USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 12
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He was married to Althea Lord, daughter of Elisha Lord, M. D., of Pomfret, Ct., June 2, 1791. Having fulfilled a successful, harmonious, and useful ministry, among an entirely united and devoted church and people, for a period of nearly twenty-four years, he died April 22, 1813, after a sickness (throat distemper) of five days, leaving a widow, who departed this life at the residence of her son in Lowell, August 31, 1850, in the eighty-fourth year of her age, the day but one following the Centen- nial Celebration of the town. He left five children ; namely, -
1. Althea, born Oct. 10, 1792 ; died Aug. 26, 1814.
2. Elishia, born April 9, 1796.
3. Asahel, born July 23, 1798.
4. Hezekiah, born June 30, 1800 ; died June 8, 1828.
5. Mary Anne, who was born Aug. 18, 1802, and died May 9, 1836. Of the surviving children, Elisha Huntington, M. D., resides in Lowell, Mass., and Asahel Huntington, counsellor-at-law, in Salem, Mass.
The discourse, at the funeral of the Rev. Mr. Huntington, was preached by his long-tried and intimate friend, Rev. Isaac Braman of Rowley (now Georgetown), who still survives, and, in the enjoyment of a green old age, is still able to minister at the altar, - a model clergyman, as he is a model man. The discourse was published in connection with a ser- mon, partly written out by Mr. Huntington on the same day that he was stricken with his last sickness, from the text, -" Be ye also ready ; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man eometh."
Mr. Huntington published several occasional discourses. He was a discriminating and faithful preacher. His theological opinions were strictly evangelical ; but being a truly wise man, and affectionate and conciliatory in all his intercourse with his people, he secured and retained their confidence, attachment, and respect throughout the entire period of his ministry. In the private relations of life, he was a model of all that was good and excellent. His praise is still in the churches, as well as in the hearts of all who possessed an intimate knowledge of his char- acter and virtues.
We close this brief sketch with an extract from the funeral discourse of Rev. Mr. Braman.
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Il" His moral and religious character was without a blot. In all social and relative duties he was faithful and scrupulously exact. Of conjugal affection and parental tenderness and fidelity, he was a model. As a friend, (and to whom was he not a friend ?) he was affectionate and sincere. Modest and unassuming, as well as of a social turn, he was uncommonly amiable as a companion. As if born for the sole purpose of comforting the afflicted, and making his fellow-creatures happy, his life was that of active benevolence. As a minister of the gospel, his praise is in the churches, among the people of God, who are willing to hear divine truth, thoughi it come to them in a still small voice. In prayer, he was fervent, solemn, and devout. To know the mind of the Lord was his first object, and then to declare it to his hearers for their instruction and benefit. A faithful servant of Christ, mindful of his responsibility to him, and sincere in his affection for his people, he watched for their souls as one that must give an account ; not shunning to declare the whole counsel of God."
At this period there was a remarkable partiality for Scripture Chris- tian names, especially in Connecticut. The names of the five sons of Deacon Barnabas Huntington, and in the order of their birth, were Bar- nabas, Azariah, Asahel, Hezekiah, and Gurdon, all of whom are now deceased. ""There are two sisters still surviving, at a very advanced age. The paternal estate in Franklin, which has been in the family for five generations" (no portion of it having been alienated), is now owned by Azariah, son of 'Azariah, above named, - a lineal descendant of the original settler, whose name was" Christopher.
SALEM, August, 1851.
JnThis account, drawn up by an 'affectionate son, tallies with the tradi- tional memory which the preacher left, as I have always heard it. He was'd man of the greatest kindness, delighting to oblige, and showing his love to God by his benevolence to man in great and little things. - L. W. 1. ha.
ni zulqioning bar or menos mal so ge
-01- 500 1: ANDREW BEATTIE,
10 Was the son of William and Hannah (Perry) Beattie. He was born at Chelmsford, about 1766, and at the death of his father, his mother femoved to Bradford (now Groveland), and Andrew was placed under the care of his uncle, Di. John Beattie, of Chelmsford. He graduated at' H. U. in 1795, and received a bachelor's degree from B. U. the same year. May 8, 1792, he receivedla call from the West Church in Salis- bury, having thirty-one out of thirty-five votes. He was ordained June 28, 1797, and died in office, Monday, March 16, 1801, in the fourth year
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of his ministry, and the thirty-fifth year of his age. The following is the inscription upon his tombstone :
IN MEMORY OF REV. ANDREW BEATTIE, who died March 16, 1801, in the 35th year of his age, and the 4th of his ministry.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.
" My mortal friends, if e'er with ill success, Living, I strove important truths to press, Your precious, your immortal souls to save, Hear me at last, oh hear me from the grave."
Mr. Beattie was married Jan. 29, 1799 (Newburyport records), to Mary Boardman, daughter of John and Judith (Marsh) Boardman, of Newburyport. She died in Newburyport, May 17, 1814. (See obituary, Newburyport Herald, May 18, 1814.)
Their only child was Eliza, born 1801, and died unmarried.
Of Mr. Beattie's marriage there is the following notice in the Centinel : " Married Feb. 6, 1799, Rev. Andrew Beattie, of Salisbury, to Miss Mary Boardman, of Newburyport. On their way to Salisbury the bridal pair were met by eighteen sleighs, filled with the most respectable of the bridegroom's parishioners, who congratulated them on the joyous event, and accompanied them to the parsonage house, where a liberal entertain- ment was provided. One such mark of respect shown to the Rev. clergy, reflects more honor on the inhabitants of the Northern States, and more fully demonstrates their good sense, than were ever conferred on, or exhibited by the deluded idolaters of French massacres and principles, in civic ox-feasts, carmagnoles, choruses, and riff-raff processions."
The following obituary was published in the Newburyport Herald, for March 17, 1801.
"The pious and devout life which Mr. Beattie exhibited, both as a neighbor and a friend, a husband, parent, and pastor, and that resigned and submissive temper which supported him during more than eighteen months' consumptive illness, call on the public to mourn the loss sustained, and to mingle the tears of condolence with the deeply afflicted widow, connections, and destitute flock."
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On the town records of Chelmsford the name is spelled Betty, Batty, Bettys, and Batties. There is no record of the birth of Andrew Beattie, son of William Beattie, but Andrew, son of Robert and IIannali Batties, was born June 16, 1767. May this not have been the birth of the sub- ject of this sketch ?
Rev. Andrew Beattie was admitted to the church of Chelmsford dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. Hezekiah Packard, - 1793-1802. The par- ticular dates of admission are not given on the records.
LEONARD WOODS,
Was born in Princeton, Mass., June 19, 1774. His father was Samuel Woods, and his mother was Mrs. Abigail Underwood ; her maiden name was Abigail Whitney. He was baptized the same day he was born. · His father designed him for a farmer; but his strong love for study, and a severe illness which rendered him unable to labor for two years, induced his father to consent to his commencing a course of study, preparatory to entering college. This he did when about fourteen years of age, with the parish minister. Besides this he received three months' regular instruc- tion at Leicester Academy, then under the care of Ebenezer Adams, afterwards Professor in Dartmouth College. He entered H.U. in 1792, and graduated from the same, with the highest honors, in 1796. His oration at graduation, and also his master's oration three years later, were both published. Of the latter, a writer in the Columbian Centinel, July 20, 1799, says, -
" The best performance of the day was the Oration on Atheism, by the Rev. Mr. Woods. In this half-hour sketchi, the existence and attri- butes of a Supreme Intelligence were demonstrated by invincible argument, and displayed with dignified eloquence; and the deleterious effects of Atheism and Infidelity on civil society were powerfully illustrated in the debasing examples which France has given to the world ; these he was necessitated to paint in glowing colors, the better to render them a beacon to his countrymen. His remarks were pointed, but they were not severe ; his precepts pious, but liberal ; and his eloquence dignified and energetic, but not boisterous. In short, he was a champion in the cause of his Redeemer and country. He received the liberal plaudits of a grateful auditory, and his future reward shall be greater. We should be happy in presenting the oration of this divine and patriot entire to our readers, but we understand it is to issue from the press in a pamphlet."
After leaving college, Mr. Woods engaged in teaching for eight months, at Medford. During this time, and while occasionally under the paternal roof, that great change took place which gave tone and direction to his
14
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subsequent life. " The purity of his early religious impressions had been corrupted by the infusions of a seductive and vain philosophy, but, in the seclusion of his own room, he was led to read ' Doddridge's Rise and Progress,' and his freedom from rationalistic philosophies was complete. No experimental means were now tried upon him; no excited assembly operated upon his mind and heart, but, in the anguish of his spirit, he knelt down, and clasping his Bible, he raised it over him as did John Huss, and cried, 'O God, my Lord and master of my life.' Henceforth Christ was to him all and in all, the beginning, the middle, and the end of his theology and his life."
Ile made a public profession of religion, and united with the First Church in Medford, in 1797. It was then under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Osgood. He studied theology three months in the fall of 1797, with Rev. Dr. Backus of Somers, Conn. The next winter he studied at home ; confining himself chiefly to the Bible and Brown's System of Divinity.
He was approbated in the spring of 1798, by the Cambridge Associa- tion. He was ordained pastor of the Fourth Church in Newbury (now the Second Church in West Newbury), Dec. 5, 1798. The parish voted to give him four hundred dollars annually, also five hundred dollars by way of settlement ; with the use of the parsonage land by the meeting- house, and eight cords of wood annually, with the liberty of going to see his parents for two Sabbaths every year.
When the Theological Seminary was established at Andover, in 1808, Mr. Woods was invited to the chair of Theology.
The church and parish presented the following remonstrance to the council against the dismission of their Pastor.
" Must we so soon, after the recent and great sacrifice of our late belov- ed Tappan, be thrown into a destitute, and perhaps irreconcilably divided state, and with wounds scarcely healed, be called to make a second sacri- fice of what we hold most dear and important to our temporal and spiritual interests, to mere opinion respecting an Institution, the importance and success of which are but in contemplation ? Is not the claim, renewedly to strip this church and people of their pastor, of a doubtful nature and dangerous tendency, and a sacrilegious encroachment on their rights? Since the engagements ministers have taken upon themselves at their ordination ever have been, and still are, viewed by the people as most sacred, will not the frequent departure therefrom operate as a fearful discouragement in the way of settling a gospel minister, and impress the idea that there is nothing substantial in religion, and that the Christian ministry is but an engine employed for the benefit of the clergy, to the contempt and neglect of gospel ordinances, and in time to the destruction of the faith once delivered to the saints, - or is our sinful division eagerly
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seized upon for a pretext to deprive us of the benevolent labors of an affectionate pastor, when our great wickedness is the only cause why they are needful."
The disunion above referred to, which had long agitated the parish, was in regard to building a new meeting-house. Notwithstanding this most earnest remonstrance, the Council unanimously voted that the pastoral relation should be dissolved. It terminated Sept. 28, 1808, the day of his inauguration at Andover. Dr. Woods continued in his professorship until the autumn of 1846, when heresigned. He received the degree of D. D. from Dart. College and- the College of New Jersey, in 1810.
He was pastor nine years, nine months and twenty-eight days. Dur- ing his ministry fourteen persons were added to the church; twelve of these by profession, and two by letter.
Dr. Woods was married at Worcester, Oct. 8, 1799, to Miss Abigail · Wheeler, daughter of Joseph Wheeler, Judge of Probate in Worcester Co., and Mary Greenleaf, daughter of Daniel Greenleaf, M. D., of Bol- ton, Mass.
The names of their children are, -
1. Samuel, b. Oct. 26, 1800.
2. Joseph Wheeler, b. July 30, 1802 ; d. Nov. 8, 1827 ; grad. at D. C., 1823.
3. Mary G., b. Oct. 3, 1804.
4. Leonard, b. Nov. 24, 1807 ; grad. at Union Coll., 1827 ; S. T. D.
at H. C., 1846 ; chosen President of B. C. in 1839.
5. Daniel B., b. Sept. 20, 1809.
6. Abby W., b. July 25, 1811.
7. Margaret O., b. April 12, 1813.
8. Harriet N., b. Aug. 19, 1815.
9. Saralı A., b. June 18, 1817 ; d. Sept. 3, 1836.
10. Sophia W., b. May 12, 1819.
Prof. Lawrence says of Dr. Woods, -" His personal bearing was manly and commanding. He was tall, six feet and two inches, and quite erect, even at the age of fourscore. There was a natural ease and dig- nity in his demeanor. He could with equal facility discuss a metaphysi- cal question in a circle of acute theologians, or take a little child upon his knee, and amuse it by imitating the whippoorwill, or singing 'The pretty, pretty lark.'
" Dr. Woods was preeminently a Bible-preacher, bringing out from the Divine Word Christ as the central idea and life of Christianity. Hence, while his preaching was in the highest sense rational, it was not ration- alistic, but distinctively Christian. He had a fondness for metaphysical studies, and qualifications natural and acquired for distinguished success
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in them. IIis clear pereeptions and power of discrimination, his ability to discover the eauses and relations of things, - to meet and surmount difficulties, to trace analogies, weigh arguments and estimate the value of' logical results, gave him peculiar advantages in mental and moral science. With almost the same ease he could work in the mines or the mint of truth, bring up pearls from the deep, or polish them for use. The theol- ogy of Dr. Woods was not a dead and dry dogma, but a system of living truths vivified by his experience, and wrought into the texture of his character. He claimed to be in the line of theological succession from Christ, through Edwards, Calvin, Augustine, and the Apostles. His ereed was his Christianity. It was old, but he believed not worn out, nor the less true for its age. His trust in Providence and in the efficacy of prayer, are well illustrated by an incident which occurred in connection with the ordination of Dr. Hawes, at Hartford. Dr. Woods was to preach the sermon. It was in the spring of the year, and he was delayed by the bad travelling. When he reached the Connecticut, the bridge ·had been carried away by the freshet, and the iee made passing danger- ous. There was no time to lose. He walked to the edge of the river, and ascertained that the boatman would attempt to get him across. Then he went to an old house which stood near, knocked at the door, and asked the privilege of a retired room for a short time. There he kneeled, and sought direction from God concerning his duty, then committed to the Divine care his wife and children and himself, - returned to the river, crossed in safety, and arrived just in season for the service he had engaged to perform."
The following sketeh is by a member of the Association, who knew Dr. Woods in a long personal acquaintance.
" The impression made on the public mind by the life and services of Professor Woods, is too recent and too definite to be easily effaced. Since death has shaded his imperfections and put a seal on his virtues, his character, as a teacher and a man remains, gruven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever. The first part of his official life was spent in our vicinity, and he was, to the day of his death, a recorded member of our Association. It may be proper to ask, what was the hue of the theology of this Association at that time, and the standing of Dr. Woods in particular. This Association never had a creed, but it never had any Arminian or liberal member. It was distinguished by a kind of compre- hensive orthodoxy; the traditionary Calvinists and the strict Hopkin- sians, - then denominated men of the old and new divinity. It was understood by them in all their intereourse, and especially on councils, that they should tolerate each other's differences, yet the lines were dis- tinet, and the differences held to be important. Dr. Spring, Dr. Parish,
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Mr. Dutch of Bradford, were of the New School, Dr. Joseph Dana, Mr. Braman, Mr. Miltimore, were of the old stamp. Dr. Woods was the warm friend of Dr. Spring; and, indeed, says in his funeral sermon on Dr. Spring, that he loved him better than any man on earth. It is evi- dent that Dr. Spring placed the most unbounded confidence in the piety, talents, and orthodoxy of his junior friend ; and selected him to be the head of a theological school which he intended to establish at West Newbury.
" The early preaching of Dr. Woods was well remembered when I first came into this region in 1816. . The microscopic eye of party spirit could discern no difference between him and Dr. Spring of Newburyport, Dr. Strong of Randolph, and Mr. Norton of Weymouth. Mr. Kirby was his immediate successor ; Dr. Tappan, his immediate predecessor at West Newbury. His preaching had a marked distinction from each, - as to the controverted points between the two sections of Calvinism, - a contrast. Dr. Dana of Ipswich, and his son at Newburyport, could not yield him their confidence. Dr. Spring did. Mr. Kirby was often com- plaining of the muddy metaphysics (I use his own phrase) which he had preached to the people of their charge. He particularly mentioned his discouraging the use of means of grace ; and Kirby often lamented the omission of family prayer among the people.
"It was once my lot, after preaching a preparatory lecture"(I think it must have been in 1817 or 1818, Kirby was drowned in 1819), to take tea with Kirby at the house of Mrs. Paul Bayley. Bayley was absent, and we three, namely, Mr. Kirby, Mrs. Bayley, and myself, were the party at the table. Mrs. Bayley was a strong devotee to Dr. Woods's theology, and, though not disliking Kirby exactly, seemed to have a great partiality for the preaching of her old pastor. Among other things, she related how much his faithful preaching impressed her; it had been the means of her conversion ; his views of Divine sovereignty, and the total insufficiency of all unregenerate exertions. She admired his bold- ness. He said, - when the devils were made, God made them on purpose to be devils ; these were her words, and this the very instance she gave. I was struck with Kirby's manner of managing the conversation ; instead of softening matters, and diminishing the antagonism, as I confess I should have done, he spoke with freedom and almost contempt of such high flights of speculation ; and when Mrs. Bayley mentioned such doc- trines as necessary to bring the human heart to submission, I recollect, he told her that one practical act of self-denial was better than all the doc- trinal sublimities of the pulpit. The conversation was remarkable for openness on both sides, and I always remembered it. Previous to this I had heard Dr. Woods at Andover say, in that half-lamenting way, with
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which a man condemns his own course when his intentions have been right, but his judgment erroneous, ' If I were to begin my ministry again, I would be a more practical man. I would have less dogmatical and more experimental preaching.'
' In his funeral sermon on Dr. Spring, he calls him (March 9, 1819) 'one of the dearest fathers ; one of the most precious friends I ever had on earth ;' and manifestly alludes with approbation to some of his pecu- liarities ; as 'he forcibly inculcated upon you the duty of immediate repentance, the duty of turning to God without delay. 1 He exposed your false refuges. He showed you that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that all the works of the unregenerate are an abomination in his sight.'
" No doubt after he advocated the union of the two sections of orthodoxy, and took the associate chair at Andover, his mind underwent some change. From a desire of exercising a wider influence, and perhaps from a justifiable ambition, he conceived the idea of ADJUSTING the two sys- tems ; and in this difficult task (difficult to the satisfaction of such minds as those of Emmons and Spring), he earned that part of his reputation by which he was regarded as more of a polemical peace-maker than an outspoken Hopkinsian. It is evident that he lost some of the confidence of Emmons, and whether he would have preserved to the brim that of Dr. Spring, had Spring lived longer, is a question which no man can answer, if any man be allowed to ask it.
" What might have been is unknown ; what is appears.
" Dr. Woods, in the latter part of his life, candidly professed some mis- taken apprehensions of ancient orthodoxy, and some change in his own views. He is not the only theologian whom age has mellowed into maturer light. No man, perhaps, is so firm as not to be influenced in some degree by his location, his history, his age, his friends, his enemies, and his surrounding circumstances. Even a tree changes the moss on its bark when it is transplanted." - L. W.
A LIST OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF REV. DR. WOODS.
Oration at his Graduation, 1796.
Oration at the taking of his Master's Degree, 1799.
A Testimony against the Publications of Marcus, 1806.
Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Thankful Church, wife of Rev. John H. Church, of Pelham, N. H., April 15, 1806.
Sermon before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, June 6, 1808.
1 The emphasis is the author's.
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Sermon at the Ordination of Samuel Newell, A. Judson, G. Hall, and L. Rice, as Missionaries, Feb. 6, 1812, at Salem.
Sermon before the Mass. Missionary Society, May 26, 1812.
Sermon at the Funeral of Samuel Abbot, Esq., May 3, 1812.
Sermon preached at Haverhill, in remembrance of Mrs. Harriet New- ell, pub. 1814.
Sermon at the Ordination of John W. Ellingwood, at Bath, Me., Nov. 4, 1812 ; Jacob Ide, at Medway, Nov. 2, 1814; and William Eaton, at Fitchburgh, Aug. 30, 1815, pub. 1815.
Sermon at the Ordination of Joel Hawes, Hartford, Ct., March 4, 1818.
Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Samuel Spring, D. D., Newburyport, March 9, 1819.
Sermon at the Installation of Rev. Warren Fay, Charlestown, Feb. 3, 1820.
Letters to Unitarians, pub. by Flagg and Gould, Andover, 1820.
Sermon at the Ordination of Benjamin B. Wisner, Old South Church, Boston, Feb. 21, 1821.
Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D., Salem, July 12, 1821.
Sermon at the Ordination of Alva Woods, Oct. 28, 1821.
Reply to Dr. Ware's letters, pub. 1821.
Sermon at the Ordination of Thomas M. Smith, Portland, Me., July 21, 1822.
Convention Sermon, May 29, 1823.
Sermon on the death of Moses Brown, Esq., preached at the North Church, Newburyport, Feb. 18, 1827.
Sermon at the Installation of Rev. Nathaniel Hewitt, D. D., Bridge- port, Ct., Dec. 1, 1830.
Sermon at the Installation of Rev. Thomas M. Smith, Pres. Church, Catskill, N. Y., June 15, 1831.
Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D. D., April 11, 1834, pub. in National Preacher, July, 1834.
Sermon on the Death of Lyman and Munson, delivered in the Chapel, Andofer, Feb. 1, 1835.
Essay on Native Depravity, pub. in Boston, 1835.
Sermon at the Ordination of Daniel Bates Woods, Pres. Church, Springwater, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1839.
Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. John H. Church, D. D., who died at Pelham, N. H., June 12, 1840, aged 68, pub. in the National Preacher, Aug., 1840.
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