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 4
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In its times of difficulty, or when destitute of a pastor, the Session has often been the safety of the church. Its unity has thus been preserved, its discipline and purity maintained, the pulpit supplied, and the interests of picty and benevolence have
"Mr. Lowell in one of his letters says, it was pot regarded, when he settled, by many of the ministers around as a necessary part of their work unless seut for. He first introduced the practice in that church.
+Williams' Sermon, p. 24.
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been attended to ; when otherwise, in so large a society, discí- pline might have been a fire-brand, evils suffered to ripen unre- strained, false doctrine have intruded, and order been lost.
Of the many godly and praying men who have from time to time composed it, I have not the means of giving any sketch. Yet the names of some have come down to us as very eminent in picty. Such was Captain Jonathan Parsons," the Christian shipmaster, who carried religion and the Sabbath aboard, and maintained their influence in forecastle and cabin, in a day when such men were few-a man learned in the scriptures and in doctrine, frugal of sleep and meals that he might read and pray, and whose Bible, his choice companion, lay open, and by early rising was not seldom read through in a voyage-a model Elder, a pattern seaman. Such were Long, and Sewall, and Coombs, and the Moodys ; one of the latter remarkable in prayer, the other, "good old Master Moody " as he was called, the last who occupied the old seats under the pulpit, and " whose eyes were never known to wander during service, how- ever long." Such, more recently, were Wheelwright and Clark,t and Simpson, my venerable friend. But there is one who deserves a special notice, Ralph Cross, who may be called the founder of the church. Of the work of grace in 1740 he was a noble trophy, and one of its most zealous promoters. To the poor he was " a dew from the Lord ;" in liberality, though dependent on his industry, unwearied, and in ways that were then even singular. During that revival, he opened his heart, his house and his purse freely to all who seemed honestly to befriend it. At length, having found a goodly number, whom he judged sincere subjects of vital religion, he animated them
*Son of the first pastor, and brother of Major General Parsons of Revolutonary memory. Mr. Murray wrote a very eloquent sermon at his death, entitled "The happy voyage com- pleted and the sure anchor cast."
¡Father and uncle of Bishop Clark of Rhode Island, and a family of ministers.
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to forin this church .* And to his benefactions and other exer- tions, at the time, was greatly owing its success in surmounting the many difficulties it encountered. Its first stated preacher was boarded at his house, free of expense, for three years. A principle part of the cost of building the first meeting house, was defrayed by him. And of the seven who purchased and presented to Mr. Parsons a valuable house and lot of land, ho was the chief. In building the present house, he, also, rendered essential aid-and presented that venerable King James' Bible, from which Whitefield preached, and which is still an appendage and glory of our pulpit. Yet much more even was the church indebted to his piety, his example, his admonitions in word and writing, and his prayers, during a long and useful life. He was an Elder forty-one years; and died 1788, aged 82. Let the church, for which to the last his withered hands and streaming eyes were lifted in the public prayer, hold him and. his in remembrance.t
(5.) STRUGGLES AND TROUBLES.
The first great struggle of this church, was with the old par- ishes ; and deserves particular notice, both from its character and consequences. The Puritan fathers did not learn toleration from their troubles in England. They only became the more determined to enjoy peace themselves in their new home. Re- ligion was, therefore, placed under legal enactments. Parish lines were drawn ; and all within the limits must attend, and were taxed to support the church there established. Toleration and the voluntary principle were the fruit of time and trouble.
*Murray's funeral sermon.
[ His sons Stephen and Ralph, were both members of the Committee of Safety during the Revolution. Stephen was taken prisoner at Fort Oswego, and sent to England; but returned and died in 1809, aged 78. Ralph was in the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga, and became a Brigadier General. He died in 1800. aged 62. Miss Martha Nowell, a granddaughter, is the only one of his descendants now connected with the church, aged about 80.
--
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In 1634, Roger Williams had broached the heresy, that "no one should be bound to worship or to maintain worship, without his own consent." "What! exclaimed his antagonists, amazed at his tenets, is not the laborer worthy of his hire ?" " Yes," he replied, " from them that hire him."
From 1742 to 1770 this church was manfully battling for the very same principle. One evil of the law was, that in many par- ishes which were originally Calvinistic, the inhabitants, by a major vote, had settled Pelagian or Arminian teachers ; whom the minority must support, when they could not, in couscience, attend their ministry. If they built a house of worship for themselves, on the voluntary plan, they were still taxed to sup- port the old one ; and for rebuilding or repairing it, they must pay what the parish assessed. Thus, in a time of declension, the law itself became a weapon of oppression to the real fol- lowers of the puritan doctrines. So it was with this church in relation to the first and third parishes. Its members could neither get dismissions, redress, nor freedom from taxation, which many were ill able to bear. The Quakers had obtained a special act of exemption in 1737-the Episcopalians in 1743. The Anabaptists enjoyed a like favor. To place themelves, there. fore, on the same footing before the law, and for other reasons already stated, this church became Presbyterian." But the old parishes long and steadily resisted; and General Court again and again refused the petitioners the relief they sought, although itself at the time complaining of the British court for taxing the peo- ple without their consent. For the old parishes, however, some- thing may be said. Their spirit, indeed, was bad enough, and their treatment of these brethren sometimes indefensible. Many of them, unable to pay their double taxes, were imprisoned.
*Mr. Rogers of Ipswich particularly advised such a course. The battle was not for them- selves alone, but for many more in the churches who were similarly oppressed. If this church succeeded. he said, they might soon form a consociation or Presbytery, which was much the better way.
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Mr. Parsons was maltreated, and visited them at a risk. Bui excitement was running high ; the law was on their side, though even "right too rigid, hardens into wrong." Besides and prin- cipally, the new society was drawing heavily upon their num- bers. One thousand souls from the first and third parishes, were said in 1749 to attend the new church. This was, probably, an exaggeration. Large numbers, however, did go; many of them, the opposers say, "unthinking youth and servants black and white, to be from under their parents and masters' eyes, and partly to see the extraordinaries, still practiced among them, but discountenanced in the regular churches." What these " extraordinaries " were, we remain uninformed, as probably Mr. Parsons also was. Thus the old parishes were greatly reduced. And if General Court were to free the remonstrants from taxation, a heavy burden would fall upon those that remained. Besides, other sects might spring up, and thus the whole parish system be disarranged.
This struggle continued, the members of this church paying double taxes, till 1770. Then one hundred individuals peti- tioned the town, and the town petitioned the Court to grant exemption ; but the trail of the division remained for years after. This church, therefore, (if I am correctly informed), has the honor of being the last sufferer and of breaking up the oppression of the old colony laws. In 1780 the new constitu- tion gave equal rights to all, under certain restrictions.
Other troubles, of an intestine nature, have already been mentioned ; and some besides will come under the next head.
(6.) CUSTOMS.
One hundred years make great changes in the habitudes of a people. Then and within remembrance, women came to church on pillions, and were not afraid of weather. When Miss
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Hannah Tracy used the first umbrella in town, she was roundly abused for her pride. An item of history sufficiently illustrates their domestic habits. In 1720 the Scotch Irish emigrants had introduced potatoes and the spinning wheel into New Eng- land. In 1768 the young ladies met at Mr. Parsons', and after a sermon from Proverbs 34 : 19, they spun for Mrs. Parsons two hundred and seventy skeins of good yarn. In 1787 they did the same at Mr. Murray's ; who preached from Exodus 35 : 25, "And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands." Donation parties, however, were not much the custom. Some changes have taken place in the conduct of weddings and funerals ; for whereas now, the greater number perhaps, go quietly to the minister to be married, then the bride was escorted home by a procession of carriages ; and in many houses a large room was built expressly for weddings and funerals. At the latter, spirituous liquors were provided for the bearers and others. On Sabbath, till within thirty years, tithing-men were about the streets making reconnoissance and sending people to church. But many still had the bad habit of standing about the church doors ; which in 1780 the Session vigorously remonstrated against as a desceration. The clergy, in those days, were more a class apart than now ; and were readily known by the hat, looped up on three sides, the large white wig " full of learning," and other canonicals ; all of which, except the wig, Mr. Milton wore till 1818. The wig, however, was at first looked upon with conscientious abhorrence by many. In 1752 one member in Newbury refused communion with the church, because the pastor wore a wig and the church justified him in it. Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians, believed the suffer- ings of King Philip's war, a judgment from heaven on account of the practice.
In this church, some customs have come down to us from the' beginning, others have been changed for the better. We still
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elect elders annually, having from nine to twelve, a number which the business of the church requires. Formerly ordina- tion was sometimes neglected, but we now ordain every new elder ; and except au occasional instance of withdrawal from active service for special reasons, they continue to be re-elected. In the third parish till 1750, and in the first till 1769, the scriptures were not read in the public worship ; the puritans wishing, in this respect as in others, to differ from Episcopacy, which requires such reading and prescribes the portion for every service. The fathers stood in family prayer for the same reason. But here the scriptures were always read. The first attempted change in customs related to the singing, and caused long and serious dissension ; in fact more animosity and aliena- tion of feeling, than almost any other subject which has agita- ted the congregation. In 1720 a much needed reform had commenced. Till that time the churches had but eight or ten tunes, and they were "tortured and twisted as every unskilful throat saw fit." The singing sounded, says Mr. Walter, "like five hundred different tunes roared out at the same time," and had become so drawling that " I myself have twice in one note paused to take breath." The reform caused a wonderful excitement and opposition-"Truly," says one, "I have a great jealousy that if we once begin to sing by rule, the next thing will be to pray by rule and preach by rule and then comes popery !" It was the attempt to discontinue " lining out the psalm " that produced the commotion here, and during the long contest there was some indecorum. For occa- sionally, whilst one party sang as the Deacon lined it, the .opposers would finish the verse, whatever the discord. But at last the innovators triumphed, and peace was restored. The first organ built in this country was in Boston, 1745, The first playing of one in this town was July 1753, at the Episcopal church. Here, however, they used the old fashioned pitch pipe
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with notes on, and blown at one end, till Dr. Dana's day, when the clarionet and bass-viol were introduced-much to the scandal of one worthy member, who said " they had got the fiddle and only needed that the minister should get up and dance." I do not find that any of the older hymn books, Sternhold and Hopkins, Tate and Brady, or the "Bay Psalm Book," were ever used in this church, although in use around. In 1718 Dr. Watts sent some of his Psalms to Cotton Mather for his opinion. The first edition in this country was published in 1741 ; and probably his version was always used, as I have seen a copy of the twenty sixth edition, 1765, belonging to one of the early members.
The "half-way covenant " was practiced in this church throughout Mr. Parsons' ministry ; and although objected to 4 by his successor, and the cause of much difficulty at times, was still in vogue till the last years of Dr. Dana's ministry, when the custom happily went into disuse. To his day, also, the table was " fenced " at the communion ; Mr. Miltimore being the last who so conducted the service in this house, although Mr. Milton continued the practice till his death .*
Until the introduction of stoves the winter communion was omitted, as the usual services in connexion were numerous ; but in 1818 a change was made from three to six times a year, the Saturday afternoon and Monday forencon incetings were dropped, and only the fast on Tuesday continued. Mr. Wil- liams discontinued this also, the public relation of " experience " and likewise the usual confessions of those " under scandal;"
*Mr. Milton's usual form was modelled after Mr. Murray's. In the close of his sermon he would say : from our subject we learn who have and who have not a right to come to this holy table. Surely they have no right here, who trample under their feet the blood of the ever- lasting Covenant and do despite to the spirit of grace-I do, therefore, solemnly enclose and fence this table, I do warn all unregenerated persons not to draw near; I debar all who deny the imputation of sin and righteousness, for they can never have known the plague of their own hearts nor the need of a righteousness, answerable to the demands of the law-all Armin- ians, for they depend and seek to justify themselves by their own works: all Antinomians who profess to receive him by faith, but in works deny bim-all Arlans and Socinians, &c.
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a term of specific meaning. Formerly, instead of sending a " note " for public prayers, the request was made from the pew ; sometimes in language as curious as the subjects were various. Forty-five notes were on one occasion presented to Dr. Dana during the second singing ; leaving him but time to classify them for general allusion.
Of one old custom, which some yet continue, I find little trace in this church ; I mean the preaching of politics on Thanks- givings and Fast days. This was common in the carly times of New England. and partly a necessity ; for newspapers were hardly known, and the clergy almost the only educated men. And as Queen Elizabeth first tuned the pulpits when she would tune the people to a measure, so there was here a reason for political preaching. It was so during the Revolution, when liberty demanded every voice. But afterwards, when parties were formed and measures of policy became the question, the inexpediency of clerical interference soon manifested itself. They lost ground and influence in consequence. "Unfortu- nately," says one, "for bands and surplices, federalism went down, and almost all the clergy happened to be on the losing side."* With scarce an exception, (during foreign war) my predecessors seem to have kept political subjects from the pulpit.
Its many prayer meetings have been a characteristic of this church. " These, (says Dr. Dana) have been and are the strength and glory of the church." He has mentioned especially those of the females, which have always been numerous and well sustained. Once, the tradition is, an individual went to parish meeting expressly to oppose some measure, but voted for it ; and to a question of surprise answered, " What could one do, with so many women praying all around ?" In this connec. tion Mrs. Jane Greenleaf will be remembered,as a shining but not
·Withington's election sermon, 1831.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
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singular example of female piety. Mr. Josiah Plummer, I am told, used to spend the Tuesday fast in prayer, from nine A. M. till evening. That was formerly of special interest, and many came from the other societies, not the aged only, but the young. Such habits, so deeply religious, in the family and in public, indicate the source of the church's prosperity. God has remembered his covenant and blessed it. Rev. Jacob Little of Granville, Ohio, writes thus : " My grandfather, Enoch Little, was born again at the age of eleven under the preaching of Whitefield, while holding on to the pulpit railing to prevent being crushed away by the crowd, and joined the church when twenty-four-removed to Boscawen in 1773, but came twice a year to communion so long as he could ride, 70 miles-dying at eighty-eight, he left a great posterity, the most of whom have become devoted Christians. My father left nine children, all hopefully born again in tender years. Of my own six chil- dren, four obtained a hope at the ages of 22, 13, 12 and 10. I am so much a believer in the covenant that I trace the piety of the Boscawen Littles to Enoch, to Whitefield and to the old church at Newburyport ; and the testimony of all his descend- ants would show much more fully the fruits of your church." Other families show the same. Thirty-four ministers and mission- aries are known to have been reared here. One Elder's family has given four ministers to the church. And although there have been but few extensive revivals, the annual average of admissions to the church under the several pastors, has been about as follows :-
Ministers.
No. Years.
Whole No.
Annual Average.
Parsons,
30
303
10
Murray,
12
88
7
Dana,
26
208
8
Williams,
6
89
15
Proudfit,
53
218
39
Stearns,
14
204
15
Present Pastor,
6
131
22
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To one subject more I should be ungrateful not to allude in this history. As a society this, (although others in town merit .a like praise) has from the first been distinguished for kindness and attachment to its pastors. Each return of my predecessors has been welcomed with cordial greetings. When the younger of the two was to preach his first sermon after installation, a blind man, not knowing the time but fearing to be late, took his way early in the morning to church ; and to the remark of one who met him, " You must intend to love your new minis- ter ;"-"Not more than the last," was his reply. Mr. Williams, when a candidate, was almost discouraged by the many who were lamenting Dr. Dana's departure, and is himself affection- ately and vividly remembered. "On this topic, (says Dr. Dana,) I can bear emphatic and delightful testimony," (concern- - ing his own ministry). Mr. Parsons speaks in a similar way. Mr. Murray in his will earnestly invoked their kindness in behalf of his family, and provision was long made for them. And that this ancient virtue, connected as it is with a religious habit of thought, has not deteriorated, the present pastor can bear grateful record.
(7.) HISTORY FROM 1829.
Rev. John Proudfit, D. D., now Professor at Rutgers Col- lege, New Jersey, was installed October 4, 1827. In 1829 alterations were made in the building. At first a "stone monumental church " was contemplated, but sacred attachments and the expense defeated the plan. Finally the inside was somewhat reduced in size, new galleries were put in, the square pews removed, the ceiling was lowered, the pulpit moved from the side, and the cenotaph erected. Shortly after, the " whis- pering gallery," so conspicuous a feature of the building at present, was accidentally discovered ; and is unsurpassed, it is said, unless by St. Paul's in London.
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From the beginning of Dr. Proudfit's ministry to October, 1832 bet two companions parrod without a lilitions, sometimes considerab.c. In May 1831 he left home, owing to impaired health, and July 3d sailed for Europe, being absent till Jan- uary 1832. During this time the pulpit was supplied chiefly by Rev. Mr. Cheever, (now of New York) and Rev. Joseph Abbot, since of Beverly. A four days meeting was held June 21, at Mr. Milton's, as most central, conducted by Drs. Beecher, Wisner, Adams, Rev. Messrs Cumming (of Portland), Cleave- land, Blanchard and others ; and an extensive revival prevailed in town. In October 1831, forty-one united with this church at one time ; and in all, from August 1831 to October 10, 1832, the last communion at which the pastor was present, there were added ten by letter, by profession one hundred and twenty ; males thirty-eight, females eighty.two. Of these, however, twenty uine asked dismissions October 9, owing to some recent difficulties ; and Mr. Cheever would, probably, have been settled in town, could a church have been obtained for him.
His health having again failed him, Dr. Proudfit asked and January 24, 1833, obtained a dismission ; leaving attached friends, and highly regarded as a gentleman of liberal culture, a devoted and successful minister ; one who in the pulpit could instruct and edify, and had, also, what Dr. Watts calls " the happy talent of parlor preaching."
For two years and a half the church was without a pastor ; an event particularly unhappy after so extensive a revival. One or two calls were given, and many candidates heard, without success. A few were disposed to change the govern- ment ; but the parish indefinitely postponed the matter- although the purpose was still cherished by some individuals, down to the settlement of the present pastor. One similar proposition had been made by Dr. Dana before his settlement, but then, also, the church refused to loose from its happy
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moorings ; and whatever may have been the predilections of his youth, Dr. Dana has ever since evinced a constant attach- ment to Presbyterian order and discipline.
Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, D. D., now of Newark, N. J., was ordained September 16, 1835; dismissed October 14, 1849. A seven years' absence has not broken the attachments cemented during a fourteen years' ministry ; a ministry faithfully con- ducted from youth to riper years, and peaceful throughout- except so far as a ripple of controversy with a neighboring brother may once have disturbed its quiet flow. In 1849, another people having become acquainted with his merits, and induced him to accept their call, what have here been by many considered the sacred relations of pastor and people were at length severed.
After his dismission, the pulpit was for a time supplied by Rev. James Gallaher, so well known at the West. Some of his sermons were novel in style and awakening; he preached the truth plainly and forcibly ; and there was about the man himself " such carnestness and such a mass of it," in connection with some peculiarities, that many here and in town were brought under religious impressions. A considerable revival was the consequence. In conversing with and leading enquirers, however, he seemed to have little facility.
The beginning of November 1849, my first sermon in this house was preached, at the invitation of your committee. After another Sabbath I left, but was re-invited for the month of
. January ; it being desirable to have some one present, to con- verse with and direct the enquirers of this church. These services resulted in an invitation to become the pastor ; and I was installed as such May 1, 1850-not, however, without the opposition of a minority, and a protest to Presbytery by a num- ber, many of whom, as in former instances I have mentioned, subsequently left the church. Neither their defection, however,
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the grounds of which were various, nor the commencement, during the vacancy here, of a new enterprise under the lamented Emerson, a son of this church, at all impaired the numbers of this congregation ; more than double have since come for all who may have left.
In the last six years, a considerable outstanding debt has been paid, a parsonage bought and paid for. And to-day we re-enter our amiable tabernacle, after thorough repairs, a considerable outlay, and a four months' absence, at peace and prosperous within, with no debt upon the parish, peaceably disposed, and it is pleasant to say on terms of amity with all our evangelical neighbors. At Dr. Withington's settlement, by the joint agency of himself and Dr. Dana, the feuds of the past were put under the vail of oblivion. The severe mother who for thirty years was distraining her daughter for rent, has long since laid aside her anger, and in the changes of time has come much to the daughter's way of thinking. And to her noble pastor, to whom poetry, literature, philosophy and theology, have each awarded a wreath, we are wont to turn as a valued friend and wise counsellor. In Mr. Lowell's church, out of which came part, also, of the original elements of this, Arminianism gradually developed into Unitarianism. Of course, while our views are so opposite, we can hold no ecclesiastical communion. Yet in former days some illustrious in Presbyte- rian history, Dr. Ashbel Green, Dr. Alexander, Mr. Williams also, and Dr. Dana recently at their invitation, have there proclaimed " the words of this life." And as for ourselves, we can agree to differ ; and extend most cordially that friendli- ness to their persons, which we must conscientiously withhold from their creed ; in this professing ourselves to be th ereal maintainers of that only true Christian liberality, which is steady to the truth, but would differ without acrimony.
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