USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > West Springfield > Historical discourse delivered at West Springfield : December 2, 1824, the day of the annual thanksgiving > Part 5
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* He was graduated at Yale College in 1818.
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There is a small Baptist society in Feeding Hills, which was organized in 1811, of which the Reverend Joseph Shepard is pastor. There is also in Feeding Hills, a small Methodist society, which has been in existence, since about the year 1802, and which, for the most part, is statedly supplied with preaching.
The average annual number of deaths, in the two parishes, for a few of the last years, has been about 15. The population has, of late, been rapidly increasing.
N.
The subject of building a new meeting house began to be considered as early as 1769 ; and in January of that year, the parish appointed a committee to agree, in respect to its location. From that time, till the close of the century, the subject was agitated at short intervals, and several committees from abroad were chosen, to select the spot on which the house should stand ; but no measures, that could be adopted, seemed likely to create unanimity in the parish. In the year 1799, Mr. John Ashley, a respectable inhabitant of the parish, offered thirteen hundred pounds, as a fund for the support of the ministry, on condition that the parish would erect a spacious and elegant meeting house, on a spot designated by him, about half a mile from the place where the old meeting house stood. On the 6th of January 1800, they voted their thankful accept- ance of the donation, and thus witnessed the termination of a long and violent contest, which had threatened the dissolution of the society.
The raising of the house was completed, on the third day after it was begun. Its dimensions are as follows :- Length of the body of the house, 65 feet ; breadth 51 feet ; height of the posts, which support the galleries, 29 feet ; height of the roof, 46 1-8 feet ; height of the steeple, 125 feet ; and the porch, 15 feet square. The principal architect was Timothy Billings of Deerfield.
The Reverend Doctor Lathrop preached at its dedication, from Haggai ii. 9 ; and the Reverend Mr. Howard of Springfield offered the dedicatory prayer. The sermon was afterwards printed.
Mr. Ashley, who established the parish fund, died July 17, 1824, at the age of 85 years.
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0.
September 4, 1785, the church, after having sometime deliberated, and several times conferred on the following articles, passed them unanimously in a full meeting.
1. That all baptized persons are to be considered as members of the christian church in general, till by words, or conduct, they exclude themselves from it, and that they ouglit to be exhorted, admonished and reproved, as occasion may require, by those christians, among whom they dwell.
2. That all, who liave been baptized in infancy, ought, as soon as they arrive to proper age, seriously and solemnly to renew their baptismal covenant, subscribe with their hands to the Lord, and put themselves under the immediate watch of some particular church.
3. That they, who are qualified for such solemn renewal of their covenant, are also qualified for complete communion in all gospel ordinances.
4. That still, a church ought to treat scrupulous persons with great tenderness ; and if slie judges them qualified for all the privileges, she ought not to exclude them from all, merely because they doubt their meetness for one.
5. That all such as explicitly enter into covenant, are to be considered as alike under the watch, and subject to the discipline of the church, whether they come to full communion, or not.
6. That they, who have made, or may hereafter make a publick profession of religion in this church, shall be considered as complete members of the church, and as having a right to come to the Lord's table, when they see their way open to it, they first signifying this their intention to the pastor, and by him to the church.
P.
The parish, originally, voted Doctor Lathrop 70 pounds lawful money, per annum, as a salary, and 200 pounds, as a settlement, beside lis fire wood, and the use of the parsonage. During the revolutionary war, there was, for several years, a considerable deficiency in his salary, on account of the depreciation of paper currency ; but he generously remitted the whole sum found in
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arrear, with only this precaution, that, in future, his salary should be kept good. The parish, afterwards, in acknowledgment of his generosity, built him a barn.
The following clergymen composed the council at his ordination :- Reverend Mr. Williams of Long Meadow, Reverend Mr. Ballantine of Westfield, Reverend Mr. Breck of Springfield, Reverend Mr. Merrick of Wilbraham, Reverend Mr. Gay of Suffield, Reverend Mr. Raynolds of Enfield, Reverend Mr. M'Kinstry of Chickopec, and Reverend Mr. Hopkins of Hadley.
The Reverend Mr. White of Bolton, Connecticut, was requested to attend and to preach the sermon, but he having declined, it was preached by the Reverend Mr. Breck, from 1 Timothy iv. 6; and on a subsequent occasion, was given to the publick .*
Doctor Lathrop was born at Norwich, (Newent society, now Lisbon) Connecticut, October 20, 1731, O. S. He was the son of Solomon and Martha Lathrop, and a descendant, of the fifth generation, from the Reverend John Lathrop, who came from England in 1634, and settled in the ministry at Barnstable, Massachusetts. His father died, when he was less than two years old. In consequence of the subsequent marriage of his mother, he removed to Bolton, when he was eight years of age, where he lived, till he became a member of college. Having gone through with his preparatory course under the instruction of the Reverend Mr. White, he joined Yale College in 1750, being then in his nineteenth year. He seems to have been the subject of early religious impressions, but never made a profession of religion till 1754, the last year of his residence at College. Soon after he was graduated, he came to Springfield, as an instructor of a grammar school, and pursued his theological studies, under the direction of the Reverend Mr. Breck. In May 1759, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Dwight, youngest daughter of Capt. Seth Dwight of Hatfield. They had six children, three of whom survive their parents. Mrs. Lathrop died, a few months after her husband, in consequence of the fracture of a bone occasioned by a fall upon the ice.
* At the ordination of the Reverend David Parsons of Amherst.
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Doctor Lathrop during his ministry, wrote about 5000 sermons ; and a considerable number, after liis sight had become so imperfect, that he was unable to read. The last sermon, which he wrote, is dated May 3, 1818, and is from Phillipians ii. 12, 13, 14. The last sermon, which he ever preached, was an extemporaneous one at a communion lecture, April 29, 1819. The last publick service, which he performed, was a funeral prayer, about two months before his death in a case of uncommon affliction .* 'The last time he ever attended publick worship, was October 22, 1820. Ile died of a comatose affection, which had recurred at intervals, for several of the last years of his life.
Doctor Lathrop received many tokens of publick respect and confidence. In 1791, he was honoured with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Yale College, and in 1811, from the University at Cambridge. In 1792, he was elected a fellow of the American Academy of arts and sciences. In 1793, he was chosen professor of divinity in Yale College. He assisted about twenty young gentlemen in their preparation for the ministry, among whom was the late distinguished and lamented President Appleton.t
The following is a complete list of Doctor Lathrop's publications.į 1. Seven volumes (octavo) of sermons, the last volume containing a memoir of his life, written by himself. These volumes were published in the years 1793, 1796, 1801, 1806, 1807, 1812 and 1821. Of the first three volumes, there was a second edition in 1809 and 10. The last volume was published after his death. The sixth volume consists of occasional sermons, most of which had been before published in pamphlets.
2. A letter from the elders in the province of the Massachusetts bay, who assisted in the ordination of the Reverend Mr. John Hubbard of Meriden, signed by the Reverend Messrs. Robert Breck, John Ballantine and Joseph Lathrop. 1770.
* At the funeral of Mr. John Bagg, who was burnt to death in a distillery.
+ For a more particular account of Doctor Lathrop's life, see his memoir written by himself.
# Those only of his miscellaneous sermons are particularly mentioned in this list, which are not included in any of the volumes.
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3. Sprinkling, a scriptural mode of Baptism, &c .; in several discourses. Several editions. 1773.
4. A Discourse delivered at the funeral of Reverend Robert Breck. 1784.
5. A miscellaneous collection of original pieces, political, moral and entertaining, first published in the Massachusetts Gazette at Springfield. Duodecimo. 1786.
6. A Thanksgiving Sermon. 1786.
7. Two discourses, entitled Christ's warning to the churches. 12 editions. 1789.
8. The furtherance of the gospel illustrated : A sermon preached at the dismission of Reverend Joseph Willard from his pastoral relation at Wilbraham. 1794.
9. The happiness of a free government and the means of preser- ving it : A sermon preached in commemoration of American Independence. 2 editions. 1794.
10. National Happiness illustrated : A Thanksgiving sermon. 1795.
11. A sermon preached at the funeral of Reverend Ebenezer Gay, D. D. of Suffield. 1796.
12. A sermon preached at the interment of Mrs. Mary Gay, relict of Reverend Doctor Gay. 1796.
13. A sermon preached at Rutland, Vermont, at the ordination of Reverend Heman Ball. 1797.
14. A sermon preached at the dedication of Westfield Academy. 1800.
15. The works of God in relation to the Church in general, and our own land in particular, especially in the last century : A century sermon. 1801.
16. Ministers set for the defence of the gospel, and how they ought to defend it : A sermon preached at the ordination of Reverend Stephen Bemis, at Harvard. 1801.
17. A sermon delivered at the interment of Reverend Noah Atwater of Westfield. 1802.
18. A sermon preached before the Hampshire Missionary Society, 1802.
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19. Two sermons on the Christian Sabbath. 2 editions. 1803.
20. Constancy and uniformity of the Divine government : A fast sermon. 1803.
21. A sermon preached at Western, at the ordination of Reverend Sylvester Burt. 1806.
22. A sermon preached at Putney, Vermont, at the ordination of Reverend Elisha D. Andrews. 1807.
23. Damnable heresies defined and described : A sermon preached at the ordination of Reverend Thaddeus Osgood, as an evange- list. 3 editions. 1808.
24. Charge given to Reverend Samuel Osgood, Springfield. 1809.
25. An address of the associated ministers of the southern district of the county of Hampshire. 1810.
26. A sermon preached at Windham, Connecticut, at the ordination of Reverend Jesse Fisher. 1811.
27. The angel preaching the everlasting gospel. A sermon preach- ed at the institution of asociety for the encouragement of foreign missions. 1812.
28. Christ's rebuke to his disciples for their irregular zeal in his cause : A sermon preached at the second church in Boston. 1812.
29. A sermon preached before the Bible and Foreign Missionary Society of Hampden county. 1814.
30. The wisdom and importance of winning souls to righteousness : Two sermons preached on the day which concluded the sixtieth year of his ministry. 1816.
Doctor Lathrop also contributed to some periodical publications, especially, to some of the first volumes of the Panoplist.
Q.
The following is a list of the deacons in this church, who have deceased :-
John Barber was chosen 1700, and died 1712, aged 70. Ebenezer Parsons was chosen 1700, and died 1752, aged 84. Joseph Ely died 1755, aged 92. John Ely
died 1758, aged 80.
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Samuel Day Joseph Merrick
died 1773, aged 75.
died 1792, aged 88.
Nathaniel Atchinson, chosen 1759,
died 1801, aged 92.
Jonathan White, chosen 1759,
died 1805, aged 95.
John Bagg, chosen 1783, died 1809, aged 79.
The present Deacons are
Pelatiah Bliss, chosen 1782.
Seth Lathrop, chosen 1809.
Elisha Eldridge, chosen 1817.
R.
The following is the confession of faith adopted by this church.
You believe that there is one only, the living and true God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the maker and preserver of all things : that when God created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, the condition of which was perfect obedience : that man sinned and broke covenant with God, by eating the forbidden fruit, and by his disobedience, his posterity became sinners : that God of his mere mercy, sent his only begotten son into the world, who, in our nature, has borne the curse of God's law, and brought in everlasting righteousness : that all, who truly believe in liim, are, through his atonement and righteousness, justified from all their sins, and are kept by the power of divine grace, through faith unto salvation : that, at the last day, the Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven, raise the dead, and judge the world in righteousness : that he will admit his saints to the glory of his kingdom, and punish the ungodly with everlasting destruction.
THE COVENANT.
You, at this time, take hold of the covenant of the Lord our God; and in humble reliance on his grace, you promise that you will renounce the ways of sin, and will serve God and him only, to whom you now solemnly devote yourself. You promise also, that you will be subject to the government of Christ in this church, and that you will seek the peace and edification of it, so long as your relation to it and connexion with it shall be continued.
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We admit you to our particular fellowship, and promise, on our part, that we will make you a partaker with us of the ordinances of Jesus Christ, in this church, and that we will watch over you, and behave towards you with meekness and brotherly love ; and we expect that your conversation will be agreeable to your present profession, and as becomes the gospel of Christ.
S.
The donations, which have been made to the first church and parish in West Springfield, at different times, are as follows* :-
To the Church.
1792. One hundred seventy eight dollars, and thirty four cents, by Mr. John Ashley, to constitute a fund for the support of the communion table.
1803. One hundred dollars, by Mrs. Rebecca Ives, to procure vessels for the communion table. The donation was applied to procure two plaited flagons, and two plaited dislies.
To the parish.
1787. A lot of land for a burial place for the accommodation of the north district of the parish, by Mr. John Ashley.
1789. A small library, by Mr. John Ashley.
1799. Four thousand three hundred and thirty three dollars, and thirty three cents, to constitute a permanent fund for the support of the ministry, by Mr. Jolin Ashley.
1819. Twenty two dollars to purchase a Bible for the use of the pulpit, by Mr. Jolin Ashley.
T.
The following is a list of those, who have received a collegial education, from the first parish in West Springfield.
1. * John Woodbridge, A. M. son of Reverend John Woodbridge, was born December 25, 1702, and was graduated at Yale College
* I do not include in this list of donations, the old burying ground, said to have been given by a Mr. Foster, because the only evidence of the fact, which I can find, rests upon tradition.
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in 1726. He was settled in the ministry at Poquonoc (Windsor) about 1729 ; was dismissed within five or six years, and was installed April 21, 1742, as pastor of the church at South Hadley. He died September 10, 1783, in the 81st year of his age.
2. * Jonathan Parsons, A. M. son of Deacon Ebenezer Parsons, was born November 30, 1705, was graduated at Yale College in 1729, and was soon after settled in the ministry at Lyme, Connecticut. The last 30 years of his life were spent at Newburyport, in one of the largest congregations in America. He was distinguished as a faithful pastor, an eloquent preacher, and an acute logician. Beside several occasional discourses, he published sixty sermons, in two volumes, 8vo. He died July 19, 1776, in the 71st year of his age, and in the joyful and triumphant hope of a better life.
3. * Jonathan Barber, A. M. son of Thomas Barber, was born January 31, 1712, and was graduated at Yale College in 1730. He was licensed to preach by the association of this county in 1732, and commenced his ministerial labours in Agawam. It does not appear how long he continued to preach there; but, probably, it was only for a short time. In 1740, he accompanied his intimate friend Mr. Whitefield to the south, where he remained, for seven years, superintendant of the orphan house in Georgia. About 1748, he was settled in the ministry on Long Island, at a place called Oyster ponds. Here he continued, about ten years, and in the autumn of 1758, was installed pastor of the congregational church in Groton, Connecticut. Having discharged the duties of a pastor with fidelity and acceptance for eight years, he fell into a deep and settled melancholy, which prematurely closed his labours. After suffering under this distressing calamity for nearly eighteen years, he died suddenly, October, 8, 1783, in the 72d year of his age. He had an extensive correspondence both in this country and in Europe, and was held in high estimation, as an exemplary christian, and a faithful minister.
4. * Noah Merrick, A. M. son of James Merrick, was born August 6, 1711, and was graduated at Yale College in 1731. He was settled in the ministry at Wilbraham in 1741, and died there in 1776, in the 66th year of his age.
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5. * Aaron Day, A. M. son of Samuel Day, was born August 11, 1715, and was graduated at Yale College in 1738. He was successively steward of college, a merchant, an inn-keeper and a farmer ; but is said not to have succeeded in any of his employments, agreeably to his wishes. He first settled in New Haven, but afterwards removed to North Haven, and thence to Southington, where he died in 1779, in the 65th year of his age. He sustained the character of an amiable man, a useful citizen, and an exemplary christian.
6. * Benjamin Woodbridge, A. M. son of Reverend John Woodbridge, was born June 15, 1712, and was graduated at Yale College in 1740. Ile was settled in the ministry at Amity (then part of the towns of New Haven and Milford) November 3, 1742, immediately after the formation of the church in that place. Soon after the American Revolution, the parishes of Amity and Bethany were incorporated as a town, and received the name of Woodbridge in remembrance of the Reverend Benjamin Woodbridge. He died December 24, 1785, in the 74th year of his age, and the 44th of his ministry. He was a man distinguished for prudence and equanimity, and had the affections and confidence of his people in an unusual degree. Many of his shrewd observations, it is said, are not forgotten to the present day.
7. * Samuel Hopkins, D. D. son of the Reverend Samuel Hopkins, was born October 20, 1729, and was graduated at Yale College in 1749 ; was appointed tutor in 1751, in which office he continued three years ; and was settled in the ministry at Hadley, February 1755. He died March 8, 1811, in the 82d year of his age, and 57th of his ministry. He possessed an uncommonly discriminating mind and sound judgment ; and was an accomplished scholar, an instructive preacher, and judicious critic.
8. * John Vanhorn, A. M. son of Christian Vanhorn, was born June 8, 1726, and was graduated at Yale College in 1749, and settled as a physician in his native town, where he died November 6, 1805, aged 78 years.
9. * Eliphalet Leonard, son of Ebenezer Leonard, was born December 28, 1733, and was graduated at Yale College in 1756.
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He spent most of his life in this town, and held the office of justice of the peace. IIe died at Gill, February 1821, aged 87 years.
10. * Justin Ely, A. M. son of John Ely, was born August 10, 1739, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1759. He settled in this town as a merchant. He was justice of the peace ; was commissary during a part of the revolutionary war ; and was, for many years, a representative of the town to the general court. He died June 26, 1817, aged 78 years.
11. * Benjamin Day, A. M. son of Colonel Benjamin Day, was born February 23, 1747, and was graduated at Yale College in 1768. Soon after he left college, he commenced mercantile business in this town ; but in 1776, he removed with his family to Natchez, which was then an English settlement. In consequence of the war, which commenced soon after between the Spanish and English, Mr. Day, who, at that time, held a Major's commission under the British government, with his family, and several others, made their way across the wilderness ; and after travelling about 1200 miles, and passing 82 nights without any other covering than the heavens, they arrived in Georgia. When they were within 60 miles of Augusta, at that time the seat of government, their guide, in a fit of irritation, deserted them, and gave information in respect to the company. Immediately, about 60 ruffians, who inhabited the back part of Georgia, came out and seized them. The treach- erous guide having given information that Mr. Day and one other person were the leaders of the party, they inquired, as they approached, first, for the leader, whose name is not remembered, and the moment he answered, they shot him dead. They then inquired for Mr. Day, intending no doubt, to subject him to a similar fate ; but he, by his silence, saved his life. The party were then carried into Georgia, and stripped of every thing, which they had, but not made prisoners of war. Being without the means of subsistence, they applied to Governour Bronson for relief, in consequence of which they were made prisoners, and sent to the guard house. Mr. Day's wife, the next day, presented to the governour the diploma, which her husband had received from Yale College ; upon which, he was immediately put upon parole. He
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was afterwards exchanged, and sent to South Carolina, and thence to St. Augustine, where he remained, till the close of the war. He re- turned with his family to this place, after an absence of nearly 8 years.
Mr. Day died suddenly of a fit of apoplexy, April 23, 1794, aged 47 years. The following is an extract from the manuscript sermon of Doctor Lathrop, occasioned by his death, from Psalmn cxlvi. 4.
" The past scenes of his life have been attended with uncommon trials and dangers. He has been in perils by sea, in the wilderness, and among enemies. IIe has experienced, in an uncommon degree, the mutability of the world, in the acquisition and the loss of property. Ile was providentially preserved through dangers and hardships, which proved fatal to many, and which laid the founda- tion for the sickness and death of his consort. But he, who lived through such perilous and trying scenes, dies at a moment when no danger appears. He dies in his full strength, when his bones are moistened with marrow. Sitting amidst the social circle, and conversing with his usual cheerfulness, he sinks, gasps and expires. Ile drops the conversation and resumes it no more ; his breatlı goes forth, and vain are all attempts to recall it. Astonishment appeared in every face. They, wlio saw, scarcely believed ; he was no more."
12. Samuel Lathrop, A. M. son of the Reverend Doctor Joseph Lathrop, was graduated at Yale College in 1792. He settled in the profession of law in his native town. Ile is now a member of Congress.
13. Justin Ely, A. M. son of Justin Ely Esquire, was graduated at Harvard College in 1792. Hle settled in this town as a merchant, and holds the office of justice of the peace.
14. Alfred Ely, A. M. son of William Ely, was graduated in 1804, at the College of New Jersey, where he spent some time as tutor. On the 7th of December 1806, he was settled in the ministry at Monson.
15. Elihu Mason, son of David Mason, was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1808, and was settled in the ministry at Herkimer, New York, and afterwards at Barkhamsted, Connecticut. He has been a second time dismissed, and now resides in the state of New York.
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16. Moses Chapin A. M. son of Moses A. Chapin, was graduated at Yale College in 1811. Hle is settled in the profession of law at Rochester, New-York.
17. Solomon Lathrop, A. M. son of Doctor Seth Lathrop, was graduated at Yale College in 1811, and settled as a lawyer in this town.
18. Ely Birchard, son of Richard Birchard, was graduated at Yale College in 1811 ; settled in the ministry near Paris, New York ; but has since been dismissed, and has engaged in the instruction of an academy at Onandago.
19. Benjamin Day, son of Heman Day, Esquire, was graduated at Yale College in 1812, studied the profession of law, and after- wards settled as a merchant in Springfield.
20. Heman Stebbins, son of Solomon Stebbins, was graduated at Yale College in 1814, and is settled as a lawyer at Brookfield.
21. Henry Dwight, son of Henry Dwight, was graduated at Harvard College in 1815. IIe engaged in mercantile business, and now resides in New-York.
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