USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the Second church of Christ in Hartford > Part 22
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" The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, . as well the singers as the players on instruments !"
It surely deserves notice that this Church has been greatly blessed in the communion and fellowship of the other Churches of the vicinage, and in the counsels and min- istrations of the able, kindly, and godly pastors who have lived and labored together here in a beautiful unity. This tribute of gratitude and affection, the pastor of this Church, in the name of the Church, pays to his brethren in the minis- try, of all Churches, to the living and to the departed. Not one of the ministers of Hartford who, in 1860, kindly greeted
1 Mrs. Huntington is a direct descendant, through her mother- Marcia White,-of John White who was one of the founders of the Second Church, and its only known Elder. See pages 59 and 60.
17
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his arrival here, survives. The last of that "goodly fellow- ship of the prophets " suddenly fell asleep on an October day in 1887, - that great-minded, great-hearted, most manly, most womanly, most beloved, and every way remarkable Dr. Burton ! in whose death every church in Hartford was dis- tinctly and greatly bereaved.
And last, but possibly not least, the Second Church owes more than is commonly known, to the flawless fidelity and diligence in the hard duties of his humble but honorable vocation of John Hassett, the sexton. Such "a doorkeeper in the house of God " is seldom found. It were rude to fail of respect and honor here towards a man so guileless, a ser- vant so good and faithful.
Here, then, our task undertaken with reluctance and pursued in a feeling of great personal unfitness for it, may most suitably conclude. Would that it might have fallen to more capable hands. But because such hands seemed wanting, therefore, out of abounding love and honor for this dear old Church, and with such measure of diligence, accu- racy, and candor as he possessed, the writer has composed this chronicle, which, however imperfect, he hopes may seem to have some value and honor in the days to come.
He cannot close it, however, without confessing to the people of his charge his debt of gratitude to them for their unwearied patience, kindness, and charity toward him. For thirty-three years, many of which have been years of extraor- dinary public excitement, there has been no quarrel, no contention here. We have borne the burden and heat of a long, toilful, but glorious day. Our communion in joys and sorrows, in work and worship, has been very sweet. We have laid to their earthly rest many dear comrades, brave men and gentle women, whose names and faces are enshrined in our loving memories. The bugle-note sounded in the first sermon preached by the writer in this Second
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Rev. Edwin Pond Parker
Church of Hartford, he sounds again, speaking unto the children of Israel that they " go forward !"
In the land of " The Long Ago" it is both pleasant and profitable to linger for awhile. In its twilight solitudes all is still and restful, and an atmosphere of mystery and sacredness abounds. The very ground is holy, for there are the living roots of all the wide-spreading prosperities of the present age. There, too, are the graves of those heroic men and women by whose toils and sacrifices were sown in tears the precious seed of such golden harvests as men now reap with songs.
But the "good, old times " were, after all, comparatively dark, dismal, and undesirable. The conditions of life were narrow and hard and poor. Under the rigidities of religious discipline hypocrisies flourished. Under pernicious restraints mischievous eccentricities and abnormal types of character were too often developed. Not only do we live amid material comforts that make our world far more endurable and enjoyable than that of former ages, but we possess an intellectual light, a social welfare, a civil and spiritual freedom, of which our forefathers scarcely dreamed. The Promised Land, the Golden Age is yet to arrive !
The fact of a church more than two hundred years old, that dates almost from the first settlement of the community in which it exists, living on from age to age as a continuous power for good, gradually gathering into its fold and em- bracing with its ministrations of mercy generation after gen- eration, and amid all vicissitudes still uplifting its holy prayers and psalms, whose echoes float on forever, touches the chords of imagination and veneration. In this fact is somehow given to us the consciousness of an organic life, through which the spiritual forces of the distant past act upon us and quicken us. Hence the subtle and graceful in- spirations of holy memories and associations. The repose of history is shed upon our tumultuous life. In this wide and august communion of saints we are sobered, steadied, com- forted, encouraged.
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Through all the changes of two centuries this Church has stood, where its noble founders placed it, upon the broad and sure foundation "of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone." The worship of God has been maintained and the sacraments of the Church have been administered in her sanctuaries, almost without interruption. The sacred fire kindled upon her rude altar more than two centuries ago has never been ex- tinguished ! 1
Dear, ancient Church, thou art compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses ! God bless thee forever, and make thy sons and daughters in the future an honor to the men and women of the past by whom they are honored !
Till the Son of Man shall come again in glory, mayest thou stand secure and flourishing upon the eternal founda- tions, and thy light still shine more and more purely and brightly in this community !
"Peace be within thy walls! Prosperity within thy palaces !" For my brethren and companions' sake I will now say,
PEACE BE WITHIN THEE !
1 Between the pastorate of Mr. Whiting and that of Mr. Buckingham there was an interval of five years. During the Revolutionary War the Church was without a pastor for seven years. With these exceptions the pastors have followed each the other in remarkably close succession. Not counting the brief service of Dr. Whit- man's colleague, there have been ten pastors in this succession, making the average term of pastoral service a little more than twenty-two years. Thomas Buckingham served thirty-seven years, Dr. Whitman served forty-four years, Dr. Flint served thirty-three years, and the present pastor has entered upon his thirty-fourth year. This record is certainly a remarkable one, and speaks well for the Church and Society.
APPENDIX I
PAPERS RELATING TO THE EARLY CONTROVERSY IN THE CHURCH IN HARTFORD, 1656-59.
In the second volume of the Connecticut Historical Society's Collec- tions, edited by Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull (1870), may be found the valuable papers referred to in the title above, printed from copies of the originals in the British Museum, together with the learned editor's notes and comments upon them.
In this appendix only such portions and descriptions of these papers are given as serve to illustrate the attitude, spirit, and motives of the minority or " withdrawing " party in the controversy. The important letter of June 11, 1656, signed by George Steele and twenty others of the minority party, is printed in the first chapter of this book, page 23, and therefore is omitted here. For the same reason the letter of March 20, 1656, is omitted here ; see chapter 1, page 25.
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I
NOTES OF WHAT PASSED BETWEEN CAPT. JOHN CULLICK AND THE REV. MR. STONE.
Cullick. If he had declared that we had not taken content in his tryall, the Church might have had 110 other consideration; but he not declaring any such, then it lieth on our part to hold forth something to him, that we either do like and approve of him or not.
Mr. Stone. I do not think it is necessarie for him to expresse any dislike. Mr. Michall never expressed any dislike when he left the con- greg: as we are not to express any dislike of him, that must be known first, whether he go to the Bay absolutelie resolved neur to return.
Cullick. That must be as we carry towards him: we have had a tryall: is it meet we, now the time is out, we should let him go away and never say what our further desires are of him ?
[The discussion of which this is a fragment probably occurred at some meeting of the Hartford Church, when the question of calling a minister as Rev. Mr. Stone's colleague was under consideration. Mr. Hooker died in 1647. In 1649 Rev. Jonathan Mitchell, then tutor at Cambridge, preached in Hartford by invitation, and was called to settle here as pastor, but declined the call. Some years after, perhaps in 1653, Michael Wigglesworth preached here.]
II
REPLY OF THE WITHDRAWERS TO A COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM THE CHURCH.
See Chapter First, page 23.
III
FROM THE WITHDRAWERS TO THE CHURCH.
See Chapter First, page 25, where most of this paper is printed.
IV
MR. STONE'S RESIGNATION OF OFFICE IN THE CHURCH.
Mr. St. express: w" hee laid downe his place.
That he would lay downe his place and office power: That he should not improve that power, or act as an officer any more amongst them: That hee would not have the ch: thinke they were noth[ing] but great words, but hee would have them Assure themselves hee did not onely say it, but hee would doe it; tooke his leave of the Congregation, thank- ing them for all theire Loue and Respect to him, telling them that if any Bro: thought hee had received more than his Labors deserved or an- swered, hee would restore it to ym: professing allso that hee did it not out of any disrespect to them, nor with respect to any place or imploym'
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of greater honor and advantage that was in his view, for hee professed hee Knew not whither to goe, but if hee could doe any th: for the Ch: where euer hee came, in procuring them another in his room, hee would doe it; for another might doe good in this place, though he could not; that he clearly saw that his worke was done in this place, and that hee liad the Advice of the Ablest Elders in the Bay for what hee did.
Uppon this, severall of the Ch: at the same time lamented theire sad condition, that they should be Left as Sheepe wthout a Shepheard, and what should they do on the Saboath dayes, with severall other ex- pressions to the same purpose.
Then he replyed, that if the Brethren desired it, while hee tarried amongst them and as hee was able, hee would speak to them on the Saboath dayes, as a Brother; and upon this the meeting broke up.
Since this, hee hath refused to act as an officer; and before there was any Leader or moderator chosen, hee tooke the voate of the ch: about acquitting him, and said he did put that voate not as an officer but as a brother. Lastly the major pt of the Brethren then mett have (as we conceive disorderly) chosen (as they say) another to lead the ch: in his roome.
[In dorso:] June 11th, 56.
Mr. Stone's speech when hee laid downe his place.
[The date is not of Mr. Stone's resignation, but of the indorsement of the paper. This paper and the preceding ones were probably a part of the case submitted by the withdrawers to the first council held in June, 1656.]
V
FROM MINISTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS TO CAPT. JOHN CULLICK AND ELDER WILLIAM GOODWIN OF HARTFORD.
[It is not worth while to print this paper here. It was signed by John Wilson, Richard Mather, Samuel Whiting, John Sherman, and John Norton, and was dated Aug. 4th, 1656, or about two months after the council of June, 1656, at Hartford.
It begins with expressions of deep regret that the breach at Hartford " still continues unhealed, notwithstanding the endeavor of the late reverend council." (It should be remembered that Mr. Stone and his party did not accept the result of that council, and declared it "of no force.") Then the Mass. Elders suggest a conference of both parties at Hartford, with “ breth- ren from these parts," either in Boston or Hartford, for the " timous compos- ure of ye differences of your church." They say that they are "to this day uncertain of the particulars of your dissent," and that they are "unpraeoc- cupated as to any partie." From their letter it appears that Mr. Stone was then in Boston. Most of the letter is given up to outpourings of sorrow in view of so great a breach and scandal in a church of so much reputation hitherto.]
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VI
FROM CHURCHES IN MASSACHUSETTS TO THE CHURCH IN HARTFORD.
[This letter is too long and irrelevant to reproduce here. It bears date Sept., '56. It bewails the condition of things at Hartford, gives mueh solemn exhortation, and makes suggestions of conferences in the spring.]
VII
FROM THE WITHDRAWERS TO THE CHURCH.
DEAR BREATHREN: -
The sight and perusall of your letter hath caused us many thoughts of hart what to return to you, what to our selues, what to our Lord and Master, whom we Know to be the Prince of Peace, sent from the Father of peace, and sending his Spirit to lead us in the ways of peace by those means of peace wbich himself hath appointed, and whom we Know alsoe to be the Amen, the faithfull and true witness, the same yeasterday, to day, and the yea for euer: and that faithfulnes hath ben shewed in giving for us our straight, stable, suer, imutable way of peace, out of which he would not have us to wander under the pretence of peace, lest wher [we] seek lying vanityes we forsake our own mercies: the con- sideration whereof we have often, and desire we may alway, have in our eye: and accordingly attend your proposall.
Whose harts are for peace, he only that searcheth the hart ean dis- eearn; whose wayes are for peace, he ean and will discover: and that we have walked in those wayes we have the testimony of our con- sciences within, and that evidence of rule that will elear it without to the world; for whereas to the wounding of our harts their grew a breach in our peace, wee propounded our thoughts and judgments of the rule, and attended that way of debate which your Selues judged most aceord- ing to rule; and you expressed yo'selves that if we would but give in our things in writting, you looked that the differences wear euen at an end; which, as we feared, we have found a sad mistake.
In our writting, we presented that which we accounted and judged rule and reason. And yorselves not concurring with us, we, after many propositions and prayers, obtayned a councell of prsons suiting and an- swering yor propositions and desires; wherein how far wee condescended and denyed our selues to seek peace your selues Know, and we Know and can evince how loath we wear it should have beene as it was, which yett at last we granted.
When this Councell was come, and we had declared our things to them, (as we thought we had said what was rule and reason, soe) they, in most of our things, concurred with us, and strenghned our thoughts: whearin they did not, we readily attended their couneill, and their abide, which
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we think was according to rule. And now if you can show your actings soe for peace, there will be the less difference. Wee have thought it was reason, we held foorth for a way of peace and scripture light for what we pleaded: you thought otherwise, and called in theise persons for their help between us or to either of us: and wee attende, and you doe not; haue we not forgone our owne thoughts for a councill, and in a councill, and yet haue them concurring with us, when your selues doe neither soe, nor soe, and yett still ar calling for converting light?
Off which who shall be judge, or when shall we know that we haue attended the multitude of councillers in which their is safety ?
You commend to us the wayes of peace, But wheare do you in all your letter go about to prove your proposall a way of peace or a rule of Christ ? Sillogismes we are not skilled in, yett we look at the reason of the letter, in our way of reasoning, to be thus: - That if we agree in so many things, then we must and ought to agree in sending to the Bay for Elders, and to them of the late councill ; though there be no rule or reason aplyed.
Whear is the convincing light heer held foorth to us, or such course taken to doe it, as we have done towards you? And, Brethren, suppose their wear a rule to call another councill, which hath not yett bin shewn us ; hath the hardness of our agreement to choose the former councill (whearin you pleaded that if we did not take that you Knew not wheather ever we should agree for any one councill or noe) made it so easye now ? Wee wear then long skanning and debating of the persons ; and is it noe more now but send to the Matachusets for their Elders, who perhaps may not, at least some of them, be so fitted every way for our work. And for the Elders of the late councill, wee see not that your inter- teynment of their councell hath been such as would be any incoradg- ment to them to com againe, except they see things in another frame.
Now Brethren, we profess in words of truth, all things considered, we Know no rule warranting us to graunt your request, neither doe you shew us any, if we understand your meaning.
Therefore, Deare Brethren, we doe beseech and intreat you, in the fear of the Lord and for the sake of Christ, to yield to that councell that is already given: Either, in the first part of it, which would be mat- ter of great rejoicing and comfort to our hearts, if your light and con- science can come thearunto; or elce that you would, in like tendernesse towards us, graunt us our dismission, according to our desire formerly exprest: that soe boeth you and wee may bee in a capacity to enjoy the good things of Christ asunder, which wee have now soe longe time been deprived off in our being together. And soe we rest yor loving breth- ren ; in the name of the rest,
JOHN WEBSTER, JOHN CULLICK,
WILLIAM GOODWIN,
ANDREW BACON,
Hartford, March 13 | 14, 56-57.
[In dorso:] Or letter to Mr. Stone & the Ch: desiring them to attend the advice of or Councell, March 13 56.
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VIII
MR. STONE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND STATEMENT OF HIS POSITION.
I. I acknowledge yt it is a liberty of ye church to declare their apprehensions by vote about ye fitness of a prson for office upon his Tryall.
2. I look at it as a received Truth yt an officer may in some cases hinder ye church fro putting forth at this or yt time an act of her liberty.
3. I acknowledge yt I hindered ye church frö declaring their appre- hensions by vote (upon ye day in question) concerning Mr. Wiggles- worth's fitness for office in ye church of Hartford.
4. I am not conscious to myselfe yt I intended therein ye least just grievance to any brother, yet wn I discerned that it was grievous to diverse brethren, and I had expressed my own apprehensions about ye rule in ye case, I should have been willing to have left ye church (had they desired it) to their liberty in voting.
5. As concerning ye manner of ye carriage of this businesse I suspect myself, that I might faile therein ; and whatever error or failing therein God shall discover to me by ye helpe of any of ye Elders of ye late reverend Assembly, or of ye dissenting brethren, taking in ye help of ye messengers frö y" churches of ye Bay, my hearty desire is not only to freely acknowledge it, but heartily to be thankful to any or all of ym by whom such light shall be prsented.
6. In publishing my considerations together with ye determina- tions of ye late reverend Assembly at that time, I acted unseasonably. SAM : STONE.
This 18th of 2m 1657.
[On the same document, under date of the 20th of same month, was written as follows : 1
I. Touching ye matter of suspension, I owne ye sentence of the Councell therein.
2. Wn the charge of infringement had been debated in the church at two meetings, wherein I had answered for myselfe, one brother after this desired Mr Goodwin to clear mee, or to prove that charge. Mr Goodwin said, if any would charge him, he would answer him, and that was all he did say; yet to prevent trouble and for other reasons, ye church thought meet to express their apprehensions for my clearing.
3. Touching attorneyship : wa ye dissenting brethren charged me with infringment, I appeared and answered in person two severall times, if no more, and at a following meeting the church acquitted mee ; afterwards Capt. Cullick prsented a paper wrin he charged mee wth ye said infringment, from which ye church, having formerly acquitted mee, returned ye paper subscribed, as an answer thereunto.
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4. As for ye choice of a moderator, it proprly and mostly concerns ye brethren and ye person chosen : But so far as I acted by advising to it, it was ye present exigence of ye church yt led me thereunto.
[The above paper was drawn up while the Elders and messengers from Massachusetts were in Hartford. In a note upon it by Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull, "its cautious concessions and grudging acknowledgment of the writer's suspicion of his own error or failing " are remarked. In what is said about charges "of infringment " made against Mr. Stone by a party in the church, the root of the differences is doubtless touched ; but on what grounds that charge was made, is not clear. The nature of the differences is indi- cated, though the facts are obscured. Mr. Stone was high-handed and uncongregational in his assumption and exercise of authority, as his own grudging concessions show.]
LX
MR. STONE'S LETTER FROM THE BAY, TO THE CHURCH AT HART- FORD, WITH CERTAIN PROPOSITIONS, &C.
[Instead of giving this letter in full, I shall present only a digest of its more important portions. It was written about the first of August, 1657. The Bay Elders and Messengers had been in Hartford but a short time before "to endeavor a reconciliation" between the parties there, and had effected some sort of Pacification. (See Conn. Col. Rec., I : 290-291, and Hull's Diary, 3 : 18o.) Mr. Stone begins this letter by expressing his gratitude that God "hath so comfortably composed those troublesome difficulties which were between us," and his hope that they may be guided in the ways of love & peace.
If he felt able to administer the affairs of the church successfully, he would not think of separating himself from it, but his age and infirmities make him apprehensive that he may not be able to cope with the difficult matters of the pastorate there; also he fears a possible outbreak of the old dissensions. It may be better, he suggests, for him to retire, and minister in some other field. But, if the Hartford Church will accept certain propositions which he presents, he will continue to be their minister. The propositions are, sub- stantially, as follows :
I. The Church of Christ at Hartford shall bind themselves in the pres- ence of God to Samuel Stone, their teacher, "to subinit to every doctrine which he shall propound to them, grounded uppon the sacred Scriptures, and confirmed by such reasons from the word of God, that no man is able to gainsay." And Samuel Stone binds himself to "attend any reason " which shall be presented to him by any brother of the church who shall offer to dispute with him, and so bring his doctrine to public trial. The reason- ableness of this remarkable " covenant " is painfully argued.
II. The church shall bind themselves not to bring in any officer to join with Samuel Stone " without his consent and approbation."
III. The church shall allow Samuel Stone full liberty to "seek out a help to him," in preaching, and to propound such an one as he judges fit & suitable to the church, "who shall give their free consent if Samuel Stone can give in sufficient testimony and evydence of his godlynesse, learn- ing, ability, and fitness for that employment !"
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IV. He expects the church to engage to procure some able physician to dwell in Hartford " before the next October," if possible.
Comment on such propositions, in the circumstances, is unnecessary. It is no wonder that Hull's Diary speaks shortly after of " the breach at Hartford again renewed ; " of "God leaving Mr. Stone, their officer, to some indiscre- tion ;" and of "Satan taking occasion also by Mr. Stone's absence some weeks from them." The next letter shows how the Pacification ended. ]
LETTER FROM THE WITHDRAWERS TO OTHER CHURCHES, IN- CLOSING THEIR REASONS FOR SEPARATION.
REVEREND AND DEARLY BELOVED IN OUR LORD JESUS, in whome we wish you the multiplication of grace, merey, and peace, the which wee hope wee shall so much the more earnestly pray for yor enjoyment of, by how much the more bitter we have felt the absence and loss of the same,
Wee having long lived in the fire of contention, using and seeking means to the utmost that wee might have quenched the flame, finding ourselves scorched more and more therewith, have been forced by Mr Stone's breaking of our pacification, after all other trouble, to flee from that which wee could neither quench nor beare ; which, what sorrow of heart it is unto us, hee only that searcheth the heart knows ; Somewhat of the ground of our withdrawing wee have sent you heere inclosed, and may, as we see the Lord calling us, declare further ; our meaning therein being onely that, as becomes Christians, wee might be ready to give an accot of our actions and courses which else might in themselves look doubtfully, and bee by others represented otherwise than indeed they are. So, desiring your earnest prayers to the Lord for us, and your favorable construction of that course which our meere necessity and conscience enforceth us to, we desire the presence of the Lord with you and his blessing upon you ; we take leave and rest.
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