USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
373
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
SECOND CHURCH IN SALISBURY.
This church was organized Nov. 19, 1718. It has had four settled ministers :
Rev. Joseph Parsons, ordained Nov. 26, 1718; died March 13, 1739. Rev. Samuel Webster, ordained Aug. 12, 1741 ; died July 18, 1796. Rev. Andrew Beattie, ordained June 28, 1797; died March 16, 1801. Rev. William Balch. ordained Nov. 17, 1802; dismissed Feb. 20, 1816. Since 1835. Rev. Benjamin Sawyer has been employed as stated supply, but has never been installed as pastor of the church, and only preached a part of the time till 1841. The following Covenant was adopted at the time the church was gathered :
" We' do this day, in a grateful sense of the call of Christ unto us, avouch the Lord Jehovah to be our God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; and giving ourselves to God in Christ, and one to another, we do, by the grace of Christ assisting us, cheerfully submit ourselves to his govern- ment, and to all his ordinances and institutions, taking and acknowledg- ing him to be our Prophet, Priest, and King; further promising, by the grace of Christ, to shun and avoid all errors, with all unrighteousness and ungodliness. We do, also, with ourselves give up our seed to the Lord, submitting them also to the discipline and government of Christ in his church ; promising, morever, that we will endeavor to uphold and pro- mote the worship of God, in public and in private; and, finally, that we will walk together as a church of Christ in all mutual love and wateh- fulness, to the building up of each other in faith and love. humbly cray- ing help at the hands of God for the performance hereof."
The above was subscribed by Rev. J. Parsons and eleven other men ; and, with slight alterations, continued in use through the ministries of Mr. Webster and Mr. Beattie. No mention is made of any separate Con- fession of Faith until June 14, 1799, when, " At a regular church meet- ing, voted, that the Articles proposed by the Rev. Pastor to candidates for admission at the time of their examination, shall be publicly read to them at the time of their admission before the congregation." There is no record of these " Articles."
July 25, 1779, it was " Voted, that the practice of persons owning the covenant for the purpose of presenting their children for baptism, be hereafter discontinued and abolished, but at the same time, that those persons who have heretofore been thus indulged, be still indulged if they desire it."
374
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
During its early history this was a very flourishing church. Nearly 300 were added to it under Mr. Parsons, being an average of over four- teen a year. In 1728, there were 108 added. During the first half of Dr. Webster's ministry, there were about 250 additions. From about 1770 this church began to decline, and has been declining ever since. Its membership is small ; public services are suspended in the winter season. There is reason to suppose that at no distant day this ancient church will be extinct.
In 1794, a call was extended to Mr. Jonathan Brown to settle as colleague with Dr. Webster. As conditions of his accepting it, Mr. Brown wished a larger salary than was offered, and that the church adopt " the Presbyterian government." A committee of conference reported in favor of complying with these conditions, but their report was not accepted, and it was voted " not to make any additional sum to Mr. Brown's salary, nor to adopt any new form of government."
In 1795, a call was given to Mr. Thomas Crafts which he declined. In 1802, the church gave a call to Mr. Pliny L. Dickinson, but the parish, by a vote of sixty-seven against forty-five, refused to concur in it.
During the latter part of the ministry of Mr. Balch, many of the church and parish became seriously disaffected, and were unwilling to aid his support. After much unpleasant contention, an ex parte council was convened, which Mr. Balch consented to make mutual ; and by it matters were so adjusted, that he was honorably dismissed Feb. 20, 1816, and the church has had no settled minister since.
In 1820, a committee of the parish reported in favor of supporting a preacher jointly with the first parish, and they were authorized to carry their recommendation into effect. Nothing however came of it.
In 1826, a committee was raised to confer with the Unitarian Society at Amesbury, to sce if they could agree on a candidate, and unite in his support.
The meeting-house, begun in 1711, and opened for public worship in 1716, still stands, the only specimen of the old style of church architec- ture in this vicinity.
There is a parsonage, and land of considerable value, the legal prop- erty of the parish; and should this church become extinct, it is to be hoped that those who may have control of it, will feel morally bound to take the proper measures to have it go to aid still, in the support of that faith and order of worship for which it was, many years ago, piously set apart.
375
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
FIRST CHURCH IN WEST NEWBURY, FORMERLY SECOND CHURCH IN NEWBURY.
BY REV. C. D. HERBERT.
Organized Oct. 26, 1698. Pastors :
Samuel Belcher, ord. Nov. 10, 1698 ; died March 10, 1715. Memb. added, 110
John Tufts,
June 30, 1714 ; dis. March 2, 1738.
66
481
Thomas Barnard,
Jan. 31, 1739; " Jan. 18, 1751.
€
71
Moses Hale,
Feb. 20, 1750; died Jan. 15, 1779.
60
True Kimball,
Nov. 20, 1782; dis. May 1,1797.
10
Samuel Tomb, inst. Nov. 28, 1798; Dec. 4, 1805.
0
Ebenezer Hubbard, ord. May 11, 1809;
Oct. 16, 1811. 16
8
Gilbert T. Williams, inst. June 1, 1814 ;
Sept. 26, 1821.
14
Henry C. Wright, ord. June 21, 1826 ; July 7, 1833.
Benjamin Ober, Jan. 1, 1834; Dee. 24, 1835.
20
Henry A. Woodman,
Nov. 30, 1842; dis. March 20, 1844.
1
Horatio Merrill,
May 7, 1845; “ Aug. 11, 1847.
4 80
Charles D. Herbert, inst. March 5, 1857.
Members added when without pastors, 43
Total membership, so far as known, 990
In the year 1686, Old Newbury, finding that her sons and daughters were too numerous at home, decided to cross the Artichoke river, divide the lands in what is now West Newbury, and lay out a road to Brad- ford. This step was not taken too soon. The forests, which had waved triumphantly upon its graceful hills, and along the shores of the beau- itful Merrimac, immediately gave way to the farms and cottages of the settlers.
In 1689, when the fear of the Indians obliged every man to take his weapons of defence to the field and to the house of God, impelled by the desire of having religious privileges nearer home, sixteen individuals erected a building, thirty feet square, on ground now enelosed as the Cemetery of Belleville. In 1695 the town voted to constitute what was called the West Parish of Newbury. It was then decided, and afterwards confirmed by the Legislature, that the proper place for a new meeting- house, when built, was on Pipestave IIill. The line of division was to be from a point a little east of where the Suspension Bridge now is, to Turkey Hill. The new parish now voted to enlarge the meeting-house, and build a parsonage on the plains.
Rev. Samuel Belcher, having preached for them much during the year, received a call from the parish Dec. 24, 1696. They offered him £50 provision pay, £10 in money, the use of the parsonage, twenty cords
88
376
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
of wood, and the contributions of strangers. As the parsonage and the meeting-house were not completed, the church was not organized till October 26, 1698, nor the pastor installed till the 10th of November following. They had had young candidates, but they chose the ripe experience, the genial temper, and the sound orthodoxy of the man of fifty-eight years.
The following Covenant having been signed by Rev. Mr. Belcher and twenty-one other brethren (thirteen sisters having been voted in), the church was pronounced regularly embodied, and the pastor elect was installed by the pastors and messengers of the churches in Ipswich, Newbury. Rowley, and Bradford :
" We, whose names are under-written, sensibly acknowledging our unfitness of, and unworthiness for, such a favor, yet apprehending our- selves to be called of God, to put ourselves into a relation of church communion, and to seek the settlement of the church into gospel institu- tions among us, do therefore, in order thereunto. as much as in us lies, knowing how prone we are to backslide, and abjuring all confidence in ourselves, and relying on the Lord Jesus Christ alone for help, covenant as followeth :
"1. We do believe, consent to, and heartily close with, the Confession of Faith, as to the substance of it, put forth by the last Synod of Churches, held in Boston, 1680, -do promise to stand by and maintain the faith therein delivered to the people of God, and if any among us shall go about to undo it, we will bear due testimony against them.
"2. We do also combine to walk together as a particular church of Christ according to all those holy rules of the gospel. prescribed to such a society so far as God hath revealed, and shall reveal, his mind to us, in that respect.
"3. We do accordingly recognize the Covenant of Grace, in which we professedly acknowledge ourselves engaged, to the fear and service of the only true God. and to the Lord Jesus Christ, the High Priest, Prophet, and King of his church, unto whose conduct we submit our- selves, and on whom alone we wait for grace and glory, to whom we bind ourselves in an everlasting covenant, never to be broken.
"4. We do likewise give up ourselves one to another in the Lord, resolving, by his help, to cleave one to another, as fellow members of one body for mutual edification, and to submit ourselves to all holy administrations appointed by Him, who is the Head of his Church, dis- pensed according to the rules of the gospel, and to give our attendance on all the public ordinances of Christ's institution, walking orderly as becometh saints.
"5. We do likewise acknowledge our posterity to be included with
377
.
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
us in the gospel covenants, and we acknowledge them to be in covenant relation, according to gospel rules, and, blessing God for so rich a favor, we do promise to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
"6. Furthermore, we promise to be careful to procure the settlement and continuance among us, of church officers appointed by Christ, the Chief Shepherd, for the edification of his Church ; accordingly, to do our duty faithfully for their maintenance and encouragement, and to carry it towards them as becometh us: further, we do promise to preserve communion with the churches of Christ, for giving and receiving mutual counsel and assistance in all things wherein it shall be needful.
"Now the good Lord be merciful unto us ; and, as He hath put it into our hearts thus to devote ourselves unto Him, let Him pity aud pardon our frailties, keep us out of all carnal confidence, and keep it forever upon our hearts to be faithful to himself, and one to another for his glory and our eternal comfort."
After ten years of prosperity and harmony at the Plains, the majority decided that the new meeting-house and parsonage should be erected on Pipestave Hill. Some twenty families resisted this step. They and their fathers had regarded the territory above the Artichoke as a terra incognita, full of wild beasts and wilder savages; and they could not and would not plod their weary way three or four miles into the wil- derness. They remonstrated, and appealed to the General Court, in vain. The new church and parsonage were first occupied in 1711, and the old house summarily removed. The disaffected attempted to rebuild, but were forbidden by the legislature. As a last resort they suddenly became Episcopalians ; and, having built Queen Ann's Chapel, on the old site, received a minister from the Bishop of London.
Although Mr. Belcher officiated but little after the removal, they treated him with the utmost tenderness and affection. They allowed him ministerial help, free of charge, whenever he and the. deacons thought best ; at last, employing aid by the year, under his direction. They cleared, they ploughed, they fenced, they planted his grounds ; and when he wished to retire to Ipswich, his native place, they made the best possible arrangements for his journey over the rough roads.
We next enter the pastorate of Mr. Tufts. We go up to the sanc- tuary, beautiful for situation, to see him in the midst of his ministry, - the first active pastor within the limits of the present town of West Newbury. He comes out from his dwelling, tall, athletic, high-spirited, and fashionable in his appearance. His head is crowned with the pon- derous wig and cocked hat; he wears the white clerical bands, long silk
48
378
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
stockings, and breeelies with brilliant knee and shoe-buekles. His wife, the noble granddaughter of Gov. Bradstreet, leans upon his arm.
The church is now before us : it stands upon the right, on a high level plat of land.1 and the oaks are like cedars of Lebanon on the higher ground beyond. It is an unadorned building, 54 by 34, two stories high, looking down towards old Newbury on the east. It has a pediment coming out on the roof in front, corresponding with the gable ends, sur- mounted, on the centre, with a modest turret and spire. The windows are of small diamond-shaped glass, with metallie sashes, opening inward like doors. The house may be entered on the south, east, and north.
We turn and behold one of the loveliest scenes in the colony. The parish lies before us; the beautiful Merrimac; and the distant ocean forming the Eastern horizon. The worshippers come up in picturesque groups from their cottages amid the primeval forests, and a goodly com- pany are seen crossing the river in boats from Amesbury.
We enter the forest temple : no modern lathing or plastering, stucco- work or fresco-paintings. conceal the huge oaken beams, rafters, and studding. The framework of the double galleries, and of the stairs on either hand. is all open to view. Here are no carpeted floors, no upholstered settees for weary pedestrians. No pews, except a row round the sides of the house. Nearly all sit on rough benches, and are ar- ranged according to their characters and stations in life; the men on the south, and the women on the north of the middle aisles. The young men have one side of the galleries, and the maidens the other, sitting face to face! The pulpit is lofty, and over it the ponderous sounding- board.
The pastor rises in the desk and the services proceed as is usual now, except that Mr. Samuel Morss stands up on the platform, and reads each line of the hymn, which is sung by the congregation, to a tune in the little tune-book, just published by the pastor; the first thing of the kind in New England, and probably the first in America. The sermon abounds in types and shadows, and is full of the marrow and fatness of the gospel. The Lord's Supper follows, and you are surprised at the number who partake. Nearly all who sit below are communicants. (Fifty-seven made a profession in 1715, twenty-five in 1716, thirty-eight in 1717, one hundred and twenty-five in the winter of 1727 ; in all, four hundred and eighteen were received into full communion in twenty- four years.) The bread is carried around on large pewter plates, and the wine is poured into smaller tankards, which are passed to the com-
1 Six or eight rods west of the house now owned by Miss C. G. Coker.
379
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
municants, who severally raise the cover, drink. and let it fall with a loud noise. The large pewter baptismal font is there, and scarcely a pleasant Sabbath has passed for years, without some children being brought and dedicated to the Lord.
During this pastorate, it was voted to divide the parish, and in 1731 one hundred and twenty members were most cordially sent to constitute the Fourth Church in Newbury, - now the Second in West Newbury. The meeting-houses stood on opposite hills, one mile and three quarters distant. Twenty-five or thirty members were also dis- missed to unite with the new church in West Amesbury. In an hour of temptation, Mr. Tufts got into some difficulty, which destroyed his influence, and resulted in the necessity of his dismission.
Rev. Thomas Barnard, the third pastor, found two hundred and twen- ty-two resident members. Ile labored during the time of " the Great Awakening," but appears not to have sympathized with it. There were ardent controversies in the church. Some were inelined to formal- ism, and others to fanaticism, till at last Mr. B. asked leave to retire. The church not consenting to this, he called a council himself, and was dismissed. A committee was sent to call him back, but in vain.
Rev. Moses Hale, the fourth pastor, ever dispensed the pure gospel of peace. He approved of Mr. Whitfield's labors, and wished all his people to hear him preach. Though discipline and strife continued in the church he was revered and loved by all. A committee visited him each year to see what salary he would need, and it was invariably voted by the parish. They studied his wants, honored him in old age, and greatly lamented his death.
The great controversy of this period was respecting the location of a new meeting-house. After perhaps twenty special parish meetings, and after having a committee from out of town, and one from the General Court, the church, which had stood fifty years on the hill, was taken down, and a handsome house, 54 by 40, was located in the centre of Hanover Street, one third of a mile east of the old site, in the year 1759. But the inhabitants below the Artichoke, dissatisfied because the church was no nearer to them, resolved to secede, and to form the Fifth Parish of Newbury ; of which see in its proper place.
During Rev. True Kimball's ministry, the church languished sadly, not being fed with gospel truth. Being dismissed, Mr. K. removed to Hamstead, N. II., where the church records show, that he renounced his faith, and came to a miserable end.
The sixth pastor, Rev. Samuel Tomb, was a Presbyterian. Having labored here one year, and, in the mean time, received a call from the Federal Street Church, Newburyport, he consented to become pastor,
380
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
provided the church would come under the care of the Presbytery. This it did, though a large minority of the parish protested. Mr. T.'s pastorate was a stormy one. He was one of the strongest men in the section, as a preacher, agreeable and companionable to his friends, but utterly reckless of the good opinion and favor of his foes. Such a state of things could not continue ; he retired after seven years, without hav- ing received a single member to the church. Ile afterwards became a mighty preacher of Christ, and used to say, that he was not converted till after he left this place. .
At these times there were but three resident male members of the church, and the parish was not more than one-third its original size. Mr. J. Webster labored here successfully for a time ; five members were added to the church. He received a call here, but declined, and became pastor at Hampton, N. H.
The seventh pastor, Mr. Hubbard, continued in office three years. He was lax in doctrine, and deficient in piety. Perceiving how things were tending, on condition that he would resign, the church were enticed to give him the most glowing letters of recommendation, after which he was installed in Middleton. There he caused the church covenant to be set aside, and received all who would ; until the church became so corrupt, that the religious were forced to leave all, and form a new church. Soon after he went to Lunenburg, with the same disastrous results to the church there.
The eighth pastor, Mr. Williams, is still remembered with pleasure and veneration, on account of his lovely temper, his deep piety, and his sound orthodoxy. His resignation was occasioned by a paralytic shock, after a pastorate of seven years.
After an interim of five years, during which Rev. Peter Holt preached seven months, and received eleven to the church, we come to the min- istry of Mr. Wright. The church is supposed then to have contained but eight male members; but in 1831 and 2, there being revivals all around, and the pastor's susceptible spirit being enlisted, there was an awakening, which resulted in seventy-four being added to the church ; many of whom were eminently worthy. Though the ministry regarded Mr. W. as not having very clear views of Orthodoxy, he did not relapse into infidelity till some time after he retired from this place.
Mr. Ober was a sound, faithful preacher, but his pastorate was dis- turbed by inconsiderate discipline, which especially awakened and em- bodied opposing elements to distract the church, weaken the society, and sunder the pastoral relation.
The church was destitute of a pastor from 1835 to 1842. In the mean time, Rev. Moses Welch supplied three or four years, and Rer.
381
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
N. W. Sheldon two years. The present church edifice was dedicated Dec. 22, 1841. Dr. Dimmick preached the sermon, Mr. Welch offered the dedicatory prayer, and Dr. Dana prepared an original hymn.
As to the next two pastors, Mr. Woodman's health soon utterly failed, and Mr. Merrill quickly lost the confidence of the people, as he has latterly of the ministry.
The church having been without a pastor for nine years, and, in the mean time, it having been proved that other than Orthodox preaching could not be sustained, Mr. Herbert commenced his labors here, May, 1856; though he was not installed till the following March. During the eight years, to the time of writing this (1864), the utmost harmony has prevailed between the pastor and people. In 1858-59 this church was revived, and received considerable accessions; but, being a rural parish, its strength has been much reduced by removals to the manufac- turing towns.
SECOND CHURCH IN WEST NEWBURY.
BY REV. DAVIS FOSTER.
This church was organized as the Fourth Church in Newbury, Sept. 1, 1731. Rev. John Brown of Haverhill, began with prayer. Rev. William Balch of Bradford, preached from Rev. ii. 2. Rev. John Tufts of Newbury, gathered the church, and concluded with prayer. The covenant of the church was signed by Mr. William Johnson, jun., the first pastor and forty-six (46) others.
The following Covenant was the basis of the organization :
" We whose names are underwritten, sensibly acknowledging our un- worthiness for such a favor, yet apprehending ourselves to be called of God, to put ourselves into a relation of church communion, and to seek the settlement of the church, according to gospel institutions, among us, do therefore, in order thereunto, as much as in us lies, knowing how prone we are to backslide, and abjuring all confidence in ourselves, and relying upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone for help, covenant as fol- lows, viz.
" Ist. We do believe, consent to, and heartily close with the Con- fession of Faith (as to the substance of it), put forth by the last Synod of Boston, 1680. And do promise to stand by and maintain the faith therein delivered to the people of God, and if any among us shall go about to undermine it, we will bear due testimony against them.
" 2d. We do also promise to walk together as a particular church of Christ, according to all those holy rules of the gospel, prescribed to such
382
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
a society, so far as God hath revealed, and shall reveal, his mind to us, in this respect.
"3d. We do accordingly own the Covenant of Grace, in which we professedly acknowledge ourselves engaged, to the fear and service of the only true God, and to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, Prophet, and King of his church, unto whose conduct we submit our- selves, and on whom alone we wait for grace and glory ; to whom we bind ourselves in an everlasting Covenant never to be broken.
" 4th. We do likewise give up ourselves to one another in the Lord, resolving, by his help, to cleave to one another as fellow-members of one body - for mutual edification, and to submit ourselves to all the holy administrations appointed by Him, who is the Head of the church, dis- pensed according to the rules of the gospel ; and to give attendance on all the public ordinances of Christ's institutions among us, walking orderly as becometh saints.
" 5th. We do likewise acknowledge our posterity to be included with us in the gospel covenant, acknowledging them to be in covenant rela- tion according to the gospel rules. We bless God for so rich a favor, and promise to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
" Gth. Furthermore, we promise to be careful to secure and continue among us the settlement of church officers appointed by Christ, for the edification of his church, and accordingly to do our duty faithfully for their maintenance and encouragement, and to carry it towards them as becomethi us.
" Lastly. We promise to preserve communion with the churches of Christ, for giving and receiving mutual counsel and assistance, in all cases wherein it shall be needful. Now the good Lord be merciful to us, and as He hath put it into our hearts thus to devote ourselves unto Him, so will He pity and pardon our impurities, humble us out of all our carnal confidence, and keep it forever upon our hearts to be faithful to Him, and to one another for His praise, and our eternal comfort. Amen.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.