USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Whately > Early ecclesiastical history of Whately : being the substance of a discourse delivered January 7, 1849 > Part 2
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But in time laxer notions began to prevail. Partly from the practice of requiring church-membership as a qualification for civil office ; and partly through the influence of emigrants be- longing to the Established Church, the New England churches gradually receded from their original standard. The Synod of 1662 decided, that persons baptized in infancy, " understanding the doctrine of faith, and publicly professing their assent there- unto ; not scandalous in life, and solemnly owning the covenant before the church, wherein they give up themselves and their children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the government of Christ in the church-their children are to be baptized ;" though the parent thus owning the covenant was avowedly yet unregenerate, and as such was excluded from the Lord's Supper. Taking advantage of the sanction of this Synod, the practice was immediately adopted in many churches ; and after pro- tracted and violent controversy, became general .*
This method of admission to " church privileges," sometimes called the " half way covenant," appears to have obtained in this church from its first organization ; though no formal expres- sion of belief on the subject is recorded till 1778. The follow- ing votes were evidently intended as a declaration of the senti- ments of the church on this matter.
* Tracy's Great Awakening.
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At a meeting of the church of Christ in Whately, Jan'y ye 7, 1778, the meeting being opened with prayer, the church passed the following votes.
1. Voted, That infants are introduced into covenant by Baptism.
N. B. For the understanding the above vote, let it be ob- served, that though infants of believing parents are born into covenant, yet it is by baptism that they are declared to be within the church, and entitled to the visible privileges of it. Persons may be virtually in covenant by their own, or their parent's faith ; but they are not visibly and professedly in covenant or in the church, till they have passed under the appointed seal or visible mark of discipleship, which under the second Dispensa- tion is Baptism.
By Infants being introduced into covenant by Baptism, may be understood, that they have the visible mark of Christ's family upon them, and are visibly and professedly subjects of the household of faith ; and are to be treated as members of Christ's church, that are declared members, and have a right to the visible privileges of it.
2. Voted, That all baptized persons at a suitable age are proper subjects of church Discipline.
3. Voted, That such persons as come to full communion with the church, shall be of competent knowledge, in the opinion of the Pastor; that they publicly profess their faith, and consent to the church Covenant.
These votes (in spite of their verbal redundancy) appear to contain what was considered a definition of the import of Bap- tism ; and a statement of the distinction between those who were entitled to "church privileges," and those who might " come to full communion." Baptism was not regarded as a converting ordinance, but as an important means of grace ; so important that all should desire to avail themselves of its advan- tages. In some sense, and by some virtue, it brought the sub- ject " into covenant." Those baptized in infancy, it would appear, were thus considered as introduced to the church, and at a suitable age were to be " entitled to the visible privileges" of it, and to become the subjects of church discipline,-though
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practically, a formal vote was taken on their admission, as in the case of others. Only persons of competent knowledge, who should make public profession of faith, and consent to the church covenant, might be received to full communion. If the word " knowledge" was used in its scriptural sense, (1 Tim. 2 : 4) the standard of admission to full membership was nomin- ally in accordance with the faith of the Pilgrim fathers. But probably it was given a much broader signification.
This practice of baptism under the half way covenant con- tinued to prevail in this church for 45 years. As was natural, most heads of families became connected with the church. The circumstances of its abolition may be learned by the following extract from the Church Records. At a meeting of the Cong. Church of Christ in Whately, March 18, 1816, duly notified and warned by the desire of Brother Joel Wait, the meeting being opened with prayer by the moderator, Brother Joel Wait stated that it was matter of grief and offence to him, that this church admitted persons to the privilege of baptism for their children upon professing their belief of the doctrines of the Gospel, and consenting in part to the church covenant, and yet neglected to attend upon the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper- when he conceived that this practice was not countenanced by the word of God.
The brethren having conversed upon the subject, the follow- ing questions were put to the church, viz.
1. Is it scriptural to admit persons to the privilege of baptism for their children, upon professing their belief of the doctrines of the Gospel, and consenting to the church covenant in part, and yet neglect to attend upon the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ? And it passed in the negative.
2. Shall the practice of so admitting persons to the privilege of baptism for their children, be abolished and set aside in this church ? And it passed unanimously in the affirmative. The meeting was then closed with prayer by the Pastor, and dissolved. Attest, RUFUS WELLS, Pastor.
Thus did the church voluntarily free herself from a custom of dangerous tendency, and become in practice, what her Creed and Covenant had always been in doctrine, a church of the Puritans.
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It is worthy of note, that the next entry on the church Rec- ords, acknowledges " the grace of God in causing a stirring and a shaking among the dry bones," which as we have seen, result- ed in an extensive Revival, and the ingathering of about 70 to the church.
Thus had passed 45 years of our church existence. It had been a period, in the nation at large, of political Revolution ; of difficulties, doubts and darkness, and some bright points. So- ciety had been, once wholly, and a second time partially, bro- ken up, and remodeled. One generation was passed away, and another had come. The church necessarily felt the power of many of these changes, and social re-formations. With us, the children had taken the place of their fathers ; and the children's children were crowding their way upon the stage. And though in some parts of our State, religious opinions and doctrinal be- lief had greatly changed, and evidently for the worse ; yet the change in these respects among ourselves was a decided im- provement.
The first pastor of the church, Rev. Rufus Wells,* still re- mained at his post, though he had once been temporarily laid aside from active labor by sickness. He continued to discharge in full the duties of Pastor till 1822, a period of 50 years, when the infirmities of age, then apparently about to break down his constitution, induced him and the people to seek a Colleague. At the same time he consented to a reduction of 100 dollars from his yearly salary. After this date, however, he recovered in a measure his strength, and would occasionally exercise the functions of his office, till near the time of his death. His last (recorded) public act, was the marriage of his grand daughter Miss Sarah Wells to Mr. Silas Rice, Nov. 8, 1831. The entry of this in the Church Record in his own hand, now tremulous and uncertain, forms a striking contrast to the plain, bold pen- manship of his early prime. He died Nov. 8, 1834, in the 92d year of his age. The Sermon at his funeral was preached by
*Graduated at Harvard College, 1764. Licensed by Hamp. Association, Nov. 1769. Married, Ist, Sarah Porter of Ashfield, Dec. 16, 1776; 2d, Mrs. Temperance Shepherd, (Miss Gale) of Sharon, Ct. Jan. 14, 1802.
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Rev. Nathan Perkins of Amherst, who was then the oldest sur- vivor of Mr. Wells' particular associates.
It would be foreign to my purpose to give an extended analy- sis of the character of Rev. Mr. Wells. Let it suffice to say, that as a preacher, he held a respectable rank among his co- temporaries ; as a pastor, he was pre-eminently a peace-maker ; as a man, he was very affable, and of good social qualities. He made no enemies, and was kind and faithful to his friends.
In the course of his ministry, Mr. Wells married 305 couples ; and administered baptism to 956 persons. He wrote about 3000 sermons ; a few of which were printed. His last sermon, writ- ten probably with no idea that it would be the last, was on Heb. 4, 9 : " There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."
But to return to the thread of our narrative. At a town meeting held Dec. 21, 1821, Capt. Salmon Graves moderator, it was voted, to give Mr. Lemuel P. Bates* (of Southampton) a call to settle in the Gospel Ministry as colleague pastor with the Rev. Rufus Wells. Voted, to give Mr. Bates 350 dollars salary per year, during Rev. Mr. Wells' natural life ; and 450 dollars per year during his ministry with us after the decease of Mr. Wells.
Voted, To give Mr. Bates 500 dollars Settlement, to be paid in three annual installments ; and if he leave us before the three years are expired, he draws only in proportion to the time he preaches with us.
Voted, That Mr. Bates have the privilege of being dismissed, by giving the Town one year's notice ; and the Town have the privilege of dismissing Mr. Bates by giving him one year's no- tice ; provided either party holds that mind during the year. This last vote was the occasion of some distrust on the part of the ordaining Council. Dr. Lyman of Hatfield warmly protest- ed against the conditions therein implied ; and it was not till the parties concerned declared it as their understanding, " that Mr. Bates could not be dismissed without the advice of an Ecclesi- astical Council," that the council consented to proceed to the examination of the candidate.
"Graduated at Williams College, 1818 ; Studied Theology at Princeton
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Mr. Bates was ordained Feb. 13, 1822. The order of exer- 'cises was as follows : Introductory prayer, by Rev. James Tay- lor of Sunderland ; Sermon by Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, D. D. President of Amherst College ; Consecrating prayer, by Rev. Dr. Lyman of Hatfield ; Charge to the pastor by Rev. John Emerson of Conway ; Right hand of fellowship by Rev. Wm. B. Sprague of West Springfield ; Charge to the people by Rev. Henry Lord of Williamsburg ; concluding prayer by Rev. Vinson Gould of Southampton.
It is a facts omewhat remarkable, that one of the above Coun- cil, Rev. John Emerson of Conway, was a member of the Council which ordained Rev. Mr. Wells, the first pastor of the church, 50 years before.
By the terms of his settlement, Mr. Bates could claim but 350 dollars annual salary ; the senior pastor still living. But in 1828, '29, and '32, the Parish (which was organized sepa- rate from the Town, April 30, 1828) granted him 100 dollars additional. He held the office of pastor for the term of ten years ; was dismissed Oct. 17, 1832.
After the dismission of Rev. L. P. Bates, the church remained destitute of a pastor for four years ; though the pulpit was reg- ularly supplied the while, by various ministers and candidates.
The third Pastor was Rev. John Ferguson, of Dunns, Scot- land ; previously settled in Attleboro'. The terms of his settle- ment were 500 dollars annual salary ; with the condition, " that the existing connexion may be dissolved at the pleasure of eith- er party, by an Ecclesiastical Council." He was installed March 16, 1836 ; was dismissed June 17, 1840.
The church now continued without a settled Ministry five years. The fourth, and present pastor, Rev. J. Howard Tem- ple, was ordained Sept. 30, 1845.
Deacons. The persons who have held the office of Deacon in this church since its organization, are the following: Nathan Graves, elected Oct. 16, 1771, (Oliver Graves was chosen at the same time, but declined serving.) Salmon White, elected April 16, 1773. Thomas Sanderson, elected June 14, 1786. Levi Moreton, elected Dec. 17, 1800. John White and Elcazar
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Frary, elected March 22, 1810, (though there is no record of Mr. Frary's acceptance.) James Smith and Justus White, elected July 1, 1821. David Sanders, elected May 12, 1836. Reuben H. Belden and Elial A. Dickinson, elected February 27, 1843.
The Meeting House. At the time of the organization of the church, and settlement of Rev. Mr. Wells, no Meeting House had been built. The people first met for religious worship in the dwelling house of Oliver Morton. The meetings were held here for perhaps two years. Dec. 2, 1771, the Town voted, To allow Oliver Morton three pounds for his house to meet in for the term of one year. March 6, 1774, voted To pay Mr. Mor- ton one pound ten shillings for the use of his house six months. Meetings for Public Worship were also held for a time, perhaps a year, at the house of Rev. Mr. Wells ; the town, as compen- sation, agreeing to assist him in finishing his house.
December 2, 1771, a vote was passed, To make provision for a Meeting House. A committee, consisting of David Scott, Thomas Crafts, Joseph Belding, Jr. Noah Bardwell, and David Graves, Jr. was appointed at the same time, to carry out the above vote. At a meeting a few weeks later, the town instruct- ed the above committee to provide four thousand feet of pine boards, clapboards, window frames and sash, and timber suf- ficient for said meeting house. The timber was cut wherever it could be casiest procured. The boards and joist were sawed at the mill of Adonijah Taylor, where Silas Sanderson's mills are now located .*
The next spring (March 30, 1772) the town voted, To pro- vide shingles this present year for the meeting house. These were purchased at about ten shillings per thousand. In the fall of this year (Oct. 5, 1772) it was voted, That the meeting house be set up next spring. It was also voted at the same time, That the meeting house be placed in the " Chestnut plain street " (so
* A. T. built a Grist and Saw Mill here, which were the first mills erected in Whately. The Saw mill stood where the present mills are ; the grist mill was some distance below. Afterwards, a grist mill was built some distance above the present saw mill.
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called,) at the most convenient place between the dwelling house of Oliver Morton, and that of Rufus Wells, V. D. M. in Whately. Salmon White, Edward Brown, Oliver Graves, Joseph Belding, Jr. and David Scott, were chosen Building Committee. The spot they selected was where the present meeting house of Ist Parish stands. At the same meeting it was voted to raise eighty pounds to build said meeting house, the money to be levied by tax on the ratable polls and property of the inhabi- tants.
At a town meeting held a few months later, it was voted, To build one porch to the meeting house; though the vote was never carried into effect.
During the winter of 1772-3, the timber and materials were collected, and at a meeting held May 10, 1773, the town granted additional money, and voted that David Scott be master workman to frame the house. The building was framed by what was called the " try rule," or the rule of six, eight and ten ; i. e. the sills, posts and beams were framed and tried, and the braces were laid on to mark their bevels and length. (Master Scott's priine precept was, " Make great mortises and little tenons, and your work will go together charming easy !") In the course of the two following monthis, the house was framed, raised, and partially covered. At a town meeting held July 8, 1773, it was voted, To raise forty pounds to go on and finish the meeting house. The " finish " then put on, however, was not of the highest order, as will be seen in the particular description which follows :- On the outside, the roof was well shingled, though it had no steeple or tower; the sides and ends were covered with rough boards, chamfered together. The windows in the lower story were pretty fully glazed ; those in the upper story were boarded up. There were three doors to the house, one each on the north, east, and south sides-that on the east side being reckoned the front door. These were made of rough boards, and not very tightly fitted. Thus uniform was the cov- ering upon the outside. The inside had no " finish " at all, ex- cept a ground floor. The sides were destitute of both plaster- ing and laths, and the frame work of the galleries, the beams,
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girths and rafters were all naked. A rough board Pulpit, raised a few feet, was placed in the centre of the west side. Directly in front of the pulpit, a carpenter's work bench was left. The seat which was placed before this bench was claimed by the old ladies, that they might hear better, and have a support for the back. The seats were nothing more than low slab forms ; these were arranged without much regard to order, and were free to all. After some years, Mr. Wells nailed up a couple of boards, on the left of the pulpit, for the better accommodation of his wife ; and a sort of pew, or bench with a back fixed to it, was fitted up by a few of the young men, on the east side, near the door, capable of seating 6 or 8 persons.
The house remained in this state, 24 or 25 years. During this time, it was hardly more respectable in appearance or more comfortable, than an ordinary single boarded barn. In winter, drifting snows found easy entrance ; and in summer, the Swal- lows, in great numbers, were accustomed to fly in, and build their mud nests on the plates and rafters. On the Sabbath, these social little intruders, twittering as merrily as ever, seemed entirely regardless of the people below ; plainly having it for their maxim, to mind their own business, however much the minds and eyes of those below might be attracted to themselves. It is said that during the few months of their annual stay, Mr. Wells seldom or never exchanged with his brethren of other towns-giving as a reason, that he feared the swallows, to which habit had familiarized him, would be too great an annoyance to strangers. He could say with the Psalmist, " The sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of Hosts."
There were two reasons which prevented the further comple- tion of the meeting house. The first was, the war of the Rev- olution, which broke out soon after the town was incorporated. This for some years absorbed the chief attention of the com- munity, and the taxes levied to support it drained the people of money. The other reason was, a division of sentiment about the location of the house. A part demanded that it should be moved half a mile to the south west, to a spot south of " Spruce
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Hill," (in the lot now owned by Rev. John Ferguson ;) and a majority insisted that it should remain on the old spot. Many votes were passed, and afterwards reconsidered. Many expedi- ents were devised by both parties. Numerous committees, both of the town's people, and of disinterested men from abroad, were appointed on this question, with various results. At the town meeting in March, 1788, a vote was passed, and insisted on, To raise 70 pounds to repair the meeting house. This led to the drawing up of the following " Protest," which was pre- sented to the town at a meeting in April :- " We the subscrib- ers, the people of the westerly part of the town of Whately, whose names are under written, do enter a protest to this meet- ing, April 10, 1788, against the proceedings of the other parts of the town, that is, in finishing up the meeting house in the place where it now stands. For we have been to the cost of having a committee, to determine where the just spot for the meeting house to stand is, who determined in the centre of the town ; and there we are willing to finish it up, and no where else." (Signed by 17 voters.)
This Protest not being heeded, the signers and others with- drew, and formed a new Society. They afterwards erected a meeting house, on the " Poplar Hill road," (so called.) This as before stated, was the origin of the 1st Baptist Society of Whately.
Although the town voted, at this date, to raise money to re- pair the meeting house, it does not appear that any funds were actually expended for this purpose till 1797. The 70 pounds was paid to Mr. Wells for arrearages of his salary .* Various monies were raised, in different years, for repairs ; and then oth- erwise expended.
Dec. 5, 1796, the town voted, To raise 300 pounds for re- pairing the meeting house, and appointed a committee to carry out the vote. In January following, 20 pounds additional was granted ; and in the spring the work was commenced. In the
* So scrupulous were the people of those days to pay their minister, that in one year, the town voted to take the money which had been raised for School- ing, and apply it to make up a deficiency in Mr. Wells' salary.
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course of the year, (1797,) the house was thoroughly repaired. The outside was clapboarded, and painted ; the vacant windows of the upper story, which had afforded access to the Swallows for so many years, were glazed ; and paneled doors were put in. The inside was also " finished ;" galleries were put up, and pews built. The pews were square, enclosed with paneled work, according to the fashion of the times. The Pulpit, situa- ted as before, was a plain structure, very high, square corners, and projecting centre, with a hexagonal sounding board suspen- ded above.
No formal consecration of the house appears to have been made, at its first opening in 1773. But now that it had been made more seemly, a day was specially set apart, and it was solemnly dedicated to God.
At the town meeting held Dec. 4, 1797, it was voted " not to sell the pews ;" and instead, a committee of nine persons . was chosen, " to seat the meeting house," i. e. to assign to each family the particular pew they were to occupy for a year, or longer, as the case might be. The principle of " seating," at first adopted, is not known. The practice prevailed in some years, of seating by age, and sometimes by property. At a town meeting, held May 19, 1800, it was voted, "That in seating people, one year in the age of a person, shall be reckoned equal to one dollar on the list." This custom, which prevailed for up- wards of 20 years, was the occasion of much strife, and many jealousies and heartburnings. Individuals and families disliking their seat-mates, would sometimes absent themselves entirely from meeting ; and in one instance, an individual made an ap- peal to the town at a regular meeting of the inhabitants ; and a vote was passed, assigning him a given pew. The pews and in- ternal fixtures erected at this time, remained in the same state and fashion, till 1843.
In the spring of 1819, the town voted to sell the pews in the meeting house ; and in this and the following years, a large num- ber of them was sold. Of the avails of this sale of pews, a steeple was built upon the south end of the house, and a bell purchased. This was done in 1821-2. The people now for the
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first time, heard the sound of the " church going bell." In the early days of the town, perhaps till 1798, it was customary to call the people together on the Sabbath, by blowing a Conch .* It was blown once, an hour before the time of service ; and again as the minister was approaching the house. From 1798 to 1822, no public signal was given ; the people assembling at their pleasure.
In 1843, the meeting house was entirely re-modeled-though the original frame erected by Master Scott in 1773, being found perfectly sound, was left unaltered.
Such is a brief history of our Church and House of worship. On some points of interest, the information now to be obtained is much too scanty ; what we know only excites the desire to find out more. And in this narrative, many things known, have been omitted from design, as being of too personal a character, or of importance only in their day. Enough however has been recor- ded, I think, to make us sensible, that, in contrast with the times of our fathers, " the lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places ; yea, we have a goodly heritage." We see much in their char- acters and acts to admire, and some things to disapprove. But if our fathers have erred, rather than to reproach them, let us do better ourselves. And in view of past and present mercies, let us " bless the Lord," and fully choose Him as " the portion of our inheritance."
* The identical shell is now in possession of Calvin Wells.
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APPENDIX.
ORIGINAL SETTLERS OF WHATELY : With brief Notices of their Family History.
EBENEZER BARDWELL. In 1752 or 3, he built a house where is now an orchard, southwest of Randall Graves' ; he sold out to David Scott, and built the Gideon Dickinson house; afterwards lived on Staddle Hill. He m. Elizabeth - -; had children, Violet, b. Dec. 29, 1731 ; Ebenezer, b. June 24, 1733 ; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 1734-5; Samuel ; Perez. He died Nov. 14, 1789, aged 82.
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