USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > North Adams > Addresses and papers presented at the Diamond Jubilee, 1827-1902, May 11-14 (First Congregational Church of North Adams) > Part 4
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* Yeomans' History of Adams, page 428, in the "History of the County of Berkshire, Mass., by Gentlemen in the County, Clergymen and Laymen," Pitts- field, 1829.
ยก Samuel Todd was born in North Haven, Ct., in 1719. After his gradu- ation from Yale he was settled at the age of twenty in the ministry of Northbury, in Woodbury, Pittsfield County, Ct. From Northbury he removed to Lanes- boro and was dismissed from Lanesboro to Adams in the fall of 1766. After his dismission from the Adams church he was commissioned Justice of the Peace. He removed from Adams to Northfield and thence to Orford, Grafton County, N. H;, where he was received into the church with his wife June 4, 1782. Mr. Yeomans records of him that he preached occasionally to that congregation, and the elderly inhabitants of the town who knew him highly commend his character and talent. (See Yeomans' History of Adams.)
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Of Mr. Todd Mr. Yeomans says : "He possessed a mind of more than ordinary strength, and great decision of char- acter. His religious sentiments and feelings were strictly evangelical. The revivals of 1740 he warmly approved and exerted himself to promote them." Such being his char- acter Mr. Todd may have dreamed that in the manner of most of the ministers of his day his settlement was to be for life, but the early conditions in what was then East Hoosick were unfavorable for the building up of a typical New England church and community. The earliest settlers were apparently disappointed in their choice of a home. The valley was unhealthful ; floods were frequent ; the earli- est industrial plants were washed away; the malaria was no foe with whom to dally when relief could be found upon the hills. So one by one most of the worshipers in the First Church of Adams either returned to their earlier homes or sought the healthier altitudes of Heath, of Rowe and of Savoy, where flourishing churches were established. The unsettled condition of the community may also be partially attributed to the disorders incident to the coming on of the Revolution. The church was finally closed for lack of wor- shipers. Though invited at the encorporation of the town in 1778 to give up the minister's lot, Parson Todd still retained the title to it, but as we ride by it we can hard- ly deem his act one of avarice.
The places of the early settlers were taken by Quakers and Baptists from Rhode Island. In the South Village for years the Quaker meeting house was the one place of worship.
For almost thirty years the North Village of Adams was without a meeting house or church organization. Finally, in 1782, the scanty remnant of the defunct Congregational
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church and others in the North Village, set up and covered a frame work on the spot where now stands the residence of our first mayor, Hon. A. C. Houghton. For twelve years, however, this building remained incomplete. Men were generally rather indifferent religiously throughout the country in the days following the Revolution. It was a time when the majority of the students in our colleges were unbelievers. Revivals were unknown. If traditions are to be trusted, the general religious apathy which char- acterized the country at large was intensified among the dwellers in the North Village of Adams.
But a new day dawned. The revival wave swept over the country. The residents of the North Village felt its influence. As the result the unfinished meeting house was moved by men and oxen along Church street to the spot where now stands the Baptist church, was there com- pleted and devoted to the cause of religion, regardless of sect.
This experience is unique among the stories of the beginnings of our New England towns. The few scat- tered dwellers in the North Village by their act declared that they were more interested in religion than denom- inationalism. Am I wrong in saying that our com- munity still reveals the impress of this act and that mere denominationalism stands for less with us than it does in most communities, while vital Christianity is rated higher?
The revival movement so general throughout the country during the early days of the century, which bore fruit in the conference under the historic haystack at Wil- liams, was felt in North Adams as an evangelist by the name of Dyer Stark conducted services in the town meet-
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ing house. Many of the villagers were awakened from their lethargy. The evangelist was a Baptist. It is prob- able that most of the new comers were also Baptists. As a result, in 1808 a Baptist church was organized which, by general consent, occupied and held control of the meeting house and property which has been devoted to the unsec- tarian service of God. The work was of a somewhat sporadic character, however. By the time of the organiza- tion of the Congregational church, 31 members of the Baptist church had been disciplined, and when our own church was organized there was no settled minister either over the Baptist church or the Methodist church which had been organized in 1823.
With our modern views of church comity, there would seem to be a question whether in a community of less than a thousand inhabitants a sufficient justification was to be found for the establishment of a third church. As we put ourselves in the place of the fathers, however, we find that the situation assumes a different aspect. It seemed as necessary for the men and women in the community who belonged to the old Pilgrim and Puritan stock to conduct their worship in the democratic way of the fathers as it did for them to maintain the town meeting. For this reason the old and well established church at Williamstown, which for years was the largest Congregational church in Berkshire, included in its membership most of the dwellers in the North Village of Adams whose political and religi- ous ideas bore the old New England imprint.
It can readily be seen, however, that this condition was far from satisfactory. The roads between the North Village and Williamstown were often almost impas-
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sable. It was necessary to ford the river in a number of places, and at high water this was impracticable.
The missionary spirit which led Williams college men to look upon the world as their field never led them under either the leadership of Dr. Griffin or Mark Hopkins to neglect their responsibility for that part of the world which was at their very doors.
As an expression of this spirit of missionary enter- prise which looked upon any accessible part of the world as a field for labor, Tutor John W. Yeomans, a son of the old church in Hinsdale, a classmate of Mark Hopkins, ranking second in the class in which his distinguished friend was first, for a period of several years conducted religious services in the school-house standing at the corner of Church and Eagle streets, on the spot now occu- pied by the Baptist chapel. As a little band of believers is brought together under Mr. Yeoman's leadership in the hamlet, which by reason of its isolated position can appar- ently hope to be nothing else than a hamlet, and a number of the younger people express the desire of confessing Christ, the thought naturally arises, fostered by the unsel- fish purpose of their leader, why should not we who dwell in this town of Adams maintain a church in the manner of the other towns in our commonwealth in which the church of our fathers is so indissolubly connected with the life, liberty and history of Massachusetts men as to be recognized as a part of the state establishment ?
Many were the obstacles in the way of the fruition of this hope. It was too much to expect that our Baptist friends should forget that our Puritan fathers had availed themselves of Solomon's advice and had faithfully used the rod upon them in their youth. Of course they could
DEACON DANIEL P. MERRIAM
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not welcome us. It is to be wondered that they did not do more to discourage us. It was also true that the masses in Berkshire were out of sympathy with the established Congregational church. Many of our ministers were looked upon as aristocrats, who had been in sympathy with the oppressor during the stirring days of Shay's re- bellion.
Tradition also tells us that there was fear among the many who were connected with no church that the estab- lishment of a Congregational church meant their taxation for its support, in accordance with the law and general usage of the commonwealth in other communities.
The few who were willing to enter such a church were also unable to meet the financial obligations involved in such a step. The records show that the money raised during the early days rarely exceeded in amount the sums which the people in humblest circumstances pledge today, and to organize a church meant not only that the yearly expenses of such a church must be met, but that land must be purchased and a building erected.
Can we wonder then that good President Griffin chose as his text for his sermon at the organization of the church, "By whom shall Jacob rise, for he is small." We must say without any reserve that the honor involved in the organization of the Congregational church of North Adams belongs to John W. Yeomans, whose strong faith and un- swerving purpose knew no obstacles which could not be surmounted. At his instigation the council was called, which met upon a stormy day, the 19th of April, 1827, at the home of Daniel P. Merriam, then standing not far from Main street on what is now Marshall street. The main part of this house is still standing but moved back from the
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street, and connected as it is with a saloon, we cannot but la- ment that years ago it was not saved from desecration by the friendly aid of the fiery elements. Delegates were present at this council from Williamstown, Windsor, Lanesboro, Pittsfield, Lee and Bennington. President Griffin of Wil- liams college was chosen moderator and Rev. R. W. Grid- ley, pastor of the church in Williamstown, scribe. The council having been organized voted first that, "The way is prepared to organize a Congregational Church of Christ in North Adams," and second that "The persons elected as deacons be ordained by prayer and the imposing of hands." The council then went to the Baptist meeting house, the wooden building now back of the Baptist church, for whose erection, as we have seen, the Congregationalists themselves were partly responsible, and there, "In the presence of an attentive and solemn congregation the church was organ- ized," consisting of seventeen members who brought their letters from the parent church in Williamstown, and five who united on profession of their faith as the result of the good work which tutor Yeomans had carried on in the village. Of these twenty-two charter members of our church, seven were men and fifteen women. Truly this tree of the Lord's planting was but insignificant, yet ele- ments of strength entered into it through its historic asso- ciations which while not appearing upon the surface were prophetic of better days. In the person of Israel Jones, then eighty-nine years old, the church was firmly rooted to the earliest history of the town, for Israel Jones was one of the original settlers of the town, and as civil engineer had laid out its roads and surveyed its lots. He was connected with the original church of Adams and had married the daughter of its pastor, the Rev. Samuel Todd. Thus look-
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ed at, from one standpoint, the presence of Israel Jones in the church brought it more nearly into touch with other churches of our order which came into existence with their towns, and gives us some legitimate claim to the title of the First Church of Adams, established in 1766. A wonder- ful old man was Israel Jones, careful in his dress, living in what seemed to his fellow villagers the luxurious state of an English squire, by virtue of his position as Justice of the Peace setting himself unflinchingly against any dese- cration of the Sabbath. The first representative of the town in Boston and a trustee of Williams College, his presence among the charter members of the church seemed to betoken a blessing transmitted from the heroic, colonial days. Israel Jones passed away in his ninety-first year, but his vigor is shown from the fact that on the morning of the day of his death he had ridden on horseback as far as Stamford, and after his return was taking his wonted nap before a projected horseback ride to Williamstown, when death painlessly came upon him, and waking no more, he died full of years, leaving behind him a most honorable name. It is to be hoped that one of the trips of this anni- versary season will be to the old home of Israel Jones which, in modernized form, is now occupied by one of our devoted members, Mrs. Eliza Harrison, 781 West Main street.
Other roots of this church connected it with the church of Williamstown which then included the College church as well. The charter members had been adequately trained in the orderly, dignified and at the same time democratic methods which characterized the church of Williamstown. that noble representative of an old-time village church, Two of those who brought their letters from Williamstown were at once chosen deacons. The first deacon was Eli
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Northam, who lived in the house now occupied by one of our members, Mr. David Jarvie. Deacon Northam was soon compelled to move to South Williamstown, but left behind him the memory of a kindly Christian man, who even in the midst of financial adversity, did not forfeit the respect and confidence of his neighbors. The second deacon, cho- sen at the organization of the church, was Artemas Crit- tenden, whom we do well to remember and honor, as among the first of the men of energy who have compelled the dancing waters of the Hoosac to do their will.
Maria Smith, afterwards Mrs. Gould, was one of the youngest of the charter members who united with the church upon the confession of her faith, her mother, Mrs. Rhoda Bartlet Smith, uniting at the same time. We had joined our hope to hers that she might live to witness this anniversary season, for many were her memories of the earlier days of struggle and great was her love and respect for the early pastors. Two years ago Mrs. Gould passed away, but we rejoice that five of her descend- ants are at the present time members of this church, Mrs. Mary Bixby, her daughter, and her grandchildren, Mrs. Addie Sanford, Mrs. Alice Parmelee, Mrs. Mary Burbank and Miss Grace Gould. So far as I can ascertain, these five whose names I have read are the only descendants of the charter members of the church who are now with us.
If we could put ourselves into the position of the twenty-two members of the church on the morning after the stormy day on which the council of recognition was held, it is a question whether we should not find them asking the question,-of what avail this solemn council? We own no land ; we have no building ; we have no settled minister ; we have no means. It should be said emphatic-
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ally at this time that the little church must in a few months or a few years, at best, have passed away had it not been for the strong faith and heroic determination of John W. Yeo- mans. During the six months following the recognition of the church Mr. Yeomans was at work among the members of neighboring churches, by subscription papers endeavor- ing to raise the money required for a church building and property. Subscription papers were also put in the hands of several members of the church, but most of the money which was needed for the erection of a building was secured through his untiring efforts. Enough money was in sight so that September 29, 1827, it was possible to elect a committee, consisting of Eli Northam, Artemas Crittenden and Daniel P. Merriam, to superintend the building of a meeting house. The land on which our present church building stands, including all the corner as far as the soldier's monument and the land now occupied by the wooden buildings at the east of the church, was purchased for $400. For a year Mr. Yeomans had continued to minister to the little group as he had before their organization in the school house. So far as any evidence is concerned, his labor during the year after the organization of the church, as in the time before, was entirely a labor of love, and no recompense was given him. As the work of building the church progressed, however, a meeting of the church was held March 11, 1828, at the house of Israel Jones, and it was voted that, "we invite Mr. John W. Yeomans, who is now laboring with us, to regard himself as a candidate for settlement and to con- tinue with us until we know what arrangements the church can make for settling a minister."
This half-pastoral relationship on the part of Mr. Yeo- inans continued until September 5 of the same year, when,
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at a meeting held at the home of Israel Jones, it was voted unanimously "that we invite Mr. J.W. Yeomans to accept the pastoral charge of this church, and that we promise to fur- nish him $500 annually for his support." When we consider the fact that for a year and a half Mr. Yeomans devoted himself unstintingly to the service of the church, securing somne $3,000 for the church building, and that at the end of this time only $500 was promised him, with the moral certainty that only a part of this could ever be paid, our appreciation of the heroism of the first leader of the church is deepened when we turn to his letter of acceptance. Of this call he says: "I accept it with all my heart. I know, however, that I assume an arduous undertaking. The station to which the Lord is calling me presents many singular and trying responsibilities. The Lord has opened the hearts of his people in the neighboring churches to assist you in completing a sanctuary. We are hoping to see a church rise up from these small beginnings and un- propitious circumstances (and here speaks the true prophet of the Lord) to the position of strength and purity of faith. Trusting that the Lord is with us, I cheerfully devote my- self with you to attain the great object of your exertions."
At last the little brick meeting house, which Deacon Hunter will describe, was completed, and on the eleventh of November a council met in the morning at the old brick tavern, then occupied by Nathaniel Waterman, a member of the congregation, and installed Mr. Yeomans as pastor of the church. The famous theologian, Samuel Shepard, of Lenox, was moderator. Part was taken in the council by David Dudley Field, the illustrious father of so many distinguished sons. The sermon was preached by the pastor of the Presbyterian church in Bennington, Vt. Rev.
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Ebenezer Jennings, of Dalton, of whose tendencies to ex- aggerate and make puns tradition has so much to say, gave the charge to the people. In the afternoon of this day, at two o'clock, the house of worship was dedicated in the words of the record, "to God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost," and the sermon was preached by the pastor and founder.
Our church at this time, equipped as it was with a brick building, occupied a more conspicuous position in the community than it did in the county at large. I find that at the end of this year it was still the smallest Congregational church in Berkshire, with a membership of only twenty- eight and a Sunday school of sixty. The parent church of Williamstown had then a membership of 426. The church now struggling for existence at Windsor then had a mem- bership of 114 with a Sunday school of 130. The church at Peru, nearer the heavens then and now than any other church in the state, had a membership of 110. The church at Becket, which now has a membership of barely thirty, then had a membership of 194; the church at Otis a mem- bership of 130; the church at Pittsfield a membership of 563. For a number of years this church has had the largest membership of any church of our order in Berkshire, but if we are ever tempted to be proud let us remember the time when the churches in the hill towns out of their superior numerical, material and spiritual strength contributed to help us on our way. The erection of a meeting house by no means solved the problem, however, of the welfare of the North Adams church. Manufacturing was not as yet established upon a stable basis, and frequent failures led to almost constant changes in the scanty population. The church finds increasing difficulty in paying its pastor his
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salary, in spite of the aid given by the Berkshire and Massachusetts missionary societies. On November 3, 1829, money was borrowed from the trustees of Williams college to meet the debt then resting on the church. The original of the mortgage given Williams college is now in the church safe. That the times did not grow better is evident from the fact that we find the college compelled to threaten foreclosure. Nevertheless, the faithful pastor does not yield to discouragement. On December 2, 1829, it was voted that the church hold a prayer meeting weekly, on Wednes- day afternoon at two o'clock, and that the hour between six and seven o'clock Wednesday morning be set aside for prayer in our closets and families for the effusion of the Holy Spirit upon us. A little later it was voted, for the sake of better accommodation, to hold weekly prayer meet- ings Wednesday evenings at the home of D. P. Merriam. February 28, 1830, the ensuing Friday was set apart for fasting and prayer for the influences of the Holy Spirit upon the church and the congregation. Again it was voted to raise money and procure the tract entitled "The Sanc- tuary," for distribution in the community during the month of September.
It will be seen from this record that the church in North Adams was at its very beginning radically in favor of what were then termed "new measures." The freedom and responsibility of the individual member of the church was emphasized in a way the older theologians then be- lieved to be unscriptural and undignified. It was believed that the Holy Spirit was given to God's children in response to their earnest desire and completer consecration. The early church of North Adams was not alone, however, a church which emphasized fasting and prayer. It assumed
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what for the times was a most radical position on the great question of temperance reform then coming to the front. It was voted on December 2, 1829, that "we consider our- selves bound by the spirit of the gospel to refrain en- tirely from the use of ardent spirits in every case except when recommended as a medicine by the physician ; and to do all that earnest persuasion and example can do to suppress the use of intoxicating liquors in the community." Following this step of the church, we gladly recall the fact that there was a period in the history of our community when no liquor was sold within our midst, and the leading inn was conducted upon a temperance basis.
The church also took advanced ground for that time in emphasizing the importance of Christian nurture, for we find it voted in the beginning of the year 1832, "that the last Wednesday evening meeting of each month be set aside as a meeting of prayer for the children of the church. The Pittsfield Athanaeum contains a sermon preached by Dr. Veomans ten years later and printed in The American Pulpit upon the training of children, in which he shows that he is in sympathy with a part of the thought of Horace Bushnell, which when expressed at a later time in Christian Nurture brought so much opposition upon him from the many who felt that there was no hope for any save in a marked experience at conversion.
In this connection we should notice that Mr. Yeomans assumed the care of the Florida church, then composed of fifteen members, and on December 25, 1831, these members were received into the North Adams church, and services were continued in their church on Florida mountain until the removal of the majority of the membership, and the building up of a Baptist church rendered it inexpedient to
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longer continue what was known as the Florida branch of the North Adamns church.
During the pastorate of Dr. Yeomans the church re- ceived into its membership by letter from the church in Rowe Dr. E. S. Hawkes, who for years found time in the midst of his busy practice as the leading physician of the community, to work for the church, not only in the way of valued material assistance but by the espousal of the highest moral and spiritual standards. The work of the first five pastors of this church could not have been what it was had it not been for the assistance of this best type of the Puritan, Christian physician and gentleman.
Among the other members received into the church during this pastorate was Eli Gould, a deacon in the church of Heath, from which he brought his letter. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, who could not kneel with his family in prayer, because of a wound received in his early battling for liberty. His son, Willard Gould, also united with the church at about the same time and was soon chosen deacon. The influence of heredity is seen as we turn to our own Deacon Chase, the grandson and greatgrandson of these two deacons, who thus connect him with the early struggles of both his country and his church.
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