USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 1 > Part 15
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The amount necessary for the support of the church was raised by a general tax on the property of the town. After the establishment of a . parish of the Church of England the amount was divided. one-third be- ing for the English church and two-thirds for the Congregational church. Mr. Collins was sole pastor of the church until the infirmities of age com- pelled him to ask for a colleague, and the Rev. John De Witt was called May 29th, 1812. He remained a year and a half, when he resigned. No. vember 26th, 1813. .. being impressed that his labors will not be longer useful." and by a council on December 13th he was dismissed. Mr. De Witt was afterward the pastor of the Second Reformed church in Albany.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
and professor in the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, N. J. The old pastor continued to serve alone until April 20th. 1818, when Mr. Noah Sheldon was called and ordained July 15th, 1818. The Rev. Daniel Collins died August 26th, 1822, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, hav- ing seen the growth of the town from a small settlement in the wilderness to a well ordered, prosperous. and enterprising community. He was in his theology a Calvinist of the strictest kind, but his dignified manners. his real piety, his old fashioned courtesy, made him respected by all. He was tall, ereet, and quick in his movements, and wore to the close of his life the ministerial wig and three cornered hat. He expected and ex. acted a reverence or bow from every child he met. His slow, impressive walk, and his mixture of dignity and good humor are still remembered by some venerable residents of the town. He had the happiness of ad- mitting 283 persons into the church of which he was pastor. He was an earnest advocate of the establishment of Williams College, and devoted much time to its interests. He was a member of the original board of trustees, and retained his connection with it to his death. He was buried in the old cemetery on the main road. He lived for many years in a house on the main road near the present residence of Mr. W. B. Mc- Laughlin. Mr. Sheldon remained in charge until 1827. He admitted fourteen persons into the church. Then Henry B Hooker was calledl as pastor, and was ordained July 16th, 1827. During his pastorate the pres- ent substantial building of the society was erected. It is worthy of note that the bricks for it were made in the town. Mr. Hooker was a man of much energy and spiritual power. On May 8th. 1829, new articles of faith were adopted, embodying the essential features of those of 1764, but not so severely Calvinistie. In 1831 the pastor makes this entry : " This year one of greater spiritual blessing than any since its organization. 30 added during the year." On the 17th of May, 1836. he was dismiss- l. at his own request and to the great regret of his parisioners and the town.
Jannary 18th, 1837. Mr. R. S. Cook was ordained as pastor, and was obliged to resign in June, 1838, on account of ill health. No pastor was settled for several years, but the church was kept open by " supplies." December 24th, 1844, Edward I. Brace was ordained, and entered vigor- ously upon his work. He died September 22d. 1845, aged thirty one years, sincerely mourned by all who knew him. July 29th, 1817. Mr. A. B. Gilbert was examined by a conneil called for that purpose, and was ordained the following day. April 4th. 1849. Mr. Gilbert was dismissed by a council who put on record their regret that there had been so many short pastorates. Mr. Gilbert soon abandoned Congregationalism and became a member of the Episcopal church, but did not enter the ministry. An account is given elsewhere of the flourishing boys' school which he subsequently established.
The Rev. Mr. Martyn, of East Long Meadow, was called Jannary 4th. 1850, and installed May 21st. He was dismissed May 19th, 1852.
The Rev. Chauncey Eddy was called May 24th, 1533. In his letter
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TOWN OF LANESBOROUGH.
of acceptance he stated that he had received and declined a call offer- ing a larger salary, but that he was so satisfied that Lanesborough was exactly the place adapted to him. considering his time of life and tastes, that he was very sure that no other call could tempt him not to ac- cept this. He was installed August 23d, 1853, and dismissed March 25th. 1856, the council putting it on record that the separation was entirely on account of the inability of the people to raise the salary, and that they never met with a case where greater harmony seemed to prevail. and where the pulpit ministrations seemed more acceptable.
The Rev. George T. Dole began to officiate as stated supply July 17th. 1856, his engagement being for one year. He was so acceptable that he remained until July 27th, 1863.
The Rev. Charles Newman was called by the society soon afterward. and was the faithful and devoted pastor for several years. His sermons were remarkable for original thought, briefly and quietly expressed. A sermon that he delivered at the funeral of Mrs. Lizzie Farnum. in Jan- mary. 1867, has been published, and is a good example of his style.
The Rev. J. A. Clark became the stated supply February 16th. 1873. The Rev. William F. Avery became the minister of the society June 1st. 1877, and resigned in June, 1884. He was earnest and untiring in his lahore both in the parish and in the town. He was a member of the school committee. president of the Village Improvement Society. presi- dent of the Library Association, and in every position of honor he dil his full share of work. His departure is greatly regretted by the whole community.
The membership of the society, through deaths and removals. has been reduced to twenty-three. No regular services are held now Jan- uary, 1885), but measures are comtemplated by which the vacancy will be soon filled.
The parsonage mpon the main street was built in 1847 by a bee. when the members of the church and their friends assembled in large numbers to erect it.
Saint Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church .-- By reference to the history of the Congregational church it will be seen that among the early settlers there were members of the Church of England, who did not wish to be taxed for the building of a meeting house in which the ser- vices would be conducted after methods they could not approve. Wil- liam Bradley, Joel Sherman. Asa Barnes, Asahel Beach, Reuben Gar- lick, Abraham Bristol, William Jervies, and others who thought that the Church of England was nearest the apostolic model. were accustom- ed to assemble for divine worship in the house of Mr. Bradley, who read the service and a sermon. Soon afterward they met in a school house in the northeast corner of Mr. Bradley's farm, and previous to 1700 a small church had been created on a plot of land a little to the south of the present Episcopal parsonage. The first recorded wish of a clergy man of the Church of England was in October, 1707, when the Riv.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Samuel Andrews, of Wallingford, Conn., in a journey that he made " to the northward," at the request of his brethren of the Connecticut clergy, remained in the town for several days, and on October 2d. 1767. presided at the organization of a parish where Messrs. William Bradley and Joel Sherman were chosen wardens, and Abraham Bristol clerk, and two days afterward baptized Hezekiah, son of Asa and Lois Barnes, and Abel, Elinor. Elisha, Roger, and Sybil Pettibone. The little flock in the wilderness was warmly commended by Mr. Andrews to the English So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, which, in 1770. made it one of the four stations of a new mission with its center at Great Barrington, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Gideon Bostwick, who had been ordained priest in London, March, 11th, 1770, and actively took up his missionary work on his return in May. His first visit after his ordination was June 24th, 1770. when he presided at the election of church officers. His extensive circuit allowed him to give but one Sun- day in each month to Lanesborongh. In September, 1770, he reported thirty families of the church there. His labors for twenty- three years were fruitful, as an inspection of his register, preserved among the archives of Saint James' Church, Great Barrington, will show. His sal- ary, after some controversy in the town meetings, was paid from the tax levied for the support of a learned, orthodox. and settled minister, Mr. Collins receiving two thirds and Mr. Bostwick one third. June 13th, 1793. Mr. Bostwick died, in his native town, New Milford. Conn., in the fifty.first year of his age. In a very wide section of country in Berk- shire county, Mass., Columbia county, N. Y., Bennington county, Vt .. and Litchfield county, Conn., he did a work for the church that is sug- gestive of the days of the early missionaries of the Cross in Europe. He baptised 2,274 infants and SI adults, married 127 conples, and buried 84 persons. He was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel Burhans, who had been master of a classical school in the town, which will be mentioned in the educational history. Mr. Burhans had been led to examine the claims of the Church of England upon his conscience, and applying to Mr. Bost! wiek for instructions, under his influence became lay reader in Saint Luke's. as the church was even then named, and was made deacon by Bishop Seabury, of Connectient, at Middletown. Conn., June 5th, 1793, Mr. Bostwick's last duty for the church being the presentation of Mr. Burhans to the bishop for ordination. In June, 1794, Mr. Burhans was ordained priest. His charge was not as extensive as that of the first mis- sionary. He officiated alternately at Lanesborough and New Lebanon. N. Y. In 1794 he took charge of Trinity Church. Lenox, giving to it one half of his time. He devoted four Sundays of the year to visiting the scattered families of the church in the towns of the county that could not have constant services, and had been under the care of Mr. Bostwick. He held during these four weeks daily services in the various byways of the co ity. In June. 1799. influenced by the delicate state of Mrs. Bur- hans health and some dithienlty concerning the church glebe. he ac-
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cepted the rectorship of Trinity Church, Newtown. Conn. Mr. Burhans was a faithful and able minister of God's word, and a man of much force and originality of character. He filled many places of honor and trust. in the church, and in his eighty-first year retired to Poughkeepsie. N. Y., where he died December 30th, 1853, aged ninety years and six months. At the time of his death he was the oldest clergyman and the last sur- vivor of those of the Protestant Episcopal church in this country, ordained by Bishop Seabury, the first diocesan bishop in the United States. He was married four times, his first wife being Prudence, daughter of Abel Edson, of this town. He published a history of Trinity Church. Newtown, Conn., in the Churchman's Magazine for 1822-23. and a ser- mon upon " The Scriptural doctrine of the election of Jacob and the re- jection of Esau," which passed through two editions, and which is a clear and logical examination of Calvanism .* In December. 1799, Mr. Bur- hans was succeeded by the Rev. Gamaliel Thatcher, who remained in charge until June, 1801. Mr. Thatcher was subsequently rector of Christ Church, Ballston, N. Y. " He was a faithful shepherd." +
In February, 1801, the Rev. Amos Pardee became rector, and was a fit successor of the earnest workmen who had labored here. In Septem- ber, 1818, he resigned, and engaged in missionary work in the State of New York, anding the closing years of his life in Lanesborough and Caldwell, Lake George, N. Y. He died at Caldwell, December 2d. 1849, in the eightieth year of his age. He was buried in the upper cemetery in this town. In March, 1820. the Rev. Aaron Humphrey became rector. and labored energetically for ten years, resigning in May, 1830. He died at Beloit, Wis., where he organized a parish. October 10th. 1858, aged ninety years. He had the happiness of giving two sons to the ministry. The Rev. Dr. Chapman and others officiated in the parish until June, 1831, when the Rev. Samuel Brenton Shaw was called as rector. He en- entered vigorously upon his duties, he became identified with every good work in the town, and " Priest Shaw," as he was commonly called, filled a large and important place in the community. During his rectorship, in 1835, the present church building was erected. At Easter, 1865. ow- ing to failing sight, Dr. Shaw resigned, leaving many sincere friends both in and out of the parish. He often revisited his old parish and retained for it great affection and interest. An operation upon his eyes allowed him to resume the work of the ministry and he became rector of St. John's Church, Barrington, R. I. During the latter years of his life he resided at Providence, affording frequent assistance to his brethren both in the city and its vicinity. The bishop of Rhode Island and the mem- bers of the convention of that diocese honored him with an annual visit. and greatly enjoyed the reminiscences of this venerable servant of the Master. On Tuesday, March 17th. 1885, he entered into rest. His mind was carefully cultured and his long ministry enabled him to give valna-
* Second edition, Boston. No. 164 Washington St. 1525.
The Rev. Dr. Shaw in In- Centennial Sermon, October, Isti.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
ble council to his younger brethren. He was a preacher sound and ear- nest, a pastor untiring and faithful, a friend genial and true. The mem- ory he leaves is that of one who has done conscientiously and faithfully the work to which he devoted all his powers and ability. Dr. Shaw mar- ried a daughter of Alexander Jones, a well known cotton merchant of Providence, in 1822. She died in 1882. After her death his interest in this world was lost although he frequently said he hoped to live to say that he had lived in three centuries.
Samuel Brenton, the second child of Dr. William G. and Elizabeth (Brenton) Shaw, was born at North Kingston. R. I. in September. 1700. After being well prepared for college he entered Brown University. Prov- idence. R. L. in 1815. He graduated in 1819 and was probably the last survivor of his class. He studiel for the ministry un ter Bishop Gris- wold, at Bristol, R. I., and was by him made deacon at Providence. in January, 1821. His first parish was at Newton Lower Falls, Mass., where he spent a year, removing in 1822 to Hagerstown. Md., and from there was called to Guilford, Vt., where he spent eight years, removing thence to this town. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferrel on him by the University of Vermont. He was at the time of his death the oldest clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States. Several children survive him, two of them ministering to his declining years.
In September, 1865, the Rev. Lewis P. Clover. D. D., became reetor. He was severely ill during a large portion of his ineumbenes. and resigned in September, 1867. to accept the rectorship of St. John's Church. North Adams, Mass. He is now (1885) rector of St. Barnabas' Church, Reading. Pennsylvania.
In January. 1868, the Rev. William Curtis Mills became rector. He resigned January 1st, 1871. He is now at Glenwood, Iowa.
The Rev. Francis Gilliat became officiating minister in November. 1870, and was elected rector Easter, April 9th, 1871. He resigned July 9th, 1871, and he is now rector of St. James' Church, Arlington, Vt.
The Rev. Sturgis Pearce was elected rector in October. 1871, and re- mained for two years, resigning in October, 1873. He is now engaged in literary pursuits, residing at Northampton, Mass.
The Rev. Joshua Morsell. D. D., entered upon his duties as rector April 5th, 1874, but was compelled to resign owing to the severity of the climate, October 1st. 1874. He became rector at City Island, N. Y., and died December 16th, 1883, aged sixty-eight years. *
The Rev. Charles Collard Adams was elected rector at Easter. 1875, and resigned at Easter, 1879. He devoted much time to the improvement of the glebe, and during his rectorship the church was decorated with an elaborato altar screen. He is now residing in Pittsfield. Mass., having abandoned the ministry in 1883.
The Rev. Charles J. Palmer, of Cambridge, Mass, and a gradu.
* Whittaker's Almanac says sixty-tive.
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TOWN OF LANESBOROUGH.
ate of the General Theological Seminary in 1878, was called as officia- ting minister in September. 1880, and still maintains that relation to the parish.
The first church building has been already noticed. The second was built in 1785. " It was of wood, fifty-five feet by thirty, standing side- ways to the street. with galleries on three sides, and a tall spire at the south end. The communion table, since used for a bier, was an ordinary dressing table ; the communion vessels were of pewter. The pews were partly square and partly oblong. Above and below 300 persons could sit comfortably. The pews were reserved for the aged and heads of families, while the younger portion of the congregation occupied seats in the gallery .* *
The third building was completed in 1836. It is of native limestone. sixty.eight by forty-four feet. The style of architecture is Gothic. It consists of nave and tower, and is a good specimen of the early days of the Gothic revival in this country. The stone forming its front door steps is the same that was used for that purpose in the second church. The church was frescoed in 1855. It has an organ of excellent tone pre- sented by parishioners and friends. The original lot given by Jacob Bacon was enlarged on the south by Ephraim Bradley, and in the rear by Laban Laselle. A good bell hangs in the tower. The proposed separa- tion of the religious societies of the town did not take place until in the first quarter of the present century.
The act of incorporation for the parish was passed February 3d, 1823, when Laban Laselle and Nehemiah Talcott were made church wardens, Ephraim Bradley, Peter B. Curtis, and Sheldon C. Curtis, vestrymen. It anthorizes the formation of a fund whose income shall not exceed $2.000, " for the support of a Protestant Episcopal Priest or Priests in said par- ish." The wardens and vestrymen are made the trustees of such fund. Besides the share that the parish is entitled to from the proceeds of the ministry land of the town, which it shares with the other religions bodies, the precarious dependence to be placed upon voluntary subscriptions which about 1800 took the place of the general tax, caused members of the parish to endeavor to secure a church fund from which the minister could be supported, and other expenses met. In 1821 the effort was suc- cessful, Mr. Ephraim Bradley giving over $2,000. and Mr. Laban Laselle $1,500; others gave in proportion to their means, and the amount has gradually increased until now it yields a sufficient income, with the other resources of the parish, for all necessary expenses.
The first parsonage of the parish, in which Mr. Burhans lived, was a mere cottage, now a woodhouse on the premises of Mr. William Smith. The present parsonage was built in 1806 : it is surrounded by a glebe of twenty.eight acres, given at different times by Mr. William Bradley, the last half in 1809.
The present parochial organization (Jannary. 1885vis Rev. Charles J.
* The Rev. Dr. Shaw in his Centennial sermon. p. 14.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Palmer. minister : George B. Sherman and Frank Nourse, wardens : J. W. Newton, Jesse C. Pratt (clerk), F. D. Deming. George S. Williams, William Bradley. and S. P. Butler (treasurer), vestrymen.
The Baptist Church -In 1817. as the result of a religious revival. which the late Governor Briggs and Rev. Augustus Beach, then a well known teacher in the town, were earnest laborers, twelve persons pro- fessed the doctrines of the Baptist church, and were organized as a church in February, 1818, and joined the Westfield Association. For four years the Sunday services were supplied by various ministers, espec- ially the Rev. Samuel Bloss, of Cheshire. In May, 1822. the church of Pittsfield and Lanesborongh united in calling the Rev. Augustus Beach as their pastor. at a salary of $100, and a house. In 1827 Me. Beach severed his connection with Lanesborough to devote his whole time to the growing work in Pittsfield. The meeting place of the congregation was a room in the town hall, which in 1827 was burned. As two gen- tlemen were returning from the fire and commenting upon the delight it would give to sonre that the Baptists had now no meeting room, one, who was a Methodist, exclaimed, "I will give the land for a Bap- tist church if you will give the bricks." "Agreed !" said the other : and soon the present building was erected. A marble tablet over the door gives the date of its completion as July 4th, 1828. It is a sub- stantial building of brick, consisting of audience room and tower and seating comfortably three or four hundred people. It was dedicated February 10th, 1829, the sermon being preached by Rev. Leland Howard. of Troy, N. Y., and an address made by the Rev. John Leland, of Cheshire. Mass. In 1828 the church joined the Pittsfield Association, having then a membership of thirty-five. There was no resident pastor. In 1831 the Rev. Wakeman G. Johnson became pastor. In 1832 the accus- sions were very large, forty being added by baptism and six by letter. In 1834 the membership reached its greatest number, ninety-six. In the same year Mr. Horatio Foote, a noted revivalist of that day, was in the town eleven days. holding services in this church, and was " blessed iu seeing one hundred and seventy persons submit themselves to God under his preaching." # A portion united with the Baptist church, the others becoming members of the various religious societies in the town.
January 20th, 1836. the Rev. Mr. Johnson resigned, and after the lapse of a year Mr. John V. Ambler, a licentiate, was called as his sue- cessor, and ordained September 27th, 1837. He resigned in April. 1845. During his pastorate the membership of the church was increased by 24. He was greatly beloved by his flock. On July 16th, 1845, the Rev. J. Torrey Smith took charge and remained two years. He is well known as a writer. On the 8th of May, 1847. the Rev. Joha V. Ambler again became pastor. " His ministry of seventeen years," says a memorial sermon preached by the pastor in this church. September Ist. 1878, soon after Mr. Ambler's death, " so far as the records go, and so far as I have
* MS. Baptist Church Records.
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TOWN OF LANESBOROUGH.
learned from those who have enjoyed it, was most healthful in its infly- ence. The church enjoyed a period of general prosperity." Upon a sal- ary never more than $400 Mr. Ambler was able, through his skillful financiering, to purchase a parsonage, which was not repurchased from him, and twenty acres of the best land in Lanesborough. Mr. Ambler resigned January 6th, 1856. At the time of his death, in 1878, he had just accepted a call to the Baptist church, in Media. Penn.
Mr. A. H. Simmons was ordained pastor June 24th, 1857, having commeneed his labors in April. In 1859 he resigned to accept a call to Stepney, Com. Until 1869 the services were occasional. .. In that year the name of Father Fitts appears in the records, who like his an- 'cient predecessor . had the care of all the churches.' and soon a pastor. Rev. George Carpenter was settled."* He resigned in December. 1570, and services ceased until March 27th, 1871. when the Rev. J. H. Metcalf was the preacher. In April he was called as pastor, and continued his earnest, self-sacrificing labors until his death, June 16th, 1878. He was installed in the fall of 1871. In 1872, the church, having been much injured by fire, was remodeled, improved, and rededicated. " No earthly tribute will do him justice. His last earthly resting place is in the old cemetery at Lanesborough, Mass .; near that of brother Ambler, where, with many of their Hock, they await . the resurrection of the just.' " +
In May. 1878, the Rev. George M. Preston was called and remained until April, 1880, when he became pastor of the church in Cheshire. Mass. He, however, preached once every Sunday for nearly a year longer.
In May, 1881, the Rev. George W. Gile, of Pittsfield. kept the church alive by preaching once every Sunday. During his vacation Mr. Moses Gile. his brother, officiated.
In 1882, Bro. F. S. Parker, of Pittsfield, officiated. Mr. Gile officiat- ing at the communion services. In May, 1853, Bro. Gile and the Rev. George M. Preston maintained the services until the removal of Bro. Gile to Fall River. Mr. Preston is now the sole supply.
The membership, including non-residents, is 17.
Sister M. A. Wood is the present clerk.
The Methodist Church .- In the early days of Methodism Berkshire county formed a part of the old Rhinebeck District. There were occa- sional services in Lanesborongh by the circuit preachers, but no effort was made to establish a permanent organization until 1863. In that year the Rev. W. L. Smith, now of Old Chatham. N. Y., was in charge of Adams and New Ashford. During the winter of 1863 there was a revival at New Ashford, and the three Methodist families then in Lanesborongh were glad to have services upon week days during that time. The result was that a Methodist society was formed, with the families of Messes.
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