USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > Genealogical address : giving a brief history of the parishioners and founders of the Federal street church, from 1745-6 to 1862, with the names of their descendants, now parishioners, delivered before the Ladies' and gentlemen's association of the parish, May 29, 1862 > Part 3
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Seward Lee has for many years been a parishioner here, and for a few years a member of the church.
The whole number under this division, is thirty-six.
These will embrace all those who have come to my knowl- edge, up to the period designed in the introduction. In the ab- sence of records from 1740 to 1764, I have labored under a want of material which those records would have furnished me ; and in this connection allow me to state that there is a wrong doing somewhere ; evidently the records are in some one's possession. A few years since they were taken, and although repeated calls have been made for them, they still are not forthcoming. We trust they will be returned by the [individual who has them, without delay.
There are parishioners who have belonged to the society many years, who are now aged, but could not be classed under my ar- rangement, viz : Capt. Nathan Plumer, Capt. Elias Pike, Messrs. Nathaniel Coffin, David Brown, Foster Smith, and Benjamin Leigh. There are are several who have been parishioners near- ly a generation, viz : Messrs. Moses M. Merrill, Charles B. Questrom, Charles Adams, Joseph Lunt, William Kitching, Ste- phen Bartlett, Capts. Samuel Brown, Thomas Howard, George W. Knight, Jeremiah Lunt. These and others will be treated of,
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probably by Moses Pettengill, Esq., who I understand is to fol- low me in giving to this association an ceclesiastical history of the church and society, at a future period.
My design has been to trace the male representatives, as far as practicable, and it is possible that some have been omitted, although it was my. desire to give an impartial account of all the parishioners, under the programme adop- ted.
The number of children baptised in this parish, as far as can be ascertained, is nearly 6000, from the organization of the church to the present hour. They were considered as children of the church, becoming such by the acts of their parents or guardians. The number thus baptised is equal to one-half of the citizens of this city. What a multitude ! And could a map be drawn of the carcer of cach one of those individuals, and of the fate of cach. What a theme for study, for the political ccon- omist, the philanthropist, and Christian. But their records are re- moved from our sight; above they are registered, where the tooth of time cannot destroy them. And where is this army of bap- tised ones who came on to the stage of action, fulfilled their part, and then passed away for others. Few, very few of this multi- tude remain. Do you enquire where they are? go read the sculp- tured marble on yonder hill. There lies the babe who has re- ceived the baptismal waters on his brow, and from the font had been carried home to gladden, for a brief season, the home hearth, and thence taken by the death angel to grow up in another state to the full measure of spiritual age. And then the youth and maiden, blooming into manhood and womanhood, and into riper years, to old age -all leaving their loves and hates, their joys and sorrows behind them. Nor does the sculptured marble give the record of all,-for all around the circumference of the carth, where human feet have trod, have the sons and daughters of the parish found a last resting place. And down in unfath- omable caves of ocean-the sea-weed their winding sheet, and the moaning ocean billows their funeral dirge-lie others. There are those who gained renown on the battle-fields of their country, where the oppressor's power was felt,-who helped rear the temple of liberty, surmounting the dome with the glorious flag of stars and stripes, bequeathing to us a legacy of surpassing
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value ;- receiving the baptismal waters on their brow here, they encountered the baptism of blood elsewhere ; for their descendants, many of them, passed from that baptism into a higher state of existence. And so, patriots and sages, you un- folded to the breeze the emblem of liberty, and sent forth your hosannas when victory perched upon it. The echo of your song has come down to us, and when fratricidal hands were raised to destroy what you had created by your blood and treas- ure, your descendants hearing the moan of the eagle, gath- ered from the mountains and the "valleys, from all the high- ways and by-ways wherever they had wandered,and grasped that flag of stars, and under it they have marched from victory to victory ; and it shall wave, bidding defiance to all enemies from within and without. It shall wave, and from; it shall scintilate rays of light, so that the oppressed of all nations shall be led by it to shake off the fetters of oppression and become freemen. Thus shall your baptism be of lasting good to the race.
The church members now living who date their profession prior to 1830, number 30, and their aggregate ages amount to 3049 years ; their average age is 68 years. Miss Eunice Wood is the oldest church member. She has been a communicant for 58 years.
Of the sextons belonging to the parish, (with the exception of the present incumbent) there is but one, and that is Mr. John Akerman Helong held that office with acceptance to_ the parish.
It was formerly a custom to make an outcry in the church of an intention of marriage between parties. As soon as the con- gregation were seated in the morning service, the town clerk would rise in his place and give public notice to that effect. The law made it obligatory upon the clerk thus to do. Mr. William Work acted in that capacity for several years. Ilis widow is still a member of the parish. Mr. Work was succeeded by Mr. John Fitz, the author of " Presbyterianism Unmasked." Mr. F. conceived he had been injured by the church in some matters, hence the book in question. Mr. Fitz was the last clerk that made an outery, at least as far as this parish was concerned. The act was repealed about that time, and the present law sub- stituted. It was well, perhaps, to repeal the law, neverthelessit
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had a bad effect on the young people, (you will understand me as alluding to the female portion of the congregation) for it was always observed that in the morning a larger portion of that class of our community was in attendance at the earliest mo- ment. There were fewer absentees and less languishing on so- fas with violent headaches, or any one of the thousand ills which aflliet our modern ladies. Strict attention was noticed among all the unmarried ones to the speaker's voice. They were anx ious to know who were to be consecrated by the sacrament of marriage ; all reasonable enough to be sure. After the speaker had finished, a casual observer would see mirrored forth on their countenances their pleasure or pain. But I am getting on to dangerous ground, and will procced no farther under this head.
Of the character of the carly ministers I might say much, but my time is too limited to go into detail in regard to them. I cannot forbear giving a few anecdotes, however. Mr. Parsons was somewhat waggish. On one occasion the parish had hauled to his door his year's supply of wood ; the committee informed him what they had done. After looking at it he enquired if they expected him to burn it long ; a broad hint to them that a sawyer's labor was necessary at their expense. On a certain washing day he was notified that dinner was ready ; he came to the table and enquired if that was the dinner ; and being an- swered in the affirmative, he stated he would step out to one of the parishioners and dine. Ilis wife requested him to ask a blessing on the repast before he went. " It is not worth a bless- ing," said he, and left the house. His wife partook somewhat of his character. A gentleman called one day at the parsonage for Mr. Parsons. Mrs. P. was busy in the garden at the clothes line; the gentleman enquired if Mr. P. was at home; she re- plied in the negative. Is Mr. Parsons' lady at home ? no, but his washerwoman is. Mr. Murray was of the same character. Ilis son JJohn had resolved to be a lawyer. "Jack." said he, "do not be a lawyer, for if you do I shall never meet you in heaven." He attended a funeral in an old house, and the large gathering settled the floor into the cellar. After they had rescued all as they thought, some one asked Mr. Murray, who was in the cellar, if all had come up. No, there's a million here yet. A lady by the name of Million had not come up. Dr. Dana had a great
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measure of the same spirit ; but for want of time I can add no more under this head.
Could we to-day go back to those early meetings, and witness the zeal with which the fathers and mothers entered into the services of the sanctuary, how insignificant would our worship appear. It is true they worshipped not by square and com- pass-but from their inmost souls-the author of their existence. Crude were their notions but from the heart went forth aspira- tions of praise ; they practiced what they preached. I am aware that many had a zeal not according to knowledge, for in many things they erred. I would not intimate that they were perfect men and women, but with all their failings there glowed from their souls a love for their Creator surpassing everything else. Unquestionably there are before me those who remember the manner the Sabbath was observed by the members of the church, and others. I might give illustrations of their course of action during what they considered holy time : commencing on Satur- day night at sundown, and ending Sabbath evening at the same hour ; but you are familiar with them in this respect, therefore I will not dwell upon it. Their practice, however, begat intoler- ance, inasmuch as they looked upon all who did not follow in their path, as out of the pale of Christianity. I have a case in point on my mind, which happened when I was a boy, and the impression I then received has never been effaced. It was a cus- tom in earlier times, on the death of a clergyman, for the pas- tors of the various churches to attend the funeral as pall bearers. At the funeral of Mr. Williams, the successor of Dr. Dana, all the clergy in town assisted, and as a matter of course gave a Sabbath of labor gratuitously, in succession, to the society. Dr. Andrews, the pastor of the Pleasant street church, one of the officiating clergymen, preached in course. In the morning the Dr. gave his hearers an eloquent discourse,-so said the elder ones. One of the good sisters of the church, whose zeal had outrun her knowledge, was carried captive by the thrilling elo- quence of the Dr ; for when he depicted the entrance of her dear minister, as she called him, into the land of blessedness, the old lady was all aglow with love for the speaker. When the services were finished, the old lady came out and made enquiries of another sister who that dear godly man was that preached.
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Do you not know, replied the individual ; no indeed,-who was he ? Why, that was Dr. Andrews. What, she exclaimed, in perfect amazement, that ungodly Unitarian. I have lost a day. What a shame it is our pulpit should be so disgraced ; I will not hear him this afternoon, not I. So to the old lady the services were lost.
Nevertheless, we to-day worship in the old church where they worshipped ; and if we have been and are more liberal than our ancestors, it is by a more intellectual view of things. But they have passed away ; the old church-the work of their hands, re- mains ; they reared it in troublous times. Then they were un- der a monarchical form of government ; the locks of the found- ers of the society became white with age, and their children were taking their places. Then came oppression from the mother country ; the members of the parish raised their voices against it. The fathers and mothers bade their sons go forth to battle under God ; you will be victorious, said they. A whisper was heard of freedom, anon in thunder tones came the Declara- tion of Independence ; it leaped along the valleys up to the mountain fastnesses ; it penetrated the wilderness home of the settler. They rushed to arms ; the minister at the altar fired the breasts of the hearers. They fought,-they conquered, while many of the sons of the parish ascended, amid carnage and blood, from the battle-field to glory. Others came home to bow the knee around the altar, and sent up thanksgivings to the God of battles for deliverance, during all those bloody years. The old church remained. And so all along, from the beginning to the present time,-amid wars, and distresses, and famines,-amid schisms, envyings and jealousies,-amid constant changes in fam- ilies and neighborhoods,-still gather around its altar a goodly number of worshippers. The blasts of a century, earthquakes and storms, have been felt, but all united have not hurled it from its foundation. Its spire still points heavenward ; the mariner, on his homeward bound voyage, coming up from the waste of wa- ters, beholds it reflecting the sunbeams of the morning ; and the departing mariner's eye lingers on it till it is lost in the gorgeous glories of the settling twilight. A long line of illustrious pat- riots and Christians are heralded in its archives. A noble group of preachers are seen through the stercopticon of its records.
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Parsons, the eloquent writer and graceful speaker, first broke the silence of the new temple ; and Whitefield's* eloquent words here found utterance, whose silvery voice ravished the ears of his auditors ; from his lips was distilled the nectar that was balsam to the soul. Gather around yonder cenotaph, and read there, deep chiselled in marble the works of this Christian hero ; then draw near to the vault beneath the desk, and look down upon the dust of one whose matchless eloquence thrilled the bosom of the inhab- itants of two hemispheres; and yonder, behold the mansion from whence he was caught up to perfect his eloquence with the white robed ones in another state. Need I tell you, that on the Sab- bath morning he was to preach in this temple, where a multi- tude had gathered to listen to his teachings, the death angel came and bore him away to join in the services of the upper sanctuary. Sudden was his exit from time ; he died,-but his name will de- scend and be embalmed in the hearts of many of the race.
And Murray followed, and though speaking the dialect of the land of the shamrock, nevertheless he breathed into the souls of his hearers a living enthusiasm ; he drew them along by the mel- lowing influence of his words and actions from off the turbulent ocean of sin and sorrow into the placid stream of salvation. He was gifted by nature with oratorical powers rarely excelled, and those powers brought into exercise, fitted him for a commanding position in the station he filled. And Prince, the blind preacher, who sometimes, also, occupied the desk, with his sightless cyc-balls turned skyward, whilst his voice reverberated around the tem- plc, burdened with the song of redeeming love. He lies with Parsons and Whitefield, in the vault beneath. And Dana, whose purity of language was Addisonian ; whose reasoning powers were rarely surpassed, and whose sympathetic nature felt for others' woes, to his own injury. Venerable with years, he has but just now laid off his earthly robes and gone to join his prede- cessors. Peace to his ashes. And Williams, the close reasoner and ready debater. Proudfit, the chaste scholar. Stearns, whose voice charmed by its musical intonation, And Vermilyc, the present incumbent, whose flowing periods and social disposi-
*Though not settled here, but whose efforts were directed towards founding this church.
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tion have begotten, in the bogom of his parishioners, a lasting remembrance.
Others there are who have gone out from this parish who have planted the standard of the cross under every zone, and pointed darkened minds to the radiating glories of the Sun of Righteousness in the jungles of India: on the deserts of Africa; where the North star blazes along and where the Southern Cross fiskes, has been heard the song that first broke the still- ness of night on the plains of Bethlehem, at the advent of our common savior. Statesigen, whose eloquence has enchained lis- tonine multitudes, whose counsels have helped rear and sustain the beautiful edifice of our republic. Poets, whose measured number- have found an echo from the tongues of lisping infants and hoary age. Scholars, whose profound researches have ena- bled them to ascend the pyramid of knowledge, and from thenee scattered broadcast on the mind like the dews of the morn- ing, the beanties of science. Physicians, whose skill in the healing art has been productive of good to humanity. Lawyers. whose legal knowledge was unsurpasse l. Mariners, who have ploughel with the keel of their bark every ocean, and whitened with their canvass every navigable sea and river on the globe. Merchants, whose marts are planted wherever human feet tread. Me hanies of every name, whose skill and handiwork are ac- knowledged where scionee is appreciated. Nor is it confined to one sex. The timid female who naturally shrinks from the world. has been enabled to throw from her the endearments of home life to go out on missions of merey, to visit other lands. to hing the outeaste of the race into the fold of humanity, visit- ing dungeons where the poor forsaken of man has been cheered by her presence and pointed to a better morrow ; when his chaing would fall from his manacled limbs, imitating the good Samaritan ; and visiting hospitals, moistening with their tears the burning brow of fevered ones, softly and tenderly binding up ghastly wounds and pillowing the dying head, and whisper- ing in the car the glorious prospect of an immortality beyond. Indeed they are and have been the wingless angels of the race. The Athenians boasted of their Areopagns, where their Demos- thenes and Cicero swayed all minds ; that was indeed classic ground, but they looked only at the affairs of state. Our Are
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opagus, where our orators displayed their eloquence, rises im- measurably higher, because the interest of another state after this mortal coil has been shuffled off,-was the theme. No other society has a better record none from whose altar went forth such matchless cloquence as from ours. But time presses and I must close. Allow me to make a few remarks to the venerable fathers and mothers who are before me. Venerable ones, you are links in the chain of the past ; descended as you have from a glorious ancestry, you must appreciate your position this eve- ning. You have travelled long on the road to the other shore ; now sunshine, then storms has been your allotment ; now all weary and faint, perhaps, by the long march, you are looking forward to the land where age and decrepitude, and sin and sor- row are not known. And while you are tabernacled here, place . a light in the window for your descendants, that they may be guided by it to the same home whither you are tending. As your shadows are lengthened beyond many of those who have gone before you, we trust when your sun goes down it will be in. a cloudless sky, gentle zephyrs whispering the songs of the im- mortals into your dying ears, and the illuminating rays of the sun of righteousness striking your vision when your eyes close upon the scenes of the natural world. Tread, then, softly the remainder of the way ; rest assured we will bear you on our memories, and keep the recollection of your virtues green in our affections.
To the ladies and gentlemen of the association whose organ J am on this occasion, I cannot close without a word to you. Surely this association has merits that ought not to be overlooked. You are a congregation of brethren and sisters, travelling the same road to another state,-each of you in your day's march pitching your tent nearer to the goal. It is meet and proper that you give each other the right hand of fellowship and love. It is mect that kindly greetings should be in the ascendant. What matters it when you approach that river to which you must be borne by the death angel, whether your neighbor fared sumptuously or the reverse ? What matters it whether he was sheltered in a costly mansion with all the appliances which wealth could furnish, or whether he was houseless, save by the blue dome above him ? What matters it all. when weighed in
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the balance of goodness? for when the possessor of wealth ap- proaches that river he is stripped of all of earth as well as the most indigent: and, think you, that the life angel will not catch up and bear on his pinions the poor and humble as well as the most renowned ? All distinctions perish here. The poor, forlorn one who steals humbly, to be unobserved, into the sanctuary,- whose faded dress bespeaks her poverty, who seeks a low place, caring not if so be she ean gather manna from the altar to nour- ish her on her way. Think you her name will not stand as prominent on the records of the upper sanctuary, as those who rustle in silks and are bedizened with diamonds ; aye, indeed, full as high. Then cheer each other by the way, smooth the pil- lows of sickness, watch by the side of the dying, become good Samaritans to the wounded, and think it no disgrace to visit the lowly habitations of the poor. The recording angel is there, and he will note all those acts of kindness and love, and high up on the records of eternity will your name stand. " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Let this be your motto, Love one another.
Finally, let the old church stand ; let it bear the blasts of time ; let it stand the sun's earliest beams, and the lingering twi- light be reflected upon it; let the stars of night look down up- on, and the blazing comet, shooting atwhart the milky way, shed over it a halo of glory ; let the silver beams of the moon rest upon it for generations to come. Let it stand, and unborn gen- erations shall press their way hither to receive the mantles of the fathers as they ascend ; let it stand. a guide-post to the weary pilgrim to the other land ; let it stand to bless future genera- tions ; and when the angel, whose employ it will be to wing his way through the waste of air and proclaim to the living and dead that time is no longer,-then let the old sanctuary perish, " with the wreck of matter and the crash of worlds."
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