USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Wellfleet > Brief history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wellfleet, Massachusetts > Part 2
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
Brother Baker did not come to a satisfactory knowl- edge of his acceptance with God until a few months after the others. He started with them, and joined the class ; but it was on board of a small vessel with Joseph Harding and Henry Baker, godly men, that the clear light first shone into his soul. That was a memorable morning to those three. Two have crossed the flood ; one, led by them to Jesus, still lingers to live and labor for the Master.
Up to this time the Methodists in Wellfleet had no public place for worship. They had met in private houses with Thankful Rich, Eleazer Higgins, Ephraim Higgins, and later with Isaac Harding, Cornelius Hamblen, and others, and their sacramental altar had been rough planks placed across chairs ; yet the gospel was as sweet and powerful, and the commemoration of the sufferings and death of our Lord as precious and impressive, as in the most costly edifice. The number had become too large to be longer accom- modated in this way, and all felt the necessity of a church-home; but How can we get it? was the ques- tion which troubled them. Finally three brethren who had the interests of the kingdom of Christ on their hearts - Cornelius Hamblen, Isaac Harding, and Micah Dyer- began to talk and pray about it; and they came to believe, that, if they did what they could, the Lord would help them through with the enterprise. Subscribing liberally themselves, they went among the people, gathering what they could, in small sums, for most of them were poor ; and soon they purchased a lot.
1
With the next Conference, Brother Roberts was re-
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moved to Scituate. In 1820 he located, since which time our people have known little of him. Once, somewhere about 1824, he came here, and labored a little while at his trade, a brick-mason ; and as late as 1855, one of our townsmen met him in Springfield, Vt. Whether he is yet living, we could not ascer- tain.
Rev. Benjamin Keith succeeded Brother Roberts, and came on the circuit when our brethren here 1817. were building their new church. Through much self-sacrifice and hard labor on the part of many, with God's peculiar blessing, it was completed in November of this year, and dedicated by Rev. George Pickering, the presiding elder. This house, though not large (only forty by thirty feet) or costly, was their first temple for the worship of God; and, with its bare floors and uncushioned seats, they were as happy and earnest worshippers as ever met together. Brother Keith saw the new church filled with atten- tive hearers, some saying, " We would see Jesus." An increase of nine members was reported.
Benjamin Keith was born in Pomfret, Vt., and embraced religion in early life, joining the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1811 he came into the New England Conference ; but his health soon failed, and he desisted from travelling. In 1817 he again com- menced work in the itinerancy here in Wellfleet, and continued for four years, when, because of failing health, he located. For the third time he entered the active list of Methodist ministers in 1826, in which he continued till called home, preaching and working in all the duties of his office as long as he
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had strength. His wife was Delia Atwood, daughter of Thomas Atwood, sen., of Wellfleet. He was a man of genuine, deep piety, a sound preacher, and, on most of his appointments, a successful minister. He died in Truro, Mass., Feb. 11, 1834, aged forty-five years.
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CHAPTER V.
Ephraim Wiley. - Edward Hyde. - F. Upham. - First Camp-Meot- ing on the Cape in 1819, followed by Revivals in Provincetown and Eastham. - Second Camp-Meeting in 1820, followed by Revivals in Wellfleet and Truro. - Wilbur Fiske. - B. R. Hoyt.
REV. EPHRAIM WILEY came from the Conference of 1818, and labored here two years. This was his first appointment in the Conference ; he had previously labored under the presiding elder, three years at Melrose, Mass., where the Lord greatly blessed his efforts in the salvation of souls. Among the converts was Rev. Frederick Upham, D.D., whom Brother Wiley received on trial in the church. In his first year on this circuit, there was some in- terest in Truro, where about twenty professed con- version ; but in Wellfleet the life of the church ran low.
In August of his second year, the first camp-meet- ing on the Cape was held in South Wellfleet, where " the power of God was displayed among the people ; " and glorious revivals in Province -. 1819. town and Eastham followed. Some attended this meeting out of curiosity : such a gathering and such power were to them new things. But, while they were looking on the strange proceedings, the Holy Spirit arrested them ; and they went home
1818: 1
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deeply convicted. This was especially true of some from Eastham, where, up to this time, no Methodist minister had been allowed to work. The convictions received at the camp-meeting wrought first distress, then liberty through Christ. From the testimonies of these converts, others were led in the same path to conversion ; and so the work of God went on, until Brother Wiley was invited to preach to them the word of life, and conduct their meetings. Many opened their homes and hearts to receive the messen- gers of God ; and he labored hard and successfully. A class was formed, and the numbers so increased that Eastham was made an appointment on the Wellfleet Circuit the next year. An increase of one hundred and sixty-two members was reported at the next Conference, and most of the converts were in Eastham.
Brother Daniel L. Rich was converted in Truro, in February of this year. He soon joined the Wellfleet church, and has been an active and useful member ever since.
A young brother by the name of Homer - his full name we have not learned - was present at this first camp-meeting, and remained in Wellfleet, preaching occasionally, and assisting the pastor as he could, until the following October. Then, in com- pany with Brother Wiley, he took passage for Bos- ton, with Capt. Joseph Higgins, in "The New Packet," loaded with oysters, in which the trade in Wellfleet was quite extensive. Capt. Higgins was considered an excellent pilot, but he made a mistake this time, and ran his vessel upon Minot's Ledge ;
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and she went down in a very few minutes. Brother Wiley, the captain, and two others were saved. Brother Homer and three others were lost.
Ephraim Wiley was more than an ordinary man ; a sweet singer, a popular, and at the same time a sound, preacher. With his peculiar social qualities, he gained the good-will of all with whom he asso- ciated, and led many to the Saviour. He labored for about twenty-five years in the New England and Maine Conferences, when, in 1839, he was compelled by failing health to take a superannuated relation. In Jackson, La., whither he had removed a few years before to reside with his son, he fell asleep, Sept. 30, 1864, aged seventy-six years.
Phebe Wiley, daughter of Rev. Ephraim Wiley, was the wife of Rev. S. O. Wright ; and they were among our first missionaries to Africa. She was a fair woman and a very devoted Christian. The Liberians said that no such woman had ever come to their shores. She gave her life to the work, and, with her husband, died in Liberia.
The next year was one long to be remembered in Wellfleet. Rev. Edward Hyde was the 1820. preacher, with Rev F. Upham, appointed by
the presiding elder. In a letter to Rev. T. Merrit, dated Wellfleet, Aug. 28, 1821, Brother Hyde says, " When I arrived at my appointment in July, 1820, I found that religion was at a low ebb on the circuit: but few had been converted for some time. My mind was much exercised on account of the situation of the people. I had been travelling where multitudes had turned to the Lord ; and now to find none inquir-
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
ing the way to Zion, affected me much. My only refuge was in the Lord; and to him I often carried the case of the people, and soon found it not in vain. I endeavored to impress the minds of the brethren with the importance of a revival. In the different classes we entered into a covenant to pray twice a day for two weeks, for God to revive his work. Before the time had expired, the work began ; several were deeply awakened, and believers were quickened. Our camp-meeting (the second on the Cape) came on about this time in this town, which gave a new spring to the work. . . . It has spread to all parts of the town, even to the isles of the sea. On one island, (Brown Brook) scarcely an adult is left unconverted, and not a single family but some of which have found a pardoning God. . .. The most powerful and rapid work among us has been in Truro. This commenced in February last. In about one week upwards of one hundred could testify that the Lord had power on earth to forgive sins. About forty, in twenty-four hours, were set at liberty. For several days the cries of the distressed and wounded were such that we could not preach to them. As soon as an opportunity was pre- sented for mourners to come forward to be prayed for, in every direction they would present themselves in crowds. Sometimes one hundred and fifty or two hundred might be seen, in deep distress, on their knees, crying, ' God be merciful to me a sinner ; ' then one after another rising and praising God for deliver- ing grace. . . . Out of about four hundred that have been brought into liberty, two hundred and thirty-six have joined our society."
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At this second camp-meeting in South Wellfleet, Revs. B. R. Hoyt and Wilbur Fiske were present. It was at this time that Dr. Fiske was filled with the Spirit. Some of this people remember his groanings and rejoicings. In a letter to "The Methodist Maga- zine," dated Wellfleet, Aug. 30, 1820, Brother Hoyt says, " Immediately after the tents were erected, the work began, and continued to increase till the meet- ing closed. On the second day a solid flame of divine love seemed to run through the encampment. The number of converts on the occasion could not be as- certained. The work was apparently more effectual among believers than among the unconverted. Such ardent cries for pure hearts have, it is believed, been seldom heard. . . . The good-begun work did not stop at the conclusion of the camp-meeting, but is in this town more glorious than ever; more or less have been brought into the liberty of the gospel, at every meeting since. Saturday night and the follow- ing sabbath were seasons long to be remembered. In the space of about twenty-four hours, upwards of twenty declared that they had found the Lord to the joy of their hearts. The work is spreading among people of all descriptions, from those who are bend- ing over the grave, to those who are just entering upon the stage of life. The rich and poor meet to- gether, and unite to walk in the way of life. All glory be to God for what he has done and is still doing ! Much more might be added concerning the good work ; but I must conclude, and hasten away to help it forward by praying with and for the dis- tressed."
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
Among the converts in Wellfleet were Knowles and Sally Dyer, Joseph and Abigail Higgins, Micah Dyer, jun., Freeman Dyer, and Lurana Holbrook. Of these, two have gone to be with Jesus, three are yet members of this church, and two are living in Boston.
On the circuit there was an increase of two hun- dred and eight members this year.
Brother Hoyt was stationed with Rev. D. Kilbourn in Boston. He came to the camp-meeting, and, be- cause of the great interest here, tarried for some weeks to assist Brother Hyde; he was not transferred to Wellfleet as some have said. He was a prominent man among the Methodists of his day, always an effi- cient preacher, and a steadfast supporter of all the interests of the church. He was thrice a delegate to the General Conference, and many years a presiding elder. Having lived to a great age, he was called home a few years since.
Rev. F. Upham, now our venerable Dr. Upham, was at this time commencing his ministry ; he joined the Conference on trial the next year. God has won- derfully blessed him all through these years, and he is still in the effective ranks of our Conference.
Through the next year Brother Hyde was assisted 1821. by Rev. Heman Perry ; and they saw most
of the converts established, and some new conversions. It was a year of hard labor, but the success was glorious. Ministers and members were very largely blessed.
Edward Hyde was born in Norwich, Conn., March 31, 1786. " His father was one of the earliest mem- bers of the Methodist society in that town, and a use-
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ful local preacher." The son, converted in his youth, began to labor as a local preacher as early as 1809, and soon after was received on trial in the New Eng- land Conference. From the first he rarely failed to have revivals on the circuits he travelled. "Brother Hyde, " said Bishop George, " is generally favored with gracious revivals where he labors." He was a very pious, humble minister, and his faith was mighty. In the prayer-meetings he would frequently say, " Keep a steady faith, brethren ; keep a steady faith." In Stevens's Memorials we read of him, "He was remarkable for his punctuality, and never lost an appointment, it is said, from the beginning to his last sickness, through care of his health. His widow said, ' In living with him twenty years, I never saw him angry, and never heard him speak an unpleasant word. I never saw him light or trifling, but he would often check this spirit in others. His motto was, to speak evil of no man.' He died in Wilbraham, Mass., March 16, 1832, shouting, " Glory to God ! Hallelujah ! "
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CHAPTER VI.
Leonard Bennett. - S. G. Atkins. - Lewis Bates and Joel Steelc. - Revival. - New Parsonage. - First Sunday School. - Wellfleet Station.
THE next servant of the Lord appointed to this circuit was Rev. Leonard Bennett, with Rev. 1822. Heman Perry again as junior preacher.
If we judge alone from the number of converts reported, this was not a prosperous year. But when we remember that the church had just before passed through a great work of grace, we can see that Brother Bennett had great responsibilities in watch- ing over the five hundred and sixty-four members on the circuit, and giving them the word by which they might grow. To these responsibilities he was faithful, and the people loved him. It was not his fault that there were so few conversions. He was returned the following year, with Rev. S. G. 1823. Atkins to assist him. This year Eastham was made a station by itself, and Wellfleet Circuit included ouly this town with Truro. There were no new developments, not many conversions : the work was mostly in the church.
Leonard Bennett was born in Dublin, Ireland, June 16, 1786 ; born again, June 16, 1806; landed in America, June 16, 1807, and joined the Methodist
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travelling connection, June 16, 1810. For twenty- two years he was in the active service, - a good and useful minister. In 1832 he superannuated ; and in 1841 removed to Illinois, where, after much suf- fering, he died in 1847. His end was peace.
Rev. S. G. Atkins was the preacher in charge in 1824. This was his third year in the ministry, and his health was very poor ; yet his labors were a blessing to the disciples of Jesus. He 1824. was so anxious to do the people good, that in preach- ing he seemed sometimes to completely exhaust his strength. Though naturally very diffident, by his exemplary life and his great love for God and men he endeared himself to all who knew him. This was a year when many removed to Boston and other cities ; and thus the membership of the church was considerably reduced. It has been a great embar- rassment all through the history of this church, that so many of the members have removed because of the limited means of support in Wellfleet.
Brother Atkins's next appointment was Dorches- ter ; and it was his last. Shortly after Conference, he was compelled to retire from his work, with the thought that he must soon " go home." During the months in which his life was wasting in consumption, he was fully resigned to the will of God ; and when death came, Feb. 27, 1826, to die was gain.
A revival began at the opening of the next con- ference year, when Rev. Lewis Bates was the preacher. Under his first sermon the power of the 1825. Spirit was manifested in the congregation ; and the work soon spread quite generally among the
JP24208
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
people. Some were converted, and many Christians were led to drink larger draughts of the living water. Fifty-four members were added to the churches on the circuit this year. Father Bates labored on in the same devotion and faith, through his second 1826. year here ; but there were not so many born of the Spirit as previously. The growth was in the strength of the disciples. Speaking of these years in a letter to Dr. Stevens, he says, " We enjoyed many displays of the pardoning and sanctifying grace of God ; scores were brought to the Lord. We built a neat parsonage house in Wellfleet, and a good meeting-house in Truro. This closed my four years' ministerial labor on the good old Cape.1 One thou- sand souls were converted to God, and scores were perfected in love, during this time."
Father Bates, a servant of God remarkable for devotion, zeal, living faith, and success, was born March 20, 1780, - a descendant in the seventh gen- eration of John Rogers the martyr. He was con- verted in his fourteenth year, in Springfield, Vt., whither his parents had removed about a year be- fore. His conversion was instantaneous, " as sudden as the electric shock." In 1801, with two others, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church ; and thus originated the Methodist society in Springfield, Vt. He commenced preaching in 1802; and, two years later, joined the New England Conference. Then in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Canada, he travelled, and
1 Hle travelled Chatham Circuit the two years preceding his appointment to Wellfleet.
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preached the " glorious gospel of the blessed God," a large portion of the time in new fields. Some years, as a single man, he received but from sixteen to eighteen dollars; and, after he had a family, he sometimes received not more than sixty-five dollars. Through all the trials, persecutions, and hard work of a pioneer of Methodism in New England, he was cheerful and happy in God ; and for forty-two years he was incessant in labors. Multitudes were con- verted under his ministry, and some of the converts became ministers of the gospel. Four years he was located in Springfield, Vt .; and for the last fifteen years of his life, as a superannuate, he lived in Taun- ton, Mass. Thus, having "served his own generation by the will of God, he fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers " in a good old age, March 24, 1865.
He has one son who is a member of the New Eng- land Conference ; another who is a local preacher in North Dighton, Mass. ; and three daughters.
The first Sunday school connected with this church was organized just before Father Bates fin- . 1827. ished his labors with this people, May 20, 1827. The officers elected were, Joshua Hamblen, president; Eleazer Hamblen, vice-president ; John Harding, secretary ; Freeman Dyer, corresponding secretary ; Knowles Dyer, treasurer. This organiza- tion was completed, and a constitution adopted on the 29th of the following August, after Rev. Joel Steele had come to Wellfleet for his second term of service. Article I. of that constitution read, " This Society shall be called the Wellfleet Sabbath-School Union Board of the New England Conference Sab-
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bath-School Society for Wellfleet Station." A board of managers was elected, and the school divided into three sections ; one to meet at the church at nine, A.M., with John Harding for superintendent ; one at the Island schoolhouse at eight, A.M., with Uriah At- wood for superintendent ; the other at the house of Joshua Hamblen, on the Neck, at eight, A.M., with Eleazer Hamblen for superintendent. The scholars in these three sections were about twenty. But God greatly blessed these labors among the children, and the numbers were soon increased. From the report of the managers given at the meeting on the 21st of January, 1828, we learn that there were then over ninety children in the school. This report also states that " the scholars have recited about four thousand verses of Scripture, four thousand and five hundred answers of the Catechism, and three thou- sand seven hundred and sixty-five verses of our hymns." The Sunday-school scholars of this day would think it a great task to commit so much to memory; yet it may well be questioned whether it would not be better for them to so learn the Scrip- tures. Some of the members of this first school are now living (January, 1877), and they can repeat very many of the passages which they then learned. They have " known the Scriptures from their youth." Wellfleet was this year made a station by itself, and Father Steele labored with his usual success. His 1828. second year was very pleasant, and crowned with a small ingathering, while many came nearer to God. The meeting-house was filled; and the church, when he left it, was in a good, healthy condition.
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CHAPTER VII.
B. F. Lambord. - N. S. Spaulding. - Squire B. Hascall. - Hector Brownson and Warren Emerson. - Church Edifice enlarged. - Revival.
REV. BENJAMIN F. LAMBORD came from the next Conference, and remained here two years.
Finding a congregation larger than could 1829. well be seated, he at once urged the brethren to en- large their building. They set about the work, and, through many difficulties, succeeded in completing it in the following December, when the pastor conduct- ed the services of rededication. The dimensions of this house of worship were sixty by thirty-eight feet. There were seventy pews on the floor, with side gal- lerries, and one opposite the pulpit for the choir. Very soon after the dedication there were a number of hopeful conversions, and many Christian hearts were revived.
In his second year Brother Lambord was cheered in seeing many more converted. There was an increase of forty in the membership above 1830. all the removals to the cities. The congregations were large, and a large proportion of the members were good workers for God.
Benjamin F. Lambord was born in Boston in 1785. He was converted at the age of nineteen, commenced
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HISTORY M. E. CHURCH,
preaching at twenty, and joined the Conference in 1806. For some reason he was not connected with the Conference from 1816 to 1825 ; but, with the ex- ception of those years, he was a hard worker in the itinerant ranks until 1847, when he superannuated to reside in Lynn, Mass. It has been said, " One of the marked traits of his character was amiability, com- bined with decision and uniformity in the perform- ance of duty." His intellectual attaiminents were more than ordinary ; and, but for his excessive mod- esty, he would have been more prominent. His life was exemplary, his reputation unblemished, and his death triumphant. March 19, 1862, he passed to the spirit-land. He has four children now living (Janu- ary, 1877), of whom one is a resident of Wellfleet and a member of this church.
Rev. Newell S. Spaulding followed Brother Lam- 1831. bord, and, as he writes, "enjoyed a pleasant year with a good, united church, and some conversions." This was, however, a trying year for the church. Certain difficulties, not to be named in this record, hindered a revival, and greatly embar- rassed both pastor and people. Brother Spaulding did all he could for the kingdom of Christ, and his services were highly appreciated.
He was converted in 1818, and entered the itiner- ant ranks in 1822. In 1826 he married Miss Laura McGinley of New London, Conn. ; and they cele- brated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage in October of 1876. Together they labored in the travel- ling ministry for thirty years ; and now, in a calm and beautiful old age, they are still trusting in God, and
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rejoicing in his kind Providence which has brought them to the golden autumn of a happy and useful wedded life. He says, "God wonderfully blessed my feeble efforts in most of my appointments; the pay was usually small, but the harvest rich. I have lived by faith, and gloried in the cross of Christ : and, through the merey of God, am now glorying in tribulations also, and waiting for the coming of my Saviour." He resides at Ocean Grove, N.J.
Rev. Squire B. Hascall was the next pastor. He was called a good preacher, and he did much to dissipate the cloud which gathered the year 1832. before. But he was greatly interested in poli- tics, and worked at a trade outside of his ministry a part of his time ; and the latter doubtless hindered his success in saving souls.
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