USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the South Congregational Church, New Haven : from its origin in 1852 till January 1, 1865 > Part 16
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MISCELLANEOUS.
It has always been customary to pay the ministers' salaries either weekly or monthly, and in the latter case as early as the middle of the month.
The Treasurer of the Church has kept an account dis- tinct from that of the Society, embracing collections for benevolent objects and the disbursement of the same; col- lections at Communions, relief of poor members, Communion expenses, and sundry other matters pertaining to the Church proper, in distinction from the Society. The largest aggre- gate collected for benevolent Societies in any one year, was $1,717 85 in 1856. In 1855 the aggregate was $1,670 32. In each of those years an individual gave $1,000 for the Southern Aid Society.
Neither the Church, nor the Society, was ever in debt except for current expenses, and these for so small an amount, and for so short a time, as not to be worth men. tioning.
RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING THE BELL.
At a special meeting of the Committee of the Ecclesias .. tical Society connected with the South Congregational Church of New Haven, on Tuesday evening, June 28th, 1864, it was unanimously
Resolved, That the ringing of the South Church bell, on the occasion of the recent meeting of a political party to ratify the nomination of their candidates for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the United States, was without the consent or previous knowledge of this Committee, or any of its members, and was contrary to the well known wishes of the South Church and Society, and their Minister, as to the mingling of eccesiastical affairs with politics, and that said act is disapproved and deeply regretted by this Gom- mittee.
Resolved, That the Sexton of this Church has no more rightful control over the bell, than over any other portion of the property entrusted to his care; and that over none of said property has he any jurisdiction or control, except as
MISCELLANEOUS: 207
delegated to him by its owners or lessees, or by this Com- mittee, who are their legal representatives. Much less has he a right to exercise any control over that property in opposition to their instructions or known wishes.
Resolved, That no person ought to be employed as Sex- ton of this Church, who is unwilling to conform strictly, and at all times, to the spirit of the foregoing resolutions.
· Resolved, That henceforth the Sexton of this Church be prohibited from ringing or tolling its bell, or permitting it to be rung or tolled, for any political or secular purpose what- ever, except in celebration of the Fourth of July, or in cases of fire, insurrection or invasion, without the written consent of this Committee or its chairman; and that any intentional departure from this rule by the Sexton, shall be regarded as affording ample cause for his removal.
Resolved, That as the act so justly complained of, was not only public in its nature, but has been made more so by newspaper comments, these resolutions be also published, as signed by the members of this Committee.
THOS. HORSFALL, Chairman, C. F. HOTCHKISS, T. H. FULTON, GERARD HALLOCK,
Committee.
Speaking of bells, we are reminded of a little com- munication which was written just after the Vicks- burg rejoicing, in July, 1863, but was not published. On the principle of "better late than never," we append it here :
For the Journal and Courier.
Messrs. EDITORS :
You say in your paper of this morning, "We are requested to ask who stopped, or tried to stop, the ringing of the South Church bell at the rejoicing over the capture of Vicksburg ?" Would it not be more pertinent to ask,- " Who rung that bell, and by whose authority?" Was it done by order of the Society's Committee ? or even with
.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
their knowledge ? Had any application been made to that Committee by the Mayor, or Common Council, or by any one else, to permit it to be rung ? Or was it rung by some unauthorized person or persons, who saw fit to take posses- sion of other people's property without their consent ? I am not raising the question of the propriety of ringing Church bells on the occasion mentioned, or on any or all other occasions of public rejoicing or mourning ; but only ask whether such bells are the property of every individual who can gain access to them and is capable of ringing them, or whether they belong to their legal owners or lessees. Perhaps you will be so kind as to answer this question before you determine the other ; and if you decide in favor of " the largest liberty " against the rights of property, don't complain if one of these days you should hear the Center Church bell rung as a token of rejoicing over some Federal disaster; for, in a city of 40,000 inhabitants, there may be some individual who will think this a proper use of the Center Church bell, and what he has a better right to determine that question than the Society or its Standing Committee.
ONE OF YOUR SUBSCRIBERS.
HEATING APPARATUS,
Near the close of 1864, a large new furnace was placed under the South Church, main edifice, instead of two small ones, which were worn out. But it was found, as before, that in certain conditions of the wind, smoke and coal gas would blow down, and escape into the body of the Church. The same cause kept the fires from burning freely. To remedy these evils, a chimney more than 100 feet high was erected in an angle of the tower, and with it the furnaces were connected by flues. The result was all that could be desired. Cost of the new furnace and chimney, a little more than $600.
CHAPTER VII.
REV. MR. CARROLL'S "MEMORIAL" SERMON.
BELIEVING that the Memorial Sermon preached by Rev. Mr. Carroll in the South Church on the second anniversary of his ministry there, should have a place in a work like this,-not because it is intrinsically better than many other sermons he has preached in that Church, but as embodying numerous facts in our history, and also as setting forth the principles which govern his pulpit ministrations in some im- portant particulars,-principles which are cordially approved by his present Church and congregation,- we have asked and obtained permission to republish it, as here presented. The reader will perceive that some parts of it are a good deal expanded as com- pared with the edition already published by request
of his people. In other words, portions of it which were then omitted or abridged, are here restored to their original form, as delivered from the pulpit, or as nearly so as can be done at this time. Much of the sermon, when spoken, was not written out in full. It was first preached on Sabbath afternoon, June 5th, 1864, being two years from the commence- ment of Mr. Carroll's labors as minister of the South
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REV. MR. CARROLL'S SERMON.
Church. On the next Sabbath evening it was re- peated, by request, before a very large audience, inclu- ding many members of other churches and congrega- tions. The reader will please bear in mind, that the statistics of this sermon come down only to the 1st of June, 1864, and, so far as the South Church is con- cerned, relate chiefly to the two years immediately preceding, viz. : from 1st June, 1862 to 1st June 1864 ; whereas, the Catalogue at the close of the volume deals with calendar years, extending from January Ist to January Ist, and covers the whole period from the organization of the Church in 1852 to the beginning of 1865.
SERMON.
I. SAMUEL VII. 12.
"THEN SAMUEL TOOK A STONE, AND SET IT BETWEEN MIZPEH AND SHEN, AND CALLED THE NAME OF IT EBENEZER, SAYING, HITHERTO HATH THE LORD HELPED US."
There are occasions in associated life, signaled by remarkable deliverances, or distinguished by marked tokens of Divine favor, which call not only for passing remembrance, but for formal and permanent recogni- tion. Many such. belong to the Church of God, and one is referred to in the historic context.
Behold that scene at Mizpeh ! The sacrificial altar is reared,-upon it smokes the lamb, slain for a burnt offering ; around it, already gathered, is idolatrous and obdurate Israel, now repentant and returned to God; while before it, a holy prophet prays a prayer in which heart, voice, vision, all are lifted-a prayer of consecration and intercession for his people, which, mounting on the breath of the evening sacrifice, ascends with it, a sweet-smelling savor unto God. But lo ! in the midst of solemn sacrifices and prayers, Philistia's embattled hosts
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REV. MR. CARROLL'S SERMON,
surround them, and threaten a sore and immediate overthrow. Already their defiant shout rings through the tents of Israel, and now the dread gleam of their weaponry flashes on their eyes. Ere the challenge is answered, or the ranks are formed, the lords of the Philistines are seen advancing to the attack. A panic seizes the Hebrew host. Escape is impossible. Nought is left but inglorious flight, with instant and irresistible pursuit ; or ignominous surrender with its merciless horrors. In despair the Israelites crowd around Samuel, and in tones of terror beseech him, as their theocratic viceroy, to seek and secure divine inter- position and deliverance ; " cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines." And see ! responding to their cry ; undisturbed by the imminent danger ; undismayed by the impending onset ; how the patri- arch prophet, calm and resolute, remains behind the smake of his sacrifice ; his face uplifted ; his hands outstretched imploringly ; until heaven becomes his ally ; until he hears the artillery of the skies, the clouds mustering to the battle ; until he sees light- ning arrows shot from the quiver of God, making havoc remediless in the ranks of the exultant foe : For " the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines and discomfited them."
Here was a manifest miraculous interposal, and for it, as a memorial of Divine deliverance, as a monu- ment unto God, for His glory, and the inspiration of their children adown the ages, Israel set up a stone, ,
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"THE MEMORIAL STONE."
and called it Ebenezer, saying, " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
As the occasion, so the place is memorable. It was conspicuous in location, as its very name indi- cates. Mizpeh, i. e. Watch-tower, occupied an ele- vated site, the highest eminence in the landscape near Jerusalem ; and if rightly identified with "Nebi-Samuel," was, according to an apocryphal writer, within sight of the holy city. A city of Benjamin, it was likewise famed in sacred history as Israel's central gathering place ; where Samuel sacrificed and judged ; where Saul was designated King ; and is noted in profane history as the spot on which " King Richard buried his face in his armor, and exclaimed, 'Oh ! Lord God, I pray I may never enter thy holy city, if so be that I may not rescue it from the hands of thine enemies.'"*
It was here, then, in this most remarkable and prominent place, Samuel lifted the memorial pillar, alike a history and a prophecy ; a record of past, a prediction of future, deliverances.
And surely, brethren, in our history we have every reason for lifting the monumental stone, and in this public place, as a memorial of God's gracious favors which have crowned the years just past, and as a prophecy of similar interposition during the new year we enter upon to-day, fraught as it is with so many
* See Stanley's Sinai and Palestine, p. 213.
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REV. MR. CARROLL'S SERMON,
blessings, and brightened with so many sanguine hopes.
That the inscription of our hearts upon the stone we set up should be Ebenezer, i. e. " stone of help," will appear if we, as a Church, recall our manifold deliverances. And
1st .- Our deliverance from FINANCIAL EMBAR- RASSMENTS.
A most gracious deliverance. Read the initial chapter of our history. The Church sprang almost from nothing, in a destitute and neglected portion of the city, where there were few worshippers, and still fewer who were able and willing to assist in the enter- prize ; without a congregation ; with scarcely a word of encouragement and Christian cheer ; and encoun- tering the opposition of those who regard it a pious duty to annul all proceedings, and annoy all persons who do not humbly seek and secure their imprimatur, and who, over the freshly laid foundation stones, and even over the finished walls, sneeringly asked, "What do these feeble folk ? Will they fortify ? Will they sacrifice ? Verily, if a fox go up, he will break down their stone wall." But these stone walls still stand, spite of all the foxes ; and though their erection, and the sustaining of the means of grace within them since, have cost one hundred thousand dollars, both Church and Society are out of debt, and always have becn.
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"THE MEMORIAL STONE."
Although the aggregate expenditure has been large, it has been borne cheerfully by our own members, without being burdensome to any. Except from two individuals in the erection of the buildings, not a dollar was ever asked or received towards the estab- lishment or support of public worship here, from any source outside of our own Church and congregation. Meanwhile, a standing invitation has been and still is held out to ALL who desire to listen to the Word of Life, or are willing to do so, to come in and enjoy our religious privileges, with or without money and without price.
With such an experience, humbly yet thankfully must we set up a stone to-day, memorial of God's special blessing in our temporalities, saying, " Hith- erto hath the Lord helped us."
2nd .- Deliverance from INTERNAL STRIFE.
God says, " Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." At present and at length we are mercifully delivered from such signs of Divine displeasure ;- this withering blight and blast- ing mildew has been removed at last from this por- tion of the Lord's vineyard. We begin our new pas- toral year amid the rejoicings of a peaceful people, and, we fain hope, beneath the smiles of an approving God. We are now a united people, since those who relished and indulged in unchristian asperities, and who sought schism, together with those who consci- entiously differed from the principle of this Church
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in excluding politics, have been re-absorbed in more congenial folds. No longer need our labors and strength be expended on a factious opposition minor- ity, to neutralize their disastrous efforts to dismember and destroy, but can be devoted wholly to the direct advancement of the legitimate and spiritual objects of the Redeemer's Kingdom.
Oh, this merciful deliverance !- This longed-for, welcome blessing, who can over-estimate! Actually permitted to possess our souls in peace,-to "maintain the unity of the faith," yet in " the bonds of peace !" Alas for that people who are given up to envying and strife and cruel criticism ; for they are thereby declared deserted of God, and may expect, as they will have, barren ordinances,-and their pastors, of course, a barren ministry. Ah, here then is a great deliverance ; deliverance from strife, and as a se- quence, from " confusion and every evil work," which must be entailed upon any people where even a part would rather, as Matthew Henry says, "hear them- selves speak, though it be to misrepresent and malign, than to enjoy the peace of God, and the teachings of His Spirit."
For redemption from dissension we raise the pillar, and on it the significant inscription-"Ebenezer !"
3d .- Deliverance from DECLENSION and SPIRITUAL LETHARGY.
This Sabbath, two years ago, in great physical weakness, I preached my first sermon to a small
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"THE MEMORIAL STONE."
congregation, occupying a few places, here and there, in this large edifice, while the average attendance upon the week-day service approached the minimum gospel number. But note the change which God hath wrought. While our weekly meetings are uniformly well attended, our congregations on the Sabbath have so rapidly and steadily increased, that they compare most favorably with some of the oldest central churches,-and this, notwithstanding our remote po- sition from the centre of the city ; notwithstanding the persistent and prolonged efforts of members within to diminish our numbers ; notwithstanding organized and official efforts of ministers of God without.
And from lethargy, likewise, have we been deliv- ered. God's children have been earnest and active for their Heavenly Father,-not merely exhorting, edify- ing one another, but winning sinners to the Saviour. We have had additions by profession, as well as by certificate, at every Sacramental season save two,* of such, as I believe, will - take the wine anew in the kingdom above. In the two years last past, fifty-nine have been added to the membership of this Church -eighteen on certificate, forty-one on profession. Think of this, dear brethren ! So many deathless souls redeemed, through your instrumentality, to glorify Christ on earth, and shine in His crown in Heaven. Is not this a glorious reward for your
* By profession, or certificate, at every Communion, save one.
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REV. MR. CARROLL'S SERMON,
labors in season and out of season,-for providing and sustaining these means of grace, which, to even one immortal, have eventuated in hopes of glory ?
And ye, who have been thus redeemed, and have a new life in your hearts, and a new song in your mouths, do you not bless God for this dear Zion, your spiritual birth-place, and will you not, even in heaven ? Most precious to me, as your minister, are ye ! Though not rewarded for success, but for labor, -(not he that is successful, but he that is faithful unto death, winning and wearing the crown,)-still no inconsiderable portion of my support and comfort during the hours of trial through which I have passed, were these soul seals. For surely, however imperfect the presentation of the truth, however much in my ministrations may have been thought omitted and wrong, God blessed what was uttered ; and it seems enough was uttered to build up and comfort saints, and convert sinners unto God ; for, we are only sanc- tified by the truth, 'Thy word is truth !' While I have such encouraging acknowledgments that the word of God, and not man's teaching, has been pre- sented, I ask that your prayers may ascend with mine, that while I stand here, I may preach nothing but " the excellency of the knowledge of Christ," and be sustained in the resolution and determination "not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
I abjure all isms and ignore all secular and political themes in the house of God, on the day of God,
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"THE MEMORIAL STONE."
either preached or prayed ; (and they can be as easily prayed as preached ;) I do not pray them ; I recog- nize Government as an institution of God, and "the powers that be," as "ordained of God." I pray for our Rulers,-obeying the Apostle's exhortation,-" I ex- hort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men ; for kings and for all in authority : that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." I pray that God would endue them with His Spirit ; grant them wisdom from above, which is profitable to direct ; make them fearless of men, because so fearful of God; cause them to be ex- ecutors of the Divine Will; crown with His blesssing and with success every plan which shall be for the real good of our land, and the glory of God.
I pray for our Country,-that God would merci- fully interpose in her behalf ; converting her from one vast Golgotha into the land of Emanuel.
I pray for the Soldiers,-that the Angel of the Lord would encamp round about them; that God would preserve them in health and morals ; that He would bless them in all their interests for time and eternity, and graciously care for their families and friends as well.
I pray for Peace,-for peace in God's own time and way, (and " His ways are not as our ways")-for peace in accordance with God's mind and will, (and " His thoughts are not as our thoughts,")-for peace, which, if God sends, must be righteous and right.
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REV. MR. CARROLL'S SERMON,
But to go further than this,-when leading the devo- tions of an entire people, to intone the shiboleth of a party ; when failing to represent the desires and wants common to all, and spiritual, to become the high priest of a party before God's throne, expressing what is partial and political ; to dictate to the All- Wise and Most High God, the time and way in which His plans shall be executed,-this I never can do .*
Nor do I preach politics. In all places and at all times I have opposed, to the full extent of my ability, the introduction of civil, secular, and political ques- tions into the house of God. I do not mean neces- sarily party politics, or those that play directly into party hands, but also that mingling of public and political affairs with the ministrations of the pulpit, which brings up and discusses in this sacred place and time, those topics of secular interest which occupy the minds of worldly men during the week. My rea- sons for this course I can here only indicate ; a course
The Boston "Congregationalist," under the heading, Haranguing in Prayer, says, "He who uses the form and attitude of prayer to ventilate his individual opinions upon public policy, to animadvert upon public measures and public men, to lecture the assembly upon its duty, or to forestall its action, to harangue his fellow worshippers as auditors' or to offer a disquisition upon the state of affairs-in a word, he who makes prayer any other than a reverential expression to Almghty God of feelings and desires that may be fairly assumed to be common to the Christian consciousness whose mouth-piece he is, not only violates the conventional proprieties of public prayer, but gives offense to de- vout minds, and occasion for cavil to the undevout, and is guilty of irreverence toward Almighty God."
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"THE MEMORIAL STONE." 221
which is regarded as such a startling innovation, and so subversive and destructive of the primary, essen- tial, spiritual object and end of the Gospel ministry, as to draw upon its humble representative the formal and official promulgation of "anathema."
(1) I regard it Unscriptural,-as degrading my high calling in Christ Jesus ; as an unwarrantable substitute for a Gospel message. What is the min- ister's calling,-what should be his message ? Paul answers in 2 Cor. v, 18-21, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation ; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ; and hath committed unto us the word of reconcilia- tion ; now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
Is not the minister's calling indeed "a high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Is not the message given unto him spiritual ? Does it not pertain to men's souls ; their sins ; their Saviour ; and the method of salvation by Him ? Certainly ; and this is the very essence of that Gospel the Master commands His ministers to preach to every creature.
We then who are called to deliver God's message, should keep to God's record, which forbids, either as
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REV. MR. CARROLL'S SERMON,
a supplement or as a substitute, the presentation of "another gospel," be it of side issues, or popular reforms, or "Sharpe's rifles." We therefore believe the Divine message is not delivered, nor is the Mas- ter's word adhered to, when His servants substitute matters of state for those of the soul ; the secular for the sacred ; the political for Christ ; "the power of God and wisdom of God" unto salvation to every one that believeth.
But has not the gospel to do with man in his rela- tions to man, as well as to God ; in his relations to human government, as well as to the divine ; with the duties of a citizen, as well as of a sinner? Of course it has. Then must not the minister preach the rendering "unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar's," as "unto God the things which be God's?" Must he not preach that "the powers which be, are ordained of God : Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, re- sisteth the ordinance of God"? To be sure he must ; and presenting them as the gospel does, neither de- grades his high calling, nor vitiates the spirituality of his divine message, nor converts it into a political harangue. For, " while these passages put govern- ment on its right basis, they do not inquire into the origin, rightfulness, or excellence of any government ; nor do they give the preacher in expounding them the smallest authority for so doing. They take every government on earth as it is. It may be good, or bad ; founded in right, or wrong. Nor do these passages bind the citizen to approve every act of his govern-
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