USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 24
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 24
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In March, 1788, It was " Voted to send a man to inform Mr. Chatman that we are making preparations to give him a Call.
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Voted Daniel Gray should be sd Messenger.
Voted to appoint a Minister to hold a day of fasting to Moderate the Call for the settlement of Mr. Chatman.
Voted that the Rev. Moses Baldwin should be sd Minister.
Voted to give Mr. Chatman a call.
Voted six shillings per week in summer and seven shillings in winter for boarding the Minister."
April 14, 1788. "Voted to give Mr. Chatman £150 Settlement and from £50 to £70 Sallary-Payable thus,-£50 yearly for three years-then £55 the fourth year and advancing £5 a year until £70 and that be his sallery as long as he remains the Minister of sd Parish."
Dec. 9, 1788. " Voted that the Committee of said Parish should proceed in building the Meeting house as fast as they Con- veniently Can.
There is no record of the settlement of Mr. Chatman over the Second church, Oct. 25, 1790.
" Voted to invite Mr. Jabiz Pond Fisher to settle with us in the Ministry .- Then Voted him settlement and sallery just as was voted to Mr. Chatman-with the addition of twenty cords of wood annually."
No record of the settlement of Jabiz Pond Fisher.
April 12, 1793. Voted to send for Mr. Fish to supply the pulpit four Sabbaths."
Dec. 20, 1793. " Voted to give the Rev. Matthias Cazier a call to settle in the Ministery in this 2ª Parish of Pelham. Voted to give the Rev. Matthias Cazier £100 Settlement and £65 and 20 cords of wood to be his yearly sallery."
Mr. Cazier was settled over the church and parish. The new Meeting house was still unfinished and there was not entire harmony and satisfaction with Mr. Cazier, as the very grave remonstrance presented against the action of the council indicates.
Action of the remonstrants to calling Mr. Cazier, from the church records.
" To the Revd Eccleseastical Council Convened at Pelham Second Parish for the purpose of introducing Mr. Matthias Cazier into the work of the Gospel Ministery over the church and people in this place.
Gentlemen :- We the subscribers belonging to said parish view with great concern the measures taken by this people for the settlement of a Gospel Min- istry among us as now proposed ; we as individuals remonstrate against the
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
proceedings of both Church and Parish and seriously request of the Venerable Council that they will not be active in supporting the gentleman proposed to the work of the Ministry over us contrary to our inclination and remonstrance.
Our reasons against such measures are the following, Viz ;
I. That we are total strangers to the gentlemen's character and know not whether it is religious or moral.
2. The church and parish we consider to have been hasty and premature in their invitation of him to a settlement before the people would have convenient opportunity to cultivate such an acquaintance with him as to form a satisfactory opinion respecting him.
3. We are by no means agreed with Mr. Matthias Cazier in religious sentiment so far as we have been able to learn them from his public preach- ing the few Sabbaths he has been with us, and desire to have no such public teacher placed over us the tendency of whose instructions we con- cieve to be subversive of all morality.
4. The conduct of Mr. Matthias Cazier on all matters relative to his settlement among us has been so opinionative and dictatorial as to give us grounds to apprehend that he is not possessed of that spiritual prudence which is requisite in a gospel minister, and of a Soverign disposition to Lord it over God's heritage.
The above, Gentlemen, is sufficient to convey our sentiments respecting Mr. Matthias Cazier : we earnestly desire to have a gospel minister settled among us whose religious sentiments are similar to our own : and will cheer fully unite with this parish in the choice and settlement of such a gentlemen when Providence shall open a door for it.
But permit us to assure your venerable council that if this man is settled amongst us we will take the earliest opportunity to petition the general assem- bly of this Commonwealth that agreeably to the Constitution of this state we may severally be annexed to those towns upon the religious institutions of which we can conscientiously and profitably attend.
We are with greatest respect, Gentlemen, your friends and servants. WILLIAM CONKEY, ALEXANDER CONKEY, WM. COWAN, THOMAS CONKEY, JOSEPH AIKEN, DANIEL GRAY, JOEL CONKEY, SAMUEL SLOAN. Pelham, March 23ª, 1794.
A true copy of the original. Attest
REUBEN Moss, Scribe."
Rev. Reuben Moss was the pastor of the church in Ware and was doubtless present as pastor of his church at the council convened for the ordination of Rev. Mr. Cazier, and as scribe, made the copy of the remonstrance.
May 9, 1794. " Voted to take away the south poarch from the Meeting house and finish the place where it stands. Voted to make an alteration on the north side pews in the Meeting house to have an Elder seat. Voted to have a hunge cannapy."
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
March 30, 1795. " Voted to remit Capt. Daniel Shays rates for the settlement of Mr. Cazier."
March 28, 1796. " Voted to call a council to decide the difficul- ties between the parish and Mr. Cazier, also voted for the parish to chuse a committee to request Mr. Cazier to join with the church in calling a Mutual Council to try the charges that have been brought against Mr. Cazier."
That the matters which were troubling the good people of the second parish at this time may be better understood we copy from the church records the charges of Dr. Hinds against Rev. Matthias Cazier over his own signature.
" To the Church of Christ in Pelham, East Parish :-
The subscriber as Plaintiff exhibits the following complaints as matter of grievance against the Moral Character of the Reverend Matthias Cazier.
He considers the following articles as what may be confirmed by legal evidence and as contrary to the laws of God,-what he would wish to sub- mit to the judgement and decision of the Church.
The articles of aggrievance are as follows, Viz :
I. A disregard to the truth, repeatedly, first in declaring previous to his installation that he would give up his settlement whenever he should be dissmissed from Pelham, if the Council judged he was in the blame, and at another time denying that he ever made such a promise.
Secondly .- his reporting that he had sent a letter to Mrs. Cazier that he should set out from Pelham to Castleton on the 12th day of May, and then saying that if he did not set out on the 5th of May in the same year, he should dissappoint Mrs. Cazier and fail of being at the sª Castleton at the time he had sent to her in the above sd letter.
Thirdly .- In representing and declaring that his great opposer Reuben Marston of Castleton had manifested that he had wronged him, and made retraction for it which is not a truth.
Fourthly .- In falling from a bargain he made with me to procure him lumber for his house.
Fifthly .- In declaring that he believed only a less part of Creation would be saved, and afterwards denying that he ever said a less part would be saved but the greater part.
Sixthly .- Profaneness. In saying that he would not pray for the Rever- end Mr. Williams of Leveritt because he was in error ; but if he did he must pray as the other man did .- O Lord! Damn such damnable doctrines.
NEH'H HINDS."
Meeting, April 6, 1797. Chose parish officers etc. “ Voted to have a dog whipper-choose John Gray Dog Whipper by giving four mills.
Voted to invite a number of Ministers to consult and advise the
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
parish under their present difficulties .- Voted to invite the Rev. Joseph Blodgett of Greenwich, the Rev. Andrew Oliver of Pelham, the Rev. David Parsons of Amherst and the Rev. Thomas Holt of Hardwick for sd Advisers."
Thomas Gray, Robert Crossett and Dr. Hinds was chosen a com- mittee to present the case to the four ministers and they heard the case of the parish on the last Wednesday in April 1797 at the house of Dr. Hinds. May 3, '97 the parish voted to ask the church to call a mutual council before which the difficulties might be brought for final decision, and a committee was chosen to lay the case before the council, and also instructed to provide for the entertainment of the of the council which was to convene at the house of Dr. Hinds, and which they desired to have convene before the first of July.
The church made answer to the request for a mutual council by letter to the committee of the parish, a copy of which follows.
The reply of the Church to the demand of the Parish for a council to examine into the charges against Rev. Matthias Cazier by Dr. Nehemiah Hinds.
" Pelham, May 5, 1797.
To the Church of Christ in the 2ª Parish in Pelham :
To Doctor Nehemiah Hinds, Mr. William Berry and Mr. William McMillen, a committee chosen by the 2ª Parish of Pelham who applied to us by their letter dated May 3ª, 1797, to call an Ecclesiastical Council for the purpose of examining into certain difficulties which the said Parish may have with their Pastor :-
Gentlemen .- This church beg leave to inform you that they feel in duty bound in chusing and calling an Ecclesiastical Council, to abide by the principles upon which Mr. Cazier was settled in this place .- We also inform you that we are willing to join with the Rev. Matthias Cazier in chusing a Mutual Council, one half to be chosen by this church and the other half of the Council to be chosen by Mr. Cazier,-for the purpose of looking into our Difficulties and bringing them to a final issue.
Whenever the Parish, individuals of the Parish, or an individual, will bring in a written complaint to the Church against our pastor, signed by those who will engage to support it,-and give the names of two or more witnesses for the support of each charge in the complaint, and that the Parish shall vote Money for the support of said Council when convened,- then the Church will proceed to the choice of a council, and send letters Missive to Churches which may be called to by their pastor and delegates to the house of Doctor Nehemiah Hinds,-at a time which shall be appointed by the Church when they shall send letters for a council.
Wishing that our present conduct may be influential to our mutual good. We remain yours affectionately, By order of the Church, MATTHIAS CAZIER, Moderator, JAMES MCMILLEN, Clerk of the Church.
A true copy from the original,
JAMES C: MCMILLEN, Clerk of the Church."
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
The letter of the church concerning the mutual council was not satisfactory to the parish and a vote was passed not to accept it. It was also " Voted that all that are willing to enjoy Mr. Cazier as their minister may have that privelige and all that are not go where they please."
At a Meeting of the Parish May 9, 1797 John Maklam was chosen to present the answer of the church to Rev. David Parsons of Amherst for his consideration and for him to pass judgment upon the same. Rev. Joseph Blodgett of Greenwich was also invited to review the answer of the church to the parish.
Whatever the advice of the two eminent ministers may have been is not stated, but the parish "Voted May IIth to accept the answer or terms of the Church, except the word engage, and the granting of money."
Letters Missive were sent out and the Council was called on the 14th of June, 1797, at the house of Dr. Hinds to consider his charges. No record of the action of the Council is found, but at a parish Meeting held July 3, 1797 it was "Voted that the result of Council should be read .- Also voted to accept the result of the Council."
MEETING FEB. 21, 1798.
" Dr. Hinds moderator. - Motioned and seconded that all those that are not for Mr. Cazier as their Minister under present existing circum- stances to move to the west end of the Meeting house and also twenty-nine moved to the west end of the Meeting house, which was the whole of the voters present."
This would indicate that the council of June 14, 1797 did not reconcile the people to Mr. Cazier. There was a council called on March 14, 1798 which voted to dismiss Mr Cazier, after hearing the facts. Rev. David Parsons of Amherst was moderator and Rev. Thomas Holt scribe. The council in their report reviewed the troubles of parish and pastor at length, and the vote for dismission was unanimous, after giving good advice to the church, pastor and parish.
However injudicious and imprudent Mr. Cazier may have been as pastor of the second church in Pelham he was evidently a man of much ability, a fine penman, and wrote in a pointed yet respectful manner in his address to the church which follows :
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
" Pelham, April 25, 1796.
An address to the Church of Christ in the 2ª Parish in Pelham.
DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN :- As I consider the sole right of impeach- ing my character is invested in you,-I shall always view your conduct as justifiable, in making use of all the light which can come to you by any means, in order to see whether my character deserves impeachment .- I also consider that you are under an obligation by your own articles, as well as by the general laws of Christ,-to attend to creditable reports existing against the character of any of your members .- I would beg leave also to observe that all reports have some degree of credit until experience shall determine you to conclude that any person, who makes a report, has done that, which in your view ought to destroy the credit of his reports .- Under a sense of your duty to be a city set upon a hill-I would observe,-that whereas I have heard a report-that Mr. David Wait has intimated in a Parish Meeting that he has a difficulty with me. . Therefore I would request that you would take such a method as your wisdom shall direct to search into the nature of his difficulty and the evidence which Mr. Wait has to convince you that he has a just foundation for the difficulty. I would also observe that it would discover partiality in you in favor of me to presume that Mr. Wait would give the most distant hint in a publick manner,- that he was burdened with me, without being always ready to give you sufficient evidence, that his burden is justly founded.
Therefore proper respect to Mr. Wait requires you to make enquiry into his difficulty and the evidence which he may give to convince you that he ought to have the difficulty.
I am Dear Brethren Yours
in the fellowship of the Gospel, MATTHIAS CAZIER."
MEETING APRIL 17, 1798.
The church and parish being destitute of a settled pastor, Daniel Gray, Wm. McMillen, Wm. Berry, Robert Crossett and James Linsey was chosen a committee to supply the pulpit and another long term without a settled pastor began. " April 13, 1801 it was voted that the sexton shall be the lowest bidder, and was struck off to Jonathan Millen for $1.23. He is to repair the windows by putting into them nine squares of glass, and sweep the Meeting house once if no preaching and four times if preaching. Chose Doc't Hinds and Capt. Millen Dog Whippers. Voted to have a candidate to preach in this parish. Voted the place for the candidate should be the Lowest bidder and was struck off to Jonathan Millen for 8s-3d per week for Boarding him and keeping his horse." In 1802 a com- mittee was chosen to converse with Mr. Tobey on terms of settle- ment but there is no record of Mr. Tobey being settled. Mr. Sebas-
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
tian C. Cabbot was engaged to preach three months, in October, 1806, and he continued to preach for sometime; $ 1 50 was voted for his support in December of that year, " on condition that Mr. Sebastian Cabbot shall have the privilege to be Dismist in one year after giving notice to the parish that he was dissatisfied by lodging his reasons in the Clerk's office ; and whenever a Majority of the Inhabitants shall vote against him as minister by a Dissatisfaction of his Moral Carricter he shall be Dismist in one year after being notified of such Vote." The time was afterwards changed to six months.
March 27, 1807. "Voted that the Ecclesiastical Council now convened shall go on and settle Mr Sebastian C. Cabbot to the work of the Gospel Ministry, etc." At the same meeting the parish voted " Fifthly for the parish to act and pass all such votes as shall be thought necessary to keep peice and harmony with themselves and the world of Mankind."
August 21, 1809. " Voted to Join with the Church to agree with Mr. Sabastian Cabbot to call a mutual council for his dismission." Mr. Cabbot was dismissed but probably not until February, 1810. No record of the work of the council is found on the parish records.
The people were without a pastor again and dependent upon com- mittees to supply the pulpit.
The records speak of negotiations with the West Parish for the mutual support of the Gospel as early as 1816, and these negotiations were continued from time to time by both parishes but there is no record found of their joining in the good work up to the time Prescott was set off as a town in 1822.
The name of Rev. Mr. Marcy appears in a way to indicate that he preached for the Second Parish in 1816.
Rev. Mr. Cazier was settled early in 1794 and dismissed March 14, 1798, after a pastorate of four years. Rev. Mr. Cabbot was settled in 1807 and the pastoral relation was ended in 1809, so that for only about six years did the people of the second parish have a settled ministry from 1786 to 1822, a period of 36 years. Besides the two ministers that were settled we find personal mention of only a few ministers of the many that must have preached there during the period named. Rev. Mr. Chatman, Rev. Jabiz Pond Fisher, Rev. Mr. Fish, Rev. Mr. Marcy, Rev. Mr. Tobey, and Rev. Mr. Moss are all the records make mention of as supplyers of the pulpit. when there was no settled minister. A Congregational church was organized in Prescott in place of the Presbyterian church in 1823.
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
CONFESSION OF FAITH AND ENGAGEMENTS OF THE EAST CHURCH IN PELHAM.
"Whereas in divine Providence we are formed into a Society by ourselves,. we, to promote the worship of God, the interest of the Redeemer, and our Mutual Edification thereto under Christ as our Head in one church by the Name of the East Church in Pelham. In testimony of our Union, Faith and Fellowship, we adopt the following Confession of Faith and Engage- ments.
I. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and the only rule of Faith and Manners.
2. We own and believe the Doctrines contained in the Westminister" Confession of Faith approved by the Church of Scotland, to be founded upon the Word of God, and we acknowledge the same as the Confession of our faith, and we will firmly and constantly adhere thereto, assert, maintain, and defend the same to the utmost of our Power and Ability.
3. We are persuaded that the Presbyterian Government and Discipline of the Church of Christ as have been practiced in the Church of Scotland, are founded upon the Word of God, and agreeable thereto, and we promise to submit to the Said Government and Discipline, and to concur with the same and endeavor to maintain, to support and defend the said Presbyterian Government and Discipline as far as our position and Circumstances will. admit thereof.
4. We promise and engage to do our endeavor to maintain the Peace and Unity of the Church, the Worship of God, the honor of Christ and the. interest of his Kingdom according to our respective, Places and Relations.
5. We promise and engage as fellows citizens with the Saints, and of the Household of God, Constantly and perseveringly to walk together in all the ordinances of Christ's house and in all the Precepts of his holy religion, to. pray for one another, and to watch over one another, not for our halting, but for our mutual good unto the edification of the Body of which we are joint members.
MOSES GRAY, AARON GRAY,
DANIEL GRAY,
JAMES C. McMILLEN
JOHN LINSEY, PATRICK MCMILLEN,
JOHN HAMILTON,
JOHN McMILLEN, ALEXANDER BERRY, WILLIAM BERRY, THOMAS McMILLEN."
The Persons belonging to the Church in the Second Parish when it was incorporated we learn from a paper bearing the names in the Volume of Ancient Church records, and which is carefully copied.
" A List of the Members both male and female of the Church of Christ in the Second Parish in Pelham,-you are to observe the Men's Names are taken down and their wives Names in one line.
The Names of Men whose wives have joined the church and they have not are set against their wives Names.
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Mens Names
Deacon Patrick McMillen,
Mary McMillen,
Deacon Daniel Gray,
Mary Gray, Ruth Gray-Isabel Gray,
Aaron Gray,
Moses Gray,
Alexander Berry,
Martha Berry,
James C. McMillen,
Sarah McMillen,
William Berry, John McMillen,
Mary McMillen,
Wª Rebacah Maklem,
Eunice Sloan,
Samuel Sloan,
Abigail Shays,
Capt. Daniel Shays,
Isaac Baker,
Rebeccah Baker,
Wª Mary Linsey,
Wd Anne Linsey
Jeremiah Gray James Linsey
Mary Ann Linsey,
Alice Willson, William Willson,
Sarah Crosett,
Archibald Crosett,
Susannah Linsey,
Martha Gray,
Martha Crosett,
Lyda Gray, Jean McMillen,
Thomas Gray,
Wm. McMillen."
During the pastorate of Rev. Matthias Cazier, Capt. Joel Gray was in command of one of the Militia companies, and William Linsey a member of the Company and also a member of the Second Church became intoxicated on training day,-was sorry for it, and made a confession which we copy. It is undoubtedly the composition of Mr. Cazier and in his handwriting, and probably expressed the erring one's sense of sin and need of forgiveness much better than he could have done it himself.
" Pelham, Oct. 15, 1797.
To the Church of Christ of the Second Parish of Pelham, under the care of Rev'd Matthias Cazier,-from William Linsey a member of said Church :
BELOVED BRETHREN :- As on last Monday, at the Meeting of Capt. Joel Grays Company, I was overtaken with the drinking of more Spirituous liquor than my nature could bare, and thus by my conduct I have given an occasion to my fellow men to speak reproachfully of the Christian Cause of which I am an unworthy professor. Therefore I think it my duty to acknowledge my offence in a public manner. Therefore I now confess with .shame and sorrow that I am guilty of the sin of intoxication,-and I pray God against whom I have sinned that he would, for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, pardon my great offense, and preserve me for the future
William Linsey, Joel Gray, Isreal Crosett,
Naomi Berry,
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
from this and all other kinds of sins. I ask also the forgiveness of all' whom I have offended by my sin .-
I desire brethren, that you would accept of this my confession, and that you would pray for me, that God would, in mercy, overrule my past sins to his own glory, the good of his cause, the good of this church and the good of him who now confesses his sin .- That it would please God, by his grace to preserve from falling again into sin .- I remain, Dear brethren, your unworthy brother, but sincere in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel.
WM. LINSEY."
This confession was read in public and accepted by the Church, October 15, 1797.
Jeremiah Gray became prejudiced against Rev. Mr. Cazier, took action against him, and absented himself from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. He acknowledged his error sorrowfully. The con- fession of his error and sin is in the handwriting of Mr. Cazier and Mr. Gray affixed his signature to the document.
" Pelham, May 20th, 1797.
To the Church of Christ of the Second Parish of Pelham under the pastoral care of Revd Matthias Cazier from Jeremiah Gray a member of said Church.
BELOVED BRETHREN -As my voluntarily absenting myself from the communion with the church, the last time the Sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered in this place, is well known both to the church and congregation .- I feel myself in duty bound to make Christian satisfaction for my great offense against God.
Therefore. I am willing to acknowledge before the church and congrega- tion,-That I am guilty of breaking covenant with the Church of Christ in this place .- I also acknowledge with shame and sorrow for my sin, that I have indulged an unreasonable prejudice against our Pastor, and wickedly made his sin my excuse for committing the sin of breaking covenant with you.
I pray the Lord to forgive my sins through the blood of that glorious. Redeemer, Jesus Christ, whose cause I feel I have wounded .- I desire for- giveness of you the Church of Christ in this place, to whom I have given a just occasion of being offended. 'I desire forgiveness of our Revd Pastor, and I desire forgiveness of all whom I have offended by my sins,-I desire brethren, that you will receive me as a returning prodigal, into your Christ- ian embrace, and that you would pray for me, that God would in mercy,. overule my past sins to his own glory, the good of his cause, the good of this church, and the good of him who now confesses his sins.
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