USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Historical address delivered at Palmer, Mass., July 5, 1852, in commemoration of centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town > Part 4
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The English disliked Mr. Harvey, and a few of the Scotch united with them in opposition to him. In a petition to the General Court, September, 1739, they made many complaints against their opponents, accused Mr. Harvey of drunkenness, and prayed for relief. The Scotch party sent a counter-petition, and said hard things of the others, and were especially severe upon Steward Southgate, a prominent citi- zen and the leader of the opposition. They admitted that Mr. Har- vey had been guilty of the charge brought against him, but he had made a public and penitent confession of his fault. The friends and adherents of the minister thus rancorously assailed, were greatly in the majority, both in numbers and influence, and successfully carried their point in this unhappy controversy which was but the precursor of other and sorer conflicts. The General Court ordered the petition of Steward Southgate and others to be dismissed, as it was declared " groundless ;" and the town afterwards repaid the defenders of Mr. Harvey for the expense they had incurred in the matter, amounting to
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£100. His support, however, seems to have been somewhat scanty ; as the disaffected members, like the similar characters in modern times, appear to have done what they could to " cut off the supplies," and otherwise render his stay unpleasant. He apparently had decided to leave at a specified time, for in a warrant for a town meeting held December 17, 1744, an article was inserted " to choose a Committee to provide a supply for the pulpit, since Mr. Harvey hath fulfilled the time which he determined, and hath bidden us provide for ourselves." But at that meeting £20, " old tenor," was added to his salary and he stayed. In the year 1746, a more serious difficulty arose respect- ing Mr. Harvey, which ultimately led to his dismissal from the pastor- ship of the church. He had escorted Mrs. Agnes Little, the wife of Mr. Thomas Little, to and from Boston ; and a public scandal attrib- uted to them gross and unworthy conduct on the journey. The foul and calumnious aspersion, which was never proved, and which even the husband appears not to have credited, for he remained friendly to Mr. Harvey, caused, however, sore contentions in the church and parish, which then embraced the whole town. July 8, 1746, Robert Hunter was delegated to " go to the Presbytery to get them to come up to this place, to settle our differences in the church if may be." He declined going ; and on November 24th of that year, Barnard McNitt was " sent up in his stead." What the result was of this appeal does not appear. April 22d, of the year following, a Commit- tee was appointed by the town to investigate the affair, and after- wards to prosecute Mr. Harvey before the civil court of the State. This apparently was not done, though he seems to have ceased from his public labors, for December 7, 1747, it is stated he had " resign- ed," and " Capt. Seth Shaw was delegated to go after a minister." The town voted, March 8, 1748, to send to the Londonderry Presby- tery to have them dismiss Mr. Harvey from his pastoral connection with the church and people; and this was done accordingly, though the precise date is not recorded. It was probably carly in the sum- mer, for July 5, of that year, they chose a Committee to supply the pulpit, and a receipt of that date appears on the Proprietor's Records, (Vol. 2d, page 275,) from Mr. Harvey, which, as a matter of curi- osity, is transferred verbatim et literatim. The " Clark " is proba- bly answerable for the spelling :-
" KINGSTOWN, July the 5, 1748. " Recaved from Mr. Barnard McNitt the full of my Reates, Sallery
1778996
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and Wood-reates, during his collection. Ney - the full due to mee since my coming to the Elbowes, which has been seventeen years past, the Elaventh day of may Last, as witness my hand this fifth of July, 1748.
MR. JOHN HARVEY.
" Witness preasent
" SAMUELL SHAW, Juner.
" Recorded this fifth of July, 1748.
" BARNARD MONITT, Proprietor's Clark."
Thus closed the labors of " the first settled minister of Palmer." Mr. Harvey resided for a time in Peterboro', N. H., and then remov- ed to Blandford, in the western part of Hampden County, which was settled by his countrymen, and where he, resided on a farm until his death.
For more than five years after Mr. Harvey's dismission, the church had no pastor. A great variety of preachers casually ministered unto them " the bread of life ;" but they were "as sheep without a shepherd," divided and scattered. November 2, 1748, a call was given to Rev. Alexander Boyd, and £600, old tenor, offered as a settlement, but it was declined. Rev. Dr. Lord, Rev. Messrs. James Morton, - Mitchell, and John Mckinstry, among others, minis- tered unto them for a time, but without uniting the people. July 29, 1752, an invitation was given to Rev. Timothy Symes, to become their pastor, and a yearly salary of £400, old tenor, was offered, ex- clusive of fire-wood, which the minister was to provide for himself ; but this, also, was responded to unfavorably. About this time, too, a kind of preaching was enjoyed, which after all was not relished very much ; at least an unwillingness to pay for it, was manifested, as will be seen from the following record :-
" At a meeting of ye Inhabitants of this District, Legally convened and assembled at ye Public Meeting House in said place, August 23, 1753, ye Meeting being opened, Andrew Butterfield was chosen Moderator. On the third article in ye warrant for said Meeting, voted that Rev. Ebenezer Kniblows, from New London, Conn., be allowed foure pounds, Sixteen shillings, which is eight shillings Law- ful money, for each Sermon he Preached on Sabbath Days, in this District, except three Sermons which we can prove he preached other men's works.
ANDREW BUTTERFIELD, Moderator. " A true Entry, pr. SAM'LL SHAW, Junr., Town Clerk."
At length, September 14, 1753, the town, in a legal meeting, con- curred in a call which had already been given by the church to Rev. ROBERT BURNS, to " settle with them in the work of the gospel min-
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istry." £600, old tenor, equivalent to £80 lawful money, was prom- ised him as a "settlement ;" and &400, old tenor, or ££53, 6s, 8p, " lawful money as it now passeth from man to man," as annual sala- ry. It is difficult to ascertain correctly the value of these stipulations, for there was a gradual depreciation in the currency of the country from the standard at 4s, 6d, a dollar, as it was at first, to 6s a dollar, at which it was fixed in 1707. In 1750 it had fallen so low as to be rated at 45s. to a dollar. According to this, the " settlement " would be equal to about $266, and the " salary " to $177, a meager sum when estimated by modern standards ; but it must be remember- ed that, connected with this provision in money, there was the use of a farmi of a hundred acres, and a parsonage, and that the fire-wood was usually furnished gratuitously, so that the amount actually re- ceived by the ministers of that day, was probably greater in value to them than what is paid to their brethren and successors in the minis- terial office at the present time. The precise date of the ordination of Mr. Burns, who, like his predecessor, was from the north of Ireland, cannot be ascertained ; but as it appears from the town records that the bill for his preaching as a candidate was made up to November 15, 1753, and as the Session records, under his ministry, were com- menced the 27th of the same month, it is probable that he was ordain- ed about the middle of November of that year. His ministry in Palmer was short ; for, three years after his settlement, a serious con- troversy appears to have existed between him and the church. Charges were subsequently brought against his moral character, which being but too well sustained, led to his dismission. No account is found on record of the time or circumstances of the separation, but from a statement made in the Session book, May 15, 1758, it seems that the church was at that time without a pastor ; and from the town record it appears that the first lot of land, set apart for the minister's use, was sold in September of that year, and instead of it the farm of Mr. Burns was purchased. The following receipt is recorded on the town books, one clause of which is rather noticeable :-
" UNION, CONN., Oct. 14, 1761.
" Then received of Elder Samuel Shaw, Jr., Treasurer of Palmer, the full and just sum of eight pounds, fifteen shillings and five pence, for the District of Palmer ; being in full of all accounts, debts, dues and demands from the beginning of the world unto the date hereof, as witness my hand.
ROBERT BURNS.
" Recorded by BARNARD MONITT, District Clerk."
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There is no prospect here of any old claims ever being reproduced, for they are all most effectually cut off by the singular wording of the receipt. It would be needless, one would think, to go farther back in such matters than " the beginning of the world !" Mr. Burns afterwards went to Pennsylvania and spent the rest of his days there on a farm.
The town was again destitute of a resident ministry for several years. During this interval Rev. Messrs. Mitchell, Peck, Curtiss and Noah Benedict, and others, supplied the pulpit. At last, March 3d, 1761, Rev. MOSES BALDWIN received "a call to settle in the work of the gospel ministry, according to the Presbyterian platform of the church of Scotland." £60 current money was pledged to him as a yearly salary, and, also, the hundred acre lot which had been reserv- ed for the minister, on the payment to the town of £150! Mr. Baldwin was a native of Newark, N. J. ; was educated at Princeton College, and was the first who received collegiate honors at that an- cient and honored institution in 1757. He was ordained at first as an Evangelist, and labored as such for a time at Southihold, Long Island, from whence he was invited to come to Palmer. IIe was in. stalled by the Boston Presbytery, June 17, 1761, and continued his connection with the church and people for the long period of half a century. His relation to them was dissolved at his own request, and with their amicable consent, by the same Council that ordained his successor, June 19, 1811. He died at Palmer, on Tuesday, Novem- ber 2, 1813, aged 81. His remains were interred on Thursday, when the Rev. Justus Forward, of Belchertown, delivered an appro- priate discourse from Zech. 1: 5. " Your fathers, where are they ? and the prophets, do they live forever ?" But few incidents of his long and eventful life are preserved on record. Like his predecessors, he went through the most serious trials, but his ministry was honored and useful. He survived every male inhabitant, who was at the head of a family when he settled in the place. He was tall in stature, and of a dark complexion ; social in his nature, and full of good feeling, rendering him a genial companion, and a welcome visitor at the homes of his parishioners. He was a bold, animated and fervent preacher, full of gesticulation. His manuscript sermons show that he depended a good deal on the spur of the moment. Many of the sentences be- ing just begun, the filling out being left to the quickened intellect and excited feelings at the time of delivery. It is said, sub rosa, that
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he used to be a great deal more animated in the afternoon than in the morning ; the social habits of the people at that day permitting even the minister to share in the exhilarating influences of Col. Hamilton's hospitality, at whose tavern the " nooning" was generally spent. When going to Monson on an exchange with Rev. Jesse Ives of that place, he would call upon the families on the way and tell them he was going to preach.
In the " Hampden Federalist," of November 18, 1813, a news- paper published in Springfield at that time, the following remarks oc- cur in an obituary notice :- " As a minister of Christ he was faithful and diligent in discharging the duties of his office. Few have gone through a greater variety of trials ; few have subsisted upon a smaller annual stipend, (about $250 per annum,) and few have ever mani- fested a greater attachment to a people, or sought more earnestly for their good. Ilis greatest ambition was to please God. He gloried in maintaining and defending the system of faith, which was 'once delivered to the saints.' His doctrines were pure, for they were the doctrines of the gospel ; his preaching was impressive, for it was the preaching of the cross of Christ ; and his motives were good, for he sought to win souls to God. As a speaker he was above mediocrity. Few possessed an equal talent in gaining the attention, and interesting the feelings of an audience. In all his dealings with man, as well as in the discharge of his official duties, he was punctual and exact. As a husband he was affectionate, and as a parent he was watchful and kind. Mourning friends will regret his loss, and an affectionate peo- ple will sympathize with them in their affliction. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors ; and their works do follow them.'"
The following matters of ecclesiastical history, though not exclu- sively pertaining to Palmer, are of sufficient interest to be noticed in this connection ; for at the close of Mr. Baldwin's ministry, the church changed its form of government, and became Congregational. From its origin up to that time, it had been in the Presbyterian ranks. The first Presbytery in New England was constituted in Londonderry, N. H., April 16, 1745, and was called the " Boston Presbytery." At a meeting in Seabrook, N. H., May 31, 1775, a division was amicably agreed upon, and three Presbyteries were formed, called respectively, " The Presbytery of Salem," "The Presbytery of Londonderry," and " The Presbytery of Palmer." The latter was constituted of Rev.
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Moses Baldwin, of Palmer ; Rev. John Houston, of Bedford ; and the three then vaeant churches of Blandford, Pelham and Coleraine. The three Presbyteries thus organized were formed into one body, called " The Synod of New England," whose first meeting was held at Lon- donderry, N. H., September 4, 1776.
The next minister of Palmer was Rev. SIMEON COLTON. He was born in Longmeadow, graduated at Yale College in 1806, studied theology with Rev. S. Worcester, D. D., of Salem, and was ordain- ed June 19, 1811, by the same Council that dismissed his venerable predecessor. Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, of Leicester, preached the ordination sermon. The first general revival of religion in Palmer occurred during the ministry of Mr. Colton. This was in the year 1819. The number of persons added to the church while he was pastor, was 120, of whom 16 only were received from sister churches. In consequence of some dissatisfaction which arose among the people relative to the ministry of Mr. Colton, he was dismissed at his own request, November 13, 1821. He then removed to Monson, where he taught in the Academy for a period of nine years ; having also been preceptor there one year before his settlement at Palmer, and two years at Leicester Academy. After leaving Monson he went to Amherst, where he had the charge of an Academy for a few years. He then removed to North Carolina to assume the care of a new in- stitution, to be established under Presbyterian influence, in the town of Fayetteville. There he remained thirteen years, when, on invita- tion, he went to the State of Mississippi, to take charge of an institu- tion that had been incorporated by the name of Clinton College. This was an attempt on the part of individuals to revive a decayed and broken down concern. The effort was found to require larger means than its friends could command, and so became a failure. He re- turned to North Carolina and took charge of a Select School in Ashboro', where he now resides, and where, as he himself says, it is probable he will spend the remnant of his days. In 1846, he receiv- ed the honorary degree of D. D. from a Delaware College. As one has justly characterized him,-" He was a man of restless enter- prise in whatever he undertook, having a full share of that enthusiasm which has been said to be common to many who bear his respectable family name. He was an earnest, faithful preacher, an excellent in- structor, a strict disciplinarian, always patient and hopeful, prompt in the fulfilment of every duty, and full of the spirit of self-sacrifice, whatever his work might be."
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After the dismission of Mr. Colton, a series of controversies and contentions between the church and the society prevented their uni- ting in the settlement of another minister till November 9, 1825, when Rev. HENRY H. F. SWEET was ordained as their pastor and teacher, having been invited by the unanimous vote both of the church and of the town. He was a native of Attleboro', and graduated at Brown University in 1822. His ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., of Medway. Mr. Sweet was removed from his people by death, February 20, 1827, at the age of thirty-one. During his briof ministry he greatly endeared himself to his parish- ioners, and even now his name is fragrant among them. Truly "the memory of the just is blessed." Rev. Alfred Ely, of Monson, preach- ed his funeral sermon. He is spoken of " as a man who was unas- suming and kind in his manners and intereourse with others. As a preacher, he was interesting and impressive. He was thoroughly Calvinistie in his doctrinal views." A somewhat extensive revival of religion commenced in the place a few months previous to his death. The number added to the church during his short but acceptable min- istry, was 23 ; of whom eight were received from other churches. In the same year, subsequent to his death, 21 others were admitted to the church. .
The next pastor, Rev. JOSEPH K. WARE, was ordained December 12, 1827. He was born in Conway, and gratuated at Amherst Col- lege in 1824. The sermon was preached by Rev. Heman Humphrey, D. D. There was from the first a minority opposed to the settlement of Mr. Ware, which continued through his ministry. A considerable number left the society ; some because of dissatisfaction, and others because of heavier taxos, until the residue felt themselves unable to raise the salary. By request of Mr. Ware, he was regularly dismiss- ed from his pastoral relation to the church, March 16, 1831, and has since boen settled in Chapinsvillo, N. Y.
The ecclesiastical concerns of the town remained in a low and dark state through the summer ensuing, the people being divided and dis- couraged. A large portion of the time there was no stated preaching. In September, Rev. SAMUEL BACKUS, a native of Canterbury, Conn., and a graduate of Union College in 1811, was invited to preach, and continued the only supply till his Installation, January 11, 1832. He was first settled in Woodstock, in his native State. In conse- quence of some dissatisfaction, arising partly from his active efforts in
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the temperance cause, Mr. Backus was dismissed May 4, 1841, since which time he has not been a settled pastor. IIe now lives in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he has labored for a time as city missionary, and has also been engaged in teaching.
The pulpit was supplied during the summer following Mr. Backus' dismission, by Rev. Mr. Wetherell. In September, Rev. MOSES K. CROSS, was engaged as a candidate for settlement. He was a native of Danvers, a graduate of Amherst College in 1838, and had studied theology at East Windsor, Conn., and Andover. He was ordained February 2, 1842, the sermon being preached by Rev. Milton P. Bra- man, D. D., of Danvers. He continued pastor of the church at the centre of the town until an amicable and nearly equal division took place, April 1, 1847, on territorial grounds. The pastor went with the First Church to Thorndike Village, where they worshipped for a time in a hall, but soon erceted a neat and pleasant sanctuary. Mr. Cross remained with them till March 7, 1849, when he was dis- missed at his own request, on account of ill health. He was after- wards, September 4, 1850, settled at South Deerfield.
Rev. Levi Smith and Rev. Plinius Moody supplied the destitute church for a time, till on Nov. 19, 1851, Rev. SYLVESTER HINE Was installed pastor. He was born in Middlebury, Conn., and graduated at Yale College in 1843. He received his theological education at East Windsor. Rev. Prof. Nahum Gale, of that Seminary, preached his installation sermon. Previous to his settlement in Palmer, he had been pastor of a Congregational Church in Ticonderoga, N. Y.
The SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was organized April 1, 1847, and commenced holding religious services in a hall at the Dépôt Village, where an enterprising and growing community had congregated around an important station of the Western Railroad. They soon commenced to build a meeting-house, and on Wednesday; December 22, 1847, it was dedicated to the worship of God by ap- propriate solemnities, viz :- Invocation and reading the scriptures by Mr. T. Wilson, (licentiate ;) introductory prayer by Rev. C. B. Kit- tredge, of Monson ; sermon by Rev. E. Russell, of Springfield ; ded- icatory prayer and benediction by Rev. A. Ely, D. D., of Monson. The exercises were exceedingly interesting ; and an additional zest was given to them, from the fact that they occurred on a day hallowed by such sacred associations to every lover of the Puritans. The ser-
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mon, on Psalm 96 : 6, " Honor and majesty are before him ; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary," was characterized by that bold, vigorous and manly style, for which the preacher is distinguished. He considered in it, " Some of the Elements of Strength and Beauty in the Sanctuary ;" and dealt out, in no stinted measure, a sparkling and racy draught of original thought. Dr. Ely alluded most touch- ingly to the fact that it was the anniversary of that day,- endeared to every true descendant of the Pilgrims,-when they landed on the rock of Plymouth ; and with no roof over their heads but the vaulted dome of the sky, and no music but the howling of the bleak December winds, they poured forth the gratitude of their hearts to that gracious Being who had brought them safely across the perilous deep, and landed them on that sterile shore, where at last they found a home,- and with it, what they prized above all else, "freedom to worship God." The interest of the services was enhanced by the excellent performances of the choir, which, under the skillful and efficient train- ing of Mr. Sumner, of Worcester, " discoursed most eloquent music " for the occasion. The house is a neat, chaste, and tasteful edifice, built at a cost of about $5,000, and reflects much credit upon the en- terprise of the infant church and society who have thus secured to themselves a comfortable and beautiful place of worship. May it prove, to them and theirs, to be " none other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven !"
To this church and society, then recently organized and furnished with a temple, Rev. THOMAS WILSON was called to minister. He was born in Paisley, Scotland, but came to this country in early life with his parents, and resided in Lowell. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1844, studied theology one year at New Haven, and two years at Andover, and was ordained March 1, 1848. Rev. Lyman Whiting, of Lawrence, preached the sermon. After a ministry of a little more than four years as pastor of this church, he was dismissed at his own request, July 1, 1852, on account of inadequate support. He is now settled in Westford.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH in Palmer was originally organized in the south part of Belchertown, under the name of the " Belchertown and Palmer Baptist Church," November 16, 1825. The meeting-
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house in which the church worshipped, was occupied in common by this people and a Methodist Society. At length they erected their present church edifice at the village of Three-Rivers, which they oc- cupied in January 1833. The name of the church was then changed to the " Baptist Church in Three-Rivers." The number of original members was 24, 11 males and 13 females. Their present number is 111. The succession of pastors has been as follows : Rev. Messrs. Alvin Bennett, Henry Archibald, Tubal Wakefield, David Pease, John R. Bigelow, Prosper Powell, N. B. Jones, Chester Tilden, Joseph Hodges, Jr., Sandford Leach, Addison Parker and Levi II. Wakeman, who is the present incumbent of the pastoral office.
The SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH in Palmer, is located at the Dépôt Village, and was formed by a colony from the first church. Its public recognition, and the installation of Rev. Samuel A. Collins, its first pastor, took place September 29, 1852. A commodious and beautiful house of worship was soon erected, which was dedicated February 22, 1854. It cost about $5,000.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
The METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Three-Rivers was organized in 1833, under Rev. A. Taylor, consisting of ten members. Rev. H. Perry then ministered to them two years, and in 1837, a house of worship was erected, and Rev. H. Moulton appointed to the pastoral charge. He was followed by Rev. Wm. Gordon, who, in 1840, was succeeded by Rev. T. W. Gile. Up to 1841 the society divided the labors of the pastor with a society in Belchertown ; but in that year it became a station to which Rev. J. Nichols was appointed to preach the whole time. He remained two years, and was succeeded by Rev. D. L. Winslow, after whom was Rev. J. Cadwell, under whose min- istry the church numbered 130 members. Mr. Cadwell was followed in turn by Rev. Messrs. Amos Binney, Daniel Chapin, C. L. Mc- Curdy, J. W. Mowry and Nathaniel J. Merrill.
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