USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > North Brookfield > Sermon : containing a brief history of the town and especially of the church and parish of North Brookfield from 1798 to the present time > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 N778sne 1851477
MV. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY LOLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01067 4312
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SERMON,.
DELIVERED
BY REV. DR. SNELL,
ON THE LAST SABBATH IN JUNE, 1838,
WHICHI COMPLETED
THE FORTIETH YEAR OF HIS MINISTRY;
CONTAINING
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TOWN,
AND ESPECIALLY
.
OF THE CHURCH AND PARISH
OF /NORTH BROOKFIELD, Maas
FROM 1793 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
" Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us."-Psalms, Ixxviii. 3.
BROOKFIELD: E. AND L. MERRIAM, PRINTERS. 1838.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
1851477
DEAR SIR,
At a meeting of a number of the members of your Society, the undersigned were appointed a Committee, to express to you the satisfaction with which they listened to your discourse, delivered at the close of the fortieth year of your ministry ; and to request a copy for publica- tion ; to be accompanied with such additional historical facts, in the form of an Appendix or otherwise, as you may think proper to publish.
We are, Sir, with much Respect, Your Obedient Servants, WILLIAM ADAMS, FREEMAN WALKER, > JOSHUA PORTER,
REV. DR. SNELL. North Brookfield, July 2, 1838.
Committee.
0
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NOTICE.
Any one who shall read the following Discourse, will perceive that it was written and is now published for local purposes-for the inhabitants of North Brookfield, and in order to preserve some facts which may be interesting to future generations .- Wherefore the Dis- course is not expected to excite any interest amongst those who are strangers to the place, especially, in its minute details.
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SERMON.
PSALM cxxvi. 3.
TIIE LORD HATHI DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US, WHEREOF WE ARE GLAD.
THE Jews had been carried into captivity by their enemies, be- cause they had rebelled against the Lord. They had been taken by the heathen, and planted amongst them, far away from their be- loved country, and city, and temple, and religious privileges. Se- venty years after their captivity, though according to divine predic- tions, Cyrus, who ascended the throne of Persia, issued a procla- mation for the return of the Jews to their own country and the rebuilding of the Temple for the worship of the true God. This proclamation was so unexpected to most of the Jews that it seemed more like a pleasing dream than a reality. Their mouth was filled with laughter and their tongue with singing, when they contemplated their restoration, so unexpected and extraordinary, and so congenial to their feelings. Even the heathen noticed the good hand of God in the event-while the Jews themselves cried with thankful hearts, " The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." On seeing how God had turned their captivity according to his word of promise, they could not but rejoice and speak of their happy deli- verance with gladness of heart. While Cyrus proclaimed their resto- ration, these pious people would ascribe it to the good hand of God whose agency is concerned even in the fall of a sparrow. In every de- liverance, in every favor, in every change, the pious mind never rests, till'it arrives to the all-controlling agency of the great Supreme, which makes every event to speak an intelligible language, calling the suf- ferer to humiliation, and the unworthy recipient of favors to gratitude and obedience. For the worshippers of the true God, who, for their . sins, had been torn from their country to dwell among the heathen
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under my ministry, there may be some propriety in calling them to remembrance on this day, which closes the fortieth year of my labors among you, as a Religious Teacher. It may be well to consider the way in which the Lord has led us, and all the great things he has done for us, that we may be glad and give glory to his name.
Forty years next Wednesday will have elapsed, since I was ordain- ed Pastor of the church of Christ in the North Parish of Brookfield. The ordaining council consisted of the Rev. Dr. Fiske, Rev. Messrs. Eli Forbes, Joshua Paine, Ephraim Ward, Joseph Pope, Elisha Fish, Charles Backus, Daniel Tomlinson and John Fiske, together with delegates from their respective churches. Long since, they have all, with the exception of the last two, ceased from their labors and been housed in the grave, awaiting the trump of the Archangel. That day, the 27th of June 1793, was to me, and to this church and people, a solemn day. I did not then, neither do I now, fully realize how solemn and interesting, since the high relations then established have by the good providence of God been so long continued-much longer than we had reason to anticipate. In my own case is to be found the second instance in the Commonwealth, in which a Minister was settled with conditions respecting his dismission. Judging from the continuance of this connection for so many years, and through so many and such various changes, in concerns so exciting, we should not conclude that conditions of settlement properly guarded, are very unfavorable to the permanency of the pastoral relation. If a general and serious dissatisfaction with a minister exist, which cannot be removed, a dissolution of the relation ought to be, and will be, ef- fected, let him be settled as he may. And no minister should con- sent to hold his relation to a people to their evident injury.
I said that my ministry had continued longer than we had reason to anticipate. Whether our expectations were founded on your past experience, or upon observation. Brookfield Association embraces 18 churches, one recently organized and which has settled a Pastor, two others without an acting Pastor, but who are about to re-settle the Christian ministry amongst them ; and other two which continue under the charge of Pastors whom they settled forty years since : and still in these 18 churches there have been settled during my ministry 46 ministers. If you take from the 18, the church recently organiz- ed and the two who retain their Pastors, the average number of Pas- tors each of the rest would have received in 40 years, would be three : one in every thirteen years and four months. None of the 15 have
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settled less than two Pastors, and some five; or one every eight years. This frequent change of ministers, the confident opinion of profess- edly wise men to the contrary notwithstanding, is one of the most serious evils under which the churches are laboring at the present day. A fickle minded people, who make all goodness, or the cause of all goodness, to consist in novelty and excitement, may delight in such a constant succession of changes : but these changes, in fact, interrupt and hinder the execution of important plans of benevolence and improvement, stand in the way of attachments strengthened by time and interchange of kind offices, and prevent an accumulating good influence from being exerted to the stability of the church and the fixedness of steady habits. This is not the only evil of such rapid changes ; for it has a ruinous effect upon the minds of most Ministers. While their opportunities for study are diminished, their temptations to neglect it are increased. With a very little intellectual furniture, and a few sermons comprising all their divinity, and about all their ideas, they make their way among the churches. Their pond is soon empty, and when out, they move to a new scene of lazy labor, except what consists in vociferation, or uninteresting repetitions. Men thus become barren and lean, feeling but little interest themselves, and exciting little or none among their learers.
My ministry, having been wholly confined to this people from the very commencement of my preaching, extends over a period that usu- ally consumes the active portion of a man's life, and gives him an opportunity to witness many interesting changes, and, if in a public station, changes, in which he has had an important agency, or by which he has been seriously affected, no less than others.
I propose to recount some of the most interesting events, which, under God's all-wise and controlling providence, have occurred dur- ing the forty years I have been with you.
I. I shall begin with a brief history of this Parish, which was in- corporated March 29th 1750. When party politics raged in the early part of the present century, the North Parish of Brookfield was incorporated into a town, by the name of North Brookfield. This took place in 1812. The object was political and wholly failed ; still its incorporation as a town has probably conduced to our wel- fare, and certainly to our great convenience and to a reduction of our annual expenses. At the time of my settlement, the scenery was rural beyond almost any other town in the region, the population every where very sparse, and not five, if there was one, well-finished
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and neatly painted house in town-and but three or four dwelling houses within about half a mile of our place of worship, and that of all others was a place of the greatest retirement and the most pro- found silence except on the Sabbath. The spot, while far from cen- tral, furnishing no eligible places for building, and there being no mercantile business in town, but upon a very small scale, and but one mechanic within nearly a mile, the house of worship had around it, through all the week, a remarkable stillness ; unless disturbed by the coming and going of the sickly, the palsied, those afflicted with swellings, with broken limbs, disjointed bones, and putrid sores, and the diseased of every sort, who resorted for relief, like the multitude around Bethesda, and with much the same confidence of a cure, to your far-famed surgeon, Dr. Jacob Kittridge, whose decease in 1813 was so much lamented .* The age and infirmities and consequent coldness of your former house of worship, without any means of warming it in severe weather, together with the distance of dwelling houses except two or three, rendered the condition of the people on a cold Sabbath every thing but tolerable; and the labors of the min- ister wholly useless, unless to afflict his hearers with a long discourse for not providing a warmer house. When almost every one was anxiously looking for the close of service that he might thaw out from his morning's freeze, and that desire was to be read in the countenance without danger of mistake, you may well imagine, that the feelings of the speaker could not be of the most pleasant sort, especially, when he had spent half the week, day and night, in pre- paring his discourse. I wonder that so many people then attended public worship in severe weather, making their way for miles to God's house, without any means of warming till the intermission. Meet- ings, indeed, were comparatively thin, but far more numerous than we should imagine. And now I as much wonder, that so many ab- sent themselves from the sanctuary, as I then did, that so many at- tended.
Every individual, who in the moderate season of the year attended public worship, with the exception of some half dozen, must be either a pedestrian or a horseman. For those who did not walk, there was but one mode of conveyance, and that the saddle and pillion. A wagon was a thing unknown, and as for chaises, there were but three or four in town, and scarcely an umbrella for protection from rain.
Note A.
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People of both sexes were obliged to take the storm as it was sent ; and thought it no great task to walk in clusters two and three miles to the sanctuary.
The inhabitants were all husbandmen-even the few mechanics, who wrought at their trades merely to supply town customers, were farmers upon a smaller or larger scale. There was not more than a single mechanic whose ware was purchased abroad, while we were wholly dependent upon other places for most kinds of mechanical business, no less than for merchandise. But the time has been of late in which the principal business of the people has been mechani- cal, rather than agricultural ; and to this, in connection with mer- chandise, have they looked as the main source of their gains .* Out- ward prosperity in itself is desirable, and so is an increase in sub- stance, where there is a heart to use it with gratitude and moderation, and employ it to the honor of God in promoting human happiness, How much the people from being husbandmen, have increased in wealth by becoming mechanics, is not a point I have labored to as- certain ; yet one thing is certain, viz. poor families have very much diminished within fifteen years past. Many who were very destitute, have been furnished with the means of living and of thrift, and being disposed to diligently improve them, they are raised to a competency far above discouragement and want. And scarcely a family in town is in real poverty, but through the blasting influence of intemperance. How much the change of business lias diminished helpless pauperism may not by any be fully understood ; yet something lias lessened this bill of expense, greatly alleviated the distresses of some, and increased the comforts of many others, while we are surrounded with marks of general competence and prosperity. The number of the poor sup- ported at public expense, las much diminished, while our population has very considerably increased.
The population of the Parish 40 years ago was about eleven hun- dred, nor did it essentially vary for nearly thirty years. An increase was manifest about ten or twelve years since, and our census in 1837 gave us 1540, being an increase of more than 400. This is princi- pally occasioned by the change and increase of business, which has retained amongst us our young and enterprising men, while it has drawn in others from different parts of the country. The moral cha- racter of the increase of our population is generally good, owing in
Note B.
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no small measure to the course pursued and the influence exerted by men who have had the principal control of business concerns. This has been done by giving preference to persons of steady and indus- trious habits and correct principles, and by making sacrifices for the safety of public morals. Influential men who are much in the way of business and come in contact with multitudes by having them in their employment, can do much to restrain the evilly disposed, to pro- mote good habits and to bring in and raise up diligent and virtuous men. In this way, where there are other concurring influences, there may be formed a society, while pleasant, and happy, and re- spectable, of great moral strength and efficiency. In order for such a happy effect, leading and enterprising men must stand on the Lord's side and cherish a public spirit, which is willing to make sacrifices for the common good. And the want of this spirit in the leading . men of some places I could name, is one principal reason why such a very corrupt and bad state of society is found in their very heart- rotten at the core. Good men of enterprise and successful business in a place can do very much toward keeping bad men and bad things out from their bosom; and unprincipled men can do as much to bring them in, and throw the influence and the management of con- cerns into their hands, where it never ought to be. It is matter of sincere congratulation that this religious society has so much impror- ed both in point of morals, and social feelings and intercourse, no less than in intelligence and religious principle.
For many years the subject of erecting a new house of worship was occasionally agitated. The principal reason why the question was not settled and a house built long before it was, is thought to have been an expectation that it would be erected on a different and more central spot. A portion of the Parish had always been dissatisfied with the location, even before the frame was covered, and but few in the north section of the town which was last settled, either owned or could purchase a pew for their families. These facts induced this portion of the people to press the subject for decision, which took place in 1822, and in 1823 this building was erected, and on the first day of January, 1824, was publicly dedicated to GOD, the FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST .* Three twentieths of the property in the Parish with- drew in consequence of this movement ; though contrary to their ex- pectations, it cost no man a cent, unless he was pleased to purchase
* Note C. .
2
:
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a seat. This enterprise was conducted with as much union and good feeling as could be reasonably expected, considering how difficult it is to reconcile interfering interests and jarring opinions, shaped and confirmed by these very interests. No step ever did more to promote the prosperity of this religious society than the crection of this Sanc- tuary. The moment this house was completed and the pews sold, the real estate in the society advanced ten, if not twenty, per cent. The town had now an acknowledged and permanent centre, around which new settlers would cluster. And probably no friend of reli- gious order now laments the erection of this house. Some may think that the rise of another house of worship for a different denomination from the ashes of the old temple is matter of regret. But not at all. The matter of regret is, that those men, and especially, those men of property, who were forward in this enterprise, and professed attach :- ment to the spot and the denomination, should suffer the sincerity of their professions to be questioned, and let their zeal die so soon, and their fire all go out in smoke. Our regret is, that they forsake the assembling of themselves together for the worship of God, and with- hold their pecuniary aid, so much needed for the support of the gos- pel. How easily could they sustain a Christian teacher, and how well might they fill that place of worship, without drawing a single individual from other assemblies, while they would profit their owu souls, bless their families, and do good to the world, by combining their strength and pursuing judicious measures ?*
With a new house of worship and a more numerous population we have an increased worshipping assembly. The population of the town has increased a little more than one fourth in the course of ten or twelve years, and our worshipping assembly has increased one third in the same period. Our largest assemblies in our former place of worship, numbered 400; our largest now, exceed 600. When we were rearing this House of God, some objected to its dimensions as exceeding the demand of our population. But we have found the place too strait for us-we need more room-many cannot hire or purchase seats as they need for their families. If we had given the house a greater extension of ten feet in length and ten in breadth, we should have been better accommodated, and saved ourselves, or our children, some trouble and expense.
But notwithstanding our congregation in favorable weather is large,
Note D.
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and has so much increased, still it is not what it might be, nor what it should be, with our population and opportunities. When preach- ing was sustained a few years ago, in the other house of worship and about 100 convened there, this assembly was not perceptibly dimin- ished, and probably not ten who worship with us usually went to make up that assembly. Where then are the people on the Sabbath who constituted that meeting ? do they attend worship out of town ? It is to be feared that they are not generally found in any religious meeting. And were these the only people who needlessly absent themselves from religious worship on the Sabbath, it would be mat- ter of rejoicing. There are more than 1500 souls in town. Suppos- ing 50 of them attend the Baptist meeting in Brookfield, which is probably too large an estimate ; and, to make the very best of the case, there would remain 900, who on every pleasant Sabbath, meet no where. I am not insensible that young children, and the aged and infirm, the feeble and the sick, and those who nurse them, will constitute a large number who cannot congregate for divine worship -this number is probably not less than 400. After all, there remain 500 unaccounted for, enough to constitute as large an assembly as we generally find in the country. This fact I state, not for the pur- pose of censure or reproach-nothing of the kind. The considera- tion is a very mournful one. What will become of people who thus neglect the great salvation of the gospel ? It is a serious question, in view of an undeniable and distressing fact.
In order to see what could be done to get those out to attend public worship, who were able, but not inclined, a few years since, I went into different parts of the town to ascertain who and what proportion of the people generally convened on the Sabbath,-what proportion were un- able to attend on account of age, sickness, or infirmity, and what pro- portion were able to go and went not. The number of the class last mentioned, was ascertained to be several hundreds. And one fact which I once stated, I would here repeat, namely, that within the lim- its of this town there were more than 90 men, heads of families, who, so far as could be ascertained, habitaally neglected the public worship of God on the Sabbath, while they were able to attend any other meeting at an equal distance. It is believed the number has not di- minished. This is a most astounding fact, and may raise the ques- tion, " What will they do in the end of these things ?" and another question still : Have not Christians, the friends of God and man, of the Church and their country, something more to do to bring these
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people under the sound of the gospel ! Say not that I am reproach- ing.men ; it is not reproach that I deal in ; I am stating a solemn and painful fact -- a fact deeply affecting to every feeling mind that credits the word of God, and considers the office and indispensable impor- tance of religious institutions, both in reference to the final condition of the undying soul and the present state of society. While there has been an increase of our religious assembly on the Sabbath, there has also been an increase, especially among heads of families, of those who forsake the House of God, which would not continue, and could not, were they but to take the matter under serious considera- tion and view it in the light in which God has kindly thrown it before their minds.
At the time of my settlement, the laws of the Commonwealth obliged every man to pay his proportion for the support of a preached gospel. This was required by our statutes upon the principle, that the preached gospel is necessary to the well-being of society .- to aid the magistrate in keeping the peace,-to restrain men from crime,- to promote virtue and give greater security to the persons and pro- perty and rights of every peaceable citizen ;- the laws required every man to contribute his share in support of the public worship of God, upon the same principle that he is required to contribute his share in support of civil government, and that is, it is a common benefit. And indeed, every considerate person who has looked at the subject, per- ceives that the community, aside from all spiritual advantages, needs the civilizing, restraining and moral influence of a preached gospel, and the public worship of God. And if it be a common benefit, it would be perfectly equitable to support public worship at the common expense, securing to every individual the full-enjoyment of the right of conscience. But what would be equitable to require of others, may not always be expedient. And if a preached gospel be a com- mon benefit in the community, aside from its saving effects on those who hear with faith, then the plea that some, who neglect public worship, have made for such neglect, viz., that as they pay no where, they will not steal their preaching, is of no use ; for whether they attend or not, they are reaping from it, in common with others, those important benefits which our statutes contemplated, when they re- quired every man to contribute his share. For who does not know that the restraining and moral influence of a preached gospel on the depraved passions of men, contributes to his personal security, com- fort and prosperity, to the intellectual improvement of the young,
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and the forming of steady and virtuous habits ? What would society soon become without it? So that whatever course an individual takes respecting public religious instruction where he lives ; still, though he does not receive all, yet he cannot fail of enjoying many of its benefits at the expense of others, if not at his own. He can- not avoid catching some of the temporal blessings of a preached gospel ; they will come pouring down upon him, unless he escape from among the people who sustain it. If he will not share in the expense, still he will participate in the profits, whether he call it stealing or receiving in charity. My only wish is, if they are indisposed to sup- port the gospel, that they would be willing to accept the richest bless- ings the gospel can impart-the choicest hopes it can inspire.
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