USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 13
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An Examination of the Doctrine of Perfection, N. York, 1841.
Lectures on Church Government, New York, 1844.
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
Lectures on Swedenborgianism. Crocker and Brewster, Boston, 1846.
Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Phebe Farrar, wife of Samuel Farrar, Esq., Andover, January 26, 1848.
Complete Works, in 5 volumes ; containing Lectures, Essays, Letters, and Sermons. Andover, Jolin D. Flagg, 1850.
ABRAHAM MOOR,
Was the seventh pastor of the First Church in Newbury, and the suc- cessor of Rev. John Tucker, D. D. The following letter is from the Rev. L. S. Parker, pastor of the First Church in Derry, N. H.
" DERRY, N. II., December 7, 1861.
" MY DEAR BROTHER SPALDING, - Since your letter of inquiry, touching Rev. Abraham Moor reached me, I have searched town and church records, talked with ' the oldest inhabitant,' etc. What I have been able to glean I will now write. My best informant is Mr. Joseph Morrison, who recollects Mr. Moor well.
" Rev. Abraham Moor was the son of Dea. John and Mary (Cochran) Moor of Londonderry (now Derry). N. H., where he was born Sept. 8, 1768. Ilis parents were both of Scotch-Irish descent, and their grand- parents were among the first settlers of the town. On both sides he came from a very respectable and pious ancestry. His father was an active and brave captain in the French and Indian War, which ended with the capture of Quebec. I do not find his name on the annals of the Revolution, though Mr. Morrison says he was in the battle of Benning- ton. Ile was long an elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Lon- donderry, now the First Church in Derry, and was greatly esteemed. His homestead was situated a mile east of the meeting-house of the First Parish in Derry. The house is still standing and occupied. Near it is the first parsonage built for Rev. Mr. McGregor, the first minister in the town, in 1719, in which Mr. Morrison now lives. It was the first framed house built in town. Mr. Abraham Moor fitted for college at a select school in town, and graduated at D. C. in 1789. He united with the First Presbyterian church under the pastoral care of Rev. Wm. Da- vidson, near the close of his ministry of fifty years. He is remembered as a good scholar, a most amiable youth, beloved by every one, akin in character to that disciple ' whom Jesus loved.' He is favorably remem- bered as a preacher. Mr. Morrison speaks of recollecting his visiting his father's when out of health, and of his returning to his people to die. Dea. John Moor had four children, - Mary, who died single ; - An- drew, who became a deacon in the church, and died here, had three
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daughters, that died early ; James, who was also a deacon, has one child now living, Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Davis of Dunbarton, N. H .; Samuel, who removed to Pennsylvania at the age of twenty-five, of whom nothing is now known. No relations of the family live here, that I can find.
" Most truly yours, "LEONARD S. PARKER."
Jannary 4, 1796, Mr. Moor was called to the pastorate of the First Church in Newbury, and ordained on the 23d of March following. " A strong opposition," says Dr. Popkin, " was made to his ordination, chiefly by those who were unwilling to settle another minister in the old meet- ing-house. A new one was much wanted, and they pleaded, that it ought to be placed nearer to them. This had been a subject of complaint of long standing." A separation ensued, which was followed by long and troublesome consequences on both sides.
" Mr. Moor's health was very feeble, and in tlie winter of 1800 and 1801 he fell into a deep consumption, and died June 24, 1801.
" He was a very serious, meek, prudent, pious, and faithful minister, re- served in conversation, but of a fruitful mind in the work of the minis- try. ITis general style of preaching, I am informed, was clear, solid, and methodical ; but a sermon on the Prodigal, which was published in 1793, is written with much animation. He was certainly a man of genius, as well as goodness. His sermons were composed with much thought and accuracy." 1
" Mr. Moor," says Dr. Withington, " was but about five years the pas- tor of the First Church in Newbury ; a period too short to leave any distinct impression, after the lapse of more than half a century. It is certainly to his credit that he was chosen by a church not harmonizing with him in theology, and that he made his evangelical sentiments so long palatable to so liberal a people. He had not a strong constitution when settled ; and a hemorrhage of the lungs soon terminated his preca- rious ministry. He was not eloquent ; his speech has been described as defective. But he was a modest, mild, judicious man, who sought the salvation of his people without deviating to any extremes. His only publication is two sermons on the Parable of the Prodigal Son."
Mr. Moor married, May 10, 1796, Miss Sarah Hook, daughter of Capt. Josiah and Sarah (Pike) Hook of Salisbury, Mass.
They had three children, -
1. Mary Ann, b. Aug. 1797, in Newbury.
1 Dr. Popkin. See Appendix to his sermons on quitting the old church and enter- ing the new, 1806.
15
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2. Sarah, b. Jan. 1800, in Newbury.
3. Abraham, b. Dec. 3, 1801, in Newbury.
ISAAC BRAMAN,
Was the son of Sylvanus and Experience (Blanchard) Braman, and was born in Norton, Mass., July 5, 1770, the youngest of eleven children, three sons and eight daughters. His parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents, all lived in Norton. He graduated at HI. U. in 1794.
It was said of him, by one who knew him well in childhood, that his disposition was amiable, and his deportment unexceptionable, from his earliest years. At the age of twelve he lost his father. His mother was a woman of consistent piety, and he remained under her care until her second marriage, when he was still quite a youth. He then left the house of his birth and resided with his guardian, where he was employed in diligent labor, and enjoyed religious advantages. He cherished an early and strong desire for a collegiate education, but, meeting with de- cided discouragement from his guardian, he was withheld from entering upon the requisite preparations until the close of his eighteenth year, when he resolutely overcame all obstacles, and applied himself to the necessary studies, under the direction of Dr. Samuel Morey of Norton, and Mr. Stephen Palmer, afterwards minister in Needham. He entered Harvard University in 1790, and graduated in regular course, with an honorable reputation for diligence and scholarship. At the close of his academical career he made choice of the ministerial profession, and, for the purpose of fitting himself for its duties, there being then no theologi- cal institutions, he placed himself successively under the tuition of Rev. Dr. West of New Bedford, Rev. Jason Haven of Dedham, and Rev. Pitt Clark of Norton. After a term of study, quite short compared with the usual course at the present time, he commenced preaching as a candidate for settlement in East Medway, Mass. At the close of the year 1795 he was invited to become pastor of the church in that place ; but as there was a strenuous opposition to the call by a portion of the people, arising from disaffection with his theological sentiments, he declined the proposal, and withdrew, having occupied the pulpit for six or seven months. He preached for the first time in Georgetown, then called New Rowley, Nov. 8, 1796. He received an invitation to take charge of the Congregational Society, Jan. 26, 1797, to which he gave an affirmative answer, after a deliberation of some weeks. The people were divided in opinion on the points in agitation between Hopkinsians and Calvinists, and there was a great warmth of feeling in both parties to the controversy. There was
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a considerable minority to whom the doctrinal views of the candidate were unacceptable, who did not unite in the call, and made great efforts to defeat his ordination, so that the public services on the day designated for this occasion, June 7, 1797, were deferred many hours beyond the appointed time, and were performed in the evening. The fact that Mr. B. was the sixty-fourth candidate employed after the retirement and death of Rev. James Chandler, his predecessor, is an evidence of the ardor and tenacity with which the conflicting opinions were maintained among the people. Their divisions rendered the position of the young pastor one of no small embarrassment, and required a good share of dis- eretion and forbearance, for a successful prosecution of his ministry. He was however enabled to cope with the difficulties with which he was sur- rounded until the controversy subsided. Other forms of trial succeeded, which called into requisition his peculiar qualities of character as long as he continued his pulpit labors. After a service in the pastoral office of more than forty-five years, and he had reached the age of seventy-two, the Rev. Enoch Pond, Jr., son of Rev. Enoch Pond, D. D., Bangor, Maine, was associated with him as colleague, Dec. 5, 1842. Mr. Pond's health failed, and he died at Bucksport, Me., Dec. 17, 1846, about four years from his ordination. He was succeeded by Rev. John M. Prince, who was ordained on the third day of Feb. 1847. In conse- quence of declining health he resigned his pastoral charge in 1857.1 Rev. Chas. Beecher followed, who was installed Nov. 19, of the same year. After Mr. Braman quitted the active labors of his profession, he passed a tranquil and cheerful life in the seclusion of his family, and the enjoyment of the regard and attentions of a kind people, until the period of his death. He was seized with a typhoid fever on the tenth of September, 1858, the effects of which, with the infirmities of an ad- vanced age, brought him to his end the 26th of December following.
His funeral took place on Friday, Dec. 31st. The weather was ex- tremely unfavorable, and prevented in a degree the anticipated attend- ance of clergymen and other friends in the county of Essex and else- where. The number present, however, was quite large. At half-past 10, A. M., the relatives and a few particular friends having assembled at the house of the deceased, prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Parker of Haverhill, and the remains were then conveyed to the church, so long the scene of the ministrations of the departed.
As the body was borne into the church, the organ, in its softest and
1 Mr. Prince was subsequently settled at Bridgewater, Mass., Feb. 23, 1859, and died at that place Nov. 16, 1859.
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most plaintive breathings, gave expression to the sadness pervading the assembly. The church was draped with the emblems of mourning. The galleries were festooned with white and black drapery, which was also disposed in an arch over the pulpit. A chair near the latter, which had been frequently occupied by the venerable pastor, since his failing strength had prevented him from ascending the steps, was also draped with black.
On the coffin was a plate with this inscription, -
REV. ISAAC BRAMAN, Died Dec. 26, 1858, Aged 88 years.
Attached to the plate was a paper, upon which was written, -
" Remember that you have a soul to be saved or lost."
These words were spoken by Mr. Braman on the evening before his death, and were about the last he uttered.
The services commenced with a chant and chorus, -
"Sweet is the scene when Christians die .? '
Prayer was offered, and the ninetieth Psalm read by Rev. Chas. Beecher, of Georgetown, the present pastor, and the choir sang, -
" I heard a great voice from heaven."
Rev. J. M. Prince, former colleague of the deceased, then offered prayer, after which was sung that beautiful hymn, -
" Why do we mourn departed friends !"
A discourse was then preached by the Rev. David T. Kimball, of Ips- wich, an old and intimate acquaintance of Mr. Braman, after which Rev. Mr. Spalding of Newburyport offered the closing prayer, and the choir sang, -
" Unveil thy bosom faithful tomb."
The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Mr. Kimball, and the congre- gation proceeded to look for the last time upon the face of their pastor and friend.
The remains were conveyed to the Union Cemetery, the six oldest clergymen present acting as pall-bearers, the other clergymen preced- ing them. The relatives followed; after them the members of the church and society, and others.
The people in Georgetown are entitled to the warmest thanks of the friends of Mr. Braman for their kind, provident, and unwearied atten- tions to him during his illness, and for their labors of love in behalf of the surviving members of his household. They defrayed the entire ex-
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penses of the funeral, and contributed money for the purchase of mourn- ing apparel.
Resolutions, bearing testimony to the virtues of the deceased, and ex- pressing the sorrow, sympathy, and kindly feelings of the church, were conveyed to the family of Mr. Braman.
It may not be uninteresting to state, that this church, sanctified by so many memories of Mr. Braman, was erected in 1769. It has been thrice enlarged and otherwise improved. The dedication sermon was preached by Whitefield, before the house was quite completed.
Mr. Braman married, Aug. 31st, 1797, Ilannah Palmer (born June 12, 1773), youngest daughter of Rev. Joseph Palmer, of Norton ; she died Aug. 14, 1835.
They had five children, namely, -
1. Harriet, born July 17, 1798; married August 9th, 1821, Rev. John Boardman, minister in West Boylston, Mass., and afterwards East Douglass, Mass., at which latter place he died Nov. 8, 1841.
2. Milton Palmer, born Aug. 6, 1799, grad. II. U. 1819; Andover Theo. Sem. 1824; S. T. D. Dart. Coll. 1852, and Harv. 1854; ord. Danvers Mass., April 12, 1826 : dis. Sept. 2, 1863.
3. James Chandler, born September 29, 1801, died at sea (on his pas- sage from Calcutta for Salem, seventy-five days out), December 5, 1820.
4. Adeline, born July 10, 1805, died September 10, 1830.
5. Isaac Gordon, born March 12, 1813; a physician in Brighton, Mass.
Mr. Braman married for his second wife, March 22, 1837, Saralı Balch, daughter of John Balch, Esq., of Newburyport. She survives him.
The following notice of Mr. Braman is from his neighbor and friend, Rev. L. Withington, D. D., of Newbury.
" Mr. Braman had a long pastorate, nor was it accidental. He had every constituent of a permanent pastor. It was one of the laws of Prov- idence, almost as permanent as the laws of nature. He had good, solid talents, respectable attainments ; a kind of forbearing wit which marked his generosity as much as his power; excellent common sense, and a kind of unostentatious diligence, which was never in a bustle, but showed its energy only in its effects. He elaborated all his sermons ; writing them out in full, and, like the waves of an uniform breeze on the sea, they rolled with equal elevation and power. His manner of speaking was agreeable, but not impressive. He read his sermons, holding his manuscript before his eyes, with no attempt at gesture or eloquence. But every discourse evinced thought and care. His type of piety was even and uniform ; and he was a very profitable and pleasant companion. In writing his sermons, he was a contrast to his neighbor, Dr. Parish.
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Dr. Parish elaborated, with repeated corrections, a few sermons, which he afterwards published ; Braman diffused his exertion over all his per- formances. He lived to be old ; and his last days had the cheerfulness of a ripened piety. No one could see his whole strength or moral excel- lence, without a long acquaintance, and sitting under his ministry for many years. I have spoken of his forbearing wit, - 1 should like to know how many keen repartees his invention had formed, but they died on his lips because his prudence suppressed them."
PUBLICATIONS OF MR. BRAMAN.
1. Eulogy on Gen. Washington, Feb. 22, 1800.
2. Oration, July 4, 1805.
3. Sermon on the Annual Fast, April 5, 1810.
4. Sermon preached in Salisbury, West Parish, July 29, 1810.
5. Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Asahel Huntington of Topsfield, who died Apr. 22, 1813.
6. Sermon preached on the Parochial Fast, July 17, 1817.
7. Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. G. B. Perry, in Groveland, Sept. 28, 1814.
8. Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. John Boardman, at West Boyl- ston, Feb. 28, 1821.
9. Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. Milton P. Braman, at Danvers, April 12, 1826.
10. Sermon preached Lord's day, March 27, 1831.
11. A Centennial Discourse at the reopening of the Cong. Meeting- house, Dec. 6, 1832.
12. A Discourse on the Fiftieth Anniversary of Mr. Braman's Ordi- nation, preached June 7, 1843.
The following inscription was put upon the monument erected by the parishioners of Mr. Braman.
IN MEMORY
OF
REV. ISAAC BRAMAN,
Senior Pastor of the Congregational Church and Society in Georgetown.
He was born in Norton, Bristol County, Mass., July 5, 1770; graduated at
Harvard College, 1794 ; ordained June 7, 1797 ; died Dec. 26, 1858.
Erected by the Parishioners and Friends of Mr. Braman.
Rev. Mr. Braman was a man of decided piety, of great amiability, and much beloved. He possessed a strong mind, sound judgment, un-
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common moral courage, and remarkable discretion. He was well versed in theological learning, a firm believer in the entire inspiration of the Scriptures, and an able and strenuous advocate of the primitive ortho- doxy, institutions, and general principles of the New England churches.
In his preaching, he presented divine truth with clearness and a close application to the consciences of his hearers. In giving counsel, both public and private, he was conspicuous for integrity and wisdom. His love for his people, his friends, his country, and the whole church of Christ, was sincere and strong.
In the pangs of his last sickness he was patient and submissive to the divine will, and if not in triumph, yet in hope, he peacefully yielded up his soul to God who gave it.
DAVID TULLAR,
Was born in Simsbury, Ct., Sept. 22, 1749, graduated at Yale College, 1774; was ordained at Windsor, Vt., March, 1779 ; was dismissed -.
He was installed pastor of the Second Church at Milford, Ct., Nov. 15, 1784; dismissed Nov. 1802.
After hearing Mr. Tullar three or four months, the church and parish in Rowley voted, August 3, 1803, to give him a call, with the salary of $450. This he accepted, and was installed Dec. 7, 1803. In accord- ance with the advice of a mutual council, he was dismissed Oct. 17, 1810, after a ministry of seven years. Mr. Tullar was the first minister dis- missed from the Congregational church in Rowley from the commence- ment, a period of one hundred and seventy-one years.
Subsequently, Mr. Tullar preached some months at Williamstown, Mass., and received a call to settle there; then at Bloomfield and Leroy, in New York, for some seven or eight years, when he returned to Rowley, and for a number of years supplied the parish of Linebrook. When age and infirmity compelled him to discontinue his ministerial labors, he removed to Sheffield, Mass., where he deceased August 23, 1839, nearly at the close of his ninetieth year.
Mr. Tullar married, September 24, 1779, Charity Fellows of Sheffield, Mass. She was daughter of Major Ezra Fellows, and was b. June 14, 1758. She died in Sheffield, Jan. 2, 1849. They had no children.
E. F. Ensign, Esq., of Sheffield, resided with Mr. and Mrs. Tullar in his youth, and in their old age they resided with him. Mr. Ensign was the son of Huldah Fellows, half-sister of Mrs. Tullar.
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DAVID TENNY KIMBALL,
Was the son of Lieut. Daniel and Elizabeth (Tenny ) Kimball, and was born in Bradford, Mass., Nov. 23, 1782. His parents were members of the church at Bradford, and were persons of devoted piety. By them he was consecrated to God in baptism in early life. He united with the church in Bradford, Nov. 13. 1803.
As to the circumstances of his religious conversion, little is known. It appears from those who knew him best, that he was, from his very infancy, the subject, not merely of pious convictions, but of gracious affections toward God. So sober-minded was he in childhood, so exemplary in moral conduct, and so reverential toward God, that some of his friends thought him to have been sanctified from his birth. But he did not think so. In conversation with his eldest son on the subject, lie once remarked, that, while he was in college, there was a time when his mind was exercised in religion as it had never been before, and when his views and feelings underwent such a change that he devoted himself to the ser- vice of God ; and that he had ever since referred to this period as that of his conversion.
His attention was early turned toward the profession of the ministry, and at the age of seventeen he entered Harvard College, from which he graduated with honor in 1803. For one year he was a teacher in Phil- lips Academy, Andover. He studied theology under the direction of Rev. Jonathan French, pastor of the South Church, Andover, on the Abbot Foundation, which was the theological seminary in embryo. He was approbated by the Andover Association, August 6, 1805.
He preachied in the First Church in Ipswich, for the first time, Sept. 22, 1805. It was the custom of this church from the beginning, and of the Puritan churches of New England generally, to observe a day of fasting and prayer previous to their meeting for the choice of a pastor. Such a day was observed by the First Church in Ipswich, June 17, 1806. In the evening the church made choice of Mr. Kimball as their pastor, without a dissenting voice. His ordination occurred Oct. 8, 1806.
The ministry of Father Kimball was long and useful. He was con- scientiously faithful in his work, and found his enjoyment in it. His untiring labors were blessed with the repeated influences of the Holy Spirit. As a monument of his industry, he has left about two thousand sermons written out with remarkable legibility. Indeed, he took a pride in doing with clearness whatever he attempted, and on one occasion, when he was unable to decipher with certainty a note he received from a rev- erend Doctor, he wrote in his reply that his friend deserved to lose one of his D.'s unless he improved in penmanship. From the discourse
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which he preached on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination, we glean the following facts.
At the time of his settlement in Ipswich, the church consisted of fifty- three members, twelve males and forty-one females. During his minis- try there were added to it, three hundred and fifty, of which three hun- dred and twelve were received on profession, and thirty-eight by letter. Only two persons who were members of the church at his ordination, were living Oct. 8, 1856. During his public labors, he attended more than one thousand funerals, of which 970 were in his own parish. He united more than a thousand persons in marriage.
Father Kimball was much esteemed by his brethren of the Associa- tion. He was punctual in his attendance, and was always ready to con- tribute more than his share of time and labor to its interest. He was chosen Scribe of the Association, May 12, 1812, and retained the office till the time of his decease.
He was warmly interested in the education of pious young men for the ministry, and did much to awaken the attention of the churches in his Conference and in the county, to the important claims of the American Education Society, which are too often overlooked by those who should feel bound to foster them. His love for this cause never flagged, and for forty years he annually made his report, at the Conference, and offered his plea for his cherished object. Akin to this, was his interest in the common schools of Ipswich, and in every movement looking toward the better education of the youth of that community.
In the latter part of his ministry a dissatisfaction sprung up between him and his people, which terminated in his dismission from active duty.
He was invited to commemorate his semi-centennial aniversary, Oct. 8, 1856, when he preached in his own pulpit for the last time, from Isaiah 52 : 7.
" The distinct impression which he leaves on the memories of all who knew him, is his fidelity and untiring industry. As the old divines used to say, he was a painful preacher, a painful pastor, a painful scholar, a painful man. This mark pervaded all his performances. His voice was confined in its compass and husky, and yet he contrived to impress on his audience the conclusion of most of his sermons. He always disap- pointed you on the right side, making a deeper impression than you antici- pated. His sermons were very carefully written ; he visited his people with uncommon diligence ; he was a respectable scholar in sacred Greek, but began the Hebrew, after he was forty years old, and by perseverance enabled himself to profit by the exegetical commentaries of the times. O departed brother, if we have something to forget, we have much to re- member; and may thy activity and devotion preach to us forever!" - L. W.
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