USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 32
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It does not appear from the records of the church that any covenant was substituted for the foregoing, until the adoption of the creed and
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covenant which are now in use. They were adopted at a meeting of the church, May 21, 1850.
No intimations are given in the church records, nor are any furnished by tradition of revivals of religion to any marked extent, previously to the death of Dr. Eaton, in 1848. In 1832, fifteen persons were received into the church on profession, and as powerful revivals were then of very frequent occurrence, it may be inferred, that this church shared in them to some degree. In 1851 and in 1857, revivals also occurred, resulting in quite large additions to the church. During the "Great Awakening" this church took a somewhat hostile attitude to revivals. Its pastor bore an active part in opposition to Mr. Whitfield, and the church felt itself obliged to discipline several of its members, on account of their conduct in favor of revival measures. The church probably has never, till within the last sixteen years, been decidedly Orthodox, and during the ministry of Dr. Eaton, was avowedly Unitarian. These circumstances may ac- count in part for the dearth of revivals by which its history has been marked.
FIRST CHURCH IN BRADFORD.
BY REV. J. T. M'COLLOM.
This church was organized Dec. 27, 1682. Has had ten pastors, viz. :
Rev. Zechariah Symmes, installed Dec. 27, 1682; died March 22, 1707.
Rev. Thomas Symmes, installed Dec., 1708 ; died Oct. 6, 1725.
Rev. Joseph Parsons, ordained June 8, 1726; died May 4, 1765.
Rev. Samuel Williams, ordained Nov. 20, 1765 ; dismissed June 14, 1780.
Rev. Jonathan Allen, ordained June 5, 1781 ; died March 6, 1827.
Rev. Ira Ingraham, installed colleague Dec. 1, 1824; dismissed April 5,1830.
Rev. Loammi Ives Hoadly, installed Oct. 13, 1830; dismissed Jan. 30, 1833.
Rev. Moses C. Searle, installed Jan. 30, 1833 ; dismissed March, 1834.
Rev. Nathan Munroe, ordained Feb. 10, 1836; dismissed Jan. 25, 1854.
Rev. James T. McCollom, installed Jan. 25, 1854.
The original Confession of Faith, if there was one, has not been pre- served. An instrument called " an instrument to pacification and mutual obligation to church union and order" was adopted, and entered on the
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minutes of the church, as early as April 20, 1683. The instrument is subjoined :
" We whose names are subscribed, being awfully sensible that we live in an age wherein God hath in part executed that dreadful threatening to take peace from the earth, and wherein Satan (that great makebate and author of confusion) doth, by God's permission. exceedingly rage, even in the visible church of God; and wherein that wicked one is sow- ing the tares of discord almost in every Christian society (the sad effects of which we that are the inhabitants of the town of Bradford have for some years past experimentally felt, and have yet the bitter remembrance of), - we being now, through the rich and undeserved mercy of God in , Christ Jesus, under hopeful probability of settling a church of Christ in Bradford, - do take this occasion as to express our hearty and unfeigned sorrow and humiliation for what unchristian differences have broken out among us to the dishonor of God's name, the grief of his Spirit, and to the obstructing of the work and kingdom of Jesus Christ. and to the hin- dering of our peace and edification : so also, in the name of God, and by his gracious help, seriously and solemnly to engage and promise, for the future, to forgive and forget, to the utmost of our endeavors, all former unchristian animosities, distances, alienations, differences, and contests, private or more public, personal or social. that have arisen ever among us, or between us and others ; to pass a general act of amnesty and ob- livion on them all, and not to speak of them, to the defamation of each other, at home in Bradford town, much less abroad in any other place, nor to repeat or revive them, unless called by Scripture rule or lawful authority to mention them for the conviction or spiritual advantage of each other. Besides, we promise, through the grace of God, that, in case God, in his most wi-e and holy providence, should permit any offences, for the future, to break forth among us (which we desire God, of his infinite mercy, would prevent as far as may be for his own glory and our own good), that we will then conscientiously endeavor to attend to Scripture rules for the healing and removing of them, and those rules in particular (Lev. 19: 17. Matt. 18: 15) ; and to bring no matter of grievance against each other to our minister or to the church, but in a scriptural and orderly way and manner. That we may be helped invio- lably to observe this our agreement, we desire the assistance of each other's mutual both Christian and church watch, that we may be moni- tors or remembrancers to each other of this branch of our covenant ; as also the instant and constant prayers of each other, that God would ena- ble us carefully to observe this instrument of our pacification, and our conditional obligation to church union and order, that God's name may be honored by us, and we may experience God's commanding his bless- ing upon us, even life forevermore."
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This instrument was voted to be entered on record April 20, 1683, and was again read Feb. 7, 1686, and again Dee. 22, 1689, " there being but two of the males in full communion absent."
The covenant, or what remains of it, is as follows :
" By the power of his Holy Spirit in the ministry of his Word, whereby we have been brought to see our misery by nature. our inability to help ourselves, and our need of a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we desire now solemnly to give up ourselves as to the only Redeemer, to keep us by his power unto salvation ; and for the furtherance of that blessed work, we are now ready to enter into a solemn covenant with God and one with another, - that is to say, We do give up ourselves unto that God whose name alone is Jehovah, as the only true and living God ; and unto the Lord Jesus Christ, his only Son, who is the Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King of his church, and Mediator of the covenant of his grace ; and to his Holy Spirit, to lead us into all truth, and to bring us unto salvation at the last. We do also give up our offspring unto God in Christ Jesus, avouching him to be our God, and the God of our children, humbly desiring him to bestow upon us that grace whereby both we and they may walk before him as becomes his covenant people forever. We do also give up ourselves one unto another in the Lord, according to the will of God ; engaging ourselves to walk together as a right-ordered church of Christ in all the ways of his worship, according to the rules of his most holy words ; promising, in brotherly covenant, faithfully to watch over one another's souls, and to submit ourselves to the government of Christ in his church ; attending upon all his holy ad- ministrations, according to the order of the gospel, so far as God hath or may reveal to us by his Word and Spirit."
This covenant, or part of a covenant, was entered upon the minutes of the church April 20, 1683.
There has never been any essential departure from the faith held by the church at first. June 18, 1806, a Confession of Faith, now existing in the handwriting of Rev. Jonathan Allen, was adopted and subscribed by nineteen males and thirty females. Another Confession, substantially the same with that of 1806, was adopted Dec. 5, 1829, and subsequently printed.
The history of this church is very much like that of most of the old Puritan churches. At its commencement, it was strictly and strongly evangelical, and, as the result, it enjoyed great prosperity. During the ministry of Rev. Thomas Symmes, from 1708 to 1725, a deep religious interest seems to have pervaded the community. In these seventeen years, two hundred and fifty-eight were admitted to the church ; and, though the population of the town must have been very small, hardly
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exceeding eight hundred in all, two hundred and thirty persons at one time sat down together at the Lord's Table, at the regular communion season. After the death of Mr. Symmes, during the pastorates of Rev. Mr. Williams and Rev. Mr. Parsons, and the first half of that of Rev. Mr. Allen, evangelical religion appears to have been on the decline. The causes seem to have been, the Half-Way Covenant ; want of inter- est in the ministry, in one of the pastors, and lax views of theology in the others. The church dwindled down to a few aged persons, and seemed on the brink of ruin. A revival occurred in 1806, which en- tirely changed the face of things in the town, and wrought an equally marked change in the ministrations of the Rev. Mr. Allen. Several revivals occurred subsequently in his ministry, though none of them were so marked and powerful as that of 1806.
A very powerful and thorough work of grace was enjoyed during the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Ingraham, which extended into that of his suc- cessor, Rev. Mr. Hoadly.
During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Munroe, two very general and pre- cious revivals of religion were enjoyed, - one in 1837-38, the other in 1846-47.
This church shared somewhat largely in the spiritual blessings of that year of refreshing to so many churches, 1857-58. There have been, beside these, many seasons of religions interest, but, I believe, no other general revival of religion.
We have had no rebellions, secessions, or fatal departures from the faith. The church seems to have been born and eradled in a storm, but, for more than one hundred and fifty years, to have been marvellously quiet and peaceful. It numbers at the present time about two hundred and thirty members.
CHURCH IN GEORGETOWN.
BY REV. CHARLES BEECHER.
Organized Oct. 4, 1732. No creed, or articles of faith, were adopted at first. The following covenant, signed by eighteen male members, in- cluding the pastor elect, sufficed :
" We whose names are hereunto subscribed (although unworthy of a name in this place), apprehending ourselves to be called by God to em- body ourselves into a distinct society, for the better attendance upon the worship of God, according to the rules of his holy Word; being per- suaded in matters of faith according to the Catechism of the Assembly of Divines, unto the substance of which we do submit,
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"We do in some measure of sincerity, this day give up ourselves and our offspring, unto the Lord Jehovah, the one true and living God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be his forever, promising by the help of grace to live unto and upon this God, hoping at length to live with Him forever.
" We do likewise give up ourselves, one to another, in the Lord; en- gaging with divine aid as a church of Christ, to submit to the diseip- line, order, and government of Christ in his church, and submit to the guidance of such as are, or shall be over us in the Lord, and that watch for our souls ; and to watch over one another, according to the rules of the gospel, so long as we shall continue in this relation to each other.
" We promise also to admit to our communion, such as shall desire to join themselves to us, if by a profession of faith and repentance, and umblamable walk and conversation, they may, in charitable discretion, be accounted qualified for it ; and to walk in all regular and due com- munion with other churches of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and cheerfully to support and observe the pure gospel institutions of our Lord and Redeemer, so far as He shall graciously reveal to us His will concern- ing them.
" We take the word of God for our rule, and resolve uprightly to study what is our duty, and to endeavor to practise it, and wherein we fall short, in the discharge of it, will humbly betake ourselves for pardon to the blood of the everlasting covenant. .
" And that we may unavoidably keep this covenant forever, being sen- sible of our own impoteney, we humbly implore, that the help and grace of our Redeemer may be sufficient for us, entreating that He, being the great Shepherd of our souls, would lead us into the paths of truth and righteousness for His name's sake, and at last receive us all into his heavenly kingdom. Amen.
James Chandler.
Wm. Searl.
Richard Boynton.
Thomas Burpe,
John Adams,
Daniel Woodberry,
Thomas Plumer, John Thurston,
Johnathan Boynton, Daniel Pearson,
John Broeklebank,
Samuel Kerrincan,
Wm. Fisk,
Wm. Adams,
Richard Thurston,
Job Pinguy,
Jeremiah Chaplin,
Ebenezer Burpe."
This Covenant the Rev. Mr. Hale, of Byfield, read over with the names of the subscribers, and asked their consent to it, which they who were all standing together whilst it was read declared, by the most usual sign on such occasions, that of lifting up the hands, whereupon he de-
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clared that they were a church of Christ, regularly constituted and found- ed according to gospel order.
A sermon was preached on the occasion, which is still extant, by the Rev. William Balch, of Bradford.
There appears to have been no regularly organized council at the organization of the church. The first pastor, Rev. James Chandler, was ordained Oct. 18, 1732.
The council was composed of ministers and delegates from the churches in Byfield, Bradford, Boxford, Andover, Rowley, and New- bury. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Rogers, of Boxford. Charge. by Rev. Mr. Hale, of Byfield. Right Hand of fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Phillips, of Andover.
From the parish records, it appears that the call was voted, and the ordination appointed, by the parish, before the church existed.
No mention is made of any theological examination of the candidate by the council.
Mr. Chandler's ministry covered a period of 52 years, in which 883 infants were baptized, 176 admitted to full communion, and 136 to half- way covenant. Mr. Chandler was born in Andover, A. D. 1706, grad- uated at Harvard, in 1728, and married. Mercy, daughter of Rev. Moses Hale, of' Byfield. He had no children. He was a man of sound doc- trine, exemplary life and conversation, dignified deportment, and greatly esteemed by his own people ; highly respected abroad, and very success- ful in the ministry. Died April 19, 1789, aged 83, in the 57th year of his ministry.
The first meeting-house was built in 1729 ; the second, in 1769, dedi- cated Sept. 12-22, 1770. Sermon by the Rev. Geo. Whitfield, from 1 Kings 8: 11. Mr. Chandler was one of those opposed to the revival under Whitfield, and had some trouble with "Separatists," who, in his day, planted the germ of the present Baptist society. After Mr. Chand- ler's death, the parish, being divided equally between Arminian and Hopkinsian views, after hearing sixty-three candidates, succeeded in settling the Rev. Isaac Braman.
Mr. Braman was born A. D. 1770, in Norton, Mass .; graduated at Harvard ; studied divinity under Dr. West, of New Bedford, and Rev. Pitt Clark, of Norton ; received license Aug. 11, 1795, and was ordain- ed June 7, 1797. The church consisted, at this time, of twelve resident male members, and a few females. This number was still further reduced by a secession of three male members, together with fifteen members of the parish, who, having presented a remonstrance to the council against the doctrinal views of the candidate, withdrew and unit- ed with the Baptist society. Mr. Braman's active ministry extended
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from A. D. 1797 to 1842, in which time about 250 were added to the church.
October 26, 1840, the present articles of faith and covenant were adopted, which are substantially the same as those of most New England churches.
On Dec. 3, 1842, Rev. Enoch Pond, son of Enoch Pond, D. D., was ordained colleague pastor. Mr. Pond was a graduate of Bowdoin Col- lege, and studied theology at the Bangor Theological Seminary. After a brief but useful ministry, he died Dec. 17, 1846.
On Feb. 3, 1846, Rev. J. M. Prince was ordained colleague pastor, and was dismissed, at his own request, by a council convened for that purpose, Nov. 19, 1857.
On the same day, Rev. Charles Beecher was ordained colleague pas- tor, by the same council.
Mr. Braman, the senior pastor, survived until the fall of 1858, when he expired Dec. 26, at the advanced age of eighty-eight, and in the sixty-first year of his pastorate.
THE CHURCH IN GROVELAND.
BY REV. THOMAS DOGGETT.
Organized June 7, 1727, as the Second Church in Bradford. Has had six pastors.
Rev. Wm. Balch, ordained June 7, 1727 ; died Jan. 12, 1792.
Rev. Ebenezer Dutch, ordained Nov. 17, 1779; died Aug. 4, 1813.
Rev. Gardner B. Perry, ordained Sept. 28, 1814 ; died Dec. 16, 1859.
Rev. David A. Wasson, ordained Sept. 4, 1851 ; dismissed Oct. - , 185.2.
Rev. Daniel W. Pickard, ordained Sept. 29, 1853 ; dismissed Jan. 7, 1857.
Rev. Thomas Doggett, ordained March 4, 1857.
The following Covenant was adopted at first, and is still in use :
" You believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and that there is one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person, took on him the form of a servant, and being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, and that having thus been delivered for our offences, he was raised again for our justification, is exalted to the right hand of God, to make intercession for penitent sinners returning to God by him. You desire, therefore, thus to return unto God by a sincere repentance of all your past trans-
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gressions, and an unfeigned acceptance of Christ, as the only true and living way to the Father ; and you engage and promise, by the help of divine grace, that you will for the future, renouncing the world, the flesh, and the devil, make the religion of Christ your study, and compliance with the gracious terms of the gospel the main business and concern of your life. In particular, that it shall be the earnest and sincere care of your life to please God and to approve yourself in his sight by living soberly, righteously, and godly as becomes the disciples of Jesus Christ, and by walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. And as you desire to be under the watch and care of this church so long as God shall continue you with us, you promise on your part to endeavor, by a sober and inoffensive life, and faithful discharge of duty, to promote religion and virtue, the peace and edification of the church, and your own improvement in believing, and comfort through faith, so looking for the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ unto eter- nal life.
"All this you profess and promise, as in the presence of God and this assembly.
ABSENT.
" Declaration - I, therefore, derlare you to be a visible Christian, and to have a visible right to Christian ordinances and privileges so long as von keep this your profession pure and unspotted ; only let your con- versation be as becometh the gospel, and when Christ, whom yon have now owned and confessed, shall come in his glory, he will confess you before his Father, and before the holy angels, and place you among the blessed.
" Now, therefore, God of his infinite mercy keep this always upon the imagination of the thoughts of your heart, and prepare you thus to serve him. Amen."
The church originally consisted of forty-eight members, all males. Most of the members had been dismissed from the First Church in Bradford, some time during the previous year, for the purpose of organ- izing a new church in this, the East Parish, which had been set off and incorporated in June, 1726.
The new parish meeting-house was built during the year 1726 and 1727. On the eighth (8th) of November, the parish voted unanimously, to invite Mr. Wm. Balch to preach for them, and on the thirteenth (13th) of March following, they gave him a call to settle with them, agreeing to give him for his support one hundred pounds settlement, one hundred pounds salary, and the improvement of the parsonage-house and lot. If
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this was not enough for his comfortable support, they would add ten more, and if, after experiment, this was not found enough, they would add another ten pounds. These terms, with slight alterations, Mr. Balch accepted, and was ordained. Mr. Batch was born in Beverly in 1701, gradu ated at. Harvard 1721, ordained 1727, and died 1792, aged 88. According to a statement in Elliot's Biographical Dictionary, he pos- ressed strong powers of mind, surpassed by but few of our New Eng- land divines in clearness of perception, comprehension of understanding, of soundness of judgment. He was simple in manners, soft and benovo- lent in disposition. The first years of his ministry he lived in pence and harmony with his own and the neighboring churches. A spirit of disorganization beginning to appear in the towns on the Merrinne river, nine members of his own church were affected by it, and declaring them- selves dissatisfied with the preaching of the minister, made a formal complaint to the brethren. The church thinking the complaint nareus- onable, and refusing to act upon it, the aggrieved party applied to a neighboring church, the First Church in Gloucester, Rey, Mr. White pastor, to admonish their pastor and brethren, according to the direction of the platform by " the third way of' communion." On this the church voted to call a council. The connell met, blamed the conduet of the complainants, and approved the doings of the church. This netion, how- ever, did not free Mr. Balch from the imputation of holding Arminian views, as doubtless he did, if we may believe the testimony of the con- troversies of that day in which he took part, and the traditionary reports still current. His last days were serene. In the 6lth year of his min- istry, and with the expression, " Come, Lord Jesus, I am ready," he fell asleep.
In July, 1727, the month succeeding his ordination, fifty-three (53) (females) were received into the church, having been dismissed from the First Church in Bradford. During that year fourteen more were added. An earthquake, which occurred in October, 1727, produced great. effect upon the minds of the people, and awakened the attention of many to the things of religion. Sixty four were added in the next year. From 1729 to 1779, one hundred and ninety were received.
Early in the history of the church, regard was had to encouraging the spirit and habit of giving. In 1732, a voto was passed that each com- municant be obliged to pay one shilling a year, - what was necessary way to be expended in providing for the Lord's table, and the residue to be disposed of only for pions and charitable uses. Suspension from com- munion was the penalty for delinquents, until they had given the church satisfaction, The pastor and the dencons had the power of excusing from the payment of the assessment, on good and sufficient reasons.
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In 1742, much feeling was aroused in the church by the introduction of preachers of different denominations into the parish, through the invi- tation of certain members of the church, so that the church voted it " a disorderly thing to invite either the ministers of other churches, or pri- vate ex-pastors, to officiate anywhere within the limits of the parish without the consent of our minister first had."
Much trouble sprung up at this time, which was extended through a period of seven years, arising from the conduct of brethren who, through disaffection on account of the preaching of Mr. Balch, called on the church of Gloucester for their brotherly monitions, "in the third way of communion." It was ended by their separation from the church. The period from 1749 to 1768, is to the historian a barren field; as the records give no account of internal dissensions, or of outward difficul- ties, we must suppose that it was a time of peace, and perhaps of prosperity. Five years only in this length of time passed 'by without some additions to the number of communicants. At the end of this period, there was a revival of some of the former troubles, occasioned by the introduction of unevangelical preachers into the parish. , In order to sustain their pastor, in the undivided control of his charge, it was voted, that a brother forfeited his standing in the church, should he in- vite a Baptist, Quaker, or any one of the different sects to preach in the parish, thereby giving him opportunity to make proselytes, and to weaken and divide the church.
Mr. Balelı, having become old and infirm, in 1779 the church made choice of Mr. Ebenezer Dutch, as their minister. Only one person voted against his settlement, and he did it, as he said, in order to take off the curse pronounced against those of whom all speak well.
Mr. Dutch was born in Ipswich, 1751, and graduated at Providence College in 1776. Though not a man of learning, he possessed an active, ready mind, which, with his natural fluency of speech and glow of feel- ing, made him a preacher of more than ordinary power. Having strong passions that were easily aroused, his words were sometimes indiscreet, and his conduct eccentric, irregular, and contradictory. In a part of his ministry, he was engaged in secular business, borrowing and loaning money, much to the injury of his own influence for good in the ministry. As was to be expected, his pecuniary speculations not only tarnished his character, but ruined his estate. However, in his latter years, none were more sensible of his error than he himself. His acknowledgments were as open as his faults had been. His diligence and fidelity in his Mas- ter's work, during the remaining years of his life, were not unblessed, many having been brought by him to Christ. His death was sudden and unexpected, yet full of peace and joy and faith. During his pastorate
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