the ministers preached a cold and lifeless morality."
We may therefore conclude with almost entire certainty, that Meriden did not differ much in these respects from the rest of New England : and that in our town, as elsewhere, formality, irreligion and declension, prevailed to a mournful extent. So far as the records of our Church, throw any light on the subject, we are led to the same inference : for we find that year after year, not more than one or two, united with the Church annually.
But in 1735, commenced a series of stupendous revivals in New England. They originated at North- ampton under the preaching of the great and good Jonathan Edwards ; and were characterised by won- derful extent and power. They extended into Connecticut. In some places, not a solitary person could be found, whose mind was not concerned for his soul's interest. In 1740, and 1741, various towns in Connecticut were most wonderfully affected-people flocked together on all days in the week, in great crowds to hear the word of God-they would fill the houses, and then stand clustered around the doors and windows, pressing eagerly to hear-they would go from one town to another, wherever there was public worship. The results of these revivals were most delightful and permanent-the morals of the community became
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THE STATE OF RELIGION.
wonderfully improved; intemperance, sabbath breaking and profanity disappeared, and it was said that if bags of gold or diamonds had been left lying about in the streets, no person would have touched them.
About this time also, the celebrated Whitfield trav- elled through the country, preaching. In 1740, he passed through Connecticut on this very road, from Hartford to New Haven, and once at least, if not sev- eral times preached at Wallingford, then our own town. There can be no reasonable doubt that Meriden shared to some extent in the revivals which attended the labors of Whitfield, and our records inform us of considerable accessions to the Church at that time. But I have not been able to obtain any definite infor- mation, of the nature and progress of the revival.
From that period, I have not been able to learn that there was any season of revival in this town for the space of seventy-four years. As a natural consequence, both religion and the Church, had arrived at a point of very great declension, and feebleness. The Con- gregation had become very thin, and was daily becoming weaker. But in 1814, there commenced a very precious and powerful work of grace, and it was thought that one hundred were converted. In 1829 there was another revival, and it was hoped that about fifty were led to Christ. In 1833, God again granted his blessing, and about seventy, it is believed, repented of sin. In 1837, this Church was once more favored with a season of refreshing, and forty professed to have
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
experienced religion. In 1840, there was still another work of grace, and it is stated that as many as one hundred and forty were converted. In 1847-8, there was some special interest in religious subjects, and it is hoped that nearly one hundred became true Christians.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
For about seventy years after the settlement of our town, there was no organized body of Christians with- in our limits except the Congregational Church. In the year 1739, a Baptist Church was formed, of which Rev. John Merriman was pastor. This Church however, by the emigration of its members, and from other causes, ceased to exist, about the year, 1750.
Various individuals, however, continued to prefer the faith and practice of the Baptists, and ministers of that denomination occasionally preached at private houses, in different parts of the town. In 1786 another Baptist Church was organised in the town, consisting of twelve members. Then, and subsequently, individ- uals became members of this Church, who resided in Cheshire, North Haven and Westfield, as no churches of this denomination of their preference existed in those places. For fourteen years their assemblies for public worship convened in private houses, in the south- east part of Meriden. In the year 1801, their first house of worship was built, in that same part of the town, south of the present residence of Mr. Ivah
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Curtiss. It was about thirty-five feetlong and twenty- five feet wide. In 1816, they abandoned this house, and erected a new Church, in the centre of Meriden. In 1831 the house was enlarged, and adorned with a steeple. In 1848, the Baptist Society, increasing with the growth of the town, erected for themselves a large and beautiful Church, not far from the site of the former one. The cost of the new house, completed and furnished, together with the land, and the lecture room, was $9,500. Its dimensions are 76 feet long, and 53 feet wide.
For a long time the Baptist Church had no stated pastor. During this period, when not supplied with preaching by regularly ordained ministers, their public services were conducted by some of the brethren select- ed and appointed for that purpose by the Church. In the year 1806, Rev. Samuel Miller was ordained as their pastor, and continued with them until his death in 1829. He will be long remembered in the town for his indefatigable zeal, and estimable character. Sub- sequently, Rev. Messrs. William Bentley, Russell Jennings, Nathaniel Hervey, George B. Atwell and Malcom, were successively pastors. In 1838, Rev. Harvey Miller, son of the first pastor, was installed. During his ministry, the Congregation has gained rap- idly in numbers and strength, having been favored with repeated revivals of religion. He is still with them ; no less loved and esteemed than his venerable parent.
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THE EPISCOPAL AND METHODIST CHURCHES.
The Episcopal Church in this town, was organized about the year 1789. For several years their assem- blies for public worship convened at a private house in the western part of the town. Their present house of worship in the central village in Meriden, was erected in the year 1809; it is 45 feet long and 36 feet wide. A new and elegant Gothic Church of stone, is now in the process of completion, the cost of which will prob- ably be about $12,000. It is 80 feet long, and 45 feet wide.
The Episcopal Church has been supplied with quite a numerous succession of pastors, who have individually remained here but for very brief periods, and all their names I cannot ascertain. With great regret I am compelled to state that many of the details of the history of this Church are lost; as on application to the present pastor, for facts to be embodied in these sketches, he informed me that the records had been so imperfectly kept, that nothing of any value could be gleaned from them.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
The establishment of the Methodist Church in this place, is an occurrence so very recent that very little information can here be communicated. The Chris- tians of this denomination were associated as a Church, and commenced the stated worship of the Sabbath, in the year 1844. In 1847, they completed and occu- pied their new and beautiful house of worship at the 10
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CENTRE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
" centre ;" built at an expense of $6,000. Its dimen- sions are 60 feet long and 40 feet wide.
CENTRE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The account of this Church has been virtually in- cluded in the previous sketch of that Church of which it was a part. When the increase of numbers necessitated the erection of a new house at the " Corner," in the year 1848, a part of the brethren preferred to retain and use the old house of worship. They were accordingly organized into "the Centre Congregational Church and Society," and the property was equally divided between them and the "First Congregational Church and Society." In 1848 their first pastor, Rev. A. A. Stevens was ordained.
OBSERVATIONS
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MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.
MANUFACTURES.
The manufactories of Meriden, constitute so prom- inent a feature in its present condition, that one naturally feels some curiosity to know something of their origin. Indeed, such is the surface of our town, so much of it is covered with rocky and barren ridges ; or with swamps unfit for tillage, that if we had remain- ed exclusively an agricultural town, our population would not have increased, probably for the last thirty years ; and our pecuniary circumstances would have been equally cramped. For with our soil, we could never have competed in the market with the rich lands of the South and West, in the production and sale of agricultural products. But the home market furnished by manufactures has stimulated and rewarded the farmer, giving new value both to his land and his crops. One who was acquainted with this place thirty-five years ago, wearing every appearance of stagnation and dilapidation, must, with high gratification, contrast that decay with the life, thrift and taste, now so characteristic of Meriden.
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MANUFACTURES.
According to the best information I can obtain, the first effort which bore a faint resemblance to a " factory" appeared in 1791. Mr. Samuel Yale began to manu- facture cut nails. He and his son worked in a small shop on the hill, near the present site of the Centre Congregational Church. Their little machine was worked by their own hands, and each nail was " headed" separately and by hand. About the year 1794, the same Mr. Yale, commenced the manufacture of buttons on a small scale. They were made of pewter, and would be considered by us a coarse and rough article. But at that time they met a ready sale. For a long time, only two or three men were employed in the business.
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