USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 3
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June 9, 1752. The Association subscribed thirty-three dollars to the relief of the poor in Boston, in this Season of distress, by reason of the Smallpox, and sent it by Mr. Parsons, going to Medford.
August 11, 1752. Mr. Barnard of Andover, gave an account of a letter received from the honorable Thomas Hubbard, Esq., returning thanks in the name of the overseers of the poor of the Town of Boston, to the Association for thirty-three dollars contributed to them under their distress.
August 8, 1758. The Association, by a Committee, proportioned the charge for printing a late pamphlet entitled " A Vindication, etc.," wrote by one of our number.
This pamphlet was prepared as a defence of Rev. Samuel Bacheller, the first minister of the West Parish in Haverhill, who was accused of heresy, in saying that the work of redemption was finished when Christ uttered the words " It is finished." It was intended as a reply to a large pamphlet written by Joseph Haynes, entitled, " A Discourse in order to 3
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
confute the heresy, delivered and much contended for, in the West Parish in Haverhill, and countenanced by many of the ministers of the neighbor- ing parishes, namely : 'That the blood and water which came from Christ when the soldier pierced his side, his laying in his grave and his resurrection, was no part of the work of redemption, and that his laying in the grave was no part of his humiliation.'" It was printed in 1757. [See a more extended account in the sketch of Rev. Samuel Bacheller.]
1769. June. A motion was made to have a lecture on the forenoon of our Association. Some discussion followed, when it was agreed that each mem- ber should act his pleasure with respect to the lecture. The lecture was preached generally at all the subsequent meetings.
After the death of the Ministers' Meeting at the early age of 54, its records passed into the hands of Rev. Dr. William Symmes of North Andover, and Rev. Elizur Holyoke of Boxford, First Parish, and by them were given to the Wilmington Association, now the Andover. The following is the record :
1792. July 3. Wilmington. The Association, to which this book formerly belonged, having been long since dissolved, the book fell into the hands of the Rev. Messrs. Holyoke and Symmes. who desired the Scribe, in their names, to present it to this Association, if they would please to accept it. It was grate- fully received, and the thanks of the Association were given to Messrs. Holyoke and Symmes for the same.
Voted, That in future the votes and proceedings of the Association shall be recorded in this book.
But why, it may be asked, were these records taken to the Wilming- ton Association in preference to the body occupying most of the ground of the old Ministers' Meeting, and known as the Essex Middle, and now as the Essex North ?
The Wilmington Association was formed July 5th, 1763, nearly two years after the formation of what is now the Essex North. It was evi- dently formed with a bias in the opposite direction from that of the Essex North, and a bias with which Mr. Holyoke, and Dr. Symmes, and Mr. Jonathan French, all of whom became members of it, were in sym- pathy. The 5th and 6th articles of agreement show this bias more dis- tinctly than any statement, namely :
5. We propose to admit no person into our Association as a member, to the grief and displeasure of any one among us.
We propose not to admit into our pulpits any preacher which we think will be to the grief of any of our Association.
The articles were originally signed by
ISAAC MORRILL of Wilmington. THOMAS JONES of Woburn. ELIAS SMITH. ELIAB STONE of Reading.
JONATHAN FRENCH was admitted to it May 7, 1776.
WILLIAM SYMMES was admitted to it July 2, 1782.
ELIZUR HOLYOKE was admitted to it Aug. 6, 1782.
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In May 9, 1797, the name was changed from Wilmington to Andover Association.
The active members of that body, at the time the transfer of the rec- ords was made, were Rev. Henry Cummings, D. D., of Billerica, Rev. Isaac Morrill of Wilmington, Rev. Eliab Stone of Reading, Rev. John Marret of Woburn, Rev. Caleb Prentice of South Reading. Rev. Mr. Morrill of Wilmington, was a decided Arminian, and a bitter opponent of White- field. It is said that Whitefield once sent an appointment for preaching on the common by the meeting-house in Wilmington, when Father Morrill mounted his horse, and rode to every house in town to forbid attendance, thus carrying the notice to every family, and securing for Mr. Whitefield an overwhelming congregation.
Dr. Cummings of Billerica, was a strong revolutionary patriot, and an intelligent, openly determined Arminian.
HAVERHILL ASSOCIATION.
It may be proper here briefly to allude to another ministerial body, whichi, though some eighteen years subsequent to the Essex North Asso- ciation in respect to organization, was yet related to it as occupying a considerable portion of its present field. I refer to the IIaverhill Associa- tion, formed at Haverhill, August 19, 1779.
The plan on which the Haverhill Association was first formed was this :
It having been found by experience that associations of the ministers of the gospel, under proper regulations, are well adapted to promote the design of this sacred office, and subserve the common interest of the churches : -
We, therefore, the subscribers, pastors of neighboring churches, do hereby propose and agree to associate. We agree to meet together at our respective homes in rotation according to seniority, on the Tuesday before the first Sab- bath in May, and the five following months annually. And when met, to take under consideration such matters as may properly come before us relative to our fidelity to each other - to the interests of religion in general and of the churches in particular to which we severally belong - to give and receive, in the spirit of meekness and brotherly love, such advice as may appear most suitable under our present difficulties, as well as those which may subsist in our respective charges. And that all things may be done decently and in order, we agree to choose a moderator who shall continue until another is chosen ; also a scribe to take minutes of our proceedings, and to give attested copies as there may be occasion.
And as public lectures on such occasions have sometimes been given, and, when generally attended by the people, might be to edification, we therefore agree to have public lectures in the parishes or towns where we meet, so long as the people shall give ns countenance and encouragement by manifesting a good disposition to attend them.
In token of this our agreement and association, and, with a serious determi- nation to meet together without needlessly or trivially absenting ourselves, and
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that we will hold the objects seriously in view as above specified, we have here- unto set our respective names :
Haverhill, August 19, 1779.
GYLES MERRILL,
PHINEAS ADAMS, STEPHEN PEABODY, JOHN SIIAW.
The Rev. Gyles Merrill was chosen moderator, and the Rev. Mr. Adams, scribe.
The early records of the Haverhill Association are exceedingly meagre. Under the date of August 19, 1779, we have an account of the organization at Haverhill, but at which parish there is nothing to deter- mine. From this date to October, 1811, when the rules were first re- vised, a period of thirty-two years, there are but twenty-four records made ; and the only items noted are the admission of members, the ap- probation of candidates for the ministry, the choice of officers, and one ordination of an evangelist, namely, - that of Jacob Burbank, at Pelham, N. H., September 14, 1809.
This body was composed of ministers resident in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but principally from the former. In the course of time the Massachusetts element had almost entirely withdrawn ; and on May 7, 1834, the rules of the body were revised, and the name changed to that of the Derry Association. This still exists, and is one of the most important of the associations of New Hampshire, and a curious instance of migration. This body first appointed delegates to the General Association of Massachusetts, May 19, 1807 ; its last appoint- ment was made May 15, 1833. From Dr. Bouton's Historical Dis- course on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the General Association of New Hampshire, it seems that Dr. Church was present and was chosen scribe of that body at its organization, June 8, 1809. At the first meeting, after the organization, John II. Church and John Kelley are enrolled as from the Haverhill North Association. But the first appointment of delegates to the General Associations of New Hampshire, which appears upon the records of the Haverhill Association, was made August 10, 1813. From this time onward until the change in the name, and the body became distinctly an Association of New Hampshire, two sets of delegates were annually chosen to represent the members in their re- spective States.
REVISED RULES.
October, 1811. At Amesbury, W. Parish, Mass.
Then the following regulations, for the government of the Haverhill Asso- ciation, were adopted :
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Article I. There shall be three constitutional meetings of this Association annually.
Article 11. The first annual meeting of this body shall be on the second Tuesday in June. The second meeting shall be on the second Tuesday in Au- gust. The third and last meeting shall be on the second Tuesday in October.
Extra meetings may be called in the following manner: Five members signing a written request to the scribe, and having provided a place for said meeting, and giving this information in the request - it shall be the duty of the scribe to call such meeting, by giving information to those members who did not sign the request.
REGULATIONS.
Article I. The public lecture shall be in the afternoon, on Tuesday the day of the meeting, at such hour as is judged the most convenient by the mem- ber at whose house the meeting is holden. The members shall convene and form before dinner, and the Association shall be in session until twelve the next day.
Business of these meetings: Two sermons shall be read in rotation, begin- ning with the two senior members, followed with remarks.
Article II. There shall at each meeting be two theological questions dis- cussed, beginning with two members next in standing to the two seniors, and the two seniors shall propose the two first questions, and then those who answer questions shall propose the next, without regarding seniority. Questions in theology or morals shall occupy the remaining time.
Article III. It shall be the duty of each member to propose, at the last meeting in the year, a subject for the preachers the next year. The three sen- ior members present shall select from these six subjects, which shall be given by vote of this body to the principals and their seconds.
Article IV. It is expected that the moderator will be attentive that the members conform to these rules.
Article V. It is also expected that the seribe record all votes which re- speet the interest of this body, at the time and place when they shall be taken.
At the first regular meeting under the revised rules, important action was taken on the subject of temperance.
TEMPERANCE.
At a meeting of the Haverhill Association, at the house of Rev. Na- than Bradstreet, in Chester, N. H., on the second Tuesday in June (the 10th), 1812, action was taken with a view to discountenance the improper use of ardent spirits ; and it was
" Voted, That no brother shall be deemed wanting in generosity or hospitality if he neglects to provide ardent spirits for his brethren, when they meet at his house." Rev. Messrs. Smith and Church were also appointed as a Committee to confer with the Londonderry Presbytery on the subject, and to obtain their cooperation with them in measures calculated to prevent the intemperate use of ardent spirits.
The following preamble and rules of conduct were unanimously adopted by the Association at the same time and place :
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
The Haverhill Association being deeply impressed with the numerous evils which grow out of a common and excessive use of spirituons liquors, and feel- ing themselves under sacred obligations to be patterns of sobriety, and to avoid every appearance of evil, do agree to adopt the following as general rules of conduct :
1. This Association agree that they will consider the exhibition of spirit- nous liquors, in their meetings, as no part of brotherly entertainment ; and they agree in common cases of health to refrain wholly from their use.
2. The members of this Association being acquainted with each other's determination, do decide that a brother of this body shall not be deemed defi- cient in the rites of hospitality, who omits in ordinary cases to set spirituons liquors before us, in our common intercourse, but shall be considered as acting a decorous, brotherly, and Christian part.
3. This Association do agree that they will, in their parochial visits, in their social interviews and circles, in their attendance on funeral and marriage solemnities, do all they deem consistent with Christian prudence to discounte- nance and suppress the common use of ardent spirits.
4. This Association, feeling a deep and tender concern for the temporal and eternal welfare of the people under their parochial care, beg leave to solicit their particular attention to this important subject. They unitedly and carnestly recommend, that they would refrain from the use of ardent spirits, in their friendly and social intercourse ; and in particular on funeral occasions, when God is calling us to solemn thoughtfulness, that every thing might be avoided which tends to weaken the impression and render us less mindful of our latter end.
A further revision of the articles of the Association, was made and adopted at a meeting in Bradford, June 13, 1815. Under these regula- tious the body continued, without any material alterations, until 1834.
October 10, 1815. Professor Ebenezer Porter, of Andover, was admitted a member.
June 9, 1818. Tompkins, Eaton, and. Dodge, were appointed a Commit- tee to revise the questions to be proposed to candidates for the ministry.
August 3, 1819. The subject of a Ministerial Library was referred to Eaton, Tompkins, and Church, as a Committee. The records give no account of their final action. Same date, Parker, Church, and Harris, were appointed a Committee to prepare and publish in the Concord Observer, Essays on the regulations and utility of Sabbath Schools. Same date. Tompkins, Eastman, and Kelley. were appointed a Committee to collect facts respecting the pro- fanation of the Sabbath, and disasters happening to transgressors ; with a view of publishing a traet on the subject.
October 12, 1819. The word license is used for the first time in the records, in the place of the word approbation, in recommending candi- dates for the ministry.
June 13, 1820. The Association had a conference on this question, " Is it lawful for a man to yoke his team and endeavor thereby to secure grain or hay on the Sabbath day from apprehended damage ?" The records do not give the conclusion to which they came.
August 7, 1821. Voted, To have a special meeting of the Association for prayer, at Atkinson, August 29th.
June 11, 1822. Special action was taken to secure the preaching of the gospel to the vacant societies in Nottingham West, Litchfield, and Atkinson, N. II., and Haverhill West. Inquiries were directed to be made respecting Manchester, Sandown, Hawke, and Newtown, N. H.
August 12, 1823. Considered the subject of ordaining two young men to the work of the gospel ministry, and deferred the subject till to-morrow morn-
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ing at eight o'clock, with a view of calling in delegates from some of the neigh- boring churches.
August 13. Voted, To resolve the Association into an ecclesiastical council, together with those delegates who are present, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. William Shed and Mr. William W. Niles as evangelists, and appointed Rev. John H. Church as assistant Scribe.
This was evidently a departure from the original design of the Associa- tion, and an encroachment upon the independence of the churches. It was an assumption of power which is very infrequent in the history of similar bodies, and can only be accounted for by the presence of several members of the Londonderry Presbytery in the Association. This action in the ordination of evangelists was probably without any intentional tres- pass on the well-established usage of Congregational churches. But it is instructive, in showing how easily important departures are taken from the simplicity of our polity. There is, it is true, a deference shown to Congregational custom in delaying until the next day final action, that delegates of the churches might be summoned.
But it is very plain that no meeting of any church could be regularly called in that brief space of time, and delegates appointed. It seems more like the action of a session and a presbytery.
October 10, 1826. Voted, That it is expedient to form a conference of churches. Church, Kelly, and Ingraham, were appointed a Committee to draft a constitution.
The movement of forming local conferences in New England, origi- nated in almost all cases in the Associations.
In 1832, an effort was made to form a new Association by taking sev- eral brethren from the Haverhill and Andover Associations. This pro- ject, however, failed. It is probable that the brethren found much prac- tical inconvenience in being in two States. For within four years after this scheme was abandoned, the four churches in Haverhill and the one in Bradford united with the Essex North Association. The church in West Amesbury had done the same thing in 1827.
Thus one by one the Massachusetts churches withdrew, leaving the Haverhill Association to become, May 7, 1834, the Derry Association of New Hampshire.
In the fifty-five years of its history, as representing in part the churches of Massachusetts, it had forty members, and eighty licentiates. Of the ten churches of this State once connected with that body, all but two, Dracut and Methuen, are now within the present bounds of the Essex North Association. :
The whole number of different churches connected with it from 1779 to 1834 was nineteen, of which ten were in Massachusetts and nine in New Hampshire.
The names of the churches in Massachusetts, and the dates of their
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connection, were as follows. Haverhill Centre, West, and North, 1779. West Boxford, Methuen, and Bradford, 1788. Amesbury West, 1791. Haverhill East, 1797. Amesbury First Church, 1805. Professor Porter, 1815, and Dracut, 1816.
The churchies of New Hampshire, and the dates of their connection, were as follows. Atkinson, 1779. Hampstead, 1793. Salem, 1797. Chester, 1801. Pelham. 1809. Windham, 1810. Derry First Church, 1811. Londonderry, 1832. Auburn, 1834.
We thus find traces of three different ministerial bodies on the territory now occupied by the Essex North Association. First, the " Ministers' Meeting," which was formed in 1719, and became extinct about 1773. Its records are in fine preservation, and are held by the Andover Associ- ation. Its Moderators, it would seem, were chosen at each meeting. Its Scribes were, John Brown, 1719-1735 ; Moses Parsons, 1735-1745 ; Thomas Barnard, 1745-1750; Edward Barnard, 1750.
Of the second body there are various notices, but as yet we can find no traces of its records. It embraced the ministers in the south-eastern part of New Hampshire, and a few in the north-eastern corner of Massa- chusetts. The third body is the "Haverhill Association." Its records are in the keeping of the Derry Association, N. H. It did not die, but had a transmigration.
ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
1
THE ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION was formed in Rowley, West Parish (now Georgetown), September 8, 1761.
The following is a list of its officers, from its organization to the pres- ent time :
Rev. Jedediah Jewett was elected Standing Moderator September 8, 1761 ; which office he held until his death, May 8, 1774. Rev. James Chandler was chosen June 14, 1774, and died April 19, 1789. John Cleveland was chosen 1789, and died April 22, 1799. Joseph Dana, D. D., was chosen May 14, 1799. In consequence of some misunderstanding he did not meet with the Association, and the office was declared vacant, and Samnel Spring, D. D., was chosen September 9, 1806. Explanations having been made, Dr. Spring resigned July 12, 1808, and, at the same meeting, Dr. Dana was re-ehosen, and eontin- ued in ofhiee until his death, November 16, 1827. Isaac Braman was chosen October 30, 1832, and died December 26, 1858. Luther F. Dimmick, D. D., was chosen April 17, 1860, died May 16, 1860. Leonard Withington, D. D., was chosen June 19, 1860.
The Scribes of the Association, have been, -
Moses Parsons, elected September 8, 1761 ; died December 11, 1783 ; holding office twenty-two years. David Tappan, D. D., elected April 20, 1784 ; resigned about 1793 ; holding office nine years. Samuel Spring, D. D., elected May 14,
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ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
1793; resigned 1805; holding office twelve years. Leonard Woods, D. D., elected June, 1805 ; resigned May 12, 1812 ; holding office seven years. David T. Kimball was elected May 12, 1812; died February 3, 1860 ; holding office forty-eight years. Samuel J. Spalding, elected February 21, 1860.
The purpose of this Association is well set forth in the following declaration :
We, the subscribers, pastors of churches in the vicinity, in the county of Essex, in New England, beholding and being affected with the declining state of religion in our several congregations, and round about us ; and agreeing with the late Rev. Dr. Doddridge, that one thing which may serve as a means of the revival of it, is that neighboring ministers in one part of the land and another should enter into Associations to strengthen the hands of each other, by united consultation and prayer ; and seeing many of our brethren in the ministry are associated, we think it may answer many valuable ends for us to associate also ; which we do with greater cheerfulness because of our present agreement respecting the doctrines of the gospel.
And that our Association meetings may answer the valuable ends proposed, we consent to the plan proposed by the aforesaid Rev. Dr. Doddridge, and oblige ourselves to conform to the following rules :
I. That our Association meetings be held at certain periodical seasons, (namely), on the second Tuesday of each month, except those months of the year which shall be thought inconvenient for the Association to meet in. These meetings to be at our respective houses alternately, - reserving to ourselves liberty to alter the time of our meetings as the major part shall think proper.
II. That each member of the Association shall endeavor (if possible) to be present, studying to order his affairs so as to guard against unnecessary hinderances.
III. At every Association meeting the minister at whose house we convene shall open the meeting with prayer, and the minister at whose House we are next to convene shall close the meeting with prayer.
IV. That there shall be a public exercise at each meeting of the Associ- ation. The public worship to begin at eleven o'clock, A. M., and that each Pastor at these assemblies take part in his turn. The minister at whose House the meeting is, to be excused from preaching or any part of the public exercises of the day.
V. That after a moderate repast, to be managed with as little trouble and expense as may be, an hour or two in the afternoon be spent in religious Con- ference and Prayer, and in taking into consideration (merely as friends in council, and without the least pretence to any right of authoritative decision) the concerns of any Brother or any Society, which may be brought before us for advice.
VI. That every member of this Association, shall consider it as an addi- tional obligation upon him, to endeavor to be, so far as he justly and honorably can, a Friend and Guardian to the Reputation, Comfort, and Usefulness of all his Brethren in the Christian ministry, near or remote, of whatever Party or Denomination.
Dated at Rowley, September 8, 1761.
JEDEDIAH JEWETT, JAMES CHANDLER, MOSES HALE, MOSES PARSONS, THOMAS HIBBERT, GEORGE LESLIE, JOHN CLEVELAND,
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There are four particulars in this document worthy of special notice :
(a) The devotional element. It provides for a public religious service, and a season of conference and prayer at each meeting. And this course, we have reason to think, was very strictly adhered to. On looking over the records of the first fifty years of this Association, I find but two or three instances in which the advice of the Association was sought in cases of difficulty. That which formed the staple business of the " Ministers' Meeting," and also of the " Wilmington Association," as the records of each show, was almost entirely unknown to our fathers of the Essex North. Their meetings were for mutual religious improvement, and to this end all their efforts were directed.
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