USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > The Methodist Episcopal churches of Norwich, Conn. > Part 9
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HISTORY OF MAIN STREET M. E. CHURCH. 127
Rev. Ira M. Bidwell was born at East Hartford, Jan. 31, 1803. In early life, he suffered several narrow escapes from death, being twice rescued from drowning. At fifteen years of age, he re- moved to Hartford, where he experienced religion under the preaching of Rev. J. N. Maffitt, in the fall of 1819. His convictions were pungent, and, although at first no stone was left unturned to re- . sist and destroy them, he finally resolved to conse- crate his heart and life to Christ, and soon found the evidences of Divine favor. Mrs. Ellis Cook, of Hartford, afterward remarked to him: "I re- member how you looked : you were laughing. and crying at the same time." After joining on proba- tion, and having somewhat abated his activity, he reconsecrated himself and experienced a greater blessing than ever before, and in a short time he was impressed with the duty of preaching. Feeling deeply the consequent responsibility, and endeavor- ing to substitute other duties, and his health be- coming impaired, he was the subject of a most remarkable illusion or dream. A man seemed to stand over him with a drawn sword, who said: " You know your duty and you will not do it." He plead for release from justice, who was instant on his mission, and, awaking under great feeling, promised to perform the duty which had become so palpable to his conscience. The ensuing winter he " resided in Manchester, Ct. After having been class-leader and exhorter, he obtained a Local
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Preacher's license, at a Local Preachers' Confer- ence, held at Middlebury, Feb. 6, 1823. Desiring to enter the Itinerancy, and being too late to be recommended to the New York Conference, he at- tended the New London District Preachers' Con- ference of East Glastenbury, April 6, 1824, where he was duly recommended to the New England Conference, Rev. J. A. Merrill being Presiding Elder. At the annual session of that Conference, held at Barnard, June 22d, he was received on trial, and appointed to Needham Cir- cuit, which comprised Needham, Natick, Weston, Waltham, Lincoln, Sudbury, Framingham, Marl- borough, Bolton, Harvard, Leominster, Lunen- burg, and, in the last part of the year, Lowell. His colleagues were Revs. Benjamin Hazelton and John E. Risley. The circuit was three hundred miles in circumference, and he received for his salary, all told, fifty-six dollars and some cents ! It was a year of general prosperity to the circuit.
The next year he was appointed to Hardwick Circuit, Vt., and after the early departure of Rev. Roswell Putnam, he was made the preacher in charge, with Rev. C. Richardson. An unusual revival began at Albany during the year, and the salary was reckoned at eighty-two dollars, which was paid in wheat, worth about seventy-five cents per dollar of the currency, which was exceedingly limited in circulation.
May 23d, he was married at Hartford, by Rev.
HISTORY OF MAIN STREET M. E. CHURCH. 129
Tobias Spicer, to Miss Nancy Church, whose con- version nearly synchronized with that of Mr. Bidwell. In the Conference of that year he was made deacon in the ministry, and appointed to Brookfield Circuit, which he had scarcely reached before hemorrhage of the lungs prostrated him, and he was compelled to return to his home.
At the next Conference he resumed his regular labors upon the Manchester Circuit of Connecti- cut, which included Manchester, East Hartford, Bolton, Coventry, Mansfield, Willimantic, and Gilead. He subsequently filled the following ap- pointments : 1828-'29, Thompson Circuit; 1830, Bristol, R. I .; 1831-'32, Fall River; 1833-'34, Webster; 1835, Lowell; 1836, Hollister ; 1837-'38, Provincetown ; 1839, Wellfleet. At the latter ap- pointment his health declined, and in the next Conference he took the " superannuated " relation and removed to Willington, Ct., where, with the exception of a year passed at Webster, 1843, he remained until the fall of the next autumn, when he came to Norwich, living first on School Street. The spring after he made his home at Greenville, and, improving in health, he returned to . the Annual Conference of 1852, was raised to the "effective" relation, and stationed at South Truro. On his way home from the Session, he met with an accident from the cars being crushed by the fall of a bridge, and has since retired from the active ministry, holding the "superannuated" relation.
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Returning to Norwich City in 1854, he set up the "boot and shoe" trade, with his affable son, Mr. George E. Bidwell, who has now an extensive patronage. He has occasionally preached during his disability, and the Achilles is ever disclosed at the sound of the war-trumpet. But his remaining labors will be few and limited on earth, and the prayer of many shall be that his rest may be long and sweet in heaven.
His ministrations have been characterized by unwonted zeal, devotion, laboriousness, spirituality, sacrifice, efficiency, and success. Possessed of great firmness, he has been placed in positions of trust and danger, and faithful to his early princi- ples, he is one of the few who survive to relate the sufferings and successes of Primitive Methodism.
Rev. Ezra Withey was born in Griswold, Ct., June 4, 1808. When about nine years of age he first attended a Methodist meeting, held by Mr. Shubael Cady, in which his wife, Mrs. Wait Cady, took a prominent part. It was held at the house of Mr. David Lawrence, a blacksmith. The occa- sion was one of deep interest, especially to young Withey, who had contracted from Madam Rumor very disparaging views of the Methodists. His language is :
"In their testimony it seemed they were blessed with angels' tongues, inspired with the Holy Spirit. It was like oil poured forth. O, how awful and yet glorious was that place! I did not put off my shoes, but ere I was aware I found myself standing,
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lost in wonder, dissolved in love, and transported with their songs of praise. Mother Cady was the first person I ever saw kneel in prayer, the first female I ever heard pray, and the first female I ever heard testify in a religious meeting."
From this time, he appears to date a positive religious conviction. He prayed in secret, and was greatly pleased when his mother found Christ under a sermon from Rev. David N. Bentley, whom he had persuaded her to hear, when he was thirteen years of age. His mind became greatly disturbed upon the subject of Divine foreordina- tion. He says :
" The preaching of these years was much on the doctrine of un- conditional election and reprobation.
"I thought I had sought sincerely and as honestly as I knew how, and I dare not think myself a Christian. It may be, I am, after all, an unconditional reprobate. So I concluded hell must be my inevitable portion, unless there was some hope I had not dis- covered.
" I often tried to make it seem how it would be to be forever lost. I often tried to shape my ear to the awful sentence, 'Depart, ye cursed.' I thought I would give millions of worlds if I could know Christ died for me."
After several unsuccessful attempts to learn. a trade, he came to Norwich at nineteen, and con- cluded an agreement with Capt. Erastus Williams. His religious feelings became greatly indurated during the earlier part of his apprenticeship, of which he has said, " I thought, if I must finally be lost, there was some excuse for my taking such
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pleasure as I could, though I realized it poor at best."
" One Saturday evening, after the business of the day was over, I retired to an unoccupied room to be alone. After some reflection on my state-past, present, and future-the following questions were put to me by the Holy Spirit: What comfort hast thou taken . in all thy life ? I ran over the past in my mind, and concluded I took more comfort in the prayer-meeting at the blacksmith's than in all my life put together. Wilt thou have the pleasures and joys. of the world, or the religion of that prayer-meeting ? I answered, The religion of that prayer-meeting, if it is for me. Then the answer came, 'Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' I replied, Lord, this means the elect. Then the remainder of the passage came, 'For every one that asketh receiveth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.' Then a ray of light from the Eternal Throne shone into my heart, which assured me that Christ died for me-even me. I dropped on my knees, and asked for strength to keep my resolution to seek until I should find. My soul now became hope- ful, since I felt convinced I had a promised, crucified, and risen Saviour. After repeated desires to publicly consecrate myself, one Sabbath morning, I thought I would make one more effort, but before I was five rods from the door, the enemy of all good attacked me again, telling me I was unconditionally reprobated, and every thing went to prove it. I came near going back, but thought I would call on a Christian sister, who knew much of the Bible, and ask her opinion on these points, which Satan handled so success- fully in keeping me from God. I found her at breakfast, and imme- diately began my errand. She stopped eating, and said, 'You are under conviction.' I felt I was caught, and replied, 'I wish I was in reality.' However, she fully relieved my mind, in much sim- plicity."
He describes his conversion, as follows :
"For thirty-four hours this struggle lasted, when I hastened from my work to the open air, to pray for the last time, as it
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seemed to me. I told the Lord I had given up all as far as I knew, and could appeal to him as to my honesty and sincerity ; asked him to show me if there was any thing more. In a moment these words were brought with great power to my mind :
' But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe; Here, Lord, I give myself away, "Tis all that I can do.'
Now I saw how I had missed it, and in one moment laid poor ignorant, blind, sinful self, in addition to all other sacrifices, on the altar, and in that moment peace was spoken to my poor struggling. doubting soul, such peace I never knew before, and never can for- get, even should I prove a castaway, Now, just now, such love flowed in as quite overwhelmed me."
" I felt, in my first inquiry, what shall I do for him who has done so much for me? The reply came in power, 'Go, tell thy friends how great things the Lord hath done for thee.' Obedience was my watchword, and my simple story was told to many. Fifteen of my old mates immediately sought and found the Lord, and we had some blessed times. Capt. Erastus Williams, in whose business I was employed, and at whose house I boarded, very kindly offered his large dining room for meetings. Likewise the Widow Billings and the Widow Backus.'
He soon joined the Class of Norwich North, in a meeting held at Captain Lamb's residence, and his pen again must record the experience of a higher Christian life :
"Nothing but a clean heart would do for me. Brother William P. White led the class, and it was a most searching time, no daubing with untempered mortar, but every one exhorted to make sure work for eternity. In reply to me he said, 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.' At the closing prayer, I had a view of Jesus pleading for me, and the Father's face full half turned from me, and I felt to ask the reason why. The answer was, Because thou hast not
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believed the record of my Son. Then I saw there was no pleasing God without faith, and I must, by faith in the blood of the Lamb, be cleansed, and there was no coming to the point, but to believe the record at once. Then and there my heart said, Lord, I believe the blood which cleanseth from all unrighteousness is now being applied, and in a moment my heart appeared as clean as white paper, which never had a blot or scratch. Something whispered, ' Be careful, it is a great blessing,' which caused me to look again. I immediately cried, 'Lord, I believe, to the saving of my soul.' Then a sacred awe came over me, and I felt I must not move, and, while I was holding fast, I was filled with a silent heaven of love, to such a degree as I never could conceive before. To speak or move just now I felt no liberty, but my utmost desire now was to depart and be with Christ, whose sacred wounds and scars never appeared half so lovely. O, the heavenly glories which now appeared in a crucified, risen Saviour! I loved him before ardent- ly, but now I found grace to love him more than twice as much as ever."
Previous to his conversion, he was impressed that he should some time be called to take part in the ministry of Christ, and now, after the work had taken place, he resigned himself to the calls of the Spirit. For nearly forty years, he has pro- claimed " the power of God among rich and poor," and is remembered among the aged Methodists of this city for his zeal, integrity, piety, and general usefulness.
Rev. Henry E. Hempstead was son of Mr. Eben- ezer Hempstead. He was born in Norwich, June 12, 1820, and regenerated September, 1835, under the ministry of Rev. William Livesey, by whom he . was baptized. His mother, Mrs. Thankful Hemp- stead, was highly devout, and seems to have accom-
HISTORY OF MAIN STREET M. E. CHURCH. 135
plished much for the moral and religious destiny of her family. His father died, leaving him a child, and, early in life, he entered upon type-setting. In his nineteenth year, he, in company with Rev. Frank Bill, started on foot for the Wesleyan Acad- emy at Wilbraham, Mass., where, by strict econ- omy, together with some aid derived from teaching and preaching, he prosecuted his studies to a point beyond preparation for college.
Returning to his native city, he preached several months at Bozrah, Connecticut, after which he was employed by Rev. Phineas Crandall, Presiding Elder, at Barre, Mass. In December, 1842, he was removed to take charge of Lunenburg, in the same State, where Rev. S. Heath, the appointed minis- ter, had become occupied with Millerism.
December 6, 1842, he married Miss Hannah E. Merrill, daughter of Rev. Joseph A. Merrill, a lady of uncommon adaptation for the idiosyncrasies of ministerial life, of great energy of character, and high domestic worth.
A revival attended his labors at Lunenburg, and he was returned to the same charge the succeeding year. Previous to 1843, he had served as Local Preacher, his license being first given at a Quarterly Conference, held at Wilbraham, September 9, 1839, Rev. Daniel Dorchester, Presiding Elder. In 1843, he joined the New England Conference. Rev. L. Crowell, his Presiding Elder, continues his history in the following language :
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" Ilis subsequent appointments were as follows: Weston, Mil- ford, East Boston, Charlestown, High Street, each two years ; Massachusetts State Prison as Chaplain six years ; Boston Street, Lynn, Watertown, each two years; when, at his request, he was appointed Chaplain of the 29th Regiment of Mass. Vols. He joined his regiment at Newport News last spring, accompanied it to Suffolk, Yorktown, to Fair Oaks, and in the seven days' retreat to Harrison's Landing. Being sick, he obtained a short furlough, and returned home. He then returned, but still too unwell to enter upon camp service, he remained about three weeks in the hospital at Georgetown, rejoined his regiment at Harper's Ferry, and moved thence to Fredericksburg. He died of congestive fever, at Fal- mouth, Va., Sabbath morning, December 21st, at the head-quarters of Gen. Sumner's Division, aged 42 years 6 months and 9 days."
He says of him :
"Our brother was adorned by many beautiful traits of character. Those who knew him most intimately found most in him to admire and love. He was a generous, pure-minded, lovely man. Pos- sessed of high social and moral qualities, he adorned every relation of life. He was a filial and most dutiful son. He was a diligent, studious, self-improving man-a great reader, a careful thinker, an ardent lover of good books and good men; and though much oppressed with a sense of his imperfections, and of his failure to become what his imagination had conceived to be the true model after which he should aspire, he nevertheless attained to much excellence and perfection. As a minister of Christ, he was sincere, devout, faithful, and exemplary. He instructed and edified the church, he earnestly entreated men to be reconciled to God, he carefully and tenderly took the oversight of the flock. The aged and the young alike respected and loved him. As a speaker his manner was unusually pleasing and persuasive, always dignified, often very earnest and forcible.
" He was much impressed with the importance and dignity of his office. The poet's picture of a good parson was well realized in him: 1
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"' Ile bore his great commission in his look, But sweetly tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. He preached the joys of heaven, the pains of hell, And warned the sinner with becoming zeal, But on eternal mercy loved to dwell.'
" His ministrations, enforced by his upright and beautiful life, honored his office. By his fidelity, diligence, and tenderness, he so discharged the varied pastoral and ministerial duties of his office as to win souls, and promote the Redeemer's kingdom. Though pleased with his own denominational relation, he was catholic, and loved all that love Christ. Brother II. was a genial, pleasing, and intelligent companion ; a confiding, frank, and unfailing friend. He was courteous and kind. A peculiar cheerfulness, dignity, and affability marked his intercourse with men. Morally speaking, he was emphatically a beautiful man. As Jonathan was lovely to David, so was this dear brother lovely to many. It may be but justice to our brother, and appropriate to the occasion, that we should unfold the motives that prompted him to enlist as a chap- lain, and the manner in which he discharged the duties of that office.
" The necessity of appointing chaplains none can doubt. Who would approve of leaving the million of young men, now confront- ing the most stupendous power for evil ever organized in our world, without religious teachers ? Without some one to minister to them when sick, wounded, dying; preach to them when able to hear, and bury them when dead, and to exert in numberless ways, salu- tary influences upon their hearts and lives ? For this service our brother was remarkably fitted by nature, by experience, by his eminently successful labors for six years in the prison, by his love of liberty and country, by his love of the soldiers, and by the deep and exciting interest that filled his soul for the success of the national cause.
"His naturally tender and sympathetic nature was rendered doubly so by oft repeated instances of domestic bereavement. having lost five children, and they so dying as to leave him twice without a child. A man of sorrows and affliction, he wisely and affectionately comforted others, and moved as an angel of mercy
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among the sick, sorrowful, wounded, and dying soldiers. He pleaded their cause; he ministered to them in the spirit of Christ; he won their respect, confidence, and affection.
" From the beginning of the contest he was restless to go; he wanted, as he expressed it, to do something for the soldiers, some- thing for the country. God indicated to his heart the path of duty. He entered it-he succeeded. God be thanked, that whatever may be said of some chaplains, who may have disgraced their office, we feel confident that none specially connected with him will ever have cause to blush for shame .. We believe his character remains pure and spotless.
" He did not love war or camp life. He loved home as much as any man. Duty, he felt, commanded his services in the army.
" When home on furlough, he was asked by his venerated mother- in-law if he had regretted enlisting as chaplain. He said, 'Never for a moment ;' and added, that ' if he could contribute by his ser- vices in putting down the rebellion, he would be willing to die as a soldier, and be buried without coffin or shroud.'
" His own words, written or uttered, will unfold his character in the office and the motives that governed him.
"From Harper's Ferry he writes to me :
"'We are having, as a nation, the baptism of blood and fire; but they are. the symbol of a regenerated nation: So I believe with all my heart ; so I preached before I left you. It was this that inspired me; it inspires me now. It is with the hope I may contribute somewhat-if but a mite, to the sublime, providential influences that are destined to make this continent one great domain of industry, intelligence, and freedom, that I sacrifice home, and suffer the absence of loved ones dearer to me than life.'
"Near Fredericksburg, Saturday, November 23, to Mr. Oliver Smith, of Charlestown, he writes :
" ' You wish to know how I labor. I make myself familiar with the sick in hospitals; I bury with customary religious services the dead-distribute tracts and papers, always have religious ser- vices on the Sabbath, if possible, and social meetings Sabbath and Friday evenings, when practicable-have free and unrestricted intercourse with the men; by timely and kind rebuke, advice, and
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in a thousand ways I endeavor by example and otherwise, as a good minister of Christ, to do good to the bodies and souls of men.
"' Amidst all the confusion and trials of this mode of life, I am still advancing in the heavenly way. The Gospel never seemed more precious, or the mission of Christ's servants more sublime. Every day since I left my precious home and dear old State, I have felt God to be my refuge and strength. I glory in every thing, even trials and tears, that may advance his glory.'
"November 30 .- To his wife,' from the same place :
"' You will be pleased to know that I have succeeded in having services every Sabbath since I got back to the regiment. On our marches, if we could not have our devotions one hour, I would seize upon another. So the time has varied, sometimes in the early morning and sometimes in the evening after a tedious march. We have services also during the week, when practicable, generally Friday night. And now [how touchingly these words reveal the exercises of the soldier's heart !] the shades of evening are falling on us again. This is the hour when absence from you and the precious children is most bitter.' "
The account of his funeral is transcribed from the "Zion's Herald " and the " Boston Journal :"
" The funeral services of this much-lamented Chaplain of the 29th Massachusetts Regiment were held in the Tremont Street Church, on Monday, December 29th.
" A large congregation completely filled the house, among whom were about seventy members of the New England Conference, to which Brother Hempstead belonged, and many members of the churches in Watertown, Charlestown, and East Boston, and Lynn, where he had been stationed, and from other churches in Boston and vicinity. The Governor and other State officers, the Mayor of Charlestown, and the officers of the State Prison, of which Mr. Hempstead had been Chaplain, were present.
" The services opened with the beautiful hymn commencing :
"' Friend after friend departs, Who hath not lost a friend ?'
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"Select passages of Scripture were read by Rev. L. D. Barrows, the pastor, and Rev Mr. Miles, of the First Congregational Church of Charlestown, offered prayer.
" A sermon was preached by Rev. E. O. Haven, D. D., from the text in St. John's Gospel, ix. 4-' I must work the works of Him that sent me; for the night cometh, when no man can work.'
" The preacher first considered the idea sometimes advanced that death ends a man's thoughts, consciousness, and feelings. Christ inculcates that man is conscious after death, and that his happiness depends upon the use he has made of his life. The experience after death is night only as viewed from earth; it is morning as seen from heaven. The teaching in the text is, that in this life all men have a work to do, which must be done here or never. The first great work of a human being is to work for himself. He can -. not conscientiously and successfully work for God, unless he is himself endowed with a higher life. The speaker then discussed the nature of the work to be done in this world, and said that it ought to be done by good men. The address was applied to the occasion and the man. Dr. Haven argued, that those who are con- tending against this rebellion are just as much co-workers with God as those who preach the Gospel, visit the sick, clothe the naked, and feed the hungry. He whose body lay cold before them was a man among the first rank of those who actually made it a constant purpose to work the most effectually for humanity and for God. The highest eulogy that he could pronounce upon him was to say, that he believed from his heart that the predominant purpose of his life had been for many years to do the most good he possibly could do in the world.
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