USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Canton > Canton Baptist memorial : being a historical discourse delivered before the Baptist Church in Canton, Mass., at the celebration of their fiftieth anniversary, Wednesday, June 22, 1864 > Part 5
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Shortly after the embarkation of Mason, in May, Dr. Bolles, Secretary of the Missionary Union, came and preached here once or twice; and Elder Seth Ewer, now of Norton, supplied the pulpit a while in the summer of this year: It was at about this period, too, that young William Hague, now Dr. Hague,
43
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
1830.]
Contributions to Newton, &c.
Records Revised.
of Boston, visited the place as a student minister from New- ton, and preached among the people with a power that gave promise of his future fame. Occasionally, also, the voices of the young brethren, Johnson and Hodges, prophets not with- out honor even in their own country, were heard in exhorta- tion both in pulpit and in private house.
Newton Theological Institution was at that time regarded with much interest and affection by the church, as was natural to them, having two licentiates studying there. There is an acknowledgment for Nov. 23, 1831, of " seven bed-quilts and comforters, two pairs of sheets, and one pair of pillow-cases," from Canton .* The institution was then in its infancy,t and supported to a large extent in this manner by the contribu- tions of the churches. Mention has already been made of the charities of this church in 1829. Of these, twenty-four dollars were given to the Baptist Education Society to prepare young men for the ministry. It was a time of general solicitude on this subject; # and it should be a cause of gratitude to us that our predecessors here were participants, to some extent, in the pious movement that has wrought so much good. The old Education Society, co-eval with our church, was the mother of the Baptist institutions of learning in Waterville, Hamilton, Newton, and Rochester. §
In December, 1830, one formerly excluded member was re- stored; and, in the spring of 1831, the church began to receive additions by baptism. The records had now become so de- ranged through the successive changes of years, that it was found necessary to revise them. According to their showing, the number of members was sixty; whereas the minutes of the Association gave seventy, very naturally provoking the wonder where they got their annual returns. | At a meeting
* Baptist Magazine, vol. xvi. 223.
t Incorporated February, 1826.
# Baptist Magazine, xv. 46.
§ Watchman and Reflector, Nov. 10, 1864.
|| Probably the habit of taking the minutes of the preceding year as a basis, and reckoning the desired additions or subtractions upon these, served to increase the error as it ran on through successive seasons.
44
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
[1831.
Meeting-house rented to the Town.
Church Library.
in March of this year, held at Bro. Clifford Belcher's, a committee appointed to correct the list reported that the ac- tual number then in the communion was but fifty-nine ; and the roll was amended accordingly. At the same time, we find Bro. Nathan Tucker authorized to let the meeting-house to the town, to hold town-meetings in.(72)
A church-library had been formed some time previous to this ; and, at about this date, we find Bro. Lemuel Tilden chosen librarian. Libraries in all the churches, " for the use of the minister and members," had been strongly recommended by the Association as early as 1823, and the recommendation was printed in the minutes for this and the three following years. It was urged in their favor, that they might prevent many 'a penniless pastor from falling into contempt for lack of general knowledge, and save the youth "from the ill effects of reading novels and romances." The books of the Canton Church-library were kept at the meeting-house in a book- case, and members of the church and congregation who wished to read them applied on Sunday for such as they liked. Bro. Henry Fisher was the next librarian, and held the of- fice six years ; after which, Sister Louisa Tucker had charge of the books for a short time. The library continued to receive additions until about 1840, when it became the prop- erty of the Sunday School. The following volumes, still preserved, are specimens of the old collection, -
. Robinson's History of Baptism ; 8vo.
Josephus's Works ; Svo.
Hist. of the Danish Mission to Coromandel, by Baron Stow; 12mo.
Means of a Revival, by J. Howard Hinton; 12mo.
The Telescope, by Samuel C. Nott; 12mo.
Life of John Newton, by W. B. Tappan; 12mo.
Life of Isabella Graham, by Divie Bethune; 12mo.
Memoir of Levi Parsons, by Chauncy Goodrich ; 12mo.
Scougal's Works, published by Thurston, Boston; 12mo.
Davies's Sermons, published by Lincoln and Edmonds; 12mo.
£
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45
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
1831.]
Fourth Revival.
John Clealand. Elder Peak.
On Friday, the 29th of April, 1831, a series of religious meetings was commenced in the meeting-house, first daily, then tri-weekly and semi-weekly ; and an interest was awakened in the community, which continued for several months, and was productive of lasting good. Thirty-two were welcomed to the fellowship of the church, by baptism, between March and December. The preachers were many and various during that revival. We hear of Elders Peak and Clealand and Chase,* and Daniel Merrill and Caleb Green,t and Thomas and Joseph Driver,t and James Coley and Hiram Gear. Of these, as ainong the apostles of Jesus, one proved a wolf in sheep's clothing. John Clealand was a man of remarkable gifts. His commanding presence and popular address, and his rare talent in revival-singing, drew multitudes to the meetings when he preached, and captivated not a few into his confi- dence. Friends of the church from abroad, who knew his corrupt character, exposed him as soon as they learned of his stay here ; and he was ignominiously sent away, after having deceived the people for nearly five months. He baptized six converts. On the very day of his apprehension for im- morality and false pretences, he preached from Luke v. 26, " We have seen strange things to-day," -a text considered , quite significant by both the friends and the enemies of religion.
Elder John Peak was a member of Baldwin-place Church, Boston, and often served as a home missionary.§ He was born in Walpole, N.II., | Sept. 26, 1761, and learned the tailor's trade. On the 18th of June, 1788, he was ordained at Wind- sor, Vt .; and subsequently preached much in Eastern New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He was best known as pastor of the church in Newburyport, where he labored from 1805 to
Rev. Johnson Chase, of Boston.
t Rev. Caleb Green was minister at Sharon at that time.
# Of these two preachers, Elder Thomas Driver was oftenest and longest here, though the name of Elder Joseph only appears in the records.
§ Baptist Magazine, vols. xii .- xix.
|| His parents were Congregationalists, and came from Woodstock and Ashford, Conn.
46
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
[1831-2.
Elder Merrill.
Change of Deacons. J. M. Coley.
Hiram Gear.
1818 .* He lived to be an old man, and very lame, and was long known as "Father Peak."
Elder Daniel Merrill was settled as a Congregational minis- ter in Sedgwick, Me., towards the close of the last century. He became a Baptist in 1804, and was baptized in the follow- ing year by Dr. Baldwin; a majority of his church at the same time following his example.t
The office of junior deacon having been vacant for more than a year by the resignation of Bro. Ezra Tilden, a church fast was appointed for the third Thursday in May, in view of the necessity of a new election. The meeting was held, and the lot fell upon Friend Crane.
For some time after the departure of Elder Clealand (in June), the Baptists realized little but sorrow and discourage- ment. The scandal caused by his treachery to truth and duty was deeply felt by them; but they soon rallied, and the work of the Lord, under the conduct of faithful helpers, went prosperously on. The associational letter for the year reports the church " in a peaceful and pleasant state." From July to September, Rev. James Madison Coley sup- plied the pulpit and administered the ordinances. Some of those who then received baptism at his hands, are this day among the most reliable members of the church.
In October, Brother HIRAM GEAR, who had already labored here for more than a month, was invited to preach for the church " so long as they could be useful to each other." His remuneration was to be " five dollars for each Lord's Day, and board," --- terms, considering the last article particularly, which many a poor pastor would now be only too glad to comply with. It was during his stay here that a box of con- siderable size and value was sent, filled with comforts, to Dr.
* Memoir of Elder J. Peak, by himself. (Boston, 1832.)
Sixty-six candidates, in all, were baptized then, including Mr. Merrill, who was baptized by Elder Baldwin, and Mrs. Merrill, who was baptized by Elder Williams. The whole ceremony occupied but forty-two minutes .- Christian Watchman, Feb. 14, 1845. At this rate (allowing each administrator three minutes to a candidate), the twelve apostles and the " other seventy " would have been about an hour and three- quarters baptizing the " three thousand."-Maine Baptists, pp. 263-6.
47
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
1832.]
Box to Mason.
H. Gear.
Continuation of Revival.
Mason, the missionary. It was made .up mostly by the ladies of the church and society, and contained, - besides valuable clothing for himself, his wife and children, - books, dried apples, arrowroot, soap, and useful medicines, amounting, in all, to over thirty dollars. The box was sent early in the spring of 1832 .*
Brother Gear remained with the church a little more than a year; at the close of which time, though earnestly requested to remain, he went elsewhere, to enter upon the work of an evangelist. To this service he was ordained here, at his desire, on the 11th of April, 1832; a council of ministers and dele- gates from Boston, Newton, Abington, Randolph, Sharon, Med- field, and Stoughton, having examined and approved him.
HIRAM GEAR was born in Middletown, Conn., May 6, 1804. Converted in 1825, he joined the Baptist church in his native place, and soon after received a license there, and pursued a course of preparatory study. He entered the Theological School at Newton in the fall of 1828, where he continued till his call to Canton. His labors, after leaving this place, were in Ohio, in the service of the Baptist Home Missionary Soci- ety ; and he continued to be thus employed till his death, in the prime of his days, at Marietta, Feb. 20, 1843. He was an indefatigable worker, and a preacher of considerable power. In person he was tall and slender, his complexion dark, with eyes remarkably full and expressive, and an energetic man- ner that won attention, and carried conviction to the heart. No portrait of him is preserved.
y. Gear
The occasion of Brother Gear's ordination was made the beginning of another protracted meeting, which was attended, like the last, with a visitation of the Spirit of grace. Ten
* Baptist Magazine, vol. xvi. p. 96. In the same place, record is made also of a female donation from Canton, of "old gold," - a sort of contribution then much in fashion.
...
---
-
48
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
[1833.
New Meeting-house Talked of.
Female Contribution to Burmah.
were baptized by the pastor; and when he left the place, in December, the church numbered ninety-five. In the same month, a committee was authorized to request the Rev. James M. Coley to preach here for " the ensuing winter." Brother Coley remained with the church till March, and devoted him- self faithfully to its interests.
By this time the meeting-house had become too strait to hold the congregation; and, during his stay, Brother Coley, with two others, was charged with the circulation of the first subscrip- tion-paper, the object being "to enlarge the old meeting-house, or build a new one." (86) But little was accomplished, however, in raising money, at this early day ; and no alterations were attempted in the old meeting-house, the church being gen- erally dissatisfied with the location, and deeming it better to build anew so soon as the proper time for it should come. A beginning only was made; and they who labored at that time for the present house contented themselves to wait, or, like David to Solomon, transmitted their gatherings to their suc- cessors. This winter, Brother Coley baptized five. The church-letter testifies that more additions were received in 1832 than in any previous year, but at the same time states that the church was " not so lively as was desirable." A dis- position to do something for the cause of Christ abroad . was apparent, however, chiefly among the sisters. It was probably during this winter or the following spring that a few of them pledged themselves to make up the sum of twenty-five dollars a year to pay for educating a Burman girl under the name of Lucinda Gill. This contribution was continued several years .* It appears that at the time the first remittance ar- rived in Burmah (July, 1834) no Burman girl could be obtained to stay at the mission longer than six months. The first comer, after the arrival of the first instalment of the money, was named Lucinda Gill, and taught to read; and the remain- der of the money probably went to the teaching of others to read.t
* Baptist Magazine, vol. xvii. 168.
t Letter of Mrs. H. M. Mason to Nabby Gill, July 14, 1834.
49
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
1833.]
D. Pease. M. Carpenter. H. Marchant.
Shortness of Pastorates.
In 1833, Rev. David Pease * preached here during the months of February and March (perhaps longer, (86,83)); and measures were taken to secure his services as pastor. He declined a settlement, however; and in July the church had their attention called to a young brother named Carpenter,t who was studying for the ministry, at Newton. Brn. Charles Johnson and Joseph Hodges, jun., then also students at the same seminary, were appointed a committee to request Bro. Carpenter to visit Canton (by leave of Professor Knowles), and supply the pulpit. Bro. Carpenter preached here two Sabbaths; but nothing permanent resulted in the way of a settlement, the young licentiate being distrustful of his own abilities: and, in the following month, Bro. Henry · Marchant was sent for, to preach, " with the idea of becoming our pastor." Bro. Marchant's ministrations were generally acceptable ; but, for some reason, he was not retained:
The church reported itself to the Association of 1833, "at peace, and, on the whole, prosperous ; " but there does not seem to have been a condition of things favorable to a stated ministry. Tradition reports, and the historian's judgment can infer, some of the secrets of that chronic misfortune of this church, its transitory pastorates. A too great partiality for special measures seems to have characterized it from the first. This feeling, fostered long, and encouraged by gratification from time to time, created, of course, an undue esteem for preachers whose gifts could produce an immediate revival; and the constant demand for and the transient and varying labors of such men unfitted the people to appreciate any other. Habituated to frequent changes, they saw little calamity in a pastoral separation, and took little care to prevent it. The hastily expressed opinion of a single member has repeatedly been sufficient to send a good man away: and, in consequence, the fleeting and rapidly successive pastorates which this church has witnessed since its record began appear like little
* Since of Sunderland.
f Since Rev. Mark Carpenter, of Brattleboro,' Vt., and father of the missionary, Rev. C. H. Carpenter, Professor in the Seminary at Rangoon.
7
£
50
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
[1833-4.
Shortness of Pastorates.
C. A. Thomas.
Marchant.
" clouds without water," that chase one another year after year over the field, until the aggregated number of all the preachers who have brought the word of life to this people would surpass some of their own Sunday congregations * Surely no ecclesiastical body could expect to reap the full benefit or realize the objects of its incorporation, or gain proper depth of root as a growth of influential good in the community, so long as it would content itself with such a loco- motive ministry. It is to be hoped that the sad lessons of later years have taught this church a more'steady reliance upon the stated means of grace, and to regard a relationship of pastor and people that shall be permanent, when once di- vinely sanctioned, as one surety of a solid prosperity. May we continue to learn! May we learn well, and build together, long and strong and deep, like the architects of old Jerusa- lem, " with three rows of great stones and a row of new tim- ber"!
Failing to secure an ordained minister, the church again resorted to the seminary for a supply; and, in August or September, Bro. Cornelius A. Thomas + was sent. (89) He pleased the people well. Part of his autumn vacation was spent here ; and, in company with his friend Hodges, he rep- resented the church at the Association; but he was unable to supply it while pursuing his studies, and Elder Marchant was again invited to tarry a while here. He staid until the 1st of 'April, 1834, receiving seven dollars a week for his labors ; and after him came again the young student Thomas, who staid over one or two Sabbaths, making up in both visits a stay of six weeks with the church.
An interval of a year or more followed, during which little or no effort seems to have been made to obtain a pastor ; and the church was supplied with preaching from Newton and else- where. As if in anticipation of this, they had voted that " in fu- ture" the remuneration for pulpit-services should be five dollars
* It is remarkable that this church has had, during its fifty years, the same num- ber of pastors as the First Baptist Church in Boston, now two hundred years old.
t Now Dr. Thomas, of Brandon, Vt., - " A very able, substantial, and revered min- ister of the gospel." - Dr. Ripley.
51
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
1834-5.]
J. B. Hague.
Diminution.
New Meeting-house Begun.
a Sabbath. In this interval, a younger brother of Dr. Hague, John B. Hague, a name not unfamiliar among the devotional poets of the Psalmist Hymn-book,* spent some time here during the long vacation at the Newton seminary, and pre- pared the letter and represented the church as delegate to the Association, in September, 1834. The people liked his preaching ; and many to this day mention with pleasure his stay here, and tell of his social, musical, and pulpit gifts. After him, in the following spring, Bro. Darius Dunbar,i also a student at Newton, supplied here for a time, and was a member of the church until the 29th of April. (93)
Meanwhile the church-roll kept steadily diminishing, chiefly, however, by dismissions ; until from ninety eight (or, accord- ing to the Minutes, one hundred and three), in 1833, the list fell, by September, 1835, to seventy-five. During this year, two died, and four were excluded; and the church-letter re- ported "some trials and discouragements."
On the 28th of September, the subject of a new meeting- house was again brought before the church, and this time with a full purpose to build immediately. A committee was ap- pointed to buy ground " at the village in the south-west part of the town ;" and a vote was passed to sell the old meeting- house to the best advantage, and appropriate the proceeds to the new building .¿ The re-action of " trials and discourage- ments " is oftentimes the activity that saves a church. Here a step so important as the erection of a new house of wor- ship was ventured upon in a time of weakness; but God helped the people.
A piece of land was bought of Mr. Gerry Tucker, in the south village, opposite the Armory Hall, at a cost of two hun- dred and thirty dollars ; and there, in due time, the corner- stone of the present meeting-house was laid. Bro. James F. Wilcox, then a recent graduate of Newton Theological
* See Hymn 454, " Hark, sinner, while God from on high," &c.
f Now of Titieut.
# The meeting at which this action was taken was opened with prayer by Father William Bentley, of Hartford, Conn.
..
52
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
[1835-6.
Ladies' Benev. Soc.
A. Merriam Settled.
New Meeting-house.
Seminary,* was spending the autumn here, (97) and entered into the enterprise with his whole soul. Besides supplying the pulpit, he aided the church by advising with them and raising money for them. They called him to the pastorate ;(99) and, though he ultimately declined settling here, he remained with the people long enough to forward their new work through a good beginning, and to see it prospering in their hands.
During the same season (Nov. 21, 1835), the Ladies' Benevolent Society connected with this church was organ- ized, and began to render systematic aid in the charities of the church, and in the general support of the means of grace. Like the church itself, it has had a varying history ; but, as an auxiliary society, it has been an undoubted blessing to the cause. Only two of its first officers are still with us.
Rev. ASAPH MERRIAM was settled here in the ministry in September of the year 1836, when the new meeting-house was still in progress. The old house ceased to be the property of the parish in the following January, being deeded to the town at about that date for six hundred and fifty dollars ; + but he officiated there until the completion of the present house in June.
The church now rejoiced in a more commodious place of worship. The building stood as it now stands, (see frontis- piece) fifty-six feet long by forty-one feet wide (exclusive of the present pulpit projection) ; being made, by the advice of Bro. Wilcox, a foot longer and a foot narrower than the original plan. The external appearance has not changed, with the ex- ception of an enlargement at the north end to make the recess for the present pulpit ; but the internal arrangements, as they were left by the finishers twenty-seven years ago, have entirely disappeared. Then the pews were high, upright enclosures, with a raised floor, considerably above the level of the aisles ; the gallery, then two feet higher than now, had a straight front
* Laboring since 1861, for the Home-Mission Society, at Northfield, Minn.
t See Town Records, 1-36-7; Church Records, p. 101.
53
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
1837.]
Meeting-house.
Dedication.
Bell.
State of the Congregation.
from wall to wall; a large stove stood midway between the doors; and directly opposite, at the other end, just over the spot where the communion-table now stands, the pulpit, with its two swing-doors and winding staircases with banisters, rose against the north wall, then flush from east to west, and reached, with its top wood-work, nearly as high as the pres- ent side-lights. The cost of the building was about three thousand three hundred dollars.
The services of the dedication took place on the 13th of June, 1837; a crowded congregation being' in attendance. Rev. Baron Stow, now Dr. Stow, of Chauncey-street Church, Boston, preached the sermon, from Heb. xi. 16: "But now they desire a better country; that is, a heavenly: where- fore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." Pastor Merriam offered the dedi- catory prayer ; the choir furnished appropriate music; and the concluding prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Sawyer, of Ran- dolph. (104)
Shortly after, a courteous application was made to Mr. Ben- jamin Bussey, of Roxbury, for a bell. He had been formerly a resident of Canton, and, being wealthy, was in the habit of presenting church-bells to religious societies of his acquaint- ance that had just completed houses of worship. On this occasion, however, the committee which waited on him did . not find him sufficiently indifferent to denominational distinc- tions to make his customary donation. Baptists did not come under the conditions of his generosity. The bell, therefore, was purchased of the Revere Copper Company, at a cost of a little more than two hundred and fifty dollars, and hung in 1839. Harrison Carroll was the first sexton.
The prospects of the church, at this time, were outwardly encouraging. Mr. Merriam's preaching was thronged from Sabbath to Sabbath ; and the pews sold for nearly if not quite a sufficient sum to support him comfortably, and defray the current expenses of the year: * but the internal life of the
* It should be mentioned that the Congregationalist society was accustomed to worship with this church after the building of the present meeting-house, they having
-
54
CANTON BAPTIST MEMORIAL.
[1838-9.
State of the Church. Resignation of Mr. Merriam: His Birth, Education, &c.
church was far from what could have been wished. This fact was felt and acknowledged, and the yearly letter for 1838 makes regretful mention of spiritual apathy and coldness. A committee had been chosen in May, previous to the dedica- tion of the meeting-house, "to visit every member of the church,"(103) and hold personal conversation with all concerning their spiritual state, entreating the delinquent and warning the refractory. Many sad cases of discipline were forced upon Bro. Merriam, and several were excluded during his stay. It sorely pained him, one of the most tender-hearted of men, to exclude a member from the church; and it is common to find at the close of the notices of such action in the records (which were then kept by himself ) an observation like this : " The health and even life of the body sometimes requires the cutting off of a diseased limb. . . . May God convince the delinquents of their error, and bring them back to the fold of the Saviour ! "
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