USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Blandford > Discourse delivered at Blandford, Mass., Tues., Mar. 20, 1821, giving some account of the early settlement of the town and the history of the church > Part 2
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bers liberty to erect a steeple, but refused to appropriate anything in aid of it. The year following the town agreed to purchase a bell. In 1792 the following measures were taken to put a new covering upon the meeting house, and to paint it. In 1794 the timbers under the gal- lery were cased. And in the autumn of 1805, a few days previous to my ordination, the posts and some other tim- bers were cased, Very few repairs have since been added.
Such is the brief history of your house for religious wor- ship. The recital is instructive as well as amusing. If you will lay your eye upon the facts I have given you, and will reflect as you pass along, that it is the house of God you are contemplating, and that you may learn much of the character of a people from their measures respecting their meeting house, you will not find the history I have given exciting feelings in your minds unappropriate to' the solemn services of the Sabbath. You see the present con- dition of the house; and all must allow, considering the manner in which it was built, that its appearance is quite as good as can be expected. We may look around on these walls and say, sixty and five years was this house in building. But we cannot add, its glory corresponds with the use for which it was designed, or the circumstances of the people for whose accommodation it was erected. Nor can we say, Lord, we offer Thee the first and the best.
I now ask you to return with me again to the infant state of the settlement for the purpose of taking up the his- tory of the church.
Till a little previous to Mr. Badger's ordination, all the most important ecclesiastical concerns of the people were conducted in town meetings. There is no church record of any certain date till 1781, more than forty years after the town was settled. Between this and 1787 when Mr. Bad- ger received his call, only a few things were noted : nor is there any account even of his ordination or dismission, and only a very few things are mentioned which occurred while he was a minister. My dependence, therefore, has been placed upon very important town records, and upon verbal testimony of persons now living, and who have been con- versant in some of the transactions I shall mention.
This church was organized in Hopkinton, by the aid of Rev. Mr. Prince of Boston, in the presbyterian form. When the settlers had determined upon a remove to this town it was judiciously resolved that all who were professors of religion should be formed into a private church. I regret that I cannot state the number of the members at its organization.
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It must, however, have been small. Most of the members had emigrated from Scotland, and were Irish Independents and Scotch Presbyterians, In doctrine they harmonized. And as the Irish Independents had no form of government to which they were specially attached, they all readily united in the presbyterian form. John Huston, John Stew- art, and David Boies were the first deacons or elders.
The presbyterian mode of government was continued, though maintained very imperfectly for the most part, till the year 1801. In the month of September of this year, the church finding it inconvenient to practice according to the presbyterian plan of government, adopted a new and separate form of government. This constitution is strictly congregational, and is given at length in a fair hand, on the records of the church. It was transcribed by Mr. Gordon Johnson, who was then preaching in town. Rev. Timothy M. Cooley was the moderator of the church when this change took place. John Caldwell was the first person who preached in town, of whom I can find any ac- count. He preached in town in the year 1741. Some time in the course of that year he was invited to accept of the
pastoral care of the church and people. While Mr. Cald- well was making his preparation for an answer, Rev. John Harvey was employed as a preacher. He was requested to go to Worcester to meet the presbytery, and to urge for an answer to the call they had given Mr. Caldwell.
Some of you need to be informed that in the presbyterian form of government, when a parish wish the person who is preaching to them to settle, they must lay their invitation before the presbytery, and this body is to decide whether the candidate shall answer in the affirmative or negative.
Mr. Caldwell's character labored ; several doubted the correctness of his religious sentiments. The presbytery needed time for their deliberations. But the friends of Mr. Caldwell were impatient under the delay, and the day for his ordination was appointed November 2, 1742. Against this appointment David Boies and fourteen others entered their solemn protest, and had their names recorded by the town clerk. William Proven was appointed as the sec- ond delegate to pray the presbytery to continue Mr. Cald- well as a supply, if they did not see fit to ordain him. In the mean time an attempt was made to induce Mr. Cald- well's friends to submit his principles to the decision of the neighboring ministers and if they found them correct, to proceed to ordain him in the presbyterian form. The town rejected this proposition, but were persuaded to defer
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the time of ordination till the ensuing spring. William Proven was absent thirteen days in attending upon the presbytery respecting Mr. Caldwell. And the town re- quested him to consent, if ordained, to the relinquishment of the privileges of the first minister, if anything should be proved to the disparagement of his character.
At this period the town received aid from the general court for the support of religious institutions. The minds of the people were much agitated. The accusations against Mr. Caldwell could not be passed over in silence, and his friends had much to fear from an investigation. By a general vote the town very earnestly supplicated Mr. Harvey, who had been with them only a short time, to re- turn and preach one Sabbath more. In 1743 two commis- sioners were appointed to go to the presbytery on this affecting concern. I can find no account of the result of this last trial ; no more appears on the town records, re- specting Mr. Caldwell, except a vote dated September, 1743, the autumn after the trial, that the presbytery were desired to send on a preacher for any time, less or more, and any body except Mr. John Caldwell. We may con- clude, therefore, that his character and principles were deficient, and that the attachment of his friends had abated. Thus this little church in the very commencement of its efforts to settle a minister, were affected by employing a man of an exceptionable character, and subject to much expense and trouble in escaping from the difficulty in which they were involved. In the same year Mr. Dunlap was employed a short time as a preacher. He was followed by Mr. Morrison. In their disappointment respecting Mr. Caldwell, and finding no general union, either in Mr. Morrison or Mr. Dunlap, at a meeting in October they presented a petition to the presbytery for liberty to send to Ireland for a minister. They still cherished a tender re- membrance of the country they had left, and imagined that if a preacher who had been bred in their habits, could be obtained, they should be united and happy. Their request was granted. A messenger crossed the Atlantic to make inquiry, and returned with a man whose name was McNeil. But the reception of Mr. McNeil did not corres- pond with his expectations. He had been here but a short time before evil reports respecting him were circulated, and countenanced by the people. The good man's spirits were broken down and he left the town in disgust.
The next year the committee to supply the pulpit obtain- ed the return of Mr Harvey, and by appointment of the
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town, he was to preach at the fort on some day of the week, besides the usual services of the Sabbath. Mr. Harvey was at no time considered a candidate for settlement, and frequent consultations were held by the committee to devise the best method of surmounting the obstacles which now seemed to meet them at every step they took toward the settlement of a minister. The town directed their commit- tee to employ no preacher on a longer trial than six weeks. This vote evinces a very disturbed state of the public feel- ings at that time.
In this year some questions arose concerning the doc- trines of the gospel, and the town voted to adhere to the doctrines of the Church of Scotland, as contained in the confession of faith, the longer and shorter catechism.
Mr. Munson was their next candidate. The Rev. Wil- liam McClenathan followed Mr. Munson. He was a man of respectable talents, and thought to possess unusual gifts as a preacher, but somewhat unhappy in his temper. In July 1744 the people were happily united in giving him a call to settle, with the offer of ninety-three dollars salary and ninety-three dollars settlement, The first minister was also entitled to one sixty-acre lot, to become his own on the day of his ordination. James Hazard was sent to Boston to present the call to the presbytery. In September he was installed, and in December the town transported his goods from Boston. The next year every man in town over twenty-one years was required to work one day for the minister in getting his wood and assist in repairing his house.
Mr. McClenathan was twice sent abroad on the business of the town. Once he was chosen representative of the town, and they voted him thirty dollars addition to his salary. The next year the town, by a general vote, re- quired that Mr. McClenathan be dismissed. The cause of this sudden change was as follows :
A war existed between the French and the English, and the seat of it was the vicinity of Nova Scotia. While Mr. McClenathan was in Boston as the representative of the town, his feelings became enlisted in this war, and he ob- tained both captain's and chaplain's commission, On his return he succeeded in engaging the feelings of several young men in Westfield, and in Blandford. As he was the minister, and made promise to defend and protect young men, their parents permitted several to enlist under him.
When he reached Boston with his company, he was not permitted to hold both offices, and sold his men to another
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officer. Four of the young men died. This by the people was deemed traitorous, and they refused to receive him again as their minister. But he held as his own the minis- try lot. He was arraigned before the presbytery, tried and dimissed. All who testified in this case were required to be put under oath. Afterwards he relinquished his right in the ministry lot. He removed to the South, became an Episcopal preacher and soon after died.
At this time the discouragement of the people was so great that they applied to the general court for assistance. In the summer of 1748 Mr. Morton, a preacher who had lately arrived from Ireland, was obtained as a candidate. On the ninth of the following December they united in an invitation that he should settle with them, and offered one hundred and fifty-three dollars salary and to find him his wood. In August, 1749, Mr. Morton was ordained by Mr. Gregor, Mr. McGraham, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Davidson and Mr. Balantine, who acted as council. For two years after his settlement the town appears to have been tranquil. None considered Mr. Morton to be a great preacher, though all allowed that he was an accurate scholar, nor had he the happiest talents at conversation, and in com- municating his instructions in his ordinary intercourse with the people. The third year numbers refused to pay their work tax, and the town directed the constable to warn them out, on penalty of a heavy fine. Still the town was in arrears in the payment of his salary. The people neglected to get his wood according to contract. They neglected the work they had promised, and 1753 a serious difficulty between him and his people commenced. From this time till the year 1767, when Mr. Morton was dismissed, his life pre- sented a scene of unceasing contention with his people. The expenses of living had increased since his settlement. He requested an addition to his salary. So affronted were the people at this that they voted that they would not furnish his wood that year.
To detail the difficulties of this stormy period would re- quire sheets, Members of the church were grieved, peo- ple in the town were discontented, Mr. Morton was griev- ed, and the question on both sides appears to have been mixed with angry feelings. From the best information I can get, there were from eight to twelve councils called to advise and to decide difficulties. The people were split into parties and often made Mr. Morton a bone of contention in avenging the wrongs of each other. I have no doubt, from the records of this period, that Mr. Morton was
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abused. Neither can it be doubted that in many respects he gave occasion for grief and resentment. Witnesses were called from Westfield to testify against him. But in no instance was there proof that he had been guilty of any in- decent or immoral conduct. In the year 1759 the irritation was much allayed. At a town meeting called on purpose to enquire into the conduct of Mr. Morton, in the choice and ordination of his deacons, it was voted that the town was satisfied with what he had done. The people had been so deficient in their payment to him that in 1766 he sued the town and recovered one hundred and four pounds. The year following Mr. Morton was dismissed, the town having made him a proffer which he accepted, that if he would resign they would pay him thirty pounds lawful money, and exempt his property from taxes during his natural life.
The influence of this long ministerial warfare upon the people must have been extremely pernicious. Ilis dis- mission, I think, must have taken place early in the sum- me.1 of 1767. Early in the next year Mr. Gilmore was employed as their preacher. It is supposed that he preached here more than a year, though not without some interruptions. In August the town voted that the church should give Mr. Gilmore a call. Here again difficulty arose. It was that Mr. Gilmore had never been regularly licensed. The matter was referred to the presbytery, and the opposers of Mr. Gilmore prayed the presbytery to silence him, but they refused. Ile presently withdrew from the contest, and we hear no more from him.
The next preacher was a Mr. Lyon, a very valuable man, who held a connection with a church in the eastern part of the state. He gave general satisfaction, and so great had been the difficulties among the people that he consented to obtain a dismission from his charge and to take the charge of this people should they desire it. In his absence to make arrangements. so far as I can get hold of facts, the people here wrote to him to come to them if he could, but the letter miscarried. In the meantime Mr. John Patrick was recommended to the people. The com- mittee employed him, and the people were so much grati- fied with his appearance that when Mr. Lyon arrived agreeable to the request of the letter which had been delayed three months, they refused to accept him. Mr. Baldwin wrote a letter to deacon Samuel Boies, earnestly advising the reception of Mr. Lyon, and presuming that Mr. Patrick would leave the ground. But the minds of the the people had changed and Mr. Patrick was the man.
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In March 27, 1771, it was voted in town meeting that the church should give Mr. Patrick a call, with a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars. He was ordained in June 1772. But even now the prospects of this church were not cloud- less. Before Mr. Patrick received his call it was reported that he was intemperate. Three or four of the leading men objected to the settlement of Mr. Patrick till an enquiry could be made into his character. Deacon William Boies was deputed to go to Newburyport, a distance of about one hundred and sixty miles, to enquire into the matter and take advice from the presbytery. The next year he was ordained. Mr. Patrick requested the town to make him a pew in the centre of the meeting house, which they refused. His appearance soon placed the complaint of his intemperance beyond question. His friends saw it and trembled. His opposers saw it and triumphed. The con- test between his adherents and opposers was bitter and and severe. A party formed to dispute his entrance into the pulpit. I will not describe the horrid scene. The fact was, a violent scuffle between the parties took place, in the aisle, on these stairs, and in the desk, and all on the Sab- bath. He succeeded in gaining the pulpit and his opposers left the house and went home.
It was the Sabbath morning, in the sanctuary, but the angel of peace had fled. And ah! I will not proceed. Let shame cover us at the recital ; let the tear of sorrow fall at the remembrance of the scene.
The December following, Mr. Patrick was dismissed. Not, however, without much difficulty. And so strong was the attachment of many, that he was actually employed for a season after his dismission. In March meeting in 1775, the town, chaffed with their protracted difficulties, would not entrust the supply of the pulpit to a committee. But they voted to have a Mr. Parsons ( Doctor Parsons of Amherst I believe), if he could be obtained. Meetings this year re- specting the supply of the pulpit were greatly multiplied, and they were destitute from March to October. During the following winter, Mr. Gold preached a few Sabbaths.
About this time an attempt was made to change the mode of singing. The method of singing hitherto had been for all who felt disposed to attempt it, to join their voices, while the clerk or deacon read the line of the psalins as they were sung. To this method some were so attached as to feel or plead a wounded conscience when any change was proposed. Caleb Taylor of Westfield was the first singing master, and when he named the tune and sung with the
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beat, many were so grieved at the indecency of the method that they left the meeting house. Robert Henry, Silas Noble and David Hamilton were the first choristers.
I have always noticed that the maintenance of good sing- ing in religious assemblies is attended with much difficulty. Old people are sure to object to any change. The youth are often inconstant, and money is very grudgingly appro- priated for the purpose. From early youth I have been conversant with this subject, and I say unhesitatingly that churches and religious societies are criminal for their neglect of singing. Every congregation should make pro- vision for the support of singing, as well as for the ministry, or for a comfortable house to worship in. I perceive that there are objections to the style of music which is now in- troduced among us. But these objections will subside when the subject is better understood. It better corres- ponds with the design of sacred music than any set of tunes I have ever seen. Only give your singers the opportunity to learn them, and you will, I have no doubt, be highly pleased.
In the year 1777 there was very little preaching in town. Mr. Remley was with them a few Sabbaths, but a vote could not be obtained to continue him. About this time Mr. Merrick was employed to supply the pulpit. Respecting him also, slanderous reports were raised, and he soon left the place. In 1778 people began for the first time to plead that they could not in conscience pay for preaching. The town voted that all who would make known their scruples to the assessors in one month should have their consciences relieved by a remittance of their tax. Several availed themselves of this opportunity. In 1779 Mr. Crosby and Mr. Bascom, who lived and died in Ches- ter, supplied the pulpit. Mr. Crosby continued until the year 1781, and was with few exceptions, their steady preacher. A vote then passed that he should be hired no longer. But the people soon recalled him, and in 1784, five years after he arrived, he received a call to settle, with a salary of two hundred and sixty-six dollars. But he re- fused to comply because the town voted that if he should be absent any Sabbath, he should deduet a proportional sum from the salary. He believed the support offered would not be a sufficient support for his family. Mr. Crosby was well esteemed and deemed an excellent preacher. Some imagined he was too rigid in his senti- ments. But he was calculated to be useful, and would have been an ornament to the town, had they been willing
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to support him. About this time Mr. Bell preached here a few Sabbaths and produced much excitement, but he could not be obtained as a candidate. The people con- tinued with only occasional supply till the year 1785, when they employed Mr. Thompson.
Mr. Thompson received a unanimous call November, 1785, with a salary of two hundred and sixty-six dollars. He declined because the support was not sufficient, and be- cause he was not prepared to subscribe to all the articles of presbyterian government.
This year the church voted that the ordinance of bap- tism should not be administered'to the children of any who did not partake of the Lord's Supper.
Previous to this period, from the organization of the church, at Hopkinton the halfway covenant was allowed. That is, persons who would give their assent to the doc- trines of the church, and agree to be under the watch of the members, might have their children baptised, although they made no profession of having experienced a change of heart and did not come to the ordinance of the Supper.
The last of October, 1787 Rev. Joseph Badger was or- dained as the pastor of this church. His call was given by the votes of all except one, and the prospects of the church brightened.
I have now arrived to a period, the events of which are distinctly in the recollection of many present.
Mr. Badger's ministry continued till 1800, a period of thirteen years. He was a man of respectable talents and a good preacher. His salary was three hundred dollars with his wood. But a few years elapsed before difficulties commenced with Mr. Badger. His wood was provided by subscription, but the amount was not made out in full. None were legally bound to the fulfilment of their promise, and many failed. This failure, though small, in the eyes of the people, was a serious embarrassment to Mr. Badger. He complained. The same people resented it, and the seeds of difficulty were sown. Mr. Badger found that his support was so small that he could not maintain his family, and give himself to the ministry. He was embarrassed and distressed. To relieve him from pecuniary embar- rassment. in 1794 he removed to a farm in the west part of the town, now occupied by Nathan Rowley. His removal was to him a peculiar trial. But when he lived on the town street his travelling friends often visited at his hospit- able mansion, and his expenses far exceeded his income. His people would not increase his salary : and what could
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he do? On his retired farm his expenses would be less. Yet I have heard many of you say that he went there be- cause he wanted to get rich. How can any person plunge a dagger into a minister's reputation ! Great was this dis- tance from the meeting house, so much that he could not be useful to the people, while his own fatigue was greatly increased, and the people were justly dissatisfied with the arrangement. The town voted to give him fifty pounds in consideration of the failure of past years, and fifty pounds for each of the two succeeding years, provided Mr. Badger would remain their minister sixteen years. But if he went before that time he should pay cash a proportionable sum. This measure seemed to remove the difficulty, and Mr. Badger made arrangements to build on the main street ; but at length purchased the house now occupied by Curtis Knox. By this grant of money a deep wound was inflict- ed on the minds of many. It rankled and spread. People did not listen to his preaching as before. Some were offended at the plainness and severity of his public reproofs ; others murmured at his doctrines. The difficulties so mul- tiplied that it was deemed expedient to dissolve the union. It is worthy of remark, however, that no clamorous party appeared against him. No charge was laid against him before the council which dismissed him, and a majority of the church, and I believe of the people were in favor of his remaining, could he have been contented himself. But he was wearied with the trials of his situation, deemed his use- fulness here, at an end, chose to encounter other trials in another part of the vineyard.
It is evident that in some respects Mr. Badger's views of doctrines changed after his ordination. Possibly he might have suffered the doctrine of election and the divine sovereignty to occupy too great a portion of his sermons. But he felt them to be true, and was anxious to enable his people to feel and to acknowledge their importance. In the first years of his ministry several were awakened and added to the church, and religious conferences were very well attended. In New Connecticut Mr. Badger's labors have been extremely useful. And at his advanced age, he expects on the opening of the spring, to go with a company of about thirty christian families several thousand miles up the Missouri to commence a settlement among the Indians, and to teach them civilization.
After Mr. Badger's dismission the people were supplied at different seasons by Mr. S. P. Robbins, Rev. Gideon Burt, Mr. Miltimore, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Jerome, Mr.
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Clark, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Osborn, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Adams. Three of these men were thought of as candi- dates for settlement, but no serious attempts were made to give them a call.
The year 1802 was memorable on account of a very dis- tressing epidemic, which swept into the grave and into the eternal world fifty-three of the inhabitants, from the twenty-fifth of July to the twenty-fifth of October. All of this number except one were under eighteen years, and most of them children under ten. A more malignant epi- demie is seldom experienced in any age or in any country. Many parents will carry with them to the grave the painful recollection of that distressing period. Oh! that it might appear in the day of judgment that afflictions were bless- ings in disguise.
In May, 1805 some questions arose between the church and society, respecting the half way covenant practice, and a council was called to advise and to decide. The result of this council was happy in its effects. In June following, your present minister preached his first sermon in this place, and on the thirtieth day of October was ordained, and having obtained help of God he continues to this day.
I hope at some future period, to have an opportunity to resume the subject, and to give you a fair history of the transactions since my residence with you.
The whole number of preachers who have been employed by this people is thirty one. Five of these have been ordained. To six a call for settlement was given and neglected. Forty-seven of the eighty-five years since the town was settled have the people enjoyed the labors of a settled minister. Most of the time religious meetings have been holden on the Sabbath. Happy is that people who live in the quiet enjoyment of these means of divine appointment.
EDITORIAL NOTE.
Rev. JOSEPH BADGER Was born in Wilbraham, graduated at Yale 1785, settled in Blandford from Oct. 1787 to 1800. Removed to the Western Res- erve in Ohio, then called New Connecticut, where he was a useful minis- ter and died in 1846, aged 81.
Rev. JOHN KEEP was born in Longmeadow. Mass., Apr. 20, 1781. Grad- uated at Yale College 1802. Studied Theology with Asahel Hooker. D. D. of Goshen, Conn. Was ordained at Blandford, Oct. 30, 1805, and was dis- missed in 1821. He was afterwards a pastor at Homer, N. Y., and at Cleve- land, Ohio, and for many years was connected as trustee and financial agent with Oberlin College. He died at Oberlin, Feb. 11, 1870, aged 89.
Rev. Daniel Butler, Secretary of the Mass. Bible Society, then a lad of thirteen, was present at the delivery of this discourse, in the old meeting house, so graphically described. It was on a week day, being too secular for the Sabbath of those days.
In 1822 the present tasteful edifice was built on the same site, the crown of the hill; overlooking the valley of the Connecticut, and is visible from points forty miles distant.
Rev. DORUS CLARKE, born in Westhampton Jan. 2, 1797, graduated at Williams in 1817, was ordained Feb. 5. 1823, and dismissed Feb 17, 1835. He died in Boston March 8, 1884, aged 87.
Rev. CHARLES J. HINSDALE was born in Newark. New Jersey, graduated at Yale in 1815, and installed at Blandford Jan. 20, 1836, and was dismissed Nov. 20, 1860, and resided there until his death Oct. 17, 1871. aged 76. His was the longest pastorate of the church.
Ware, Feb. 1, 1886.
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