USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 24
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authorized to invite the Methodists to poll back to this parish." March 28, 1833, " Resolved, that, on condition the Methodists will come back and unite with the parish, and assist in building a new meeting-house on the spot where the old one now stands, we will guarantee said meeting- house to them exclusively for the benefit of a minister of their denomi- uation to preach in for any term of years, not to exceed ten from the time of its dedication, and likewise the use and improvement of the parsonage lands and buildings for the time aforesaid ; provided they will give liberty for a minister of any other denomination, in good standing in the society to which he belongs, to preach or lecture on the Sabbath, or any other day or evening, when not improved by a minister of their de- nomination, if requested to do so by some person or persons belonging to this parish." This resolve was unanimously adopted, and was, on the same day, communicated to the Methodists, and by them unanimously accepted with the following amendment, viz., -" That the new meeting- house shall be open at all times for such preachers to preach in as shall be appointed from the Methodist Conference to preach in this station or circuit from year to year, and the use of the parsonage shall be for the support of such preacher from year to year for the term of ten years ; and the Methodist Episcopal church in this parish shall have the right of holding all meetings of religious worship for the same time of ten years; and at any time when said meeting-house shall not be used by the Meth- odists according to the above, any orthodox preacher may preach in said house ; and, after the expiration of ten years, it shall take two-thirds of the legal voters in the parish to deprive the Methodists of the right to use the said house and parsonage." The parish accepted this amend- ment, only substituting the word "majority " for " two-thirds," to which the Methodists acceded.
By the above arrangement, the parish and meeting-house, and parson- age property, passed permanently into the hands of the Methodists. So far as appears, no effort was ever made by the Congregationalists, after the expiration of the ten years, to gain possession again.
The last service in the old house was held April 14, 1833, at which Rev. L. F. Dimmiek, of Newburyport, preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion. At the time this arrangement was made with the Meth- odists, the old church was very small. Just how long it continued to exist cannot be ascertained. In the fall of 1834, six persons were re- ceived into communion on profession of their faith, and these were prob- ably the last. A few years later, the surviving members who could not be converted to Methodism united with the different churches in New- buryport. After the ministry of Mr. Noyes terminated, the parish ex- tended a call to several persons, while others were hired to preach
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THE CHURCHES OF ESSEX NORTH.
temporarily. Nov. 14, 1793, a call was extended to Rev. Jonathan Brown, which he declined. March 26, 1799, " Voted, to hire Rev. Mr. Pickering one year." March 25, 1800, " Voted, to hire Rev. Mr. Williston one year." Dec. 19, 1806, gave a call to Mr. McLane " to settle for four years in the Congregational form." He declined. March 22, 1808, gave Mr. McLane a call "for five years or more, with the liberty of preaching half the time at East Kingston." He accepted, but only re- mained a short time. July 26, 1810, " Voted, to hire Rev. Daniel Gould one year." Dec. 13, 1810, " Voted, to lire Rev. Daniel Gould three years in addition to the one for which he is already engaged." Nov. 27, 1811, " Voted, to hire Mr. IIull one half of the time for one year." Similar votes were passed Feb. 4, 1813, and Jan. 14, 1815.
Sept. 30, 1816, " Voted, to engage Mr. Harlow for one year." July 24, 1817, " Voted, to continue Mr. Harlow." Similar votes Ang. 10, 1818, and Aug. 30, 1810. April 25, 1820, " Voted, to hire Rev. Mr. Thurston part of the time in connection with the West Parish." April 30, 1822, " Voted, to continue to hire Rev. Wm. C. Grant one half of the time." Similar vote the next year. March 31, 1825, " Voted, to hire Dea. Jabez True to preach the whole or part of the time." Dea. True was a Baptist, and was probably the last person employed to preach statedly by tlie Congregationalists.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN AMESBURY.
This was the third of the golden candlesticks to be removed out of its place. The church records cannot be found, though supposed to be in existence.
The church was probably organized in 1668. Its pastors were as follows : - Rev. Thomas Wells, ord. 1672; died 1734. Rev. Edmund March, ord. July 3, 1728; diss. March 12, 1743. Rev. Elisha Odlin, ord. Jan. 25, 1744 ; died 1752. Rev. Thomas Hibberd, ord. Nov. 6, 1754 ; diss. 1781. Rev. Benjamin Bell, ord. Oct. 13, 1784; diss. 1790. Rev. Stephen Hull, ord. 1802; diss. 1811. Rev. Benjamin Sawyer, inst. June 19, 1816 ; ceased to preach 1841.
From 1669 to 1672, a Mr. Hubbard (spelled also in the town records, Hobbert, Hobberd, Hobards), preached. Dec. 3, 1669, the town voted, "That fifty acres of land, already granted to the minister, be now granted to Mr. Hobbert, in case he live with us four years."
There is some doubt whether Mr. Wells was actually settled before 1692, though he began preaching in 1672. Oct. 25, 1689, it was voted, that " Ye town was cleare of Mr. Wells, and Mr. Wells was cleare of ye town." Dec. 26, 1689, the " town made choice of Mr. Wells to be their minister for this year." A similar vote was passed in 1690 and in 1691.
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March 21, 1692, " Voted, that we be willing to have Mr. Wells to be our minister, to settle amongst us, and to allow him £50 a year at pres- ent, and more when we are able." Mr. Wells accepted this call. May 18, 1694, " Voted to give Mr. Wells £20 to keep a school and teach all persons that attend except such little ones as cannot say their A B C's."
No copy of any covenant used by this church can now be found, nor can I learn any thing important concerning its history for the first century after its organization. Its decline seems to date from the troubles which sprung up during Mr. Hibberd's ministry, and resulted in the secession of a portion of the church and society, who set up separate worship as Presbyterians, taking Mr. Hibberd with them. He was a man with whom temperance was not a crowning virtue. It is related of him, that while conducting the funeral of a person killed by another when intoxica- ted, he was himself so under the influence of liquor, as to say, in the course of his remarks, "I would sooner pour down my throat a glass of boiling lead, than of that d-d N. E. rum !"
His successor, Mr. Bell, was an able man, but addicted to the cups, and the habit grew upon him after he left the ministry to such an extent, that when death came for him, it found him in the poor-house.
Mr. Hull had the same infirmity, and the church waned under him. He was not a strong man ; was at first a Methodist, and one council re- fused to settle him. Dr. Woods, of Andover, is reported to have said of him, that he " was all hull."
Under Mr. Sawyer, the church, for a time, rallied, and was united and prosperous. But the centre of population had changed, and most of the people found it more convenient to worship elsewhere, churches having been formed near by on either side. Mr. Sawyer continued to preach there regularly till 1835, and half the time till 1841, and occasionally till 1847. The church then ceased to meet, and so became extinct, with- out any formal act of disbandment. Mr. Sawyer was never formally dismissed, but his relation as pastor practically terminated in 1841. The meeting-house remained standing till within a few years. Mr. Sawyer says, that in it the first temperance society north of the Merrimac River, in Essex Co., was formed, - an eminently fit place. The old sounding- board over the pulpit was surmounted by a spread eagle, bearing upon his breast an open Bible, and in each talon a hymn-book.
THE CHURCH AT PARKER RIVER VILLAGE, NEWBURY.
This was the fourth church in Essex North to become extinct. Its existence was brief. It built no meeting-house, and had no settled pastor. The following sketch has been furnished by one familiar with the facts (Dea. Danforth) :
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THE CHURCHES OF ESSEX NORTH.
" In the spring of 1829, Rev. Humphrey Perley (Unitarian), who was teaching school in this district, began to preach in the school-house, at the solicitation of the people. A religious society was soon formed ; and Mr. Perley continued to preach, in connection with his teaching, until April, 1832. The religious interest which prevailed so extensively at that time, appeared here. Under the ministrations of the neighboring pastors, and the students of the Theological Seminary (Andover), who now began to preach here regularly, a goodly number were converted. It was thought best, in order to preserve the interest, that these should be gathered into a church ; though it was not expected that it could be a permanent organization, as the population was not such as made a growth, sufficient for self-support, possible.
" A council of pastors and delegates from the neighboring churches met Nov. 2, 1832, and organized a church of twenty-eight members ; twenty-seven professing their faith, and one coming from another church. Subsequently, eight more were received.
" Preaching was continued seven years by students from the Seminary at Andover. The church retained its organization until October, 1846. At this time, it had been reduced, by death and dismissals, to fourteen members, several of whom were non-residents. It was therefore thought expedient by the members, with the advice of neighboring pastors, to dis- solve their separate organization, and become connected with other churches.
"Two of the neighboring pastors, - Dr. Withington and Dr. Dimmick, - with their delegates, met with the church ; and, after hearing .the reasons for the dissolution, the necessary steps were taken to transfer the members to other churches. These being carried out, the church was dissolved."
THE WINTER STREET CHURCH, HAVERIIILL.
This closes our list of extinct churches. Organized May 15, 1839. Its pastors were, - Rev. Job H. Martyn, settled May 15, 1839, dis- missed May 3, 1841 ; Rev. Charles Fitcli, settled May 23, 1841, dis- missed May 8, 1842; Rev. George W. Finney, settled June 12, 1842, dismissed 1843 ; Rev. D. N. Merritt, settled Jan. 1, 1844, dismissed July 10, 1848 ; Rev. Samuel J. Comings, settled Dec. 5, 1848, dismissed April 20, 1852 ; Rev. Leonard S. Parker, installed June 1, 1853, dis- missed March 26, 1860.
The following Principles of Church Government, and Confession of Faith and Covenant, were adopted at its organization :
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EXTINCT CHURCHES.
PRINCIPLES.
1. We hold that the Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme Head and Lawgiver of the church.
2. That the Bible is the supreme and only binding code of laws for the gov- ernment of the church, and that, in all matters of government and discipline, the church is bound to follow the gospel rules.
3. That each congregation of Christians meeting in one place, and united by a solemn covenant, is a complete church, having no superior but the Lord Jesus Christ, subject to no authority but his, and from him deriving the right to choose its own pastor and church officers, and to discipline its own members.
4. That between the churches so constituted, as also between all ministers, there is a perfect equality ; but that mutual fellowship and communion should subsist between them, leading them to seek each other's counsel and advice or rebuke whenever needed.
5. That, such church being made by the Lord Jesus Christ the sole deposi- tory of all ecclesiastical power, ecclesiastical bodies distinct from the church, by whatever name they may be called, are only advisory, and have no right to re- verse or annul the decisions of a particular church.
6. That the ministry is of Divine origin, intended for the sanctification of believers, for the conversion of sinners, and the reproof of the wicked, and to continue to the end of the world.
7. That deacons were appointed in the primitive church for the assistance of the ministry, and the care of the temporal concerns of the church.
8. That every individual church should be supplied with pastors and deacons according to the pattern of the primitive church. 1
9. That the choice of pastors and deacons should be made by the whole church, and that they should be set apart to their office by prayer and the lay- ing on of hands.
10. That the admission of members to the communion should be the act of the church at large, and that the Lord Jesus Christ has laid upon the church the duty of watching over its own members, and of administering discipline, as an important exercise of Christian graces, and a means of sanctification.
11. That in all cases of offence, either against individual members or the church at large, discipline should proceed upon the rule laid down in the 18th chapter of Matthew, verses 15-18.
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH.
ART. 1. You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
TRINITY.
2. You believe that the Scriptures teach that the Lord our God, who is one Lord, subsists in an incomprehensible Trinity, denominated the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
CREATION AND GOVERNMENT OF GOD.
3. That God created all things for his own glory, and administers over moral beings a most wise and holy moral government; and that, as a sovereign, he also administers a universal providential government, all the events of which he so disposes as to subserve the highest interests of his moral kingdom.
PRIMITIVE STATE OF MAN-THE FALL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
4. That Adam's first moral character was holy, but, since he sinned, every
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THE CHURCHES OF ESSEX NORTH.
person begins to sin when he becomes a moral agent in the sight of God ; and although this result is connected with the sin of Adam, yet not so connected but that it is the sinner's own voluntary choice of wickedness.
DEPRAVITY OF MAN.
5. That all the moral exercises of unregenerate men are wholly sinful, and that continually.
NATURE AND DESERT OF SIN.
6. That sin, being a transgression of God's law, deserves eternal death.
WAY OF SALVATION.
6. That God has made an atonement for sin, by the death of his beloved Son, sufficient for the wants and salvation of all mankind, which is freely and sincerely offered to all ; and yet those only will be saved who repent of sin, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
AGENCY OF THE HOLY GHOST IN REGENERATION.
8. That while all men voluntarily reject this salvation, God, by the influence of the Spirit, employs the truth of the Bible to induce as many to accept it as he can consistently with the wisest administration of his government according to his eternal purpose.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.
9. That although the saints, if left to themselves, would fall away and perish, yet they will differ from hypocrites and apostates by persevering in voluntary obedience to God's commandments; being secured from falling away by the promise of God, and kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
GROUNDS OF ADMISSION TO TIIE CHURCHI.
10. That credible evidence of a change of heart is an indispensable ground of admission to the privileges of the visible church.
INSTITUTIONS OF CHRIST.
11. That Christ has appointed baptism and the Lord's Supper to be perpetu- ally observed in the church ; the former to signify the necessity of holiness of heart, and the latter as an expression of faith in the atonement made for sin by the death of Christ.
DUTIES OF CHRISTIANS.
12. That the keeping of the moral law as a rule of life ; a conscientious and uniform attendance on public, family, and secret worship; and an unreserved and entire consecration of property, influence, talents, and time, to promote the glory of God and the salvation of men, are duties which every Christian is bound to observe.
PERPETUITY OF THE CHURCH, FINAL JUDGMENT, AND FUTURE STATE.
13. That God will have a church in the world to the end of time, after which the dead will be raised, and be judged according to their conduct in this life ; the righteous will be received into everlasting life; and the wicked will go away into everlasting punishment.
Do you now, before God and his people, adopt and profess your belief in the foregoing summary of gospel doctrine and duty ?
COVENANT.
Professing unfeigned sorrow for your past sins, and renouncing all ungodli- ness and every worldly lust, you do now, in the presence of God, angels, and
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men, solemnly avouch the LORD JEHOVAH to be your God and portion, the object of your supreme love and delight; and the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be your Saviour from sin and death, your Prophet to instruct you, your Priest to atone and intercede for you, and your King to rule, protect, and enrich you ; and the HOLY GHOST to be your Sanctifier. Comforter. and Guide, looking to HIM for light, grace, and peace. Unto this TRIUNE GOD - this wonderful " Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," into which we are baptized - you do now, without reserve, give yourselves away, in a eove- nant never to be revoked, to be his willing servants forever, to observe all his commandments and all his ordinances, in the sanctuary, in the family, and in the closet.
You receive the brethren in Christ of this church as your brethren, and his friends as your friends; and promise to watch over them with all Christian fidelity and tenderness. You do also submit yourself to the government of Christ in his church, and to the regular administration of it in this church in particular.
You promise to assemble with the people of God during the week, as oppor- tunity may afford, particularly upon stated and occasional meetings of the church, for the purpose of instruction and devotion; and to discharge all those duties by which God may be glorified, and the religion of the Bible extended and established among men.
You do also bind yourselves by covenant to this church, to watch over us in the Lord, to seek our purity, peace, and edification, and conscientiously to sub- mit to the government of discipline of Christ as here administered ; counting it a privilege and a favor - not a privation or a grievance - to be subject in the Lord to authority which himself hath established in his church.
All this, in the Divine strength, you do severally profess and engage.
The following sketch of this church was prepared by its last pastor :
" This church had its origin in a difference which arose in the Centre Congregational Society in 1838, in the act of choosing a successor to Rev. Joseph Whittlesey. A council having declined to install over them Rev. Job H. Martyn, some of the members of this church and some from the Baptist church desired him to remain in town. He soon commenced preaching at the Academy Hall. An interest in religion shortly ap- peared, issuing in the organization of Winter Street Church. Its rec- ords run thus : ' A number of brethren, members of the Congregational and Baptist churches of Haverhill, feeling that the interests of the cause of Christ required the organization of a new church in this place, met at the house of brother Joseph Johnson on Thursday, May 2d, for consulta- tion on the subject. After a season of prayer, and a free and protracted discussion of the subject, it was unanimously " Resolved, That, in the judgment of this meeting, the interests of the cause of Christ demand the organization of a new church in this village."' One week later, 'a Confession of Faith, Covenant, and Principles of Church Government' were adopted. May 15th, 1839, twenty-eight persons - eleven males and seventeen females -- were formed into a church; Rev. Job H. Mar- tyn officiating, no council being called. Rev. J. H. Martyn was chosen, on the same day, its first pastor.
" During the first eleven years of its existence, this church stood alone.
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THE CHURCHES OF ESSEX NORTH.
By request of the church, a council from the neighboring Congregational churches met May 7, 1850, and, after careful inquiry, resolved to re- ceive this church into 'fellowship,' provided ' they would adopt the Congregational platform as the basis of their ecclesiastical order.' To this the church unanimously agreed, and were recognized publicly May 15, 1850.
"The Second Advent excitement in 1842-43 greatly injured this church. Quite a number of its members was carried away by it ; oth- ers withdrew to other meetings. The church did not recover from the shock for ten or twelve years.
" A meeting-house was erected on the corner of Winter and Franklin streets soon after the formation of the church. In 1850 it was remod- elled ; and again, in 1858, twenty pews were added, a spacious vestry put into the basement, and other improvements made, at a cost of $3,000. A fine organ also was set up in the church at an expense of $1,000. Under the ministry of Rev. Mr. Parker, the number of the church was trebled, and the society increased in like manner. The Sabbath School became one of the largest in the village, being mainly composed of the children of parents who did not regularly attend public worship.
" The formation of the North Congregational Church in 1859, led some to inquire whether it would not be best to unite this church with that and the Centre Church. A family feud, that was unexpectedly revived and brought into the church, resisting its utmost efforts to settle it, though aided by the unanimous advice of two councils, and issuing in the seces- sion of thirty-four members, strengthened the persuasion in the minds of many that this was the path of duty. After most careful consultation with friends most competent to judge and advise in the case, and earnest prayer for Divine guidance, the vote to disband was unanimously passed June 25, 1860.
" During its brief existence of twenty-one years, this church had been useful in many ways. Its work was pioneer, missionary work. Its his- tory has bright pages along with dark ones. It is believed that no church in this region ever showed a more self-sacrificing spirit in sus- taining public worship. Its late members are now valued members of the Centre Church, and of other churches ; while some have joined the church triumphant above."
CHURCHES DENOMINATIONALLY EXTINCT.
Two of the ancient churches of Essex North have departed from their original orthodoxy, and are now in connection with the Unitarian denom- ination.
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CHURCHES DENOMINATIONALLY EXTINCT.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN NEWBURYPORT.
This (formerly the Third Church in Newbury) was organized Jan. 12, 1726. Before its connection with our denomination was fully sundered, it had three pastors : Rev. John Lowell, ordained Jan. 19, 1726, died May 15, 1767 ; Rev. Thomas Carey, ordained May 11, 1768, died Nov. 24, 1808 ; Rev. John Andrews, ordained Dec. 10, 1788, resigned May 1,1830.
Since the church became avowedly Unitarian, it has had four pastors : Rev. Thomas B. Fox, ordained Aug. 3, 1831, dismissed April, 1844; Rev. Thomas W. Higginson, ordained Sept. 15, 1847, dismissed Sept., 1849 ; Rev. Charles Bowen, ordained Nov. 20, 1850, dismissed Nov., 1853; Rev. A. B. Muzzey, installed Sept. 3, 1857.
The following is the covenant adopted by the church at its organiza- tion. It was prepared by Rev. Caleb Cushing, of Salisbury :
" Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God, of his free grace, to call and accept us sinful creatures into covenant with his Majesty in Christ, we do therefore, in a deep sense of our own unworthiness, and with an humble dependence on Divine grace for assistance and acceptance, sol- emnly professing our firm belief of the Christian faith according to the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures, avouch the God whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be our God, and the God of our seed ; and do make a firm covenant with his Majesty in Christ, and one with another, promising, through his grace, to give up ourselves to God in Christ, - acknowledging him to be our Prophet, Priest, and King, - to submit to his government, to all his holy laws and ordinances, to shun all errors with all ungodliness and unrighteousness, and to walk before him in all things according to the rules of his holy Word ; and to walk together, as a church of Christ, in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, in mutual love and watchfulness, for the carrying of the worship of God, and promoting our mutual edification in faith and holiness."
For some time, this was a large, prosperous, and influential church. During Mr. Lowell's ministry, five hundred and seventeen were received into full communion, and two thousand two hundred and twenty-nine were baptized. In 1775, to render easier the act of uniting with the church by diminishing its publicity, it was voted that candidates, after being propounded a fortnight, as usual, might be admitted by assenting to the covenant " before the church only."
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