USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections, Vol. I > Part 27
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He would ever guard our interests against the least approach to the slave trade ; but could see no injury to any of our useful institutions in encouraging industrial emigration to our shores from every part of the earth. He would keep the gate open and the stream as pure as possible, and let it flow. We must counteract any evil that may threaten us by our living examples of good. We must impress a pure and undefiled religion on all who may come to us, and if any go back to their own lands they will carry to their neighbors the blessings of our free institu- tions. He would not dare to lock the inviting gates of America against a suffering world.
General Butler desired to reply, but the President's time forbade any continuance of the remarks beyond the appointed time for the departure of himself and his company ; thus, as Governor Hawley closed, Mr. Bowen stepped forward and said that Mr. Gilmore would now, in honor of the Russian minister, perform with his band the " Russian Hymn."
At the conclusion of this performance the Russian minister returned his thanks, and spoke of the friendship which had existed between Russia and the United States from the earliest history of this country :
" He hoped that friendship would be permanent. In saying this he expressed the feelings of 82,000,000 of Russians; and he hoped that that feeling would be reciprocated by 40,000,000 of Americans."
320
WOODSTOCK.
The exercises closed with the singing of " America" by the entire audience, accompanied by Gilmore's band.
The presidential party then proceeded in carriages to Thomp- son Station on Norwich and Worcester Railroad, and took the cars for Norwich, where they were entertained by Senator Buek- ingham, who gave a reception to the President and his friends.
The following day the President proceeded on his way to his family at Long Branch.
This occasion, no doubt, produced the most memorable and exciting day ever witnessed in the history of this town. It was but an exhibit of what energy and enterprise, directed by skillful hands, can do through the efforts of one individual. This town has great cause to be thankful and proud of a native son who so ably and liberally sustains her best interests.
THE WOODSTOCK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society was chartered by the State of Connecticut, on the 2d of July, 1861. The first preliminary steps for its formation, was a meeting held in the Baptist meeting-house, in South Woodstock, November 13, 1858, at one o'clock, P. M., when Ezra C. May was made chairman, and George A. Pen- niman, clerk. This meeting then elected a committee of six gentlemen, all of Woodstock, to frame a constitution and by- laws for the government of the society.
The society embraces all the towns in the county which are disposed to unite with this town, and conform to the regu- lations adopted by the same.
The first annual meeting was held January 4, 1859, when officers were elected as follows :
President-Ezra Dean, Esq.
( Chester Child, Wm. R. Arnold, J. F. Williams, Jr.,
Vice-President- 1 E. S. Bugbee, and Albie Hiscox.
Corresponding Secretary-J. M. Lyon.
Recording Secretary-George A. Penniman.
Treasurer-S. M. Fenner.
Directors- E. S. Penniman, George A. Paine, George C. Phillips,
Charles D. Smith, Abel Child, 2d; and Alexander Warner.
321
WOODSTOCK.
The first fair was held in September, 1859, and the society has held a fair each year since. Their annnal meetings for election of officers are held in December, besides which two or three executive committee meetings are held each year.
The society receives $100 per annum from the State ; the other necessary funds are raised by life, annual member- ships, and by entrance fees.
The annual exhibitions are attended with increased num- bers, and proves a successful aid to the great agricultural in- terest of the county, and a stimulus to many other industrial pursuits. It invites honorable competition, promotes the ad- vantages of the best modes for the cultivation of the soil in producing crops, the breeding of cattle and other ani- mals, and fosters many other branches of industry ; it also does great good by introducing social habits among the peo- ple of the several towns connected therewith, increasing their general intelligence upon all questions pertaining to their various pursuits, which is always the most effective power in the accumulation of wealth-verifying the adage that "know- ledge is power." The assembling of numerous bodies of peo- ple together to compare and consult upon their mutual inter- ests can not be too much encouraged or too highly commended.
WOODSTOCK ACADEMY.
THE CHARTER.
" At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticutin America, holden in Hartford, in said State, on the second Thursday of May, being the - day of said month and continued by adjournment from day to day until the in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two.
" A resolve incorporating the proprietors of Woodstock Academy in Connecticut.
" Whereas, John McClellan, an agent appointed by the proprietors of Woodstock Academy, in Woodstock, has, by his petition in behalf of said proprietors, represented to this Assembly, that an act of incorpora- 22
322
WOODSTOCK.
tion would be of great nse to said proprietors in the management of their joint property and other concerns therein,
" Resolved by this Assembly, That, Samuel Mcclellan, Eliphalet Lyman, Nehemiah Child, Ebenezer Smith, William Potter, Hezekiah Bugbee, Ichabod Marcy, Jesse Bolles, David Holmes and others, who are or here- after may be proprietors of Woodstock Academy. so called, in Wood- stock, be, and hereby are erected and made a body corporate by the name and title of the proprietors of Woodstock Acadamy, and by the name shall be and hereby are made capable in law, to have, purchase, receive, possess and enjoy to them and their successors real and personal estate of any kind and quality whatsoever, to the annual amount of $3,000, and the same to sell, grant, or alien, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, defend and be defended, in all courts in this State ; to have and use a common seal, and the same to break, alter, and renew at pleasure, and to ordain and carry into effect such by-laws and regu- lations as shall be deemed necessary or useful for the well ordering and governing of the affairs of said corporation, not repugnant to the laws of this State or to the constitution and laws of the United States; and for the government of said corporation, it is hereby
" Resolved. That there shall be five trustees annually appointed by the proprietors, which annual meeting shall be at such time as said propri- etors shall appoint, which trustees shall have power, or a major part of them, to choose their chairman, to superintend the affairs of the corpora- tion, and carry into effect all the by-laws and regulations of the pro- prietors.
"And it is further Resolved, That the first meeting of proprietors shall be called by any two of their number by giving a verbal or written notice to all the other proprietors of the time and place of meeting. And to constitute a quorum, twelve shares at least shall be represented ; and the proprietors shall have power in their meetings to ordain and constitute any officers which may be deemed necessary for the well ordering of the concerns of the said Academy, and to require of the officers such security or annex such pecuniary penalties to a breach of trust, as they shall judge reasonable; and the proprietors are hereby empowered to make such rules and regulations concerning the mode of transferring shares by assignment or otherwise, and to enlarge the number of shares as they shall deem expedient ; which rules and regulations shall be to all intents and purposes valid, and they are empowered to tax the several shares in said institution for the purpose of making repairs of the buildings or fences, or for furnishing books or apparatus for the institution, or for other necessary or useful purposes, as they shall judge for the benefit of the corporation ; and the sums so assessed shall be col- lected by warrant and distress, in the manner that the taxes of this State may, by law, be collected.
323
WOODSTOCK.
" Provided, that this resolve or any part thereof may be altered, amended or repealed at the pleasure of the General Assembly.
AMENDMENT.
"General Assembly, May Session, 1868. Amending the charter of the proprietors of Woodstock Academy.
" Resolved by this Assembly, That the charter of the proprietors of Woodstock Academy, be and hereby is so amended as to allow an increase in the number of trustees of said Academy not to exceed thir- teen in all, and that said trustees shall, upon being duly elected, con- tinue in office until others are chosen to fill their places.
"'APPROVED, July 24, 1868."
ACADEMY BUILDINGS.
The first academy structure was erected in 1801, and is at the present time of writing standing where it was originally located, and by recent expenditures for repairs, is in a condition that gives evidence that it may continue a useful building for another period equal to that it has already passed through.
The new academy, now nearly finished, is much larger, and of far more imposing appearance. This was commenced in 1872, and will probably be completed and ready to receive the students from the old house by the beginning of the year 1874. Its dimensions are as follows : one hundred feet in length by sixty in depth. The front is south, and has two entrance halls, between which is the school-room, forty feet square. At the ends of the structure, beyond the halls, and opening out of them are four recitation-rooms, two on each side ; and in the rear are three rooms, for library, laboratory, and reception. In the second story is a fine hall, supplied with a good stage, adapted for public exhibitions, having ante- rooms, wardrobes, etc.
In the third story are rooms for the teachers, and some for students. From the tower may be seen an extensive view of the country, scarcely equaled for landscape beanty by any other place.
324
WOODSTOCK.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TO ACADEMY BUILDING FUND.
N. T. Adams, - $100
Nathaniel Beach, 25
Davis Blackmar, 25 -
Henry C. Bowen,
5,000
Andrew W. Bowen,
100
Henry E. Bowen, 200
Jas. Bracken,
10
Lucius Briggs, 100
David S. Brown, 75
Wm. L. Buck, -
10
George W. Buck,
20
Jno. C. Buck, -
10
Alexander Buck, 50
William Buxton, 25
E. II. Bugbec, -
25
Luther D. Bugbec, 25
S. C. Comings, - 100
A. A. Carroll, - 50
William D. Carroll, - 100
G. W. Clark, 25
Edwin K. Chamberlain, 10
Jas. A. Chandler,
20
J. F. Chandler,
-
Albert C. Chandler, 25
William Chandler, - 100
Amasa Chandler,
100
Elisha Child, - 10
Roxana L. Child, 300
Abel Child, 2d, 300 -
S. A. Child, 10
Jno. H. Child,
25
James Coldman, - 25
S. S. Cotton, - 25
Wm. E. Davidson, 100
Ezra Dean,
300
S. M. Fenner, 20
F. W. Flynn, -
20
Reuben S. Fitts, 10
Amelia A. Fisk, . 200
Nathan Fisher,
25
F. M. Fox,
20
-
Arthur Mathewson,
- $10
Caleb Fenner, 10
A. P. Dennis, 10
M. Phillips, 100
Ebenezer Bishop, 10
O. E. Lombard, - 10
Ezra C. Child, 10
N. E. Morse, 15
Nelson Morse, 20
J. R. Davenport, 20
D. B. Plimpton, 10
E. S. Lyon, 10
T. A. Capwell, 10
Chas. E. Scarls, - 10
Ezra D. Carpenter, 10
Ashbury Nichols, 10
Dutee Smith, - 10
Perry & Brown, - 20
Sabin & Miller, 50 -
T. P. Leonard & Co., - 25
Ebenezer Barrett, -
15
Mary A. Leavitt,
10
Geo. Chandler, - 25
Wm. H. Ward, - 20
Henry Elliott (N. Y.), -
25
M. A. Phillips (N. Y.), 25
J. N. Chamberlain (N. Y.), 50
Henry C. Penniman, -
10
IIenry Bennett, 25
Stone & Fenn, 35
E. T. Whitmore, 50
Williams & Stoddard, 20
M. Moriarty, -
50
Jno. C. Chapman,
10
II. B. Aldrich, 10
Chas. D. Holmes, 10
M. G. Leonard, 10
Hiram N. Brown, 10
Gilbert C. Robbins, - 25
J. H. Gardner,
5
J. W. Torry, -
25
325
WOODSTOCK.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS-Continued.
Lucius S. Fuller, $10
G. W. Phillips, -
$25
Allen C. Gordon, 50
Harrison Johnson, - 25
R. S. Gordon, 50
Edgar Clark,
20
Edward B. Harris, Jun., 10
Wm. B. White, 10
W. H. Harris, 20
E. A. Hammond, 25
Daniel Hibbard, - 20
Henry W. Hibbard,
20
J. M. Lyon, 10
A. K. Leavens, 10
C. A. Spalding, - 10
Edward Fley, 10
Joseph D. Barrows, 10
Geo. Randall, 50
Oliver Bowen, -
50
Edwin W. Sanger, - 50
Fairus Chapman, 10
E. G. Harris, - 10
J. L. Arms,
25
D. Underwood,
10
Geo. Bradford,
-
10
Jno. Scarborough, - 10
Wm. P. Williams, 10
Lorenzo Litchfield,
25
Milton Bradford,
25
N. B. McComber, 5
Ezra Hammond, - 5
Maria C. and Charles E. Pike, 20
George Tucker, -
10
Gilbert W. Shephard, 10
S. P. Webster, 10
M. S. Morse, - 100
Geo. M. Morse,
-
100
E. A. Wheelock, 30
S. P. Fenn,
20
Clayton T. Lyon, 20
Erastus Blackmar,
10
Daniel D. Baker,
-
10
A. C. Andrews,
10
F. Sampson, - 25
Jno. Fortune, 10
Cyrus Davenport,
10
J. M. Fairbanks,
10
E. H. Wells,
20
-
J. F. Eddy, 10
Win. H. Tourtelotte, - 10
Asahiel Batty, 10
Luke Hiscox, 10
Monroe W. Ide, 20
Jno. A. Low, 30
Joseph Lyman, 10
Asa Lyman,
30
Henry Lyon, - 75
Sarah T. Lyon, - 200
Wm. W. Mathewson, 25
R. S. Mathewson,
200
Ezra C. May, -
200
Jno. Mcclellan, ~ 300
J. T. Morse, - 50
Wm. A. Moffitt, -
25
Geo. A. Painc,
400
Martin Paine,
10
Jno. F. Parkhurst,
50
Amos Palmer, 10
Samuel Palmer,
30
Geo. A. Penniman, 50
Amos Peckham,
- 100
J. F. Perry, 50
Oliver H. Perry, 100
E. H. Pratt, 25
Pierpont Phillips,
50
Jas. T. Rhodes,
10
Jas. Randall, -
15
J. F. Russell,
20
Judson Sanger, 25
Geo. F. S. Stoddard, 25
J. Q. A. Stone,
15
Adin L. Steerc, -
25
Aldin Southworth,
100
A. M. Taber, 10
W. R. Wasson,
-
20
John Paine,
10
326
WOODSTOCK.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS -- Continued.
Lewis J. Wells, $30
Lewis Williams, - 100
Maria M. Williams, 25
G. T. Murdock, -
100
Paine M. Law,
-
100
S. J. Silliman, 50
50
L. H. Fuller,
10
Trenck May, - Henry Phillips, - 25
10
Jno. O. Fox, 50
Abiel May, -
Wm. W. Webber, -
10
Edward Shaw.
-
10
David Aldrich, -
10
Geo. Clinton Williams,
25
Alpha Phillips, - 100
A. Houghton, 10
A. F. Johnston & Co., 25
Geo. B. Mathewson,
10
Edward P. Hayward, -
10
Shubael Day, -
20
Benjamin Warner,
50
N. P. Clark, - 10
J. K. Potter,
10
Pierpont Phillips, - 50
Rufus T. Town, - 30
H. Newton Brown, 20
Charles S. Blivin, - 50
Lucien Perrin,
10
Edward Shan, 10
Horatio Whipple, 25
Edmund Wilkinson, - 100
10
Wm. B. Stone,
50
Jas. Allen,
Stone and Fenn, 25
100
Lucy A. Williams,
100
Lucien Fitts, -
'100
100
HIenry Lyon,
50
E. P. Robinson,
Horatio Sabin,
50
Jno. Dimon, -
50
Win. Bartholomew,
20
Alexander HI. Vinton,
50
Lucien Tucker.
50
Emily A. Green.
25
William R. May,
10
Nathan II. Chandler, 10
Kirby Sofford,
10
A. Parkhurst, -
10
Ezra Moffitt, 20
William S. Tucker,
30
Albert C. Chandler,
10
C. Comstock, -
50
10
Lewis Williams, -
20
Lyman Fitts, -
-
J. W. Doane,
100
Thos. Talman,
-
30
Joseph Nichols, - 10
10
Orrin Smith,
-
Jno. Sanger,
10
David S. Brown,
100
Jas. Coleman, - - 100
Jane Mc Weaver, 100
Erastus H. Wells, -
-
100
S. Charles Knight, 100
William Lyon,
-
100
Oliver H. Perry, -
100
Nehemiah T. Adams,
100
Geo. J. Harrington,
50
Samuel W. Butler, -
10
Edward P. Mathewson, 20
Lewis Williams, -
25
S. D. Skinner,
E. B. Potter, -
10
Chas. Wiley, -
10
J. W. Manning,
25
Warren A. Burgess, 10
Oscar Fisher, -
50
Albert Kenyon,
-
50
Calvin Hicks,
5
Ira Hyde,
10
Newton S. Bosworth, -
$100
Charles D. Thayer,
-
50
Sarah A. Woodward, - 25
Emily J. Bowen,
25
Chas. H. Osgood, 10
327
WOODSTOCK.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS-Continued.
Joseph R. Barber, - $20
Geo. Pettis,
$50
C'has. Alton, 10
Edwin II. Bugbee,
50
Robert A. Sherman,
10
W. Foster Dean,
10
Aner Underwood, -
20
Walter Perrin,
10
Abijah Sessions,
10
Jno. Chamberlain, - 10
Nathaniel Andrews, 10
Stephen M. Bradford, - 10
Jno. O. Fox, 100
A. K. Leavens, 10
S. P. Fenn, 10
Harrison Johnson,
100
Frank Alton, -
10
James W. Manning, 50
Lyndin Tucker, -
50
Cyrus Davenport,
30
Dana G. Robinson,
10
William Thurbur, -
10
Geo. A. Penniman,
50
Ross & Alton,
25
B. Segar & Co., - 10
Thos. C. Bugbee, - 10
Michael Moriarty,
50
Daniel B. Plimpton,
10
Geo. Spalding, 20
Asa Morse, - 50
Jno. Paine,
-
25
Joseph Kenyon, - 50
Elisha M. Phillips, - 20
Milton Bradford,
50
Jno. F. Williams, - 50
Thos. P. Leonard & Co., 50
Marietta L. Sumner, 50
Lovin Litchfield, -
50
John B. Healy,
50
Geo. A. Paine, 200
William Chandler, 50
Moses Dyer, - 50
William Paine, - 25
Damon W. Chandler, 25
Mowry Richardson, 25
Herbert Day, -
30
Benj. P. Spalding,
20
Asa Wilter,
50
Chester Child.
50
Jno. E. Buckman, -
50
John A. Mason, -
20
Edward Killam,
20
Stephen P. Webster, -
-
10
Alexander H. Sessions, 10
Abel D. Haven, - 10
Esther Bishop, 10
Lucretia Vinton, 50
William II. Sharpe,
25
Henry Stetson,
100
Oscar Fisher, 50
Laban D. Underwood, 50
George Bradford,
25
William Myers,
20
Asa S. Bundy,
20
Otis Perrin, -
10
Alexander Buck, 35
Napoleon B. McComber, 10
Ezra Dean,
- 100
Abigail B. Child, 100
Chloe P. Briggs, 100
May A. Leavitt, -
50
Thomas Backus,
50
Ezra C. May, 50
E. Lyman May, 50
Silas May, - 50
Nelson Morse, 50
Leonard M. Dean, 25
Burt Crawford,
10
Geo. W. Green, -
30
James Rafferty, 20
Jno. H. Stetson, 10
Gilbert W. Phillips.
150
Chas. M. Fisher,
-
50
Hiram N. Brown,
50
M. S. Morse & Co.,
- 100
Henry B. Aldrich,
20
328
WOODSTOCK.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS-Continued.
Jno. F. Perry, - 850
Elkanah S. Penniman, -
$30
Lucien Harrington, 30
Edward D. Phipps. 10
Caleb Fenner, - 50
Nathan E. Morse, - 10
Darius Hill,
15
Geo. A. May,
10
Walter P. Snow, 30
Erasmus Rawson, -
10
Thos. J. Browning,
10
Clinton Child, 10
Joel Fuller, - 10
Jas. H. Chandler,
10
Sarah W. Lyon, - 20
A. B. Ingalls, (N. Y.),
10
Amelia Williams, - 10
Edwin S. Bugbee,
200
Zenas Marcy, 100
George W. Clark, - 30
Wm. Weaver,
50
Andrew T. Clark, 20
Harriet and Emma Lyon,
50
Silas Newton, 20
10
Jeremiah Harrington, 10
Robert Williams, 50
WVm. II. Rearson, - 50
10
Amelia A. Fisk, - 100
Martin Paine,
10
- Henry E. Bowen, 100
Henry A1. Bowen,
250
Marcus Green, 25
50
Nancy M. Grigg, - 150
Nancy Swain,
50
Jas. J. Sawyer, 50
Wm. Johnson,
30
Jonah T. Morse, - 50
Amos A. Carroll,
50
Cortiss Hibbard,
20
James E. Lyman,
50
Alfred Wetherell, -
20
Jno. S. Lester, 50
Nelson Lyon, 50
Wm. W. Webber, - 20
Sam'l H. Phillips, - 10
Dan'l Lyman,
15
Finly M. Fox,
-
20
Nathaniel II. Andrews, - 30
Joseph F. Russell, 30
Erastus Phillips, 10
Salmon Needham, 10
Clarence II. Child, -
10
Ira IIyde,
10
P. Skinner, 10
Jno. Sanger, - 10
10
Henry C. Bowen,
5000
Alfred M. Tabor, 10
Chas. W. Lyon, - 10
Rufus S. Mathewson, - 100
F. W. Flynn, -
50
Faith W. Mathewson, 100
Sam'l M. Fenner, - 100
Geo. S. F. Stoddard, - 10
Davis Blackmar,
50
WVm. II. Moore, - -
Abel Child, 2d,
200
William D. Carroll, 100
Win. B. Lester,
50
Sam'l Palmer, - 20
John F. Parkhurst,
20
Geo. A. Spalding, 50
Lucy Lyon,
-
Barney Carroll, - 10
Edward E. Bowen, 301
Clayton T. Lyon,
Nathan Fisher,
50
Emily J. Bowen,
25
Ebenezer Barrett, -
30
Sanford Fisher, -
20
Eben. S. Crowningshield, 30
Hezekiah Snow, -
10
Jolın Mehan, -
10
Patrick Reilly, - 10
Pierpont Phillips, - 50
Sam'l C. Comings, - 100
Catharine Arnold, -
329
WOODSTOCK.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS-Continued.
Jno. Lake, -
$100
Jno. MeClellan, - $200
Lewis .J. Wells,
100
Amasa Chandler, - 200
Thos. D. Holmes,
100
Roxana L. Child, 200
Sarah T. Lyon,
100 -
William C. Kibbie, 250
Andrew W. Bowen, 100
William W. Mathewson, 100
Sarah J. Silliman, - -
100
Edwin W. Sanger, - - 50
Alden Southworth, 100
Henry S. Perry, - 100
Geo. N. Lyman,
100
Willard C. May, - 50
Benj. Sumner,
100
A. T. Barnes, N. Y., - 50
Wm. H. Weaver, 100
These two subscription lists are to contain subscriptions to the amount of $15,000 each -- the one to build and complete the new structure for the academy, and the other for a sup- porting fund: Henry C. Bowen, Esq., contributing $5,000 towards each, on condition the sims should be raised, but his subscription payable when $10,000 on each should be sub- scribed, including his own subscription.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
CHAPTER III.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
THE first church in Woodstock was organized about the year 1690. There had been religious services, commencing with the arrival of the first planters, but no settled minister or church organization.
The Rev. Josiah Dwight was their first settled minister; the exact date of his settlement is not now known. The records of this church during the pastorate of Mr. Dwight are lost to the society. It is supposed that when he left the church he carried away with him these records, the covenant, and other papers belonging to this organization.
Furthermore, there is a deficiency in their later pro- ceedings. Through some dissatisfaction among its mem- bers, a division of this church occurred in the year 1759 ; the party which withdrew took with them the remaining re- cords to this date, organized a church at Muddy Brook the same year, and styled themselves "The First Congregational Church of Woodstock."
A similar occurrence took place in the Muddy Brook church, in the year 1831.
There arose some difficulty among its members concerning the location of a new meeting-house, when a part withdrew, who, imitating the example of their predecessors, laid hands
332
WOODSTOCK.
upon these records and formed a church at the village corners now known as North Woodstock, and who it is supposed now hold them in their possession.
The pastorate of Rev. Josiah Dwight continued with this people about thirty-seven years. Most of this long connection proved satisfactory, both to the pastor and the society, until near its close, when some unfortunate and nnhappy affairs induced the pastor to ask for a dismission. This request was granted by the church, September 27, 1726. A council was called, November 16, 1727, to hear the existing com- plaints. The allegations made by the church, were, rashness of speech, a want of meekness and patience, and furthermore, a habit of speculating in wild lands at Killingly; and, as fur- ther alleged, not without loss of his reputation for truth and veracity.
Mr. Dwight denied the allegations as to misrepresentation about the lands at Killingly, but confessed rashness, want of patience and meekness, under provocation.
It appeared furthermore, that Mr. Dwight had made some departure from the strict observance of church discipline, as established by the Cambridge platform, which was agreed upon by a general synod of the Congregational ministers of New England, in the year 1648 .*
He was not alone at this time in the desire for a revision and more liberal construction of the plan of church gov- ernment.
By the terms of the Cambridge platform, associations of ministers and churches in separate organizations were not recognized. No discussion relating to change of church disci- pline or organization of churches was permitted, except at the general assembly of all the churches.
At a council held at Boston in September, 1662, the form-
* See Mather's Mignalia, vol. II, p. 153. This synod was held at Carbridge, Massachu - setts, September 30, 1648.
333
WOODSTOCK.
ing of separate associations of churches was favored. The old class of ministers opposed all innovations, and, being in majority, held strictly to the Cambridge platform.
The venerable Thomas Hooker,* the founder of Hartford, and a leading minister in the colony of Connecticut, did not favor fully the strict church government as had been con- ducted by the leading clergymen of Massachusetts. He favored the frequent assembling of neighboring ministers, and a plan of consociations. Had he lived at the time of holding the council in 1662, he would, no doubt, have opposed the strict government of the churches as established by the Cam- bridge platform.
A question arose in the General Assembly of Connecticut regarding greater latitude in the membership of churches and baptism.
In the year 1664, that court resolved,
"That understanding by a writing presented to them from several persons of this colony that they are aggrieved, that they are not enter- tained in church fellowship; this court, having duly considered the same, desiring that the rules of Christ may be attended, do commend it to the ministers and churches in this colony to consider whether it be not their duty to entertain all such persons who are of an honest and godly conversation, having a competency of knowledge in the princi- ples of religion, and shall desire to join with them in church fellow- ship, by an explicit covenant; and that they have their children bap- tized ; and that all the children of the church be accepted and accounted real members of the church ; and that the church exercise a due Chris- tian care and watch over them ; and that when they are grown up, being examined by the officer in the presence of the church, it appear in the judgment of charity that they be duly qualified to participate in that great ordinance of the Lord's Supper, by their being able to examine themselves and discern the Lord's body, such persons be admitted to full communion."+
* Rev. Thomas Hooker was born in Leicestershire, England, in 1586. He came to Boston, New England, 1633, was settled over the church at Cambridg" the same year, and, with 100 others, removed, settled, and founded Hartford in 1636. He died, July 7, 1047, aged sixty- one years.
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