USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > Discourse delivered at Newburyport, Mass., November 28, 1856. On occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the building of the First Presbyterian Church > Part 3
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I have given Mr. Murray's own statement as to the offense
"On coming to New England he had dismissed himself from them, as he thought, and regarded their action as an attempted assumption of authority which he disclaimed.
#The Presbyterian Church at that date had not assumed its present form. The Synods of New York and Philadelphia alono existed. The two Presbyteries of New England were independent of each other and of the Synods. Hence some things were done, which would now be irregular.
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itself. To this he always adhered. His confessions concerning it were repeated, public, and mnost humble-none could be more so. But the forgery, and other misdemeanors alleged but never proven, he firmly denied. And now, with his whole after life and his death before us, what shall we say ? are we not warranted in believing him ? His acknowledged fault was committed at 18. Was there a radical defect ? From the age of 23 his life was public and unimpeached ; a life of great devotedness, and in what unextenuating penitence passed, a letter will show. In 1774 he writes : " The daily views I have had of the multiplied enormities it occasioned me, all of which, with the unhappy consequences to the church of Christ, have been continually before my eyes, have made me wish my name blotted out of remembrance by all mankind, and even regret the day of my birth, times without number. The Searcher of all hearts does know my agonies of mind on every review ; and that no restoration to the favor of men can ever give me ease-and that but for the application of Gilead's heavenly balm, I had perished of my wound years ago not a few. I find my comfort in my obscurity ;- there I hope I find my God ;- and there I see less danger of being a stumbling-block in Zion, the very idea of which to me is worse than death. I have not a wish to be drawn from my retirement, (Boothbay) there will I remain, in secret places looking to him whom 1 pierced, and mourning as for an only son ; and striving to wear out the remainder of my cumbrous life, in the best endeavors I can in his service," &c.
It is proper to say that Mr. Parsons took special pains to enquire into the reports against him. He wrote to England ; and the result was a decided conviction, that the faults com- mitted, in connection with his own humble acknowledgement, should not debar him from Christian charity.
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REV. DANIEL DANA, D. D.
Born at Ipswich, July 24, 1771-a graduate of Dartmouth in 1788-Teacher at the Moore School, near Dartmouth, and at Exeter Academy, four and a half years-Ordained November 19, 1794.
Mr. Dana's settlement was preceded and succeeded by dis- ruption. The pulpit had been supplied during the winter of 1792, at Mr. Murray's invitation, by Rev. Mr. Milton, a young missionary from Lady Huntingdon's school at Trevecca ; an earnest, eloquent and original preacher, although eccentric as a man. Many were delighted with him, and would have retained him as colleague pastor. But the majority being un- willing, his friends withdrew, and under the plea of " better edification " established worship in a private honse. After Mr. Murray's death, and while under suspension for breach of cove- nant, they renounced the government, built a house of worship, and organized an "independent Calvinistic " church. Six males and nine females signed the covenant ; a session was appointed, and Mr. Milton became pastor. The forms of installation were quite anomalous ; for after sermon Dea. Solomon Haskell put the call to vote, and declared him their minister. Having delivered the Bible to him, and told him what system of doc- trines he was to present, he informed him that " so long as he did this and behaved well, they should acknowledge him as their teacher and no longer "-and then proceeded to give him a charge how to preach. Thus originated the Prospect street church. In 1798 some concessions were made as to the manner of withdrawal, and the session removed their censure ; and twice since, when needful repairs have closed our own house, we have worshipped pleasantly together for long periods.
This division and Mr. Murray's death threw the congregation into much confusion. Mr. Samuel Tomb, a licentiate in the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, was called once and
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again by small majorities, but declined ; a third attempt failed, amid strong feeling, and with small prospect of speedy union upon any other. Mr. Dana, however, was called in June, 1794, and installed in November ; but with a decided opposi- tion, and after a remonstrance to Presbytery.
The dissentients then, in their turn, withdrew ; including most of the session, and many of the most substantial and godly members of the church. The clerk and treasurer being one, also took the funds, files and records of the church ; the latter of which were not restored for many years. In July 1795, they proposed as a peace measure that Rev. Mr. Boddily should become colleague with Mr. Dana. This failed, and in October the Presbytery of Londonderry organized them as the second Presbyterian church, with thirty-three members.
This opposition to Mr. Dana was principally owing to a misunderstanding as to his doctrinal views. Mr. Tomb was an old fashioned and doctrinal preacher ; withont Mr. Murray's richness, indeed, but in the style of his sermons such as they were accustomed to-Mr. Dana a young man fresh from literary pursuits, with a different style, the graces of which at that time, probably, exceeded the doctrine, about which they were stren- uous ;* it was, therefore, supposed they differed equally in doc- trine. Certain it is, however, from a synopsis of his carlier sermons, that he was no less sound than now. And of the dissentients themselves many afterwards returned and honored him as he deserved ; whilst at a later day a twenty years pas- torate in the second church, upon their own call, gave the sur- vivors " full proof of his ministry."
Of Dr. Dana delicacy and taste would prompt me to say but
"An ancedote will show how they regarded preaching at that day, and what they princi- pally looked for. After a sermon from a young man which, perhaps, had the defects of youth, a free spoken member grumbled the remark, "Peas in a bladder, peas in a bladder, no food for my soul to-day." The remark, it is said, was overheard and led to a new expert- ence in the young preacher.
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little, as he is still among us ; but other considerations invite a reference, at least to his public and official life. He is one of whom no ill can be said ; he will pardon a brief report of the good. He has been called the Addison of New England ; and his style as a preacher and writer is distinguished for its purity, case, and propriety ; with sometimes a keenness in the use of words, when he takes the controversial pen, which, like Saladin's scimitar, cuts and kills without a visible wound. I should say his marked peculiarity was appropriateness. He would be sure to read the best hymn, to select the best chapter, and make the most suitable prayer for every occasion ; escaping difficulties, while pertinently alluding to them, with exquisite tact and smoothness. An instance I find in a funeral sermon of his. The subject of it was a man of strong traits and a posthumous fame as a liberal donor, but equally known infirmi- ties ; upon some features of whose character, his audience would have wished an opinion. But the delicate allusion, which could not be omitted, was rounded, and farther curiosity diverted by the apt lines (with many of which his memory is stored) :-
" No farther seek his merits to disclose, Nor draw his frailties from their dread abode ;
There they alike in trembling hope repose, The bosom of his Father, and his God."
In pastoral visitations, at the sick bed, and with the sorrow- ing, the same trait made him most happy. Poetry and reading were laid alike under contribution, and skilfully made use of as ministrants of the gospel medicine. And thus he became a pastor beloved, who " did his spiriting gently." Of this method I may mention an instance. At Londonderry was an old man of eighty odd years, lame, deaf, defective in sight, and still impenitent. As a last hope, his pastor related to him the story, by Mrs. Thrale, of Death and " The Three Warnings ;" in substance this. Death having called, most unseasonably, upon
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a man's wedding day, and told him he must quit his sweet bride and go with him, Dobson remonstrated-and death consented to retire, and promised him three warnings before he called again. At length he reached his eightieth year ; when sud- denly death stood before him. " What, so soon returned, angry Dobson cried, and where are my three warnings ?" "I little thought," said death, "you'd still be able to stump about your farm and stable." Hold, said the farmer, I have been lame these four years past. " However, death replied, you still keep your eyes ?" "No, said the man, latterly I've lost my sight." " But still you hear all the news," said death-
"There's none, cries he ; and if there were, I've grown so deaf, I could not hear. Nay, then ! the spectre stern rejoin'd, These are unjustifiable yearnings ;
If you are lame, and deaf, and blind, You've had your three sufficient warnings."
The tale seemed at the time to make no impression upon the old man ; but when he died he left a note, saying, that the first thing which led him to think seriously about his condition, was the story of death and the three warnings.
Among you who have so long known him, I need but allude to another item of Dr. Dana's pastoral life-but for not men- tioning which, multitudes of God's poor would blame me, could they rise. "When the eye saw him, it gave witness to him : because he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, and he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."
In his preaching Dr. Dana was lucid, scriptural and practical ; in arrangement a model for accuracy, simplicity and beauty, in doctrine clear as the day, in matter edifying. Happily for the people to whom he ministered so long, he had been trained to regard the Bible as text-book not only, but the very marrow of
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sermons. He early, therefore, adopted the plan of expounding, half the day, with such acceptance that many would attend them, if detained the other half ; and with this manifest advan- tage, that sins could often be pointedly reproved in the exposi- tion, without such odium to the preacher as a voluntary choice of the subject might have caused.
At the beginning of this century, great theological differences existed in town ; and in this the town was an epitome of New England. Controversy was rife, and alienations existed. "My memory takes me back, (writes Dr. Dana,) to seasons very different from the present." Scarcely any two churches main- tained communion with each other, and of six ministers, of near denominational complexion, scarce two agreed in theology; although the allusion to it in Dr. Alexander's life is not pre- cisely correct. There was no Antinomian. Some private canses there were contributing to this state of things, which was once a reproach : jealousies, perhaps, such as will occa- sionally arise among churches closely located in a limited territory-some, too, there always are under such circum- stances, of whom Rev. Mr. Chandler of Rowley writes in 1766 : "Sometimes I hear two or three religions persons spending their opportunity together in [crying down one minister and crying up another ; and they seem to think they are honoring God and doing him service." Far be it from us to defend or even countenance any such things. Politics, also, at times led to dissension. . But other causes operated. The New England mind is active, independent, inquisitive ; a trait which, within the field of religion, has produced speculations, isms and heresies in abundance, but which also makes very intelligent Christians.
In this town the people were religious in thought and habit. When the British fleet was off the coast and fears of a landing were entertained, a physician remarked, " for what should they
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land here, unless they wish to go to church ?" They were intelli- gently religious, and strong in their belief as in character. Doctrinal points were just then prominent topics of discussion ; and sometimes the clash of opinion kept apart those who should have walked together, and differed without acrimony. These walls of unnatural separation it was Dr. Dana's steady endeavor to break down ; and in these efforts he had the cordial con- currence of his people. Neither to him nor his predecessors could be charged anything of " that narrow, contentious, censo- rious spirit, which has done such infinite mischief in this place."* Indeed, I know of no period when this kindly feeling has not animated the pastors of this church, and been exercised when circumstances allowed.
Of those who were his fellow laborers, Dr. Samuel Spring is most extensively known ; and in preaching and upon some points in Theology differed much from Dr. Dana, although this brought them into no collision. For several years, indeed, Dr. Dana was paving the way for an exchange, which past circumstances for a long time rendered inexpedient. Dr. Spring was large in frame, with a stern blue eye and a look of command, " fitted to be a general and achieve great things," as one said to me ; dignified in bearing, but somewhat distant in intercourse with his people, although greatly respected by them-not strictly logical, I am told, yet a great logician ; fond of reasoning and with a strong polemic relish. Dr. Emmons, who was his brother-in-law, was about the only man to whom he looked up, or would call " Rabbi."
His system and preaching partook of his personal traits. The creed of his church was minutely drawn out in logical sequence, to suit his favorite views. When, however, an aged negro wished to be received, as he would not have understood it, another was used. Once a hearer who was particular about
*Dr. Dana's Sermon-funeral of Mr. Moody.
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the text, asked him, "Dr. where was your text this morning, I did not hear it ;" (the Dr. had named none)-" Sir," he replied, "it was in the title page of the book of nature and the con- nexion of things." To the last he was consistent with his views, which were Hopkinsian-to a brother minister at his bedside he said, " I have laid the foundation of Andover Sem- inary, I have been instrumental in forming the American board, and have preached the gospel for more than forty years-but what was my motive ; I have my doubts, but I commit myself to God to dispose of me as he pleases." As a preacher Dr. Dana was affectionate, Dr. Spring pungent ; for he said " sinners were willing to be pitied, but could not bear to be blamed." Dr. Dana would urge the use of gospel means-Dr. Spring would say to the sinner, "You have no right to draw another breath till you repent." One of these reverend men, so deeply inter- ested in the same Seminary, is gone. And if in more recent times, the other has felt himself constrained to utter his "re- monstrance" against apparent doctrinal defection, it has been, I am well assured, from no mere itch for disputation ; he loves the olden truth as the fathers held it, and having seen the rise of many errors, fears all seeming departures from " the form of sound words."
Brethren, look well at the venerable man, for soon he will + have passed away. As a sere and yellow leaf, which in autumn
still lingers on the bough, sole relict of spring and summer, so he remains-a memento mori-and time has left him, with a very few more, to remind us of generations once as numerous and as busy as ours, now dead and gone. Already he has outlived any minister ever settled in town. You may see him less and less in the streets. And when God calls him, a wide chasm will separate you from the founders and venerated fore- fathers of your church.
When Dr. Dana's opponents withdrew in 1795, they left
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him with an affectionate and united people, although for a time they were reduced in numbers. The period of his ministry was a flourishing but uneventful one. Many solid stones were laid in the Spiritual temple, but without noise ; it was rather a continual dew, than a season of rains filling the pools. The revival of 1801, which is still spoken of, affected this church but little ; only ten having united during that year. It had its origin in a young men's prayer meeting, and was principally in Mr. Milton's church, where some disturbances occurred. After preaching, young men would rise in the galleries and exhort. Once, amid much confusion Dr. Dana arose, and by his dignified utterance of the words, " God is a God of order and not of confusion," quelled the noise.
One event, however, of pleasing and solemn and at that time novel interest occurred in 1815, June 21, at the ordination of the second band of missionaries, Samuel J. Mills, James Rich- ards, Jun., Edward Warren, Benjamin C. Meigs, Horatio Bardwell, and Daniel Poor. Dr. Worcester preached an admirable sermon in the morning, and in the afternoon the Lord's supper was celebrated by nearly seven hundred commu- nicants from various and distant churches-the first instance of the kind, I am told, in New England and probably in the country. "The scene was novel in this country," says Evarts, with whom the happy idea originated, and it dwelt long in his recollections: How a spirit of Missions enlarges the sympa- thies and breaks down separating walls! Mills would, probably, have led the mission to the Sandwich Islands, had he lived ; but " one soweth, another reapeth."
In the autumn of 1820, Dr. Dana exchanged his labors here for the Presidency of Dartmouth College ; since when, till his retirement in a green old age, his history has been with other churches .*
*Londonderry, N. H., and the second Presbyterian of this city.
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REV. S. P. WILLIAMS.
Born at Wethersfield, Conn., Feb. 22, 1779-graduated at Yale, 1796-Studied theology with Dr. Dwight and at Spring- field with Dr. Howard-licensed at West Springfield,* April 10, 1805,-Settled at Mansfield, Conn., 1807-at Newburyport February 8, 1821.
It would have been hard to find a man to succeed Dr. Dana, with anything like his peculiar excellencies. Comparison could only be annoying. Besides, after long and prosperous culture churches, like fields, sometimes need the plough. Prov- idence, therefore, in 1821 sent as his successor, a man the most unlike ; but one who, in a brief ministry of six years, left his mark upon the affections and consciences of the people. If Dr. Dana was a model of that politeness which graced the manners of ministers in his day, Mr. Williams was, perhaps, too blunt, and needed more suavity of manner. Whereas the one would say, perhaps, " may we not reasonably suppose you to be intemperate "-the other would have pounced upon the offender with a swoop, and said, "Sir, you are a drunkard." An old lady once asked him, " Mr. Williams, why do you never give me your hand ; Dr. Dana always did, and sometimes the t'other !" Mr. Williams had nothing of that, rather under- valued it ; from no want of feeling or refinement, but the firm texture of the man. Many of you can remember his tall and soldierly form ; his face through which, as in a transparency, every purpose of a heart above disguise, was visible. Here, one would at once say, is a straightforward, honest man ; there are no lurking places of deceit in his heart. Ilis character was firmly rooted, upright and strong in growth ; flinging forth its branches freely to the winds and storms of heaven.
*A pleasing coincidence connects three of the pastors with West Springfield. The writer passed some years there during his father's ministry, Col. Jonathan Parsons being an immedi- ate neighbor ; and was called there at the same time with Newburyport.
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He spoke freely, acted freely. When Rev. Mr. Giles honorably placed at his disposal the long withheld church records and offered to send them home, no, he would shoulder the bag. He followed duty on a line; and if difficulty opposed itself, he . would mount the hill, but never turn its flank. About the only time, perhaps, that he was known to yield, was when he had fixed upon a residence in Newbury and some of his people, (who wished him nearer) said, " if he lived there he might go there to meeting." Such a man, with faults so superficial, makes warm friends ; and his real excellence was appreciated.
Being such in temperament, however, he was not so well adapted to scenes where tenderness and sympathy were demanded. He was a reprover rather than a consoler, and lacked the pathetie. Yet he was very eloquent, a perfect articulator, a master of gesture and oratory, with a "melodious voice that fastened the ear to hiis theme-whilst his beautiful language, shining illustrations, energy and earnestness and pungency in reproof, captivated the attention and bore down on the heart." But he was deficient in analysis ; would sometimes illustrate his illustrations, till his hearers lost the thread ; and from a certain obscurity of style, it was by lightning flashes, rather than continuous thought, that his impression was made. Many souls, however, were given to him, and to this people he was a blessing. His last sermon was very touching. It was on Thanksgiving day, less than a month before his death, on the " value of life." Too weak to stand, he preached it sitting in a chair. And although his manner was not as animated' as usual, his pallid face, evidently scaled by death, the subject, made it the most effective he ever delivered. He died Decem- ber 23, 1826.
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(4.) GOVERNMENT AND ELDERSHIP.
Avoiding Prelacy on the one hand, and Independancy on the other, the founders organized this a Presbyterian church. To the former with its Bishops, clerical orders and forms, they Ind no leanings-from the latter their own experience of its workings had made them particularly averse. It was a looso democracy, under which, if passion or prejudice actuated a church, as in their case, there was no appeal, no redress. They were forced, in order to obtain their liberty and rights from church and state, as the law then was, to become another denomination ; and to guard themselves and children so far as possible against the evils they had seen and suffered, against false doctrine and oppression, they became Presbyterian. As Mr. Williams says in his sermon, " they had suffered too serious evils for want of a judicatory to which they might resort under their grievances, to expose themselves again to embarrassment." Mr. Stearns remarks, " Strange as it may seem to some, who are in the habit of regarding Presbyterianismn as too rigid, and unfriendly to popular rights, it was expressly for the purpose of avoiding undne rigidity, and in defence of popular rights, that the founders of this church adopted that form of govern- ment." In fact, from seeing how capricious and often oppressive church discipline became under Independancy, and alarmed at the spread of error, many leading ministers of the day were led to advocate a Presbyterian government as the best remedy. President Edwards, for example, said, " I have long been out of conceit of our unsettled, independant, confused way of church government ; and the Presbyterian way has ever appeared to me most agreeable to the word of God, and the reason and nature of things." Under this way, the government is repre- sentative and republican. There being a series of courts, be- ginning with the session ; to which should always be elected the men most approved in a church for piety and wisdom.
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These courts are under definite rules. And if injured or aggrieved in the lower, appeal may be made to a higher, even up to the General Assembly of the whole church. This was the system under which our fathers sheltered themselves from . false doctrine and church oppression ; and their first act was to choose six ruling elders.
Of the Session I can say, from a diligent perusal of the records, that, in general, they have been faithful watchmen over the spiritual interests of the church. It would seom, that till Mr. Murray's day, the visitation of families was not customary with the pastor, except on extraordinary occasions .* Mr. Murray mentioned the neglect of it as one of his objections to settling here. This work the Session performed. In 1780 they districted the parish ; each elder pledging himself to a careful supervision of his charge in spiritual matters. They catechised the children, assisted in arranging personal difficulties, and performed other such duties. Several times addresses have been presented by session to the congregation, with the most happy effect-in which the state of the church was reviewed, prevalent sins were brought to their notice, measures of revival proposed, and means for doing good suggested. Measures of evangelization among the destitute around, were early adopted by them. And though, "for want of co-operation in other churches, less was effected than attempted, yet through their importunity with Presbytery, and a petition to General Court, something was done for their relief."t
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