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CONTRIBUTIONS
TO
THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
OF
ESSEX COUNTY. MASS.
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ESSEX NORTHE ASSOCIATION.
BOSTON: CONGREGATIONAL BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 13 CORNIIILL. 1865.
WINTHROP PRESS. CAMBRIDGL .: ALLEN AND FARNHAM
- THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LICRARY Astor, L Tiden
183 3
-
.
PREFATORY NOTE.
THE object of this volume is to collect, and put into a more permanent form. for preservation, such materials for an Ecclesi- astical History of Essex North, as were accessible. These mate- . rials have been gathered from various sources : and as the work has been done by different persons. with little opportunity of mutual consultation, it must necessarily lack the unity which a single mind would have given it. Sketches of the members of the Min- isters' Meeting were also prepared, but omitted for want of space.
In that part of the volume relating to the churches, no attempt has been made to bring down the history later than 1861.
Acknowledgments of indebtedness are hereby gratefully made to the Annals of Dr. Sprague, the Manuscript Sketches of Mr. Sibley, Librarian of Harvard University, and also to the numerous friends who have so cheerfully aided, by their contributions and suggestions, in the compilation of the volume.
NEWBURYPORT, October, 1864.
-
e
CONTENTS.
I.
ACCOUNT OF THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY. By Rev. J. Pike, 1
PAGE
II.
HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION. By Rev. S. J. Spalding, 8
Early Ministerial Associations, 9
Ministers' Meeting, 13
Haverhill Association, 19
Essex North Association, 24
Original Declaration,
Revised Rules, 32
Questions to be proposed in the examination of Candidates, 33
The Association to act as a Council, . 35
Approbation of Candidates for the Ministry, 36 39
-Exercises of the Association, .
Religious Publications,
41
Action on Slavery, 43
Temperance, . 45
The Sabbath, 45
Formation of the Conference,
Tables, 52
Members of Ministers' Meeting, . 52
Candidates approbated by the Ministers' Meeting, 52
Members of the Haverhill Association, . 53
Candidates approbated by the Haverhill Association, 53
Members of the Essex North Association, 54
Candidates approbated by the Essex North Association, 54
III.
SKETCHES OF MEMBERS, 57
Jedediah Jewett, 57
James Chandler, .
59
46
25
viii
CONTENTS.
Moses Hale, . 61
Moses Parsons,
63
Thomas Hibbert, 65
George Leslie,
John Cleaveland,
Oliver Noble,
Christopher Bridge Marsh,
Joseph Dana,
David Tappan,
Levi Frisbie,
Samuel Spring,
Daniel Breck,
Trne Kimball,
94
Ebenezer Bradford,
95
Ebenezer Dutch,
96
Elijah Parish,
97
Asahel Huntington,
101
Andrew Beattie,
.
103 105
Abraham Moor,
112
Isaac Braman,
114
David Tullar,
119
David Teny Kimball,
120
Thomas Holt,
124
James Miltimore,
125 127 129
John Kirby,
132
Leonard Withington,
134
Willard Holbrook,
137
Gardner Braman Perry,
137
Luther Frasenr Dimmick,
140
Rodney Gove Dennis,
144
Elijah Demond,
146
William Ford,
147
Henry ('larke Wright,
147
Daniel Fitz,
148
Paul Conchi,
150
Peter Sidney Eaton,
150
Isaac Richmond Barbour,
151
John Charles March, 152
153
Abijah Cross, 155
Joseph Whittlesey,
157
Henry Durant,
159
Benjamin Ober,
161
Joseph Hardy Town, 162
James Royal Cushing, 162
Samuel Howland Peckham, 163
.
James Wakefield Tucker,
Benjamin Sawyer,
131
William Balch,
.
John Quincy Adams Edgell, .
66 67 71 74 76 79 84 86 92
Leonard Woods,
ix
CONTENTS.
Nathan Monroc,
Seth Harrison Keeler,
166
Randolph Campbell, .
168 169
Lneins Watson Clark,
169
Edward Alexander Lawrence,
171
Charles Moulson Brown,
172
Samuel Hill Merrill,
173 174
Jonathan French Stearns,
174
John Pike,
175 176
Henry Angustus Woodman,
Enoch Pond, Jr.,
177 179
Henry Boynton Smith,
180
Benjamin Franklin Hosford,
182
Horatio Merrill,
184 185
Calvin Emmons Park,
186
Daniel Taggart Fisk,
187
David Oliphant,
187
Albert Paine,
189
Wales Lewis, .
190 190
John Edwards Emerson,
191
Elam Jewett Comings,
192
Rufus King,
193
James Monroe Bacon,
194
Samuel Jones Spalding,
195 196 197
David Webster Pickard, .
199
James Tomb McCollom,
200
Leander Thompson,
202
Davis Foster, .
William Greenough Thayer Shedd,
Herman Rowlee Timlow,
Alexander Crocker Childs,
· Thomas Doggett,
208 208
Abraham Burnham,
210
George Washington Finney, .
210
Charles Brooks,
211
John Rogers Thurstou,
212
Timothy Dwight Porter Stone,
212
Elias Cornelius Hooker, 214
James Cruickshanks, 214
Raymond Hoyt Seeley, 215
Edward William Hooker,
216
203 203 205 206 207
Charles Dickinson Herbert,
Charles Beecher,
165
James Bryant Hadley,
Anson Sheldon,
John Phelps Cowles, .
John Moor Prince,
Francis Vergnies Tenny,
Leonard Stickney Parker,
Asa Farwell,
x
CONTENTS.
IV. -
DISCOURSE RELATING TO THE CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH. By Rev. D. T. Fiske, 220
Local Boundaries of Essex North.
Extinct Churches, 221 The Fifth Church in Newbury, 221 224
The First Church in Salisbury,
The First Church in Amesbury, . 228
The Church at Parker River Village, . 229 The Winter St. Church, Haverhill, 230
Churches Denominationally Extinct, . 234 The First Church in Newburyport, 235 The First Church in Haverhill, 236 Other Denominations, 238 Quakers, 238 Episcopalians, 239 241
Presbyterians, .
Baptists, 244 Unitarians, 246 Christians, 246 247
Methodists,
Universalists,
247 247
Free Will Baptists,
247 247
Number of Ministers and Length of Pastorates,
248
Annual Additions to the Churches,
248
Whitfield and The Great Awakening, .
249 251
Decadal Review of the Century,
Ancient Customs, 256
A Pastor must be a member of his Church and subject to its discipline,
256
Reading the Scriptures in Church,
257
Pastor and Teacher, 257
Length of Sabbath Services, 258
Singing,
258
Expense of supplying Sacramental Table, 260 260
Sermons read Sabbath Noon,
Days of Fasting, . 260
Social religions Meetings, 261
Parish Laws and Ministerial Support, 262
The Half-Way Covenant, 270
Theological Peculiarities, 282
Appendix. - Table of Annual Additions to the Churches, . 289
220
Second Adventists,
Roman Catholics,
xi
CONTENTS,
V.
SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES,
296
Amesbury Mills,
296
Amesbury West,
298
Amesbury and Salisbury,
301
Boxford West,
303
Bradford,
305
Georgetown,
308
Groveland,
311
Haverhill, Centre Church,
Haverhill East,
317 320 322 324 331
Ipswich, First Church,
Ipswich, Second Church,
335
Ipswich-Linebrook, 338 340
Newbury, First Church,
345
Newburyport, Belleville Church,
350
Newburyport, Fourth Church,
354
Newburyport, North Church, . 362
Newburyport, Whitfield Church, .
363 Rowley, 367
373
West Newbury, First Church,
375
West Newbury, Second Church,
381
VI.
ESSAY - VIBRATIONS IN THEOLOGY. By Rev. L. Withington, D. D. 386
ERRATUM. - > Page 8, line 1, for " The logical term," read " The logical yerm."
Haverhill, North Church,
Haverhill West,
Newbury-Byfield,
Salisbury, Second Church,
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
OF
THE ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
BY REV. JOHN PIKE, ROWLEY.
THE Essex North Association has, within a few years, been grievously afflicted in the loss of valued members. Messrs. Braman, Perry, Kim- bal, and Holbrook, who knew very much of its early character, passed away within a few months of each other, and before a Centennial gather- ing was contemplated. The books passed into the hands of others, who, in looking over them carefully, found that we were nearing the day which would complete the first century of the Association. They commu- nicated the fact, and the following arrangements were made :
April 17, 1860. As the Centennial of the Association will occur September 8, 1861, Brothers Spalding, Fiske, and Thurston are appointed a Committee to consider and recommend some plan for the proper observ- ance of the event, who reported the following, which was adopted :
1. A Discourse, giving a History of the Association.
2. A Discourse, giving Sketches of the Churches of the Association.
3. A Social Reunion.
To carry out this plan, it is recommended that the pastors commence at once the collection of material for the histories of their different churches, which histories shall contain an account of their formation, their original confessions of faith ; biographies of their different pastors, their places and times of birth ; names of parents, places, and times of ordina- tion, etc. These historical accounts to be completed as early as January 1, 1861.
Brother Spalding was appointed to write the History of the Associ- ation.
Brother Fiske was appointed to write the History of the churches.
Brother Withington, Dimmick, Spalding, Fiske, and Thurston were appointed a general Committee of arrangements.
1
2
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
April 17, 1861. A special Committee was appointed to consider the time of holding the Centennial of the Association, and the best method of conducting the same. This Committee consisted of Brothers Pike, Withington, Fiske, and Spalding, who selected the 15th of October as the day for the celebration.
October 15, 1861. Voted, - That a Committee of three be appointed to draw up an account of the exercises of the day. Brothers Pike, Hosford, and McCollom were chosen said Committee.
The following account of the Centennial Celebration was drawn up by the Chairman of the Committee, Rev. JOHN PIKE.
The fifteenth day of October, 1861, will be memorable in the history of Rowley and the surrounding region. It was one of the loveliest days that ever lightened the world. Every one that has a memory left for pleasant things, will recollect our blue Italian sky, the thin mists hang- ing on the edge of the horizon, the first falling leaves of autumn, the groves adorned with the rich hues of ripened leaves, the gardens in the choice beauty of those later flowers which are the richest ornament of the year. Had we chosen for ourselves from this or other years, we could hardly have selected a day or scene into which so many beauties were crowded.
It was not the beauty of the day, however, that animated our rural town, on the morning of the fifteenth. The charm was, that it was a memorial of those distant days, when they, of whom the world was not worthy, gathered to prepare themselves to be more useful to the churches, which God had committed to their care. The venerable men realized the truth of the saying, " iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Doubtless, much of that devout and intelli- gent thought which marked our earlier churches, was due to the earnest struggles they had, while comparing their views of truth, and pleading unitedly with God. It is well to remember them. The welcome which the people of Rowley gave the Essex North Asociation, was not a mere form. They reverenced in their hearts those patriarchal servants of God, who had gone to their rest ; and so they heartily welcomed those who most nearly represented them among the living. The first meeting of our Association may have excited little interest be- yond the quiet dwelling in which it was formed; but the meeting which commemorated it, moved the mind and hearts of hundreds to welcome those who succeed the fathers, and carry along their religion.
The public services were in the Congregational Church. The intro- ductory prayer of the morning, by Rev. Mr. Edgell, that previous to the sermon by Rev. Dr. Withington, the one succeeding it by Rev. Mr. Campbell, and those of the afternoon by Rev. Dr. Shedd, and Rev. Mr.
3
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
Oliphant, most happily led us to the consideration of that past memorable history of the Association, which God had so kindly directed ; to that care for religious truth and heavenly devotion which had marked it; to that steadfastness for the faith, and that spiritual life which mark it still ; to that hope that it will be preserved as the bond of eongenial minds and hearts, and make the ministry more effective in the future than any soli- tary working could make it. The singing by the choir might safely be considered a model. It was free from the lightness and display which. if common, are for that reason none the less unappropriate and irreverent. Some of the favorite old tunes were selected and sung, with the ancient enthusiasm. Lenox, Majesty, and the like, may have gone forth in other days with more abundant voices, but never with those which were sweeter. It is hardly needful to comment upon the sermons. They will be printed with this, and speak for themselves. Suffice it to say, that their worthy authors never had a more respectable audience, - never kept one longer, - never exhibited more faithful research, - never were more deserving of the thanks of the dead, whose memory they served to keep alive, and of . the living whom they helped make more worthy to be remembered, when future Centennials shall come.
One of the most interesting services was at the decline of the day. The sun set upon the day as pleasantly as it rose. And as it was going down amid glories that seemed like opening the gate of heaven, we went together to the old parsonage, made acceptable to heaven and precious to the earth, by the many who had filled it with their prayers and praises. The wonderful scene, as we stood under the old elm tree, with its antum- nal beauties glowing in the descending sunlight, and that in the room where the pastors had so often met, can never be described. It was one of those rare occasions, which will grow more vivid as we pass along; will be the last lost amid the decays of nature; and among the first to revive, as we enter the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven. Rev. John Pike was chosen moderator, and votes were passed expressing our sympathy with the occasion ; our thanks that those who had it in charge had labored so faithfully to make it interesting ; our desire that the memorials be gath- ered together, and put into the form by which they shall be most likely to be preserved for those who keep the next Centennial Anniversary. Then was sung the Doxology in Old Hundred, - the memorial of the past, whose tones were deepened by many voices, and by more sympa- thetic hearts - rising as it used to, when Jewett consecrated the man- sion, and perhaps ceasing not to rise, till it attracted the notice of those who once sang and prayed there, and inspired them more heartily to join in the song of Moses and the Lamb.
The evening exercise only remained. It was a fit close of the joyous
4
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
day. The clergy and their families met in the lower hall, at seven o'clock, with a few laymen, whose ministerial sympathies joined them closely to ns. Among the most venerable of the last, was Joshua Jewett, deacon for more than fifty years of the Congregational Church, whose head a crown of glory, and benignant countenance kindled by the heaven he was approaching, will never be forgotten. The allusions which he made to death, as, at ninety-three years of age, he stood trembling over the grave, and to the next Centennial scene in which none of us could share, were a fit anticipation of that elose of life so soon coming. A few months after this, he went up to mingle with the ministers of his youth, and to leave the pastor, who had often received his blessing, the church and society, who had long enjoyed his counsels, and the village whose honors he had received, and whose families he had animated, deeply impressed with the idea that the loss was immense to earth, the gain great to heaven. In the moments of weakness and decay, and breath just departing, his pastor repeated the lines, -
"There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign,"
he took up the remainder of the verse, and sang with the once beautiful voice with which he used to lead the choir, -
" Infinite day excludes the night, And pleasures banish pain."
At eight o'clock, the free and social communion of the evening was succeeded by special remarks for the benefit of all. The first sentiment given, was the following :
The Clergy of Essex North, - They shine with an hereditary light in their secular sons, who, amidst the wranglings of the law, have not forgotten the pre- cepts of the Gospel.
Hon. Asahel Huntington, of Salem, gave a happy sketch of the various clergymen of the association he had known in his boyhood. He was cordially welcomed by the later clergymen, who listened to him, and know his attachment to orthodox truth, and all who represent it.
The second sentiment was, -
Our aged brethren - whose white heads make them to be known - may they at length receive that white stone, in which is written the new name, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Rev. Dr. Withington, of Newbury, responded to this.
If he was the old man - it was the old man eloquent. He never spake more aptly and beautifully. His pictures of the past were life- like. He closed his sayings with the sentiment, -
5
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
The pastor of the flock, where an association early assembled together with his people -" Formosi pecoris Custos formosior Ipse." Magic words, which we translate - the hospitable keeper of a hospitable people.
Rev. John Pike, of Rowley, followed this sentiment with some re- marks upon the delicacy and faithfulness with which the translation was made, and certain reminiscences of the occasional mental encounters, and social interviews, which he had with Dr. Withington, so immensely his superior in every thing intellectual and social, and yet so genial, and truly his companion and friend. Whether his remarks added to the in- terest which the day brought, must be left for those who heard them, to say.
The fourth sentiment was this, -
Andover Seminary, - whatever storms may blow around her eminence, she must be safe, we think, beneath her protecting shed.
Professor Shedd followed, with very pleasant remarks, acknowledging his deep interest in the Seminary, and the Association. We thought, then, that the influence of his original, cultivated, and devout mind, would be permanent for the Seminary, and the surrounding churches. The hope is passed. But we may still have a hope, that his successor will catch his mantle, and be in the Seminary, and in our Association, an enlightening and devout mind, such as Dr. Shedd has been during the many pleasant years of our intercourse.
Some remaining moments were most happily filled with sentiments appropriate to the occasion, and remarks by Hon. Mr. Benson, of Win- throp, Maine, Rev. J. C. Fletcher, Rev. Dr. Worcester, and Dea. Joshua Jewett, to whom allusion has already been made. The free, social com- munion, was then resumed, enlivened by the ice cream and cake, which on such an evening was welcome. The moments were rapidly seized, to make firmer the friendship between the ministers and their families, who had never been socially together before. It was in those happy moments that the idea arose, which will be carried out in coming years, that there shall be an annual gathering of the clergy and their wives, so that at the future great celebration, they may not have to meet each other as strangers. Two of these gatherings have taken place, the first at Rev. Mr. Farwell's, the second at Rev. Mr. Spalding's.
The pleasantest scenes of earth and its happiest communions must close. Voices were occasionally heard around us, saying, " Arise, let us go hence." The hour of ten o'clock had arrived ; so we sang that won- derful hymn, -
" Blest be the tie that binds,
Our hearts in union sweet,"
6
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
and went out, never all to meet again till the last trump shall assemble the nations.
It was as beautiful an evening as it had been day. The lesser light ruled the night, with the majesty that the greater had ruled the day. Many improved it, to go to their homes. Some remained to visit us in the morning, and abundantly to reward every toil, by saying, that noth- ing could well be added to the previous day, and nothing safely sub- tracted from it. So, we hope, it may be said by all.
Rowley has rejoiced in the occasion. May it gratefully receive the clergy and their families as centuries go their rounds. May such bril- liant days, such brilliant, social, and religious services be often granted by Him, with whom one day is as a thousand years. And when the last is over, may the past and present ministry. and those who have listened to their voices, join in the great and eternal celebration, of which all that is pleasant and beautiful here is but the faint shadow.
At the meeting in the venerable mansion of the former pastor, the Association voted, that a Committee of three be appointed to draw up an account of the exercises of the day. Brothers Pike, Hosford, and McCollom were chosen.
After the social meeting in the hall, the thanks of the Association were voted to the Congregational Society, its pastor, and choir, for their cordial efforts to make the Centennial occasion happy in its arrange- ments, and the source of pleasant and grateful memories in the future.
December 18, 1861. Brother Hlosford presented to the Association the following Resolutions, for a permanent record upon its books, which were adopted :
The Essex North Association, desiring to express their feelings in regard to their, recent Centennial at Rowley, more fully than they could be expressed in the ordinary record of their proceedings, adopt this ad- ditional minute :
Resolved, That we gratefully recognize the good hand of our God upon us, in having put it into our hearts to observe this occasion ; and in having kindly disposed the people, among whom the Association was first formed, to welcome it to their hospitalities for the celebration of its first Centennial, thus deepening the peculiar interest of the occasion by vivid local Associations.
Resolved, That our gratitude is due, and is hereby acknowledged, to Brothers Spalding and Fiske respectively, for their laborious, but cheer- ful researches into the history of this Association and of its churches ; for the candor and good sense shown in drawing out the strong points, and in enforcing the practical lessons of that history ; and for the Cath-
7
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
olic and Christian spirit, which, breathing through those discourses, awakened the same spirit in us.
Resolved, That it is exceedingly desirable that these Discourses be printed, and thus the important facts they contain be secured for the future.
That we recognize the special love of the Great Head, in his having kept all the churches of this Association, with two exceptions, upon " the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief Corner Stone," during the popular Unitarian Apostasy, and that this fact strengthens our confidence in His loving care of them for the future.
That, standing as we did on that day, between the past and the future, the one furnishing us subduing memories, and the other inspiriting hopes ; we appreciated, as never before, our high calling as ministers of Christ and his church ; the value of the precious trust handed down to us by the Fathers, and our sacred responsibility to Christ's people, who will come after us, to transmit this trust to them unimpaired and unen- cumbered.
Freely have we received ; freely let us give.
That we hope and confidently expect that "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever," will have faithful churches and ministers in this valley to celebrate the next Centennial of this Association ; and in this faith, we, their fathers in the order of time, but brethren in spirit, do hereby record for them our fraternal Christian greetings and bene- diction - an unembodied, but cordial right hand of fellowship-to be transmitted by them, together with their own, to their successors, and so on, a swelling tide of love, blessing, and power, until our Lord shall come.
Voted, That Dr. Withington be requested to prepare, for the volume to be published by the Association, " An Essay, on the relations of Cal- vinism and Hopkinsianism in the History of the Churches."
Voted, That the matter of the Church History be left to Brother Fiske's direction.
THE
HISTORY OF THE ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.1
BY REV. S. J. SPALDING, NEWBURYPORT.
THE logical term of Congregationalism is love. This principle devel- ops primarily a simple brotherhood ; and, but for personal ambition and the love of power, this would be its ultimate and only expression. Church establishments and denominational peculiarities are rendered necessary by an imperfect spiritual life. The highest, purest, and best Christian feeling invariably chrystallizes in a true communion of saints. In the revulsion from the arbitrary uniformity of the Established Church of England, the Puritans, as was natural, passed into the extreme of independency. This was the prevailing type of the Puritan polity until the time of Cromwell. From that period onward there was a recession from extreme views, slowly at first, but more rapidly as the necessity of reconstruction and unity was felt by the churches. But it is noticeable that this recession was not at all in the line of established authority, but entirely in that of fraternity and fellowship. Among those earlier churches there was no expressed law of comity - each church took to itself all the functions which are now shared by a number; the member- ship organized without consultation with other churches; it ordained its pastors, and approved candidates for the ministry ; nor was the ordina- tion by one church deemed binding on another. While these elements of Puritanism were in this unsettled and somewhat plastic state, the planting of New England began ; and from 1630, ten years after the landing of the Pilgrims. the gradual development of the Congregational polity becomes distinct. Congregationalism, as understood in New Eng- land, is not an exotic, but it came up with the growth of the colonies. And it is evident that the founders of our churches were aware of their work, and of its importance in the future history of the country. Their appeal is not to authority, but to the Scriptures; and their aim and study
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