USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Hardwick > History of Hardwick, Massachusetts, with a genealogical register > Part 21
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that they thought it would be proper to appropriate the west division of the front seat and the first and second seats in the division of the side gallery next adjoining, for said purpose ; and the town accepted of the above report." Subsequently the east division of the front seat and the ad- joining side gallery were substituted, and became a permanent location ; and dur- ing the first quarter of the present cen- tury, it may be doubted whether better church music, both vocal and instrumen- tal, was heard in the county, than that which was rendered by the voluntary choir who entered into that court with thanksgiving.
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pew, at £26. 13. 4., being the sum set on the same by Deac. Jo- seph Allen and Joseph Safford, undertakers for building the meeting-house." August 19, 1771, under a warrant, " to see if the town would purchase the pew adjoining the pulpit, there not appearing persons as was proposed to purchase the same," it was voted. to buy the pew adjoining the pulpit,1 and to keep it for their own use. " Voted, to give the undertakers of the meet- ing-house £20. lawful money, for said pew." As a proper adjunct to the temple for worship, the town voted, May 18, 1772, "to al- low Deac. Joseph Allen 10$ 8ª for making the stocks."
Having completed the house, of which our ancestors were justly proud (for it was then one of the most elegant in the county), they took some measures for its preservation, which their less hardy descendants might not altogether approve. They voted, March 2, 1772, " that there be no stows carried into the new Meeting-house 2 with fire in them." How long this pro- hibition was enforced, I know not. It is certain, however, that foot-stoves were generally used in the house more than seventy years ago. But the larger stoves, designed to make the whole house comfortable, were not introduced until within the last fifty or sixty years. At the present day, it would be regarded as a painful sacrifice of bodily comfort, to sit in the midst of winter, without any fire in the house, to listen to a sermon one or two hours long, and other services of corresponding length ; but the men who were preparing, and prepared, to march barefooted in the snow, and lodge on the cold ground, in defence of their liberties, could easily undergo such a slight inconvenience.
These were apparently the golden days of Mr. White; but they were soon overshadowed. The political excitement preced- ing and during the Revolutionary War so entirely engrossed public attention, that the church became comparatively inactive. For several years before 1779, scarcely any action directly affect- ing the interests of the church can be gleaned from the records of either the church or the town, in addition to what has al- ready been mentioned. In 1779 the bodily infirmities of Mr.
1 This pew was in front of the pulpit, and behind the deacon's seat. Several aged men occupied it, within my recollec- tion, supposing they could hear the til the town house was erected. preacher more distinctly there than else- where ; and hence probably it derived its amiliar name of " Deaf Pew." It was used by the pastor, during the celebra-
tion of the Lord's Supper. It was also occupied by the moderator, selectmen, and town clerk, at town-meetings, un-
2 The old meeting-house was sold, March 2, 1772, at auction, for £44, to be removed within three months.
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White, indicated by the employment of an assistant for two months, in 1741, before mentioned, seem to have increased to such an extent that the settlement of a colleague was consid- ered desirable. Contrary to the usual custom, the town took the lead, and at a regular meeting, January 25, 1779, requested the church to unite with the town in giving a call to Mr. Joel Fos- ter.1 "Feb. 1, 1779. The church . . . being regularly called and assembled together at the meeting-house, to know the minds of the members of the church respecting giving a call to Mr. Joel Foster, to settle in the work of the ministry in said town, as a colleague with the Rev. Mr. White; the vote being put, there appeared thirteen members that were desirous of giving Mr. Joel Foster a call as above, and sixteen appeared against." The town was unwilling to yield the point entirely, and on the same day (February 1, 1779), voted, " to apply to Mr. Joel Foster, to preach the gospel in this town for a number of Sabbaths, and chose a committee for that purpose, viz., Jonathan Warner, Timothy Paige, Timothy Newton." The effort to obtain this manifestly favorite preacher was in vain, and he was soon ordained at New Salem. After this date, only two votes of the church appear on record during the ministry of Mr. White, the former of which, by the indefiniteness of its conclusion, in- dicates some failure of his mental energy : " July 5, 1781. The church regularly called and met at the meeting-house ; this thing was proposed : (1) Whether it be the mind of the church that all baptized are visible members of the church, and under the special care and watch of it; voted in the affirmative : (2) If it be the mind of this church that the baptized persons under the care of this church, that are arrived to years of discretion, be called upon to see whether they own their baptismal vow or not ; voted in the affirmative. Agreeable to the above vote, in a con- venient time, it was moved in the congregation that all that was willing to comply with the above vote, by owning their baptismal vows, would show their consent by standing up ; and a great number did, - too many to set down their names." The last
1 Rev. Joel Foster, son of Nathan Foster, was born at Stafford, Conn., April 8, 1755, grad. D. C. 1777, was or- dained at New Salem, June 9, 1779, dis- missed for lack of competent support, January 21, 1802, and installed at East Sudbury (now Wayland), September 7, 1803, where he died in office, September 25, 1812. " He possessed excellent pulpit
talents, and was specially gifted in prayer." 2 Mass. Hist. Coll., iv. 62. He was brother to Rev. Daniel Foster, who was born at Stafford, in 1751, grad. D. C. 1777, was ordained at New Brain- tree, October 29, 1778, as colleague with Rev. Benjamin Ruggles, and died in office, September 4, 1795.
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HISTORY OF HARDWICK.
vote recorded by Mr. White had reference to the employment of an assistant in his labor : "May 13, 1782. At a church meeting regularly called and met in the meeting-house, it was put to vote whether they would invite Mr. Josiah Spaulden 1 to preach any more with us ; and it passed in the affirmative by a very great majority." Although the ministry of Mr. Spalding did not re- sult in his permanent settlement, it did produce a profound im- pression on the church and congregation. It does not appear at what precise date he commenced or ended his labor here ; 2 but he was actively engaged May 13, 1782, and was then desired to continue ; and the records show that during the eight months from December 30, 1781 to August 25, 1782, ninety-one persons were admitted to the church by profession, - a larger number than had been thus admitted during the preceding twenty years.3
Rev. David White, son of Deacon John and Mrs. Hannah (Wells) White, was born at Hatfield, July 1, 1710 (see Gene- alogies). He grad. Y. C. 1730, was ordained pastor of the first church in Hardwick on the day of its organization, November 17, 1736, and after a faithful ministry of more than forty-eight years died in office, January 6, 1784. His salary was small, and probably was never so much as three hundred dollars per annum, in silver money, though nominally more in paper currency. Yet on this sum, together with presents, and the fruits of his own industry, he managed to support his family, and to give both his sons a public education. His talents were respectable, but by no means brilliant. His success in giving satisfaction to his people depended not so much on the energy of his mind, as on the meekness, simplicity, and purity of his heart. He lived in a troublesome period, both political and ecclesiastical. Near the
1 Rev. Josiah Spalding was born in of Worcester Co., p. 127 ; Hist. of Western Connecticut, grad. Y. C. 1778, was or- Mass., ii. 325. dained at Uxbridge, September 11, 1783 ; 2 He was here June 15, 1782, when he preached " A Sermon on the Nature and Criminality of Man's Inability to serve the Lord," which was printed, and which forcibly exhibits the author's " peculiar- ity " of opinion, and his power as a revival preacher. dismissed October 23, 1787 ; installed at Worthington, August 21, 1788; dis- missed in 1794 ; installed at Buckland, October 15, 1794; and died in office, May 8, 1823, aged 72. Of him and his predecessor at Uxbridge, Mr. Whitney says : they "were dismissed more on account of the peculiarity of their re- ligious sentiments than anything beside." I suppose this " peculiarity " was what was denominated Hopkinsianism, or Hopkin- tonianism, about a hundred years ago. "He was one of the best men and one of the best ministers in the county." Hist.
3 During the pastorate of Mr. White there were added to the original twelve founders of the church, two hundred and eighty-six members by profession, and one hundred and thirteen by letter, in all, three hundred and ninety-nine, being an average of a fraction more than eight per annum. The baptisms were 1,275, in- cluding adults.
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close of his life the Revolution occurred ; and he shared the trials and distresses of his people. But he lived to witness the conclusion of hostilities, and the independence of his country. At a much earlier period, the elements of the ecclesiastical world were violently agitated. About the year 1740 a " new light," as it was called, was discovered. Parties were formed in various churches, who bitterly contended with each other, freely bandy- ing the epithets of fanaticism, on the one hand, and formality, or legal righteousness, on the other. Some churches were rent asunder. And this church did not entirely escape the ravages of the storm which swept through the land. A portion of its members withdrew, and were styled "New Lights," or more generally "Separates." They erected a meeting-house, and es- tablished a regular meeting. Mr. White and his church mani- fested much forbearance, laboring with their dissatisfied, separat- ing brethren, but never using the rod of excommunication. The effect of such measures was favorable. The separate party, as such, became extinct; some of its members removed from the town, and others were reconciled to the church ; their meeting- house was demolished, and Mr. White had the happiness to behold again a state of harmony and peace in his parish. Thus, though he encountered storms during the journey of life, the evening of his days was calm and serene, and his sun went down in a clear sky. His wife (who was a niece of Thomas Wells, Esq., of Deerfield), had closed her pilgrimage about six months previously, July 17, 1783.1 Their virtues are commemorated on their head-stone in the old burying-place, which was erected agreeably to a vote of the town, March 1, 1784, " to be at the cost of setting up grave- stones at Mr. White's grave, and also at Mrs. White's." A committee reported, May 8, 1786, that the grave-stones had been procured, at an expense of £7. 18. 0. ; the bill of " Mr. Sikes," the stone-cutter, being £4. 10. 0., and bills for incidental expenses, paid to Captain Warner, David Allen, Benjamin Convers, Widow Doolittle, and Joseph Perry, amounting to £3.8.0.
The church met January 9, 1784, three days after the decease of Mr. White, " and made choice of Deac. Joseph Allen as their Moderator while destitute of a minister. Also voted to give the ministers who were bearers at the Rev. Mr. White's funeral,
1 In the early part of this century, the uniform testimony of those who remem- bered Mrs. White was, that she was one of the excellent of the earth, and remark- 13
able not only for her lady-like and Chris- tian deportment, but also for her intellect- ual power, in which she was far superior to her husband.
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each of them gloves." Prompt measures were taken to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. White, but for a long time they were unsuccessful. The church appointed a meeting January 22, 1784, " in order to give Mr. Jedson 1 a call to settle in the work of the gospel ministry with us." The town con- curred, February 10, 1784, by a vote of "45 for it, and 19 against it, the majority 26." At an adjourned meeting, Febru- ary 16, 1784, it was proposed to reconsider this vote, " and there appeared 30 for it and 30 against it." The church then voted, June 3, 1784, " to give Mr. Medad Rogers a call to settle with us as a gospel minister in this place, by a number of fifty-three members present." The town concurred June 4, 1784 (12 aff. 1 neg.), and agreed to give Mr. Rogers &200 settlement, and £80 per annum while able to perform pastoral duty, and £40 per annum afterwards; or £100 per annum, and no settlement. At a church meeting, September 2, 1784, " then voted and ap- pointed Wednesday the thirteenth day of October next to ordain Mr. Medad Rogers, Pastor over this church and congregation," and selected the members of the ordaining council. In this action of the church, the town also concurred on the next day, September 3, 1784. But for some reason, not stated in the record, the ordination was not accomplished. During these negotiations, the church met July 1, 1784, "to consult whether the practice of baptizing the children of those that own the covenant, as it is called, is warranted in scripture or not ; after debating the matter calmly it was proposed to adjourn the meet- ing for further consideration. Then voted and adjourned said meeting to the 22ª day of July instant, having first voted that Mr. Rogers be desired to preach a sermon on said subject · before the congregation. According to adjournment, the church met, and being opened by prayer, proceeded on the affair above named, and after further debating the matter, it was proposed to adjourn the meeting to Thursday the twelfth of August next,
1 Rev. Adoniram Judson, born at tion, Jan. 23, 1787." He was dismissed Woodbury, Conn., June 25, 1751, grad. Y. in 1791; was installed at Wenham De- cember 26, 1792; dismissed October 22, 1799; installed at Plymouth May 12, 1802; became a Baptist, and was dis- missed in August, 1817. He died No- vember 25, 1826. See Bicentennial Book of Malden, p. 166. The Hardwick church in 1784 was decidedly Hopkintonian in sentiment. C. 1775, was first settled in the ministry at Malden. " On the third of July, 1786, their call devolved on Rev. Adoniram Judson, on which occasion, Capt. John Dexter entered his protest upon the church records against ‘settling a minis- ter of the Bade Hopkintonian Principels.' After calling four councils he was or- dained at last, amid a tempest of opposi-
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at three of clock afternoon : also voted, that those persons that have been heretofore admitted as half-way members,1 as called, are desired to meet with the church at the same time, to hear their debates on the subject in hand. August twelfth : Ac- cording to adjournment the church met, and opened by prayer ; and after debating the case above named a suitable time it then was put to vote that the church would not admit any more to own the covenant, in order to baptize their children for the future." Thus, while destitute of a pastor, but with due de- liberation, and probably under the lead of Deacon Allen, the church discontinued a custom which had existed in the New England churches for more than a century, and which had often been the cause of contention and heart-burnings. It continued in use, for the next half century, in some other churches, but has at last, it is supposed, been entirely abandoned.
At a church meeting, October, 1784, it was " put to vote to see if the church thinks it expedient to give Mr. Medad Rogers a call, a second time, to settle with us in the work of the gospel ministry in this place, and it passed in the affirmative by a num- ber of voters, in favor 40, dissenters 7." The town concurred January 11, 1785, by a vote of 68 affirmative, 40 negative. This effort was fruitless, and the church voted, May 19, 1785, to give Mr. Judson a second call to become its pastor ; the vote " passed in the affirmative by upwards of forty members." The town concurred, June 2, 1785, by a vote of 57 affirmative, 19 negative. This effort also failed, and a majority of the church, March 9, 1786, voted " to give Mr. Thomas Crafts a call to settle with us as a gospel minister;" but another meeting was held, March 23, 1786, " to reconsider the call given by this church, 9th in-
1 " It was felt that the children of bap- tized persons should have a different position from Indians and other pagans who might hear the word of God. It was held by many, that if baptized parents, even if not regenerate, were willing to renew the baptismal covenant, and be- come subject to church discipline, their children could properly be baptized. This feeling and practice were growing up in the churches, when a synod of the elders and messengers of the churches was called. This was held in Boston in the spring of 1662. . . . In regard to the matter of baptism, the result was sub- stantially that the members of the visible church are subjects of baptism, and that
children are members of the same church with their parents, and when grown up are under the care of that church. But this does not of itself admit them to full communion. Yet when they understand and publicly profess the faith, and are upright in life, and own the covenant, and submit themselves to the government of the church, their children are to be baptized. ... This decision in regard to baptism is known as the Half-way Cove- nant, inasmuch as it granted baptism to the children of certain persons who were not qualified for admission to the Lord's Table." Mckenzie's History of the First Church of Cambridge, pp. 110, 111.
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stant, to Mr. Thomas Crafts, to settle in this place as a gospel minister; then put to vote to recall as above, and it passed in the affirmative." 1 At a town-meeting, May 7, 1787, on the question of giving a call to Mr. Elijah Kellogg, probably in concurrence with the church, there were " one hundred in favor of it and none against it."
It would seem, from Mr. Holt's letter of acceptance and Dr. Trumbull's sermon at his ordination, that there was great dis- agreement and contention in both town and church, so that for almost two years they could not agree upon a candidate for the pastorship. The clouds, however, at last dispersed, and the town, April 6, 1789, unanimously concurred with the church in extend- ing an invitation to Mr. Thomas Holt, of Wallingford, Conn., to become their pastor ; which invitation he accepted in a letter so characteristic of his habit of amplification, that it is here inserted, as entered on the records of both the church and the town : -
" To the Church of Christ and other Inhabitants of the Town of Hardwick. - Friends and Brethren : The affection and re- spect which you have manifested towards me are highly worthy of my attention, gratitude, and warmest acknowledgments. The idea of a church destitute of a pastor, and a numerous people without a teacher, -the spirited altercations and unhappy di- visions 2 which have appeared imminently to threaten the cause of religion and very existence of Christianity in this place, the present perfect unanimity and affection of this church and people, - and the unhappy consequences which would probably follow, should I manifest an excusing disposition, - are considerations very solemn and important. Your present respect and entire union among yourselves exhibits an event which by no means corresponds with my previous expectations, especially your choice of me for your Pastor and Teacher ; this, doubtless, is the Lord's doing, and ought to be marvellous in our eyes. But ' who is sufficient for these things ?' sufficient to stem the torrent of vice, mixed with delusion, which at the present day appears greatly to threaten the cause of religion.
1 Probably, to reconsider, or to recall the invitation previously given. The con- tinuation of the Church Records, after this date, until the settlement of Rev. Thomas Holt, more than three years later, are not known to exist; they dis- appeared more than forty years ago.
2 " We have occasion of abundant joy and thanksgiving to God, that after this
Who among men or angels is Zion hath been covered with a cloud, and experienced unhappy years of controversy and division, he hath visited you in mercy, healed your divisions, and given you uncommon unanimity and peace." Ordination Sermon, at Hardwick, June 25, 1789, by Benjamin Trumbull, A. M., of North Haven, pp. 34, 35.
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sufficient against temptations, internal and external, against the infernal stratagems of the grand apostate, to watch for souls as one who must give an account ? The office of a Bishop is a good, though a painful, trying, and laborious work. Since I received an invitation to assume the office and work of a Gospel Bishop or Minister in this place, I have attempted to consider your situa- tion with mature deliberation. A reply to your unanimous in- vitation is considered as solemnly important to the church and people in this place and to myself. My Fathers and Brethren in the ministry have been consulted, as from experience they know the cares, the trials, and labors of a minister. A consciousness of my self-deficiency, and apparently inadequate ability, excites emotions not the most pleasing ; and might I not depend upon divine support and assistance, self-diffidence, discouragement, and despondency, would appear formidable obstacles.
" But let us come to the important decision. My friends and brethren ; the manifestations of your benevolence and affection towards me, in treating my character and youth with esteem, re- spect and tenderness, while I have labored among you in word and doctrine, must necessarily excite sensations of peculiar en- dearment towards you, and presage future exhibitions of the same if not increasing and reciprocal affection. I hope and trust that with humility, dependence, and prayerfulness, I have looked to the great Head of the Church, for his guidance and direction. Your respect, esteem, and affection, manifested as I have already observed, your unexpected, happy and perfect unanimity, in giv- ing me an invitation to take the charge of this church and people, under Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation, - the pleasing prospect arising from your union and affection of answering the great end of preaching the gospel, of being a happy instrument of building up the kingdom of the Great Redeemer in this place, and in promoting, if not the temporal, yet the highest, the immortal interests of this church and people, - these considera- tions are powerful arguments and inducements to excite and support a belief that yours is a CALL FROM GOD; that it is the design of the Great Head of the church that he whom you have unanimously chosen should be constituted Pastor of the church and Minister among the people in Hardwick. Trusting not by constraint, but of a ready mind, this public declaration is made, that I comply with your unanimous invitation. I consent, if it should be the divine pleasure, to spend my life and strength in this place, for the cause of Christ, and the interest and im-
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mortal happiness of this church and people. Since an inspired apostle hath said, 'If any provide not for his own, and espe- cially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel,' it would doubtless be improper and sinful for any one to deny the faith or gospel, which he is to preach, by neglecting a decent support. Again he saith, 'No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier ; ' and 'even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.' While I may dispense to you the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, - while I spend the remainder of my days, and wear out my life and strength in the cause of the Redeemer, for the purpose of promoting your highest interest, your everlasting peace, - while I sow unto you spiritual things, - is it a great thing if I should reap some of your carnal things ? As it would doubtless contribute greatly to your advantage, and my own peace, happiness, and usefulness among you, could I give myself wholly to these things, or the work of the gospel ministry, with full confidence, under the disposal of a wise and beneficent Providence, I must rely upon your generosity and affection, to afford that comfortable and honorable support which I trust comports with your present intention.
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