USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Collection of facts and documents relating to ecclesiastical affairs in Groton, Mass > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02953 2709
Gc 974.402 G916ba Butler, Caleb, 1776-1854. A collection of facts and documents relating to
A
COLLECTION
AMER
OF
LOAN
FACTS AND DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO
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ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS
IN GROTON, MASS.
OCCASIONED
BY THE PUBLICATION OF
'THE RESULT OF AN ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL CONVENED AT GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JULY 17, 1826,'
AND INTENDED
TO CORRECT MISSTATEMENTS MADE, AND SUPPLY MATE- RIAL FACTS SUPPRESSED BY THE AU- THORS OF THE RESULT.
1
BOSTON;
FROM THE PRESS OF THE CHRISTIAN EXAMINER.
Stephen Foster, Printer. 1827.
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17221
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46901-2270
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INTRODUCTION.
THE following 'Collection of Facts and Documents' was made for the use of the Christian Examiner and Theological Review. A brief ex parte history of the occurrences to which they relate, was published in 'The Result of an Ecclesiastical Council convened at Groton, Mass. July 17, 1826.' That history differed, in some important par- ticulars, from what had been supposed to be the true account, and application was therefore made to those who were not represented in the Council for their statement of the case. In reply, they made the following communications, which are now published just as they were received by the editor of the work abovementioned. They were not put into his hands, however, till after the review of the Result of Council, which appeared in the Examiner, was written, and the reviewer, for whose use they were procured, thus speaks of them :
' Since the foregoing review was sent to the press, we have obtained from mem- bers of the first and only parish in Groton, a full statement of their side of this case, with copies of the documents which passed between the parties in this affair. We are glad that we were not in possession of these papers when writing the re- view. There is in the Result of this Council, it would appear from these papers, so remarkable a suppression of material facts; such a coloring of the whole trans- action, which the true history will not warrant, that it would have been difficult to have preserved the tone of moderation, which such a subject requires.
' Our review was designed as an examination of principles, not of the conduct of the parties of Groton. The town of Groton, for it seems there is no second parish, might have been rash, or its measures illegal, and yet the principles of the Result of Dr Beecher, might have been unsound and indefensible, and his arraign- ment of our highest courts, turbulent and refractory. But from what we have seen, and we have carefully perused every document, we are compelled to say, that in no public transaction, in civil or religious concerns, did we ever meet with greater moderation ; a more strict regard to decorum, not to be disturbed by pro- vocation ; a closer adherence to legal principles, united with a firm and enlighten- ed determination to vindicate civil and religious liberty, than in the proceedings of the town of Groton, and of its committees. Their temperate and wise conduct is highly honorable to them. These documents should be, and indeed must be sub- mitted to the public. The town of Groton owes it to its honor, assailed as it has been by this Council. It owes it to the cause of christian liberty.
' We shall simply state, what our limits will now alone enable us to do, that this Council was not only an ex parte one ; but a mutual one was never asked. This is a direct violation of the Cambridge Platform, and of the order of church disci-
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pline ;- a pretty singular measure on the part of gentlemen who profess so high a veneration for the usages of our ancestors. The town were not notified of it, nor were they represented at it.
'The point in dispute, we are happy to see by the papers, was brought simply to this; Shall a parish, once Orthodox and changing its opinions in the proportion of three to one, be compelled to settle an Orthodox preacher? This was the Gro- ton case stripped of all the disguise thrown around it.'
The papers in question are now published, at the request and under the sanction of the Parish Committee of Groton.
The account which the Result gives of the same proceedings, is here subjoined, that the reader may occasionally revert to it and compare it with the statements of the Committee, and with the docu- ments. It is as follows :
'AN ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL was convened at the house of the Rev. DAN- IEL CHAPLIN, D. D. in Groton, Mass., July 17, 1826, by letters missive from the Church of Christ in said Groton, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. CHAPLIN, for the purpose of giving advice to said Pastor and Church, in their present peculiar circumstances.
' There were present from the
Church in Berlin, Rev. REUBEN PUFFER, D. D. Pastor,
Dea. JOB SPAFFORD, Delegate.
Church in Theol. Sem. $ Rev. EBENEZER PORTER, D. D. Pastor, Andover, Bro. JONATHAN CLEMENT, Delegate.
Hanover Church in Rev. LYMAN BEECHER, D. D. Pastor,
Boston, Dea. WILLIAM G. LAMBERT, Delegate.
Church in Townsend, Dea. JOHN BOUTELL, Delegate.
Rev. DAVID PALMER, Pastor,
Ist Church in Charles- $ Rev. WARREN FAY, Pastor, town, Dea. MATTHEW SKILTON, Delegate.
Church in Dunstable,
Rev. SAMUEL H. TOLMAN, Pastor, Dea. JAMES TAYLOR, Delegate.
Church in Harvard,
Rev. GEORGE FISHER, Pastor, Dea. REUBEN WHITCOMB, Delegate.
' The Council was organized by choosing the Rev. Dr. PORTER, Moderator ; Rev. WARREN FAY, Scribe ; and Dea. WILLIAM G. LAMBERT, Assistant Scribe. The Rev. Dr BEECHER led in prayer, for wisdom and guidance.
' The Committee of the Church made a statement of their circumstances, from which it appeared,
. That there is a fund in the town of Groton, of about 11,000 dollars, for the support of the gospel ministry.
' That the three senior Selectmen of the town for the time being, the Treasurer of the first parish, and the junior Deacon, by age, of the church in said parish, are a body politic and corporate, known in law as " The Trustees of the Groton Minis- terial Fund."
' That the income of this fund is to be paid, " quarterly, to such teacher or teach- ers of religion, as shall be regularly ordained and settled in said parish, by the joint concurrence of the inhabitants and church thereof."
' May 22, 1825. The Rev. Dr Chaplin requested of his people, that he might have "a godly Colleague provided, one of whose piety and sentiments he could approve."
' In July following, having been unable for several Sabbaths to perform the whole service, Mr. Todd, a licentiate from Andover, being providentially present, was invited by Dr Chaplin, to preach for him.
' Sometime in October, 1825, Dr Chaplin continuing infirm, though hoping soon to resinne his labors, at the request of many of his church, he engaged Mr Todd to supply his pulpit for eight Sabbaths.
' November 8, 1825. The church was called together to consider the expediency of settling a Colleague ; and voted unanimously, that it is expedient to settle a Colleague with our venerable Pastor.
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' At an adjourned meeting, November 11, the church voted, 17 to 8, to give Mr John Todd a call to settle as Colleague Pastor with the Rev. Dr Chaplin, and a committee was appointed to communicate this vote to the town, and request their concurrence.
'November 25. The town met, and after much discussion, took no vote on the question, but appointed a committee to supply the pulpit for a term not exceeding four months. The committee waited on Dr Chaplin, to ascertain if it would be agreeable to him that they should supply the pulpit; and he signified his willing- ness that they should do it, for four sabbaths. The pulpit was supplied by settled Unitarian ministers from Boston or the vicinity.
' Many of the inhabitants being dissatisfied with this course, presented a peti- tion to the committee for supplies, before the expiration of the four Sabbaths, that a candidate for settlement might supply the pulpit, and that Mr Todd might be the person. This petition was signed by about 167 legal voters, supposed at the time to be a majority of the whole town. Dr Chaplin also remonstrated against sup- plying the pulpit with such preachers as he could not approve, and offered to pro- vide a supply for the pulpit himself. No attention being paid to the preceding petition, and the remonstrance of Dr Chaplin, he addressed to the committee the following note.
' GENTLEMEN,-After mature reflection, I have thought it my duty to remon- strate once more, against your thrusting a man into my pulpit against my wishes, and, as I believe, against the wishes of a majority of this people .*
' Yours, &c. DANIEL CHAPLIN.
'January 7, 1826.
' The committee, in reply, claimed the right to supply the pulpit, without refer- ence to his wishes, by authority derived from the town.
'January 10, 1826. The Pastor convened the church, for the purpose of inquir- ing whether he had, in any way, forfeited his relation to the church, or his rights as their Pastor; and whether, in the opinion of the church, he had a right to claim the pulpit, and supply it in the manner which he thought proper: The church replied that he had not forfeited his relation, or rights as their Pastor, and that, in their opinion, he had a right to supply his pulpit for the present, at his own discre- tion.
' On the 16th of January, at a large and respectable meeting of the inhabitants of Groton, j held at the house of Daniel Shattuck, Esq., it was voted unanimously, " that it is the wish of this meeting, that Dr Chaplin should supply the pulpit, on his own responsibility, and according to his own discretion."
'In consequence of this expression of opinion, by so large a portion of his peo- ple, Dr Chaplin addressed the following note to the committee for supplying the pulpit.
' Groton, January 20, 1826.
' GENTLEMEN,-I have already apprised you, in your official capacity, that I was desirous of supplying my pulpit, at my own expense. I think it my duty to say to you, that it is still my desire; and to add, that I understand it to be the wish of most of my church, and of a majority of my beloved flock, that I should do it. I am prepared to supply to-morrow ; and shall be hereafter, for the present. ' Yours, &c. DANIEL CHAPLIN.
'The committee, in their answer, consent that Dr Chaplin may supply the pul- pit himself ; but, concerning any other supply, they say, " He must distinctly un- derstand, that we have, in the legal discharge of our duty, provided a supply of the pulpit, and that if he should attempt to enter it, he will be responsible for any consequences which may follow, in the course of a just, legal, and firm opposition to such an attempt."
' The evidence, from this note, from verbal declarations on Sabbath morning, and from appearances in the house of God, that forcible resistance was intended, and would be employed, in excluding from the pulpit the supply which Dr Chaplin had provided, was such, that neither the Doctor, nor the gentleman who was to have preached, went to the meeting house. From this time, Dr Chaplin and his
*' The candidate who is since settled, had now, it is believed, been hired to preach on pro- bation.'
t 'This meeting was composed of about one hundred persons ; and, generally, of those who were steady in their support and attendance on public worship.'
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church ceased to attend public worship in the house where he had prosecuted his protracted ministry .*
' At a town meeting in March, Dr Chaplin renewed the offer of supplying the pulpit at his own discretion and expense, for six months.
' But the town voted to authorise the committee to supply the pulpit for six months, provided it should be done without any expense to the town.
' In April, at a town meeting, a committee was appointed to inquire and report, as to the expediency of withholding Dr Chaplin's support; and in May, at a town meeting, the committee reported in favor of withholding, and a vote was passed to withhold it.
' About the same time, at the request of many, Mr Todd commenced public worship, and preaching, in a place provided for the purpose, for such as chose to attend.
' At a meeting of the church, held at the house of their Pastor, April 5, 1826, the following preamble and votes were passed.
' " Whereas this church, some time since, voted that, in their opinion, our reve- rend Pastor has a right to supply his pulpit, during his indisposition, with such assistance as he should think proper; and whereas a committee, elected by the town, have taken measures forcibly to debar our reverend and beloved Pastor from enjoying this right; and whereas our Pastor does not think it consistent with his age, his character, and his sacred office, to claim his pulpit against force ;
' " Voted, That this church are deeply grieved at such conduct ; and that for this and other reasons, the church deem it best to postpone the communion for the present."
' On the seventh of June, the minority of the church had the sacrament admin- istered at the meeting house.
' Before this was done, the Pastor of the church, Dr Chaplin, sent a remon- strance against it, to the junior deacon, as being a violation of church order.
' The church, by vote, approved of the remonstrance of their Pastor, and declar- ed themselves aggrieved by the disorderly conduct of the minority.'
*' Written requests have repeatedly been made since, for the use of the house for lectures, and meetings of the church, and refused ; and at one time, having notified a meeting of his church in the meeting house, and finding the door locked against him, the venerable man stood on the steps of the door, and prayed to the God of heaven, and addressed his beloved flock.'
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A
COLLECTION
OF
FACTS AND DOCUMENTS.
ON the first day of January, 1778, the Rev. Daniel Chaplin was ordained over the church and congregation of Groton; and by votes of the town passed before his ordination, he was to re- ceive a certain salary, ' so long as he shall be our minister.'
On the 19th of November, 1788, a number of the inhabitants of Groton were incorporated into a separate parish, called the First Presbyterian Parish in Groton. This parish hired preaching for some time and had an organized church, but never an ordained minister. Its numbers diminished, and they neglected to have preaching for more than twenty years previous to October 25th, 1819, when, in legal town meeting, the inhabitants voted, 'that the distinction of First and Second Parishes in the town of Gro- ton should be henceforth discontinued.'
On the 21st day of February, 1804, the Trustees of Groton Ministerial Fund were incorporated .*
The original agreement between the town and the Rev. Dr Chaplin, relating to his salary, was fulfilled till the year 1807; and from that time till 1821, a salary of $650 per annum was agreed on by the parties, and paid by the town.
Although the statute incorporating the Groton Ministerial Fund specially provides, that the contract between the First Parish in Groton and their then present minister, should not be altered, im- paired, or in any way affected thereby, yet, on the 12th of November, 1821, a committee, previously chosen, reported to the town, that they had conferred with the Rev. Dr Chaplin, and that he was willing to receive the proceeds of the Ministerial
* See the Act, Spec. Laws, Vol. III, p. 318.
Fund for his salary, and relinquish his contract, 'so long as he shall receive the proceeds of said Fund.' This report was ac- cepted, and the Trustees of the Fund accordingly paid the pro- ceeds, being $657 per annum, to Dr Chaplin till Jan. 7th, 1826.
On the twentysixth day of October, 1822, the Selectmen of Groton received a written request from the Rev. Dr Chaplin, that they would insert in the warrant, which they were then making for a town meeting, an article to ascertain if the town would engage Mr James D. Farnsworth, or some other good man to assist him in his parochial duties, the then approaching winter. Such an article was accordingly inserted, and the town at their meeting, November 4th, 1822, voted to pass it over.
Some time in May or June, 1825, the Rev. Dr. Chaplin in- formed the congregation on the sabbath, after divine service, that on the next succeeding sabbath in the forenoon he should preach as usual, but that in the afternoon, he should deliver something interesting both to himself and the town, and requested a general attendance of the people on that occasion. Accordingly, on the next sabbath afternoon, he delivered a discourse, with something of a departure from his common manner, in which he declaimed against Universalism, Unitarianism, and Socinianism, which he said were very nearly allied, ' but a shade of difference between them,' and extolled Calvinism or Orthodoxy, and alluded to his own age and infirmities, and his having formerly made a re- quest for assistance, and the town's 'unceremoniously passing it over.' He then distinctly asked the town to afford him assistance either by hiring a preacher, or settling a colleague, ' some ortho- dox man,' saying that he should not give up his right to the pulpit, and that he would himself pay fifty dollars per annum for the purpose.
Nothing was immediately done by the town or by individuals in consequence of this discourse.
On Sunday, July 10th, 1825, towards the close of his discourse in the afternoon, Dr Chaplin fainted and was led out of the meetinghouse, since which, it is believed, he has not attempted to preach a sermon except in the Union meetinghouse, on the afternoon of April 1st, 1827, and again since that date. For three or four sabbaths after his failure, Dr Chaplin made prayers, and his parishioners read sermons. Afterwards, Mr John Todd, a licentiate from Andover, preached three or four sabbaths, and Mr Gage, from Cambridge, two sabbaths; then Mr Todd again until Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, 1825. By whose in- vitation these gentlemen preached, or who paid them, is not known. Neither the town, nor church had any agency in the business.
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About the first of November, 1825, the selectmen of Groton were requested by a petition, signed by a competent number of freeholders, to call a town meeting as soon as the law would per- mit, and to insert in the warrant an article to see if the town would proceed to settle Mr Todd. As the first selectman and the town clerk were obliged to be absent on business, the town meeting was deferred till November 25th. The warrant con- tained the article requested, and also an article inserted by the selectmen, without request, for the choice of a committee to hire preaching in case of Dr Chaplin's inability to preach himself, for a term not exceeding four months.
It has been the custom of the church in Groton, to celebrate the Lord's supper on the first Sundays of April, June, August, October, and December. On the first sabbath of April, 1825, it was celebrated. On the first sabbath of June, it was omitted in consequence of Dr Chaplin's indisposition on that day. Church meetings were uniformly called by a request from the desk for the members to tarry after divine service. No church meeting was held, and no sacrament administered during the summer of 1825.
After the warrant for a town meeting was made, and before the meeting, a church meeting was called, to be holden at Dr Chaplin's dwelling house. At this meeting it was proposed to give Mr Todd a call, but no vote was taken upon the subject, and the meeting was adjourned for a week. At the adjourned meet- ing, there were some very improper, and even disgraceful pro- ceedings, respecting the rights of members to vote ; but the vote to give Mr Todd a call to be their colleague pastor with Dr Chaplin, was finally taken and passed. There were about seven- teen yeas, and eight nays. Nearly all the male members of the church were present.
November 25th, 1825, the town meeting abovementioned was held. The vote of the church, and their request that the town would unite with them in the settlement of Mr Todd, were laid before the meeting by a committee of the church. It was voted to pass over the article in the warrant on that subject, by a very large majority." The town then chose a committee of seven persons by ballot, five Liberal, two Calvanistic, to hire preach- ing, in case of the Rev. Dr Chaplin's inability to preach, for a term not exceeding four months. Dr Chaplin was immediately furnished with a copy of this vote of the town, and with a notice that the committee would wait on him to consult on the execu- tion of their trust.
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* The Result of Council says, that the town 'took no vote on the question.' See the Introduction above, p. 5.
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A meeting accordingly took place on the morning of the 28th of November. Dr Chaplin was inquired of, whether or not he was able to preach, and if he wished to have a colleague settled. To the first he answered in the negative, and to the last, in the af- firmative. The committee informed him that they should proceed to hire preaching. He then requested them to state to him in writing, of what religious tenets the person would be, whom they should hire ; and he claimed the right to dictate to them on this subject. The committee declined to give such a statement, and vindicated their right, as agents of the town, to choose for them- selves. After some debate, it was mutually agreed, that the committee should supply the pulpit, by regularly ordained minis- ters, for three or four sabbaths. Measures were taken accordingly.
After the expiration of two sabbaths, the committee, finding that their proceedings were not satisfactory, again waited on Dr Chaplin to inquire if it was probable that he should be able to preach any part of the winter. He informed them that it was not, but that he would procure a supply of the pulpit. To this the committee objected, stating to him, that if he was unable, it was their duty, as a committee of the town, to provide preaching themselves. They accordingly passed the following resolve.
' Groton, December 12th, 1825.
' At a meeting of the committee chosen by the inhabitants of Gro- ton on the 25th of November last, to supply the pulpit for a term not exceeding four months,-
' Resolved, that we will use our best endeavours to engage some suitable licensed minister of the gospel to come and reside among us, after the expiration of the two next sabbaths, to preach on the sab- baths, and perform other parochial duties, in case the Rev. Dr Chap- lin shall be unable to perform said duties himself, until the expiration of said four months.
CALEB BUTLER, Chairman.'
A copy of this resolve was sent to Dr Chaplin the same day on which it was passed, and, in conformity with it, the Rev. Charles Robinson was soon after engaged, and came into town in the course of the first week in January, 1826.
On the evening of the 12th of December, on which the resolve abovementioned was passed and communicated to Dr Chaplin, a large number of men assembled at Dr Chaplin's house ; but what counsels they took, is known only by their succeeding acts.
On the next day, petitions to the committee to hire Mr Todd, were circulated in every part of the town, and 163 names were put to them ; most of them names of individuals who were voters in town affairs. Many of these names were evidently obtained by false representations concerning the proceedings of the committee. The petitioners requested the committee to meet and give them
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a hearing, which was complied with ; but, Mr Robinson having been previously engaged, the committee could not, had they so wished, grant the prayer of their petition. The committee held two public meetings for the purpose of hearing the petitioners, and finally voted, that they have leave to withdraw their petition. The following paper will show what considerations induced them to come to this result.
'The committee, chosen by the inhabitants of Groton at their town meeting November 25, 1825, to supply the pulpit for a limited time, in case of the Rev. Dr Chaplin's inability to preach, having under consideration the petition of a large number of inhabitants, make the following exposition of their views and reasons for their determination thereon ; viz.
' When the duties of the committee first devolved on them by vote of the town, a very considerable excitement existed among the inhab- itants concerning the individual, whom the committee are now petitioned to employ as a teacher of morality and religion ; some being ardently desirous of his settlement as colleague with our reve- rend pastor, while a very large majority, if their suffrages on the question can be considered as evidence, were as strongly opposed to such a measure. To allay this excitement, and to produce unanimity and harmony amongst the inhabitants, was a main object with the committee, and formed the principal topic of their first deliberations. To attain so desirable an object, the committee deemed it expedient, in the first instance, to have religious services performed by such teachers as could in no event be considered as candidates for settle- ment amongst us. Measures to that effect were accordingly taken, and such teachers engaged for four sabbaths. After the expiration of two of those sabbaths, and before the draft of the petition under consideration, the committee resolved to provide some suitable licens- ed preacher, to come and reside amongst us, and perform parochial duties for the remainder of the time to which their power extended,- the Rev. Dr Chaplin having signified to them the improbability of his being able to preach himself,-and they took measures to carry that resolve into execution. The prayer of the petitioners was there- fore in part granted in anticipation ; a circumstance well known to the projectors of the petition, but probably unknown to many who were procured to subscribe it. The other part could not conve- niently be granted, were the committee so disposed ; other arrange- ments having been previously made, as before stated.
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