History of the Second church of Christ in Hartford, Part 4

Author: Parker, Edwin Pond, 1836-1920
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Belknap & Warfield
Number of Pages: 496


USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the Second church of Christ in Hartford > Part 4


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On the 20th of July, 1663, Mr. Stone departed this life, after " feeding the flock of our Lord fourteen years with Mr. Hooker, and sixteen years after him." ?


1 Hist. First Church, 175. 2 Magnalia, 1: 434.


43


The Struggle for Existence


In Hartford Old, Stone first drew infant breath,


In New, effused his last : O, there beneath,


His corps are laid, near to his darling brother, Of whom dead, oft he sighed, Not such another !


Heaven is the more desirable, said he,


For Hooker, Shepard, Haynes' company.1


In 1664 Mr. Joseph Haynes began his ministry in Hart- ford, as the colleague of Mr. Whiting. Both these young men were sons of distinguished gentlemen who were among Hartford's carly settlers. Mr. Whiting held to the older and stricter principles of Congregationalism. Mr. Haynes was a "large " Congregationalist, accepted the doctrines of the Boston Synods, and was more of the "Presbyterian," or new way.


Shortly after Mr. Haynes's settlement, a petition was sent to the General Court of Connecticut, expressing the griev- ances of many excellent persons, in that they are debarred from the ordinances of the church, and requesting that "for the future no law in this corporation may be of any force to make us pay or contribute the maintenance of any minister or officer of the church that will neglect or refuse to baptize our children," etc., etc. The General Court, after a considera- tion of the matter, commended it to the ministers and churches of the colony,


" whether it be not their duty to entertain all such persons who are of an honest and godly conversation, having a competency of knowledge in the principles of religion, . . . and that they have their children baptized, and that all the children of the church be accepted and accounted real members of the church," etc., etc.


The principles of the Synod were to be urged upon the reluctant churches, by the influence, if not by the orders, of the General Court. According to Mr. Davenport, most of the Connecticut churches were against the new way. The church in Hartford contained a strong minority, at least, who were opposed to it. The two ministers of the church antag- onized each the other on this burning question, and on a lecture-day, in June, 1666, the smouldering fire broke out


1 Morton's N. E. Mem., p. 303.


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History of the Church


in that church. A letter from John Davenport to Gov. Winthrop reveals the condition ; -


" The people grow woefully divided, and the better sort are exceed- ingly grieved, while the looser and worser party insult, hoping that it will be as they would have it, viz, that the plantations shall be brought into a parish way."


Young Mr. Haynes, when it was his turn to preach, sent three of his party to tell Mr. Whiting that on the next Lec- ture-day he would preach about his way of baptizing, and begin the practicing of it on that day. " Water was prepared for baptism, which was never administered in a week-day in that church before," says Davenport. Mr. Whiting testified against this proceeding and refused his consent thereto. A stormy meeting ensued. The aged Mr. Warham, who was present and attempted to speak, was rudely silenced. The two ministers were engaged in a public disputation concern- ing the matter, and the church divided into hostile parties. The General Court then took up the matter, and endeavored to convene another Synod to be composed of all the preach- ing elders and ministers of the Colony, together with some from Massachusetts, and it drew up a series of seventeen questions, covering the matters in dispute, for discussion. This Synod or Assembly convened, but adjourned without action, and never met again. It was evident that the churches of Connecticut would refuse to endorse or approve the Synodical principles, and measures were taken to pre- vent the reassembling of the synod.1


The General Court of May, 1668, appointed a committee of four eminent divines "to consider of some expedient for our peace by searching out the rule, and thereby clearing up how far the churches and people may walk together within themselves and one with another, in the fellowship and order of the Gospel, notwithstanding some various apprehensions among them in matters of discipline, respecting baptism and church member- ship.ยบ A gleam of light at last ! not unlikely attributable to the good sense and wisdom of Gov. Winthrop.


1 Trumbull's Hist., vol. 1 : 482. 2 Col. Rec., 2: 84.


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The Struggle for Existence


This committee made their report, and in accordance with its suggestions the General Court, in May, 1669, de- clared that while the Congregational churches should still be countenanced and approved in their profession and prac- tice, yet, "to persons of worth for prudence and piety amongst us who are otherwise persuaded, . allowance of their persuasion and profession in church ways or assem- blies should be given, without disturbance."1 This order re- pealed the act of March, 1658, which forbade separate church assemblies, and which had been enacted to block the way of the withdrawers.


The long looked-for way was now clearly opened to the minority in the Hartford Church to organize themselves into a distinct church. Without delay their petition for permis- sion to form a distinct church was presented by Rev. Mr. Whiting, and in October the General Court acted upon it, directing the Hartford Church "to take some effectual course that Mr. Whiting &c, may practice the Congregational way without disturbance either from preaching or practice diversely to their just offence, or else to grant their loving consent to these brethren to walk distinct according to such, their Congregational principles." ?


In the vote for this written order four magistrates and fourteen deputies dissented. Whether or no the church finally consented to the withdrawal, does not appear. But their consent was no longer necessary. On the 22d of Feb- ruary, 1670, Rev. John Whiting and thirty-one members of the Hartford Church, with their families, formed themselves into a distinct church,-the Second Church in Hartford. The new order of toleration cut both ways, for within a month from this time, the party in the church at Windsor which dissented from the strict Congregationalism of old Mr. Warham, embraced their opportunity to withdraw, and Mr. Woodbridge was ordained as minister of the " Presbyterian party " of Windsor.


1 Col. Rec., vol. 2: 107, 109.


2 Col. Rec., vol. 2: 120.


CHAPTER II


PASTORATE OF REV. JOHN WHITING, 1670 - 1689


THE following account of the organization of the Second Church has fortunately been preserved :


" Having had the consent and countenance of the General Court and the advice of an ecclesiastical council to encourage us in embodying as a church by ourselves, accordingly, upon the day of completing our distinct state, (viz. February 12th, 1669,) this paper was read before the messengers of the churches, and consented to by ourselves, viz. :


"The holy providence of the Most High so disposing, that public opposition and disturbance hath of late years been given both by preach- ing and practice to the Congregational way of church order, by all manner of orderly establishments settled, and for a long time unanimously ap- proved and peaceably practiced in this place ; all endeavors also (both among ourselves and from abroad) with due patience therein, proving fruitless and unsuccessful to the removing of that disturbance ; we whose names are after mentioned, being advised by a council of the neighbor churches, and allowed also by the Honored General Court, to dispose ourselves into a capacity of distinct walking in order to a peace- able and edifying enjoyment of all God's holy ordinance ; we do declare, that according to the light we have hitherto received, the forementioned Congregational way (for the substance of it) as formerly settled, pro- fessed, and practiced, under the guidance of the first leaders of this church of Hartford, is the way of Christ, and that as such we are bound in duty carefully to observe and attend it until such further light (about any particular points of it) shall appear to us from the Scripture as may lead us with joint or general satisfaction to be otherwise persuaded. Some main heads or principles of which Congregational way of church order are those that follow, viz .:


" FIRST, That visible saints are the only fit matter, and confedera- tion the form, of a visible church.


"SECOND, That a competent number of visible saints (with their seed) embodied by a particular covenant, are a true, distinct, and entire church of Christ.


47


Pastorate of Rev. Fohn Whiting


" THIRD, That such a particular church being organized, or having furnished itself with those officers that Christ hath appointed, hath all the power and privileges of a church belonging to it ; in special - Ist, to admit or receive members ; 2d, to deal with, and if need be, reject of- fenders ; 3d, to administer and enjoy all other ecclesiastical ordinances within itself.


" FOURTH, That the power of guidance or leading, belongs only to the Eldership, and the power of judgment, consent, or privilege, belongs to the fraternity or brethren in full communion.


" FIFTH, That communion is carefully to be maintained between all the churches of Christ, according to his order.


"SIXTH, That counsel in cases of difficulty is to be sought and sub- mitted to according to God.


" The Covenant read and consented to the same day, was as followeth :


" Since it hath pleased God, in his infinite mercy, to manifest him- self willing to take unworthy sinners near unto himself, even into covenant relation to and interest in him, to become a God to them and avouch them to be his people, and accordingly to command and encour- age them to give up themselves and their children also unto him :


" We do therefore this day, in the presence of God, his holy angels, and this assembly, avouch the Lord Jehovah, the true and living God, even God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, to be our God, and give up ourselves and ours also unto him, to be His subjects and servants, promising through grace and strength from Christ, (without whom we can do nothing,) to walk in professed subjection to him as our only Lord and Lawgiver, yielding universal obedience to his blessed will, accord- ing to what discoveries he hath made or hereafter shall make, of the same to us ; in special, that we will seek him in all his holy ordinances according to the rules of the gospel, submitting to his government in this particular church, and walking together therein with all brotherly love and mutual watchfulness, to the building up of one another in faith and love unto his praise : all which we promise to perform, the Lord helping us through his grace in Jesus Christ."


" Those that consented to the above written covenant upon the day mentioned, were,


" Brethren in full communion,


"John Whiting, James Richards, Thomas Bull, Robert Webster, George Grave, sen., George Stocking, James Ensing, Thomas Bunce, sen., Thomas Watts, James Steele, Joseph Nash, John Cole, Andrew Benton, Benjamin Harbert, John Biddall.


48


History of the Church


" Sisters in full communion :


" Frances Stebbing, Sibilla Whiting, Susannah Bull, Sarah Bunce, Agnes Stocking, Margaret Watson, Elizabeth Watts, Sarah Ensing, Sarah Grave, Margaret Nash, --- Sanford, - - Steele, Hannah Benton, Sarah Biddall, Susannah Arnold, Christian Harbert, Whapples, Anne Cole.


"The children of the church, or members not yet in full com- munion, that personally manifested their desire of joining with us in our distinct estate, and accordingly owned the covenant, were,


" Nathaniel Standly, John Church, John Marsh, Stephen Hosmer, Thomas Bunce, jr., John Seamer, Jacob White, John Eston, John Day, Joseph Bull, Jonathan Bull, David Bull, John Bunce, John Wilson, Sam- uel Hubbard, John Watson, Thomas Halee, Arthur Smith, Jonathan Gilbert, John Biddall, Joseph Biddall.


"Sarah Richards, Susannah Bunce, Elisebeth Warren, Hannah Eston, Sarah Worthington, Elizebeth White, Sarah Merolds, Mary Seamer, Mary McKins, Lydia Smith, Ruth Bull, Lydia Cole, Hannah Benton, Hannah Smith, Sarah Biddall.


This paper must be regarded as one of the most import- ant documents pertaining to the early ecclesiastical history of New England. In its first part, a statement of the rea- sons for withdrawal is given. The fundamental contention, underlying all personal differences and manifesting itself in various forms, was concerning "the Congregational way of church order, by all manner of orderly establishments set- tled, and for a long time unanimously approved and prac- ticed in this place." This Congregational way, " as formerly settled, professed, and practised under the guidance of the first leaders of the church in Hartford," was that which the withdrawers felt themselves "bound in duty carefully to observe and attend." This they could not do in the First Church, and so, at length, they embodied themselves in a distinct estate.


In its second part, the paper lucidly and vigorously de- fines the main heads of original and sound Congregational- ism, and its definitions are, perhaps, as complete and flawless


49


Pastorate of Rev. John Whiting


a statement of the distinctive principles of Congregational- ismn as can anywhere be found.


In its third part, it presents a form of covenant which, for its simplicity and dignity of expression, for its brevity, and for its easy comprehension of essential things, and its exclusion of things not essential, is deserving of the high- est commendation. A comparison of this covenant with many which came into use in our churches at a much later date, would at once disclose its superior literary and relig- ious merits. In a note to page 207 of his History of the First church, Dr. Walker quotes this document, and raises the interesting question, "Can this be the original and otherwise missing first covenant of the Hartford Church ?" And he adds, "The suggestion, therefore, seems a not un- likely one that the first covenant of the old church may be preserved through the new."


The "children of the church, or members not yet in full communion, who owned the covenant " on the day that the church was founded, were thirty-six in number. Some of these were married people who soon brought their chil- dren for baptism. In 1869, the writer was permitted to examine and copy a dingy little document which proved: to be a fragment of the early records of the Second Church. It contained little else than a list of persons admitted to the church, and of persons baptized, during the pastorates of Mr. Whiting and his successor, Mr. Buckingham.1 An examination of this record disclosed some curious facts, which, had they been known to those who have aforetime written of this period of our ecclesiastical history, would have saved them from sundry errors.


The second child baptized in this church, March, 1870, was the offspring of Lydia Smith, whose name appears in the list of those who, less than a month previous, had "owned the covenant," though not in full communion. In that same list are the names of John Seamer, John Eston,


1 These lists may be found, accurately reproduced, in an appendix to this book.


4


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History of the Church


Thomas Bunce, Stephen Hosmer, and John Marsh. All these had children baptized within a few weeks after the church was organized. The half-way covenant was prac- ticed, so far, in the Second Church from the very first day of its distinct existence. The church in Windsor had prac- ticed the same way still earlier, and so, probably, had the First Church in Hartford. Dr. Trumbull's statement, there- fore (Vol. I: 471), that this practice was introduced by Mr. Woodbridge, in the First Church in Hartford, in 1696, is incorrect. It may be difficult to give any complete expla- nation of the fact that the Second Church, from the begin- ning, practiced this way, since they who withdrew from the old church to found it, were avowed representatives of the "pure Congregational way, as formerly settled, professed, and practiced under the guidance of the first leaders of the church at Hartford." The following considerations may, however, serve to enlighten the difficulty. Under the press- ure of public sentiment, fostered by eminent ministerial au- thorities, and by the favor of synods and courts, the prac- tice of permitting baptized non-communicants to own their covenant relations and have their children baptized, had already so far prevailed in and about Hartford as to em- brace all parties in its usage.


The great wave of so-called Reformation, set in mo- tion by the discussion of the question of baptismal rights, seems to have swept steadily over the whole colony, bear- ing down all resistances, and invading all churches. Public sentiment, at the time of the organization of the Second Church, had made it impossible for the new church to resist or even censure the half-way covenant practice. In short, al- though this question had formerly entered into the long con- troversy as one of the points at issue, it had spent its force and was no longer an element of discord and division, and the separation finally hinged upon Congregationalism in government and discipline as against a Presbyterian and synodical tendency represented in the Hartford Church by Rev. Mr. Haynes, and a majority of the members.


5 1


Pastorate of Rev. Fohn Whiting


It may not be uncharitable to suppose that worldly considerations may have had some weight with Mr. Whit- ing and his little flock in this same matter. In establish- ing a distinct church, the personal and financial support of men like Nathaniel Standly, Stephen Hosmer, John Marsh, John Seamer, John Church, Thomas Bunce, Jonathan Bull, not to mention other influential names, was supremely de- sirable. Would such men, with their families, leave a church wherein their children might receive baptism, to join with one wherein no such privilege could be enjoyed, since these inen were not church members in full com- munion ? This matter of the financial support of the church was a serious one in Hartford at that time. There were one hundred and seventeen names of freemen on the list of October, 1669. Fifty of these belonged on the north side of the little river, and sixty-seven on the south side. A suitable maintenance of two churches, instead of one, as heretofore, was now required. And as all persons must contribute to the support of one of these, it became neces- sary, or extremely desirable, to secure for the new Society's support all those freemen whose sympathies were naturally or traditionally with it. In the existing state of things this could not have been accomplished by adhering to the prin- ciples of original Congregationalism, so far as the ques- tion of practice of infant baptism was concerned. But it is more than probable that public opinion touching that mat- ter had so far changed, that there was not even reluctance to allow the larger way in the new church.


On the same day of its organization, the church chose Mr. John Whiting as their pastor, and upon his acceptance he was "re-ordained " with prayer and the imposition of hands by Rev. Joseph Eliot and Rev. Nathaniel Collins, who was Mrs. Whiting's brother. The other messengers of the churches approved what was done by giving the right-hand of fellowship. Two of the original members of the church, George Grave and George Stocking, had previously been conspicuous among the opposers of the withdrawing party.


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History of the Church


As showing what sort of people they were who thus formed themselves into a distinct church estate, let us en- quire somewhat concerning some of them ; and, in so doing, I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to the chapter in the Memorial History of Hartford County, on "The Orig- inal Proprietors " (page 227 of vol. 1), by Miss Mary K. Talcott.


The first name on the list is that of the minister, John Whiting, of whom Cotton Mather said, " He will never be John Swhiting forgotten till Connecticut col- ony do forget itself and all religion." He was the second son of Major William Whit- ing, an original proprietor of Hartford, whose home-lot in 1639 was on the east side of Governor Street, a man of wealth and distinction, a magistrate in 1637, and Treasurer of the colony from 1641 to 1647.


John Whiting was born in 1635, and graduated at Har- vard in 1653. He preached some time in Salem, as the following entry in the Salem town records, under date of March 8, 1659, shows : "The selectmen, together with the deacons and Mr. Gedney, are desired to treat with Mr. Whiting to know his mind about staying with us." He was settled as associate with Mr. Stone at Hartford, in 1660, became pastor of the Second Church in 1670, and continued in that office until his death, Sept. 8, 1689. He married Sybil, daughter of Deacon Edward Collins of Cambridge, by whom he had seven children. After her death in 1673, he married Phebe Gregson of New Haven, by whom he also had seven children. The Whiting family, for many generations, was one of distinction and influence in this col- ony. Its honored names are found among the ministers, the magistrates, the merchants, and the soldiers of Connec- ticut, to say nothing of the women by whom the ancestral virtues were illustrated and perpetuated.


53


Pastorate of Rev. John Whiting


Note on the Whiting family :


The children of William and Susanna Whiting were,


(1) William, probably born in England, returned to England and was a merchant in London, where he died, 1699. The General Court of Connecticut appointed him, 1686, their agent to present their petition concerning the charter to the King. (2) Fohn, Rev. (3) Samuel, of whom little or nothing is known. (4) Sarah, born about 1637 ; married Jacob Mygatt, and afterwards, John King; died in 1704. (5) Mary, who died in 1709. (6) Joseph, born Oct. 2, 1640 ; died Oct. 19, 1717.


Joseph Whiting was Treasurer of Connecticut from 1678 till his death - 39 years. His son, Col. John Whiting, suc- ceeded his father in 1717, and held the office 32 years. This Col. Whiting's ledger, in which the first entry bears date, " March, 1716-17," passed to the youngest surviving son of each generation in direct line of descent, until it came into the hands of Andrew Fuller Whiting, who was born at Avon, Conn., Feb. 17, 1844, and who was one of the victims of the Park Central Hotel explosion, Hartford, 1889. In this ledger each successive possessor, with one exception, had written his family record ; and in 1888, Andrew Fuller Whiting pre- pared and printed for private circulation, "Genealogical Notes," in which he presented a partial history of the family in Joseph's line, down to his own birth. Mrs. Maria S. (Whiting) Richards, daughter of John who was born in 1803, and a descendant of the first Joseph, in the sixth gen- eration, and also her son, Francis H. Richards, are now res- idents of Hartford.


Rev. John Whiting's son, William, was speaker of the General Court, 1714; went to Maine in 1693, as Captain of Company ; held rank as Major in 1705; and in 1709, as Colonel, led a body of horse and infantry into Massachusetts, against the French and Indians ; in 1710, commanded troops at Port Royal ; and in 1711, led an expedition against Canada ; was sheriff of Hartford county in 1722.


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History of the Church


Samuel Whiting, another son of Rev. John, after study- ing with his father, completed his studies under Rev. James Fitch of Norwich ; was first minister of Windham, Conn., and fulfilled a most honorable ministry.


Joseph Whiting, another son of Rev. John, was member of the General Court three terms ; was elected to the Upper House in 1725, and continued there for 21 years.


Fohn Whiting, another son of Rev. John, was a merchant in Hartford, unmarried, and died in 1715.


In the next generation,


William Whiting, grandson of Rev. John, was Lieuten- ant-Colonel at the seige of Louisburg and at Lake George, where his son, John, was killed by the Indians.


Fohn Whiting, another grandson of Rev. John, gradu- ated at Yale, 1726, was first a minister, afterwards Probate Judge, and Colonel of a regiment.


Samuel Whiting, another grandson of Rev. John, was Colonel in the French war, and served in the army of the Revolution. Four of his sons served in the same army ; three, if not all, as officers.


Nathan Whiting, another grandson of Rev. John, gradu- ated at Yale, 1743, and was Colonel in the French war.


In the next generation were the following great-grand- sons of Rev. John Whiting :


Fohn, Colonel in the French war, and in principal com- mand of Rhode Island troops ; died at New London, 1770.


Gamaliel, held commission in the Revolution from John Hancock, and was in command of a Company, near Boston, soon after the battle of Lexington. Two or three of his sons served in the army.


William Bradford Whiting, Colonel in the Revolutionary army, member of New York Senate for 20 years, and Judge of County Court ; died at Canaan, N. Y., in 1796.


Ebenezer Whiting, an officer in the Revolutionary army with rank of Major ; died at Westfield, Mass., 1794.




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