USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Brimfield > Annals of the Church in Brimfield by the Pastor of the Church (with map) - Springfield, Mass: Samuel Bowles and Company , Printers, 1856. > Part 3
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To the Moderator of Town Meeting now assembled.
Being appealed to by a committee of the town to know if I am willing ye town should Hire Preaching, this is to Desire you to let ye town know, I have not ye slightest objections to their hireing preaching if they think Proper so to do.
Your humble Servant,
JAMES BRIDGHAM.
The first man employed in accordance with the above proposal, was so happy as to unite the hearts of. the people.
Sept. 13, 1774. Voted to enjoin the committee for supplying the pulpit to engage Mr. Williams, who is now preaching for us, to preach on Probation.
Oct. 27, 1774. Voted to give Mr. Nehemiah Williams a call to settle in the work of the ministry.
Voted to give Mr. Williams £200 lawful money for settlement. Allso the sum of £70 yearly, soe long as his pastoral connection shall be continued.
This offer was not accepted, therefore,
Dec. 23, 1774. Voted to add £10 to Mr. Williams salary, to com-
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THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
mence six years from his ordination, and continue so long as he shall continue to preach in town.
Voted to concur the vote of the church in the ordination of Mr. Williams.
Mr. Williams was ordained Feb. 9, 1775, Thus ended the active ministry of Mr. Bridgham. He re- tained his place as senior pastor until he died, Sept. 17, 1776, aged 69; having accomplished a ministry of forty years in connection with this church. It may be proper here to refer for a moment, to the labors of this worthy man, and their probable results. How many he was instrumental in gathering into the church cannot be told. He made no parade of names upon the Church Records. Some of those admitted under his ministry, cannot now be distinguished from those who originally constituted the church. But it was no small success to have preached the humbling truths of the Gospel so long with no serious dissatisfaction on the part of the people, except such as arose from his inability to labor. That he preached the Gospel in its purity may be inferred from the records of the church, of which the following indicates the faith of the church from its organization, and the spirit of Mr. Bridgham's ministry. It has no date, but was probably the faith and covenant of the church from the first of his min- istry.
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being Called of God into ye chh. state of ye Gospel, Do, first of all, confess our Selves unworthy to Be soe highly favored of ye Lord, & admire ye free & rich grace of His, which triumphs over soe great unworthiness, & then with an Humble reliance on ye aid of grace therein promised for them, that in a sense of their Inability to do any good thing, Do humbly wait on him for all, we thankfully Lay hold on his Covenant and would choose ye things yt please Him.
We declare our serious Belief in ye Xn religion as contained in ye Sacred scriptures, heartily resolving to conform our Lives unto ye rules of ye holy religion as long as we Live.
We give up our Selves to ye Lord Jehovah, Father, Son & Holy Ghost, & vouch him to be our God, Father & Leader, & receive him as our portion forever.
We give up our Selves to ye Blessed Jesus, who is ye Lord Jehovah, and adhere to him as ye Head of his people in ye covenant
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of grace, & Rely on him as our Prophet, Priest & King, to bring us to eternal Blessedness.
We acknowledge our everlasting obligation to glorify our God in all ye duties of a Godly, Sober & righteous life, & very particularly in ye chh. state, and a Body of people associated for an obedience to him in all ye ordinances of ye Gospel.
We Desire, & intend, & engage to Walk together as a chh. of Jesus Christ, in ye faith & order of ye Gospel soe far as we shall have ye same revealed unto us, Conscientiously attending ye Pub- lic worship of God, ye sacraments of ye New Testament, ye Disci- pline of his kingdom & all his holy institutions in common with one another, & watchfully avoiding sinful stumbling Blocks & Contentions, as becomes a people whom ye Lord hath Bound up together in ye Bundle of Life.
Att ye same time we do allsoe present our offspring with us unto ye Lord, purposing with his help to do our Part in ye method of a religious Education yt they may be ye Lord's.'
And all this we Do, flying to ye Blood of ye everlasting covenant for ye pardon of our many errors & praying yt ye glorious Lord who is yt Great Shepherd, will prepare and strengthen us for every good Work to do his will, to whom Be glory forever. Amen.
In such terms, as definite as those times required, did the fathers of this church express their faith. In the love and practice of such a faith Mr. Bridgham lived, until called to his heavenly rest. He died and was buried among his own people, and his memory was embalmed in their best affections. He resided on the place where Mr. Wm. Brown now lives. The garden attached to his premises was reputed the finest in the region. An old grape vine, and a species of white strawberry, said to have been planted by him, are still growing in it. He was twice married, and had nine children ; five of whom lived to mature age-James, who continued to reside on the old place some time af- ter his father's decease, Ebenezer, Jonathan, Thomas and Mercy, who married Rev. Josiah Dana, Oct., 1768.
Mr. Williams began his ministry by securing anew the signature of most of the members of his church to the above covenant. The following, also indicates his desire to promote the religious good of his people.
1 March 17, 1775. Whereas, many persons hold a relation to this
1 Church Records.
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church, (a relation designated by the term Half-way covenant,) and the church has been in doubt as to their duty towards such, after due deliberation,
Voted unanimously, that in the opinion of this church, such per- sons are members of the church, and consequently under the same watch and care with those who come up to the Lord's table. And,
Whereas, there has been neglect in watching over such persons,
Voted, to overlook and forgive such persons as have behaved them- selves amiss, and to be more watchful over one another for the future.
This action of the church, though well meant, was a source of trouble ; as will appear in the sequel.
So heartily and acceptably did Mr. Williams enter upon and prosecute his ministry, that little is found on the town records respecting him, save the yearly appro- priation of his salary. He began his labors here in troublous times. The attention of the people was engrossed in their controversy with Great Britian. The finances of the colonies were becoming sadly em- barassed. The salary which they had agreed to pay their pastor, became almost valueless. To remedy the evil, they endeavored to supply in quantity what was wanting in value.
Nov. 29, 1779. Voted to give Mr. Williams £1500 for present and back services.
As indicating the same depreciation of currency £1000 were at the same time voted for schools.
The methods of public worship, especially of singing, were in those days the subject of much controversy.
1 Aug. 31, 1781. Voted that an advisory address be presented to the singers, the purport of which is, "that the Psalm to be sung be read, line by line in the forenoon, but not in the afternoon, and that no repeating tune be sung in the forenoon but may be in the afternoon, Provided no part be repeated over more than is necessary.
1 July 3, 1785. Voted to make use of Dr. Watts' version of the Psalms & also his Hymns, in public worship.
This subject of singing was frequently up for discus- sion. The town and church were not always agreed respecting it.
Church [ Records.
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THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
Oct. 19, 1789. Voted (town meeting) that the singers for the future shall sing without reading.
Again the church took action which betrays the lax- ity of their views respecting church membership, though in this particular their position was that of most other churches of the Commonwealth.
1 June 1, 1789. Voted to renew the first vote, passed March 17, 1775, that such as have owned and received the Baptismal Cov - enant, and received Baptism for themselves or children, are mem- bers of this church and under its watch and care, and that it is the duty of each to come to the communion.
A committee was appointed to inquire into the case of such and urge them to come to full church privileges.
The meeting house had now become so dilapidated as to be hardly fit for use. It had always been small and inconvenient. The first movement towards the erection of a new house is found in the following arti- cle of a warrant for town meeting :
Feb. 25, 1792. " To see if the town will enter into a free con- versation relative to building a new meeting house."
This article was passed over without action :
March 9, 1795. Voted to build a new meeting house at some future period.
Mr. Williams appears to have been incapacitated for preaching early in the Summer of the following year.
June 20, 1796. Voted to hire preaching and raise £20 for that purpose.
. He died on the 26th of the following November, aged 48. The town voted to continue his salary to his widow for four months, she meanwhile supplying the pulpit probably through the kind offices of neigh- boring clergymen. Death called Mr. Williams from his work while he was in the vigor of his days and at the height of his usefulness. Had his life been spared, there was no reason why he might not have retained
1 Church Records.
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his place as long as did his worthy predecessor. His character and influence were such as did not soon wear out. Of respectable talents, of earnest piety, and more than usual industry, he kept the church united and growing through a period of twenty years, the most unfavorable to piety of any that our country has seen. The times immediately succeeding his set- tlement were revolutionary. From the close of the revolution till the close of the century, the churches did not recover from the disastrous, effects of the war Intercourse of Americans with foreign troops, and a general neglect of the Sabbath, lowered the tone of public morals and rendered the preaching of the Gospel in a great degree powerless. Brimfield, though*inland and quiet, did not escape these irreligious influences. Yet in the face of such difficulties Mr. Williams made progress. One hundred and twenty-five were added to the church during his ministry. Nor did any serious defection occur to furnish materials for strife in subse- quent years. To those who become familiar with his character, this will not appear strange. He was emin- ently judicious in his preaching and practice. While an acceptable preacher, he probably gained his greatest influences as a wise and reliable Christian pastor. After his best efforts in the pulpit, his hearers felt that there was more in the man to be revered and loved than they had seen or heard in the sermon. After his decease a volume of his sermons was published, some copies of which still exist. These sermons, fourteen in number, may perhaps be regarded as a fair index of the spirit of their author and his ability in the pulpit. They are simple in plan, full of wholesome truth expressed with directness and sometimes with consid- erable power.
Mr. Williams was the son of Rev. Chester Williams of Hadley, and graduated at Harvard in 1769. He resided where Mr. James H. Brown now lives, the old house having been consumed by fire in 1837. He had ten children, some of whom became prominent citizens in town.
It is not supposed that any records, however full,
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could reproduce before us the exciting scenes in church and town which transpired during the eight or ten years succeeding the peaceful ministry of Mr. Williams. More ample records might, however, throw light upon some things which now seem strange.
May 1, 1797. Voted that the committee for supplying the pulpit hire and procure Rev. Clark Brown to preach upon probation.
1 Nov. 20, 1797. After due consideration the church voted to give Rev. Clark Brown a call to take charge of this church as a Gospel minister.
A
On the same day the town voted to join in this call, and give Mr. Brown $400 yearly. These proposals Mr. Brown accepted on condition that the relation be (lissolved by council when either party desired it, pro- vided the other party could show no sufficient reason for its continuance. In concluding his letter Mr. Brown says, " the call is accepted under a full persuasion that the gentlemen of the town are convinced of the absolute necessity of erecting a new meeting house, for they must be sensible that this house is not only inconvenient for those who attend, and excludes many who would attend when the weather is suitable, but it must be, and certainly is, highly injurious to the health of a speaker of the best constitution, much more so to one whose constitution is naturally feeble and delicate."
Meanwhile, even before his installation, he set him- self to alter the terms of admission to the church.
1 Dec. 31, 1797. After church service Mr. Brown read a con- fession of faith which he wished to have adopted, if he should settle in the ministry in this place. Its adoption was moved and voted.
This confession is found on the church records. It is objectionable as deficient, rather than as positively erroneous.
March 12, 1798. Voted to choose a committee to make provision for the council who are to be called to instal Rev. Clark Brown.
1 Church Records.
5
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THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
1 The council consisted of pastors and delegates from Brookfield, Western, Sturbridge, Monson, Palmer, Holland, and Stonington, Ct. They met Feb. 27, 1798. After organization and examination of papers, they
Voted, That the proceedings of the church and town have been regular. Adjourned till the next day.
Feb. 28. Proceeded to consider objections to Mr. Brown's installment.
It is not necessary here to enumerate these objec- tions, nor to speak of the action of the council upon each. The most important had respect to the senti- ments of Mr. Brown, chiefly to his views of the divinity of Christ and future punishment. In conclusion it was unanimously
Voted, That the council do not see their way clear to proceed to the installation of Rev. Clark Brown.
This unanimous result of council is noteworthy, inasmuch as the church in Stonington, Mr. Brown's native place, was represented in it by pastor and delegate.
While the question was pending, the people had assembled for the services of installation. After much delay, Mr. Brown foreseeing the result, informed the council that they had been invited out of respect to the churches, but that he and the town had legal powers which they should use. He then formally withdrew his case from the decision of the council. 2
March 12, 1798. Town voted to renew the call to Mr. Brown.
3 March 13. The church voted not to renew the call, 11 to 9. Also, voted to accept the doings of the late council, 11 to 9.
Also, voted to let matters rest, no members to be admitted until the church agree on some method to proceed.
April 2, 1798. Town voted to direct the committee previously
1 Result of Council : Pamphlet.
2 See " Emigration of Popery" and other pamphlets, evidently " Tracts for those Times.
3 Church Records.
4
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THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
appointed for making preparations for a council, to ask the advice of some clergyman as to the manner in which it will be proper to pro- ceed in the installation of Mr. Brown, giving them a true statement of the case from the first.
Now was seen the error of the vote passed by the church under the ministry of Mr. Williams, to which reference has been made. By the aid of some who were connected with the church only by the " half way covenant," that is, who had received baptism for themselves or children, but had not come to the Lord's table, in full communion, it was
May 21, 1798, Voted, to receive Mr. David Bugbee and wife, 1 as members of the church.
This addition, with the aid above mentioned, changed the position of the church towards Mr. Brown. At the same meeting,
Voted to renew the call to Mr. Brown. Also,
Voted to choose a committee to join with the committee of the town in calling a council.
This renewal of the call Mr. Brown accepted. After explaining the conditions which he had specified in a former note, he pays the following just tribute to the memory of his predecessor, uttering at the same time doubtless his sincere wish for the harmony of the people :
" Having thus accepted your invitation, I would observe that with pleasing emotions I have noticed the respect with which you have spoken of your worthy pastor now gone down to the silent grave, no more to return to his tamily and people. Judging from the attention and respect paid to him during a course of above twenty years, I have reasons sufficient, provided I follow his amiable and virtuous example, to promise myself much pleasure and peace and happiness among you. May we study the things that make for peace, and that will advance the Redeemer's kingdom."
Mr. Brown was installed June 9, 1798. The instal- ling council was selected from those who would not be expected to object to his doctrinal views. No records of the council remain.
1 Church Records.
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THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
The scanty records of Mr. Brown's ministry contain occasional references to the " aggrieved," and seem to express surprise and impatience on his part that any of the church should be so bigoted as to withdraw from his communion. Possessed of considerable self- esteem, and perhaps elated with the flattering atten- tions of the town, he fell into the error of supposing that doctrines which he lightly esteemed were of no consequence to any one. There were not a few in the church, however, who had become warmly attached to those evangelical sentiments, which had been preached from the settlement of the town. As a matter of principle, to say nothing of feeling, they could not consent that these doctrines, some of which furnished the life-blood of their piety, should be denied or over- looked. They tried various expedients to secure a redress of grievances. They urged that some who voted to renew the call to Mr. Brown were not in any proper sense members of the church. They made a free use of reports in circulation, affecting Mr. Brown's ministerial character. Imprudences on his part, of which there were not a few, were magnified. This provoked crimination in return. Upon the sad partic- ulars of the controversy it is not needful to dwell. The whole town was on fire with it. Words were uttered on both sides which were afterwards bitterly regretted. And saddest of all, the minister was as deeply involved in this bitterness of feeling and expression as any of the people.
Jan. 2, 1800. The town voted not to refer the difficulties to a mutual council.
The church had previously passed a similar vote. The "opposition," finding all their efforts to recover their rights vain, next petitioned the General Court to be incorporated as a separate parish. Previous and subsequently to this time they held their meetings in private houses, chiefly at Mr. Noah Hitchcock's. The probability of their petition being granted, brought the majority to reflection.
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THE CHURCH İN BRIMFIELD.
Aug. 20, 1800. Voted to choose a committee to make a true and fair representation of the situation of the town and of the " opposi- tion," who have petitioned the General Court to be incorporated as a parish.
Chose Abner Morgan, Aaron Morgan, and Joseph Browning, as the committee.
When the petition came before the General Court's committee for the incorporation of parishes, remon- strance was made by the town through their agents. As a compromise it seems to have been agreed before the committee that the matters in dispute should be referred to a mutual council. The "aggrieved " evidently understood that the proposed council were to have full jurisdiction in the case, and with this understanding withdrew their petition.
March 9, 1801. Voted that the town are willing that Rev. Clark Brown and the " aggrieved " should settle their difficulties by a mutual council at their own expense.
The council was convened by letters missive from Rev. Clark Brown on the one part, Issachar Brown, Alexander Sessions and Bartholomew Brown, on the other. 1 It consisted of the following clergymen with their delegates: Rev. Eliab Stone of 2d church in Reading, Rev. Dr. Parsons of Amherst, Rev. Samuel Kendall of Weston, Rev. Samuel Austin of Worcester, Rev. Dr. Morse of Charlestown, Rev. Mr. Goodrich of Rutland, and Rev. John T. Kirtland of South Boston. Most of these were men who, for ability and integrity, had few superiors in the State. They were, moreover, strangers to the difficulties which they were called to settle., They met in council March 12, 1801, and continued by adjournment till the 18th.
2 The first question before them had respect to the parties in controversy. The "aggrieved " affirmed that Mr. Brown and his adherents were one party and themselves the other. The adherents of Mr. Brown
1 See "Doings of an Ecclesiastical Council holden in Brimfield, March 12, 1801."
2 See Result of Council : Pamphlet.
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THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD
contended that they had nothing to do with the council. It was decided that " the town having chosen a committee to confer with any committee of the 'aggrieved ' for the adjustment of difficulties, also to oppose the petition of the 'aggrieved,' and their agent having consented, agreeably to advice of the Court's committee, to submit the matter to a mutual council, and the selectmen having consented to this mode of terminating an unhappy controversy, therefore, the council have a right to consider the town as united with Mr. Brown in the determination and issue of the council." This preliminary question being thus dis- posed of, the council proceeded in their investigations. Charges were preferred against Mr. Brown, of “ deny- ing the divinity of Christ," " of a disposition to defame his opposers," " of not keeping the Sabbath," and " of irregular introduction to the ministry in this place." The council decided that, in respect to the first charge, ' the "aggrieved' had cause for complaint ;" also, " that Mr. Brown had suffered himself to indulge in ungenerous and defamatory reproaches of the council first invited ;" also, " that his conduct in regard to keeping the Sabbath, amusements, &c., had been such as to give reasonable offence to the friends of order and piety ;" also, " that the proceedings of the instal- ling council were irregular and ought to be considered ecclesiastically null and void." 1 The council declare it as their solemn opinion that there is but little pros- pect of peace, while the cause of difficulty remains. They therefore advise Mr. Brown to seek a dissolu- tion of his connection with the people, and advise the people to consent to the measure. They subjoin the following observations, which are so finely expressed, that we may be excused for quoting in part :
" It is with sincere regret that the council see a respectable town, favorably situated, enriched with the bounties of nature, and once happy in its religious order and enjoyments, under the ministrations of an amiable servant of Christ, now sleeping with his fathers, dis-
1 The call to Mr. Brown was made out, it will be remembered, by the votes of several " Half way covenanters."
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THE CHURCH IN BRIMFIELD.
tracted with divisions, and miserable from the want of a will to be happy. Long experience hath taught you christian bretheren and friends, more forcibly than any verbal description can communicate, the sad detail of infelicities which are inseparably attached to the heat of controversy and the obstinacy of passion. Will you not re- tire from this tempest into the calm haven of a settled and friendly repose. Meet on Christian principles and under the influence of a Christian spirit, and you will meet to be cordial and happy. The demon of discord will vanish from your public and domestic circles, and every countenance will gladden into joy. The council do not suppose that their result will meet with the approbation of both parties. One at least will probably be disgusted. It may terminate in the displeasure of both. But they claim a right to the best interpretation of their course, and calculate upon the honorable performance of stipulated duty." 1
To Mr. Brown, they address themselves as follows :
" We most sincerely sympathize with you in the affliction into which you are plunged, and the unpleasant prospects which our decisions may not improbably open to your view. But to exonerate you from great blame, as the voluntary cause of them, would be to alter the complexion of our result and trifle with the most deliberate sentiments of our minds." ]
To this result Mr. Brown published a bitter reply. On the 23d of March, he presented a request for dis- mission, agreably to advice given. In making his re- quest, he reviewed all the proceedings, re-affirming his own integrity, and, throwing out a hint, (whether de- signed or not I cannot say,) respecting the continuance of his ministrations to such as would still adhere to him. Neither town or church yielded to his request for dismission until Sept., 1803. In the interval he continued his labors, and his opponents renewed their petition for an act of incorporation.
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