USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Columbia > The 150th anniversary of the organization of the Congregational Church in Columbia, Conn., October 24th, 1866 : historical papers, addresses, with appendix > Part 4
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over the church of Voluntown and Sterling Oct. 11, 1837, where he remained until Nov. 15, 1849, when he was dis- missed and supplied the church in Long Society in Pres- .ton for one year, after which he returned to his last charge, supplying the pulpit there until he died, March 13, 1856, at the age of 75.
He is described, in a sermon preached at his funeral by Rev. Henry Robinson, as "a sound and able Theologian, an ear- nest and instructive preacher ; eminently gifted in prayer, a faithful and devoted pastor, a wise and safe counsellor ; given to hospitality, remarkable for humility, most affectionate and exemplary in domestic relations, interested in benevolent operations." He was a frequent contributor to periodicals and newspapers, both secular and religious. He preached the sermon at the dedication of this house.
Alfred Wright, son of Jeriah and Temperance Wright, was born March 1, 1788. He is spoken of while a child as being of a sober, thoughtful turn of mind, and possessed of an un- commonly studious disposition. His father, with limited means, and with a family of eleven children, could not gratify his thirst for knowledge. He repeatedly expressed his desire to obtain an education and become a minister of the gospel, even before he was satisfied of his conversion. With feeble health, and in the face of formidable obstacles, he pursued his course of preparatory studies at the Colchester Academy, and joined the sophomore class in Williams College, where he was graduated in 1812. Thus far, not regarding himself as a Christian, his mind was directed to the study of medicine, and by his occasional reading of medical books, he gained an amount of information that qualified him to render essential medical service in the field of his future labors. But a few months before his graduation he was reckoned among the fruits of a revival in College, and from that time he enter- tained the design of entering the ministry, and, if it was the clear indication of providence, of engaging in a foreign mis- sion. While connected with the Andover Theological Sem- inary, he was also engaged as instructor in Phillips Academy. Being appointed tutor in Williams College, he entered upon
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the duties of that office in October, 1814. Visiting home in the winter of 1815, he was prostrated with sickness, and the disease was of such a nature that but little hope was enter- tained of restoration to an active and useful life. He turned towards the south for his health, and was able to take charge of a Female Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina. In the winter of 1818, he was licensed to preach, and on the 17th of December, 1819, he was ordained as an Evangelist, in the Circular Church, Charleston, by the Congregational Associa- tion of South Carolina. At the same time was ordained Jonas King, the now veteran missionary, lately from his great life- work in Athens. Mr. Wright turns from a call to settle in Charleston to the Choctaws in Elliot, Georgia, and thus he enters upon the life of missionary toil to which he had looked forward, though in a field different from that which he had anticipated. Ten years he spent with the Choctaws before their removal beyond the Mississippi, having the care of a church, conducting schools, preparing elementary school books in the native language, and in time of sickness being in constant demand for medical attention and advice. On the removal of the Indians to their present territory in 1831, some of the missionaries retired from the field, but Mr. Wright was among those who, in compliance with the earnest entreaties of the Indians, and in obedience to a sense of duty, accom- panied them to their new home. He entered his new field of labor in September, 1832, and selected a site which he called Wheelock, in memory of the former pastor of his native town. A church was organized on the second Sabbath in December, 1832, with thirty-seven members. And here, as his central point, do we find him for the next twenty years, toiling on in patience and hope, and often with the most cheering success; all the while " with a feeble frame, never without pain, unable to walk more than a few rods, or raise with his hands more than a few pounds weight."
But the great labor of his life was the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Choctaw language. Upon this the full energies of his mind and body were bent. It was his earnest wish to finish translating the Bible, but this was too
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great a work for one man, with all the difficulties which em- barrassed him ; at the same time superintending the schools, and having the care of two or three churches. By diligent application he carried the work of translation through the New Testament, and from Genesis to Job, in the Old Testa- ment. His motto, in his own words, was, " Labor, incessant labor on earth, and rest, eternal rest in heaven." Nor was his labor in vain. Sometimes forty and sixty or seventy in a year would be reckoned among the converts within his par- ticular field of labor.
The great secret of his success was that "he walked with God." Ilis spirit of devotion and of Christian solicitude for the spiritual welfare of others is breathed forth, especially in his carly letters home, when, as a son and brother, he faith- fully and affectionately and personally exhorted and entreated his friends all to make Christ their Saviour, and to engage with their full energies in his service. He always retained an affectionate remembrance of his native place, and of this church, inquiring after its welfare, rejoicing with it in its sea- sons of refreshing, and bearing it on his prayers before the throne of grace. He died March 31, 1853, aged sixty-five, peacefully committing all to his Saviour, saying, "Good is the will of the Lord concerning me." He had no more to do but to lie down and die. He was in his master's work, and ready for Heaven every day. When the word came to go up higher, he just ceased his labors and obeyed.
" Servant of God, well done, Rest from thy loved employ, The battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy Master's joy."
James D. Chapman was born in May, 1799, was graduated at Yale College, in 1826, preached one year in Prospect, and was settled over the church in Wolcott, in 1833. He was dismissed in 1840, and afterwards settled in Cummington, Mass., where he died December 19, 1854, aged fifty-five.
Daniel Hunt, son of Daniel and Submit Hunt, was gradua- ted at Amherst College, in 1828, studied theology at Andover Seminary, and was ordained pastor of the church in Pomfret,
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April 8, 1835, where he still resides, although dismissed from his charge, and from feeble health no longer able to fulfill the duties of the ministry. He has published a historical sermon ; also, valuable historical papers in connection with the 150th anniversary of the church in Pomfret, which was duly com- memorated October 26th, 1865.
Amasa Dewey, son of Asahel and Lucina Dewey, was born March 12, 1804, united with this church in 1821, and was graduated at Yale College, in 1832. Ile studied theology at East Windsor Seminary, was licensed by the New Haven East Association, in 1838, and ordained pastor in Petersham, Mass., January 11, 1837, where he died January 5, 1840, at the age of thirty-five. A small volume of practical sermons, from his pen, was published after his death.
Ansel Dewey, son of Asahel and Lucina Dewey, was born August 9, 1809, and united with this church in 1831. He studied theology at East Windsor Seminary, was licensed by the Hartford North Association, December 14th, 1836, but, before assuming any pastoral charge, died August 6th, 1838, aged twenty-ninc.
Charles Little, son of Samuel and Jerusha Little, was grad- uated at Yale College, in 1844, a classmate of the present pastor. He studied theology at New Haven, united with this church in 1847, and was ordained, in this house, September 1st, 1847 ; sermon by Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D., of Hartford. He entered upon the missionary work in the year 1848, and labored faithfully and successfully at several stations in the . Madura Mission, until 1859, when, by reason of impaired health, he returned to this country, relinquishing the foreign field. Having, in good measure, regained his health, he was installed pastor of the church in Cheshire, January 1st, 1862. Since leaving Cheshire, he has been engaged with the first church in Woodbury, where he is now laboring.
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HISTORICAL PAPERS.
BY JOHN S. YEOMANS.
THE first vote of the Parish in regard to Education, is Jan- uary 6th, 1732, when they made choice of " Captain Ephraim Sprague, Nehemiah Closson and Deacon Wright, to be a school committee to receive our part of the country money, and to lay it out at their discretion, for the instruction of Children in the Parish." From this date forward regularly at the annual meeting's a like committee was appointed till 1798, when the organization of school societies took the place of towns and ecclesiastical societies, in our school system. That we may better understand this matter, perhaps a brief digest of our school laws during the period of our 150 years of ecclesiastical life may be appropriate.
From 1701 to 1800 the law of the Colony may be summed up as follows :
1st. An obligation on every parent and guardian of children, " not to suffer any child or apprentice to grow up in their families, unable to read the holy word of God and the good laws of the Colony, under penalty for cach offence.
2d. A tax of forty shillings on every £1,000 of the lists of estates, collected with the annual State tax, and payable pro- portionately to those towns only which should keep schools according to law.
3d. A common school in every town of seventy families or over, to be kept through the year, and in towns of less than seventy families, at least six months in the year.
4th. A Grammar School in each of the four counties at their county seats, to fit youth for College; which Grammar Schools must be free.
5th. A Collegiate School towards which the General Court made an annual appropriation of £120.
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6th. Provision for the religious instruction of the Indians.
In May, 1717, the obligation resting upon towns in regard to education was extended to parishes under the same provis- ions, and we as a parish took charge of our schools.
In 1686 the Assembly made a grant to the plantations of Hartford and Windsor, of the north-west portion of the State comprising the present towns of Norwalk, Goshen, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Harwinton, Hartland, Winchester and New Hart- ford, to preserve them from the grasp of Sir Edmund Andros, who acting for James the first, claimed all the unappropriated lands of the State as belonging to the King.
But though the Charter Oak which preserved our Colonial Charter lives only in history, yet the Charter which it held, remains, and, encased in the wood which protected it, hangs gracefully, in the office of the Secretary of the State in Hart- ford. So also did Sir Edmund fail to get possession of the unappropriated lands of the Colony. After the danger from Andros was passed, the Governor claimed the lands as fully as though no grant had been made. Hartford and Windsor however, on the strength of the grant by the Assembly, and the settlements commenced under it, determined to resist the claim and oppose the legislature. Great disturbances ensued.
Finally, however, in 1726, forty years after the grant, the dispute was settled, and the legislature resolved that the lands in controversy should be divided between the Colony and the claiming towns of Hartford and Windsor.
The Colony was to have the western townships, viz., Nor- folk, Goshen, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, Salisbury and Sharon ; and Hartford and Windsor, the eastern, viz., Torrington, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Harwinton, Hartland, Winchester and New Hartford.
The legislature appointed a committee to view the town- ships belonging to the Colony, who reported in May, 1733, as their opinion that the legislature should grant all the moneys which shall arise from the sale of the seven townships, to the towns of this Colony which are now settled, to be divided to them in proportion to the grand lists of said towns, and to be secured and improved forever, to the use of the schools kept
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in the several towns, according to law ; which report was accepted, and a committee appointed to make sale of the lands.
From this sale came the local fund of about 300 dollars now held by this town, the interest of which has annually been applied in accordance with the law. In the Revised Statutes published in 1750, it was enacted that the money distributed to towns and societies, and called " Local School funds," remain a perpetual fund for the support of schools, and for any application of the interest to other purposes, the principal was to be paid back into the treasury of the Colony, and the town or society was to lose the benefit thereof after- wards, and such is the law to-day in regard to said fund.
While on the subject of the law, I may as well say that Societies or Parishes for religious purposes were first estab- lished in 1700 ; authorized to choose a clerk in 1716 ; a com- mittee in 1717; a collector in 1721; a moderator in 1726, and a treasurer in 1764, and in 1717, the right to tax for school purposes as well as for the support of the ministry. Under this provision this Society had charge of the schools in the Parish till 1795, when the moneys arising from the sale of the western lands belonging to this State, were ordered to be invested and called the " School Fund," and remain a perpet- ual fund, " the interest of which shall be inviolably appropri- ated to the support and encouragement of the public or com- mon schools throughout the State, for the equal benefit of all the people thereof."
In 1798, the management of schools passed from towns and ecclesiastical societies as such to school societies especially constituted for this purpose.
The Parish, from its organization, had taxed themselves every year for the support of the ministry, for schools and other purposes, until 1818, when the adoption of the present State Constitution gave religious liberty and equality of civil rights to all religious sects ; since which time the means for the support of the gospel have been raised, sometimes by tax, sometimes by sale of slips and voluntary contribution.
In 1739, the Parish " voted to raise by tax, £50 (167 dol- lars) to be added to the " country money," to keep a school
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of two school masters for the three winter months, for writing and reading, and to be removed from place to place for the best advantage of the parish in general. And the rest of the money to be improved in hiring school dames, to teach chil- dren to read the rest of the year, as shall best suit the parish in general, and appointed a committee to see that schools be kept as above expressed."
I infer from these votes that there were no school houses in the parish at this date, but the schools were kept in private houses.
In 1744, the Parish, after voting to keep a school according to law, and appointing Rev. Mr. Wheelock, Deacon John Newcomb, and Mr. Josiah Finney, to see that it be done, also "voted that the neighborhood adjacent to the meeting house have liberty to build a school house on the commons near the meeting house ; also that the neighborhood adjacent to Thomas Porter have liberty to build a school house near said Thomas Porter's house.
Also voted that the school house which Mr. Josiah Finney has set on the highway should stand in that place." The school house in the center district was probably not built by the district at that time, but in stead was erected the house for the " Indian Charity School," which is the present house of the center district, remodeled, and which passed into the hands of the district, I can not find when, or how, by any record extant.
In 1768, a committee of three persons out of the parish, were chosen to determine, divide and set off the school dis- tricts in the parish.
In their report they say : " Whereas, there hath been three districts, Middle, North and South, we are of opinion that they remain the same, although at present the middle district, being fewer in number, and less able to maintain a school, recommend that the north part be reckoned with the north district, and the south part with the south district, they having right at any time when they shall be able and inclined, to build a school house, and set up a school within their limits." Until 1773, but three persons had been appointed school com- mittee, probably one in each district. In that year five were
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appointed, one in each district that then existed, probably ; to wit, " Henchman Bennet, Rufus Collins, Jabez Wright, Na- thaniel White, and Lieut. James Pineo."
The next year six persons were appointed, the center dis- trict probably having resumed their place as a district.
The six districts remained as they were then till the forma- tion of school societies in 1788, and remain still the same, with the addition of the south-west, the territory of which till 1816 was an unbroken forest, known as " Wells' Woods."
MUSIC.
AT a Parish meeting February 21st, 1737, " voted to sing in the public worship according to the rule by which they sing in the old Society in Lebanon." " Also made choice of Eleazer Hutchinson to set the psalm in the congregation."
" Also made choice of Joseph Clark to set the psalm when Mr. Hutchinson is absent or can not."
With this arrangement they rested satisfied, so far as the records show, till 1774, when on the 28th of June, a meeting of the Parish was held and it was put to vote, " whether they would sing by rule in the assembly ; voted in the affirmative."
Also " voted that the choristers should set such tunes as they think proper."
This was doubtless a special meeting on the subject, as no other business was transacted or votes passed.
In 1791, at their annual meeting, voted " a tax of one-half penny on the pound to encourage singing, and to be applied for that purpose only ; and chose Enos Gary and Asahel Allen collectors of the singing tax."
In 1794, voted " that they desire Messrs. Samuel Bliss, Seth Collins, Ambrose Collins and Samuel West Jr., to take turns in leading the singing on Sundays."
In 1798, " James Pinco, Esq., John Newcomb, Seth Collins, Samuel Bliss and Consider Little, were appointed a committee to promote singing."
In 1806, voted " to request Samuel West, Jr., Benjamin Lyman, Dan Porter, and William Hunt to lead in singing for the year ensuing."
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In 1813, " Messrs. S. Barstow, S. Manley, G. Lincoln, J. Richardson, E. Woodworth and N. Tanner, were appointed a committee to get subscriptions to revive the singing, and to hire a teacher if they get enough subscribed."
In 1819, " voted that Deacon Benjamin Lyman be requested to revive the singing in this Society."
This is the last date, I believe, in which the Society, as such, have acted in regard to singing.
The choir have usually circulated their own subscriptions, hired their own teachers, and chosen their own choristers.
And although a body of persons whose sole object and aim should be to make harmony in singing the songs of Zion in the sanctuary of the Lord, it can not be denied, but that sometimes elements of discord have found their way into the choir, musically speaking, as well as otherwise.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A reference to a few miscellaneous transactions of the . Society, and I will tire your patience no farther with the prosy recital of Parisli votes.
In 1750, the Parish voted "to allow Samuel Woodward and his brethren liberty to build them a Sabbath day house, some where near the old Meeting House, where the parish committee think proper."
In 1751, voted " to empower the parish committee to creet a sign post, at some convenient place on the south side of the Meeting House, and that proper notifications set on said post for parish meetings shall be accounted legal." When the Society became a town they, (the town, ) by agreement with the Society, made it their sign post, and when the present house was erected, the town concurred in removing the sign post to the place where it now stands.
In 1755, the following preamble and votes were passed :
" Whereas, Mr. Joshua More, of Mansfield, has given a lot of land in the 2nd Society in Lebanon, for the foundation, use and support of a Charity School, forever to be known and called by the name of the Charity School in Lebanon, found- ed by Joshua More for the education of Indians, &c." At a legal meeting of said Society, Nov. 18, 1755, it was voted
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" that if said school shall be set up, that in order to their reg- ular, comfortable and orderly attendance upon the public worship of God, the boys in said school shall have for their use, the pew in the gallery, over the west stairs in the Meet- ing House ; and further provision suitable for them in said Meeting House shall be made if there shall be occasion."
In 1761, " voted to allow Mr. Wheelock's Indian girls liber- ty to sit in the hind seat on the women's side below."
The first half century of our Parish life closed in the year 1766. This had been a very prosperous period with both the Church and the Society. The Society had built their large and commodious house of worship, which, as tradition tells us, was filled to overflowing ; the whole mass of the popula- tion, at that period, being in the habit of attending church regularly and constantly on the Sabbath. They had emerged from that trial state which is incidental to the settlement of a new country ; they had been prospered in temporal things, and had built for themselves those stately dwelling houses, of which some of us, who are half century men, have a vivid recollection, but of which very few now remain.
An event transpired at this time which though not a part of our Society history, proper, yet so connected with it, that a committee was appointed the next year which reported a manifesto which occupies four pages of our Society records, being adopted and placed there by vote of the Society .*
It was the sending to England, by Mr. Wheelock, of Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, then pastor of the church in Chelsea, (now Norwich Landing, ) and Samson Occum, an Indian preacher, both of whom had been educated in this place by Dr. Wheelock.t
The next half century, closing with the year 1816, was generally a period of trial with the Society, not on account of divisions among themselves, but on account of the troubles growing out of the conflict with the "Mother Country," which finally culminated in the Seven years war of the Revo- lution, which gave us Independence and National life, but which destroyed for a time our commerce, which before had been so profitable, sweeping away many an estate which was
*Sec Note A, Appendix.
¡ See Note B, Appendix.
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supposed to be ample, and leaving heavy debts upon individ- uals, as well as the nation, from which during this half een- tury they were hardly able to recover. They managed, how- ever, to keep their light burning on this altar ; yet many were burdened with pecuniary embarrassments, and heavy liens upon the lands they cultivated, and to add still to this, just at the close of this period, came a second war with England to add its weight of trouble to their burdens. The culmina- tion seemed to be in our century year 1816, which is the memorable year of the present century, as the cold season. It was chronicled at the close of the year that in New Eng- land there were frosts during every month in the year. On the 16th day of June, a heavy frost killed all the corn, so that hardly a farmer in town raised a bushel of sound corn.
With the year 1817, commenced the last half century of our Parish life, and with it came a year of fulness to the gar- ners of the husbandmen, giving to them courage and hope, and a happy presage of the prosperity and thrift which has rested upon us as a people for the last fifty years.
It has been emphatically a period of prosperity to this community, and to the whole country. The improvements in science, literature, and arts, are unparalleled in any former time. New motive powers have been discovered, by which transporting vehicles of giant dimensions, and fitted up with all the luxury of palatial dwellings, are rushed over land and sea with a velocity that outstrips the wind, so that the dis- tance between places at one extreme and the other of our great country, is almost annihilated.
And yet again, we have set up poles and hung upon them iron wires, tying together all the principal towns and villages, all over our extended country ; and over these, through the agency of a subtle clement called electricity, we send messa- ges all over the land, as quick as the "lightning that lighten- - eth out of one part under heaven shineth unto the other part under heaven," so that New Orleans, with which it took months to communicate at the commencement of our last half century of Society life, now has its important news and price-current published in the daily papers of all our New England cities, on the day the event transpires.
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