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Gc 974.402 W4.6p 1851508
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01067 1037
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BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
IN
WELLFLEET, MASSACHUSETTS.
BY
REV. ALBERT P. PALMER.
PUBLISHED BY THE LEADERS AND STEWARDS.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
BOSTON: FRANKLIN PRESS: RAND, AVERY, & COMPANY. 1877.
1851508
Fijo 1
1. Wellfleet, Mass. Methodist Episcopal church.
Library of Congressfur ca:
BX8481.W4P3 (933b1)
1-6423
4068
51-07-01.3222
1
D 284496 Palmer, Albert P. .6 A brief history of the Methodist Episcopal church in Well- fleet, Massachusetts. By Rov. Albert P. Palmer. Published by the leaders and stowards. Boston, Rund, Avery, & com- pany, 1877. 84 p. 19 **.
TO THE
LEADERS AND STEWARDS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WELLFLEET, MASS.,
These Lines
ARE AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
A. P. PALMER. WELLFLEET, January, 1877.
PREFACE.
IN our Quarterly Conference held in March, 1876, it was voted to purchase a new church record ; and the pastor was invited to transcribe the names, and re-write a history of the church to insert therein. The book was immediately procured, and the transcription made. But in the matter of history, using the facts recorded by former pastors, and such as he could gather from the oldest living members, the writer became very much interested, and soon found he was exceeding the limit for insertion in the record. Mak- ing this known to the official members and others, they said, " Go on, and we will have it printed. All of our people, at home and abroad, will be pleased to get a copy." Acting on this advice, and thinking it would appear as a small pamphlet, while preaching two sermons each sabbath, and doing other work as a pastor, he continued to use what means he had for gathering information, and has written the history as best he could with his limited time and ability, presenting it to the leaders and stewards. They publish it as it here appears. Knowing that our oldest members are fast passing away, and the facts in the history of our church which they can give must be noted very soon, or be lost, and hoping to inspire some of our members by calling up the glorious past, the writer has cheerfully performed this labor. There are many imper- fections in the volume, and he does not claim for it the
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p
6
PREFACE.
dignity of a full history ; but believes all his statements to be correct.
Rev. S. W. Coggeshall, D.D., has given valuable assist- ance ; and most of the former pastors now living have very kindly responded to the call for particulars concerning their labors here, and personals.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. FROM 1797 TO 1806. PAGE.
First. Preachers making Occasional Visits. - First Class of Three Members. - First Leader. - Two Revivals
. 9
CHAPTER II. FROM 1807 TO 1811.
Harwich Circuit. - Wellfleet and Truro. - Joel Steele, Erastus Otis, and Joseph A. Merrill
7
CHAPTER III. FROM 1812 TO 1814.
Robert Arnold. - Elias Marble. - Bartholomew Otheman . 11
CHAPTER IV. FROM 1815 TO 1817.
Thomas C. Pierce. - Orin Roberts and Benjamin Keith. - Great Re- vival. - A Church built. - Charles Virgin. - B. R. Hoyt. - George Pickering 15
CHAPTER V. FROM 1818 TO 1821.
Ephraim Wiley. - Edward Hyde. - F. Upham. - First Camp-Meeting on the Cape in 1819, followed by Revivals in Provincetown and Eastham. - Second Camp-Meeting in 1820, followed by Revivals in Wellfleet and Truro. - Wilbur Fiske. - B. R. Hoyt . . 21
CHAPTER VI. FROM 1822 TO 1828.
Leonard Bennett. - S. G. Atkins. - Lewis Bates and Joel Steele. - Revival. - New Parsonage. - First Sunday school. - Wellfleet Station
28
8
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII. FROM 1829 TO 1836. PAGE.
B. F. Lambord. - N. S. Spaulding. - Squire B. Hascall. - Hector Brownson and Warren Emerson. - Church Edifice enlarged. - Revival 33
CHAPTER VIII. FROM 1837 TO 1843.
Heman Perry. - I. M. Bidwell. - Horace Moulton. - Paul Townsend. Jonathan Cady. - Great Revival. - Church removed and enlarged, 38
CHAPTER IX. FROM 1844 TO 1852.
G. W. Stearns. - J. Lovejoy. - C. C. Munger. - Samuel Fox. - John Howson. - Revivals. - New Parsonage . 46
CHAPTER X. FROM 1853 TO 1864.
J. E. Gifford. - E. Benton. - E. K. Colby. - F. H. Hatfield. - J. Mather. - J. Howson. - A. N. Bodfish. - Revivals. - Church Enlarged . . 61
CHAPTER XI. FROM 1865 TO 1868.
W. V. Morrison. - Revival. - Charles Nason. - Providence Annual Conference held in Wellfleet. - Conversions. - Loss of Schooner ' Ellery C. Anthony." - Death of Aged Members . . 57
CHAPTER XII. FROM 1869 TO 1874.
Walter Ela. - A. J. Church. - C. S. Macreading. - Revival
62
CHAPTER XIII. FROM 1875 TO 1876.
A. P. Palmer. - Revival. - Conclusion. - List of Pastors
.
67
APPENDIX.
The Gross Family. - M. E. Church in South Wellfleet .
ยท
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, WELLFLEET, MASS.
CHAPTER I.
First Preachers making Occasional Visits. - First Class of Three Members. - First Leader. - Two Revivals.
FROM the " Life of Rev. Joseph Snelling," written by himself, we learn that Rev. William Humbert, a local preacher, was the first Methodist minister who preached in Provincetown. "He was captain of a vessel, and, when on a voyage from New York to St. John's, put in to Provincetown harbor, and, being windbound, continued there several days," preaching each evening. Rev. George Cannon was stationed there in 1795 ; and this, we are informed, was very soon after Mr. Humbert's visit. Mr. Cannon labored successfully, and formed a society. When they de- cided to have a meeting-house, they went to some other place, and purchased a frame all fitted to raise, and brought it to their village in a vessel, leaving it on the shore over night; but before morning it was cut up and carried off by some of their persecu-
10
HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
tors. Not discouraged by this, they soon had another frame, and succeeded in erecting it by keeping guard at night.
The next preacher was Rev. Joseph Snelling, who preached on the sabbath, a part of the time, at Truro. He was followed by Rev. Robert Yallalee, who was the first minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church who preached in Wellfleet. He came here several 1797. After him, in these occasional visits, came times on invitation in the early part of 1797. Revs. Jacob Rickhow, Smith Weeks, John Broad- head, Joseph Snelling, Edward Whittle, Allen H. Cobb, Philip Munger, and Elijah Willard, all of whom were devout, self-sacrificing men of God. Some of our mothers in Israel can well remember all of them except the first two; and some of their names are particularly endeared to New England Methodists. They all "rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."
The first Methodist class in Wellfleet was organ- ized in 1802, consisting of three members, - Abigail Gross, Thankful Rich, and Lurana Higgins. 1802. Noble, faithful women, this church owes much to their fervent prayers and Christian zeal. Thankful Rich died triumphantly May 1, 1815, aged fifty-nine years. She was a deeply pious woman. One grandson and a great-great-grandson are living among us. Abigail Gross was a noble woman of superior abilities, wholly devoted to God. She was very efficient in the church, and was the mother of fourteen children, of whom thirteen grew up to manhood and womanhood, and were members of the
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WELLFLEET, MASS.
Methodist Episcopal Church, and two are yet living. She died in great peace in 1835, aged eighty-seven years. Lurana Higgins, daughter of Thomas and Abigail Gross, died in the Lord, July 17, 1856, in the ninetieth year of her age. She was closely iden- tified with our church all through her life, and lived to see the little class of three increased to over three hundred. She was the mother of ten children, and cheerfully gave one of her daughters to participate in the joys and trials of the itinerancy, to die far from home, and be buried among strangers. Three of her daughters are yet living, of whom two are among our oldest members.
" Of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her; and the Highest himself shall establish her." The earliest history of this little class proves that it was a branch of the Church of God. The numbers were soon increased to ten ; and Ephraim Higgins was the first appointed leader.
Brother Higgins was a true Christian, and con- tinued as class-leader in this church for over forty years. In his last sickness he resigned this office, and March 28, 1846, was called home.
His son Enoch was class-leader here for at least fifteen years; and again, Allen Higgins, son of Enoch and grandson of Ephraim, has been a leader for many years.
These few met regularly under their leader, and ever found the Lord with them. When a gospel minister came, they heard the word to be doers also, and their prayers and labors were not in vain. Souls were converted, and added to their number. With
12
HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
1804. a history of only two years, in 1804 they saw a good revival of religion, in which quite a number were brought into their fellowship. Two 1806. years later, in 1806, they passed through another season of refreshing and ingathering, which gave them an influence in the community such as they had not known before : they were rec- ognized as a promising church. " From this revival," say the earliest records, " a gradual increase of reli- gious influence followed." Oh that such an influence might follow every revival !- instead of what is termed " reaction," a steady increase of interest and power. Why may it not be ?
13
WELLFLEET, MASS.
CHAPTER II.
Harwich Circuit. - Wellfleet and Truro. - Joel Steele, Erastus Otis, and Joseph A. Merrill.
WELLFLEET was made an appointment on the Harwich Circuit in 1807, and Rev. Joel Steele
was the preacher in charge. The people 1807. were delighted to hear the gospel regularly, and their first minister was much beloved. He was an amiable, humble, and cheerful Christian, a great lover of the church and the work to which he was called ; and his preaching was plain, earnest, and effective. There were a number of conversions here and in other parts of the circuit ; and the members of the churches were edified and strengthened.
Joel Steele was born in Tolland, Conn., Aug. 14, 1782, and was converted in that place, at the age of twenty-two or twenty-three, in a revival under the labors of the early Methodist preachers. His first circuit was Lunenburg, near the Canada line, from which he came to Harwich. Twenty years later, in 1827, he was appointed to Wellfleet station, and served this people faithfully for two years. His first wife, "a most amiable woman, a lovely wife, and an excellent mother," whose society he enjoyed for fifteen years, was Jerusha Higgins, daughter of Eleazer and Lurana Higgins of Wellfleet ; her mother
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14
HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
and grandmother were in the first class of our church. After filling twelve different stations, and travelling fourteen different circuits, in which he led many souls to Jesus, who will be stars in his crown of rejoicing, in 1845 the New England Conference cheerfully gave this father in Israel a superannuated relation, in which he lived a little more than one year.
Though suffering much through this year, he was very patient, looking forward to the " house not made with hands." He said, " My faith is as clear as the sun. There is not the shadow of a dimming veil or doubt concerning myself or the religion I have preached and recommended to others." The day be- fore he died, he frequently aroused from his lethargy to exclaim, " Glory ! glory to God in the highest ! All is well!" On Sunday evening, Aug. 23, 1846, in Gloucester, Mass., he sweetly entered into rest.
Seven of his children are now living (January, 1877). The two sons are Rev. George M. Steele, D.D., President of Lawrence University, at Apple- ton, Wis .; and Rev. Joel A. Steele of the New Hampshire Conference.
Rev. Erastus Otis was the second preacher on 1808. Harwich Circuit. He was then a young man twenty-five years of age, and had been in the Conference only three years; but he evinced a fair ability as a preacher, and labored with acceptability and some success. There was a larger increase in the life of the church than in her numbers. Father Otis was born in Canaan, N.H. He joined the New England Conference in 1805, and labored in the effective ranks nine years, when he located. In
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WELLFLEET, MASS.
1816 he again entered the travelling connection, and then served the Master as pastor of various churches, and presiding elder for four years, until 1840, when he again located. The next year he was re-admitted, and returned superannuated, in which relation he continued till the day of his death. After thirty- three years in the itinerant work, three years as a local preacher, and nineteen years as a superannuate, he fell asleep in Jesus, Aug. 20, 1860, in Kenosha, Wis., aged seventy-six years.
It is said that Rev. E. O. Haven, D.D., Chancellor of Syracuse University, was named for him.
Rev. Joseph A. Merrill followed Brother Otis in 1809, and was esteemed a young man of more than ordinary abilities as a preacher and a
1809. very earnest worker among his people. There were some conversions the first year, but in his second year many were added to the church, 1810. and they were such as proved a help to her. In the old record the preacher is called " the faithful under- shepherd," through whose labors many souls were converted ; and our aged mothers in the church now tell of his fervent prayers and earnest preaching. It was about this time that Lurana Higgins, now Hol- brook (" Aunt Lurana," as we familiarly name her), attended the first administration of the Lord's Supper which she remembers. It was in the home of Thank- ful Rich, and seats were provided for the people by placing planks across chairs. Rev. George Pickering, then Presiding Elder of Boston District, preached in the morning; and, during the intermission before afternoon preaching, administered the elements, in
.
16
HISTORY M. E. CHURCH.
memory of our Lord's death, to the twelve or fifteen humble disciples who knelt by those rough seats. The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested, so that the communicants wept and shouted aloud, and all who were present were deeply impressed.
Wellfleet was joined with Truro the next year, and 18II. called the Wellfleet and Truro Circuit ; and Brother Merrill was preacher in charge. In his public ministrations he gave the pure gospel ; he also cared well for the converts of the previous year, and visited faithfully from house to house; and the blessing of God was upon all his labors.
Joseph A. Merrill was born Nov. 22, 1785, in New- bury, Mass. He was converted when about nineteen years of age, and joined the New England Conference in 1807, of which body he was an active and efficient member for forty-two years. He served some of the most important circuits and stations of his confer- ence, and was a presiding elder fifteen years Says Dr. Stevens, " He was unwaveringly devoted to the great interests of the church, and exerted an impor- tant agency in the promotion of its educational plans. He was a trustee of the Wesleyan Academy of the New England Conference, and of the Wesleyan Uni- versity, from their origin till his death. He was a chief actor in the anti-slavery conflict of the church, and has identified his name with that important move- ment." His whole life was one of great activity and eminent success. On sabbath morning, July 22, 1849, he peacefully and triumphantly passed away.
17
WELLFLEET, MASS.
CHAPTER III.
Robert Arnold. - Elias Marble. - Bartholomew Otheman.
REV. ROBERT ARNOLD came on this circuit in 1812. He was a retiring, slow-speaking 1812. man, evidently studying to " rightly divide the word of truth." Without developing great strength in any department of his work, he was a very good man ; and this church had a few accessions under his labors. On the circuit there was an in- crease of twelve members during the year: there may have been more than that number of conver- sions.
It is said, that, on his way to South Truro one day, Brother Arnold stopped and took dinner with The- ophilus Newcomb, or " Uncle Thorpe " as he was familiarly known. After enjoying a good meal, he went quietly on his lone way through the woods, until suddenly he came upon something by the side of the road, which looked to him very like a wild animal ready to spring upon him. He eyed it as closely as he could and not approach nearer, then retraced his steps, and reported at the house that he had seen some sort of a wild animal close by the road, and he was timid about going on alone. " Well," said Uncle Thorpe, taking down his gun, "I'll fix him;" and the two advanced toward Truro.
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
" Well, Brother Arnold, where is the beast ? " was several times asked, as they walked on. "Oh! we haven't yet come to the place where I saw him," the minister answered, evidently a little annoyed. At length, as they were going down into a valley, he pointed away to the right, and shouted, " There he is : don't you see him ?" Unele Thorpe looked closely, and then said, "See him? No. That is nothing but a pine stump. Come and see." And he advanced, and put his hand upon it. " This tree was torn up by the roots, and somebody in cutting it off has left quite a stump," he added. The good man was fully convinced, and laughingly went on to his appointment. All the people in Wellfleet and Truro soon learned of the incident ; and many allu- sions to it were afterwards made in the presence of Brother Arnold, who always seemed to enjoy it as well as anybody.
From the Conference minutes we learn that Rob- ert Arnold came into the New England Conference in 1809, and located in 1814. Further particulars could not be obtained.
Rev. Elias Marble followed Brother Arnold. This 1813. his second appointment as preacher in charge. was his fourth year in the Conference, and His sermons were very short, and his mind was evi- dently much agitated over some interest outside of his work. Within two months after he came on the circuit, he said to some of the brethren, " I am sud- denly called to Vermont. I must leave all, and go immediately." When he had " packed up," a young girl, now one of our oldest living members, helped
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WELLFLEET, MASS.
him carry his " bundle " from the ocean side of the cape to the wharf where the Boston packet was lying ; and he was soon off for Vermont.
Brother Marble joined the New England Con- ference in 1810, and located in 1816 ; and then, it is said, served a Congregational church for a few years. In 1823 his name again appears in the New England Conference appointments ; and in 1835, after having been supernumerary for several years, and at least three years " without an appointment," he withdrew from the New Hampshire Conference. His subse- quent history is not known to the writer.
Rev. Bartholomew Otheman soon came on to fill out Brother Marble's year. He dates his ministerial life from Sept. 13, 1813, when he first came to Well- fleet. The circuit, including Truro, was then called Wellfleet. From the first, he endeared himself to the people ; for, though quite young, he was a good preacher and a careful pastor. From the next Con- ference he was returned to this circuit, and 1814. labored acceptably and successfully through .
the year. God was with him on this his first ap- pointment ; the borders of the church were enlarged, and believers were greatly built up in the faith.
Brother Otheman was married in 1816 to Mrs. Mary S. Cartwright, widow of Capt. Benjamin F. Cartwright, and daughter of Deacon Thomas Gross, of Wellfleet. She was one of the worthy " ten sisters." 1 Together they served Jesus and the church until March, 1876, when, at the age of ninety years and nine months, she was called to her rest.
1 See Appendix, Gross Family.
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
Thus bereaved after nearly sixty years of happy companionship, he writes : " Oh, my desolate home ! God only knows my loneliness." But the gospel which he has so long preached to others is now a source of great comfort to him. He has served twenty-six circuits and stations, and been presiding elder seventeen years. In 1868 his Conference gave him a supernumerary relation, in which he still con- tinues ; but he preaches as he has opportunity, once, twice, and sometimes even three times, on a sabbath. He is superintendent of a Sunday school, and teacher of a Bible class ; he visits the sick, attends funerals, and does other pastoral work. In July, 1876, he preached in Wellfleet ; and some were present who heard his first sermon in 1813. As expressing the sentiment of his heart, he quotes in a letter recently written : -
"' Happy if with my latest breath I may but gasp His name, Preach him to all, and cry in death, - Behold, behold the Lamb !'"
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WELLFLEET, MASS.
CHAPTER IV.
Thomas C. Peirce. - Orin Roberts. - Benjamin Keith. - Great Re- vival. - A Church built. - Charles Virgin. - B. R. Hoyt. - George Pickering.
IN the summer of 1815 Rev. Thomas C. Peirce was the preacher in charge, and he was called by 1815. this people "an interesting and convincing preacher." Under his words deep conviction was wrought in many hearts, and some were converted, while others carried their convictions for months, or even years, before yielding to the Spirit. One man who was soon after converted in Boston, and from that time up to his death was a very earnest Christian and a useful member of this church, dated his deep conviction from a service in which he heard Brother Peirce preach. "I never could forget that sermon," he was often heard to say. Much of the good seed sown this year was harvested in the following years.
T. C. Peirce joined the Conference in 1814; and, with the exception of four years in a local capacity, he sustained an effective relation till May, 1850. " He was one of the best men and the best preachers of his time," says one who knew him well. By his peculiar sympathy he particularly endeared himself to the afflicted wherever he went. He was a close student till very near the end of his earth-life, and
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
was always a faithful pastor and an example of earnest piety. He loved the Church of Christ and the work of the ministry, desiring to " cease at once to work and live." Yet, when sickness came, he was perfectly resigned to the will of God, and the Saviour's presence and love comforted him. In great peace, and with a glorious hope, he passed to the spirit-land May 25, 1851, aged sixty years.
Rev. B. K. Peirce, D.D., editor of " Zion's Herald," is his son.
Rev. Orin Roberts came the next year. Though
of humble ability as a preacher, he was a
1816. very good man, and his heart was fully in his work. Some of our old people well remember his whole-souled singing. He saw a gracious revival spread through the circuit, and some forty-five added to the churches. One sister says, " It was a reforma- tion, a genuine work, the results of which will be seen in heaven." In many of their meetings all who were present felt the power of God, - some in deep conviction, some in sound conversion, and others in the fulness of the Spirit. One sabbath afternoon, in South Truro, when the Presiding Elder, Rev. Charles Virgin, had preached to the unconverted, the Spirit so came upon the congregation in convic- tion that some left the house, while others in their troubled countenances gave evidence that they were resisting. God. After looking upon this scene for a few minutes, Father Virgin arose, and said, in his peculiar way, "O foolish Galatians, who hath be- witched you that ye should not obey the truth ?" Many yielded and were saved.
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WELLFLEET, MASS.
It was during this revival that Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt first came to Wellfleet. He was stationed at Harwich, and came here for a day or two to assist the pastor in his revival work. One afternoon, in the house of Micah Dyer, he preached from 2 Cor. v. 11 : " Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." It was a powerful sermon.
Among those in Wellfleet who were born of the Spirit this year were Henry Baker, the three brothers Cornelius, Eleazer, and Joshua Hamblen, Uriah At- wood, Joel Atwood, Thomas Atwood, Temperance Holbrook, Thomas and Thankful Holbrook, William Cleverly, and . Freeman A. Baker. These all, with others whom we have not named, made noble acces- sions to the church. Brother Joel Atwood was so full of love, that one day, some little time after his con- version, while at work on the roof of a house, he was heard by the neighbors repeatedly to shout, " Glory to God ! Glory to God !" and then he would sing one of the good old hymns.
Only two of these converts are now living, but nearly all who have gone lived faithful to Jesus to the day of their death. Many remember their earnest prayers, powerful exhortations, and exemplary lives. They died triumphantly, and now live with Jesus. Brothers William Cleverly and Freeman A. Baker are the oldest living members of our church, and they are a great blessing to us (January, 1877). Every ear is attentive when they come into our social meetings and speak to us from their experiences of sixty years. Every heart is blessed when they lead us in prayer, and all are moved when they exhort us to be faithful.
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