USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > West Brookfield > Historical discourse delivered at West Brookfield, Mass., on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the First Church in Brookfield, October 16, 1867 > Part 3
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It is unnecessary to say that the cause of religion languished here; the heart of this people " waxed gross :" their cars grew " dull of hearing ;" and the Lord's chosen became " an aston- ishment and a hissing " in the community, -until, at length, the state of things became so intolerable that the church, failing to secure the concurrence of the pastor in the calling of a Mutual Council, was obliged to resort to the extraordinary
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measure of an Ex-parte Council, by whose advice Mr. Chase was dismissed October 28, 1843, after a dreary pastorate of twenty-one and a half tempestuous months.
Although since those unpropitious years, God, in great mercy, has revisited his people, and sent upon them repeat- edly the refreshing showers of his gracc, yet, of the deplor- able evils entailed upon the church by the hot haste and rash measures of that stormy period, some unwelcome traces are visible to this day, after the lapse of a quarter of a century.
But while we remember with unfeigned grief, the sore misfortunes which then befell the church, it affords us great gratification, and is an occasion of devout thankfulness to God. that previous to that time, through the long succession of one hundred and twenty-five years, the church had enjoyed almost an unbroken peace. To an unusual degree, this church and community had borne the character of a united, happy, and prosperous people. Dr. Phelps, alluding to the time when he entered upon his ministry here, says :- " The church and par- ish had long been distinguished for the peace, quict, and harmo- ny which had existed among themselves. It was often said to me, by ministers and others, that they regarded West Brook- field as the best congregation in the country. They were pro- verbially a ministerial people ; and I found them so during the whole of my residence among them." Let us hope that such is to be our record in the years and generations to come.
For a short time after Mr. Chase's dismission, he minis- tered to a portion of the church and congregation who wor- shiped in what was called Mr. Lamson's Hall. But, in less than a year, we find the church again united in harmonions action with reference to the settlement of another minister.
As regards the personal history of Mr. Chase, I have ut-
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terly failed to obtain any satisfactory information. Whence he came, where he was educated, whither he went, and whether or not he now survives, has not been definitely ascertained. He is believed. however, still to be living with his family at Plattsburgh, New York.
The ninth pastor was Rev. Leonard S. Parker. He was born December 6, 1-12, at Dunbarton. New Hampshire; fitted for college at the Boston Latin School, and entered Dartmouth College in 1832; but. on account of ill health. left before the time of graduation. In both of these institutions. as a scholar he ranked first in his class. He studied four years at Oberlin Collegiate Institute: was approbated to preach by the Lorain County Association, Ohio, in IST. and was ordained as an Evangelist at Fitchville. Ohio. De- cember 15, of the same year. He was installed first pastor of the Congregational Church in Mansfield, Ohio. September 9. 1-3%, where he continued a little more than two years. December 25, 1940, he was installed pastor of High Street Church, Providence, Rhode Island and was dismissed by reason of failure of health. October 9. 1.43. He was in- stalled pastor of this church December 19. 1-14. The public exercises were as follows :-
Invocation and reading of the Scriptures by Key. ( now Dr. ) Nahum Gale of the East Congregational Church, Ware : sermon by Res. Thomas Smell, D. D. of North Brookfield : installing prayer by Res. John Fiske. D. D. of New Brain- true; charge to the prostor by Res. D. R. Austin of Sturbridge : right hand of fellowship by Res. Lyman Whiting of Brook- field South Parish: address to the people by Rios. Lesi L'arland of Spencer: and concluding prayer by Res. .. mes Kimball of Oilhan
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Mr. Parker's ministry here was begun under the most trying and discouraging circumstances. He found both the church and the society rent in twain on the subject of slavery, and the whole community in a pitiable state of agitation. Among his first acts as pastor was the in- troduction of a series of resolutions upon slavery, condemn- ing in the strongest terms that system of oppression as "a flagrant sin in the sight of God, and an enormous injury to man." These resolutions were adopted by the church. January 16, 1845.
But the fires of passion could not in a moment be stayed. It was a time of " strong delusion " in this whole region of country. Under the cloak of zeal against the system of slav- ery, a fierce attack was made in many quarters upon the sa- cred institutions of religion. Conventions professedly called in the interests of anti-slavery, partook largely of the char- acter of anti-Christian conventions. The Bible was sub- jected to an unfair criticism ; the sanctity of the Sabbath called in question ; the Church grossly slandered. and the Ministry maligned.
It was in this, as in too many churches of the Common- wealth, a time of great spiritual dearth. From July 7. 1539. to November 1, 1846, a period of more than seven years, in- cluding the last two years of the ministry of Mr. Horton, the whole of the ministry of Mr. Chase, and nearly the first two years of the ministry of Mr. Parker, there was not one additi'm to the church by profession. No other such period can be shown in our entire history ; no time half so dark, distressing and mournful for the cause of Christ and the prosperity of Zion. But, thanks to Sovereign Grace under the gentle and discreet administration of Mr. Parker rancor of feeling was
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greatly subdued, and happier days began to break upon this sadly divided and sorely afflicted people.
In the latter part of 1546. four persons made a profession of their faith, and joined the church. In 1845 there came a refreshing which must have been truly delightful after the barrenness of the preceding years, and nineteen were gathered into the church as the fruit. The total accession to the church. during Mr. Parker's pastorate, was SIXTY-EIGHT, of whom twenty-seven were admitted on profession. He was dismissed April 7. 1551. having held the pastoral office a little more than six years.
He was installed pastor of the Winter Street church, Hav- erhill, June 1. 1-53 ; and was dismissed March 26. 1560. The following year, February 20, he was installed over the First Church in Derry. New Hampshire, where he yet re- mains.
The publications of Mr. Parker, aside from stated corres- pondence for the weekly religions press. are : " Thoughts on Temperance." Providence. 1511: " A Farewell Sermon." Providence. 11: " A Plea for Missions." West Brookfield. Isto : " A Good Name "- two Discourses addressed to the Young Men of West Brookfield, 11: and . A Sermon on the day of the Annual State Fast," Derry, 1865.
The church remained without a pastor for about a year and a half. when the tenth pastor. Rev. Swift Byington, she- corded to the office. He was ordained and installed here November 1, 1552. The council was composed of messengers from the churches in New Braintree, North Brookfield, Brook- field, Warren, Ware Village, Spencer, Oakham, Old South Church, Reading, and Pine Street Church. Boston : also Rev. Meses, Gilbert and Grannis of West Brookfield.
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The ordination services were as follows :- Invocation and reading of the Scriptures by Rev. T. G. Colton of Ware Village ; prayer by Rev. John Fiske, D. D. of New Braintree : sermon by Rev. (now Dr.) Henry M. Dexter of Boston ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Levi Packard of Spencer: charge to the pastor by Rev. Lyman Whiting of Reading ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. C. Cushing, colleague pastor North Brookfield ; address to the people by Rev. Thomas Snell, D. D. of North Brookfield ; and concluding prayer by Rev. James Kimball of Oakham.
Mr. Byington was born in Bristol, Connecticut, February 4, 1824 ; studied at East Hartford, Connecticut, Philadelphia and Providence, Pennsylvania, as a boy ; fitted for college with Rev. Merrill Richardson, now of Woreester; and was graduated at Yale College in 1847. His Theological studies were pursued at New Haven and Andover ; and he received his license to preach at East Haddam, Connecticut, in 1549. Although his whole ministry here was, he says, " an effort not to reap, but to sow deeply good seed," yet it pleased the Lord of the harvest to permit him to see at least some of the fruits of his own faithful labors. At two different seasons, particularly, there were cheering indications of the Spirit's presence and power, when God crowned his efforts with sne- cess, and gave him souls for his hire. In 1854 fifteen, and in 1858,-the last year of his ministry,-seventeen, were added to the church on profession of faith ; and, during the six years in which he ministered to this people, the church re- ceived an aggregate of SEVENTY members, forty-six of whom united by profession. At his own request, the pastoral relation was dissolved November 1, 1858. After leaving this place, he preached in North ambridge six months,
three years in North Woburn, and served one year as acting colleague pastor with Dr. Blagden, of the Old South Church, Boston. In 1864. . July 6. he was installed pastor of the Congregational Church in Stoneham, where he still continues to labor.
Within eight months from the disinission of Mr. By- ington, the eleventh pastor. Rev. Christopher M. Cordley. was settled. He was born in Oxford, England, January 2. 1521; removed at an early age to Nottingham, and. when about twelve years old. emigrated with his parents to this country, while employed as clerk of a store in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he prepared himself. with little help from others, for Western Reserve College, Hudson. Ohio, at which institution he was graduated in 1844 with the high- est honors of his class. Having devoted the next three years to the study of theology at New Haven and An- dover, he spent the winter of 1547 and 1848 in preaching at Montreal, Canada. In August 1- 19 he was ordained in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, and was called from the pas- torate of that church to West Randolph, Massachusetts, where he was installed in March, 1552, and whence he was dismissed in November, 1555. He was installed pastor of this church June 25, 1559.
The services of the installation were as follows : Invoca- tion and reading of the Scriptures by Key. William. Il. Beecher of North Brookfield, (Union Church) : prayer by Rev. A. E. P. Perkins of Ware : sermon by Key. R. S. Stores, D. D. of Braintree; installing prayer by Res. Martin Tupper of Hardwick: charge to the pastor by Res. Joseph Vaill, D. D. of Palmer: right hand of follow- ship by Roy. C. Cushing of North Brookfield: address to
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the people by Rev. Swift Byington, former pastor ; con- cluding prayer by Rev. S. S. Smith of Warren.
The ministry of Mr. Cordley here was brief. and not altogether happy. He retired from the pastoral office, June 23, 1862, three years, wanting five days, from the day of his installation, during which time there were THIRTY-EIGHT accessions to the church, of whom eight only were admitted upon profession. But, during his short pastorate, Mr. Cordley rendered the church an exceed- ingly important service. By untiring patience and untold labor, such as none but a man of his energy would ever have consented to endure, and with characteristic accuracy and ingenuity, he prepared and published a complete cat- alogue of the members of this church, with an alphabet- ical index, from the year 1758 to 1861, embracing the entire period concerning which we have anything that can be called records.
By the aid of this catalogue, we can easily find out the full name of almost every person who has united with this church, whether by profession or by letter, during the last hundred years ; when and whence each was received. and when and how dismissed, together with dates of marriages and deaths. Considering the meagreness of our early rec- ords, the work thus accomplished is a marvel. It is something which not one man in ten thousand would ever have undertaken, or, if they had undertaken. would ever have completed. It will long stand a witness of his per- severing industry. It has proved of essential service in the preparation of the present discourse : and it is not too much to say that by the production of that catalogue Mr. Cordley conferred upon the church a lasting benefit. for
which his name deserves to be had in perpetual remem- brance by successive generations.
From this place he went to Lawrence, Massachusetts, and was installed pastor of the Central Church in that city in October. 1502 ; where, after a protracted and painful illness, he died June 20, 1566, aged forty-five years. Mr. Cordley was a man of exceeding independence of mind. of inflexible firmness, and of great daring. By his breth- ren in the ministry he was highly esteemed as an able and faithful minister, an accomplished scholar, an earnest Christian, and a man of rare personal worth.
From a manuscript biographical sketch and obituary. prepared by Professor Park of Andover, soon after Mr. Cordley's decease, and to which I am indebted for most of the facts already presented in relation to his personal history, I take the following extract having reference to the last siekness of our departed brother :- " In the prog- ress of his disease, his trust in his Redeemer remained unfaltering, and he moved forward like a brave soldier with the assurance that the last enemy that shall be de- stroved is death. His mind was often wandering, but the name of Jesus would call it back to its old paths. In his delirium be would be sometimes agitated, but the voice of prayer would soothe him into rest ; and when the halls of This reason seemed to be left vacant, one of the sweet songs of Zion would call his reason back to its deserted home."
The present pastor was graduated at Yale College in 10: studied theology two years at Union Seminary. New York, and a third year at Andover, where he was graduated in loss. On the 12th, of April of that year .- four months pressions to graduation, -he commenced to
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preach in this pulpit, and from that time, for nearly a year and a half, continued to act as stated supply till the day of his ordination as pastor October 4, 1864, a call having been extended the previous March. The council was or- ganized by the choice of Rev. C. Cushing, moderator, and Rev. J. Coit, scribe. The public services of ordination were as follows :- Invocation by Rev. John H. Gurney of New Braintree ; reading of the Scriptures by Rev. E. L. Jaggar of Warren ; prayer by Rev. F. N. Peloubet of Oakham ; sermon by Rev. E. C. Jones of Southington, Connecticut; ordaining prayer by Rev. L. S. Parker of Derry, New Hampshire ; charge to the pastor by Rev. Luther Keene of North Brookfield; right hand of fellow- ship by Rev. Joshua Coit of Brookfield; address to the people by Rev. Swift Byington of Stoneham; and con- cluding prayer by Rev. Francis Horton of Barrington. Rhode Island.
These last years have been crowned with God's good- ness in a peculiar manner, and have been freighted with most precious blessings to the church. As already intima- ted, for nearly thirty years previous to 1864, the member- ship of the church steadily diminished. Although within that time, there were, as we have seen, several happy sea- sons of spiritual quickening, yet those revivals were not of sufficient extent and power to repair the ordinary yearly waste from removals and deaths; so that on January 1. 1864, the church had become reduced to two hundred and twenty-nine members. By the decease and dismission of several, and by the erasure of some twenty-five names of persons who had been many years absent and unreported. this number was still further reduced to me Homai ar
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ninety-nr. which was the membership of the church when the present pastor was ordained.
In the winter of 1-63 and 1964 God kindly poured out His spirit in gentle and delightful showers, which con- tinned to be distilled upon us through the succeeding spring, and into the summer, so that on the first Sabbath in November 1864. at the first cominnnion after his ordi- nation, and the first time he ever officiated at the Lord's table. the pastor had the undeserved privilege of welcom- ing funty-fire persons .- mostly young .- to the sacra- mental cup and loaf, and the happy fellowship of believers. As the fruit of that revival. or of the interest awakened and continued by it, eighteen more were subsequently re- ceived, making in all forty-three. But the revival of the present year is especially worthy of record. A short time previous to the Week of Prayer, -the first week in .Jan- uary-there were some signs of increasing fervor and ex- pectaney on the part of the church. The Week of Prayer was observed by holding meetings in rotation in the several districts of the town, at each of which a number of breth- ren from the other districts, with the pastor, were present. By these meetings, and the accompanying personal efforts. the religious interest was quite sensibly increased, and the attention of a few impenitent persons arrested. This in- terest continued very gradually to deopen and extend with most happy results, nutil the middle of March, when the revival was greatly promoted by a Protracted Meeting commencing on Wednesday, March 13, and continuing three days, during which the pastor received efficient co-
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operation and aid from his brethren in the ministry from neighboring towns.
This meeting was followed, on the succeeding Saturday and Sunday, by the earnest and judicious labors of Rev. I. P. Langworthy of Chelsea; who also assisted the pastor on one subsequent Sabbath. By the signal blessing of God upon the direct, pungent preaching, upon the frequent prayer meetings, inquiry meetings, and extraordinary per- sonal efforts, of that memorable week, many became anxious for the salvation of their souls, and not a few found peace at the cross. From that time onward, for many gracious weeks, the spirit of God moved upon this people with a mighty energy. Great fear came on many, and among them some who had long rebelled against God. and had even denied the truths of revelation. Religion was the almost universal topic of conversation; and this whole community felt the pulse of a quickened life.
As the rich fruit of this work of grace sixty-three per- sons, of an average age of thirty-four years, have already connected themselves with the church by profession. Of these fifty-one were received on the first Sabbath in July- a day long to be remembered,-thirty-five are heads of families, nine of whom are above sixty years of age, and one is more than seventy years.
The whole number received into the church during the three years of the present pastorate is ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO, of whom one hundred and six were on pro- fession of faith. The membership of the church. at this time, is three hundred and tiro. The oldest surviving mem- ber is ninety-four years old, the youngest, twelve.
Respecting the whole number who have belonged to the
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church from its first existence of those who were received during the first forty years of our history, only forty-seven names have been saved from oblivion. Since the year 1755, there have been admitted one thousand two hundred and ninety-eight different persons, making a total cata- logue at the present time, of one thousand three hundred and forty-fire names. Of this number. so near as can be determined, not more than six hundred and fifty are living to-day. More than half have already passed on into eternity.
THE DEACONS OF THE CHURCH.
Deacon Henry Gilbert stands at the head of the list. He is supposed to have been a descendant of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, who was an English navigator, and half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh, born in Dartmouth in 1539, and some- times called the " father of western colonization." He was. undoubtedly, the first man who received the office of deacon in this church. By special vote passed December 14, 1721. he was privileged to occupy, in the then new meeting-house. " a que next to " ministry pue." He was probably among the pioneer settlers of Brookfield, and was evidently one of the foremost men of the place in his day : for we find him often associated with Hon. Jedediah Foster as a leader in the more important measures of Town and Church at that early period. He died August IT. 1710.
Beacon John Gilbert, son of Beacon Henry Gilbert. ap- pour's also to have held the office from the first year of the existence of the church. The second vote that appears upon the church records now extant, bearing date May 11. 1755. alors to him : when it was " Voted to send to assist in the
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ordination of Mr. Nathan Fiske. Mr. Jedediah Foster and Deacon Gilbert were chosen delegates." This is the first mention made of a deacon on our existing records. He con- tinued in the office for half a century, resigning October 14. 1767, one hundred years ago almost to a day. He died June 12, 1779, aged ninety. He was undoubtedly the man who occupied what is called " Gilbert's Fort."
Joshua Dodge, though called deacon, probably never held that office in this church. The earliest vote of the church that has come down to us, is dated May 12, 1755, and is in the words following :- " Voted that Joshua Dodge, a mein- ber of ye church of England, shall have ye privilege of occa- sional communion." Thirteen years later, in 1771, by special permission, he was also allowed "to act with ye church in y" choice of a minister," he having " promised that he would be at proportionable charges with the people." Ile died April 23, 1793, at the age of ninety-two.
Deacon Joseph Jennings is mentioned as early as 1721. On December 14 of that year the town voted that he " have a pue next to Deacon Henry Gilbert's."
Deaeon Comfort Barnes died January 17. 1745. aged forty- two years.
Deacon John Cutler. The date of his election to the office in this church cannot be determined, but his name appears. May 28, 1752, among the twenty-six male signers of the cos- enant at the organization of the Second Church of Christ in Brookfield, now the First Church in North Brookfield. In December 1753, he was chosen first deacon of that church."
* Dr. Snell's "Historical and Centennial Discourses," p. 2- 2. nl Appendix, (C).
He is supposed shortly afterwards to have removed from the town ; but when or where he died has not been ascertained.
Deacon Jedediah Foster, was born at Andover. Massachu- setts : was graduated at Harvard University in 1744. and shortly after settled in Brookfield. He was elected deacon October 15, 1759. The record of this date reads :- " At a church meeting Jedediah Foster. Esq .. was made choice of for a deacon. Suspended his answer till y' church consented to introduce Tate and Brady's Psalms upon trial : then gave it in the affirmative." Deacon Foster was not only the chief man of his time in matters of Church and Town, but also stood in the front rank of the men of the Commonwealth and Country. In 1751 he was appointed Major of forces raised for the defence of the country against the threatened invasion of the French. He was a member of the " Provincial Congress." and, when hostilities commenced with Great Britain, he was elevated to the office of Colonel. In 1755, he became a member of the Supreme Council, and afterward Judge of Probate and of the Supreme Court. In March, 1779, in the Convention at Cam- bridge, he was a member of the Committee chosen for the purpose of drafting a Constitution. Through his life, he enjoyed the confidence of the inhabitants of this Town and County, perhaps beyond any man who ever lived here, unless it be his own son, the Hon. Dwight Foster, who held succes- sively and with honor the offices of High Sheriff of Worcester County, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, Men- ber of Congress, and United States Senator. Yonder hill which bears his name is not more enduring than the fame and doods of him who lived upon it. He resigned his office a dracon December 12, 1776, and died three years later. De- tober 17, 1779, aged fifty-tive. Dr. Nathan Fiske, pastor of
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the Third Church in Brookfield (South Parish ), preached his funeral sermon, which was published. With great difficuhy one can now decipher upon the time-worn stone that marks his resting-place in the Old Burying Ground, the inscription : -
" The boast of Heraldry, the pomp of Power, " And all that Wisdom, all that Wealth e'er gave. " Await alike the inevitable hour ; " The Paths of Glory lead but to the Grave."
Deacon Thaddeus Cutler united with this church Novem- ber 1, 1761, and was elected deacon March 13, 1763. On September 20, 1767, he declined to continue longer in that office, when thanks for past services were voted him by the church. Scarcely more than three months after being relieved from his official duties, he was released from earth. He died January 2, 1768.
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