USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The churches of Mattatuck : a record of bi-centennial celebration at Waterbury, Connecticut, Novermber 4th and 5th, 1891 > Part 4
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AN HISTORICAL SURVEY.
was dedicated in 1796. When the sound of the bell -placed in the steeple not long after the dedica- tion-first rung out over the hillsides of old Matta- tuck, and it was voted that the Episcopal society should have the use of it " on all proper occasions," it was evident that religion was again uttering her voice, and also that religion meant charity and brotherly love. The discords of the Revolutionary time were dying out, to be revived no more, and the work of the Lord was to be accomplished by new hands and upon a broader basis. It was at this epoch (1793) that the Congregational churches of Connecticut began their noble frontier mission work,-a work which ere long extended from Ver- mont to Louisiana, and which through varying phases has continued until now.
My hour is almost ended, and I have brought you only a little more than half way along our journey of two hundred years. The period that remains is no less interesting and certainly no less important than that which we have traversed, but it is more like ourselves, less strange and quaint, and more readily taken for granted. I must seek, however, to characterize it, so far as I can, in rapid outline.
I have spoken of the era of renewed prosperity as having begun in 1796. Three years later than this, the Rev. Edward Porter, Mr. Leavenworth's colleague for a short time, gave way to the Rev. Holland Weeks (one of the ablest men of the Waterbury ministry, I have reason to think) whose pastorate extended to 1806. The fact that Mr. Weeks was dismissed for want of support* shows
* See p. 17 of "Farewell Sermon, delivered December 21, 1806. By Holland Weeks, A. M. New Haven : 1807."
3
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THE FIRST CHURCH IN WATERBURY :
that the lowest ebb of worldly prosperity in the First church had not hitherto been reached. But it was reached now, and the tide was turning. Be- tween 1800 and 1820 a double transformation took place which makes this epoch a marked one in the history of the town and the church. In the town at large that new era of prosperity was entered upon which still shines upon us and in the light and warmth of which we have grown to be a flourishing city. At the beginning of the century, Waterbury was an ordinary country village, with less than an average supply of attractions, and a poor prospect before it. In the estimation of the surrounding towns it was a kind of Nazareth, of which nothing good could be said. But it had in it what was better than topographical advantages-a group of ingenious, industrious, wide-awake men, and it had through the shaping of events an hour of golden opportunity. In this quiet, unpromising village, just at the opening of the century, the manufacture of gilt buttons and of clocks was begun, and from that time until now the "brass industry" has steadily grown, and has transformed not only the old village, but the entire Naugatuck valley, into " something rich and strange." The record be- comes doubly interesting when we find that in spiritual things also there was a revival of pros- perity.
The Rev. Mr. Weeks, in his farewell discourse, said to the people he was leaving, "You will feel, I hope, the great importance of a speedy re-settle- ment of the gospel ministry. If possible, let the first candidate you employ be the one on whom you fix your affections to be your minister. And
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AN HISTORICAL SURVEY.
'fixing, fix' (as Dr. Young says in the choice of a friend), 'and then confide till death.'"* The hope thus expressed was hardly fulfilled, for the pas- torate remained vacant for nearly two years, and between the end of 1808, when the Rev. Luke Wood was called, and the end of 1864, when the Rev. George Bushnell resigned-a period of just the same length as Mr. Leavenworth's ministry-the church had eight installed pastors, besides two or three acting pastors serving for more than a year. Of the eight pastorates Mr. Wood's was the long- est, but during a large part of the time he was a sufferer from ill-health. For about a year (in 1816) his place was supplied by Dr. Nettleton, to whom I have already referred ; and it was under his ministry that the era of prosperity really began in the church. Dr. Nettleton's preaching had been followed by revivals of religion wherever he went, and the results here were similar to those produced elsewhere. First of all, more than a hundred per- sons were added to the church, some of whom have continued with us almost to the present time. And besides this, a foreign missionary society was es- tablished, which flourished for some years, the Ladies' Benevolent society was organized, which has continued until now, the prayer meeting be- came an institution of the church, and the Sunday school began its career of blessed influence. The "revival," as tested by its immediate effects, cul- minated in the summer of 1817. In February, April and June of that year, one hundred and eigh- teen persons were received into the church; in October there was only one addition, in the whole
* Farewell Sermon, p. 18.
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THE FIRST CHURCH IN WATERBURY :
year 1818 only two, and in 1819 only one. But the origin of the institutions I have mentioned seems to be connected with the new birth of interest in religious things which was manifested throughout New England at this time, and so strikingly mani- fested in Waterbury.
And the new age which we then entered upon has been an age of institutions. Church life through all the land has grown more and more objective, more and more institutional and con- crete, and the tendency in that direction, as we should naturally anticipate in an industrial com- munity, has been especially marked in Water- bury. In 1835 the First society erected its fourth church building, which after standing just forty years, to a day, was removed to give place to the present edifice. In all the appliances of modern church life-parlors, chapel, organ, choir and the like-we have kept pace with the progress of the nation, and in the organizations by which the church reaches out a strong arm into the secular life-Christian associations, industrial schools, boys' clubs, hospitals, and many more-we have had a goodly share. That at the same time we have recognized the divine science of theology as a living and growing rather than a dead thing, I need not insist in the presence of those who know us.
Of course I cannot do justice to the character- istics of the present age in our church life without referring, however briefly, to the development of other churches from our own-representing other and at first hostile denominations-and the gradual approximation to brotherhood and spiritual union
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AN HISTORICAL SURVEY.
which has taken place among them. To the estab- lishment of Episcopacy here, I have already re- ferred. Two other non-Congregational churches have appeared among us within the present cen- tury-the Baptists in 1803, the Methodists twelve years later. They were in each case an expression of the sense of spiritual need and the duty of spir- itual activity. Looked upon at first not only with suspicion, but with hatred, they have vindicated for themselves a place in the respect and affections of the most conservative representatives of the old way. In all the Lord's warfare now, we move on side by side and elbow to elbow, as if we had always been friends.
The prosperity of these "daughter churches" which bear Episcopal and Baptist and Methodist names is exceeded in our city only by that of the daughter which bears our own name. I should feel that the ecclesiastical history of Waterbury was indeed sadly incomplete were I not sure that the conspicuous place of the Second Congregational church in the life of our city would somehow receive full recognition in our bi-centennial ser- vices. That it has outstripped the mother church, not only, but all the churches of Connecticut in membership, is a fact worth thinking of ; but this is by no means the only boast it has a right to make. We are glad of the co-operation we find in such a daughter in handing down to new genera- tions the old faith and worship, and in remaking the world for the Master.
Brethren and friends : It seemed to me befitting that while standing on this high place of our his- tory, with loftier summits rising into view, we
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THE FIRST CHURCH IN WATERBURY.
should pause long enough to look back over the landscape of the past, that we might see by what path we had come and recall the varied experiences of the way. It is thus we shall learn to know our- selves aright, and the better prepare ourselves for the momentous tasks of the future. Every such story has its moral ; every such record abounds in lessons. You must deduce them for yourselves. But this, surely, should be our feeling as a church -that our past achievement bears to the great whole some such relation as the foundation walls of an edifice bear to the completed and beautiful structure. Our church has had a life two hundred years long ; yet what have we been but workers on the foundation walls ? Let us not be satisfied with past results ; let us work on, assured that the walls on which we labor, if we labor aright, are
The first foundations of that new, near Day Which shall be builded out of heaven to God.
II.
THE WATERBURY CHURCHES.
WORDS OF INTRODUCTION BY THE REV. DR. ANDERSON.
We have written upon our walls the names of the churches in the vicinity which we claim as the offspring of the old First church in Waterbury. In studying the ancient records of the town, one soon discovers with what reluctance the mother parted with her daughters. There was a conflict in almost every instance, and in every instance the child tri- umphed over the parent. This, which is true of the churches of the vicinage, is especially true of the churches of the city. In the case of the young- est daughter, whose name we see upon my left-the Second Congregational church, the colonization was friendly. But in regard to the other city churches represented here this evening, which are churches of other "denominations," we must acknowledge not only the mother's reluctance, in a certain sense, at parting with her offspring, but her hostility, and in some cases, I regret to say, hatred on her part toward the child. More than once heretofore I have referred in public to a vote found in the records of the old First church, bearing the inter- esting date, July 4th, 1800, instructing a certain committee to proceed against certain brethren and sisters of the church who had been guilty of going off to the Methodists, with the understanding that if they could not be brought to terms they must henceforth be treated as heretics, and "rejected"
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THE WATERBURY CHURCHES.
according to the Scriptures .* Strangely and beau- tifully in contrast with all this is the attitude of our Waterbury churches toward one another to- day. We feel that not only the Congregational churches of the vicinage but the Episcopal churches of our city, if they will allow us to say so, are the daughters of the old First church, and no less so the Baptist church, and the Methodist churches.
And it seemed to me, looking the field over and considering what services would be proper for such a celebration as this, that we must have at least one service in which the different denominations, as we call them-the churches of different names here in our city-should be represented. I desired that there should be a manifestation here, to-day, of the brotherhood of the church,-a manifestation in which, I know, those are willing to take part who are under certain limitations by virtue of their canon law, no less than others whose polity leaves them free. So I have asked the Rev. Dr. Rowland to speak for the church whose establishment in. Waterbury dates back to 1740 or thereabouts, and the Rev. Mr. Elsdon to speak for the Baptist church
* The complete record of the action of the church is as follows : "Waterbury, July 4, A. D. 1800. Met according to adjournment. Voted, That Reuben Frisbie and Stephen Hotchkiss be a committee to inform a number of the brethren and sisters of this church, who sometime since went off to the Methodists, that the church, having taken proper steps, according to the gospel, to gain them to their duty, without success, are about to proceed to reject them, unless they come forward and make gospel satisfaction.
" Waterbury, Sept. 16th, 1800. . Having twice admonished Mrs. Lydia Mix, Mrs. Susanna Munson, Mrs. Sarah Hoadly, Mr. Gershom Olds and Mrs. Sybil Olds, agreeable to Titus 3, 10, and having waited upon them with much forbearance and tenderness, without success, Voted to reject them from our fel- lowship and communion, agreeable to the direction of the apostle in said text. Test, HOLLAND WEEKS, Clerk."
The words of the passage appealed to are : "A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject."
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THE REV. DR. ROWLAND'S ADDRESS.
which originated here in 1803, and the Rev. Mr. Eggleston to represent our Methodist brethren, who organized a church in 1815. Mr. Maltby-a fitting representative, not alone because of his official relations-will tell the story of the Second Congregational church; and toward the end the services will blossom out into a poem composed by the senior pastor of this our youngest and largest and most vigorous daughter.
I welcome you, friends, to these services in which so many are to take part. I welcome also these official representatives of the several churches, to each of whom some part has been assigned. Although we cannot hear from all of you in words of response, we rejoice to have you with us on this festal day.
ADDRESS BY THE REV. EDMUND ROW- LAND, D. D., RECTOR OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
There is a passage in Macaulay's "History of England" that is not half as well known as it ought to be, for its literary merit alone, if for no other reason. It is that passage in which, about to speak of the wars between the "cavaliers " and the "roundheads," he leaves the subject for a moment and enters upon a eulogy of the Puritans. It is a grand theme ; his pen was never better occupied than in that eulogy. They were a noble race of men, and I have found that all those who make any claim whatever to descent from the Puritans,
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THE WATERBURY CHURCHES.
no matter what their affiliations at present may be, are very glad to accept this view of them. They were sterling men. God knows, I wish we had more such men to-day-men of deep convictions and men who had the courage of their convictions.
They came to this country with the purpose of carrying out here the idea of a church without a bishop and a state without a king ; but not the idea of a state without a church. They certainly were the established church in this country-at all events, in this section of the country. An examin- ation of the old records of New England will show how closely the church and the state were one ; nor did they intend there should be anything else here but the church of the Puritans. This First church established in Waterbury was a church of the Puri- tans, and I am sure it scarcely entered into the minds of the founders of the First church that the voice of an Episcopal minister would ever be heard in the church, to say nothing of the voice of a Bap- tist minister. Indeed, I think it was usually the policy of that church to avoid the Episcopalians and the Baptists and the Methodists, and also to make them feel as if they were interlopers. It was the custom of the day. The Puritans had been per- secuted in the old country, and they were perhaps not unwilling to retaliate upon the church that persecuted them, when that church came to be rep- resented here. They wanted the ground for them- selves ; they were the established church ; and it was the rule almost always, the final argument of those days, to persecute. If a man did not believe exactly as you did, the next thing, after having tried argument with him, was to persecute, to make him
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THE REV. DR. ROWLAND'S ADDRESS.
uncomfortable. I am very glad that those days have gone by and that we live in better times. Toleration is a mark of the advance of our age in religious thought.
Dr. Anderson has said that this church may in some sense be considered the mother of the Epis- copal church, and it is true that it may be so con- sidered. The Episcopal churches received the benefit, largely, of the instructions given in this church. It is a significant fact that when we look over the personnel of our Episcopal church, we find a very small proportion of our members-whether of our clergy or of our lay members-who were born and brought up and educated in the Episcopal fold. Take the bishops ; it has been said that not more than one-tenth of the whole number of our bishops were born and educated in the Episcopal church. They have all been drawn from other denominations. If that is true of bishops, it is likewise true of the lower clergy. Whenever I look around among my acquaintances in the ministry, I find that those who were born and brought up in the church are very few and far between ; and it is so among the members of our churches. Perhaps not in so large a proportion, because the Episcopal laity in this country are largely of foreign birth ; nevertheless a very considerable proportion of our laity were born and brought up outside of the church.
Now, if this be so, what follows ? Why, it follows, that if we have religious zeal, learning, faith, charity, we have got them from somewhere outside of ourselves,-that those ministers who were edu- cated in other denominations brought them with
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THE WATERBURY CHURCHES
them into our church ; and I believe that is very generally felt. But it is a thing we do not think of as often as we ought,-how much we are indebted to one another in this Christian community for religious ideas. It is impossible that this church here should keep to itself the teaching it has received in these two hundred years. That teach- ing has gone out into the community. It has made men examples for the community to emulate, and it has made men who have united themselves with other denominations distinguished for those virtues which have been here inculcated.
I do not know that I am able to speak upon the doctrines, the actual doctrines, of Congregation- alism, as distinguished from those that I hold. It is not incumbent upon me that I should. I may say that I am very ignorant of the actual teachings of Congregationalism. I know something of the old doctrines of the Presbyterian church, but I know very little of the doctrines of the Congrega- tionalists as held to-day. I have had friends who were Congregationalists, of whom, perhaps, I might have received instruction. I have one friend in especial, who, I think, is prominent in this denomi- nation. I have never heard him say much about doctrines, but I know how high a power his life has, and how much good he is doing in the place where God has put him. I never heard him speak of "election," but I should judge from his conduct and his words that he believes election to be as broad as humanity itself. I never heard him speak of the doctrine of predestination ; I do not know whether he is a supralapsarian or a sublapsarian, but I know that he feels that God's foreknowledge
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THE REV. MR. ELSDON'S ADDRESS.
makes no difference with man's free will. I don't know whether he believes in the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, but I do know that he finds in the Scriptures the word of God, and that he draws from them inspiring lessons every day of his life. I don't know that he believes in the doctrine of pro- bation after death, but I know that he is anxious to have all men feel that they have a probation in this life. He would have every human being, wherever he may be, have a knowledge of his pro- bation and what it is.
That friend of mine is the pastor of this church, and in bringing you the greetings of the church to which I minister in this place, I would also say that I sincerely trust no call will ever separate him from the First church, or from Waterbury (to which he belongs as much as he belongs to you', except that last call which bids him come up higher into the kingdom of heaven.
ADDRESS BY THE REV. W. P. ELSDON, PASTOR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
When I go down to my old home, I turn myself into a Methodist for the time being, that I may fully fellowship the dear father and other kindred there. To-day I have been glad to turn myself into a Congregationalist, and so doing I had a very great treat, this afternoon, in listening to that admirable historical discourse which Dr. Anderson gave us. I count myself very happy to be here to-
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THE WATERBURY CHURCHES.
night to speak a word on this auspicious occasion. And yet I feel like a stripling; I feel small and insignificant in this august presence; I am so young-only eighty-eight years old-alongside of this majestic two-hundred. I am completely over- shadowed. You know I am speaking as the Baptist church. Personally I am not quite eighty-eight; but I am expected to represent the Baptist church.
That, by the way, is a very difficult thing to do. The Baptists are the worst kind of people I ever knew to represent at all. They remind me of a story of a boy who had been behaving badly, and whose mother "went for him." He ran, but the mother was gaining on him ; so he dropped on his hands and knees and crawled under the barn, where she couldn't reach him, and lay there. She waited until his father came home, and then committed the taws and the cause to him. When he went out to the barn, and dropped on his hands and knees, to go under it, the boy said, " Oh, father, is she after you too?" That boy had no idea that his father could represent his mother. And I have a very difficult task for to-night, if I represent the Baptist church. My own church, here in Waterbury, may possibly submit to it, pro- vided I behave myself as I should. I was reading in a New York paper this morning about some man who had been elected to office, I think in Pennsylvania. The writer, describing him, said that he was a "mugwump of the most unscrupu- lous integrity." Now, if my integrity should get off the track a little, my church to-morrow would utterly repudiate my representation of them. So you see I have to go carefully. The Baptists are
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THE REV. MR. ELSDON'S ADDRESS.
very democratic, even more democratic than the Congregationalists.
While I do not know that there is any organic fellowship, lying anywhere in the dim past, between this mother church and the church I have the honor to serve (at any rate I have not been able to discover any fact that would so indicate) yet I have got hold of this, that establishes a sort of connec- tion after all :- When one of those earlier church buildings of which Dr. Anderson told us to-day was put up, an election was held at which those were chosen who should occupy the highest seat in the church. I think it was the pew at the head of the house, with its square walls and high-that pew in which were seated those who were most honorable by reason of rank and by reason of age in the congregation. Now, I believe there are at least three members in my church to-day who are descended from some of the original seven that were elected to that highest honor in the house of the Lord ; and yet that was very long ago, long before there was any Baptist church.
I understand that in the early days of Baptist history it was very difficult to get a footing in the town. The first Baptist church was built in the woods, and they had to go to the woods to worship. Well, thank God, we have got out of the woods, and this First Congregational church has got out of the woods, too, as evidenced in the fact that I am in- vited to speak here to-night. Congregationalism is not a " standing order " any longer ; it is a march- ing order ; it is going on, I hope, toward perfection. I don't know that I am naturally a conservative ; possibly I might not have come out of the church
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THE WATERBURY CHURCHES.
of my fathers if I had been. But, whatever re- mains of conservatism there may be in me, I was greatly pleased as well as surprised last Monday, at what I saw and heard at the conference of New Haven county Baptist ministers in the city of New Haven. The subject of the paper for the day was the inspiration of the Scriptures, and there was developed in that paper and in the discussion that followed, a remarkable variety of sentiment con- cerning that great and vastly important doctrine ; views were expressed by the different brethren ranging all the way from the most narrow and rigid verbal theory of inspiration to-well, I don't like to say how far it went in the other direction. But it was worth a good deal to me to remember, thinking it all over afterward, that in a confer- ence of Baptist ministers-of Baptist ministers serving in the same county-views so diverse con- cerning a matter so fundamental could be freely uttered, and could find the largest toleration. We are indeed marching ; we are not a standing order any more.
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