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 7
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The city of Boston did not admit girls to the public schools unti about 1700, and Northampton, now proud of its college for young women, with nearly 500 students, did not think it proper for girls t attend the public schools until about 1802.
Schoolmaster Pierce with a college education could command bu $5.33 per month as compensation, and was obliged to teach a " cipher ing school" during the winter, at one shilling per evening ; also t preach as opportunity offered, at 18 or 20 shillings per Sunday.
That he failed to live sumptuously is inferred from the record, fo it says, "He dismissed his school in disgust, March 29th, 1769."
Such is the record of the first attempts at public school education in town ; and we need only to point to our present public school sys tem, with an annual appropriation of $8,000 to $10,000,-and to ou public school-houses scattered at convenient points about town,-with our school superintendent and corps of well-equipped and well-paid teachers, and 700 pupils in attendance,-to convince the most scepti cal of the progressive strides which we have made since Josiah Pierc gave up his work in disgust 120 years ago.
In 1814, Amherst Academy began its educational work, and "oh
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tained a reputation second to none in the State."* " It attracted pupils from every part of New England," but became more local in its work, and finally gave way to the high school.
In May of the year 1820, work was begun upon the Amherst Col- lege buildings. The contest for location had been severe and persist- ent, but the people of Amherst won then, as, in 1867, they did in the struggle for the location of the Agricultural College.
Labor and material were freely given by the most public-spirited citizens ; and one still among us, then about ten years old, Capt. M. F. Dickinson, remembers helping his father draw sand used in the construction of the first building. Mr. Zachariah Hawley of Hadley, now living, remembers drawing stone at the same time.
One building after another has been added to Amherst College, and the funds have accumulated until the whole property amounts to more than $1,000,000. It has educated more than 2,400 men.
The Agricultural College was founded in 1867. The town contrib- uted $50,000 after the State had located it here. Its present property and funds are valued at $500,000.
With 346 students in Amherst College, 115 in the Agricultural Col- lege, and over 500 pupils in our public schools, Amherst shows mate- rial progress in educational advantages since Josiah Pierce gave up his work in 1769.
In 1767, Simeon Smith (son of Moses Smith, tavern-keeper on the Bay-road) began teaming to Boston, being the first to drive through with a wagon, and more than a week was consumed in the trip-while but how the railroad delivers to us in the morning freight that was loaded bern Boston the night before, and frequent passenger trains take us to Boston or New York in a few hours with a comfort greatly in contrast with the saddle of 1739, and the teams of 1767-while the vast net- . for work of railroads, reaching throughout the land and into Canada on the north and Mexico in the far south, put us in quick and easy com- nunication with all this vast domain, the greater portion of which, in 739, was the home only of the Aborigines.
About the year 1815, only once a week, a man on horseback brought he mail for the entire town to Postmaster Rufus Kellogg at East Amherst, and the blowing of a horn or conch shell summoned the armer-postmaster from the field to open the mail.
To-day eight incoming mails, and as many outgoing, are necessary o accommodate our people, while the telegraph and telephone put us John instant communication with nearly the entire civilized world.
*W. S. Tyler's History of Amherst College.
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The letters we have read this morning were written in Boston last evening,-in Chicago yesterday, or in San Francisco only a few days ago, while any that Simeon Smith might have brought from far-away Boston, were a week old before his lumbering wagon could make the journey home.
The beautiful Village Common is one of the most notable of the signs of progress. Many here will contrast its present beauty with its unsightly appearance 30 or 40 years ago, made up as it then was of swampy ground,-frog pond, and general unevenness and signs of neglect.
Amherst has grown. Its well furnished stores and fine markets abundantly supply the ever increasing wants of its people ; its two large straw-hat manufacturies disburse $100,000 or more annually ; and, together with its paper, lumber, carriage and other works, fur- nish employment to several hundred people.
Our Savings Bank, with its nearly $1,300,000 of deposits, and our National Bank, with its more than $200,000 of capital and surplus. nearly all the savings of our own people, are evidence of our progress in material things ; while the nearly 900 substantial, well-kept, and tasteful homes give evidence of increased comfort and prosperity.
We should not forget, in the abundant progress of wealth and com fort, which God has thus given us, that the same sun just as brightly as now the Pelham horizon in the morning shone down fromupon those Pioneers of 150 years ago, and its departing rays lighted up the rug ged hills to the East just as gorgeously-but otherwise how changed Instead of a little clearing of a few acres, a most beautiful town, and growing each year more attractive !
The Past is full of Material Progress, and are we not right il anticipating for every future anniversary occasion still greater evidence of advancement in everything that tends to make our town sough out and noted, not only for its beautiful location, surroundings and educational advantages, but also for its advancement in good moral and everything that tends to the welfare of its people !
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REMINISGENGES.
PAPER
BY REV. AARON M. COLTON.
Ordained June 10, 1840, Dismissed Jan. 4, 1853.
The authorities here bid me use the utmost freedom in personal reminiscence. The egotism involved must be borne with.
Well remember my first journey hither ; specially the ride from Palmer ; the muddy roads ; the shell and shackle of a coach, with more than a mild flavor of antiquity about it; harness giving out three times before we reached Belchertown ; our Jonathan of a driver well equipped with straps and strings against contingencies. No " Sheridan's ride " that. Called, as by direction, on Edward Dickin- son, Esq., then occupying the east part of Gen. Mack's house. After tea with him, a Mr. Luke Sweetser came with lantern and led me up through a piece of woods to his house among the trees. Sabbath morning and a nervous headache. Asked Rev. Mr. Spofford to sit with me and offer the long prayer. And what did he pray for? One thing, certainly : "That in the question and trial now before us, thy young servant and this people may be guided by the wisdom from above, and be led to such a conclusion as will be for the glory of God, and the interests of His kingdom." Good man, this Mr. Spor- ford ; I forgave him, and forgive him now. But Oh! and alas ! to be strung up like that to begin with.
Got through that day and evening somehow. The next morning the church and parish committees met at the office of Edward Dick- inson, Esq. I was asked to be present. They had in some way rightly learned that in coming I had in mind to stay but two Sabbaths at most. Against this they strongly protested. My own mind was unalterably fixed. Candidating! Whereunto shall I liken it? Be-
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hold and consider a fish caught with a hook, and hung up by the gills. To think of it; a man standing in a pulpit before a people, all eyes and ears eagerly intent on learning what manner of man this is, and himself, if it be so with him, saying impliedly : "Won't you, be- loved, take me for your minister? Do, please." Well, some per- sons, strung and tuned humanly, can do some things which others can not. A public sentiment just now is worthily asking that our executions for murder be by electricity, and so be as short and pain- less as possible. The letter to me said, " supply ;" and I had come with thoughts as far from candidating as I could be, and yet be here.
After nearly a two hours' talk, it was decided that I should remain and preach on the following Sabbath, and that, in the meantime, I should call on the families of the parish-the committees taking turns in leading me about. Of that week's work, Esq. Dickinson was said to have said : " That Colton is a marvel of a man-to visit two hund- red families in one week, and tire out seven committee-men, and pal every woman's baby."
The two Sabbaths I have now spoken of were the first and second in March, 1840. The call came in due time. June 10th following was appointed for my ordination.
I here reach a point in personal experience memorable indeed. to I had come to Amherst ; was counseled to come by the Andove Seminary Faculty ; came to a large church and parish ; to a people intimately connected with a chief New England college, of which had not been a member : came from long and close seclusion of stud ent life ; to new scenes, cares, toils, burdens. Could I prove equa to the demands? Many, my best friends, were in doubt of me Wouldn't it have been better to begin with a less exacting charge?
Tuesday, June 9th. Came from Boston with my preacher, Rev Win. M. Rogers of that city. Council waiting for us at the house o Mr. Gideon Delano in Amity Street. Council organized at 2 P. M with President Humphrey as moderator. Documents presented and approved. Then the march to the church-moderator and candidate arm in arm, and followed by a large company, representatives of the churches. Something of form if not of comeliness in the times of old Large gathering in the church. Stood nearly two hours for examina tion. Whether I stood the examination itself, I do not say. Coming out of the church after that ordeal, I was met at the door by a Mr Clark Green, asking me to come to his house on the evening of th
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next day (Ordination day), and marry his daughter. Well, well ; didn't this mean business and binding ?
Ordination day, Wednesday, June 10. Charming day. Great mim- ber of friends from down the River. Church filled. The Hampshire Gazette of the following Tuesday said : "All the parts were listened co with very unusual interest. The sermon was masterly in matter and manner. Dr. Humphrey, giving charge to the people, said : When your pastor comcs, receive him wherever you may be. Disturb 10 dust ; make no apologies : do not spend the first half of the visit n complaining because he doesn't come oftener, and the last half because it is so short ; but make his visit so pleasant that he can't stay away.'"
Thus the great day and occasion-great to me.
At evening twilight I was on my way to the wedding in Mill Valley. Met Judge Dickinson in the road opposite the president's house. Saw it once from his dress and unshaven face that he had not attended ny ordination. Was it come to this at my beginnings here? Deacon n the church, college educated ; one of the wealthiest in the town. No matter now for the reasons. if I ever knew them, of this holding ack. Enough my grateful testimony, that Judge Dickinson became n no long time, and continued to the last. to be one of my best friends tosind helpers.
ver Leaving the wedding party, I returned to the Amherst House to my plef oom, south front, directly over the office. But there was no sleep or me that night, nor lying down. Two such days, with their draughts ud.on nature, the exactions and exhaustions. The strain was nigh to breaking. Once in the night I said to myself, " This is all a dream, me. . ker. of And I shall wake, and be relieved." But, the curtain turned aside, nd, the full moon shining brightly, down there in plain sight were he signs on offices and stores. "This certainly is no dream." Then more than half purpose to leave Amherst before morning. Knew nd said, "There will be a noise over this : 'Strange freak ; man alled and settled, and ran away the first night.'" But then there Tate the rere five reasons which might satisfy my friends-chiefly this,-that had been unwisely counseled to come here, instead of taking one of he lighter charges that had been offered me. Then there were
houghts of dark and desperate expedients. Blessed thing that morn- ig follows night. But that morning brought no relief to me. At 10 'clock Mr. J. S. Adams called. Saw I was cast down. His gentle- the ess of voice and ways some of you can remember. But there was
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as yet no easement. Providential that the weekly church prayer- meeting came that (Thursday) afternoon. Large attendance at the church. Took my place behind the communion table ; invoked a blessing ; read a brief Scripture. Then said, " I had always though that, in assuming a pastoral charge, one took upon himself a grea burden, but I never felt it as I did now." I was not able to speak further. Dea. Mack quickly rose and said : "O ! our pastor mustn' think so ; the burden is mutual; it is on us all as well as on him ; and we all, pastor and people, will help each other all we can. And, bes of all, God will help us, and we shall be stayed up."
Then he prayed for " our pastor," and another prayed, and another The meeting closed. On my way to my room, at a spot between th homes of Prof. Fowler and Mrs. Moore, the terrible load rolled of suddenly and wholly ; and if I ever went to my knees and thanked God for a great deliverance, I did so then. I have seen something o care, and toil, and pain. But such a horror of great darkness has s far been but once upon me, and I hope and pray that the same, or th like of it, may not come on me again.
Perhaps I am wrong in saying all this here and now. If so, it cal be forgiven me. I have never before spoken it in public exceptin once and in part-in giving the right hand to a young brother assumin a similar charge.
A year or two before I came here, the parish had voted that th pastor, Mr. Bent, receiving presents from non-parish members of th congregation, should account for the same to the parish. I had bee here but a few weeks, when a handsome traveling valise was sent me I well divined it was a tester-to see what the new man would d' about it. I returned the gift, and with it as pleasant a letter as knew how to write, thanking the donor for his kindness, and adding that I could not give to the parish the present he had sent to me, an that it would not do for me to break a parish rule. To the first meeting of the parish thereafter, I sent word that the rule was embarrassin me in my parish visitation. The rule was rescinded, and then th men who had signed off returned to their place and part ; and so tha ripple sank from view.
Perhaps some of the ancients here can call to remembrance the of pulpit in our meeting-house in 1840. Of pine wood, narrow, doore and achingly plain. Man up there had to look well to his elbows essaying a gesture. High and closed against all assaults ; but $ were the old Bastile towers in which prisoners were immured.
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In 1842 or 3 the parish obtained from Boston a new pulpit-a costly and very comely affair for those times. Then there were other fixings and furnishings. Then the grounds around the church must be graded and put in shape-a labor of days and many hands. You might have seen Lawyer Osmyn Baker, coat off, and ax in hand, pleading three hours in masterful logic for the ejectment of a stump from its ancient tenure and holding on domain of the said church aforesaid. There was admirable enterprise. The people had a mind to work.
I am not able to boast that in coming here, I found a church and parish weak, and in leaving left them strong. They were strong from the first of my knowing them, or knowing of them. Perhaps the parish has never since been stronger as to number, character, wealth, and standing of chief men. To show this to one whose memory can stretch itself to the men and things here fifty years ago, one has only to speak some of the names then found here. Deacons, Eleazer Gaylord, John Leland, John Dickinson, David Mack and Isaac Hawley : lawyers, Edward Dickinson, Osmyn Baker, Lucius Boltwood, and, a little later, Charles Delano and Samuel T. Spaulding ; doctors, Sellon, Gridley, Dorrance and Cutler ; merchants, Mack & Son, James Kellogg & Son, Sweetser & Cutler, Pitkin & Kellogg and Holland ; Revs. Sanford and Spofford ; Teacher, Nahum Gale of the Academy ; Editor, J. R. Trumbull ; Mr. Green and Joseph Sweetser of the Amherst Bank ; Col. Warren Howland, Messrs. Fiske Cutler, Andrew Wilson, Thomas Jones, J. S. and C. Adams, S. C. Carter, Simeon Clark, Newton Fitch, Linus Green, David Parsons, Aaron Belden, Horace Smith, Martin Kellogg, Chester Kellogg, Seth Nims, Postmaster Strong : the Smiths, Bakers, Boltwoods, Kelloggs, Dexters and Williamses of Mill Valley ; the Cowlses, Hawleys and Nashes of Plainville ; and the names Cowls, Angier, Bangs, Ayres, Eastman and Dickinson of the North roads ; these and more-for I draw from memory, and must stop somewhere.
Surely a field, this, to call for and call out the best and most that any minister could have and give.
As to those my Deacons, specially the first four : venerable men in form and aspect, all verging toward seventy years of age, crowned with hoary heads, men of affairs, and wise in counsel. Happily for is, we didn't then turn off our deacons every year or two-a practice I never believed in, and never shall.
Don't you now be too hard on a young minister if, unawares, there sometimes stole into his heart a timorous fragrance, just a bit of sly
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elation, at seeing those venerable fornis, his deacons, pass round with qu the bread and wine in the communion hour and service. We are me human still-some of us are -- having, I hope, a little of grace with ou much of nature.
It was a point of trial in those days, that this church and paris had no parsonage, no chapel or vestry. Our evening meetings wer held in the Academy building, then in care of a student, aided and aiding himself in preparation for the ministry-the late Rev. Dr Isaac Bliss of Constantinople. Happily for pastor and people, an in the behoof of all that is fair and right, those aching voids her have been filled, to the joy and praise of many.
And then as to the old meeting-house on the hill, whither the tribe went up. Homely in outward looks, doubtless, but handsome withi -so we felt. The Lord was there in the beauty of his holiness ; an his presence will make any place beautiful. As for the rest, I fo it b one, was never kept awake o'nights. Rowland Hill once said : " Neve mind for the hive ; give us the bees." I give joy to my successors my brethren beloved, that they have the hive, and the bees, and th handsomeness all through and around.
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In those times of old there were here a few spots a little steep an rough in a minister's work. One was, his having to preach tw sermons on Fast Days. Another was, his having to preach tw help sermons on Communion Days, administer the Sacrament at noon, an -a last straw-attend a prayer meeting in the evening. And th tired toiler betook himself, as best he could, to the soothing persuasion " mollifying ointment," that he was obeying the Apostle's injunctions the Life "make FULL proof of your ministry," and " endure hardness as good soldier of Jesus Christ." Once the suggestion was made b some one to have the communion service occupy the afternoon. B there was opposition to this, and the matter was dropped. It wa he the " custom " here, and in some places hereabouts, and custom, yo know, is law, and law is law, and what is not law is something else "'Innocuous desuetude " hadn't arrived in these parts. A somewhat of the strict and rigid, you will say, in these things of the olden tim Perhaps so ; but possibly the pendulum is now swinging to the oth and not better extreme.
It is not my part to-day to give the history of this church. Anoth has done this. But I may, I think, and should, refer in a word the revivals here in 1841, '45 and '50. This last was a work of marke depth and power. The incidents and influences leading to it a
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quite instructive. Early in January of this year (1850) the prayer meetings were notably fuller and more solemn. A cloud of mercy seemed to hang over us, and ready to drop down fatness. Days and weeks passed, but no conversions. What was the hindrance? Once and again the church standing committee-the Deacons-met in the pastor's study to talk and pray over this question. Oppressing fear was felt, lest our dawn should shut down in darkness. The trouble, we came at length to believe, was in the rum places in the village, with fires of hell in full blast. What could be done? My counselors did wisely in advising prudence, for we were told the rum men were desperate. Kind words had been used, but availed nothing. You can imagine a pastor's anxieties in such an emergency. March meeting was close by. I drew up two articles, and obtained five signatures, asking for their insertion in the warrant: First, to see if it be the wish of the town of Amherst that places be kept open here for the sale of intoxicating drinks in violation of law ; and second, to see if the town will authorize and instruct their selectmen to close such places, if such there be in the town. (I quote from memory and for substance. ) I went to Lieutenant Dickinson of the South parish, and Judge Conkey of the East, and Daniel Dickinson of the North, and President Hitchcock of the College. They all promised to give a helping word-Dr. Hitchcock to speak last. The meeting came.
Sweetser's hall was crowded to the stairs. There was much excite-
| thể ment. A man from South Amherst moved that the articles be dismissed. This was voted down. Then the main question, and now the speaking, as pre-arranged-Dr. Hitchcock closing,-and a more affecting and effective appeal than his I have never heard. He said in substance : "The people of Amherst are aware that I have not been in the habit of meddling in the affairs of the town. I feel that the interests of myself and my family are safe in the care of the town, and I am confident that the good people here who have done so nobly for the College will not allow the Institution to suffer injuries from evil causes among us ; " and then, with an emphasis that fairly choked his utterance, he added : " But it were better that the college should go othe down, than that young men should come here to be ruined by drink places among us." Then the voting-400 hands shot up for abating the nuisances-so it was said. Contrary minds-just one hand, and one only and alone. The next morning at ten o'clock the selectmen went orket to these rum resorts and shut them up.
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Then the heavens gave rain-blessed showers, and there was a great refreshing. That revival work continued till late in summer. More than 150 professed hope in Christ ; 68 persons joined this church on profession, on one day-Aug. 11. Others came later ; some joined elsewhere.
I cannot let this opportunity pass, without expressing my very great obligations to the Faculty of Amherst College, for their unvarying courtesy and kindness to me from first to last of my labors here. Fathers and brothers could not have been more friendly and helpful. One member of that Faculty, Professor William S. Tyler, revered and beloved, is still spared to us ; and my best impulses prompt me to say. that a kinder heart than his I have never found.
It has providentially been my favored lot to minister to two peoples and only two, in the gospel of Christ. They were and are good peo ples. I never desired any better peoples. I never sought nor desired any other peoples. These have I loved, and I love them still. I any one be curious to ask, which of my two peoples I love most and best, my instant answer is-both.
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PAPER
BY REV. EDWARD S. DWIGHT, D. D.
( Became Acting Pastor Aug. 21, 1853. Installed July 19, 1854. Dismissed Aug. 28, 1860 )
I was invited to take the pastoral charge of this church, to occupy if not to fill, the vacancy left by my loved and now venerable brother the Rev. Aaron M. Colton, in the early summer of 1853 ; and having conditionally accepted the invitation, entered on my official duty of the 21st of Aug. Domestic considerations seemed to me to render mi immediate installation unadvisable, and it was postponed for a time
The Amherst of that day wore a very different aspect from tha which it now presents. The natural land-marks were indeed all i
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