USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > Historical review. One hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the First Church of Christ in Amherst, Massachusetts. November 7, 1889 > Part 2
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And in the later period of the settlement of this place, we find that the advance had quickened but little. There were small frontier communities at Sunderland, Northfield, Belchertown, South Hadley and Blandford, but these were only in their beginnings and were ooked upon as doubtful experiments. Western Massachusetts, with the exception of the Connecticut valley and Westfield, was still a ' great and terrible wilderness."
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One of our elderly people tells me it is a tradition in her family that when the early settlers came from Hadley to this region of the Third Precinct their friends thought they should never see them again. They expected nothing better than that they would fall by the Indian's hatchet, or be lost in the swamps and forests. So keen was their dread of any remoteness from the village centers.
Yet notwithstanding the long delay in occupying the land what a story was that of the hundred years then closing ! We can imagine the kind of tales that were told about the hearth-stone in those first log cabins of this settlement. Books were rare then and other sources of entertainment familiar to us were unknown. We may therefore, suppose that reminiscences engaged their leisure hours to an extent that is now unusual. Fathers and mothers kept in vivid remembrance the scenes in which they had borne a part and told them often to their children and grandchildren, who in turn rehearsed them to another generation. Doubtless in all these homes there was narrated many a story of family experiences that spanned the whole century and carried the listening group back along the family pilgri- mage to the voyage across the Atlantic and even beyond, to ancestral homes in England.
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Suppose ourselves, for example, in the cabin of Dr. Nathaniel Smith which stood where the house of Mr. John White now is, just over College Hill. We will choose an evening when Mrs. Smith's parents are there, the aged John Ingram and his wife Mehitable Dickinson. In the family are two small children Dorothy and
Rebecca. All are grouped about the fire-place with its blazing logs, in the manner of those old times, when the little girl at her grand- father's knee calls for a story. The patriarch's face lights up with an approving smile, and he asks what sort of a story it shall be. As children are apt to do in such a case, they ask for a tale of his child- hood. And we can imagine the way the venerable man begins, reminding them that he was born only two years after the settlement of Hadley, that his father was then a young man under twenty years of age, and that his grandfather Gardner was but forty-six. And then he may have told how that grandfather had lived to be eighty- one years old and had often talked to him as he was now talking to them, telling about his early home in England and of the oppressions which led so many of the noblest spirits of the age to leave their native land to plant colonies in America, telling of the voyage across the Atlantic, too, and of the vicissitudes which followed in years full
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of thrilling events, till the new home was finally located in Hadley. What materials long since lost that settler of Amherst must have had at his command out of which to make a narrative of the beginnings of New England ! And then of his own times ! of King Philip's war, of the massacre at Bloody Brook, of the Indian attacks on Hadley and Hatfield and Deerfield ! He himself could recall all these events and tell many tales of personal encounters with the Indians, and probably of hairbreadth escapes.
The grandmother, too, could add her incidents, recounting the stories in her own family of the journey through the wilderness to Wethersfield, and thence to Hadley. She could tell of the alarıns in the village among the women and children, when the men had been away in the Indian wars.
And then the Doctor had his tales also to tell-among others of the strange sickness and death of his grandfather, the good Deacon Philip Smith who, according to Cotton Mather, was "murdered with an hideous witchcraft."
Reminiscences like these were the natural entertainment of family gatherings and of the leisure hour in all those homes.
And in some there were tales to tell of tragic events which had befallen the family itself. In the home of Samuel Hawley, a grandson kept in remembrance the heroic deeds of " the brave Capt. Marshall who fell in the Narragansett fight." In five or six other homes there were children and grandchildren of Sergeant Samuel Boltwood famous for his bravery and strength, and they could narrate with pride his exploits and how he was slain at Deerfield. And finally in the family of Zechariah Field, the son and daughters could tell of their great unele Samuel and their uncle Ebenezer who had been slain, one at Hatfield and the other at Deerfield, by the same dreaded enemy out of the wilderness.
By such tales, looking back over the sufferings and courageous endurance of those who had gone before them, we may be sure, the founders of this church and of this community strengthened themselves for the work they had taken in hand. Behind them was a whole century of heroism, and with a like heroic spirit they were prepared to meet whatever duties might fall to their lot.
But, all unbeknown to them, a new era was opening, and a different field was to be offered in which to exercise their powers and employ the strength that had come to them from sires of so noble a mould. The Indians were to vanish. The wilderness was to be cultivated till
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it should blossom as the rose. A great people was speedily to be evolved out of materials then maturing but as yet nncrystalized. And then should come the problems of social organization and of the state that was to be-religious problems, political problems, educa- tional problems, industrial problems, problems of all science and of all philosophy.
We can see now that the experiences of that first hundred years was a discipline singularly adapted to prepare the people of this valley, as of all the colonies on the Atlantic coast, for the great duties that were awaiting them.
Of the part performed by the children of these valley settlers little needs to be said. We have only to remember what Massachusetts has done for the nation and what this valley has done for Massachu- setts to understand that their part has not been altogether unworthy of their fathers.
From this survey of movements and conditions anterior to the settlement of this place let us now pass to the circumstances imme- diately connected with the event we celebrate.
The period in which this church had its beginning is conspicuous in the ecclesiastical history of New England as the period of the Great Awakening. The first signs of this awakening were shown in the immediate vicinity of this place at Northampton. Jonathan Edwards had become greatly alarmed at the prevailing worldliness and disorderly condition of the churches and was moved to direct his powerful preaching to a thorough reformation. Results quickly appeared. In December, 1734, a number of persons in his congre- gation, as he says, " were to all appearance, savingly converted, and some of them wrought upon in a remarkable manner." Through the winter the movement deepened and became general throughout the parish. "An earnest concern about the great things of religion and the eternal world became universal in all parts of the town and among persons of all degrees and all ages. They were wont very often to meet together in private houses for religious purposes ; and such meetings were wont greatly to be thronged. Souls did, as it were, come by flocks to Jesus Christ. From day to day, for many months together, might be seen evident instances of sinners brought out of darkness into marvellous light."
All this was wonderful, and it seemed the more wonderful because revivals had become unusual. A profound impression was produced on neighboring churches. "In March, 1735, the revival began to be
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general in South Hadley, and about the same time in Suffield. It next appeared in Sunderland, Deerfield and Hatfield ; and afterward at West Springfield, Long Meadow and Enfield ; and then in Hadley Old Town, and in Northfield."
It was in the fall of this year, 1735, that David Parsons began his ministry with the people of this Third Precinct of Hadley. What a time and what a place in which to begin !
Of the circumstances connecting this beginning with that great revival of religion we are not told in our annals. Yet who can doubt that there was a connection and one that was most vital ?
This was four years previous to the organization of the church. Pass over these four years and we are on the eve of another great religious movement-so great and so wide reaching that the former one seems only like the introduction to this.
On the day our fathers gathered here, two hundred and fifty years ago, to enter into solemn covenant together before God and to estab- lish this church, George Whitefield on board ship was approaching Philadelphia ; and in less than a year from that time, in the following October, he was on his way from Boston " to visit Edwards and the scene of the revival in 1735." On this journey he preached at Leicester, Brookfield and Coldspring, or Belchertown, as the place is now called. For an account of his experience at the next stage I will read from his Journal of Friday, Oct. 17. "Set out as soon as it was light and reached Hadley, a place where a great work of God was begun some few years ago. But lately the people of God have complained of deadness and losing their first love. However, as soon as I mentioned what God had done for their souls formerly, it was like putting fire to tinder. The remembrance of it quickened them, and caused many to weep sorely."
The occasion thus described marked the commencement of a new revival which quickly overspread Northampton, Hatfield and the other valley towns, as it was already spreading in other parts of the state and of the country.
Of this refreshing the Amherst church enjoyed its share. This is shown in the fact that during the next year and a half thirty-five new members were added, all but one in the way of "admission to full communion," or as we now should say " on confession of their faith." These were chiefly of the families already mentioned, the sons and daughters of parents belonging to the church. Most of them were young, their ages ranging in general from fifteen to twenty-five.
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Two or three, at least, were older than twenty-five and some may have been under fifteen. A most precious ingathering, therefore, and full of promise for the future !
But there were other results of this revival than the accession of these new members. It deeply affected the moral and spiritual life of the community. We have proof of this in a paper drawn up at the time and signed by thirty-six men and thirty-four women. From this let me read a few sentences to show its tenor.
"It has of late pleased a kind and merciful God in a very wonderful manner to pour out his Spirit upon this people in awakening, convincing and convicting influences upon sinners and in refreshing and com- forting influences upon saints. To the end we may guard against falling into sin or neglecting those duties God has required of us, and may obtain the continuance and increase of so glorious a mercy as we have for some considerable time enjoyed, we, in a humble dependence upon divine power and grace for assistance and strength, do agree to the following Covenant. That we will devote ourselves in our several places and according to our several capacities to the great business of a religious life, and truly endeavor that we may answer the great end of our being in the world, the glory of God and the everlasting good of ourselves and others."
Following this, is a careful specification of Christian duties such as " a strict observance of the Lord's day," faithful care of the interests of others, avoidance of slander and meddlesome gossip, fidelity in the family and careful abstinence from all impure and unbecoming conduct.
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It is a suggestive fact that in the list of seventy names subscribed to this covenant we miss those of many who were members of the church while we find some sixteen that are not on the church roll. It may not surprise us that some genuine Christians should have hesi- tated to put their signatures to so solemn a covenant, but it does seem strange that any who could sign this paper should have failed to take the further step of uniting with the Lord's people. None the less, however, does this paper testify to the extent and pervasive power of the revival.
We have evidence to the same effect, also, from another source. We know that there was a division of sentiment in the churches and among the theologians of the period about Whitefield and the religious movement attending his work. Out of this grew a long and heated
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controversy. Among the contributions to this discussion we find the following testimonial from pastors of this region :
" We whose names are subscribed to this would hereby declare to the glory of God's grace that we judge that there has been a happy revival of religion in the congregations that have been committed to our pastoral care, and that there are many in them that by abiding manifestations of a serious religious and humble spirit, and a consci- entious care and watchfulness in their behavior toward God and man give all grounds of charity towards them as having been sincere in the profession they have made. - - - We think the effect has been such, and still continues to be such as leaves no room reasonably to doubt of God's having been wonderfully in the midst of us, and such as has laid us under great obligations forever to admire and extol the riches of his grace in doing such great things for us.
Stephen Williams, pastor of a church in Springfield.
Peter Raynolds, Enfield (Conn.).
Jonathan Edwards, Northampton. Samuel Allis, Somers (Conn.).
John Woodbridge, Second Church, Hadley.
David Parsons, JJr., Third Church, Hadley.
Edward Billings, Coldspring.
Timothy Woodbridge, Hatfield. Chester Williams, First Church, Hadley."
We learn thus of the happy spiritual conditions which encompassed this church in those first years of its existence. What auspices more favorable could have been desired? During the forty following years in which Mr. Parsons lived and continued in this pastorate there seems to have been a condition of general prosperity with frequent additions to the membership, the whole number of names on the roll having been at the time of his death two hundred and forty-eight. But at no other time in his ministry were there so large accessions as in these earliest years.
The growth of the settlement seems to have been very rapid. Mr. Judd tells us that " The east inhabitants are not noticed in the town records of Hadley until Jan. 5, 1730, when a committee was appointed jo lay out a burying-place. After 1732 the people had preaching a part of the year. In 1735 Mr. Parsons began to preach. He was called to settle April 13, 1737, and again in September of the same ted year. He did not accept these calls, but preached for a time in Southampton in 1737 and 1738." In 1739 the call was renewed and
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accepted. The first house of worship was begun in 1738. It stood where we now see the College Observatory. Services were held in this building before 1742, but it was not completed till 1753, eleven years later. This looks like slow progress, but " in 1758 the popula- tion of the settlement had become greater than that of the mother town, and in 1790 Amherst had about twelve hundred inhabitants while Hadley had only some six hundred."*
Among those who became identified with the community in its development there are certain names upon which we may fittingly linger ; for they seem to have given a certain tone to this village which it has held in all its subsequent history.
I have named as one of the founders Richard Chauncey. There came with him to the settlement, his two brothers Charles and Josiah. Little is told us concerning Charles, but Richard and Josiah were men of mark, occupying responsible offices and evidently commanding the highest esteem.
Let us glance at the family to which they belonged. Their father was the Rev. Isaac Chauncey of Hadley, a graduate of Harvard College and distinguished for his erudition. An older brother and four brothers-in-law were all ministers and graduates of either Harvard or Yale. Their grandfather was Rev. Israel Chauncey of Stratford, who with his two brothers Nathaniel and Elnathan were graduated at Harvard in 1661. He was one of the founders of Yale College and was chosen to be its Rector or President, though he did not accept the election. His brother Nathaniel was the eminent pastor of the church in Hatfield, and their father was the Rev. Charles Chauncey, the second President of Harvard College. It was a family of Chris- tian scholars, endowed with extraordinary intellectual gifts and a passion for learning. The old Stratford home contained a library unequaled, probably, by any other in private hands this side of the Atlantic. The home in Hadley, where Rev. Isaac Chauncey was pastor for forty-nine years, continued the same scholarly tastes and habits. The straitened circumstances of the family made it imprac- ticable to send the younger sons to college, but none the less were they trained to the love of sound culture and habituated to a rare intellectual life. Three young men, brothers and companions, came from such a family and such a home to bear their part in building up this settlement and in giving it the character it was to sustain.
Notice next the young pastor, Rev. David Parsons. He also came
*Dickinson's Centennial Discourse.
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from scholarly associations. His grandfather was Judge of the Hampshire County Court : his father and uncle were graduates of Harvard, which was also his own alma mater; he was a descendant of Elder Strong of Northampton, and finally a kinsman of the Chaunceys. Who can doubt the elevating influences he must have exerted during his long pastorate ?
Observe again the name of Nehemiah Strong. He was a near relative of Mr. Parsons and came to Amherst soon after the organi- zation of the church, moving hither. from Northampton. We may naturally associate with him his wife's son by a previous marriage, who also came from Northampton and was afterward greatly honored here as Dea. Jonathan Edwards. Mr. Strong's two sons Nehemiah and Simeon seem to have been the first young men from Amherst who went to college. The former was graduated at Yale in 1755, the latter in the following year 1756. Nehemiah after his graduation became pastor of the church in Granby, Conn., and later professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Yale. Simeon entered on the practice of law here at home and became eminent, rising to the positions of Representative, Senator and Judge of the Supreme Court. The intellectual and scholarly traits of the family are further shown n the fact that four grandsons were graduated from Harvard, Yale or Williams.
Of similar significance is the name of Nathaniel Coleman. His son Seth Coleman was graduated at Yale in 1765, and, after studying medicine in New Haven, followed the calling of a physician in this place. Here, also, the intellectual tone of the family is proven by he superior culture of the grandchildren and the high positions they vere called to occupy.
It is noteworthy that before Amherst College was founded no less han forty-two young men of Amherst families had pursued, or were pursuing, a collegiate course. In the period from 1771 to 1823. hirty-nine natives of this town were graduated at Harvard, Yale. Dartmouth, Williams and Middlebury. How are we to account for his ? Whence came the impulse to this wide-spread zeal for education n such a small farming community? We turn to the influence exerted y this circle of intellectual leaders as a partial explanation of it.
But give your attention to this circle a little further. I have lamed six families as belonging to it. These are only the beginning. t included others like Dea. Simeon Clark-who himself and his wife vere relatives of the Strongs and of Mr. Parsons, -apparently also
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the Boltwoods and the greater part of the old substantial families of the early settlers who lived near the center. These would naturally have come into close association as near neighbors. Thus we can see that there were the materials here for society of a high order.
But there was a peril also. People become jealous of social distinctions. And somehow the people remote from the center of this precinct seem to have become jealous of those in the village. In the winter of 1772, a little more than thirty years after the church was organized, we find " the ends of the town" combined in a struggle against the center, and this struggle was continued with great bitter- ness for years.
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The meeting-house was now too small to accommodate the growing community, and it seemed necessary to provide more room. To meet this exigency it was proposed to build two new meeting-houses, both
be fo remote from the center ; and a vote to this effect was carried by a large majority. Wrongful measures, however, had been taken to secure this result, and the injustice was so palpable that the Legis- lature interfered and put a stop to the proceedings .*
Immediately after this came the War of the Revolution. And here the town was divided again. We find, too, that the division, in great measure, kept along the old line. This is not altogether surprising. It was natural, perhaps, that cultivated, thoughtful men, who had always made much of the sacredness of law and the duty of loya citizenship, should hesitate to join such an nprising, -- the more because Amherst was so far from any seaport and not likely to have suffered from the oppressions of the times as many other places had done. And perhaps it was natural, too, for those who had tried to make revolution in town affairs to enter with keen zest into this large revolution. We can understand, also, that the animosities and antagonisms of the local strife might easily have gone into this new fleld and become deeper and fiercer for the vaster interests at stake
As it was, the men who had been foremost in the scheme to divid the village, became foremost in zeal for the colonial cause, and a they had carried a majority of the people in the former contest, the now swept everything before them.
The old leaders were thus brought into disrepute, were retired from public offices and treated with no little obloquy. Doubtless they gav provocation enough for this treatment : and we cannot but rejoic that the spirit of loyalty to America triumphed so completely here i Amherst over that of loyalty to the king.
*Appendix B.
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But there is a pathos in the incidents of these times which we may well heed. Remembering how these were aged men with silvered hair : that they were the fathers of the place, to which they had come in its early days and given it their best thought and warmest interest ; that they were high-minded men too, scrupulous of the right, steadfast to their convictions and living in the fear of God,-remembering them thus, can we repress a feeling of regret that clouds so heavy should have gathered over them at the end?
The first pastor, Rev. David Parsons, died Jan. 1, 1781, at the age of sixty-eight. We cannot but question whether the turmoil and troubles of these later years may not possibly have hastened this event. He had been with the people in this place more than forty-five years and had seen the church and community grow from small beginnings to strength and influence. These, as they have continued for more than a century, are the best witnesses to his worth and power.
We have, however, another testimony in the " Memoirs " of one of his people, Dr. Coleman. In the journal published with these " Me- moirs " the tenderest references are continually made to Mr. Parsons. In one place Mr. Coleman expresses regret that in going to college he must lose his preaching ; in another he gives a sketch of a sermon and tells of the spiritual exaltation he felt in listening to it ; in another of a singing school at the pastor's house "which was turned into the most solemn religious meeting he had ever seen"; in still another of the wise and sympathetic counsels he received in a visit to his pastor when under a cloud of despondency ; and finally he speaks of his death in these words. " Jan. 2, 1781. Our respected, godly minister, Mr. Parsons, was removed into the world of spirits, to receive the rewards of his indefatigable labors. This providence filled my mind with anxious solicitude for my family, the church, and the people of his charge." "Jan. 4. Paid our last respects to the remains of our never to be forgotten pastor. The providence gave me lasting impressions of solemnity and engagedness in prayer." Here are intimations of the quality of the man and of his personal power over the people to whom he ministered for so long a period.
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