USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > Historical sketch of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. With an appendix > Part 4
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from the New Jerusalem, or new church,-to which church he would consider all spiritual men as virtually belonging,) ' particularly the doctrines respecting three Divine persons, the atonement, the justification by faith alone, the resurrection of the material body, &c. are highly dangerous to the rising generation, inasmuch as they tend to ingraft in their infant minds, principles di- ametrically opposite to those of the new church, and consequently hurtful to their salvation :' That he holds that all prayer should be directed to Christ as God, clothed in a divine body and a human form : That he believes that, as ' the earth abideth forever,' the sun and moon will continue to rise and set as they now do to all eternity : That he is expecting, and has for years been expecting, a new or farther revelation : That he believes, as stated in the thirty-second of the forty-two propositions published by the members of the New Je- rusalem Church at Great East, London, 'that there is not a single genuine truth remaining in the old church, but what is falsified :'-and also as stated in the 39th and 40th, of said propositions, 'that now is the second advent of the Lord, which is a coming, not in person, but in the power and glory of the spiritual sense of his holy word, which is himself,'-and ' that this second coming of the Lord is effected by means of his servant Emanuel Swedenborg, before whom he hath manifested himself in person, and whom he hath filled with his spirit to teach the doctrines of the new church by the word from him :'-that he has read Swedenborg's trea- tise ' on the Pleasures of Insanity concerning scortatory love,' and finds nothing in it, which, as he understands it, he disapproves ; but that it cannot be rightly under-
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stood, except in connection with the preceding treatise ' on Conjugial Love,' which is considered by Sweden- borg as eminently pure and holy, in distinction from scortatory love, which he condemns and would restrain.
The admissions and avowals now recited, comprise all the important points of doctrine distinctly specified in the allegations of the church, and all concerning which Mr. Weeks was particularly inquired of before the council.
Though we would not advance an opinion relative to these sentiments, derogatory to the christian character of the Rev. Mr. Weeks, or of any who honestly main- tain them ; believing that they may be received by their advocates in a constructive sense more favorable to the interests of truth and piety, than that which pre- sents itself most obviously to us ; yet we deem it our sacred and indispensable duty to declare our opinion, that the writings and sentiments in question, according to the interpretation which they generally receive, are anti-scriptural and dangerous.
One article, however, the council deem it proper somewhat particularly to note, viz. ' the second coming of the Lord is effected by means of his servant Eman- uel Swedenborg, before whom he has manifested him- self in person, and whom he hath filled with his spirit, to teach the doctrines of the new church by the word from him.' Here the high claims of Swedenborg are fully admitted ; and he is solemnly acknowledged as a divine messenger, a teacher sent from God, a man who was favored with familiar converse with God in the celestial world, and authorized to declare his mind and will and the true sense of the holy scriptures to men under a
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new dispensation, of which he was the special minis- ter. Such were his pretensions and claims ; and such the high authority which his followers are required to allow to his doctrines and instructions.
If these claims are well founded, then under this new dispensation, God is calling upon all men every where to receive Emanuel Swedenborg as his own specially appointed and inspired messenger, and to hear him .- But in what way or manner has God signified this to men ? By what miracles, or mighty works, or prophe- cies ; by what signs, or wonders, or gifts of the holy ghost ? Where are the credentials, or attestations of such a divine mission ? If it be said that the internal evidence of Swedenborg's writings is so clear and strong as to render all external attestation or evidence unne- cessary,-it were proper to ask in reply, are these wri- tings, then, so much more clearly divine in their char- acter, in light, and purity, and weight, than the holy scriptures ? And do the mission and dispensation of Emanuel Swedenborg so far excel in glory those of Moses and of Jesus Christ ?
This council can by no means admit it to be right and fit, first to suppose that Emanuel Swedenborg may have been a divinely inspired teacher from heaven, and with this supposition to proceed to the reading of his voluminous writings for the evidence ; but does, on the contrary, believe it to be most proper and important, first to require the signs in him of a divine messenger, the public and solemn and unequivocal attestations of his having been sent from God. This is especially im- portant, as he not only takes upon himself authorita- tively to declare heavenly things, but also to take from
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the words of God's holy book, not merely by explain- ing away, or involving in mysticism, its obvious doc- trines, but by excluding in effect from the canon large portions, among which are included all the apostolical epistles.
On the whole, it does not appear to this council that in respect to the proper credentials of a divine mission, Emanuel Swedenborg stands on any higher or better ground than Mohammed. But if he was not a special and inspired messenger of God, his pretensions were false, and his alleged mission an imposture. And whether it be not of most delusive and dangerous ten- dency to yield the mind to such a guidance for its eter- nal interests, it behoves every person very seriously to consider.
For the reasons now brought into view, and also be- cause we consider the adoption of the Swedenborgian system as a virtual renunciation of this church, and all disclaiming the principles of the New Jerusalem church, we deem it expedient that the connection between this church and their pastor, the Rev. Holland Weeks, be dissolved.
The council have not come to this result without se- rious and prayerful deliberation, and we would in con- clusion express, with great tenderness, our christian regards towards the Rev. Mr. Weeks, -with devout prayers that the spirit of unerring wisdom may guide all his researches after truth and duty, and enable him, wherever providence may cast his lot, to acquit himself to divine acceptance. And we would express our affec- tionate solicitude for the spiritual comfort and welfare of this bereaved church and people. May the great
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Shepherd of Israel watch over them, and lead them continually in green pastures and beside still waters ; and in due season furnish them with a pastor after his own heart, that they may be built up in knowledge, faith, and holiness, unto everlasting life.
S. WORCESTER, Moderator.
DANIEL HUNTINGTON, Scribe.
Mr. Weeks was thereupon, in accordance with the advice of the council, dismissed from his pastoral office. Some time after, he was also dismissed from the church, for having embraced what weredeemed ' errors subver- sive of the gospel of Christ.'
In the fall of 1821, Mr. Samuel Spring, jr. of New- buryport, accepted a call to settle, and was ordained 2d January, 1822. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Dim- mick of Newburyport.
Mr. Spring continued his labors until the latter part of 1826, when he received an invitation to become the minister of the North Congregational Society in Hartford, Conn. In consequence of this call an ex parte council was convened at his request, the church and society not opposing, 6th Dec., of the same year.
They decided in favor of his dismission. Mr. Spring's salary was $600 a year, beside the use of a house* and lot belonging to the parish.
After a vacancy in the ministry for about two years and a half, the Rev. William Shed was, on the 1st of January, 1829, installed over the church and society. Sermon, by the Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, of Boston, from cxlv. Psalm, 18 verse.
* This house, situated on the spot where deacon Edward Cobb now lives, was burnt while Mr. Spring occupied it.
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Mr. Shed's health soon became much impaired, and the prospect of his recovery so distant, if not hopeless, that in the spring of the next year, he was, from that and some other considerations, induced to ask a dismis- sion. He died of consumption, Nov. 11, 1830, at the age of 33. Mr. Shed was a native of Mount Vernon, N. H., and a graduate at Dartmouth college, in 1819. He married Miss Mary Howe of Abington.
The Rev. Melancthon G. Wheeler, of Charotte, Ver- mont, and a graduate of Union college, N. Y. in 1825, succeeded Mr. Shed. He was installed 13th Oct. 1831. The Rev. Daniel Huntington of North Bridgewater, preached the sermon from Romans xv. chap. 30th verse. He was dismissed in 1833.
The present minister is the Rev. James W. Ward, a graduate of Dartmouth college, in 1826. Sermon at his ordination, May 21, 1834, by the Rev. Dr. War- ren Fay, of Charlestown, from Romans, xth chap. 16th verse.
The whole number of members of the First Church, in March, 1838, was 148; 60 males and 88 females.
The following is a list of the past deceased deacons of this church, viz. Ebenezer Whitmarsh, Joseph Lin- coln, Samuel French, Edward Bates, Joshua Shaw, Samuel Pool, John Noyes, Eleazer Whitman, Daniel Shaw, Jacob Pool, Isaac Tirrill, and David Torrey.
MEETING HOUSES.
The first religious society have had three meeting- houses. The first stood in front of the old burying ground, near Mr. Samuel Brown's, on land reserved for the purpose in the deed to the first minister. The house was a small unpainted quaker-like building, without steeple, tower, or bell, fitted up in the inside with benches, (the town voted there should be no pews,) and with galleries projecting on the sides so near the pulpit, that in the language of my informant 'a contri- bution box could be reached from one to the other.'
The vote against pews was not, however, adhered to ; as in 1731, mention is made in the town records of the widow Nash's pew ; and it is understood there were four in the house, when taken down in 1751.
In the latter part of 1750, a vote was obtained to build a new house, but much difficulty arose about its location. Not being able after many trials to agree on this point, it was at last voted to refer the matter to a committee not of the town .* January 14th, 1751, they reported 'that the southeasterly corner of Mr. Peter Nash's pasture, on the westerly side of the road, near the northeasterly corner of the Rev. Mr. Dodge's homestead, be the spot whereon to build the said meet-
* The committee were Josiah Edson, Abel Packard, and David Kingman, all of Bridgewater.
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ing-house.' The report was accepted, and the town agreed to build a house, with a steeple - 70 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 26 feet posts, and appointed Lieut. Ephraim Spooner, Christopher Dyer, Jacob Porter, Capt. Obadiah Reed, Joseph Richards, and deacon Joshua Shaw, a building committee.
When the house was raised, does not exactly appear, but it must have been before the 27th June, as the com- mittee then reported to the town an account of their expenditures to that time, including among other items, charges for 'cider, bread, malt, and cheese, and the hire of men for raising the house.'*
There were in the interior of this house, beside several long seats or benches below for the accommo- dation of the elder men and women, and others around the front sides of the galleries, about 70 pews. Over the pulpit there was a sounding-board, projecting from the wall of the house, designed to prevent the sound of the voice from ascending, and thus propagate it in a horizontal direction. Immediately in front of the pul- pit, there were two long seats, one for the 'hard of hearing,' and the other for the deacons.
This house stood until 1819, when it was taken down, to give place to the present house.
* Inquiry was made of an aged and very respectable lady, now living, whether there was any distilled spirits used at the raising? She said there was, and related the following anecdote. A large square bottle, probably of thin glass, containing rum, was deposited at Mr. Dodge's. An individual, noted for his eccentricity and doggrel poetry, came in to drink, and in the act of doing it, drew so hard on the bottle as to exhaust the air within, and cause it to break by external pressure.
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SECOND CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
In 1806, the population of the town had so in- creased, that Mr. Niles's meeting-house, though large, was insufficient for the accommodation of the inhabi- tants. To remedy this inconvenience as well as lessen the travel to meeting, a number of individuals living in the southerly part of the town, and the northeasterly part of East Bridgewater, met Nov. 4, and agreed to take the necessary measures for forming another reli- gious society and building a new meeting-house.
In consequence of their proceedings a church con- sisting of eight male and fifteen female members, was gathered 19th August, 1807; and on the 10th of the next February, a society was incorporated by the name of the 'Union Calvinistic Society, in the south part of Abington.'
Their meeting-house was raised the latter part of May, 1807, on a ground lot, containing three-fourths of an acre, given by Mr. Ebenezer Porter. It was built by a company of proprietors, under the superin- tendence of Aaron Hobart, jr., James Barrell, Ebene- zer Porter, Bela Dyer, and Joseph Gannett, at the cost of about $6,500.
The house was dedicated 1st June, 1808. On the same day, Mr. Daniel Thomas, a native of Middlebor- ough, and a graduate of Brown University in 1803, was, with great unanimity of the people, ordained as their minister. Sermon by the Rev. Otis Thompson, of Rehoboth. Mr. Thomas's salary is $400 a year, with leave to be absent a certain portion of the time.
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The church, in March, 1838, consisted of 92 mem- bers ; 29 males and 63 females.
THIRD CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
This society was incorporated 24th February, 1813, on the 27th August following, a church was formed consisting of ten male and five female members.
Their first minister was the Rev. Samuel W. Col- burn, a native of Uxbridge, Vermont, and a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1808. His installation took place 27th October, 1813. Sermon by the Rev. Otis Thompson, of Rehoboth, from II. Corinthians, vi., 1.
Mr. Colburn continued his services till March 31st, 1830, when, in consequence of difficulties that had arisen, he was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council, convened for that purpose, at the mutual request of the church and Pastor. His salary was $450, until the death of Mr. Niles, and afterwards $500.
The Rev. Lucius Alden, of East Bridgewater, com- menced his ministerial labors in this society 26th Sep- tember, 1830. On the 5th December, 1832, he was installed as the pastor of the church and society. Ser- mon by the Rev. Ebenezer Gay, of Bridgewater, from Ephesians, iii. chap. 10th verse. Mr. Alden graduated at Brown University in 1821. His salary is $500 a year.
The meeting-house of this society was raised June 9th, 1812, on a lot given by the late David Hersey, at a distance then of nearly half a mile from any public highway. It was built by proprietors, under the direc-
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tion of Micah Pool, James Smith, Joshua Curtis, Wil- liam Torrey, Alexander Vining, William Holbrook, and Thomas Hunt, and cost about $4,500. The house was dedicated on the day Mr. Colburn was installed. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Strong, of Randolph, from Psalms, cxxii, 1.
As in consequence of the increase of the congrega- tion, the house had become too small for the accommo- dation of the hearers, it was enlarged in 1837, by ad- ding 17 feet to the easterly end. At the same time, a new roof was laid over the whole house ; the front and steeple were rebuilt in the modern style, and the inte- rior altered by the erection of a new pulpit and new pews. The whole expense, including the cost of a new bell and clock, from the manufactory of G. Hol- brook, of Medway, was about $3,000, and was chiefly defrayed by the sale of the pews.
The whole number of church members in March, 1838, was 95; 39 males and 56 females.
BAPTIST SOCIETY.
This society was formed by a voluntary association of individuals, 7th September, 1822. Its principal pro- moter was the late Josiah C. Rainsford, formerly a deacon of the 2d Baptist church in Boston. Through his means and influence chiefly, a small house was erected in 1822. On the day of its dedication, a church was organized, consisting of 11 members, 6 males and 5 females.
Their first minister was the Rev. William Kimball, who was ordained 30th June, 1824.
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The next, the Rev. David Curtis, a graduate of Brown University, in 1808. He was installed 26th July, 1826.
To him succeeded the Rev. Silas Hall, a graduate of Brown University, in 1809. He was dismissed at his request, in 1834. The pulpit has since been supplied by the Rev. William H. Dalrymple, and by the Rev. E. C. Messenger, the present minister.
In 1832, the meeting-house being found too small for the accommodation of the society, a new, larger, and more convenient one was erected at an expense, inclu- ding the bell, of about $3,200. It was dedicated 1st January, 1833. Sermon by Mr. Hall, the pastor.
Whole number of church members in March, 1838, was 87-35 males and 52 females.
THE FIRST SOCIETY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
In 1827, a few receivers of the doctrines of Eman- uel Swedenborg began to hold meetings in the westerly part of the town. In 1830, a distinct religious society, consisting of ten members, was organized by the name of ' the first society of the New Jerusalem, in Abington,' and the place of meeting was, the same year, changed to the centre of the town. In the winter of 1833-4, a building was erected, called the New Jerusalem Hall, where the meetings for public worship have since been held. This hall, and a dwelling house for the accom- modation of the minister, are the property, not of the society, but of individuals, who are receivers of the doctrines.
It having been concluded to take the proper meas- ures to obtain the organization of the society as a church
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of the New Jerusalem, a request was sent to the Bos- ton society of the same denomination, in February, 1835, and on Wednesday, the 25th of that month, the pastor of that society, with delegates, met the receiv- ers here, and organized the church agreeably to a re- commendation of the general convention of the new church, in regard to the formation of new church socie- ties. The number of persons thus formed into a church was twenty-four.
The licensed ministers of this society have been suc- cessively, Messrs. Eleazer Smith, Samuel Worcester, Henry A. Worcester, a graduate of Yale College, and Warren Goddard, a graduate of Harvard. The present minister, Joseph Pettee, a graduate of Yale, was or- dained pastor, 26th July, 1838.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY.
This society, which was established in 1831, has a house of public worship in the northeasterly part of the town, near the line of Hanover. Their pulpit has been supplied in succession by Rev. John Bailey, Thomas W. Gile, Richard Livesey, Elisha B. Bradford, and the Rev. George W. Bates.
In March, 1838, the number of church members was 72-35 males and 37 females,
NOTICES OF THE THREE FIRST MINIS- TERS OF THE FIRST SOCIETY.
MR. BROWN.
Mr. Brown was born at Newbury, in the county of Essex, September 5th, 1637. No certain account has been obtained of his parentage, but from a coat of arms formerly belonging to him, and now in the possession of one of his posterity, it is probable he was a descen- dant of Sir Walston Brown .*
Mr. Brown took his first degree at Cambridge, in 1709, and came to Abington to preach as before stated, 8th December, 1711.
Little is known of his private character, but by tra- dition. That represents him to have been a man of benevolent, though quick temper-of respectable intel- lectual endowments, and in literary attainments upon a level with the clergymen in general of his day.
In his religious sentiments, he might be considered a moderate Calvinist, with an inclination to Arminianism. From some of his sermons in manuscript, which the writer has seen, he seems to have thought it a more important concern how we live, than what we believe. He therefore discoursed less upon doctrines, and more
* Sir Walston was ' a young knight of King Henry 8th Household.' He attended Lord Davy to the Court of Arragon, in Spain, where he was knight- ed by the Spanish king.
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upon the moral and practical duties of life, considering them the foundation and essence of all religion. His style of writing was plain and strong, though sometimes coarse and inelegant.
The latter years of his life, as we have seen, were em- bittered by controversy with his people. Whitfield, a man of very extraordinary powers of elocution, had travelled through the country, 'playing the bishop in other men's parishes,' and by his preaching, had laid the foundation of what were considered by many, great errors in doctrines, and disorders in practice, in the New England churches. Mr. Brown was among his firm and decided opposers. He opposed him, because he thought his mode of itinerant preaching dishonorary to God, and detrimental to the prosperity of the church- es and the interests of the christian religion-because his wild spirit of-enthusiasm, united as it was in him with uncommon powers of winning popular favor, was the great source of the confusion and disorders of the times-because his preaching too much disparaged the use of reason in matters of religion-because it promo- ted in the community a spirit of bitterness, censorious- ness, and uncharitableness, and tended to destroy the peace and welfare of religious societies, by alienating affection between minister and people, the inevitable consequence of which was, contention and destruction of the usefulness of the settled minister-and because many of his practices were unjustifiable, particularly that singular one of singing psalms and hymns in the public highways, as he and his companions rode from town to town ; a thing which he considered, in the lan- guage of Mr. Tenant, 'a piece of weakness and enthu
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siastical ostentation.' For these and other reasons, he publicly declared, that ' he could not with a good con- science, and therefore would not, directly or indirectly encourage him to preach, either publicly or privately, in his parish.'*
In these views, Mr. Brown differed essentially from many, and some of them among the most substantial of his parishioners. They considered Mr. Whitfield a sound, pious, and very successful minister of the gos- pel. As such, they were disposed to countenance and sustain him in his preaching and practices. The con- sequence was, the commencement of a disaffection, which led to that series of troubles, which for years rent the church and congregation, and finally ended in Mr. Brown's dismission. In this long controversy, there were doubtless errors and faults on both sides .- It is however to Mr. Brown's credit, that nothing ap- pears to have occurred during its existence, to impair in any important degree his standing as a moral and re- ligious man.
Mr. Brown's labors were not confined to the minis- try. Tradition informs us, and his account book shows, that he, as was the case with many other clergymen of his time, was in quite extensive practice as a physician. His visits were not confined to Abington, but often ex-
* For a more particular account of the grounds of Mr. Brown's opposition to Whitfield, the reader is referred to a pamphlet, entitled ' the sentiments and resolutions of an association of ministers, convened at Weymouth, January 15th, 1745, concerning the Rev. George Whitfield.' It is signed by the fol- lowing persons, viz. Samuel Niles, Braintrec, Moderator ; Nathaniel Eells, Scituate, Samuel Brown, Abington, Ebenezer Gay, Hingham, Daniel Perkins and John Angier, Bridgewater, John Taylor, Milton, Samuel Dunbar, Stough- ton, Jonathan Bowman, Dorchester, William Smith, Weymouth, John Fowle, Hingham, (now Cohasset,) and Philip Curtis, Stoughton.
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tended into several of the neighboring towns. He was also much employed in drawing deeds, wills, and other instruments in writing.
He died of fever, 12th September, 1749, shortly af- ter his dismission, at the age of 62. His first wife was Dorothy Woodbridge, to whom he was married 24th October, 1712, and by whom he had Woodbridge, born 1714. She died April, 1718, and the next February he married Mary, the daughter of Matthew Pratt, of Weymouth. By her he had several children, but they all died young. After his death, his widow married Josiah Torrey, Esq.
MR. DODGE.
Mr. Dodge, the son of Jabez Dodge, was born in that part of Ipswich, in the county of Essex, now the town of Manchester, 21st April, 1723. His father moved from thence to Shrewsbury, in the county of Worcester, from whence the son, after the usual course of preparation, entered the college at Cambridge, where he graduated July, 1749. The 31st of August follow- ing, he received, as he says, 'a full approbation' to preach, from an association of ministers at Hardwich .* As the short period of little over a month would hardly be sufficient to qualify him for the ministry, it is proba- ble that having early chosen his profession, a great share of his time at college was devoted to theological stud- ies.
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