USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 5
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16. What are the chief points of distinction between Law and Gospel ?
17. What are the principle characteristics which distinguish the religion of regenerate sinners from the religion of a state of innocence ?
18. What is the true doctrine of the means of religion with reference to saints and sinners ?
19. What is the Scripture doctrine of the soul's unembodied state after death ? Of the general resurrection ? And of the future judgment ?
20. How do you prove that the future punishment of the wicked will be without end ?
21. What is a Christian Church ? What qualifications are requisite in order to a complete standing in the visible Church ? And what do the Serip- tures teach concerning the design and proper subjects of baptism and the Lord's Supper ?
22. What are the qualifications of the standing officers of the Church, especially of Ministers ? What constitutes a call to the Ministry ?
23. What ought to be the disposition and views of one who offers himself to preach the Gospel ? What are your hopes and the grounds of them ?
After a satisfactory examination on these subjects, the candidate for appro- bation shall read a sermon on some important Gospel subject.
Finally, the Association, seriously deliberating on the question before them, and feeling their responsibilities to the Head of the Church, shall either express their satisfaction with his qualifications and give him the usual letter of approba- tion, signed by the Moderator and Seribe, or shall give him such advice as Christian love and fidelity dictate.
In ordinary cases any person, wishing for approbation, shall make known his desire to the Association a month at least previous to the time of his examina- tion, and shall be furnished, if he requests it, with a copy of the whole preceding rule respecting the approbation of Candidates.
The rules reported by this Committee, and adopted by the Association, it will be seen differ materially from the old articles of agreement.
The vote for a Committee to revise the rules was passed with a pro- viso. The Committee were to have " a particular respect to the rules previously adopted." Not one of the original members was now living.
35
ASSOCIATION TO ACT AS COUNCIL.
Dr. Joseph Dana knew them well, for he was ordained in 1765, and was still in active duty. So with Dr. Spring; he was ordained in 1777, and knew them all personally except Jedediah Jewett. So with Ebenezer Dutch, who was settled in 1779. Dr. Parish was ordained in 1787, which was two years before the death of James Chandler, and twelve years before the death of John Cleaveland.
THE ASSOCIATION TO ACT AS A COUNCIL.
The first particular to be noticed in the new rules was the introduction of the 14th rule.
This rule, we think, must have been wholly prospective, as there is no evidence that the Association was ever called to act as a council.
All usages in this vicinity were against such action. It was in fact the incorporation of the idea of a consociation, the same which appeared in the "sixteen proposals" of the Boston Association in 1705. It was the same spirit which again arose in 1774 in the Bolton case, in which the right of a pastor to negative the votes of the church was claimed by Mr. Goss, and defended in a pamphlet by Rev. Zabdiel Adams of Lunen- burg, and answered by a racy writer signing himself " A Neighbour." In this discussion the question came up, whether there is binding force in the decisions of ecclesiastical councils, independent of their acceptance by the churches. Those who advocated the authoritative decisions of coun- cils "succeeded," says Dr. Clark (Congregational Churches in Massa- chusetts, p. 213), "in getting their views adopted by the 'Convention of Congregational Ministers,' at their meeting in May, 1773, and in the publishment of the same in a pamphlet with the imprimatur of the Con- vention. But the spirit of liberty was too wide awake at that time to bear the yoke thus laid upon the necks of the people, and it was indig- nantly thrown off." The result of the discussion was the re-statement of the principles of our Congregational polity, and a return to the doctrine of the Cambridge platform respecting councils, namely, "that a council is not to decide authoritatively, but to advise the church how to decide and determine; " and that this advice " should have just so much force as there is force in the reason of it."
Of this controversy there is no intimation on our records. But in 1815 the identical proposals of the Boston Association in 1705 were again resuscitated. They came before the General Association, and a Committee was raised to inquire into their history and report at the next annual meeting. This Committee, through their chairman, Rev. Jedediah Morse, D. D., presented an elaborate report, and recommended the adop- tion of a plan of ecclesiastical order in consistency with the views of Cotton
36
HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
Mather. The subject came up in this Association, was discussed and written upon, and on the 13th of June, 1815, it was
Voted, That in the view of this Association it is inexpedient that any new manual of church discipline, or ecclesiastical judicature, be established in the churches; and that our representatives in the general Association be respect- fully requested to use all their influence to prevent the adoption of any such measure in that reverend body.
APPROBATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MINISTRY.
Another particular in which the new code differed from the old, was the full and explicit arrangement made for the approbation of candidates for the ministry.
And here it may be well to notice somewhat fully the history of this matter.
In the carliest Puritan churches it was not customary when a new church was to be organized, or a minister ordained, or a candidate appro- bated, to go outside of the individual church.1 So, also, in ordination.2
If the company of believers had the right to organize themselves into a church. and to ordain a pastor over themselves, much more have they the riglit of approbation. And thus the church and town of Woburn rea- soncd, in their petition to the General Court, August 30, 1653.3 The result was that the General Court repealed the order that ministers should be approbated by a council, or by the county court. The right of approbation was conceded to be in the church. "This," says Wise, " was the old custom." - Churches' Quar. Espoused, 171.
1 The custom had become prevalent, but not universal, in 1636, of asking the advice of neighboring churches when a new church was to be formed. - Clark's Cong. Chhs., p. 20.
2 The calling in of councils to perform the ordination services, was understood to be in theory nothing more nor less than the church itself performing them by proxy, on the principle, qui facit per alium facit per se. In their reasonings on the subject, to leave the ultimate decision of the question to other churches, whether a company of believers should be a church and have a pastor, would be to adopt the Presbyterian rule, which they had no thought of adopting ; to leave it to the good pleasure of neigh- boring ministers, would be to resume the yoke of prelacy which they had just thrown off. Every step taken toward uniformity and affiliation during this period, was taken with the utmost caution, and not till it was clearly seen that the fundamental principle of their ecclesiastical organism -independency, or self-government - was not en- dangered thereby. So that these seeming restraints, which the usages of the times were throwing upon their liberty, they regarded as merely the bonds of fellowship, which did not trammel their freedom. - Clark's Cong. Chhs., pp. 23, 24.
8 If a church has liberty of election and ordination, then it has the power of appro- bation also. - Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., III. S., vol. 1, p. 42.
37
APPROBATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MINISTRY.
By and by individual pastors gave letters of commendation and intro- duction. Then, as there were Associations of clergymen, they united in giving the letter, and all signed it. Generally these letters introduced the candidate to a particular church or field of labor. As at the Minis- ters' Meeting, June 17, 1729 :
We did nothing besides giving a recommendation of Mr. Timothy Walker for Pennicook.
September 15, 1730. Gave Mr. Chandler recommendation in order for preach- ing. Signed by all the members present.
April 17, 1733. Mr. Francis Wooster applied himself to the Association, to see if they could encourage him in preaching the gospel.
Voted, That we can't think it advisable for Mr. Wooster to continue his preaching and intention of settling in the ministry, but content himself to serve God and his generation in some private calling.
Signed by
SAMUEL PHILLIPS, JOHN BARNARD, JOHN BROWN, JOSEPH PARSONS, WILLIAM BALCH, JAMES CUSHING, CHRISTOPHIER SARGENT, JAMES CHANDLER.
In 1734 there was trouble in the Parish of West Haverhill, about the settlement of a Mr. Skinner. The following is the record :
Some proposal made for Mr. Skinner's approbation, if we were sensible of his fitness for the ministry, or, if not, that we might come into some method for a trial of his fitness. But the proposal not come into; inasmuch as this is an un- usal thing among us, after a candidate is already become a preacher.
July 15, 1735. Approved Mr. Nathaniel Merrill for occasional preaching.
September, 1737. Approved Mr. Samuel Phillips, Jr., for occasional preach- ing
September, 1738. Approved of Mr. Edward Barnard and Mr. Abner Bailey for occasional preaching.
So Mr. Samuel Webster, in 1739.
In October 14, 1755, there is the following :
Mr. Joseph Parsons, Jr., was approved of (after he had delivered a discourse to the Association) in order to public preaching, and encouraged to enter upon it. The same with Jonathan Eames in 1756, and Abiel Foster in 1760.
In the case of John Page and Amos Moody in 1762, and of John Marsh in 1764, no mention is made of any discourse; but in the case of Thomas Cary in 1766, and of Thomas Barnard in 1769, it is stated that they read a discourse and were approbated.
The first certificate given by the Essex North Association was to Mr. Nathaniel Howe, May 8, 1787. The record is :
Mr. Nathl. Howe, at his request, was examined and approved by the Associa-
38
HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
tion as a Candidate for the Gospel Ministry ; and a certificate was given him by the Scribe, testifying their approbation of him as a person qualified to preach the Gospel.
A similar certificate was given to Moses Bradford, Sept. 11, 1787 ; to Nathaniel Lambert and Ariel Parish in 1789. Every candidate, before approbation, invariably passed a careful examination. Thus gradually the examination and approbation of candidates for the ministry passed from the hands of the churches to that of the clergy, and naturally to that of clerical Associations. "This," says Dr. Clarke, "is the only thing in the celebrated 'Proposals' of 1705, which has survived the scathing satire of Mr. Wise in the ' Churches' Quarrel Espoused.'" In 1790, the Convention of Congregational Ministers recommended that only those bearing papers from elerical bodies be admitted to the pulpits. And this, in effect, made such papers necessary. And this recommendation was adopted by this Association, May 3, 1791, and made the rule of their future conduct. It was in connection with this vote that the word " licensing " first appears in our records, and was introduced by Rev. Dr. Tappan, who was then Scribe. It was never used by Dr. Spring while he served in that office, but was again introduced by his successor, Rev. Dr. Woods. When the rules were revised in 1808, and in 1834, and again in 1860, the old word "approbate" was used instead of the usurper "license," and it, in fact, better expresses the purport of such credentials.
In the revision of the rules of the Association in 1808, very special attention was given to the approbation of candidates for the ministry. See rule 15th.
To expedite the examination which was to be conducted as now by the standing Moderator, twenty-three questions were framed with great care, all of which were to be put to the candidate.
Young men now began to make application for certificates of approba- tion from the new seminary at Andover.
July 9, 1811, Dr. Dana, by vote of the Association, exhibited a sum- mary view of arguments for and against the examination of candidates for the ministry in the original languages of Scripture.
September 8, 1812. Some changes were made in the mode of exami- nation. Instead of the questions, the candidate was to be examined in the manner set forth in the following resolution :
Voted, That every candidate for approbation shall read a sermon before the Association, if circumstances permit, and then be examined on the following subjects, instead of the questions, namely : On the being and perfections of God ; the divine authority of the Scriptures ; the doctrine of the Trinity ; the original Character and State of man; the doctrine of original Sin, and the present State of man by nature; the atonement of Christ; the extent of the gospel offer ; regeneration and the distinguishing nature of holiness ; the doc-
39
EXERCISES.
trines of election and Sovereign grace; perseverance and justification ; the means of religion, and the proper treatment of awakened sinners ; the interme- diate state, resurrection, and future retribution ; the nature of the Church and the qualifications of its members; the Christian rites, or ordinances; the neces- sary qualifications of ministers ; and on personal religion.
July 10, 1827. Brothers Dimmick and Withington were a committee to "revise the form of approbation of candidates for the ministry, and to make such alterations as they may think proper, and cause two hundred copies of the same to be printed." This Committee reported their form to the Association, September 11. It was approved and ordered to be printed. At this date the word "license " appears in the new form of certificate prepared by those most excellent Congregationalists, Brothers Dimmick and Withington, and soon was in general use. There are sev- eral records which show very clearly that the Association insisted that men should be well qualified for the office of the ministry. The present rule is :
It shall be further required, that he (the candidate) shall have diligently, and under proper direction, devoted himself to the study of divinity for at least two years, unless, in some rare instances, two-thirds of all the members judge it expedient to waive the rule.
The whole number approbated by the Association during the century, and whose names appear upon the records, is seventy-six.
EXERCISES.
We have already seen, that in the old Ministers' Meeting, little else was accomplished than the exchange of views on matters of difficulty in the different churches, and a larger social intercourse. In this Associa- tion, the first direction given was that of religious devotion - varied only in the form of the religious services. The first change in the order of exercises was made,
May 14, 1799. 4th. Voted, that one member of the Association shall read a dissertation on some interesting theological question at every meeting of the Association.
5th. That the Brother of whom the dissertation is expected, shall be the one who receives and entertains the Association.
6th. That the question to be answered shall be proposed invariably by the Brother who answered the last question, and by him who had the Association at his house.
No change whatever was made in the order or the kind of exercises by the revised rules of 1808, except the introduction of free criticism on all the performances.
This of itself was a most valuable addition, and has contributed a large share to the usefulness of this body.
40
HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
June 8, 1824. Rev. Messrs. Miltimore, Withington, and Dimmick, were appointed a Committee to consider what may be done to render the meetings of this Association more profitable, and to suggest a plan for that purpose. This Committee reported :
July 13. 1. That the Association meet precisely at 10 o'clock, and immedi- ately proceed to business.
2 That three members be particularly designated to read dissertations at each meeting ; that it be understood that they will be depended on ; and that the reading commenee immediately after the opening of the meeting by prayer.
3. That after the reading of the dissertations, one plan of a sermon be exhib- ited at each meeting by a member previously appointed.
4. That a Committee be appointed to collect and arrange a list of subjects on ministerial duties ; that each preacher choose one from these subjects ; that he be appointed with a substitute at the preceding meeting ; and be depended on to perform.
5. That the subject of remarking on the public performances be more faith- fully attended to; and that we observe more strictly the rule of closing each meeting in a solemn manner by prayer, at the house where it has been holden.
July 10, 1832. It was voted, that the Association meet six times a year, and that the meetings be held on the last Tuesdays in August, October, December, February, April, and June. Each meeting to commence at five o'clock, P. M., and to continue till the afternoon of the next day. [The understanding is that the brethren continue till early tea, is the explanatory note appended to the vote. 7
Voted, that the next Association sermon be preached in the evening.
August 27, 1832, only a month later, it was
Voted, to introduce into the Association the usual exercises of the Clergy- man's Society.
This was a circle formed at the house of Dr. Withington, October 26, 1819. There were present Brothers D. T. Kimball, L. Withington, Willard Holbrook, and G. B. Perry. The exercises were to be a ser- mon preached in public, the reading of portions of the Scripture in the original languages, and dissertations on moral and religious subjects, doc- trinal and practical.
Subsequently the following brethren joined it : B. Sawyer, L. F. Dim- mick, R. G. Dennis, E. Demond, and H. C. Wright. The idea of this society was first suggested to Rev. Dr. Withington by Dr. Perry, when the former was in discharge of his duties as chaplain upon the training- field at Georgetown.
At the time this society was formed, the exercises of the Association consisted only of a sermon preached at 11 o'clock, A. M .; followed by criticism and dinner ; after that, sometimes a dissertation, and sometimes not ; an hour or two of general conversation, and then an adjournment. As the members of the Clergymen's Society were all members of the as- sociation, we should naturally expect to find the direct influence of the
41
RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.
former, which was composed of young men, in the exercises of the latter. Hence the adoption, in 1824, of the rule for three dissertations.
In 1832, the entire course of exercises in the Clergymen's Society was adopted by the Association. This made it necessary for the Association to assemble in the P. M. and to tarry over night. Substantially our present course of exercises was initiated by the Clergymen's Society in 1819, par- tially adopted by the association in 1824, and fully adopted in 1832. The older clergymen were not so familiar with Hebrew and Greek as those were supposed to be who graduated at Andover. Hence the hesitation in making the reading of portions of Scripture in the original languages a part of their regular exercises. It is a noble example, worthy to be put into the history of our body, that Father Kimball commenced and pros- ecuted the study of Hebrew after he was forty years of age.
The Clergymen's Society, finding all its ends answered in the Associa- tion, at a meeting in Amesbury, August 28, 1832, it was
Voted, to discontinue our meetings so long as the spirit of this society shall be maintained in operation.
Voted, that the records of this society be deposited with the clerk of the Essex Middle Association.
No important change has been made in the exercises of this body since that period. It may be remarked that the study of the Scriptures in the original languages, has, since 1832, been a prominent exercise in the body.
RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.
In 1832, the Association resolved that it was desirable that a religious periodical be published within the bounds of the Essex Middle Associa- tion, and Brothers Dimmick, Withington, Barbour, Perry, and Wright, were a Committee to make inquiry about the subject and report. This report was made October 30, 1832, whereupon it was
Voted, that we proceed to have the first number of a religious periodical published, provided a printer will take the pecuniary responsibility of the pub- lication.
Voted, that Brothers Withington and Dimmick be a Committee to carry the preceding vote into execution, and to superintend the publication.
Voted, that the title of the periodical be referred to them.
This resulted in the establishment of the Essex North Register ; - first issued in the form of an 18mo. pamphlet, and finally changed into that of a newspaper. It was for several years edited, alternate weeks, by Brothers Withington and Dimmick. This eventually passed into other hands and beyond the control of the Association.
6
42
-
HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
It is very much to be regretted that no files of this publication have been preserved among the papers of this body.
February 23, 1841. It was voted, that Brothers Dimmick and Campbell be a Committee to concert some plan for preparing matter for the Watchtower, agreeably to the engagement entered into at the last meeting by the brethren of the Association.
These engagements were probably somewhat indefinite, as the only record is that of the appointment of a Committee to consult with Mr. To- zier, who was then the publisher.
August 30, 1842. The subject of publishing a small religious newspaper within our bounds, having been introduced and discussed at considerable length, it was voted :
1. That it is desirable to have such a paper in the midst of us.
2. That it is not the wish of the Association to exclude other religious news- papers from our circle ; but only to fill a niche which is not likely to be occu- pied.
3. That the paper should be of a decidedly evangelical character, harmoniz- ing with the general sentiments and usages of the churches with which we are connected. The Essex North Register, published under our patronage a few years ago, is a paper in accordance with our views of what is now required.
4. That if such a paper can be published on reasonable terms, the members of the Association will favor its circulation in their respective circles, assuming, however, no pecuniary responsibility; but not doubting that the paper, well conducted, will soon obtain patronage adequate to its support.
5. That a Committee of this body be appointed to institute inquiry with regard to this subject ; that if they can make satisfactory arrangements, they be authorized to proceed to the establishment of such a paper as that above men- tioned.
6. That if a contract be made with any individual to publish the paper, or with any one to superintend in part the editorial department, there shall be a standing editing Committee who shall be joint editors in conducting the paper, and shall have a right to have inserted in its columns whatever communications said Committee shall deem suitable for publication.
Voted, that the Committee consist of four, namely : Brothers Dimmick, March, Stearns, Perry.
This Committee reported February 29, 1843, upon which it was
Voted, that in consideration of the arrangements recently made by Mr. Nason, this Association will suspend for the present the plan of publishing a paper, as proposed, and will endeavor to cooperate with Mr. Nason, by contribu- tions and patronage, for securing a good religious paper, according to the views of the evangelical Congregational churches, provided Mr. Nason is disposed to come into such an understanding with us.
This resulted in an indirect connection between the Association and the Watchtower.
June 25, 1845. Mr. Woodman presented the subject of the Watch- tower to the Association, which was conversed upon, and it was
Voted, that the Watchtower, as at present conducted, meets the general ap- probation of this Association ; that it is deemed by us desirable and important
-
43
SLAVERY.
that it be sustained; and we cheerfully recommend it as a good family paper to our congregations and to the community.
Voted, that we accede to Brother Woodman's request, that the Watchtower be edited by himself, assisted by an association of clergymen.
SLAVERY.
At the meeting December 25, 1838, it was
Voted, that a committee of five be chosen to prepare resolutions on the subject of slavery, and report at a special meeting.
I cannot find that this Committee ever made a report. It was com- posed of Brothers Edgell, Perry, Monroe, Dimmick, and Withington.
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