USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Conway > History of Conway (Massachusetts) 1767-1917 > Part 11
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Our story is told. Men and events change but God and truth abide. The things for which the church stands are vital to every community. The rural church is just now under special strain but at the same time it faces great opportunities. The character and achievements of the fathers who founded the town of Conway and its first Christian church permit the hope that their descendants will rise to the full measure of privi- lege and accomplishment in days to come.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH. BY REV. CHARLES STANLEY PEASE.
The history of the Baptist church and society in Conway begins with the year 1788. The church records open with the following :-
"At a Conference Meeting of the Baptist order in Conway at the house of Mr. William Salisbury on Thursday the 4th of September, 1788. The meeting opened by singing and solemn prayer.
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
"First, Made choice of Brother Shevi leader of the meeting. Second, Brother Enos Smith, scribe. Third, Proceeded to see how many of the brethren of Ashfield church, living in Conway, are for joining to build a church in Conway. They now being asked, brethren David Whitney, Caleb Rice, Elnathan Tobey, John Beal, gave their voices to build, and also brother Noah Tobey." Then follows an account of what seems to have been a prayer and conference meeting, during which other brethren made confession of faith and expressed the desire for membership in a Baptist church.
A council was accordingly convened which met October 1, 1788, at the house of William Salisbury, who lived in the southwest part of the town. There were present as delegates Elder Adam Hamilton and two brethren from the Westfield church and Elder Enos Smith and two delegates from the Ashfield church. Two days were spent in religious exercises. Elder Hamilton preached the first day from Prov. 14: 32, and on the second day from Col. 3:17. Eight persons were then baptized by Elder Hamilton, "after satisfaction being given of their union to Christ by faith." On the third day of the council, viz., October 3, 1788, the church was formally organized, and the fact attested by Adam Hamilton, moderator, and Enos Smith, scribe.
The following Sunday fourteen others were baptized by Elder Hamilton and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was admin- instered. On the 19th of the same month, seven more were baptized, and on the 18th of the following month, eleven others, making forty baptisms within a few weeks to encourage the new church. It is impossible to determine the exact number of the charter members, as no attempt was made in the records to distinguish between the early members and those subse- quently added by baptism and letter. By a strange oversight even the names of the eight who were the first to be baptized are unrecorded.
The following are the names which are mentioned of those connected with the church during the year of its organization :-
Noah Tobey, Barzillah Allis,
Ebenezer Tolman, Solomon Hartwell, Jr.,
Amos Shevi.
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THE CHURCHES.
Received from Baptist church in Ashfield by letter :-
Elnathan Tobey, David Whitney,
Caleb Rice, Deborah Tobey.
Received by baptism, October 5 :-
Samuel Allen,
Seth Salisbury,
William Salisbury,
Ebenezer Thacher,
Zaccheus Tobey,
Hannah Salisbury,
Stephen Salisbury,
Rhoda Salisbury,
Joel Allis,
Betty Tobey,
Josiah Beal,
Lewis,
Asa Curtis,
Sarah Hartwell.
Received by baptism, October 19 :-
Zadock King,
Abner Packard,
Joseph Tobey,
David Tobey, Daniel Lewis, Elizabeth Tobey,
Sarah Tobey.
Received by baptism, November 18 :-
Aaron Howe,
Jason Harrington,
Lydia Beal, Abigail Hartwell,
Samuel Allen, Jr.,
Deborah Tobey,
Calvin Keyes,
Elizabeth Tobey, Ann Sadler,
Isabel Hamilton,
Jane Tobey.
The church organized with the choice of William Salisbury as "scribe," but as he did not assume that office Abner Packard became the first acting clerk of the church and performed the duties of the office for three years. Elnathan Tobey and William Salisbury were chosen deacons, to which number Caleb Rice was soon afterwards added. Amos Shevi, one of the members of the church, was called to the office of pastor, but seems not to have been ordained and virtually became an occasional supply. The church was served by temporary sup- plies for a number of years. Among this number should be mentioned Rev. Josiah Goddard, a resident of the town, who as a member of the church rendered pastoral service as needed.
Calvin Keyes seems to have been the first recognized pastor of the church. He was baptized November 18, 1788, and thus, as we have noted, was virtually one of the charter members. Having been invited on several occasions to "improve his gifts," he at length was called to the pastorate, and accepting the office was regularly ordained on November 7, 1799, as attested
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
by Rev. Asa Todd of Whately, moderator, and Rev. Enos Smith of Ashfield, scribe. He evidently received much assistance in pulpit ministrations from neighboring and visiting clergymen, but continued to be the recognized pastor of the church for more than twenty years. He lived on his farm in the southwest part of the town, near the present Poland schoolhouse. During much of this time the church as a matter of principle withheld any fixed salary. Elder Keyes continued to reside in Conway and remained a member of the Baptist church till his death, September 16, 1843. Two extensive revivals occurred during his ministry, one in 1807-08 when fifty-six persons were added to the church by baptism, and another in 1816 when thirty-seven persons were baptized. He was connected with the church as pastor and layman for fully fifty years and served its interests with unselfish devotion.
In 1818 a call was extended to Rev. David Pease of Belcher- town to become the pastor with a stipulated salary of $250 a year. The call was accepted and from this time on the succes- sion of pastors becomes clearly indicated. The following is a list of pastors with length of service :-
Rev. Calvin Keyes, 1799-1818
Rev. A. J. Chaplin,
1858-1860
Rev. David Pease,
1818-1819
Rev. C. F. Nicholson,
1861-1862
Rev. Paul Himes,
1821-1822
Rev. Daniel Robinson,
1862-1863
Rev. Calvin Keyes,
1824-1827 Rev. J. V. Lentell,
1863-1866
Rev. David Pease,
1827-1831
Rev. J. J. Townsend,
1866-1868 1869-1874
Rev. Phineas Howe,
1834-1835
Rev. Dwight Ives, D.D.,
1875-1876
Rev. Wm. H. Rice,
1835
Rev. Alfred Colburn,
1876-1877
Rev. Foster Hartwell,
1838 Rev. Everett D. Stearns, 1877-1880 1880-1885 1840-1841 Rev. H. R. Mitchell,
Rev. Henry Rouse,
1841-1843
Rev. F. S. Weston,
1885-1889
Rev. Joel Kenney,
1844-1846
Rev. J. P. Hunter,
1889-1890
Rev. Richard Lentell,
1847-1848
Rev. W. C. Whitaker, Rev. C. S. Pease,
1896-1903
Rev. Martin Byrne,
1851-1853
Rev. H. A. Calhoun,
1903-1904
Rev. David Pease,
1854-1856
Rev. J. E. Dame,
1905-1909
Rev. Payson Tyler,
1857-1858
Rev. Edward Cooper,
1910-1914
For some time after the church was organized, meetings were held in the house or barn of different members, evidently rotating from one section of the town to another as suited convenience. The people residing in the southwest part of the town met by themselves during winter by mutual agreement.
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1892-1896
Rev. Perley P. Sanderson, 1846-1847
Rev. B. S. Morse, 1891-1892
Rev. Chas. A. Buckbee,
1848-1851
Rev. A. J. Chaplin,
Rev. . - Cooley, 1832-1833
Rev. David Wright,
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THE CHURCHES
Within a year, however, of the date of organization, plans were under way for a meeting house. The distance was meas- ured to the extreme families and a central location was sought. As a wide difference of opinion made agreement difficult a council was called with delegates from sister churches "to assist in choosing a spot for the meeting house." The site selected is described as "on the county road at the bend of the river." It was near where the Roman Catholic church now stands. A strip of land was purchased of Capt. Consider Arms three rods wide and twenty rods in length. Here a meeting house was erected 30 by 40 feet in dimensions. The burden of the work was curiously apportioned. One brother was to get out the heavy timber, another the "scantling," etc. The following vote was duly recorded: "Made choice of brother Ebenezer Redfield to provide 10d nails, and brother Prince Tobey to get the 4d nails." Benjamin Wheat was engaged as master workman. The work was begun May 26, 1790, and the building was evidently in use the following year, but probably was never really completed. It was seldom, if ever, used in winter, the records of meetings held during that season of the year being dated at various private houses.
In 1810, for reasons not given, it was decided to change the location. A long string of oxen was attached to the building, and under the efficient direction of John Arms drew it bodily for a number of rods along the side hill to some point near the present residence of Mrs. Edward Delabarre where it was found necessary to take the building apart. From this point it was moved in sections and reconstructed on the site of the present building, which replaced it in 1840. The follow- ing list of pewholders is preserved under date of December 10, 1812 :-
No. 1. Col. Rice,
No. 2. John Broadrick,
No. 3. Caleb Beal, No. 4. Capt. Wrisley,
No. 5. Solomon Goodale,
No. 6. Daniel Newhall,
No. 7. John Batchelder,
No. 8. George Stearns,
No. 10. John Arms,
No. 11. Benjamin Tobey,
No. 12. Josiah Goddard,
Dr. Moses Hayden, Jonathan Smith,
Luther Newhall,
Jason Harrington,
Henry Huxford, Capt. D. Stearns,
Wm. Redfield,
Augustus Leonard,
Caleb Sherman, John Arms,
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
No. 13. Lieut. Nathaniel Goddard,
No. 14. Barzillah Allis,
No. 15. Elisha Goddard,
No. 16.
Joel Bacon,
Cornelius Dunham, Stephen Sanderson,
No. 18. Dr. Moses Hayden,
No. 19. Amaziah Tobey,
No. 20. Jonathan Bartlett,
Aaron Hale,
No. 21.
Capt. William Stow,
No. 22. Lieut. Caleb Beal,
No. 23. James Newhall,
No. 24. Ebenezer Redfield.
Benjamin Rice, Wm. Salisbury, Rufus Harrington,
PEWS IN THE GALLERY.
No. 27. Silas Redfield,
Dudley Redfield,
No. 28. Ethan Billings,
No. 29. Asa Allis,
Joseph Wheelock,
No. 30.
Lieut. George Stearns,
Henry Allis,
No. 31. Benjamin Tobey,
Caleb Sherman,
No. 32. Jonathan Whitney,
Abijah Stearns,
No. 33. Jonathan Whitney,
John Broadrick,
No. 34. Capt. Wrisley,
Capt. Wm. Stow,
No. 35. Capt. Stearns,
John Batchelder,
No. 36. Daniel Newhall,
No. 37.
Amaziah Tobey,
No. 38. Augustus Leonard,
No. 39. Aaron Hale,
No. 40. Capt. Consider Amsden,
No. 41. Capt. Consider Amsden,
No. 42.
Joseph Pulsifer,
No. 43.
Eleazer Flagg,
No. 44.
Samuel Hartwell,
No. 45. Chauncey Goodrich,
No. 46. Francis Hartwell,
No. 47. Stephen Sanderson.
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It is interesting to note the array of military officers in this brief list, i. e., one colonel, four captains, and three lieutenants.
The present edifice was built on a larger plan that the first, measuring 55 by 38 feet. The old-time high-backed pews with doors and the elevated pulpit have disappeared, and the building has been raised to make room for the vestry beneath the audi- torium, but the essential features of the meeting house remain as when built in 1840. The specifications and contract were signed July 25, 1840, by George Stearns, Jr., Thomas Dinsmore, Joseph Wheelock, and Charles B. Stearns as committee for the church, and by Alonzo Parker, contractor. The building was to be completed within seven months from date, for which service Mr. Parker was to receive the old building and the sum of $2,000.
Timothy Goodale, Jeduthan Bartlett,
Israel Rice,
No. 17. Jonathan Whitney,
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THE CHURCHES.
The parsonage was built in 1849. No record of that impor- tant acquisition is preserved except the deed of the land which was given by John Arms, under date of April 4, 1849, to George Stearns, Jr., T. Dinsmore, and H. Cole, as trustees of the Baptist society. The land was then the corner of Mr. Arms' property nearest the meeting house. In the summer of 1883 water was brought to the house from a spring in Arms grove. In 1914 extensive repairs were made on the parsonage, including an addition built on the north side of the house and a piazza sixty feet in length built on two sides of the house.
For many years the meeting house had no bell. The first building had no steeple, but the second building was provided with a tall, graceful spire and spacious belfry. In 1868, largely through the generosity of Edward Delabarre, a large clear- toned bell was hung in place. It was rung for the first time on the third Sunday in August.
In 1871, during the pastorate of Rev. A. J. Chaplin, extensive repairs were undertaken on all of the church property. The foundations of the meeting house were relaid and a furnace was provided. The pulpit was remodeled and refurnished. A bap- tistery was built. The edifice was repainted, the roof tinned, and the parsonage was reshingled. The total expense was $2,262.87. The sum was all raised within three years, prin- cipally through voluntary subscriptions. The membership of the church at this time was sixty-five. Further changes were made in 1884, when Rev. H. R. Mitchell was pastor. The entire building was raised five feet and the basement deepened, giving two vestries, a kitchen, and a coal room with nine feet ceiling beneath the audience room. During the years 1894-96 $500 was expended in general repairs upon the meeting house and parsonage. This money came to the church as a legacy from Mrs. Delia R. Foster, who, though a brief resident of the town and not a member of the church, desired to express in this way her sympathy with the Baptist interests in Conway. In 1899, the sum of $200 having been left to the church by a devoted sister, Miss Martha Hassell, it was voted to renovate the larger vestry and make it a memorial room to perpetuate her memory. The old plaster was covered with a steel ceiling and the entire room was repainted. At the first annual meeting
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
of the church held after the repairs were completed, the following resolutions were adopted by vote of the church and recorded in the minutes :-
"Whereas, in God's loving providence, we have received a timely gift toward the renovation of our prayer-room and other church property, through the faithful and kindly thoughtfulness of our late beloved sister, Martha B. Hassell; and
"Whereas, this last act of material helpfulness is only one of many generous expressions of years past of her true and fervent love to God and His church; and
"Whereas, the gentle and holy influence of one so pure in heart was for long years a benediction to our work and to our workers; therefore,
"Resolved, that the fragrance of this tender and sacred memory is breathed into our church life and work of to-day, and still lives in our hearts to bless and to sanctify, to strengthen, and to bind us more closely together; and
"Resolved, that our renovated prayer-room, in its bright and cleanly dress, be made a memorial to her name; and that it be our sacred care to add to it, as we may be able, new features of attractiveness and beauty, that, as an expression of our love to God, it may be more and more a meet place to invoke the presence of His Holy Spirit."
In 1902, the vestry and social rooms were wired for electric lights and in 1911 the small vestry was given a steel ceiling and otherwise renovated.
This church, like many others in early days, was for years much exercised with cases of discipline. Three occur during the first year of its organization. In 1819, dissensions arose beyond the power of the local body to control, and the assistance of neighboring churches was invoked. We find this entry in the minutes under date of March 10, 1819: "Voted unanimously to send for a number of the neighboring Elders and delegates to give us counsel respecting our critical situation as a church, and how we shall proceed toward our delinquent brethren." This entry was followed by another under date of March 24, 1819, which we give in full because of its important bearing upon what is evidently the most critical period of the history of the
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THE CHURCHES.
church: "An ecclesiastical council convened by the request of the Baptist church in this place to give them such advice and counsel as shall be viewed proper by the council after hearing their statement of difficulties." Churches represented in council with list of delegates-Shelburne: Joel Jones, Simon Dewolf; Colerain: Elder George Witherall, Isaac Chapin, David Purinton; Leverett: Elder Montague, Kene Whitmore, Nathan Ripley; Belchertown: Elder Thomas Marshall, Isaace Robins, David Lyon. Deacon Hubbard being present was added to the council. The council made choice of Elder Marshall, moderator, and Elder Witherall, clerk. Prayer by the moderator. After hearing a statement of difficulties the council retired and formed the following result :-
"Dear Brethren, after deliberate consultation we are unani- mously of the opinion that it is the duty of the church in this place to dissolve their visibility. And for those who can be agreed to form themselves into a church and select or form such articles and covenant, to which each member shall set their names, as shall be approved by a regular council who may be requested to assist in organizing them into a visible church.
"By order and behalf of the council.
"(Signed) THOMAS MARSHALL, GEORGE WITHERALL."
The church organization was accordingly dissolved and remained so until June 12, 1820, when acting upon the second recommendation of the council twelve men and thirteen women agreed upon certain articles of faith and a covenant which met the approval of a council again regularly convened. This council formally recognized the now organized church, and the moderator, Elder Montague of Leverett, extended to a repre- sentative of the church the hand of fellowship as attested by Rev. David Pease, clerk of the council. In 1842 the "Articles of Faith" were revised, to which were added "Articles of Prac- tice" and "Rules of Discipline." A new church "Covenant" was also adopted which differs little from the one in use at the present day. The purpose of these statements concerning Christian faith and conduct was merely to summarize the teachings of the Bible upon these points.
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
The early minutes were not kept with the order and exact- ness one could wish. Deacon Robert A. Coffin, who was elected clerk in 1850 and served in this capacity for twenty-six years, rendered an enduring service to the church by the system which he inaugurated in keeping the records. The following served as clerks of the church till the year of federation: Abner Packard, 1788-91; Jason Harrington, 1791-1808; Benjamin Rice, Jr., 1808 -; Franklin Stowe, 1836-37; Foster Hartwell, 1837-39: Rufus Smith, 1839-44; Samuel Dinsmore, 1844-47; George Stearns, Jr., 1847-50; Robert A. Coffin, 1850-76; C. D. Ives, 1876-89; R. G. Rice, 1889-1914.
Owing to evident omissions in the early minutes it is impos- sible to ascertain the total number of members who have been connected with the church since its organization. More care, however, was taken in recording the baptisms as they occurred, and the total number of those who united with the church by this public confession of faith in Christ is probably six hundred and twenty. The most remarkable revival occurred in 1843, during the pastorate of Rev. Henry Rouse, when beginning with February 19 there were baptisms on almost every Sunday for several weeks. As there was at that time no baptistery in the church and the ordinance was accordingly administered in the river, the following entry in the minutes during that winter will be appreciated: "Visited our baptismal grave again, where Elder Rouse administered the ordinance of baptism to right willing converts amid ice and snow." The total number baptized by Elder Rouse during that winter and spring was fifty. During his pastorate of two years eighty-six were added to the church by baptism and letter.
From the first there have been constant depletions in numbers through removals. Young people have grown up under the influence and training of the church only to remove to some other place for permanent residence. For this reason the membership has not varied greatly from year to year. It has received constant additions but has also suffered as constant depletions. Probably its largest membership was in 1851 when one hundred and fifty-five were enrolled. The church has given seven ordained ministers to the world: Rev. Josiah Goddard, Rev. Calvin Keyes, Rev. Foster Hartwell, Rev. Edmund H.
.
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THE CHURCHES.
Smith, Rev. Horace Jenkins, D.D., Rev. Harrison Stearns, Rev. Wilbur F. Rice.
Elder Goddard is the author of a book of hymns published in Conway in 1798. Elder Keyes, as above noted, was the regular pastor of the Conway Baptist Church twenty-two years, and an active worker in the church for over fifty years. Dr. Jenkins was born in Ashfield in 1832 but removed to Conway when ten years of age. He studied in the public schools and received special instruction from Deacon Robert Coffin, a veteran teacher of Conway. He united with the Conway Baptist Church in 1849. He was appointed a missionary to China in 1859. He died in China in 1908. He was the author of several text-books in the Chinese language and for twenty years was president of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Shaohsing. Rev. Wilbur F. Rice was baptized in Ashfield, Mass., whither his father removed when he was twelve years old; but he had been a member of the Sunday School in the Conway church, where his father, Franklin E. Rice, and his grandfather, Deacon Benjamin Rice, had been faithful members.
The Sunday School department was organized in 1830 through the efforts of the following committee chosen by the church for that purpose: Benjamin Rice, Abijah Stearns, Cyrus Alden, Foster Hartwell, Samuel Montague, and William Bacon.
The early records of the church "Society," so called, or parish, have not been preserved and the date of its formation can only be conjectured. It is probable from all indications that the two forms of organization are co-extensive. When the church temporarily disbanded in 1819, the "Society" con- tinued its organization and held the property. Its annual business meeting has been held on the first Monday in April, announced by a warrant posted at the door of the church. In April, 1914, the Baptist and Methodist people of Conway united in the formation of a Federated church holding their services in the Methodist house of worship. The same year the Baptist Church and "Society" together deeded all of their church property, both meeting house and parsonage, to the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society. As the Baptists were no longer maintaining separate services there remained
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
no further service for the parish society to render and it has practically ceased to exist. The articles of federation provided, however, for the individuality of each church in membership, missionary offerings, and in control of church property. The Baptists accordingly continue to hold an annual church meeting for the election of officers and the transaction of business relating to their separate denominational existence. The last public service held in the Baptist house of worship was on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1914, when the pastor, Rev. Edward Cooper, having resigned to facilitate the federation, preached an appropriate sermon.
The Baptist meeting house was built in the plain but imposing style of early New England church architecture. Its white spire is the most conspicuous object in the village. A background of giant elms has added to its quiet dignity; and for more than a century the commanding elevation and pleasant neighborhood of which this church was the religious and social center has been known as "Baptist Hill."
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. BY REV. CHARLES STANLEY PEASE.
The exact beginning of Methodism in Conway cannot be ascertained. It has been stated that the first sermon ever preached by a Methodist minister in this community was by the eccentric Lorenzo Dow about 1825. An extensive revival began with this sermon. Rev. Parmele Chamberlain is said to have preached about the same time and also Rev. Samuel Luckey. From an early class book it is learned that on the eighth of June, 1826, a Methodist class was organized in the South Part with Rev. Parmele Chamberlain, the preacher in charge, and Dwight Sanderson, class leader. There were eight members in this class. The next record shows that the class was reorganized in 1843 with fourteen members, Dwight Sander- son still leader. It was called the "Whately class." At Shirk- shire a class was formed in 1835 by Rev. William Gordon when he was stationed at Buckland. A. M. Field was the leader.
But in the southwest and Poland districts the most system- atic work was done in those early years. In 1826 and 1827 the Rev. Josiah Hayden, who is spoken of as a "powerful exhorter,"
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THE CHURCHES.
in company with a local preacher by the name of Lewis, held meetings in the old Poland schoolhouse and at the house of Shubel Bradford. A camp meeting was held in that neigh- borhood as early as 1831 under the direction of the Presiding Elder of the Springfield District, Rev. Orange Scott. These meetings resulted in a notable revival. A number of people in the Poland and Brier Hill districts identified themselves with the Methodist movement. A schoolhouse in that section was enlarged and a room fitted up for religious meetings. The building was used for many years both as a school and as a church. It was known as the "Chapel." A beautiful cascade in the mountain brook which runs by the site of the chapel has since been known as "Chapel Falls." This society was at first a part of the Northampton circuit, then for a time was included in a circuit with Worthington and Buckland. Rev. William Gordon, Rev. Windsor Ward, Rev. John Cadwell, Rev. Philo Hawks, and other "circuit riders" supplied them with occasional preaching. In 1842 Rev. Orange Scott having identified himself with the anti-slavery movement and having lost hope of his own church becoming an anti-slavery power, withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church and with others organized the "Wesleyan Methodist Connection" of which body he became the first president. Many in the Chapel Society sympathized with their former leader in his anti-slavery sentiments and following his example withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal body. This division continued for some years and led to the extinction of the society in Poland. Preaching services at the chapel became infrequent and were discontinued about 1855.
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