USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Deerfield > History of Deerfield, Massachusetts: the times when the people by whom it was settled, unsettled and resettled, vol 2 > Part 12
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786
MINISTERIAL AND MUNICIPAL.
formed under the influence of divine wisdom, & will meet the ap- probation of that Being, whose approbation should be our object in all that we do; & I do hereby accept your invitation to settle among you in the office of a Christian minister on the terms you propose. Sensible of the arduous undertaking and of my present defects, I ask your prayers to the Author of all good, that I may be abundantly furnished with ministerial gifts. And should it please God to unite us in the sacred relation of minister & people, may he by his contin- ual presence & blessing make the connection condusive to our mutu- al happiness and spiritual improvement; which is the fervent prayer Your Servant in the Lord And Companion in the Duties and of
hopes of religion SAMUEL WILLARD July 5, 1807.
Dea. Justin Hitchcock, H. Wright Strong and Samuel Childs were made a committee to confer with Mr. Willard. They agreed upon Aug. 12th as the time for his ordination, "and that the ordaining council consist of nine churches (to- gether with what Mr. Willard shall choose). The selectmen were made a committee to provide for the ordination, and pay all expenses, which are to be Assessed" in the next Minister's Tax. July 6th, the action of the town being known, the church,-
Voted the following churches by their Pastor & Delegates be ap- plied to for the Ordaining Council, viz: The Church of Portsmouth N. H. the Church in Petersham; the Church in Amherst; the Church in Greenfield; the Church in Hatfield; the Church in Whately; the Church in Conway; the Church in Shelburne.
Rev. Mr. Taylor was invited later.
The council met August 11th, all the churches named above except Portsmouth, being represented. A long and searching examination of the candidate was made, during which his confession of faith was laid before it. At the adjournment of the council it became evident that ordination was to be re- fused Mr. Willard, and great excitement followed. It was on this adjournment, or on that of the next day, that the boys, -as I was told by one of them, Jona. A. Saxton, then seven- teen years old-expressed their indignation by bowling stones at the shins of the members of the council, as they were crossing the Common between Dea. Arms's and the meet- inghouse. As this gentle hint did not have the desired effect, other measures were taken. On the 12th, the council spent most of the day in examining the candidate, and in debate on the ordination ; and about 5 o'clock a large number of the citizens appeared before it with the following address :-
787
AN EXCITED BUT VAIN APPEAL.
To the Ecclesiastical Counsel here convened-Fathers Being un- expectedly alarmed with the report of your declining to proceed in the ordination: which was the object of your meeting: We members of the church and congregation in this place: Sieze this early Op- portunity to present ourselves before you that you may read in our Countenances a regret which we have no language capable of Delin- enating: We hope, nay, may we not say we trust this report is al- together premature; but such is the agitation which the slightest apprehension of its truth has occasioned in our breasts that we are thus as it were, Involuntarily Constrained to Discover the emotions which have arested us if Reverend Gentlemen, our fears are unhap- ily founded in truth, permit us to ask a moments Suspension of the · Dread Decission : permit us first to enquire what must be our con- dition what conceivable measure can possibly avert our Destruction ; with an upright zeal for the establishment of the Instituted means of Christian Instruction we had Selected for our Pastor, a [young ? ] Gentlemen whose talents learning and Christian Character Promised eminent usefulness to the Church, we have had opportunity of wit- nessing his graces in publick and private, and many of us, from a personal attendance upon his examination, can express a full Satis- faxion in the correctness of his faith; from expectations thus raised, attachments have been formed, and affections excited the cords of which cannot be severed without a Struggle little Inferior to the Pangs of Dissolving nature-We are persuaded, we feel that on your final Decission, rests the preservation or Destruction of our Dearest and most Sacred Interest-Pause-Reverend Fathers for Heavens sake-Pause.
Deerfield August 12, 1807.
Reading between the lines of this crude and excited ad- dress, one may see the spirit of independence, which a few hours later rose in rank rebellion against the domination of the priesthood, and gave the man of their choice a new call to their pulpit. This paper gave vent to the indignation of the elders, as the rock practice did that of the boys. One availed as much as the other. The fiat had gone forth and the " result" was a fixed fact. I have never seen any allu- sion to this appeal in any record or report of this day's action. This copy is found in a MS. pamphlet, containing also the Result and the creed of Mr. Willard, which is given below :-
MR. WILLARD'S CONFESSION OF FAITHI.
I believe in the existence of one GOD, invisible, eternal, unchange- able, self-existent and independent, omnipotent and omniscient, per- fectly just, and unalterably good, and infinite in every glorious & amiable attribute.
I believe that GOD is the Creator and the continual preserver of all things, visible and invisible.
I believe in the absolute sovereignty of GOD; that he has a right to do his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of
788
MINISTERIAL AND MUNICIPAL.
the earth; and that he does, indeed, exercise a moral government over all creatures that are capable of moral action.
I believe that man is a subject of this government; that being a dependent creature of Gon, intelligent and free, he is accountable to him for all his actions and affections.
I believe that man was created in the image of him that made him, innocent and happy; but that he early fell from this state by sin, and involved the whole human race in ruin.
I believe it was utterly impossible for any to save themselves from this deplorable condition; 'that every mouth must be stopped;' and that it is through the free and sovereign grace of Gon, that one of the human race is ever saved.
I believe that the grace of God is dispensed to the guilty through the mediation of his only begotten Son, who existed in the bosom of the Father before the world began; who was the brightness of his Father's glory and the express image of his person,' 'by whom all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; and between whom and absolute, underived divinity,* there is an ineffa- ble, incomprehensible, and mysterious union, described by himself, in the words, 'I am in the Father and the Father in me,' and by the Apos- tle, in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.'
To execute the office of Mediator, I believe the Lord of Life laid aside the brightness of his glory, descended from heaven, assumed our nature, and was born in a miraculous manner.
I believe that he yielded perfect obedience to the divine law; such obedience as no mere man since the fall ever did; that in his life he endured many sorrows, and that he finally suffered a most ignomin- ious and painful death on the cross, to make expiation for the sins of the world, and purchase them pardon, reconciliation and immor- tal bliss.
I believe that as Christ 'was delivered for our offences, so he was raised again for our justification ;' that he has ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, tar above all principal- ity and power, and that he is head over all things to the Church.
I believe in the immortality of the soul, and the resurrection of the body.
I believe in a future judgment and a righteous retribution of re- wards and punishments according to the different characters of men.
I believe that faith and holiness are necessary to future happiness, and that all, who on the great day are found destitute of these, will go away into everlasting punishment.
I believe that all who are finally acquitted, will be justified, not by works, but by faith; that although the law is and ever must be the rule of life, the gospel is the rule by which all, who believe, will hereafter be judged.
I believe that we are indebted to the grace of God for the qualifi- cations, as well as the provision for future blessedness; that we are dependent on him for spiritual life; that those who follow Christ in
* Before this profession was submitted to the second council, the words "ab- solute, underived divinity," were changed to the more simple expression, "the Father."
789
A FOREORDAINED RESULT DECLARED.
the regeneration, are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD; that the operation of the Divine Spirit is necessary to enlighten our minds with the knowledge of religious truth, to subdue our stubborn wills, sanctify our affections, and bring us to embrace the offers of mercy as they are made in the gospel.
I believe that we cannot of ourselves do anything, by which we can in the least promote our salvation; that independently of the gracious promise we can never have the slightest claim to the divine favor; that when we have done our utmost, we shall still be unprofit- able servants, who might justly have been forever excluded from the mansions of bliss, and that it is through the atonement and merits of JESUS CHRIST and in no other way, that we are to be saved.
I believe in the divine inspiration of those writings, which are us- ually styled the sacred scriptures. I believe they contain a revela- tion of the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to per- form, or in other words, that they are to be the rule of our faith and practice; that it should be our great concern to understand them, and that when we have reason to think we do understand them, we should submit without reserve to their dictates, however mysterious: and I believe that as the scriptures are the proper rule of faith, so they are a sufficient rule.
·
I believe it to be the will of God that his people, should in all ages, be separate from the world, and that from the earliest gener- ations he has always had a church on earth.
I believe that the privilege of admission into the visible kingdom of GOD, is free to all; that in this respect there is no difference be- tween Jew and Greek, male and female, infant and adult.
I believe that the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper were instituted by the great Head of the Church, to be observed by his followers to the end of time; the former as a token of admission into his visible kingdom, the latter as a memorial of his sufferings and death.
I believe in the divine appointment of an order of men, whose pe- culiar duty it is to preach the word, administer the ordinances and execute the discipline of the Church; that they are to be consecrat- ed to the holy work by prayer and imposition of hands, and that the succession is to continue to the end of the world.
Thus I believe, while 1 pray Gon to enlighten me by his good Spirit, to preserve or deliver me from error, and teach me all im- portant truth thro' his rich grace in JESUS CHRIST.
THE RESULT.
DEERFIELD, Aug. 11th, 1807.
AGREEABLE to letters missive from the Church in Deerfield, were present at the house of Capt. Seth Nims, the Rev. Roger Newton, D. D. of Greenfield, the Rev. John Emerson, Conway, Wm. Billings Delegate-the Rev. Rufus Wells, Whately, Maj. Phinehas Frary, Delegate-the Rev. Joseph Lyman, D. D., Hatfield, Mr. John Ches- ter, Delegate-the Rev. John Taylor, Enfield, Con .- the Rev. Da- vid Parsons, D. D. Amherst, Deacon Seth Coleman, Delegate-the Rev. Jesse Appleton, Hampton, N. H .- the Rev. Theophilus Pack-
790
MINISTERIAL AND MUNICIPAL.
ard, Shelburne, Mr. Robert Hubbard, Delegate-Rev. Festus Foster, Petersham, Deacon Josiah Willard, Wm. Willard, jr. and Ezekiel Bowker, Delegates; who formed themselves into an Ecclesiastical Council by choosing the Rev. Roger Newton, D. D. Moderator, and the Rev. Theophilus Packard, Scribe.
The Council was opened by a prayer by the Moderator; on a mo- tion made, the Council invited Ministers of the Gospel, Candidates for the Ministry, and Students in Divinity, to be present with them as spectators. The Council having examined the records of the Church and Town of Deerfield, relative to the invitation and propos- als to Mr. Willard to settle with them in the Gospel Ministry, and the answer returned by Mr. Willard to them, and having gained sat- isfaction of the regularity and propriety of both, and also of his cre- dentials as a member of the Church and his license to preach the Gospel, proceeded to the examination. Voted to adjourn to six o'clock tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, 12th Aug.
The Council met according to adjournment: Dea. Jonathan Leav- itt, Delegate from the Church in Greenfield, joined the Council. The examination of the Pastor elect being finished, the Council ap- pointed the Rev. J. Lyman, D. D. and the Rev. John Emerson, as a committee to assist the scribe in draughting a result. The com- mittee presents the following Draught.
That the Council having attentively and patiently examined the Pastor elect, as to his religious doctrines, found him to be a gentle- man of rich talents and acquirements in theological knowledge, of a most amiable temper and disposition, and of an exemplary frankness and sincerity in communicating his opinions. But yet, after a long and patient investigation, the Council did not discover in him that belief of the true and essential Divinity of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, nor those sentiments respecting the entire moral depravity of fallen men, while in a state of unregeneracy, nor of the supernatural, special and cf- fectual influence of the holy spirit, nor of the sovereign gracious election of God in choosing believers to everlasting life, nor of the certain perseverance of all true believers in faith and holiness thro' the influences of the spirit and the promises of the covenant of grace, which doctrines they seriously and deliberately believe to be con- tained in the Gospel of Christ, and to be not only important but nec- essary to be believed and taught for the ingathering of souls to the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls.
The Council therefore, in fidelity to their Lord and Master, cannot proceed to separate him to the work of the Gospel Ministry over the Church of Christ and the Congregation of Gon's people in this town. The Council most sincerely lament their own disappointment and grief which this decision must occasion to the Church and people in this place. With ardent affection they commend the Pastor elect to the grace of Gon and the guidance of his holy spirit, and pray that this heritage of our LORD JESUS may be the charge of his watchful providence, that they may be happily united in christian doctrine and affection, and may by their prayers and endeavours obtain a Pastor, in Gon's time, to feed them with knowledge and understand-
791
SECOND CALL OF MR. WILLARD.
ing in divine things, and that they might be kept by the mighty power of Gon through faith unto their final and eternal salvation.
The above Draught was reported and accepted by eleven members of the Council, but five members not having the same views of the candidate's sentiments upon the above points, with the consent of their Fathers and Brethren, would have proceeded to the ordination. Two members of the Council being Brothers of the Pastor elect did not vote. By the direction of the Council. R. NEWTON, Moderator.
The above is a true copy of } Attest, the result of the Council. § THEO. PACKARD, Scribe.
The next act in the drama is found on the church records. Aug. 12th, "The Council having met on the 11th of Aug did not see fit to ordain Mr Willard the reasons for which appear in their result." "Voted to desire the Committee on Supply to hire Mr Willard to preach here longer" and voted "to de- sire Mr Willard to meet the Church Aug 18th." At the meeting Aug. 18th, voted that "the profession of faith made by Mr Willard is satisfactory " twenty-eight yeas, eight nays, two not voting. "Voted to renew the invitation to Mr Wil- lard " twenty-seven yeas, twelve nays.
The matter was next taken up by the town. As soon as the action of the church was sent in, the selectmen issued the following warrant :-
HAMPSHIRE SS To the Constable of the Town of Deerfield in said County Greeting
Wheras a majority of the ecclesiastical Council, which was con- vened in this Town, for the purpose of ordaining Mr Samuel Willard to the work of the Gospel ministry here, on the twelfth day of Au- gust current, did then decide and determine that said Council would not proceed to ordain said Mr Willard to said work-and wheras the Church in this town, at a church meeting held since the decission of said Council, vizt on the seventeenth [18th] day of August cur- rent, did vote and agree to continue their invitation to said Mr Wil- lard to settle in the work of the Gospel Ministry in this Town.
You are therfore hereby required in the name of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, forthwith to notify and warn the Free hold- ers and other Inhabitants of the Town of Deerfield aforesaid, legal- ly qualified to vote in Town Affairs to assemble at the Meeting House in said Town on Friday the twenty eighth day of August cur- rent at two of the clock in the afternoon of said day-then and there after a moderator is chosen to regulate said meeting:
istly To determine whether they will again agree with Mr Willard upon a time for his ordination to the work of the ministry in this Town, and the number the ordaining Council shall consist of, and act theron.
792
MINISTERIAL AND MUNICIPAL.
Other articles provide for carrying out any vote passed on this cardinal one. At the meeting under this warrant,-
On the 1'1 Article first clause voted that the question be Deter- mined by yeas and nays; which being called for, there were one hun- dred and fourteen yeas, vizt
Jona. Arms,
Samuel Childs, 3d,
Joshua Sweet,
Pliny Arms,
David Dickinson,
Joseph Stebbins,
C. Tyler Arms,
Eliphalet 4 4
Joseph
Jr.,
Eliakim Arms,
Thomas W. "
Dennis
Elihu Ashley,
Thomas W. " Tr ..
Asa
Thomas | W.] Ashley,
Consider Dickinson,
Samuel Smith,
Eliel Allen,
James Eams,
Rufus 44
Asaph
Daniel Forbes,
Abner
Caleb " Jr.,
Zadock Hawks,
David Saxton,
David Adams,
Zur
Ebenezer "
John Bennitt,
Zenas
Rufus
Lemuel Barnard,
Jonathan Hoyt,
H. Wright Strong,
Frederick Boyden,
Cephas
Levi Smith,
Ebenezer Bugbec,
John Hawks,
Titus
llenry Bardwell,
Daniel 6
David Wells,
John
Justin Hitchcock,
Thomas
Andrew
Paul Hawks,
Quartus
Robert
Quartus
Samuel
Stephen Barnard,
David Hoyt,
Asahel Wright, Jr.,
Jonas Bridges,
Elihu
Judah
Amzi Childs, 2d,
Jonathan " 2d,
Solomon Williams,
Richard Catlin,
Ebenezer "
Horace
John
Elijah
WVm. Stoddard “
Mathew Clesson,
Jonathan "
3d
John
Joseph
Epaphras
Orlando Ware,
Jedediah Clark,
Samuel Jewett,
Samuel Wilson, Jr.,
John Clapp, Jr., Erastus
Jonathan Loveland,
David Wait,
Asa Childs,
Augustus Lyman,
Ephraim Williams,
Amzi
Elisha Mack,
Elijah
Henry “
Elijah Newton,
Quartus Marsh,
Elijah Clary,
Jeremiah Newton,
Francis Munn,
Elihu Clary,
Seth Ninis,
Luther Ashley,
Samuel Childs,
Calvin Ross,
Ebenezer Barnard, 2d,
Israel ..
Elijah Russell,
William Arnold,
Seth Clapp.
Lemuel
John Wilson.
And thirty-four nays, vizt :
Eber Allis,
Azariah Cooley,
Asa Johnson,
William Anderson, Eli
Elihu McCall,
Eliphaz Arms,
Abner
Jeremiah Nelson,
Eliakim Jr.,
Russell
Aaron Rand,
Elijah
Samuel Childs. 2d,
Bela Richards,
John Barns,
Elisha Clapp,
Amasa Smith.
Ebenezer Barnard,
Nathan Eams,
William Tryon.
=
3d,
Nathan Frary,
Stephen Whitney,
=
Zebediah Graves,
Levi Dickinson,
Waitstill Hawks, Jr.
Elihu Joseph Blodgett, Timothy Jesse Billings,
Asa Hawks. Zeeb
Reuben Jewett,
A committee was chosen to consult with Mr. Willard and
4th,
Nathan Robbins,
Samuel E. Field,
Simeon Childs,
James Reed,
Ebenezer H. Williams,
Joel Keet,
793
THE SECOND COUNCIL.
take all necessary steps for his ordination if he accepts the call.
Sept. Ist, the church voted to unite with Mr. Willard in the choice of another council. Beside those named below as composing the 2nd council, the following were invited :
Rev. Dr. David Osgood of Medford, Rev. Dr. Abiel Holms of Cambridge, Rev. Dr. Daniel Chaplin of Groton, Rev. Dr. John Barnard of Salem, Rev. Abiel Abbott of Beverly, Rev. Dr. John Reed of West Bridgewater. The committee having charge of the affairs of the ordination were Dea. Jona. Arms, H. Wright Strong, Dea. Justin Hitchcock, Ebenezer H. Wil- liams, and Capt. Seth Nims.
The second council which met, Sept. 22nd, was made up as follows :-
Lincoln, Rev. Charles Stearns and Thomas Wheeler, delegate.
Concord, .. Ezra Ripley Samuel Ripley,
Wendell, Joseph Kilburn 66 Abra. Stone,
Warwick, " Samuel Reed Medad Pomroy,
Berlin, Reuben Puffer Stephen Barley,
Western, Samuel Kendell, D. D., Nathan Warren, Amos Bancroft, Ebenezer Hobbes, delegates.
Lancaster, Rev. Nathaniel Thayer, and Jonas Fairbanks, delegate.
Bolton, Isaac Allen, and Jonathan Ives,
Stearns was chosen moderator and Thayer scribe. They " voted that the deliberations of this council be as public as this meetinghouse will admit."
The condition of the Deerfield people, which has been be- fore pictured, may perhaps apply more particularly to those in the northern part, for it is a curious fact to note, that the division was on territorial as well as theological lines ; while Mr. Willard had considerable support in the southern part of the town, the opposition was practically all from that section. In the nay votes given above, there was but one man from the Wapping and Bars zone, and but one north of that. This one was in a chronic quarrel with the church, and several times had been called before it for cause.
At the sitting of the council, Sept. 22d, a remonstrance was presented by some who objected to the ordination of Mr. Wil- lard,-
On the ground of his not believing some which they received as essential doctrines-The essential divinity of Jesus Christ. The to- tal depravity of the human heart, and Its natural enmity against God.
794
MINISTERIAL AND MUNICIPAL.
These objections not being sufficiently weighty to prevail, Mr. Willard was ordained by this council, Sept. 23d, 1807; six weeks after his first rejection. Before the end of the year a large number of communicants living in Bloody Brook, withdrew from the church. Some united with the church in Sunderland and some with that of Whately. The next step of the aggrieved south end brethren followed naturally. They wished to shake the dust off their feet on the path that led towards the heretical preacher and his adherents. It was for a division of the town :-
1808, April 4, Art. 4. To see if the Town of Deerfield will agree to divide sd Town, as it shall be set forth in the petition of the In- habitants in the South part of the Town. | Warrant. ]
Art. 4. After hearing the Petition mentioned therein, and pro- tests against the same, voted in the negative. [ Record. ]
[ This petition was for] a Division of the Town by a line running east and west through the territorial centre thereof, parrallel to the north line of Whately * * the South part to be a Separate Town by such name as may be thought propper.
The following is a list of the signers to the petition. For convenience of reference I have arranged thein alphabeti- cally.
Allıs, Eber Blodgett, Timothy Amsden. John Clap, Elisha
Hawks, Seth Waitstill
Anderson, John 4 4 William
Azariah
Johnson, Asa
Locke, Jonas
Arms, Elijah
4 4 Eliphaz
Dickinson, Levi
Munn. Benjamin
.. Thomas
Emes, Ebenezer
Rand, Aaron
Barnard, Ebenezer
James
Richards, Bela
.. Ebenezer, Jr.
Nathan
Lyman
Elihu
Frary, Nathan
William
William
Nathan, Jr. Sprague, Ephraim
Barns, John
Graves, Zebediah Tryon, Calvin
Billings. Jesse
Ilale, James William
Timothy
Hawks, Asa
Whitney, Stephen
Blodgett, Joseph Elias Stephen, 2d
Residents south of the proposed line presented a remon- strance, setting forth at length the reasons moving them :-
ist Heavy taxes in the commencement [and in the future of a new town] tho somewhat less, will far exceed our ability to pay, or what we are now obliged to pay, and which in these dark and op- pressive times are sufficiently burthensome. Such an increase will prevent commercial or mechanical men from settling here.
2ª [Rivalry, each trying to obtain] more than is severally due, will create animosity and contention, thus destroying social and con- genial intercourse of friends and families.
Cooley, Abner
Hubbard. Giles, Jr.
William, Jr. .. Eli
Russell
McCall, Elihu
795
QUESTION OF DIVIDING THE TOWN.
3ª [Those who disagree with Mr. Willard can be accommodated at Sunderland, | but should they give a cool and dispashnate consid- eration to the subject, duly know and weigh it, they would have the firmest relyance and satisfaction in Rectitude of the church, and the character, purity and ability of the Minister
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