USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut > Part 28
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But perhaps to no one was the intelligence "that the church was on fire" so heart-rending as to him who had administered at that sanctuary for the last fifty years. Mr. Potwine had now become an old man. He had reached the farther shore of time, and the mists from eternity's vast ocean were beginning to gather around him. Advanced in life and weakened by disease, he was in no condition to bear such a trial. To him, above all others, that old edifice was precious. It had been the place of his life's labor; the post where his master had stationed him in the days of his early manhood, and in which he had been kept to his old age; it was associated with all the memories so dear to a true pastor of the flock of Christ. He had there proclaimed a Saviour's dying love; administered the elements commemorat- ive of that Saviour's atoning sacrifice; witnessed the power of the truth upon those who listened to his message from the heights of Zion. It was the one spot to which for fifty years his mind turned with deep interest, and with which were con- nected his duty here and his crown hereafter. He is said to have lost his usual elasticity of mind, his spirits drooped, and his
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bodily infirmities increased in power, until the hour came which closed his trials and his stewardship.
A period of darkness now ensued. The minds of many in the society were sadly embittered. The daring and wanton act which had been perpetrated by some rude hand could not be forgotten. More than one individual was suspected and openly charged with the crime, and at length a prosecution was com- menced against several who had been members of the society. They of course denied the charge; and those connected with them by friendship or family ties, were greatly aroused and violently embittered against the society, and withidrew their names from its list of members. It was a time of contention and subsequent darkness. Some now living can no doubt recall the scene as one of severe trial to the lover of Zion; as a time when Satan seemed to have gained the ascendancy, and was about to root up the good seed which had been sown here by the preaching of the Word, and the prayers and tears of God's people.
The trial in the courts lasted for some time, but the result of it is now of little consequence. Most, if not all, of those con- cerned on either side, have gone before a higher tribunal, and the troubled waters have long since subsided; we would not raise a ripple on their calm surface.
Whatever division of feeling existed within the society, there seems to have been a decision of purpose with a large majority in regard to the erection of a new place of worship. At the regular meeting of the society in the following April, it was
" Voted, To build a meeting-house in this society, at a place where the Honorable General Assembly or County Court shall affix - by a majority of the whole except two - and that Caleb Booth, Esq., be agent in behalf of this society to proffer a me- morial praying said Assembly or Court, as occasion may require, to appoint, order and affix the place whereon said meeting- house shall be built, and also to apply to said Assembly for their resolve appropriating the materials and money provided for repairing the old meeting house, lately burnt in this society, to the purpose of building a new one.
Voted, To raise five mills on the dollar on the list of 1801, for the purpose of defraying the expenses."
The expense referred to was more particularly intended for
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carrying on the law-suit ordered to be commeneed against those suspected of having fired the old meeting-house.
On the 26th day of May, 1802, a meeting was held "for the purpose of taking into consideration the doing of the Honorable General Assembly committee in affixing the place whereon to build a meeting-house in this society, and for acting thereon."
"Voted, That provided said Assembly shall ratify the doing's of said committee, we will build a meeting-house on said place.
Ninety-one in the affirmative and twenty-three in the nega- tive."
On the 31st May, the society again assembled;
" Voted, To raise two cents on the dollar on the list of 1801, towards defraying the expense of building the new meeting- house, when the General Assembly have affixed the place, in addition to the four cent tax already voted and appropriated to the building of said house, by said Assembly, payable on the first day of October, 1802.
Voted, Messrs. John Morton, Thomas Potwine, Jr., and Job Ellsworth, be a committee to carry the building of said meeting- house into effeet.
Voted, To build said meeting-house of the following dimen- sions: fifty-six feet in length and forty-seven feet in breadth, and a proportionable height, to be determined by the committee appointed to build said house; and to erect the frame, and cover the outside, and lay the lower floor, by the first day of October, 1802, or as soon as may be."
The committee chosen by the society seems to have possessed a very commendable degrec of energy in carrying out their resolutions, for in one month from the date of their last meeting the house was raised, and we suppose in some state of forward- ness, so much so that at a meeting legally warned and held on the 2d of July, 1802, they felt it necessary to pass a vote and take measures for protection against any evil disposed persons who might attempt to injure it. The following resolution speaks for itself:
" Voted, That Samnel Stiles, Jeremiah Lord, and John Fel- shaw, be agents in behalf of this society, and they are hereby authorized and appointed to take care of the new meeting-house lately ereeted in this society, and to eommenec a prosecution or prosecutions against any person or persons who shall attempt or commit any trespass on said meeting-house, in any wise in- juring the same, and to make presentment to proper authority for any breaches of law or for any threats that have or shall be
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uttered respecting said house, and prosecute the same to final judgment and execution."
The last vote for raising the yearly salary of Rev. Mr. Pot- wine, was passed by the society at their regular meeting in October, 1802.
" Voted, To raise two hundred dollars for the Rev. Thomas Potwine's salary for the current year.
Voted, To raise sixteen pounds, sixteen shillings, to get the Rev. Thomas Potwine's wood for the year ensuing, to be paid to the following named persons, in proportion as they have undertaken to get said wood:
To Daniel Osborn, 4 cords at 8 shillings.
Hezekiah Wells, 4
=
8 8
= Daniel Chapin, 4
Hezekiah Bissell, S
Jonathan Clark, 2
18 Henry Wolcott, Paul Hamilton, 2
2
8
8
" David Bancroft, 2
66
8
8
66
Alexander Vining, 6
2
4
=
8 8
66
Jonathan Button,
2
42 cords "
This method of supplying wood for Mr. Potwine had been adopted first at a meeting of the society in November, 1794, at which time an inspector of the wood thus to be provided was appointed.
Soon after this meeting in October, 1802, the society was left destitute of a pastor by the death of the Rev. Mr. Potwine.1
1 Mr. Potwine died in November, 1802, about one year after the burning of the meeting-house The following record of his last hours of life was made at the time when the scene occurred :
"For more than ten days preceding his death, Mr. Potwine was exercised with great bodily distress, but patient and resigned to the hand of God. So great was his weakness that he was unable to converse in that length of time ; but while the lamp of life was glimmering in the socket, and every moment expected to be his last, on the morning of the Lord's day, which was the day before his death, to the surprise of his mourning family and many people who called in to take a last and affectionate farewell of their beloved pastor, on their way to the place of public worship, at that moment he was favored with a short revival, his departing spirit recalled, and with an audible voice he asked them to unite with him in prayer : and in the following words poured forth the desires of his heart :
" Almighty God and Heavenly Father ! be pleased to be with us on this Thy holy day, to keep us from sin and all evil, and guide us in duty. Will
8
66
Joseph Button, Caleb Booth,
16
S
8
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SCANTIC, OR NORTH PARISH.
They did not however relax in any of their efforts to finish their meeting-house, already erected, or to provide for themselves and families the stated preaching of the gospel ; and it is highly gratifying to perceive how promptly and systematically they went on amidst the difficulties with which they were surrounded. They had now no spiritual leader. Many who had been mem- bers of the society either withdrew their aid or united in oppo- sition ; but the business of the society went steadily on.
A meeting was legally warned and held on the 10th day of January, 1803, when it was
" Voted, That Caleb Booth be and he is hereby appointed agent for this society to apply to the association for advice and assistance in procuring a candidate to preach the gospel to them on probation.
Voted to raise two cents on the dollar, on the list of 1802, for the purpose of paying the expenses on the meeting-house, already arisen, and likewise to build a pulpit."
Ia March following, a meeting was held by adjournment from that held 10th of January, which was again adjourned to the third Monday of March ; and on the third Monday the society
God be with me, Thy servant, who is soon to be laid in the consuming grave. Merciful God! be with me in my dying moments, to uphold and sup- port me. Put underneath me Thine everlasting arms of mercy ; and support me by Thy free, rich grace ; and receive my parting spiritto Thy blissful pre- sence. WVill God be with my dear and mourning wife in her great trials, and support her by Thy Iloly Spirit. Will God sanctify my death to my dear children, for their spiritual and everlasting good. And may my death be sanctified to my beloved church and people, when I am laid in the dust. Unite them in one heart and one mind to serve the living and true God. Pre- serve them from Will worship : and may they in truth and sincerity love and serve Thee. May they be united in harmony and peace. Bless the whole Israel of God ; and have compassion on the immortal souls Thou hast made ; through the merits of Thy dear Son, our Lord and Saviour, and to Him, with the Father and Eternal Spirit, be ascribed everlasting praises. Amen."
The last words which Mr. Potwine was heard to utter, were,
"Christ is my all and in all."
And the Rev. Mr. McClure, the pastor of the South Church in East Wind- sor, chose them as the text from which he preached his funeral sermon, No- vember 17, 1802.
Colossians iii, 2 .- " Christ is all and in all."
His monument, in the Scantic graveyard, bears this inscription :
" Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Thomas Potwine, first Minister of the Second Church in East Windsor, he was a native of Boston, and educated at Yale College, 1751, settled in the gospel ministry here, 1754, where he con- tinued more than 48 years, the faithful pious pastor of an united people, his useful and exemplary life, thro' the grace of his Savour, was crowned with peace and triumph in death. He deceased Nov. 15th, 1802, aged 71 years.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR,
again assembled, but the only resolution passed was the follow- ing :
" Voted, To dissolve this meeting."
That there was some difficulty, appears evident from these frequent meetings, without any action. There was, however, a majority of determined friends to religion and good order, for on the twenty-eighth day of March, instant, another meeting was legally warned and held, at which considerable business was trangacted.
" Voted, To finish off the new meeting-house in this society complete by the first day of December next ; the stairs in the steeple to be included in finishing said house.
Voted, To raise six cents on the dollar, on the list of Aug. 20, 1802, to defray the expense of the same, to be paid at three several payments, viz : § first of Oct. 1803 ; } first of Octo- ber, 1804 ; } first of October, 1805 ; and that the rate-bills be immediately made ont, that any persons so disposed may pay their proportions at once.
Voted, That John Morton, Job Ellsworth and Thomas Pot- wine, be the committee to finish said house.
The above meeting was adjourned to the 6th day of June fol- lowing, when the following vote was passed :
" Voted, To raise five mills on the dollar, on the list of 1803, to defray the expense of hiring a clergyman to supply the pul- pit in this society."
Mr. Booth had been successful in procuring a candidate, the . Rev. Shubael Bartlett ; and the above tax was laid for the pur- pose of paying him for his services.
After preaching some months as a candidate, Mr. Bartlett received a call from the society to settle as their pastor.
The preliminary meeting for that purpose was held on the 28th day of November, 1803. The vote was passed to call Mr. Bartlett by a large majority, eighty-four voting in the affirma- tive, and twelve in the negative. The terms of settlement were, five hundred dollars to be paid him as a settlement, and a yearly salary of four hundred and fifty dollars, so long as he should be able to supply the pulpit, and if disabled from preach- ing, one-half the salary to be deducted. He was also to have the use of the ministerial lot.
These terms were accepted by Mr. Bartlett, and he was ordained as their pastor, on the 15th of February, 1804.
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In 1841, the meeting-house was remodeled and finished in a style of modern convenience and elegance.
Bell and Clock.
The bell and clock were presented to the society as a dona- tion, and the following is the first notice of them on record:
"At a meeting of the second ecclesiastical society, legally warned and held on the second day of October, 1809:
Voted, That whereas sundry individuals belonging to the second ecclesiastical society in East Windsor, have provided, by free donation, a bell and also a clock, for the use and benefit of said society, and have freely presented the same by their committees; therefore,
Resolved, That this society cordially and gratefully accept the donation and return them their sincere thanks for the same, and also to the respective committees for their trouble and attention to this business."
The bell and clock were no doubt put into their respective places immediately, for we find provision made for ringing the bell and taking care of the clock, at this same meeting, in the following vote:
" Voted, To raise twenty-two dollars, to be paid to Mr. Thomas Tarbox for ringing the bell and taking care of the clock."
The regulations for ringing the bell were not made until 1812. At a meeting held in October of that year, it was
" Voted, That the following shall be the regulations for ring- ing the bell:
The bell shall be rung at 12 o'clock in the day, and nine at night, five minutes each time. After ringing the bell at nine at night, to toll the day of the month.
It shall ring every sabbath morning at half past nine o'clock, fifteen minutes, it shall ring at meeting time five minutes, and then toll until the minister comes and enters the desk.
In like manner before a lecture.
It shall ring for a death five minutes; for a male about ten years old, it shall strike three times three strokes; for a female over ten years of age it shall strike three times two strokes; and for a child under ten years of age, three strokes; and then it shall strike the age of the person deceased; and then it shall be tolled fifteen minutes. It shall be tolled at a funeral when requested.
It is not to be tolled for a death after the sun is down."
We find no mention made of stoves for warming the meeting-
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
house until 1825. At a meeting held in October of that year it was
" Voted, To give liberty to the inhabitants of the second society in East Windsor, to put a stove or stoves into the meet- ing house, provided they shall be the property of the society so long as the society shall suffer them to remain in said house."
Nothing, however, was done in accomplishing what now seems such an absolute necessity for comfort in the house of worship, until another year had passed.
A meeting was held on the 25th day of December, 1826, which was adjourned to the 2d day of January, 1827, when it was
" Voted, To raise three-fourths of a cent on a dollar, to defray the expenses of putting up stoves and pipes into the meeting- house-to provide fuel for the same, and a man to attend to the stoves."
Seating the Meeting-House.
The first notice in regard to pews is recorded at a meeting of the society in December, 1759, when a committee was appointed to finish the meeting-house with pews. Whether the committee completed the work, is doubtful, for no mention is made of their doings, nor was any money voted for that purpose. In 1769, eighty pounds was raised for the purpose of finishing the meet- ing-house, and Ensign Lemuel Stoughton, Captain Jonathan Bartlett, and Simeon Wolcott, were appointed committee to carry the vote into effeet. The next year, 10th day of Decem- ber, 1770, is the first notice we have of seating the meeting- house, so that in all probability the pews were not completed until that period.
The persons selected for that purpose, were James Harper, Simeon Woleott, John Thompson, Jr., Ensign Lemuel Stough- ton, and John Prior ; and the meeting was adjourned to the first Monday in February following, for the express purpose of hearing their report. The report was accepted.
In December, 1785, a committee was again appointed for the same purpose; and at an adjourned meeting held on the second Monday of January following, the report of that committee was heard and accepted. The persons appointed for that purpose were Captain Hezekiah Bissell, Major Lemuel Stoughton, Cap-
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tain Caleb Booth, Joseph Allen, Esq., and Ebenezer Watson, Jr. In December, 1790, it was
" Voted, That the committee that seated the meeting-house the last time, be a committee to seat those persons who have come into the society since the meeting-house was last seated."
In January, 1794, a committee was again appointed to seat the house, and on the 1st April following their report was ac- cepted.
The last order for seating the old house was made at a regular society meeting held on the 6th day of October, 1800.
Samuel Stiles, Samuel Bartlett, Thomas Potwine, Jr., Benja- . min Loomis, James Chamberlain, Stodant Ellsworth and John Pasco were the committee appointed for that purpose. The meeting was adjourned to the first Monday of February follow- ing, to hear their report.
At that adjourned meeting, the following question was put to the society, by the moderator, Capt. Hezekiah Bissell :
" Do you accept the doings of your committee in seating the meeting-house ?"
"Voted in the affirmative."
After the erection of the new meeting-house, in 1802, nothing was done in reference to seating the house for twenty-four years. When the congregation took possession of the new pews, they probably seated themselves according to some prin- ciple which had been established during their occupancy of the old house. It must, at least, have been an arrangement satis- factory to the larger part of the society, or it would not have been continued so long without some attempt to alter it. The first notice of any movement on the subject is recorded at a meeting of the society held the 2d of October, 1826.
" Voted, That the society's committee be directed to embrace in their warning, at the next annual meeting, to see if the soci- ety will lease the pews in the meeting-house in this society for one year - or whether they will do anything relating to selling the pews or seating the meeting-house."
The society, however, seems to have been greatly divided in opinion on that subject, as well as others, and after several ad- journed meetings the matter was finally dropped until 1832, when at the regular meeting, held on the 7th of October of that year, Jonathan Bartlett, Esq., being moderator, Chester Belknap, Esq.
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clerk and treasurer-Simeon Barber, John Bissell, Esq., 2nd, Moses Osborn, society committee.
The following resolution was passed :
" Voted, To lease the pews for one year to raise money to defray the expenses of the society the current year and to dis- charge the debts now due from the society.
Voted, That Messrs. Moses Osborn, John Bissell, Esq., Ira Wells, Samuel Bartlett, Esq., and Simeon Barber, be a commit- tee for the above purpose."
This committee made report at an adjourned meeting held in November, which was accepted, and the sale of the pews ac- cordingly made - and this method of seating the meeting-house has been since usually adopted with slight variations.
Singing.
Attention to singing, as a part of the worship of the sanctu- ary, has always been held among this people as of great importance, and very early in the history of the society we find the subject alluded to and provision made for its maintenance.
At a meeting of the society in December, 1758, among other resolutions for the good of the society, we find the following:
"Voted, To raise eight pounds to hire Mr. Beal or Mr. Wilson to teach us to sing."
What method these gentlemen adopted in their term of instruc- tion we can not now say, but it appears some years afterwards, the society thought it necessary to pass a resolution which would seem to indicate that the service had been performed pretty much " ad libitum."
At a meeting of the society in April, 1771, it was
" Voted, To introduce singing by rule in the congregation."
This resolution it would seem did not meet with approbation, for at a meeting of the society next year it was in effect re- scinded, as follows:
" Voted, Not to act upon the article of singing in the congre- gation."
There were doubtless, wise men among them, who, as soon as they perceived what testy folks singers were, resolved to let them have their own way-either to sing in unison, or each one on their own hook, merely insisting upon the following regula- tion, which should be in force for one year :
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" Voted, To sing in the congregation without reading line by line, a part of the time, not exceeding one-half, until the next annual meeting of the society."
At the next annual meeting it was
" Voted, To continue the singing in the congregation, as agreed upon at the last meeting."
No further attempt was made to interfere with the singing until 1794.
At a meeting of the society, held in January of that year, the following resolution was passed :
"Voted, To raise one farthing on the pound on the list of 1793, for the purpose of hiring a singing-master to instruct in the rules and arts of singing Psalms, so that singing in divine wor- ship may be performed decently and orderly in this society."
The peculiar wording of this resolution rather leaves an im- pression upon the mind that things were not in respect to that department of the exercises just as they should have been. And the society appears now to be in earnest to correct the evil, for at the next annual meeting another farthing on the pound was raised, and Major Caleb Booth empowered to hire a singing master for the winter.
Again in 1796, a vote was passed to raise one-half penny on the pound for the purpose of hiring a teacher "to learn the inhabitants of this society the rules of singing psalms in the congregation," and Daniel Osborn was appointed a committee to carry the resolution into effect.
The last singing school for the benefit of worship in the old church, was in the winter of 1800 and 1801.
At a meeting held 6th October, 1800, it was
" Voted To raise two mills on the dollar, on the list of 1800, for the use of hiring a singing-master the ensuing winter.
Voted, That Capt. Asahel Stiles should procure a singing- master."
Since the erection of the last meeting-house, and during the ministry of Mr. Bartlett, singing schools were enjoyed every few years; the pastor himself always attended them, for he not only took a great delight in sacred music, but he believed that the meeting together of the younger part of the congregation to engage in this exercise had a happy influence on their minds, and he has often been heard to say that he could date the
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beginnings of several revivals of religion from the close of the singing-schools. His prayerful watch over them did, no doubt much to prevent the evils which have come upon other eccle- siastical societies from this source.
In 1847, Mr. Bartlett was induced, by the infirmities of age, to request the assistance of a colleague pastor.
Accordingly the society chose the Rev. SAMUEL J. ANDREWS, who was duly ordained to his office, in October following, " and commenced his peculiar and responsible duties, for which by nature, and more especially by the grace of God, he was in an eminent degree qualified."
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