USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Hubbardston > An address, in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Hubbardston, Mass. > Part 4
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At first this report was summarily rejected by the town, but afterwards adopted and the recommendation was carried ont. The town appointed a committee of seven and Mr. Kendall a like number, and Rev Mr. Estabrook was agreed upon as moderator. The action of this committee is not ro- corded, though they made a report which was accepted. But it did not heal the trouble, for soon another committee of five ministers was agreed upon by the two parties, and a committee of the town appointed to present allegations. It does not appear that his committee ever met. In February, 1807, the town sent another committee to Mr. Kendall to see on what terms he would be dismissed, but they could come to no agreement. And one week later they sent an- other committee to make proposals. They proposed to pay his salary for eight months, but he did not accept the offer. Soon after they offered to give him $500, and voted that if this was declined they would "proceed to a reference or council." It was not accepted, and one week later, they voted to appoint one man, with request that Mr. Kendall
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should appoint another, who should agree on terms of set- tlement. This proposition was acceded to, and the town chose William Marean, and Mr. Kendall appointed John Mc- Clenathan. They did not agree, and Mr. Kendall was fur- ther urged to make proposals. He finally offered to take $800 in addition to his salary. They voted to offer him $600. This he declined. Then they voted to give him $700, provided he would give $20 of it to the poor, the se- lectmen to say who should receive it. This request was finally acceded to, and now they began to breathe freer.
Three or four other town meeting's were held in course of a few weeks following, at one of which they provided for giving Mr. Kendall an obligation for the amount offered, and he was to sign a written release. At another they voted that he should supply the pulpit no longer.
Finally, on the 26th of April, it was agreed by both par- ties to withdraw all complaints and allegations, and on the same day a council met and Mr. Kendall was dismissed.
After his dismission he removed to Angusta, N. Y., where he was installed in 1810, and dismissed in 1814. He was never settled again, and sixteen years after he was deposed from the ministry and excommunicated from the church. He died Feb. 19, 1853, aged 85 years, and in his last days his pastor thought he gave evidence of true repent- ance.
Rev. Samuel Gay was ordained Oct. 17, 1810, with a salary of $500, on condition that his salary should close in one year after two-thirds of the legal voters of the town should vote his dismission. He also received $500 as a set- tlement.
For some time after the settlement of Mr. Gay, har- mony prevailed, and there were many additions to the church. But he was a man of uncompromising principles, fearless in his utterance of what he considered right, and as fearless in rebuking wrong. He sometimes gave offence by his plainness of speech.
During the excitement of the war of 1812 he displeased a
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large party in town, and twenty-seven families withdrew and united with the Baptist Society at Coldbrook.
They were taxed, as before, for the support of the minis- ter, but refused to pay. The attempt was made to collect the tax, and some of their property was attached and sold. Great excitement prevailed, and there was no lack of will on either side.
The dissenters commenced an action against the Assess- ors. The result of this litigation was, that the town paid damages and all costs to those whose property had been taken. After the excitement subsided, most of these fami- lies came back.
But all disaffection was not removed. There soon began to be strong opposition to the doctrinal views of the minis- ter, and in 1821 a society was formed which was called the "First. Restoration Society, of Hubbardston," and thirty- eight families joined it at first, and several families every spring till 1825. On the first of May, 1826, this society was abandoned and most of the members returned to the old society. This was about the time of the great excite- ment throughout the state, and the breaking up of the old churches into Orthodox and Unitarian.
About this time persistent efforts were made to get rid of Mr. Gay. A town meeting was called April 3, 1826, to see if they would dismiss him. The vote stood, Aff. 48, Neg. 109. The opponents, disappointed at the smallness of their numbers, employed every possible means to increase their strength. And, as the Restoration Society was dis- banded only a month after, it is evident that their object was that they might come in and vote against Mr. Gay.
At the March meeting, the next year, the vote was tried again, and stood, 99 to 65. On the first of April they held another meeting, when the vote stood, 106 to 65,-not yet two-thirds of the voters.
They then voted to hold another meeting on the first of May, for the same purpose.
In the mean time, the friends of Mr. Gay organized a
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society which was called "The Calvinistic Society of Hub- bardston." Its name now is the Evangelical Congregational Society. Eighty-eight persons joined at first, and filed in their certificates according to law. At the town meeting, on the first of May, the vote stood for dismissing Mr. Gay 114,-against it, none.
He supplied the pulpit till October, 1827, when he was dismissed by a mutual council, and the town paid his salary for one year after they voted to dismiss him.
The church which remained and worshipped in the old meeting-house assumed the name of the "First Congrega- tional Church of Hubbardston." The parish remained un- der the control of the town, as before.
After having four or five candidates, Rev. Abner D. Jones received a call, and was ordained Nov. 13, 1828. He con- tinued in his ministry four years, and was dismissed at his own request.
Rev. Ebenezer Robinson was his successor, and was set- tled Feb. 20, 1833. About this time the connection of the parish with the town ceased, and it was legally organized into a religious society. After a short ministry Mr. Robin- son was dismissed, (Oct. 19, 1836,) and was succeeded by Rev. Claudius Bradford, ordained April 15, 1840. After his dismission, (April 13, 1845,) Rev. Mr. Lloyd was ordained, but remained only about one year. He was fol- lowed by Rev. G. T. Hill, (installed April 14, 1847,) who remained only a few years, (dismissed August 29, 1852). Rev. Mr. Ryder was the next and last settled minister, though several others have been employed for some length of time, (ordained June 20, 1855 ; dismissed December 1, 1860). This church and society has generally been pros- perous. But it is not my purpose to speak at length of the recent history of any of the denominations.
At the time when the Calvinistic Society was formed, the church of the town held a meeting in the center school- house, and with kindness of feeling, and an carnest desire to promote peace, passed several resolutions. They re-
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solved to separate and form two distinct churches-those who had joined the Calvinistic Society to be one, and the remaining members the other. And the door was left open for any of the female members who might desire it, to re- turn to the old church of the town within one year.
The church furniture was to be held by Dea. Justus Ellin- wood, and used by both churches ; and they were to hold their communion services on different sabbaths.
Mr. Gay was to hold the records, to be consulted by both churches, as they had occasion. They also arranged for a council, to ratify these proceedings.
This conneil met October 31, 1827, and in their result they declare, that the majority of the members of a church seceding continue to be the church. They approved the spirit of the agreement, but declared it not according to ec- clesiastical order, and dangerous in its tendency. They recognized Mr. Gay as the pastor of the church.
This result was read at the dedication of the meeting- house, on November 1, 1827. One hundred and twenty- five members went with the new society, and thirty re- mained with the town.
For ten or twelve years after the division, much harmony prevailed under the ministry of Mr. Gay, and large acces- sions were made to the church. Two hundred were added in ten years. But at length he was guilty of growing old, and in 1841 much dissatisfaction was manifested, and afforts were made to have him dismissed. He was dismissed De- cember 1, 1841, and on the same day, Rev. O. B. Bidwell was ordained in his place.
Mr. Gay was born in Dedham, March 16, 1784, and graduated at Harvard University, in 1805. After his dis- mission he retired to his farm, where he died, very sudden- ly, October 16, 1848, thirty-eight years, to a day, after his ordination.
Mr. Bidwell was dismissed after a ministry of four years, during which sixty were added to the church.
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Rev. D. B. Bradford was installed June 17, 1846, and dismissed April 22, 1852.
He was succeeded by Rev. C. W. Allen, who was settled December 29, 1852, and dismissed December 31, 1860. He was the last settled minister.
The first preaching in town by the Methodists was in the south school house, in 1838, and much interest was awak- ened. The next spring Rev. Mr. Whitman began to preach in the hall at the Star Hotel. The same year permanent preaching was established, and the church commenced. Their meeting-house was dedicated September 25, 1839. During the first two years one hundred and seventy-one were added to the church.
They have generally been successful in their ministers and united in their efforts, and have done much good in town.
The first practicing physician in town was Dr. Moses Phelps, who, for nearly half a century, visited his patients, riding on horse-back with his huge saddle-bags of medicine. He was followed by his son, Moses Phelps, who studied and practiced with him. He has practiced more than fifty years, and still lives among you.
Of Hoyt, and Hohes, and Howe, and Goodnow, and Alexander, and Bemis, and Pillsbury, and Seribner, and Freeland, and Billings, and Lincoln, and Sylvester, and Ruggles, and Tenney, and Ames, and other sons of Eseu- lapius, who have been here, time would fail me to speak.
Fair Hygeia, the fabled daughter of the god of medicine, has also dwelt here. A few times in our history, disease, in form of scarlet and typhoid fever, has been commis- sioned as the distroying angel, to smite the first-born of many homes, and pale consumption always walks among you ; yet in the general average the vital statistics compare favorably with other places.
Most of the doctors and ministers have lived to get out of town, and those who remained have come to their graves in full age, as a shock of corn cometh in his season. A few
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people here have almost reached a hundred years, and many have passed four score. The average ages of about thirty of the first men who settled here, all whose ages I find, is seventy-six years, and that of the wives of twenty-five of these men is eighty years.
The first explorer of Florida, thought its luxurious woods must contain the fabled fountain which would restore old age to the vigor of youth, and he spent much time in search for it. So pilgrims from the city, every year, seek the fountains of health among these hills, and though they find no Pool of Siloam, yet the mountain breezes kiss the pale- ness from their cheeks and quicken all the pulses of life.
The legal profession has had but few representatives in this town. Samuel Swan, Esq., spent most of his life and reared his family here, but no one else ever remained long. As a whole, this town has been noted for the frequent changes of its professional men. Royalston began its see- ond century with its fourth minister and fourth physician in the center of the town. We have had scores to preach, and almost as many to practice.
But I am detaining you too long. Your stomachs clam- or for an advance in the programme. When Fitz Henry Warren, who has since been Assistant Postmaster General, and a general in the army, was a boy, he lived with Mr. Augustus Wheeler, of this town. It was then the custom to carry out grog to the farm hands two or three times a day, and they called it by the significant name of tangle- legs. One sultry afternoon it was not brought around till later than usual. When it came Warren's turn to drink, he very sagely remarked that he " would rather not have had any tangle-legs all the afternoon than to have waited so long for it." So I fear you feel in regard to your dinner.
And this is not all that waits. The great feature of the day, in my view, is in the social re-unions,-the renewal of old acquaintance, and this imperfect tribute must draw to a close.
We have partially surveyed the history of the town and
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the characters and achievements of its citizens. We have seen how wisely the proprietors planned for us. We have followed the first settlers through some of their toils and sacrifices. We have witnessed their patriotic struggles, their patient endurance, and Christian faith in those days which tried men's souls. We have traced their influence in politics, in religion, and in industrial pursuits. If time would permit, we might also show how they have helped forward almost every cause of benevolence and philanthro- py. They have shown a liberal spirit. The poor outcast, the manacled slave, and the besotted drunkard have always found friends in Hubbardston. But their indignation has burned like an oven against the oppressor and the rum- seller. No high reputation nor saintly garb has shielded a man when they thought him corrupt. Thus their benevo- lence and mercy has been tempered with a high sense of justice.
But if it were possible to lift the veil and show you how they have lived in their own homes, how they have dis- charged the kindly offices of freinds and neighbors, it is there we believe their characters would shine most brightly.
Now these fathers sleep all around us in these sacred en- closures of the dead, but "out of the silence of their graves comes a voice which repeats the lessons of their lives."
It is for us to take up and carry forward what they so faithfully begun. In this age of progress we ought to im- prove upon what they did, and leave to our children a rich- er legacy than was bequeathed to us. If they have trans- mitted to us schools and churches, it is for us to make them more efficient means of good. If they gave up their lives in their efforts to pass over into our hands the Union, the Constitution, and the laws, then it is for us not only to guard the sacred treasure, but, following the light of that banner which waves so proudly over us, and on every one of whose ample folds is inscribed in letters of living light, "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable," it is for
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us to promulgate the principles of liberty till all men are free indeed.
When time's ceaseless pendulum has measured the hours of another hundred years our dust will mingle with theirs, and our deeds will have passed, a few into history, but most into oblivion. And if, on the 13th day of June, 1967, our descendants shall be pleased to observe their centennial day, may the records of this coming century show as little to censure and more to admire than we find in that just closed.
NOTE .- I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to William Bennett, Esq., for many of the facts embodied in this address.
POEM.
PREPARED BY DEA. EPHRAIM STOWE.
MR. PRESIDENT :-
You call on me, aloud, To stand before this crowd, As if I were a port ; I'm no great poet, Sir, My writings show it, Sir, Just listen, and you'll know it.
"Twas said in olden time, That those who scribbled rhyme Were rather simple folks :- I hope you don't stand there, Nor occupy that chair, To deal ont such old jokes.
It has been often said, That in a poet's head " There's little common sense ;- They sometimes show some wit, Yet often, not a bit Is known to flow from thence."
'Tis hard, they say, to find That poets have a mind, -- " They're all imagination ;" Why, if they mount the sky, And enll the flowers on high, "'Tis Fancy's wild creation."
Or if they soar afar, And leap the polar star, Or dance around the sphere, And paint the realms above, All radiant with love, The reader's heart to cheer :-
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Or strive to spread abroad The glory of that God Who laid the earth's foundation ! Why, it is all the same : That pure poctie flame " Is all imagination." . But, Sir, I will not roam, But speak of things at home, The day,-the place,-the times ;- And, if the picture's soiled, The truth shall not be spoil'd For sake of making rhymes.
Yet, while I'm doing so, I must be left, to go, And seek my humble muse, For, I must linger where Her teachings I may share, Or else, your call refuse.
Judge Chapin had some dreams, you know, Of late, abont old Mendon, And he's a man, the records show, That we may all depend on :- An honest judge, (though man of wit,) Before whom sorrowing widows sit.
He dreumt,-or thought he dreamt,-you see, (So dreamilike it was seeming) ; And so, perhaps, you'll pardon me, If I should fall to dreaming About old seasons and old times, As I grow sleepy, making rhymes.
I cannot hope to dream like him,- (Or wide awake or sleeping) ; Poctie fire in me is dim, While his, so bright is keeping ;- And Mendon, too, that trained her son, Is twice as old, as Hubbardston.
Why, such a man, with such a training, May grace the poet's lyre, But untaught farmers, old and waning, Can never e'en aspire To anything but simple rhyme, For they are men of olden time.
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When God designed to frame this earth, And spoke creation into birth, A skill was shown in every part Transcending all the works of art. The glorious sun was made to roll Ilis light and heat from pole to pole. The silver moon, with borrowed light, Was set to cheer the darksome night ; And lesser lights, with fainter rays, Reflected from the solar blaze, Now deck the skies, as bright, as fair, As when His finger placed them there. These works of an Almighty hand, So nicely wronght,-so wisely plann'd, Have felt no jar in centuries past, Nor will they jar while time shall last. And when His glorious scheme was laid, And earth by Power Dicine was made, To perfect all this wondrous plan Ile made the wondrous creature, mon ;- And, as descendants of that race, He gave us, for a dwelling place, This good old town, which we all know Was named a hundred years ago. That name is dear to every son And daughter of old Hubbardston. Perhaps the dearest spot on earth, To those who've trod it from their birth ; And 'mongst these hoary licads are some, Who've had it for a lifelong home ; And here are those who've reached fourscore- A few have nearly ten years more. We love this place, for here hard by Our fathers, mothers, children lic,- Yea, wives and husbands, dearer still, The graves in yonder churchyard fill ; And soon, we, too, expect to rest Beside the ones who loved us best. We're, many of us, grey and old,- Our days are numbered-nearly told, And yet, 'tis little we can know Of things an hundred years ago. Our birthday's one of later date Than that which now we celebrate ; But still we can remember well What we have heard our fathers tell. E'en now, fond memory wanders back Adown life's narrow, beaten track, To by-gone days of childhood's bliss,
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(" The purest known in worlds like this,") When sitting round (at evening tide) The great old fire-place, deep and wide, All glowing with a fat pine blaze, (The kerosene of former days,) We read, or heard the story told Known only to the men of old, When all the region round was new, And settler's huts were small and few. When, here and there, cleared spots were seen, But those were few and far between. And these green fields, and pasture lands That bear the mark of skillful hands, Were covered o'er with lofty trees, All proudly waving in the breeze. Two hundred years ago,-and less, This town wus but a wilderness. Few paths were cut, no roads were made Where now, our great highways are laid ; And these rich farms, und gardens fair, Were barren wastes in desert air. But time has wondrous changes wrought, And brighter scenes this century's brought.
The town, in every part, displays The changes wrought in by-gone days. Our hills und ponds remain the same, And still retain the ancient name : There's Comet Pond, and old Moose Horn, And Natty, with her look forlorn : Mount Jefferson, and Ragged Hill, And Burnshirt, rich and fertile still,- Old Sherman, Coon, and many more Still bear the name they took of yore, While rivers the same channels fill, And streams, as usual, run down hill. But this,-our long-neglected street, ( A prettier one we seldom meet In any common country town,) From puling youth, to manhood 's grown. Some few within this audience know How this street looked long years ago. A tavern stood at either end, Where those who had some cash to spend, Or idle hours to pass away, Might wet their whistles any day ; And it was said, we know not why, That whistles then were often dry. One single dwelling house, between
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These two old taverns, could be seen ;- A school-house, shop, and old potash, For turning ashes into cash, Were all the buildings on the way Through what we call the street, to-day ; While on the common, some horse-sheds T'would hardly cover horses' heads, A meeting-house, then pretty good, And one or two old dwellings stood. There was one little business spot That is not easily forgot ; At one end of the street were found A tavern, shop, school-house and pound. Between the shop for shoeing horses, For long years known as Mr. Morse's, And that one where the idle fool, As he deserved, got whipt at school, A pound with walls t'would stand one battle, Stood to shut up the unruly cattle. Ilere the poor horses' teuder feet Were fitted for the rocky street, And made in winter not to ship, While owners, waiting, took their flip. Here boys were taught their A, B, C, And naughty cattle made to be Content, on their own fields to graze, And not be found on the highways ; And, 'twixt the cattle and the boys, At noon you'd hear a frightful noise.
Such was the town of Hubbardston When this last century begun. There were no stages-good or poor, To take us up at our own door,- No carriages,-at least, but few. To meeting, and to weddings, too, E'en ladies rode on Dobbin's back, Jog-trot along the narrow track ; And, very often, yon would find 'The lady mounted on behind The man, with each a lesser chap, All snug and warm within the lap. With two bright eyes, just peeping out To see what all the world's about. This was no locomotive team, And yet you'd hear the whistle's scream Quite often, where there was no crossing, While little fists the blankets tossing, Gave warning to the passing stranger
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To turn aside and 'scape the danger. . Why, young folks now would laugh out loud To meet that traiu upon the road, Where wagons, buggies, coaches play, Like Zephyrs round the lap of May.
No railroad tracks have here been laid To give an impetus to trade,- No telegraphic wires put down To bring their messages to town. No parks or Broadways here are seen,
Yet we've a pretty village green ; And here, perhaps, it may be well, On this occasion, just to tell
These young folks, how these walks were made, And who contrived this lovely shade. Men often had the thing in view, But what their hands designed to do, For reasons that do not appear, Had been delayed from year to year.
But, ere the thing was fairly planned, The ladies took the work in hand; And ladies have a wondrous power To meet the crisis of the hour.
They went to work,-got up a fair,- Invited everybody there,- Spread ont their tables of rich cake,
And such as ladies only make, Had tea and coffee, oysters, meat,
And every thing that's good to eat,- (No liquor, though, no, not a bit, For ladies never furnish it.) Well, they had knicknacks, too, to sell,
And varions things that pleased us well ; While words and smiles, -"'smiles of the fair"- Shed all their kindly influence there. Those tempting things, and pleasant looks Soon opened all the pocket books, And drained them of their surplus cash, For men began to think 'twas trash, But woman happened still to know That money always "made the mare go ;" And soon the needful funds were raised, And cake and women both were praised. This was the way the cost was met, The side-walks made, the young trees set ; Thus, woman's influence prevails When man begins a work, and fails. 'Twas woman's influence that lent
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New wings to Bunker's monument, And bade it start anew, and rise In awful grandeur, toward th' skies ; And thus, in many a darksome hour; She has put forth a saving power. The symbols of that power we meet As we walk up or down the street ; And while we seek the cooling breeze, Or linger 'neath these shady trees, We are reminded of the "fair" That found the means to set them there.
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