USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol II > Part 7
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The total cost of the land, hall, track, and general improve- ments connected with the same, has been $12,362.
The object of the society is to make this institution such as will commend itself to all parties interested in the progress of all branches of industry, which associations of this character are designed to advance. Thus far the progress has been such, that those who have had its management in charge take pleasure in saying that the results have more than met their expectations, and that its future usefulness is well as- sured by the increasing interest manifested annually by those attending its exhibitions.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
CHAPTER IV.
THE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
TN conformity with the conditions of the grant for this town,
the proprietors took early measures for establishing re- ligious worship. On the 30th of November, 1731, a vote was passed; " that we will build a meeting-house as soon as we conveniently can." They had previously decided upon the place to locate this house, which place was on an elevation of land a little south of the present Congregational society's meeting-house, and supposed to be south of the road and near the place where the Baptist meeting-house lately stood, which was removed to Fiskedale, in the year 1838.
The spot thus agreed upon for the location of their first meeting-house was a part of a tract of land, then known as the Saltonstall farm, which is more particularly described in another part of this historical sketch.
To secure to themselves this desired location, the proprie- tors deputed two of their number to procure a deed of a suit- able piece of the Saltonstall farm, who, for that purpose, visited New London, and obtained of the heirs of the late Governor Saltonstall the deed, of which the following is a copy :
"'DEED.
" To All Persons to Whom these Presents shall Come : Richard Christo- pher, and his wife, Elizabeth Christopher; Jeremiah Miller, and Mary Miller, his wife; Samuel Davis, and Sarah Davis, his wife, all of New
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London, in the county of New London, and in his majesty's colony of Connecticut, in New England, gents, etc., and William Brattle, and Catherine Brattle, his wife, of Cambridge, in ye county of Middlesex and ye province of ye Massachusetts Bay, in New England-sends greet- ing: Know ye that ye said Richard Christopher, and Elizabeth ; Jere- miah Miller, and Mary ; Samuel Davis, and Sarah ; William Brattle, and Catharine, -for and in consideration of the setting up of a meeting-house for ye publie worship of God in ye township, or a tract of land lately granted by ye General Assembly of ye Massachusetts Bay for a township lying between Brookfield. Woodstock, Brimfield, and Oxford, do give and grant, alien and enteofe, convey and confirm, unto Jonas Houghton, of Laneaster, in ye county of Middlesex, in ye province of ye Massachu- setts Bay : and Ebenezer Learned, of Oxford, in ye county of Suffolk, in said province ; and to the rest of ye proprietors in ye aforesaid tract or township, -sir acres of land to set a meeting-house upon, out of a farm or tract of land containing 2.000 acres lately granted to the Hon. Gurdon Saltonstall, deceased, by the General Assembly of ye said province, lying in Pine land near or upon where ye road which runs from Brook- field to Woodstock meets with ye road now used from Brimfield to Oxford. Also a high-way four rods wide through said 2,000 acres, as it is now marked, from Brimfield to Oxford, or as near thereto as it can conveniently be. Also a high-way of four rods wide from ye north side of said 2,000 acres to said road first mentioned, as said Brookfield road is now used, or near thereto.
" Also, a high-way to run from said high-way first mentioned to ye southerly side of said 2,000 acres of four rods, where it can conveniently eross Quinebaug river, where the land will conveniently allow thereof, with ye privileges and appurtenances thereof.
"To have and to hold ye said granted premises with appurtenances thereof unto the said Jonas Houghton and Ebenezer Learned, with the rest of ye proprietors in ye aforesaid tract or township for ye use and uses aforesaid, and to no other use whatsoever, and that ye said Jonas Houghton and Ebenezer Learned, and ye rest of ye proprietors in ye aforesaid tract or township, their heirs and assigns forever, shall and may, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, have, hold, use, and possess, improve the said granted premises, with ye appurtenances to and for the use and uses aforesaid, and to no other use forever, against the said Richard Christopher and his wife, Elizabeth ; Jeremiah Miller, and Mary : Samuel Davis, and Sarah; William Brattle, and Catherine; their heirs and assigns forever.
In witness whereof, the said Richard Christopher, and Elizabeth ; Jeremiah Miller, and Mary : Samuel Davis, and Sarah ; William Brattle, and Catherine ; have hereunto set their hands and seals this second day of December, A. D., 1730.
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" Signed, sealed, and delivered in ye presence of
John Smaık,
Lewis De Woolf,
Elizabeth Christopher.
Susannah Coolidge,
Mr. Richard Christopher, and
Mrs. Elizabeth Christopher.
Richard Christopher, and a [Seal. ] Elizabeth Christopher, and a [ Seal. ] Jeremiah Miller, and a [Seal. ]
Mary Miller, and a [Seal. ]
Samuel Davis, and a [Seal.
Sarah Davis, and a [Seal. |
William Brattle, and a [Seal. ]
Catherine Brattle, and a [Seal. ]
. . Mr. Jeremiah Miller and Mrs. Mary Miller, Mr. Samuel Davis and Mrs. Sarah Davis, personally appeared in New London this second day of December, A. D .. 1730, and acknowledged the instrument in ye two fore- going pages to be their voluntary act and deed.
" Before me,
. SAMUEL LYNDE, Assistant. " MIDDLESEX, July 1, 1731.
" William Brattle and Catherine Brattle personally appeared before me, the subscriber, and acknowledged the instrument in ye two fore- going pages to be their voluntary act and deed.
"Coram, JONATILAN REMINGTON, Justice Peace.
" The foregoing is a true copy of ye original deed, received, May 9, 1732.
· Examined by "JOHN CHANDLER, Jr, Reg'r. " WORCESTER, SS. :
" The foregoing is a true copy of record, recorded in the Registry of Deeds, book in1, page 58.
"Attest, ALEX HI. WILDER, Reg'r."*
At the proprietors' meeting, held, November 30, 1731, there was a vote showing that Mr. Jonas Houghton was allowed £8 48. 2d., for services in procuring the foregoing deed and the expense for recording the same.
It was then voted that the meeting-house shall be fifty feet in length, by forty in width, and twenty-two feet between the sills and plates.
Also, that the finish of the said house be according to the
* It is shown by the date of the foregoing deed that it was made about four months before the county of Worcester was incorporated, that this tract of land was then a part of the county of Suffolk. in Massachusetts. Also, that Mr. Houghton, one of the proprietors, was from Lancaster, and that Mr. Learned wasfrom Oxford, which also shows that several of the proprietors came from other places besides Medfield.
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articles drawn to finish the meeting-house at Hassanamisco, (now Gratton).
Voted, to have the house built, covered and inclosed in the space of one year from this time, and finished in the space of two years, according to the above vote.
And that three men be a committee to manage the affairs of building the said honse ; and by vote John Dwight, Jonas Houghton, and Joseph Plimpton, were chosen to be the com- mittee for carrying on the said work of building the meeting- house.
At the same time, the proprietors made a grant of £525 towards the expense of the house, which was the total of their receipts thus far for sales of land. Twenty pounds was added afterwards for finishing the meeting-house.
It was dedicated to the worship of God on the 19th of Sep- tember, 1733, more than four years before the town was incor- porated. The Rev. Mr. Baxter of Medfield, preached the dedication sermon, from Isaiah LXIII, 5 :
"I looked and there was none to help; and I wondered there was none to uphold; therefore mine own arm brought salvation to me ; and my fury it upheld me."
It must not be inferred by the foregoing that publie wor- ship was not held here until their meeting-house was finished. It is said that even during the first year of settlements, James Denison, from the south-east section ; Joseph Smith, from the north-west part, Henry and Daniel Fiske, from Fiske Hill, with several others from different parts of the town,-soon formed an acquaintance and met at their cabins by turns, and held religious worship every Sabbath.
After their meeting-house was finished they took measures to procure a pastor. There is an article in the warrant for a proprietors' meeting, held on June 24, 1734, for that object.
In their action they voted fifteen shillings for each proprie-
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tor's lot, the minister excepted, to support preaching. The Rev. Mr. Cowell was their first preacher. In November fol- lowing, forty shillings each lot was assessed to support preach- ing the ensuing year, which amounted to ninety-five pounds, ten shillings. The next year they raised for this object, £103 11s. 6d.
The first Monday in March, 1736, was, by vote of the pro- prietors, set apart for prayer and fasting, to seek direction for the choice of a minister to settle among them. The pastors of four neighboring churches were invited to assist on that occasion. The result was the unanimous choice of the Rev. Caleb Rice to become their pastor.
The calling and settling of a minister, in form and custom, has materially changed since the period of these early fathers. In many respects it would, no doubt, have been better for society had the early mode continued.
Mr. Rice was ordained to the work of the ministry on Wed- nesday, the 29th of September, 1736, at which time a church was organized, consisting of fourteen male members, viz. :
Rev. Caleb Rice, Ebenezer Stearns, Jonathan Perry,
Henry Fiske, Joseph Allen,
Jonathan Fosket,
Ezekiel Upham, George Watkins, Moses Allen,
Joseph Baker,
Solomon Rood,
Daniel Thurston.
Joseph Cheney.
Daniel Fiske,
The office of deacon was conferred on Daniel Fiske and Ebenezer Stearns; Moses Allen was appointed to set the Psalms in the congregation upon Sabbath days.
" There is reason to think that church music was conducted by the early fathers and mothers with more spirit and less understanding than at the present time. The chorister who was always appointed to that office by the vote of the church, having set the Psalm, any of the con- gregation capable of singing were accustomed to join in that service, sitting promiscuously in the assembly. They first adopted the practice of sitting by themselves in 1768. A petition was brought into town meet-
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ing that year, signed by sundry of the inhabitants, requesting that they may have the liberty of taking their seats in the front gallery of the meeting-house, or wherever the town may think proper, in order to carry on the singing with greater regularity, decency, and good order. The town granted this liberty till the next May meeting, then about two months' time, and then voted to extend the privilege during the town's pleasure. Soon after they voted three pounds, lawful money, to aid in providing a singing-school, to be under the direction of the selectmen. The new method of singing by rule, and especially the introduction of new tunes, ereated no small stir in the congregation, and the church appointed a committee of three to arrange th' unhappy differences be- tween the singers and the people, and propose some method of accom- modation. The report was read from the desk on the Sabbath, and, having been preserved, is as follows: It sets forth three grievances on the part of the singers. They complain-first, that they were not prop- erly encouraged, so many being opposed to singing by rule, and some people leaving the meeting-house ; second, their persons and characters being injuriously treated ; third, their not having liberty to sing once a day without reading line by line. With a view to obviate these diffi- culties, and restore peace between the singers and the congregation. the committee gave the following advice : In respect to the first complaint they advised the disaffected among the people to read the preface to Mr. Walter's Singing-Book, and consider whether or not it is even pos- sible that a congregation should join together in singing, and carry it on in order, no one knowing any rule, and so none obeying any. Res- pecting the second, they recommend a solemn regard to that golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them. Touching the third complaint, after conceding to both parties the right of private judgment, the committee add. for the consolation of the singers. noth- ing is more common than opposition and discouragement in a good work. The report concludes with some sensible remarks to the choir, a general exhortation to seek after the things which make peace, whereby one may edify another, and a proposal that Psalms be sung once on the Sabbath day at concluding of Divine service, by reading one verse or half stave once, for the space of four months next."
" The old way of conducting church music probably went out of use at the expiration of these four months. The mimerous votes from time to time after this for raising money for instruction in singing, give evi- dence of an improved taste that had been cultivated under the new sys- tem ; and that this part of divine service became better understood and more highly appreciated."
The pecuniary support which Mr. Rice received from his people was liberal for the time, or indeed for any other time,
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considering the value of articles of living, which shows that the founders of this town understood trne wisdom, and like circumstances have not been overlooked or met grudgingly by their descendants.
In addition to the several allotments of land laid ont and reserved for their minister, according to the conditions of the grant, amounting to one fiftieth part of the township to be his and his heirs and assigns, they voted as follows : £200, in bills of credit for settlement and encouragement, to be paid him, viz. : £100, by the 1st day of May, 1737; and £100 by the first day of May, 1738. Also £110 in bills of credit annually for his salary, at the value of twenty-five shillings an ounce in silver money. And at the expiration of three years after the said Mr. Rice's ordination, to add ten pounds to his salary, so as to make it £120, according to the aforesaid value of money, annually.
In Mr. Rice's answer to this call, referring to the proposed settlement and salary, he says :
" I esteem it to be handsome and generous, and accordingly do now accept it as such; yet not being so thoroughly acquainted with the charge and expenses of living, if, in process of time, my circumstances should require and call for more, I should depend and rely upon it, that as I give myself wholly to the work of the ministry, so I should receive a decent and handsome support."
To which the people readily assented. In conclusion, he added a suggestion regarding his supply of fire-wood, which was thought reasonable ; and they voted him forty cords per year, and twelve dollars for its delivery. Finding this in- sufficient, the supply was first increased five cords, and, finally, fifty cords was granted, and delivered at Mr. Rice's door, of suitable length for use .*
* If silver is taken at a dollar an ounce, it will be found that the support granted to the first minister of Sturbridge was a settlement of $160-a salary of ninety-six dollars, and fifty cords of wood annually, besides a farm of about 500 acres of land. The money appears small compared with present values.
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STURBRIDGE.
It is known by tradition that the founders of Sturbridge were a religious and church-going people. It is reported that this people for many years-man, woman, and child-when in health, regardless of the weather or distance from the place of worship, were constant in attendance.
For example, those of the south-eastern part, many lived six and seven miles from the meeting-house, which was no obstacle in the way of attendance, although they might have to travel that distance on foot, fording the Quinebang, cross- ing perhaps upon a fallen tree, or in winter on the ice.
When the snows were deep the inhabitants of a section would assemble at an appointed place, when the men would go forward, tracking the way, and the women and children follow.
Such was their custom before the Revolutionary period. Although the town was thinly settled, yet, as cach Sabbath came, their minister found the meeting-house always filled with ready and interested listeners after the truths delivered.
The meeting-house at first had no pews, but was provided with temporary seats, each worshipper being at liberty to sit or stand wherever it might be found convenient.
In October, 1741, the following article was inserted in the warrant for a meeting to be held the 14th of that month :
"To see whether the town will let out the room in the meeting-house under the galleries, and come into some measures to do and accomplish the same."
The design of this article was to lay out a part of the meeting-house floor for pews. This was agreed upon, and it was voted that the pews be assigned to the several families in town, each to build his own pew, as was the custom of that time. The assigning of pews or lots was in that day generally
But, it must be considered that every artiele for the support of a family was in propor- tion. Corn, twelve and a half eents per bushel; labor, fourteen cents per day. This is a sample of values of that day, which rendered the salary abundant.
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termed dignifying, and a committee was selected, not nnfre- quently from neighboring towns. But in this case the com- mittee who was intrusted with this delicate and responsible duty, were Daniel Fiske, Moses Marcy, and Isaac Newell. The instructions from the town were,
" To have due regard to age; to the first beginning in town; to their bearing charges in town, and to their usefulness; and to dispose of the room for pews to such persons as they shall see fit."
This was a duty imposed for deciding upon the relative merit of the principal heads of families in the town, which, being in accordance with a prevailing custom of the colonial period, was not deemed offensive or improper ; but to suggest such an idea in these times of republican equality, nothing could be regarded as more out of place.
This committee made their report to the March meeting following, as here given :
" We, the said committee, met on the 9th day of February, 1742, and did agree, that according to the instructions given us by the town, the following persons ought to have the several pew spots, eighteen in num- ber, and the liberty of pitching in the following order, viz. :
" 1st choice to Moses Marcy
10th choice to David Morse
2d Henry Fiske 11tlı Moses Allen 3d Isaac Newell 12tlı 66 Joseph Allen
4tlı James Denison 13th Joseph Smith
5tlı Rowland Taylor 14th 66 Hinsdale Clark
6tlı Daniel Fiske
15th Ezekiel Upham
16th John Harding
17th Caleb Harding
18th .. Edward Foster."
This report was accepted, and ordered to be recorded in the town's book. This transaction exhibits the estimate of the standing, relatively, of eighteen of those supposed to be first in point of character and usefulness in the town.
These eighteen lots for pews would be very differently 6A
7th Joseph Baker
8th .. Joseph Cheney
9th David Shumway
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valued in point of location, compared with the center or body pews at this time, they being the wall seats; chairs in the central part of the house would now be regarded more favor- ably than pews under the galleries.
The Rev. Mr. Rice closed both his life and ministry on the Sabbath day, September 2, 1759, in his forty-seventh year. He was a native of Hingham, and a graduate of Harvard university. He was the pastor of this church twenty-three years.
The Rev. Peter Whitney, author of the "History of the County of Worcester," gives the following sketch of his char- acter.
" He was a pastor after God's heart ; sound in faith ; a good preacher ; endowed with excellent ministerial gifts, and very exemplary in life, as well as social and benevolent in his deportment." " He lived in great harmony with his people in the fore part of his ministry: but about the year 1747, a number of the brethren and inhabitants, conceiving they had received new light, different from what was common among their neighbors, separated from him, which rendered his work more ardnous and his life uncomfortable. From Separatists they became Anabap- tists :* but it pleased the Great Head of the Church to remove Mr. Rice from his labors by death, whose praise was then through all the churches, and his memory is still dear to many."t
He was married, Jannary 8, 1737, soon after his settlement. to Priscilla Payson, of Woodstock, then a town of Massachu- setts.
There was a marked spirit of honorable dealing by the pioneer people of Sturbridge with their first minister. His salary was advanced five times to make the same accord with the advance of articles required for family support. The rul-
* This was the origin of the Baptist church in Sturbridge. The term " New Lights " did not originate in Sturbridge; it was the result of a change from a more formal state of the New England church to a more ardent and active spiritual state-a change from the church and state policy, to the new ground that none could properly be received into the church, except upon their profession of faith and spiritual change of heart. Jonathan Edwards was of this new school. It arose at the time of Whitfield's advent.
+ This was written thirty-four years alter his death,
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ing price of agricultural products was their guide in establish- ing the amount of salary due in accordance with the spirit of the contract entered into for his settlement.
The number uniting with the church during his ministry, including the fourteen with which it was organized, was 114. Fifteen of these, near the close of his ministry, separated therefrom, and established what has since been known as the " Baptist Church of Sturbridge."
At first, those who withdrew received the name of " Sepa- ratists ;" and here, as in many other of the old societies of that day, then styled the Standing Order, they were stigmatized by the epithet, as before given, " New Lights."
In this separation many unhappy results followed, as has been related in the historical sketch of the Baptist society then formed. The oppressive measures that followed those who chose to withdraw was a consequence of legislative fa- voritism in behalf of one religious denomination to the detri- ment of all other religious bodies.
This Baptist society, for a time, was not a corporate body ; and thus, by the provisions of the law designed to protect dis- senting societies by inserting the word "incorporated," this society could not avail itself of the intent of the provision for protection against taxation for the support of the old society, or standing order, and, according to the spirit of the day, it was regarded with the voters of the town as a matter of dol- lars and cents (the old society being the town's religious so- cicty, and not a parish, as now regarded), and not of con- science. Thus the assessors distrained the property of all delinquent tax-payers for the part imposed for the support of the town's religious society, as well as that for schools, roads, or other contingent expenses.
Nothing could remedy such an evil but the entire separa- tion, by legislation, of religious affairs from political; and such legislation required time to cultivate a proper and ra-
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tional religious sentiment with the public at large. This, in due time, was accomplished, and all religious societies are now placed in a state of equality of rights.
The former system of favoritism for one religions society, to the detriment and oppression of others, was but a relic of the barbarism of a past age. With the prevailing sentiment of the present time, it is difficult to realize that the acts of persecution and oppression, known to have been quite gen- eral, could possibly have been perpetrated in a New England community, but, unfortunately, it is but a part of the history of the past which truth must admit.
There was an article inserted in the warrant for the town meeting, May 22, 1749, touching the matter relating to those who had withdrawn from the first society, as follows :
" To see whether the town will pass a vote to exempt those people in this town that have separated themselves from the public worship of God on the Lord's day, at our meeting house, from paying for the sup- port of Mr. Rice."
The legislative act of 1692, then in force, required of every qualified voter that he must pay his tax for the support of an able, learned, orthodox minister, of good conversation; a part of which act is as follows :
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