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 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
In 1788, Mr. Kirkland and his two eldest sons received from the Indians and the State of New York conjointly, a grant of large and valuable tracts of land in the vicinity of Oneida, on which he built for himself a log house. In 1790, while on a mission to Congress in behalf of the Senecas, lie was instrumental in the conversion of the celebrated chief, Cornplanter, to the Christian faith. "In the winter of 1791-2, by request of the Secretary of War, he conducted about forty chiefs and warriors, a representation of five nations, to Phila- delphia, to consult with Congress on the best method of intro-
66
ducing the blessings of civilization among them, and also with a view of preserving peace between the Indians and the Uni- ted States. This visit had the desired effect, and not only secured to the United States the friendship of the Six Nations, rendering them mediators between the Federal Government and the Western Indians, but also securing to the Six Nations an increased degree of favor from the Goverment in the pro- motion of education and civilization among them."
In 1793 Mr. Kirkland accomplished what had long been a favorite object with him, in securing a charter for an institu- tion under the name of Hamilton Oneida Academy, to which he made a donation of several hundred acres of land. ~ This Academy, in 1812, four years after his death, was exalted to the rank of a College, in the first class of which, at gradua- tion, with only one associate, was the Rev. George A. Cal- houn, D. D., of North Coventry. This is now Ilamilton Col- lege, at Clinton, New York.
Mr. Kirkland continued his labors among the Indians as he was able, and died February 28, 1808, aged sixty-six. His son, John Thornton Kirkland, was President of Harvard University from 1810 to 1828. He is the only missionary from Dr. Wheelock's school who spent his whole life among the Indians. Several others were distinctly set apart to this work, but during the distractions of the war, and from other influences, their connection with the work was of short dura- tion.
Among these were Messrs. Titus Smith and Theophilus Chamberlain, who were ordained as missionaries April 24, 1765, the latter graduating at Yale College in the same year, and the former in the year next preceding. They were with Dr. Wheelock several months, to prepare for the mission. Mr. Chamberlain had formerly been taken captive by the In- dians, and became so much interested in their welfare that he spent all his property and ran in debt in order to fit himself to preach the gospel among them.
Mr. Sylvanus Ripley was carly ordained as a missionary to the Indians. After his labors were closed in that capacity, he took the charge of the mission school, then connected with
67
Dartmouth College. In 1782 he became Professor of Divinity in the College, and succeeded Dr. Wheelock in the pastoral charge of the students and the inhabitants of the village of Hanover.
Levi Frisbie, born in Branford, April, 1748, was placed under the care of Dr. Wheelock in 1767, with a view to his becoming a missionary. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1771. In the two following years he was engaged in a mission to the Delaware Indians. He was ordained in 1775, and continued in his mission work till broken off by the distracted state of the country. He was settled over the first church in Ipswich, Massachusetts, February 7, 1776, where he remained thirty years, and died February 25, 1806, at the age of fifty-eight.
In company with Mr. Frisbie, David McClure was also en- gaged in the mission among the Delawares. He was born at Newport, Rhode Island, November 18, 1748. His youthful days were spent chiefly in Boston, in the school of the famous " Master Lovell." At the age of fifteen he became a member of Dr. Wheelock's school with a view to engage as a mission- ary among the Indians. He was graduated at Yale College in 1769. He was ordained May 20, 1772, and after the ex- perience of a few months in the missionary work was com- pelled to desist because of the war. After a ministry of nine years in Northampton, Massachusetts, he was installed pastor of the church in East Windsor, (now South Windsor,) June 11, 1786, where he died June 25, 1820, aged seventy-one, having held the pastoral office there thirty-four years.
David Avery, born in Franklin, April 5, 1746, was also, for a short time, engaged in this missionary work. He was hope- fully converted under the preaching of Whitfield; was fitted for College in Dr. Wheelock's school ; was graduated at Yale College in 1769; and was ordained as missionary to the Oneida Indians as colleague with Rev. Mr. Kirkland. In consequence of an injury received, he was soon obliged to leave the mis- sion ; and after preaching on Long Island a short time, he was settled over a church in Gaysboro, (now Windsor,) Vermont, March 25, 1773. The Sabbath after the news of the battle of
68
Lexington reached his place, he preached his farewell sermon, telling the people that God would take care of them ; as for himself he was going to join the army. When the congrega- tion was dismissed, he took his stand upon the steps and gave a soul-stirring address in behalf of his country, entreating his people, "by every motive of patriotism, and as they valued liberty and abhorred slavery, not to turn a deaf car to her cry." Twenty of his parishioners gave a quick response to his ap- peal, chose him captain, shouldered their muskets and started on foot for Boston, and in ten days from the battle at Lexing- ton they were in their camp at Cambridge. The next day, which was the Sabbath, standing upon a temporary stage, formed by turning up a rum hogshead, in the area of Cam- bridge College, he preached from Nehemiah 4; 14, " And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles and rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them ; remember the Lord which is great and terrible, and fight for your breth- ren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." While holding his position as captain, he instituted daily religious services, going from tent to tent to read the word of God.
He was at the battle of Bunker Hill; saw the defeat of our army at the battle of Long Island; was by the side of Wash- ington in his melancholy retreat through the Jerseys; was present at the taking of Burgoyne, at the capture of the Iles- sians at Trenton, and in the battle of Princeton ; was in the army during that terrible winter at Valley Forge; helped build the fortifications at Ticonderoga; was by the side of Washington when he signed the death warrant of Andre, and witnessed the execution of that ill-fated British officer; and was very active in the efforts which were made to capture the traitor Arnold. Having served his country as captain and afterwards as chaplain from the beginning to the end of the war, he preached successively at Bennington, Vermont, at Wrentham, Massachusetts, and Chaplin, Connecticut, and died in September, 1818, aged seventy-two.
This missionary enterprize among the Indians was begun with much promise ; was carried on in the face of increasing
69
obstacles, with a true Christian and commendable zeal, and if it did not reach the full anticipations, this must be attributed in part to the on-coming Revolutionary struggle, and in part to the impracticability of turning the Indian character to very extensive service in the work of missions. How much good was actually accomplished,-how many of those Indian souls were turned from paganism to the saving reception of Christ, eternity alone can reveal. It is to be noticed that the success which attended these carly missionary efforts among the In- dians is very much like the success which has attended the efforts of later days. They are an unsettled roving people, and if any thing is to be done for their spiritual welfare, it must be done under these unfavorable circumstances. And no one can say that all that has been done for them is not fully justified by the actual spiritual renovation which, in individ- ual instances, may have been wrought by the Spirit and the Word.
9
70
TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF REV. E. WHEELOCK, D. D., . FOUNDER OF MOOR'S CHARITY SCHOOL AND DARTMOUTII COLLEGE.
BY DR. O. B. LYMAN.
THE past in scanning, much we often find, To please and interest the inquiring mind: Old things not always are devoid of worth, When found connected with one's place of birth; And often, light upon the mind is cast, As we compare the Present with the Past.
We plant an acorn-'tis a little thing- A little plant will from that acorn spring; In a few years will rise above our heads A giant oak, that wide its branches spreads, Destined to stand perhaps a thousand years, 'Mid storm and calm-at last it disappears.
One hundred years ago, a man of worth, With a big heart-Old Windham gave him birth- Started in Lebanon-Columbia now the name- A little school the forest sous to tame: Here the poor Indian sought for mental food, Here Occum found, that God was righteous, good : That pale men too, instruction here received, Ilere sought the truth, here found, and here believed. Here Oceum was prepared to preach the Word, And set before his race his dying Lord : Hence too he went to visit England's shore, Preach to her king-sight never seen before. From this, the thought in WHEELOCK's mind arose, To found a College ere his life should close, Where the poor pagan might be led to find Light, food and drink, for his benighted mind, As well as he who wears a lighter skin, But has a soul as deeply stained with sin. Thus Dartmouth's seed was sown and sprouted here, At least, in Wheelock's mind, with fervent prayer.
71
He now before his people laid his plan, Elsewhere, to consummate the work began. With deep regret they heard his earnest plea, Reluctantly consent it might so be .*
From the great work he could not well be turned, His heart for it with love increasing burned. Oecum had touched a chord in England's heart, Thrilling it with sympathy in every part. Its warmest friend Lord Dartmouth soon became, And hence the institution took its name. King George himself enchanted with the theme, Became a donor to the glorious scheme, And by his lords and men of high renown, The same good feeling for the cause was shown : Wheelock was moved with an increase of toil, To transplant Dartmouth to a northern soil, And like Elisha in the wilderness, A school of Prophets found that God would bless: So hence to Hampshire 'neath her lofty pine, That gleam and sing in light and notes divine, Removed from hills, on an extensive plain, Where undisturbed the school might long remain, There like a Patriarch, he, full of years, Planted and watered Dartmouth with his tears: Yes, lived to see hier rooted deep and strong, With every prospect of hier living long. Like Solomon's father, what he had begun, To finish up, he left behind, his son : Like good old Simeon, serene and calm, His infant school now resting on his arm,- His arm of faith, upheld by God's free grace, Ile now could say, "let me. depart in peace!" Ilis course thus finished, like a star at even, He sank to rest, a brilliant gem of heaven !
Thus, as the oak that from the acorn sprung, Has towered high, its branches wide outflung, So Dartmouth stands, though small indeed at birth, A school matured and full of sterling worth: A monument bespeaking noblest praise, To Wheelock's memory, in remotest days.
* See Note A, Appendix.
72
STATEMENTS AND STATISTICS.
BY REV. WILLIAM H. MOORE.
THE population of your town in 1840 was 842; in 1860, 854,-a gain of twelve.
It is worthy of notice that your church has so generally been supplied with pastors, not having been destitute over fifteen years in 150.
Twelve revivals are named since 1780, or, on an average, one in seven years.
Sixteen ministers have been raised up from this parish,- one in ten years, and it has thus furnished about 300 years of ministerial service in Connecticut, and about 175 years out- side of Connecticut, including forty-four years among the heathen ;- making about 475 years in all.
In January 1, 1832, the church reported 155 members, which included the addition by the revival of 1831; which, namely, forty-one, being deducted would leave the member- ship before the revival, 114. In January 1, 1866, there were 132 members, or fifteen per cent. of the population. The fruits of the present revival will increase the ratio to twenty per cent.
The General Association has published the statistics of the churches for thirty-five years, beginning in 1832. In seven of these years your church made no report; in twenty-eight years they made reports. In eleven of these none were added by profession ; in twenty-six of them infants were baptized. In the twenty-eight years reported, 165 came in by profession, or six a year; and seventy-six died, or three a year ; the pro- fessions being double the deaths, which is a good record. In these years there came in by letter, fifty-one; went out by let- ter, fifty ; which shows that the church does not diminish from this source. Dividing these years into two periods of fourteen each, we find that the deaths in the two periods are
73
.nearly equal, thirty-seven and thirty-nine; as well as the in- fant baptisms, fifty-seven and fifty-eight. The ratio of infants baptized to a thousand members, is thirty-ono. You ought to be gratified with this record on infant baptism. And I hope the ratio will not fall during the administration of your pres- ent pastor, and that that may exceed the term of any of his predecessors.
75
APPENDIX.
PROCEEDINGS AND ORDER OF EXERCISES.
SOME time in the year 1865 the question was asked, Shall the cel- ebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the Church in Columbia be observed ? A general public sentiment seemed to answer-Yes. This event was to occur some time in the year 1866, the precise date of which could not be ascertained, but still no special action was taken towards the furtherance of this desire until June 29th, 1866, when it was "voted by the church to have an anni- versary celebration the present year, it being the one hundred and fiftieth year since the organization of the church and ecclesiastical society in this place," and at the same time
"REV. FREDERICK D. AVERY, JOHN S. YEOMANS, WILLIAM B. LITTLE, DEAC. CHESTER W. LYMAN, and DAVID D. LITTLE,
were appointed a committee to make preliminary arrangements.
Requests were also made to Rev. F. D. Avery and John S. Yeo- mans to prepare Historieal Papers relating to the early history of the . Church and Society.
The committee of arrangements subsequently met and fixed upon the 24th day of October as the day of celebration. They also decided to have a general collation, and for the furtherance of this object appointed
WILLIAM H. YEOMANS, SILAS H. DEWEY, HENRY E. LYMAN, DANIEL T. FULLER, SAMUEL B. WEST, and JAMES P. LITTLE,
a committee on collation.
They also appointed SAMUEL F. WEST, Esq., to be President of the day, and arranged their order of exercises.
76
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
MORNING. Voluntary; Anthem,-Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Reading of Scriptures by the Pastor. HYMN. Tune, Boylston.
1. Great is the Lord our God, And let his praise be great ; He makes his churches his abode, His most delightful seat.
2. These temples of his grace, How beautiful they stand !
The honors of our native place, And bulwarks of our land.
3. In Zion God is known, A refuge in distress : How bright hath his salvation shone, Through all her palaces !
4. Oft have our fathers told,
Our eyes have often seen, How well our God secures the fold, Where his own sheep have been.
5. In every new distress, We'll to his house repair, We'll think upon his wondrous grace, And seek deliverance there.
Prayer by Rev. S. G. WILLARD, of Willimantic.
ANNIVERSARY HYMN. Words by Doct. O. B. LYMAN, of Hartford. Tune, Salome.
1. Since this fair branch from yonder vine, Was plucked and planted in this soil, And since was built this holy shrine, 'Midst earnest prayer and praise and toil, One hundred fifty years have fled; The fathers sleep now with the dead.
/
77
2. Great God! we tread these courts to-day, To celebrate that hour divine, When our forefathers led the way, To plant and rear this precious vine; This vine they watered with their tears, That fruit might grow in future years.
3. It has been watched and pruned and kept, Through God's dear children until now, Here they have praised and prayed and wept, And here submissive still they bow; Still earnestly they press their suit, That it may bear much precious fruit.
4. Ilere sinners too are wont to ery For mercy to our father's God, That he would hear them from on high, And stay yet his avenging rod; Oh God of Love ! incline thine ear, The suppliant's earnest prayer to hear.
5. And as the years roll swiftly on, To make complete this century too, And we our labors shall have done, And bid the scenes of earth adieu, Still may this branch, this precious vine, Bear for our children fruit divine.
Reading of the original petition of the people to be set off a society, by JAMES P. LITTLE.
Historical Sketch,-The Pastors of the Church, by Rev. F. D. AVERY.
HYMN. Tune, Exhortation.
1. Let saints below in concert sing, With those to glory gone: For all the servants of our King, In earth and heaven are one.
2. One family we dwell in him, One church above, beneath, Though now divided by the stream, The narrow stream of death : 10
78
3. One army of the living God, To his command we bow ; Part of the host have crossed the flood, And part are crossing now.
4. Some to their everlasting home, This solemn moment fly ; And we are to the margin come, And soon expect to die.
5. Lord Jesus be our constant guide; And, when the word is given, Bid death's cold flood its waves divide, And land us safe in heaven.
Historical Paper,-Meeting Houses, by J. S. YEOMANS. Recess to partake of collation.
AFTERNOON.
Historical Papers,-Education, Music, and Miscellaneous, by J. S. YEOMANS.
HYMN. Tune, Bridgewater. 1. The Saviour, when to heaven he rose, In splendid triumph o'er his foes, Scattered his gifts on men below, And wide his royal bounties flow.
2. Hence sprung the apostles' honored name, Sacred beyond heroic fame: In lowlier forms to bless our eyes, Pastors from hence, and teachers rise.
3. So shall the bright succession run, Through the last courses of the sun ; While unborn churches, by their care, Shall rise and flourish, large and fair.
4. Jesus, our Lord, their hearts shall know, The spring whence all these blessings flow ; Pastors and people shout his praise, Through the long round of endless days.
79
Ministers raised in the Parish, by Rev. F. D. AVERY.
Address,-Reminiscences of Columbia, by Rev. C. LITTLE, of Woodbury.
Address, by Rev. W. H. MOORE, of Berlin.
HYMN. Tune, Coronation. 1. All hail the power of Jesus' name ! Let angels prostrate fall ; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all.
2. Crown him, ye martyrs of our God, Who from his altar call ; Hail him who saves you by his blood, And crown him Lord of all.
3. Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget, The wormwood and the gall,- Go, spread your trophies at his feet, And crown him Lord of all.
4. Let every kindred, every tribe, On this terrestrial ball, To him all majesty ascribe, And crown him Lord of all.
Historical Papers,-The Deacons,-Moor's Indian Charity School, by Rev. F. D. AVERY.
Voluntary; Anthem,-Before Jehovah's awful throne.
Poems, by Doctor O. B. LYMAN, of Hartford.
Remarks by Rev. Mr. PIKE, of Marlborough.
Remarks, by Rev. S. G. WILLARD, of Willimantic, and Rev. F. WILLIAMS, of Chaplin.
Prayer, by Rev. F. WILLIAMS, of Chaplin.
DOXOLOGY.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow !
Praise Him, all creatures here below ! Praise Him above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
BENEDICTION.
80
At a meeting of the Church, held October 26th, 1866, it was voted that the Exercises of the Celebration be published, and
JOHN S. YEOMANS, SAMUEL F. WEST, and Rev. F. D. AVERY,
were appointed a committee to superintend the publication.
At a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Society, held October 27th, 1866, it was voted that the Society committee, consisting of ASHER K. FULLER, HORATIO W. LITTLE, and JOIIN A. HUTCHINS,
act with the committee appointed by the Church upon the matter of the publication.
TIIE COLLATION.
Owing to the lateness of the season it became necessary that the Collation should be dispensed at the Town Hall. And through the untiring energy of the committee whose business it was to arrange this portion of the exercises, it was made one of the attractions of the day. This committee at one of their meetings appointed a sub-com- mittee to assist in the distribution of the refreshments, consisting of the following named persons:
CHARLES II. CLARK, Miss SOPHIA C. YEOMANS,
JAMES L. DOWNER, Miss EMILY J. LITTLE,
Mrs. SILAS H. DEWEY,
Miss ESTHER HUTCHINS,
Mrs. CHARLES H. CLARK,
Miss EMILY A. WRIGHT,
Mrs. WILLIAM H. YEOMANS,
Miss AMELIA J. FULLER,
Mrs. HENRY G. WOODWORTU, Miss MARY D. LITTLE,
Mrs. DANIEL T. FULLER,
Miss MARY DANIELS.
According to request, at an early hour of the day of the celebration, the good things, requisite to sate the appetite, began to flow in from all parts of the town, which continued until all the space apportioned to that purpose was literally filled to overflowing; so that the commit- tee were enabled to make a "Bill of Fare," consisting of the following :
Cold Tongue, Baked Lamb, (stuffed,) Sandwiches, Wheat Bread, Fruit Cake, Silver Cake, Cookies, Apple Pie, Cream Pie, Apples, Sliced Beef Ham, Cold Chicken, Biscuit, Loaf Cake, Gold Cake, Cup Cakes, Fried Cakes, Mince Pie, Corn Starch Pie, Baked Apples, Coffee.
81
Much of the cake was beautifully trimmed, showing the artistic taste of the ladies of 1866. The tables were also decorated with bouquets of flowers. As the hour of repast arrived, the citizens and strangers repaired to the hall, preceded by the President and Clergy- men present, where after order was restored, a blessing was invoked by Rev. William J. Jennings, of North Coventry, and the wants of the inner man were bountifully supplied.
The fragments remaining, were distributed among the needy; thereby filling their hearts with thankfulness, that it was put into the minds of the people, to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniver- sary of the formation of the Church and Society of Columbia.
COPY OF ORIGINAL PETITION OF THE PEOPLE TO BE SET OFF A SOCIETY.
To ye inhabitants of Lebanon the humble petition of us whose Names are under written inhabiting at a place called the crank and at Hop river and ajacent to ye crank with some others that have a right of land near sd Crank. Humbly showeth that whereas the providence of God who bounds our habitations hath so ordered our settlement in the world so remote from ye publick worship of God, which we and ours stand in great need of we by Reason of ye Remoteness of the place of worship, which way ever we goe, that there are but few of our fam- ilies can constantly attend and we being got to such a number of fami- leys that are here and preparing to come among us that we hope that in case you that are our fathers, breathren & Christian friends in Leb- anon would be pleased to grant us with ye accommodation of part of ye land in the Township of Lebanon we we might have ye worship of God set up among us in some short time we we hope, we greatly desire & shall indeaver after, according as ye providence of God shall lead in that matter; and we hope and are confident that you would do for us wt you can that may be reasonable for to incorage & promote so good a work. We therefore desire and intreat you who are our fathers, brethren and Christian friends in sd Lebanon to consider our case & do what you can conveniently to promote such a good work & set out to us for ye promoting of a sociaty heare, as much of your Township as may be incoueging for ye same. We dont here pretend to be om owne carvers but desire and request of you that a line may be run
82
from ye North Pond the westerly line of ye five mile to ya great Cheast- nutt tree on Cheastnutt Hil, which is the Northerly corner of ye five mile; then to turn eastward in the line of ye five mile to ye southarly branch of ten mile brook so down by ye brook as the brook runs to (the) ye eastward part of ye town bounds to be, to incorieg the above sd sociaty, but in case you canot comply with ye above sd line takeing in all the Land in ye town bounds towards hebron & windham we then desire your compliance, in any other line that you may se cause to afford us for ye incorieging so good a work ; we also desire and crave your holys with respect of gaining in to ye Township that land lying between Lebanon bounds & Coventry or so much of it as you may judge nesesary for to obtain ye end above sd; and it seems needful that there be speedy care taken about those of us that live out of yo bounds of Lebanon that they be brought into the bounds, for we understand in case nothing be propounded to further & promote ye motion above sd, that our friends at Coventry do intend to petition the Generall Court that such of us as are out of ye bounds of Lebanon might be annexed to Coventry, & if it be once don their may be aboundance of more difficulty in bringing about the designe above sd, and further, seince it is so that we or ye most of us must attend it & we be thereby forced to do it we pray that we may be freed from paying to ye ministery in Lebanon; and also that provided we are incorieged in so good a work as ye settling of a sosiaty heare that we in a short time be at Charge towards ye settling of a minister heare by building, breaking up of Land & forming of it in that we thereby may incorieg a minister to settle among us ; we then desire our publick taxes as to town charges might be also Released to us all, we we hope you will Readaly Grant to us your Humble petitioners; and in so doing you will greatly oblige us who are your friends & Neighbours.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.