USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Centurial history of the Mendon association of Congregational ministers, with the Centennial address, delivered at Franklin, Mass., Nov. 19, l851, and biographical sketches of the members and licentiates > Part 3
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The religious history of this town might be made to testify to the practical workings of Hopkinsian theology. Here Emmonsism, in its undisputed and undiluted purity, was drawn out and borne to the people for more than half a century - saying nothing of the subsequent time, - and though it was, unlike the little book of the Evan- gelist, bitter to the mouth of some that only tasted it, yet to them who inwardly digested it, it was sweet as honey ; so sweet, that they retain the relish still, - as this single sanctuary may perhaps indicate. No hostile faith has built it a house in this town, nor in its borders. No liberal creed has decoyed any recruits from this
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HISTORY OF
church. Cursed by no funds, but blessed with a legacy of sound doctrines, it has offered no attractions to the spoiler, to try his devices.
Other churches and localities bear witness that God bestows some honor upon Hopkinsian preaching. But I will avoid comparisons, and take shelter behind the asser- tion of Dr. Dwight, who, in his travels over New England, half a century ago, says, " he found that those ministers who preached the doctrines of grace earnestly were generally Hopkinsians."
The writings of Hopkins, Strong, Smalley, and Em- mons, have not only provoked the ire of the reviewer, but they have sharpened the logic of the judge on the bench, have guided the researches of the theological student and pastor, and have clarified and strengthened the faith of many a pious layman, even in the depths of the western wilderness.
I must return once more to that primary meeting of this Association. Besides its four original members, there was one other person present, - a young man who had presented himself for approbation to preach the Gospel. This was David Thurston, afterwards first pastor of the church in West Medway, - the first licen- tiate and first admitted member of this body. He was the antecedent of a goodly line of successors, applicants for the same recommendation.
I count up one hundred and twenty-one persons appro- bated to preach the Gospel by Mendon Association. Their history could be given, but statistics are barren subjects for declamation. Amongst them are Presidents of col- leges, Theological Professors, Pastors, Evangelists, a
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MENDON ASSOCIATION.
goodly number of D. D's. already in fruition, some in ex- pectancy.
If the agency of these one hundred and twenty-one ministers of the Gospel could be traced, it would add an- other illustration to the truth of the text, " Them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
But I ought to close ; yet indulge me in one or two re- flections, suggested by this subject and occasion. - If I overstep your patience you may reflect that you will never be wearied with another centennial discourse before the Mendon Association.
The theme of this discourse, as illustrated by our reli- gious history, points out the Primary Element of a church's real prosperity or decline.
It is found in the character of its ministry.
As it was " like people like priest " in the days of Isaiah, so has it been in all following ages. When religious teachers have catered to the lusts of the people, and ' taught for doctrines the commandments of men,' or have timorously or slothfully shunned to declare the whole counsel of God, the people have ripened for desertions and divisions,-have served the world and died in indiffer- ence. But when the ministers of Christ have fully and boldly preached the doctrines of grace, piety has flour- ished, sin has diminished, and death has been robbed of his sting. So the past history of our Zion teaches us. Her days of brightness have been when her heralds sounded the distinctive notes of salvation, clear, full, and piercing to the conscience and heart. Then the trump- ets gave a certain sound, the hosts of God's Elect ral-
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HISTORY OF
lied for the conflict and Zion was terrible as an army with banners. And so it must ever be.
It is by the clear exhibition of the truths of the Gos- pel that the carnal heart is developed, and holy affections are exercised. The milk which the Apostle fed to the Corinthian church, was precisely the doctrines now called strong meat-Entire depravity, special grace, electing love. These truths with their adjuncts, are the sincere milk of the word which God has provided for new born · souls, whereby they may grow unto the stature of perfect men in Christ Jesus. And the church which understands the philosophy of its own real growth, will seek to be fed with these truths.
The darkest cloud on the horizon of Zion's prospect, is not the multitude of the rejectors of the Gospel,-but the indifference and even repugnance of some of her professed friends to the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel ; at least, a cowardly solicitude lest they should be . preached so plainly and so often as to offend the world. This is the spot of leprosy, breaking out in the timber and on the wall of God's spiritual temples, and indicating the existence of decay.
Suffer the exhortation, then, brethren of the churches, to cleave to those humbling but precious truths whose faithful presentation has ever been the means of the church's true prosperity. Be fully persuaded of them in your own minds, and love to hear them preached fully and distinctly. Encourage your ministers to fidelity. We sympathize with the reception of our message. And you know not how much it incites us to fidelity when you show a delight in the doctrines of Sovereign and special grace, and how much it disheartens us to have our breth-
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ren in the church predict divisions and dismissions if we declare the whole counsel of God.
II. This subject also points out to us the only way to be successful and finally accepted ministers of Jesus Christ.
The power of the ministry lies in the power of the truths of God. The exercise of that power consists in the complete and plain enforcement of those truths. Fidelity, we have reason to hope, God will bless to the edification of Christians and conversion of sinners.
To this result, we need a clear and systematic knowl- edge of the Gospel, wherein every doctrine shall have its own place and importance ; then, an unhesitating confi- dence in the adaptedness of the Gospel to fit men for eternity ; and lastly, an unfaltering courage in declaring its every truth, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. The soldier needs unwavering confidence in the trustiness of his weapons. The soldier of the cross needs an invincible faith in the adaptation of the sword of the Spirit to slay the carnal heart, -a faith that it needs no polishing, no re-fashioning of his to give it edge and effect. He should never substitute weapons of his own. invention, nor go down to the Philistines to sharpen God's armor .. He is to approach God's enemies, not with feints and stratagems and masked batteries, but openly and fearlessly, straight onwards, and without a misgiving of victory.
True, the laws of the affections are to be regarded in the mode of presenting truth ; but those laws do not re- quire that timorous hesitancy about preaching unwelcome truths, that anxious beclouding and hiding offensive doc- trines, which appears too often to day. No. Mighty is the truth. In its own native, majestic beauty, it is " the
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HISTORY OF
wisdom of God and the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth." And he who wisely seeks the salvation of his hearers, will preach the truth as purely as he can.
This is not, indeed, the present way to be a popular preacher, courted by the world, and coveted by rich par- ishes, for then is the offense of the cross ceased ; butit is the way to be popular with the angels, waiting to carry up the news of sinners' repentance. It is the way to be approved by the great Head of the church, when he shall come the second time without sin unto salvation.
In earnest fidelity, then, my brethren in the ministry, let us preach the Gospel of the grace of God. Others will not let us forget that we are men ; let us remember that we are " ministers of Christ and stewards of the mys- teries of God, and moreover that it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." Only by an ardent piety, and vigorous exhibition of the truth, can we stem the tide now strongly setting towards a rejection of the Bible and the unsteady billows of a general skepticism.
Finally. Let this subject encourage ministers to fidelity in their trying work.
You know, my brethren, that to preach the Gospel fully and faithfully, to a world who will not have Christ to reign over them, is no self-pleasing work. Its humbling truths do and must awaken the enmity of the carnal mind, till its enmity is slain. But what if, for our unshrinking fidelity, we meet with indications and expressions of disap- proval from a sin-loving world ? It is not our master. One is our Master, even Christ, and his " Well done, good and faithful servant," will make us more than conquerors, at the last. Every open indignity, every sly contempt,
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MENDON ASSOCIATION.
every ambiguous reception, for our faithful witness of Jesus and of the word of God, will be changed into a sparkling gem in the crown of glory, by the strangely transmuting alchemy of the last day.
And then, too, God will measure the prominence we shall have given to the peculiar points of our message. He will compute the value of the gold, silver, and precious stones, wherewith we shall have enriched the foundation of the Gospel ; and he will apply the torch to all the hay, wood, and stubble we may have built thereon ; and that which shall stand the fiery test shall indicate our reward. My brethren, in view of such a trial, what matter the re- ception we may personally receive, if so be that we be found faithful in the day of the Lord Jesus! How die away into inaudible murmurs, both the applauses and the hisses of this world ! How fade its honors in the bright beamings of that crown which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will then give to him that hath fought a good fight and hath kept the faith !
And, men and brethren, this day and occasion tell us that that final judgment will soon come. A century of our associational history has passed away, yet the founders of this Association seem to have been hardly committed to the earth .- We enter into their labors for a little while, soon to give an account of our ministry to him that com- missioned us. When our faces shall have been hardly forgotten, another century will have passed, and another company will be gathered to observe a second centennial epoch. So rapidly, from high summits of observation, does time appear to pass away, and so speedily does the day approach when we all, ministers and people, must be
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HISTORY OF MENDON ASSOCIATION.
judged, one for our exhibition and other for our reception of the Gospel of salvation.
My brethren, then will the unchangeable principle of Jehovah's government, which I have attempted to set forth, receive its fullest illustration :- Even as the Judge, when on earth, forewarned his ambassadors, " Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God ; But he that de- nieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God !"
HISTORICAL APPENDIX.
THE existent records of Mendon Association, for the first thirty years of its existence, consist of only a few loose scraps of paper. These fragments contain little more than the time and place of meeting, and the certificates of appro- bation to preach the Gospel of candidates now and then examined. Complete records exist from October 7, 1783. The following interesting historical items are added to what is contained in the preceding pages.
A VERBATIM COPY OF THE RECORD OF THE FIRST MEET- ING OF ASSOCIATION.
A number of Pastors of chhs, viz. of ye 1st chh of Christ in Mendon, of ye chh of Christ in Uxbridge, of ye 2d chh of Christ in Mendon, and of ye chh of Christ in Upton, being convend at the house of ye Revd Mr Frost, in sd Mendon Novembr 8th 1751.
Being thotful that it might tend to the Advancment of ye Glory of Christ and of his Kingdom and Interest in this Vicinity, for them to Associate, have tho't it duty. And Accordingly, 1st Voted themselves Associated, And 2ª Voted ye Revd Mr Dorr the Moderator of the Association, 3d Mr Webb the Scribe for the prest Meeting. And David Thurs-
4*
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HISTORICAL APPENDIX.
ton, A. B., having applyd himself to us for our advice and countenance with Regard to his purposd Design to Enter into ye great and important work of the Evangelical Ministry, after Supplicate to God thro' Xt the Head of the chh, and careful Enquiry into the Case, offert unto him This Testi- monial following - Viz.
These may certify, that we, the Subscribers, Associated Pastors of chhs of Christ, Have, upon the application of Mr. David Thurston, admitted him to examination, in ordr to his Regular Introduction to the Preaching of the Gosp !. And upon a proper Examination Respecting his Moral Character, his Learning, his Orthodoxy in the Doctrines of the Gosple, and Christian Experience in Religion, are Well Satisfied as to his qualifications for or Entrance upon ye Gosple Ministry, and can very freely recommend him to ye churches and People of God as a Suitable Person to preach the Gosple, wheresoever he shall by ye Providence of God be calld.
JOSEPH DORR, NATHAN WEBB,
AMARIAH FROST,
ELISHA FISH.
Mendon, Novr. ye8, 1751.
TIME OF MEETINGS.
THE meetings of the Association were held at irregular intervals for several years, gradually settling into some sys- tem, until, at the close of the Revolution, June and October became the months of regular meeting. For the first five years the meetings were held at Rev. Mr. Dorr's, the senior member, and standing moderator. During this period Rev. Mr. Webb was scribe. As other members joined, each had the meeting in rotation. But the officers continued un- changed for a long time. The first Tuesday in June and October continued to be the regular time of meeting, until
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OFFICERS.
October, 1821, when the third Tuesday of the above months was selected. In 1824, October 19th, the last Tuesdays in April and October were adopted. Again in 1831, April 26th, it was voted that an additional meeting be annually held upon the third Tuesday in August. In 1841, August 17th, the third Tuesday was reselected for the regular meetings. Finally in 1844, December 17th, voted, that " our future meet- ings be on the second Tuesday of the month." These fre- quent changes have been rendered necessary by the increase of other and more general religious meetings.
There are records of two hundred and fourteen regular and occasional meetings of the body.
OFFICERS.
For many years Rev. Mr. Dorr was standing moderator of the Association. After his death, Rev. David Hall, D. D. of Sutton, succeeded him. In 1783, it was determined that the senior member present at each meeting should preside, and that the host of the Association should act as scribe. Under this rule, the following members became virtually standing moderators, namely, Rev. Messrs. Elisha Fish, Amariah Frost, David Sanford, and Nathaniel Emmons, D. D. Dr. Emmons presided over the deliberations of the Association for nearly twenty-five years, and was seldom absent from any of its meetings. In 1841, April 27th, Rev. Elisha Fish was elected as moderator, and continued until January, 1851, the time of his decease. The moderator is now chosen annually in April.
The first arrangement respecting a scribe was found to be defective, and a standing scribe was chosen. The following is a list of the scribes, with the dates of their election.
Rev. John Crane, chosen 12 October, 1802 ;
" Timothy Dickinson, chosen 9 June, 1812 ;
" David Long, chosen 12 October, 1813 ;
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HISTORICAL APPENDIX.
Rev. Elam Smalley, chosen 16 August, 1831 ;
David Sanford, chosen 30 April, 1839 ;
" T. D. P. Stone, chosen 11 August, 1846 ;
" Tyler Thatcher, chosen 17 August, 1847 ;
" Thomas T. Richmond, chosen 8 October, 1850.
BUSINESS.
THE regular exercises at Associational meetings have varied at different dates, according to the number of members and apparent state of religion. The fragmentary scraps of the first quarter of the century give us no information of the business of its meetings, other than the preacher of the public lecture, and the occasional examination of candidates for the Gospel ministry. We naturally infer it to be the discussion of such questions as the times made important and prominent. It is not until 1794, that any of these questions are recorded. Then, " 14 October, 1794, it was voted that each member should write upon the following question, and read at the next meeting : 'Whether or not, there be any proof, the Bible being excepted, that there is another state of existence for men ?"
Nothing more is said of questions for thirteen years. We may infer that the plan of written discussions did not succeed, for the following year it was agreed that each member should read a sermon in rotation for general criticism. Still another change was made in 1797, by substituting a Concio ad Cle- rum by one of the members. This was shortly abandoned, and no substitute adopted until 1807, June 9th ; when a com- mittee, chosen for the purpose, proposed a plan, - which was adopted, and has been followed, with slight additions, to the present time, -" That at every meeting, one text of Scripture should be explained, and two questions be discus- sed, if there be time. And that each member shall present
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STANDING REGULATIONS.
a text of Scripture for explanation, or a question for discus- sion, from which the Association shall make a selection."
The additions to this plan have been, the reading of a sermon for criticism by the minister at whose house the Association meet, - adopted 18 August, 1835. And the presentation of the skeleton of a sermon by some designated member, - adopted 20 August, 1844. Other additions have been temporarily made.
The following digest of the regulations of this body, now in force, may be here conveniently added : -
STANDING REGULATIONS OF MENDON ASSOCIATION.
1. The meetings shall be held on the second Tuesday in April, August, October, and January, at three o'clock, P. M.
2. The Moderator shall be chosen by ballot annually at the April meeting. The Scribe shall serve until his resigna- tion. He is also Librarian of the Association .*
3. The regular business of each meeting shall be :- Prayer by the Moderator; reading the minutes of the last meeting; sermon for criticism by the host of Association ;
* The Library of the Association has consisted of records, docu- ments on file, and a few volumes presented, some by Harvard Uni- versity, some by members. At the regular meeting in August, 1852, it was unanimously voted to attempt a complete collection of all the printed works of the past and present Members and Licentiates of the body, and also an autograph sermon of each Member and Licentiate, with an autobiography appended, as far as they can be obtained. Rev. Charles Simmons, of North Wrentham, was designated to the charge of this collection and authorized to solicit, in behalf of the Association, donations of the pub- lications, and a MS. sermon of Members and Licentiates, from them- selves or their surviving friends. It is hoped that the public value of such a collection will secure the complete execution of the plan. Occasional sermons, pamphlets, etc., and the more important bound volumes, upon every subject pertaining to religion, will be gratefully received from their authors and publishers.
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HISTORICAL APPENDIX.
written exegesis of a portion of the Scriptures ; written essay upon an assigned theme; oral discussion of a previously selected question ; a written skeleton of a sermon for criti- cism ; an hour of devotional exercises ; and a season of public worship.
4. The examination of candidates for approbation to preach the Gospel will commence with reading a sermon. Their examination takes the precedence of all other business.
5. The place of meeting and the preacher shall be ap- pointed in rotation.
6. The schedules for the General Association of the State shall be forwarded to the delegates before the first of Febru- ary, and their report of the Association shall be presented to this body at the April meeting.
7. When any member of this Association is dismissed from his people, and leaves the ministry for more than one year, we shall not consider him a member of this body.
DOINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
THE records of a ministerial association cannot furnish many striking historical facts, formed as it is for professional and private deliberations, whose results appear only in indi- vidual benefit. Yet the questions discussed and resolves passed, connected with their dates, may give some light to the past state of religion. We can thus learn what aspects of truth occupied attention, and may sometimes trace impor- tant movements to their source in some passing discussion or brief resolution.
The data furnished by our records for conclusions of this sort, are here given for this use, grouped by their affinities, such as they have.
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DRAFT FOR CONSOCIATION.
CONSOCIATION OF CHURCHES.
THE first intimation of this subject, found in the few loose documents of the period, is a draft of principles and rules for a consociation, adopted by the Association, and dated Sutton, 17 November, 1756. Some additions were made at the meetings in 1757, and then the subject appears to have been dropped. The churches probably declined to enter into the proposal, as no vote of adoption occurs in the records of the churches which have been examined.
This draft is copied here, as an interesting digest, in the working form, of the principles suggested by the Synod of 1662.
DRAFT FOR A CONSOCIATION, PROPOSED 1756.
To the several Fraternities of the churches of Christ in Mendon, the first church of Sutton, the church of Uxbridge, the church of Upton, the church of Medway Precinct : - The Pastors of said churches send Greeting, Wishing to them Grace, Mercy and Peace, from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Dearly Beloved Brethren in Christ :
Whearas, the churches of Christ rightly constituted, ac- cording to the Word of God ; are to be considered as standing in a Sisterly Relation to each other, (Cant. 8: 8,) being united in the same faith and order, (Eph. 4: 4,) walking by the same Rule, in the use of the same Ordinances, for the same Ends, under one and the same Political Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, Head over all things to the church of God; There must needs, from this their Relation to and Union one with another, be Inferred their Duty of Communion one with another, suitable to that union and relation ; Which commu- nion of churches, according to the Definition Given of it, by
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HISTORICAL APPENDIX.
a Venerable Synod of these churches, Is the Faithful Im- provement of the Gifts of Christ, Bestowed upon [them] for his Service and Glory, and their Mutual Good and Edifica- tion, according to capacity and opportunity. And further, whereas there hath constantly been in the churches, a Pro- fession of Communion of Churches, one with another, in Giving the right hand of Fellowship at the Gathering of Churches and Ordination of Elders ; which import a Con- sociation, and obligeth to the Practice thereof.
We doe therefore most earnestly call upon the churches under our Pastoral care, and advise them to come into a Mutual and Solemn Agreement, to exercise Communion In and by such acts of Communion as are mentioned in the Result of the Synod, Held by the Elders and Messengers of the churches of the Massachusetts Province, contained in the Platform of Church Discipline, ANNO DOMINI 1648, and in the Result of the Synod of the same Province in 1662, so far as they are agreeable to the Word of God, and more Especially in the following Mentioned acts : -
1. By an hearty careing for one another's wellfare, and by Earnest and fervent Prayer one for another. (Cant. 8 : 8. Ps. 122 : 6, 7, 8, 9.)
2. By Admitting to occasional communion in Sealing Ordinances, such members of any Particular church in our Consociation, upon satisfying and sufficient Testimonials, of their regular standing in said church, when there shall be no weighty Objection to Barr their Communion.
3. By Admitting to settled and stated Communion in Seals, and Censures, as there shall be Occasion, such Mem- bers of any one of our Consociated Churches, as shall be regularly dismissed to our Stated Communion ; Provided, there shall be no Sufficient Barr put in against the member or members so Dismissed.
4. When any sufficient Number of the Members of our Consociated Churches having a regular Standing in the
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CONSOCIATION OF CHURCHES.
churches, shall be about to Embodie in a church, for the Enjoyment of Gospel Ordinances among themselves, They Procedeing according to Gospel order, and Desireing our Presence, and Assistance in so Good a work : we shall be ready to Assist them, and to hold forth to them the Right hand of Fellowship.
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