History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 155

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 155

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humble estate of a woman ; one man raised his finger to lay them there, and that man had been inspired by the modest utterances of a woman ; but that woman was a queen."

From its opening, in 1829, to the advent of Miss Nancy J. Hasseltine, in 1853, twenty-four years, the school had seven principals, all young men, recently graduated from the Theological Seminary, or still pur- sning their theological studies. Their terms of service varied from one year to three years, with the exception of Rev. Asa Farwell, who was principal from 1842 to 1852. The compensation at best, being only the income from tuition, was not a sufficient inducement for teachers to remain.

In 1853 the trustees changed their policy and chose a woman as principal. From that day to this the institution, to say the least, has lost nothing by the change on the score of management, discipline, popu- larity or thoroughness of instruction. The first three lady principals, however, Miss Nancy Hasseltine, Miss Maria J. B. Browne and Miss Emma L. Taylor,- together occupied the position but six years. The poverty of the institution doubtless influenced their stay, as it did that of their male predecessors.

In 1859 Miss Philena McKeen was elected principal, and her sister, Miss Phebe F. McKeen, was appointed first assistant teacher. Miss McKeen still continues to occupy her position, which she has now filled with remarkable success for twenty-eight years. Miss Phebe McKeen died, after a lingering illness, in 1880,-much lamented. It has been well said of her :

"In the school-room she was distinguished for her clear thought and definite expression. She knew what she meant to say, and said it. Her taste was delicate and accurate. She had an eye for the beauties of nature and art. In her philosophical studies she was quick and keen, sometimes profound. She was an enthusiast in study, and thus imparted an enthusiasm to her pupils. She was original in her thinking, and her originality enkindled in others a love of thought. She united a sisterly affection for her scholars with a kind of maternal authority over them. She was mild and genial ; but, if her duty required her to act as a dis- ciplinarian, she could be firm and intrep.d. She wus courageous. Tracing the history of Abbot Academy, we can detect her influence, as a stream winding through a landscape and adorning it."

The institution started with no endowment, and has always been cramped for means. When Miss Mary Lyon, with the enthusiasm of Peter the Hermit, was going through the towns and villages of Western Massachusetts, preaching to the mechanics and farm- ers of the country the necessity of establishing a school for the education of capable young women in indigent or moderate circumstances, the trustees of Abbot Academy made a formal proposition to her, to the effect that she should adopt their institution, with certain modifications, for the basis of her contem- plated school. But Miss Lyon preferred not to build upon another woman's foundation.

As the school increased in numbers, the accommo- dations became the more straitened, especially as re- garded the pupils from abroad. A boarding-house became a necessity. Through the generosity of Messrs. Peter and John Smith, a building was erected

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

in the rear of the academy, plain and spacious. It was furnished and fitted for occupancy by the ladies of the town, under the lead of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mrs. Samuel C. Jackson. It was called Smith Hall, in honor of the principal donors. This building has recently been removed to some distance south of its original location, to give place to a pro- jected new edifice.

The school still increasing beyond its capacity for accommodation, the house belonging to Mr. Farwell, adjoining the seminary grounds, was purchased by Hon. George L. Davis, of North Andover, a trustee, for four thousand five hundred dollars, and deeded to the seminary. It was called Davis Hall, in honor of the donor. Mr. Davis subsequently purchased and gave to the academy contiguous lands.

The estate of Rev. Josiah Turner, on the side of the academy building opposite Davis Hall, was pur- chased by the trustees, and opened for a family of pupils, the purchase money being loaned by Mr .! Davis.

From the surplus earnings of the school a patch of grove and meadow-land was also purchased. Finally, to provide for all future exigencies, and give ample grounds for a large, flourishing institution, the trus- tees purchased of Mr. John Abbot fourteen acres of contiguous land, including some acres of charming grove.

On the forty-second anniversary of the institution, in 1871, an Alumni Association was formed, since which a deeper interest in the welfare of the seminary has been manifested by its graduates. Liberal con- tributions of money and certain useful and ornamen- tal articles have been received from them. They have also aided essentially the efforts which have been re- cently made and are at present being made, to raise one hundred thousand dollars to erect new buildings in keeping with the times and the standing of the institution.

In 1875 an observatory was built as a cupola on the academy, which received one of Mr. Clark's valuable instruments. The observatory and telescope cost some twenty-four hundred dollars. For this the sem- inary is largely indebted to Miss Mary J. Belcher, a teacher, and instructor in astronomy. By persevering effort, with the special co-operation of Colonel George Ripley, one of the trustees, in the course of three or four years she gathered the requisite funds.

Professors Park, Smith and Churchill, of the Theo- logical Seminary. The brilliant address of the day, on "the Education of Women," was by Rev. Richard Salter Storrs, D.D., LL.D., of Brooklyn, who mar- ried one of the daughters of Abbot Academy.

The course of study includes instruction in English literature and composition, history, physical geogra- phy, natural sciences, mathematics, metaphysics, logie, rhetoric, elocution, modern and ancient lan- guages, evidences of Christianity and study of the Bible, painting and drawing, vocal and instrumental music and physical culture. The kind of training proposed by the projectors of the institution is reli- giously adhered to, and a distinctive Christian influ- ence is diffused through the whole teaching and disci- pline of the school. From the effect of this influence many devoted and useful Christian women ascribe their consecration to a life "hid with Christ in God."

The most liberal donors to the academy are the following :

Madam Sarah Abbot, gifts and bequest. $10,109.04

HIon. George L. Davis 6,641.00

John Smith, Esq 3,500.00

Peter Smith, Esq 3,111.00

The school has seven scholarships of a thousand dollars each, yielding fifty dollars each, for the benefit of worthy but poor students,

The friends of the institution for the past few years have been putting forth strenuous efforts to place it in a condition to meet the demands of the times for a better accommodation of its boarding pupils, for school buildings in keeping with those of other insti- tutions of like character, and for a larger and better equipment for imparting instruction in the sciences.

Through the persistent energy of Miss McKeen, these efforts have been so far successful that fifty-three thousand dollars have been raised. and a commence- ment made for the erection of a new building. A complete plan for the entire series of buildings con- templated has been made, and the trustees will push forward the work of erecting them as fast as the funds received will warrant. The exigencies of the school are quite imperious. Sitting accommodations cannot now be furnished for all who apply for admission.

The school in its exceptional history, extending over fifty-eight years, has acquired a reputation for high intellectual, æsthetic, moral and religious cul- ture, that places it among the first in the country, as it is the oldest chartered institution of the kind in the land. It has also become memorable for its healthfulness. Never has there been an epidemic disease within its walls, and but little serious illness. It has been observed that the health of the young ladies while here at school has been above the average health of young ladies at their homes at the same period of life.

In the summer of 1879, after fifty years of useful life, the academy hell its semi-centennial anniver- wary. This was a great success. Graduates with their fuallies were in attendance from all parts of the country. The exercises were of a high order of ex- ellence. Speeches were made by cx-Principals Binwn, Farwell and Bittinger, Lieutenant-Governor Long, Rev. N. G. Clark, D. D., Rev. Daniel Butter, Dr. Alexander MeKenzie, Dr. A. P. Peabody, Dr. The future of this institution is even more promis- ing than its past has been-with an enviable history Paul A Chadbourne, president of Williams College, Dr. L. Clark Seelye president of Smith College, and · back of it, with a prestige to give it momentum, with

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ANDOVER.

a valuable experience by which to guide its manage- ment with a large circle of alumnæ scattered over the country, with the new friends which success al- ways secures, with wise and capable teachers and trustees, with extensive grounds capable of indefinite adornment, with new buildings and a larger equip- ment for scientific study anticipated in the near future, there seems to be a fair prospect that Abbot Female Academy will go forward for the next half-cen- tury, as iu the past, steadily increasing in numbers and importance, ever coming nearer the pattern of a school furnishing the fitting physical, industrial, intel- lectual, social, moral and spiritual training requisite for the development of the perfect woman.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY .- The Theological Sem- inary is not only by act of incorporation and official management a department of Phillips Academy, but also by growth from the original intention of its pro- jector. In the constitution of the academy drawn up by Mr. Phillips before the institution came into ex- istence, we find this paragraph :

" And whereas many of the students in this Seminary may be devoted to the sacred work of the gospel ministry ; that the true and fundamental principles of the Christian Religion may be cultivated, established and perpetuated in the Christian Church, so far as this Institution may have influence ; it shall be the duty of the Master, as the age and capacities of the Scholars will admit, not only to instruct and establish them in the truth of Christianity ; but also early and diligently to inculcate upou them the great and important Scripture doctrines of the existence of one true God, the Father, Son and Iloly Ghost ; of the fall of man, the de- pravity of human nature; the necessity of an atonement, and of our being renewed in the spirit of our minds ; the doctrines of repentance toward God and of faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ ; of sanctifica- tion by the Holy Spirit, and of justification by the free grace of God, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ (in opposition to the er- roneous and dangerous doctrine of justification by our own merit, or a dependence on self-righteousness), together with the other important doctrines and duties of our Huly Christian Religion."

Here is work enough laid out for a master in theol- ogy. It holds the germ of a theological school as it reveals the animating purpose of Mr. Phillips in es- tablishing the academy.

Not for some years, however, did this idea of ini- parting systematic instruction in the doctrines of the Christian religion receive its full development. Cir- cumstances favored and stimulated this development in 1805. In May of that year Dr. Henry Ware, a Unitarian, was inaugurated IIollis Professor of Divinity in Harvard College. Mr. Hollis had given the fund for this professorship to support an "ortho- dox " teacher of theology. This apparent disregard of the intention of the donor was the occasion of much criticism and dissatisfaction on the part of the ministers and churches in the State that still held to the Calvinistic theology. Eliphalet Pearson was at that time professor at Harvard, but, in the conflict growing out of the appointment of Dr. Ware, lie, siding with the Evangelicals, resigned his profes-or- ship and removed to Andover. " Being thoroughly convinced that a new theological seminary ought to be instituted for the purpose of checking the influ- ence of Arminianism and Unitarianism," he engaged

with all his native ardor in the effort to establish such an institution. Having been a personal friend of Judge Phillips, his co worker in the establishment of the academy, and fully conversant with Itis pur- poses and aspirations concerning it, he appealed forcibly to the widow and son of the judge to perfect the original purpose of the academy, by endowing a theological department. His appeals were not in vain. Mr. Samuel Abbot, a wealthy merchant who resided in Andover, was also enlisted in favor of the project. Mr. Abbot, being childless, had purposed to give by will the bulk of his property to Harvard College, but, when Harvard lapsed to Unitarianism, this will was revoked. The money was pledged to found the new seminary. Mr. Pearson, with the effi- cient co-operation of Dr. Morse, of Charlestown, a moderate Calvinist, prepared a draft for a constitu- tion.

But those who were directly interested in estab- lishing a theological school at Andover were by no means the only persons among the ministers and evangelical Christians who were grieved and alarmed at the departure of Harvard from the faith of its founders. The section of the Calvinistic divines that embraced the doctrinal views of Samuel Hopkins, D.D., not being fully in sympathy with Dr. Pearson and those he represented, and not aware of their in- tention with regard to a theological school, began, early after the election of Dr. Ware, to agitate the creation of a theological seminary. They were able and determined men, represented by such distin- guished divines as Dr. Emmons, of Franklin, and Dr. Spring, of Newburyport. They had for coadjutors men of wealth and generosity-Messrs, Bartlet and Brown, of Newburyport, and John Norris, E-q., of Salem. They purposed the establishment of a theo- logical college, based upon the Calvinistic interpre- tation of the Scriptures, as explained and understood by the Hopkinsian divines. They had gone so far as to have fixed upon West Newbury as the place for their institution, and Rev. Leonard Woods, the pas- tor at West Newbury, as its theological teacher.

When the news of these proceedings came to the ears of the men promoting the Andover enterprise, they at once sought a conference with the men inter- ested in the Newbury institution. When these rep- resentatives of the two wings of the Calvinistic party met, compared views and proceedings, they could not fail to see that the creation of two rival seminaries, within twenty miles of each other, essentially similar in doctrine, purpose and character, would be unwise. Frequent conferences were held, much discussion was had, careful consideration was given to all the details of doctrine and faith,-and, after protracted negotiations, painstaking labor and much tribula- tion a basis of union was formed, and a creed agreed upon for the united seminaries. The school was to be located at Andover, as the Andover promoters had planned under the charter of Phillips Academy

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The constitution which the Andover founders had provided for their seminary, and the trustees of Phil- lips Academy had accepted, was retained, and cer- tain additional statutes were appended, which to- gether were to form the doctrinal standard of the coalesced seminary.

The two contracting parties were denominated re- spectively the Original Founders, who were Mrs. Plicebe Phillips, "relict of Samuel Phillips, Esq., late Lieu- tenant-Governor of the Commonwealth," his son John Phillips, and Samuel Abbot, merchant of Ando- ver ; and the Associate Founders, who were " Moses Brown and William Bartlet, both of Newburyport merchants, and John Norris, of Salem, esquire." The original founders agreed to erect two buildings for the accommodation of students and the necessary uses of the institution, one to be two and the other three stories in height, and to furnish the sum of twenty thousand dollars, in trust, for the purpose of maintaining a profes-or in Christian theology. The associate founders agreed to contribute at first thirty (afterwards forty) thousand dollars, in trust, " for the maintenance of two professors in the Theological In- stitution or Seminary lately founded in the town of Andover."

The fact that there was apprehension of serious difficulty in obtaining from the General Court a char- ter for a Calvinistic Theological Seminary may have been the balancing argument for establishing the in- stitution at Andover, sheltered by the charter of Phillips Academy.

The original constitution, formed in 1807, is a mas- terly document, elaborate, comprehensive, providing, with much wisdom and foresight, for the minor de- tails which concern the regulation of a seminary in all possible circumstances and exigencies.

The matters of primary interest in this constitu- tion are contained in Articles XI. and XII.

Article Xt. reads as follows :

" Every Professor in this Seminary shall be a Master of Arts, of the Protestant reformed religion, in communion with some Christian Church of the Congregational or Presbyterian denomination, and sustain the character of a sober, honest, learned and pions man ; he shall, more' over, be a nun of sound and orthodox principles in divinity, according to that fra of sound words or system of evangelical doctrines drawn from the Scriptures, and denominated the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism, and more concisely delineated in the Constitution of Phillies Arudemy."

Article XII. rends as follows :

' Every jHTm D, therefore, appointed or elected a Professor in this Seminary shall, on the day of his inauguration into office, and in the proc . of the said Truet es, publicly make and subscribe a solemn de Faut not huis faith in Divine Revelation, und in the fundamental anl fr nn ln, de thurs of the Gospel of Christ, as summurily ex- p. 1 in the We trofustor Assembly A Shorter Catechism; and he webtrhich -bany pr mise that he will open and explain the the pois with int uty and faithfulness ; that he will fui tatmin ml in ul ito the (Inmtan faith, us above expressed, to- g tại with d de elot e chimney and duties of our huly religion, so far Ty tte hny Vir, A iling to the best light God shall give Importyt. Atheists and lonely, but to Jews, Mish 10 Att1 4, Peligians, Antinomians, Armininns, Sovinians, Enver white and to all other hoteles and errore, an- i do in this life partake of justification, adoption and sanctification and

cient or medern, which may be opposed to the Gospel of Christ, er hazardous to the souls of men ; that by his instructions, counsels aud example, he will endeavor to promote true Piety and Godliness ; that he will consult the good of this Institution and the peace of the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ on all occasions, and that he will religionsly observe the Statutes of this Institution, relative to his offi- cial duties and department, and all such other Statutes and Laws as shall be constitutionally made by the Trustees of Phillips Academy, not repugnant thereto."

The matters of most importance in the statutes of the associate founders are designated in the II. and III. Articles of these statutes.

Article II. reads as follows :

"Every Professor on this foundation shall be a Master of Arts of the Protestant Reformed Religion, un ordained Minister of the Congrega- tional or Presbyterian denomination, and shall sustain the character of a discreet, honest, learned and devout Christian, an orthodox and con- sistent Calvinist ; and after a careful examination by the Visitors with reference to his religions principles, he shall, on the day of his inaugn- ration, publicly wake and subscribe a solemn declaration of his faith in Divine Revelation, and in the fundamental and distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel as expressed in the following Creed, which is supported by the infallible Revelation which God constantly makes of Himself in his works of creation, providence and redemption, namely :-

"*I believe that there is one, aud but oue, living and true God; that the word of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ment, is the only perfect rule of faith and practice ; that agreeably to those Scriptures, God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and nuchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth ; that in the Godhead are three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost ; and that these Three are One God, the same in substance, equul in power and glory; that God created man after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness ; that the glory of God is man's chief end, the enjoyment of God his supreme happiness ; that this enjoyment is de- rived sulely from conformity of heart to the moral character and will of God; that Adam, the federal head and representative of the human race, was placed in a state of probation, and that in consequence of his dis- obedience all his descendants were constituted sinners ; that by nature every man is personally depraved, destitute of holiness, unlike and op- posed to God ; and that previously to the renewing agency of the Divine Spirit all his moral actions are adverse to the character and glory of God ; that being morally incapable of recovering the image of his Creater which was lost in Adam, every man is justly exposed to eternal damna- tion ; so that, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God; that God, of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected svine to everlasting life, and that he entered into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of this state of sin and misery by a Redeemer ; that the only Redeemer of the elect is the eternal Son of God, who for this pur- pose became man, nud continues to be God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever; that Christ as our Redeemer executeth the office of a Prophet, Priest and King ; that agrecably to the covenant of redemption the Son of God, and he alone, by his suffering and death, has made atonement for the sius of all men ; that repentance, faith and holiness are the personal requisites in the Gospel scheme of salvation ; that the righteousness of ('hrist is the only ground of a sinner's justifi- cation ; that this righteousness is received through faith, and that this faith is the gift of God; so that our salvation is wholly of grace ; that no means whatever can change the heart of a sinner and make it holy ; that regeneration and sanctification are effects of the creating and re- newing ngency of the Holy Spirit, and that supreme love to God consti- tutes the essential difference between saints und sinners ; that, by con- vincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds, working faith in us, and renewing our wills, the Holy Spirit makes us partakers of the benefits of redemption, and that the ordinary menns by which these benefits are communicated to us are the Word, sacraments and prayer ; that repentance unto life, faith to feed upon Christ, love to God, and new obedience ars the appropriate quahfications for the Lord's Supper, and that a Christian Church ought to athinit no person to its holy commu- niou before he exhibit credible evidence of his godly sincerity ; that perseverance in holiness is the only methed of making our calling and election sure, and that the final perseverance of sam s, though it is the effect of the special operation of God on their hearts, yet necessarily im- plies their own watchful diligence ; that they who uro effectually called

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ANDOVER.

the several benefits which do either accompany or flow from them ; that the souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do im- mediately pass into glory ; that their bodies, being still united to Christ, will at the resurrection he raised up to glory, and that the saints will be male perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity, but that the wicked will awake to shame and everlasting contempt, and with devils be plugged into the lake that hurneth with fire and brimstone for ever and ever. I moreover believe that God, according to the counsel of his own will and for his own glory, hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, and that all heiogs, activos and events, both in the natural and moral world, are under his provideotial direction ; that God's decrees perfectly coosist with human liberty, God's universal agency with the agency of man and mao's dependence with his accountability ; that man has understanding and corporeal strength to do all that God requires of him, so that nothing but the sinner's aversion to holiness prevents his salvation ; that it is the prerogative of God to bring good out of evil, and that he will cause the wrath and rage of wicked men and devils to praise bim ; and that all the evil which has existed, and will forever exist, in the moral system, will eventually be made to promote a most important purpose under the wise and perfect administration of that Almighty Being who will cause all things to work for his own glory, and thus fulfil all his pleasure. Aud, furthermore, I do solemnly promise that I will open and explain the Scriptures to my Pupils with integrity and faithfulness ; that I will maintain aod inculcate the Christian faith as expressed in the Creed by me now repeated, together with all the other doctrines aod duties of our holy Religion, so far as may appertain to my office, accord- ing to the best light God shall give me, and in opposition not only to atheists and infidels, but to Jews, Papists, Mahometans, Arians, Pela- gians, Antinomians, Arminians, Socinians, Sabelliaos, Unitarians and Universalists, and to all other heresies and errors, ancient and modern, which may be opposed to the Gospel of Christ or hazardous to the souls of men ; that by my instruction, counsel and example I will endeavor to promote true Piety and Godliness ; that I will consult the good of this Institution and the peace of the Churches of our Lord Jesus Christ on all occasions ; and that I will religiously conform to the Constitution and Laws of this Seminary, and to the Statutes of this Foundation.' "

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 155

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672