USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Hardwick > History of Hardwick, Massachusetts, with a genealogical register > Part 23
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1 It is indicated in the record of a tive members, in their crusade against town-meeting, May 26, 1823, that the Mr. Wesson, not only pronounced him to Brookfield Association, or some of its ac- be unsound in the faith, but impeached
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into the church (an average of somewhat more than twelve per annum), baptized 395 adults and children, and attended 463 funerals. After his dismission he engaged temporarily in mer- cantile business, but chiefly devoted his attention to the cultiva- tion of his farm, which is now in possession of his eldest son. He died May 9, 1836, aged nearly 59 years, and was buried in the new cemetery. Some account of his family is inserted in the Genealogical department.1
Several ineffectual attempts were made to fill the vacant pul- pit. A large majority of the church were Trinitarians ; a minor- ity of the church and a decided majority of the congregation were Anti-Trinitarians, composed of Unitarians, Universalists, and others ; and on this rock the original parish was wrecked. The church invited Rev. Wales Tileston, October 14, 1824, to become their pastor, by a vote of 33 aff. to 5 neg. The town non-con- curred November 1, 1824, by a vote of 45 aff. against 79 neg. April 14, 1825, the church invited Rev. Henry H. F. Sweet by unanimous vote ; the town concurred May 16, 1825, by a vote of 58 aff. to 44 neg., " on condition that he avow a willingness, on his part, to make exchanges and hold ministerial intercourse and fellowship with Unitarian clergymen as well as others." He was not ordained ; probably he declined making the required avowal. By unanimous vote, December 12, 1825, the church extended a call to Rev. John Wilder, Jr. ; the town concurred, 70 aff., 41 neg., in the invitation to this candidate, " who has avowed a wil- lingness to hold ministerial intercourse with the denomination of Christians called Unitarians." This call was declined. August 28, 1826. The town refused to call Rev. Eliphalet P. Crafts, 42 aff., 49 neg. December 18, 1826. The church refused to in- vite Rev. Nathaniel Gage, 3 aff., 27 neg. ; the town voted, January 1, 1827, to " concur with a minority of the church in giving Mr. Nathaniel Gage a call to settle," &c., 107 aff., 37 neg. This was the last joint effort of the two parties to agree upon a candidate
his moral character or "conduct." By advice of friends, he commenced a suit at law against some of the principal offend- ers; and although one of them is said to have insisted that he had always been particularly cautious to avoid saying any- thing "actionable," the jury pronounced them guilty, and assessed damages. Al- though more than half a century has elapsed, it seems proper to refrain from
mentioning names or any further par- ticulars in connection with this unhappy controversy.
1 My personal recollections of Mr. Wesson are very pleasant. He gave me my first lessons in Latin, and encouraged me in my studies generally ; and through the whole period of youth, from time to time, imparted very useful advice.
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for the pastorate ; and this also was unsuccessful. As a last re- sort, the town, or Congregational Society, as it had for some time been called, held a meeting, October 1, 1827, " to see if they will grant the orthodox party the privilege of drawing their propor- tionable part of the money already raised and not expended, for such preaching as they shall choose, and also the use of the meet- ing-house their proportion of the time." The meeting was ad- journed to October 9, and was then dissolved, without any defi- nite action upon the subject.
At length, in 1827, the " orthodox party," embracing a major- ity of the church and holding the church records, seceded from the original parish and organized a separate society ; and thence- forth those who remained were styled the Congregational Society, embracing a minority of the church, and holding the church and parish property, as legal representatives of the original organiza- tion. In what follows I shall notice the two divisions separately, - the old society first, and the new society afterwards.
CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY. In the official records, under date of February, 1828, it is stated that "The minority withdrew from said society, and formed a new religious society called The First Calvinistic Society in Hardwick." To induce the seceders to refrain from erecting a new meeting-house, and to return to their old home, the Congregational Society made a proposition, May 5, 1828, which certainly appears very generous, especially when it is considered as an offering from a majority to a minor- ity :- " That the Calvinistic Society have the use of the meet- ing-house forty-six Sabbaths in a year, on condition their min- ister, Mr. Tupper, will exchange with Mr. Thompson, of Barre, Mr. Wilson, of Petersham, and Mr. Harding, of New Salem, as with other ministers, not less than once a year with each of them." This conciliatory offer was rejected by the Calvinistic Society, as involving at least the countenancing of Unitarianism. Thereupon the Congregational Society with a minority of the church, extended to Rev. John M. Merrick an invitation to be- come their pastor, and he was ordained August 27, 1828. On the first day of November, 1829, " at a regular meeting of the church the following resolution was passed : - Whereas, by the secession of a part of this church from the Congregational Society, the records and covenant of the church have passed into other hands, and are not now to be had by us, we agree to offer the following profession of faith to those who may present themselves
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for admission into this church : - Impressed with a sense of duty, you offer yourself for admission to this Christian church. You regard this transaction as a profession of your belief in the one' only living and true God; as a testimony of your faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Saviour of the world ; and as an acknowledgment of the sacred scriptures as containing a reve- lation from God to man and a perfect rule of faith and duty. You design to commemorate the Author and Finisher of our Faith in the way that he hath appointed, resolving, by the divine favor, to live in obedience to the divine commandments, and hoping, through the mercy of God to obtain everlasting life. In a humble and grateful reliance upon God for the pardon of sin and for assistance in duty, you now enter upon the Christian pro- fession ; and you intend to walk with this church in Christian ordinances and in the exercise of Christian affection." March 5, 1832. The society voted " to accede to the request of Rev. John M. Merrick, that his pastoral relation to said Society shall be dissolved." Mr. Merrick was subsequently for many years pas- tor of the Unitarian Church in Walpole, Mass., and was also a Senator in the General Court, 1857, 1858. On the first of April, 1869, he became pastor of the church in Charlestown, N. H., where he died March 20, 1871, aged nearly 67 years.
The successor of Mr. Merrick was Rev. John Goldsbury, who " was born in Warwick, Mass., Feb. 11, 1795 ; fitted for college at different schools, and academies, and under private instruc- tion ; graduated at Brown University in 1820; commenced the study of divinity at Harvard College in 1821, under Pro- fessors Ware, Norton, and Willard ; taught in Taunton Academy several years ; was ordained in North Bridgewater, Wednesday June 6, 1827, where he remained till Sept. 4, 1831." 1 He was unanimously invited, June 11, 1832, to become pastor of the Congregational Church and Society in Hardwick, and was installed July 4, 1832. In connection with his parish work, he established and instructed a High School. He labored faithfully, both as pastor and teacher, until June, 1839, when, at his own request, he was dismissed, removed to Cambridge, and was master of the High School there about five years. He after- wards returned to Warwick, where he still survives in a ripe old age, honored and respected.
For nearly three years afterwards, the society had no settled 1 Kingman's Hist. of North Bridgewater, p. 48.
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pastor, but hired occasional supplies. Their number had become small, by the formation of other societies, and it was difficult to pay a sufficient salary. At length an arrangement was made with the Universalist Society (then worshipping in the Town Hall, under the ministry of Rev. Rufus S. Pope), to build a new meeting-house, and unite their strength for the maintenance of public worship. The details of this arrangement are entered on the records of the Society. After other ineffectual negotiations, it was voted May 17, 1841, " That this Society will proceed to take down the old meeting-house, and will unite with the Universalist Society in rebuilding a meeting-house on the same ground. Voted, to choose a committee, to fix on terms of agree- ment between the Congregational and Universalist Societies, in relation to the rebuilding of the meeting-house." May 24, 1841. The committee submitted a report, recommending that the materials of the old house, so far as practicable, might be used in the construction of the new edifice, with certain reservations ; and it was provided, that " The above recommendation take effect when the Universalist Society shall agree, as an offset or consideration for the use of the materials above specified, and for the benefit they are to receive by the joint occupancy of the spot on which the old meeting-house now stands, that they, the said Universalist Society, will furnish all the funds required to pay the expense of taking down the old meeting-house, and also funds to pay the owners of pews in said old meeting-house, the sums at which the respective pews shall be appraised ; 1 and said Universalist Society also agree that said Congregational Society shall have the right to supply the desk in said new meet- ing-house, whenever it is not occupied by a minister procured by said Universalist Society. And said Universalist Society are further to agree that whenever the owners of pews in said new meeting-house, or any of them, shall express a desire to have the desk occupied a part of the time by a Unitarian preacher, such pew-owners shall be entitled to that privilege for such a portion of the time as the original cost of their pews bears to the original cost of the whole number of pews in the house." This report was accepted (aff. 17, neg. 10), and the agreement was confirmed by both societies. To prevent any possible doubt concerning its legality, a town-meeting was held June 15, 1841, "to see if the town will permit the First Universalist Society in Hardwick to erect a meeting-house on the site now occupied by the old meet-
1 The sum total of the appraisal was $817.88.
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ing-house, to be used as a union meeting-house by the Congrega- tional and Universalist Societies in such proportion of time as said Societies shall agree." Permission was granted, by a vote of 92 aff., 44 neg.
No time was lost in carrying the foregoing agreement into effect ; within twenty-four hours after permission was granted by the town, the work was commenced. On the parish records is this memorandum : "Note. The work of taking down the old meeting-house was commenced June 16th, 1841." The new house was erected with commendable dispatch, and was dedicated January 25, 1842. It was by no means equal to the former edi- fice in size and general magnificence ; but sufficiently capacious to accommodate the congregation which remained after the Calvin- istic Society was formed, together with the Universalists, who had hitherto worshipped in the Town Hall, but had now taken possession of the new house. Instead of claiming the use of the house a portion of the time, for the employment of a " Unitarian preacher," this society wisely preferred to make a temporary union with the Universalists, and to employ one pastor for both societies. They accordingly voted, April 4, 1842, that " preachers should be obtained as far as practicable, for terms not less than one year ; and that we coincide in the propriety and expediency
of endeavoring to retain the services of Rev. R. S. Pope for the ensuing year." They also voted to add the amount of their sub- scriptions to the funds of the Universalist Society, provided that the same should be repaid if the Congregational Society should be obliged to furnish a preacher for the United Society.
Upon the removal of Mr. Pope, at the close of his engagement, the Rev. Norwood Damon, a Unitarian preacher, was employed as acting pastor. At a meeting, November 27, 1843, it appeared that the Congregational Society had raised about $300, and yet lacked about $200 of enough to pay " Mr. Damon for his services one year." A communication from the clerk of the Universalist Society was read, stating that after repaying to this society the sum which it advanced last year, there remained in their treasury about $140, which they would loan "to this Society, to be re- placed hereafter;" which offer was accepted. Mr. Damon re- mained here about two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Benton Smith, a Universalist, who was ordained July 2, 1845. The two societies acted together for a considerable length of time, as a united body, though I have found no record of a formal union. I do find, however, that this society voted, April 30, 1847, " that
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the sum we pay for the supply of the desk be paid to the treas- urer of the Union Society for the present year ;" and a similar vote was passed in 1848 and 1849. Mr. Smith remained pastor until 1850, when he removed to Shirley Village, and afterwards to South Reading, 1854; Chatham, 1859; and Waltham, 1865. He was the State Missionary for several years. In 1879 he re- moved to South Newmarket, N. H., but subsequently returned to Waltham.
For some years after the departure of Mr. Smith, the desk was supplied by occasional preaching. A formal union of the two so- cieties seemed necessary to their mutual prosperity. The Uni- versalists were more numerous and had more financial strength than the Unitarians ; but as the Congregational Society had cer- tain corporate rights which it was important to preserve, the Uni- versalists allowed their own organization to slumber, and became members of the Congregational Society, which was thenceforth substantially a Universalist Society, in fellowship with the State Convention, though retaining the original name, and inheriting the rights and immunities of the original parish. In November, 1855, Rev. George J. Sanger, who was ordained at Sippican, September 8, 1847, and removed to Sandwich, 1849, and to Gloucester, 1851, was invited to take charge of this society, which invitation he accepted, and was installed May 7, 1856. His min- istry was very acceptable, and continued for eight years, except a slight intermission in 1862, when he accepted a commission as lieutenant in the army of the Union (which was afterwards ex- changed for another as chaplain), and offered a resignation of his pastorate. At a meeting, September 25, 1862, it was voted, " that the Society request Mr. Sanger to continue his connection with this Society as their pastor ; and after leave of absence for the term of nine months in his Country's service, hope that he will be able to resume all the pastoral duties of said Society." He performed his military duty, was taken prisoner at Galves- ton, and "endured hardness as a good soldier." He resumed his labor after his return, but resigned June 1, 1864, and removed to Webster ; he removed again, in 1869, to Danvers, where he still resides, devoting a portion of his time to secular affairs.
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The successor of Mr. Sanger was Rev. John Harvey Moore, who was ordained at Warren May 23, 1844, removed to South Reading, 1849 ; Concord, N. H., 1855 ; and returned to Warren, 1862. He commenced preaching here in 1864, continuing to re-
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side in Warren, where he preached in the afternoon, after sup- plying the desk here in the forenoon. This arrangement contin- ued until 1874, after which he ceased preaching in Hardwick, and became pastor of the society in Webster. In 1878 he removed to Newark, N. Y., where he now resides.
Rev. Henry Jewell was ordained at Salem, N. H., August 24, 1836, and removed to South Reading, 1838 ; Lynn, 1840 ; Cin- cinnati, O., 1847 ; Stoneham, 1852; Lynn again, 1855 ; Canton, 1858 ; Terre Haute, Ind., 1866 ; Manchester, Iowa, 1868; Rome, N. Y., 1870 ; Bristol, N. Y., 1872. In 1875 he removed to Hardwick, and remained pastor of this society until April 1, 1878, when he resigned, and removed to Malden. In 1881 he re- moved to Merrimac, and became pastor of the society in that town.
Rev. Lucan S. Crosley of Waterloo, P. Q., graduated at the St. Lawrence Theological School in 1874, and preached at Plain- field, Vt., 1875, and Weymouth, 1876, 1877. He commenced his ministry here in September, 1878 ; was ordained November 13, 1879 ; resigned in September, 1880, and removed to Woodstock Vt.
The present pastor is Rev. Benjamin V. Stevenson, who was ordained in Boston, June, 1844, and preached in Barre six years, from April 1, 1844, to 1850 ; he was afterwards settled in Win- chester, N. H., 1850 ; at South Hingham, 1851; at New Bed- ford, 1854 ; at Chicopee, eleven years, from 1857 ; at Shelburne Falls, six years, from 1868; and at Southbridge, seven years, from 1874. Having thus labored constantly for the long period of thirty-eight years, he took charge of this ancient parish, in connection with a society at Ware, April 1, 1882.
CALVINISTIC SOCIETY. A minority of the congregation, with a large majority of the church, withdrew from the original parish, and on the 13th of November, 1827, organized the first " Calvin- istic Society in Hardwick." Rejecting an offer of a joint occu- pancy of the old meeting-house, although the " lion's share " was tendered to them, they proceeded without delay to erect a new house at the south end of the Common. The corner-stone was laid in September, 1828, when an address was delivered by Rev. Parsons Cooke of Ware, setting forth the reasons for separation from the parent stock. A year afterwards, September 9, 1829, the house was dedicated ; 1 and the sermon on that occasion, by
1 This meeting-house was taken down in 1860, and a more commodious edifice erected on the same place.
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Rev. John Wilder, Jr., of Charlton, was devoted to a considera- tion of " the present prospects of evangelical religion," which was thus defined : "The doctrine of the Triune Deity ; the doctrine of the divine inspiration of the Sacred Scriptures; the doctrine of the entire native sinfulness of the human heart; the doc- trine of redemption by the Blood of Christ; the necessity of re- generation by the influences of the Holy Spirit, ¿. e., repentance and faith in Christ in this life, essential to the obtaining of God's favor ; the doctrine of the sovereign Purposes of God ; the doc- trine of the perseverance of the Saints unto eternal life; and the doctrine of an Endless Retributive State beyond the grave. These are, summarily, the Evangelical Faith." Both this ser- mon and the previous address were published.
Before the erection of the meeting-house a unanimous invitation was given to Rev. Martyn Tupper to become pastor of the church and new society, which he accepted, and was ordained April 16, 1828.1 He was a diligent and zealous workman, and his labors were rewarded by forty-six admissions to his church in 1831, this being the last extraordinary harvest enjoyed by that body. Soon after this religious awakening, the church was for some reason induced to adopt a modified creed, or confession of faith, which is here inserted : -
" The Confession of Faith and Covenant adopted by the Con- gregational Church2 in this place, March 2ª, 1832. (1.) We believe that there is one God, the Creator and rightful disposer of all things, existing as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and that to these three persons, as the one God, all divine perfections are to be equally ascribed. (2.) We believe that the Bible was given by inspiration of God, as the only unerring rule of faith and practice. (3.) We believe that mankind are fallen from their original rectitude, and are, while in a state of nature, wholly des- titute of that holiness which is required by the divine law. (4.) We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, became man, and by his obedience, sufferings and death, made an atone- ment for the sins of the world. (5.) We believe that they, and they only, will be saved, in consequence of the merits of Christ, who repent of sin, and believe in him. (6.) We believe that, although the invitations of the gospel are such that all, who will, may come and take of the water of life freely, yet the wickedness
1 A further notice of Mr. Tupper is in- serted at the close of his second pastorate here.
2 Retaining the deacons, records, and a
majority of the members, they claimed to be the "Congregational Church," the le- gitimate successors of the original found ers.
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of the human heart is such that none will come, unless drawn by the special influences of the Holy Spirit. (7.) We believe that the sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord's Supper, - Baptism to be administered only to believers and their households, and the Supper only to believers in regular church standing. (8.) We believe that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world, when there will be a resurrection of the dead, and when the righteous will enter on eternal happi- ness, and the wicked will be sentenced to eternal misery." 1
The successor of Mr. Tupper, who resigned April 29, 1835, was Rev. Edward J. Fuller, who was born at Plainfield, Conn., January 5, 1806, grad. at A. C. 1828, and at Andover 1831, was ordained at Chelsea, January 11, 1832, and dismissed in 1835. He was installed in Hardwick November 3, 1835, and dismissed March 21, 1837. His ministry here was short and uneventful. For the next three years I do not trace him distinctly ; but from 1840 to 1845, he was lecturer for the Western Anti-Slavery So- ciety. In 1845, repeated attacks of epilepsy compelled him to retire from active mental labor. He died of apoplexy at Brigh- ton, O., March 12, 1876. See " Obituary Record of Grad. of Amherst College," 1876.
Rev. William Eaton was the next pastor. He grad. at W. C. 1810, and at Andover 1813 ; was ordained at Fitchburg, August 30, 1815, and dismissed June 4, 1823; installed at Middlebor- ough March 10, 1824, and dismissed April 10, 1834. He was at Charlotte, Vt., about two years, after which he was installed here September 6, 1837. The connection between pastor and people seems to have been very pleasant; but the failure of his health compelled him to cease from his labors. He resigned March 26, 1840, and before a council could assemble to dissolve the connection, he died at West Brookfield, April 15, 1840, aged 56 years.
The successor of Mr. Eaton was Rev. Barnabas M. Fay, who was born at Berlin, July 27, 1806, and grad. Y. C. 1833. He was a professor in the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, New York city, from 1833 to 1836; studied in the Union Theological Seminary, 1837 and 1838; was ordained in Hardwick May 20, 1840, and was dismissed August 23, 1843; was a teacher in Durham, Conn., 1843, 1844 ; pastor at Wilmington, 1845 to 1850; profes-
1 Substantially the same confession is now in use by the church, with one addi- tional article: "We believe in the ne-
cessity of a change of heart, and that this change is wrought by the Holy Spirit."
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sor at the Blind Asylum, Indianapolis, Ind., 1850 to 1854 ; pro- fessor at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Flint, Mich., 1854 to 1864; a banker at Saginaw, Mich., 1864 to 1869; without charge, Saratoga Springs, 1869 -. See "Gen. Catalogue Union Theol. Sem. 1876."
Mr. Fay was succeeded by Rev. Asa Mann, who was born at Randolph, Vt., April 9, 1816, grad. at A. C. 1838, and at Ando- ver, 1842. He was ordained in Hardwick June 19, 1844, and resigned October 14, 1851 ; after which he was pastor at Exeter, N. H., 1851 to 1858; stated supply at Wellfleet, 1862, at Gran- ville, 1863, at Springfield, Vt., 1864, 1865, and Bath, N. H., 1866 ; pastor at Bath, 1867 to 1872; at Raynham, 1873, 1874 ; at Carlisle, 1875, 1876 ; stated supply at South Plymouth, 1878, 1879, and at Hardwick again, 1880 to 1881.
Rev. Martyn Tupper, the successor of Mr. Mann, was born in West Stafford, Conn., January 6, 1800, grad. Nassau Hall, 1826, was ordained here April 16, 1828, and resigned April 29, 1835, as before mentioned. He was next installed at East Long- meadow in October, 1835, dismissed in September, 1849, soon afterwards installed at Lanesboro, and dismissed May 19, 1852. He was reinstalled in Hardwick June 23, 1852, and after a peace- ful ministry of more than eighteen years, resigned, September 1, 1870, and removed to Waverly, Ill. His wife died there July 27, 1871. About a year afterwards Mr. Tupper conveyed her remains to Hardwick, where two daughters had previously been buried. Having accomplished this pious task, he visited his friends at West Stafford, where he sickened and died July 31, 1872, and was buried in his family lot in the new cemetery.
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