USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > History of Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, civil and ecclesiastical, from its first settlement in 1739, to april 1852 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
"You will not think me wanting then, I trust, brethren, in Christian respect and courtesy, if I say, in view of these facts, that I cannot admit, but do hereby deny your right to exercise any jurisdiction in the case. The church of which I am pastor and myself both, decline uniting in the council. You will not then brethren, I trust, undertake to 'sit and act upon me.'
"Praying that you may be endued abundantly with the wisdom which I know you will feel that you need, should you get a full view of the entangled and dreadful state of the relig- ious affairs of the place, I subscribe myself,
Yours, &c., A. PHILLIPS."
The Council came to tee following result :-
" The Council are unanimously of opinion, that there is but one Congregational Church in Princeton, viz: that which is called ' the united church,' and that now worshipping in what is called ' the old meeting house';
" That whereas, the Rev. Alonzo Phillips, pastor and minis- ter of the Congregational Church and Society in Princeton, has refused and neglected to administer the ordinances to said church and society for a long time, and whereas the said Mr. Phillips has refused to unite in calling a Mutual Ecclesiastical Council to dissolve said relation, when requested to do so, there- fore hindering the prosperity and wounding the cause of Zion ;
" Voted, That the pastoral relation subsisting between the Rev. Mr. Phillips and the Congregational Church in this place, ought to be, and hereby is dissolved."
15
166
MR. PHILLIPS' DISMISSION.
To the foregoing charge Mr. Phillips replies *:- " The charge speaks of me, you perceive as the minister of the Congregational Society. But I never was their min- ister. They never did any thing to constitute me their minister ; they never regarded me as such. Who ever heard of a Society passing a vote to request their minister to supply their ' pulpit for the present ?' Here then, reverend gentlemen, you are totally mistaken. The first part of the charge is, that I had 'refused to administer the ordinances to them': To refuse, means, according to Webster, to deny a request, de- mand, invitation, or command ; to decline to do what is solicited, claimed, or commanded. This I have never done. What the council call the church at the old meeting-house, never requested, nor invited, nor com- manded me to administer the ordinances to them. All the request I ever received from the people at the old house, was that from the first parish, to supply their 'pul- pit for the present'; and with this request I complied."
As we have already been apprised, in the letter of Mr. Phillips to the Council, he had asked a dismission previous to the convening of the Council, which was granted. This occurred the 13th of January, 1836, at a meetingt " called in part at his request," when, on instance of the following letter, "the church voted unanimously, in consideration of the present unhappy state of affairs, tho' with much apparent reluctance and grief, to grant his request" :-
" To the Church of Christ.
" Dear Brethren,-When I answered, more than fifteen years ago, your unanimous call to settle with you in ' the work of the gospel ministry,' I expressed, as some of you doubtless recol-
* See Phillips' Appeal, pp.22, 23.
t See Church Records, vol. i.
167
BIOGRAPHIICAL NOTICE.
lect, a willingness and determination, to cast in my lot with yours, then in no very encouraging circumstances ; to live or die with you. The whole history of my ministry shows, that I have never swerved from this purpose. The history of this church, too, shows that my ministry, its many faults notwith- standing, has been quite as successful as that of most other men's under similar circumstances. The course, however, which has been pursued by some of the members of the church for the last six months, the particulars of which, as they are well known to you all, I need not state in this communication, have thrown obstacles in the way of my success in future, and inflicted a wound on my feelings, which must, doubtless, justify me in your view, in requesting you, as I now do, to allow me to leave you, to unite with me in the usual measures for dissolving our connexion. And may the God of peace and love be with you forever. A. PHILLIPS.
Princeton, January 12, 1836."
A Council convened at the house of Mr. Phillips and consummated the vote of the church before mentioned relative to his dismission. Mr. Phillips, during his ministry in Princeton, had enjoyed the unlimited confi- dence of the members of his church and society nearly to the time of his dismission. Several, a short time pre- vious thereto, became disaffected however, as we have seen in the narrative. About sixty young persons united with the church in the course of his ministry. No year passed without receiving some new members. The whole number added during this period was one hundred and thirty-five.
Rev. Alonzo Phillips was born at Bradford, in this State, Sept. 1, 1788. His father, Capt. Timothy Phil- lips, was a revolutionary patriot. He prepared for col- lege at the academy in Bradford; graduated, in 1815, at the Middlebury College, Vt., and immediately com- menced his theological course at Andover. He spent his first year in the ministry as a domestic missionary in the State of Vermont. Soon after his dismission from
168
CONGREGATIONS UNITE.
Princeton he removed with his family to Newburyport, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 24, 1838. During the years of his ministry he prepared about 550 MS. sermons. These sermons were well studied, and abundantly evince a mind naturally clear and discriminating.
On the 9th of June, 1836, a committee was appointed by the First Parish to " request the society worshipping at the Rev. Mr. Phillips' Meeting House to appoint a committee" to see if they can agree upon measures for effecting a " Union." At a meeting of the Evangelical Society, on the 20th of the same month, it was voted " to choose a committee, consisting of five" persons, to meet the above mentioned committee, with the following instructions :- " That the only condition on which the members of the First Parish can be united with us, is, by uniting with our society in a legal way. In case they see fit to unite with us, we will allow them to vote in all matters, or suspend action till they become voters by law." It was also " Voted, That we feel the busi- ness must be closed soon and that we cannot make or receive any more communications on this subject of union. The First Parish refused to accede to this vote ; but at the same time " voted that they were willing to meet for public worship, in either of the Congregational Meeting Houses." Whereupon, the Society worshipping at the house of the Rev. Mr. Phillips' former labor, voted that they were " willing, as individuals, that the First Parish should come in and worship with them." The First Parish voted to accept this invitation, and at the same time, " to suspend meetings at the first parish meeting house for the present, until otherwise ordered
169
MUTUAL COUNCIL.
by said parish, and meet in the new meeting house for religious worship."*
The members worshipping at Mr. Phillips' " former place of labor," had, previous to this, invited Rev. Eli- jah Demond, of Holliston, to preach to them; and in a short time they invited him to settle with them. He however negatived this call, and subsequently, on the 24th of September, 1836, accepted an invitation from those previously worshipping at the old house to become their pastor. On the 26th of October following, Mr. Demond was installed. The exercises on that occasion were as follows :- Introductory prayer by Rev. Samuel Gay of Hubbardston ; Sermon by Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., of West Medway ; Installing prayer by Rev. Job Fisher of New Braintree; Charge to the pastor by Rev. Dr. Snell of North Brookfield; Right hand of fellowship by Rev. Cyrus Mann of Westminster; Address to the Church and Society by Rev. Josiah Clark of Rutland ; Concluding prayer by Rev. John Nelson ; Benediction by the Pastor.
A committee was chosen in November, 1836, who were instructed to remove the Sabbath School Library, from the "small to the large meeting-house."*
The members that still worshipped at the "small house," thirty-two in number, requested a dismission and recommendation, with a view to be formed " into a new Church by themselves." Their request, however, was not granted. It was renewed the second time, without avail. Whereupon it was agreed to call a mu- tual council, to "consider the subject of" their dismission Accordingly, a council was convened Feb. 7, 1838,
* Whether this vote was ever rescinded we are unable to state.
The committee were Josiah Cutting, Caleb Dana, and Charles B. Temple
15*
170
REV. MR. HARDING.
consisting of the church in Hubbardston under the charge of Rev. Samuel Gay ; the church in Leicester un- der Rev. John Nelson ; the church in Rutland under Rev. Josiah Clark; the church in Hardwick under Rev. Wm. Eaton, and the church in Keene, N. H., under Rev. Z. S. Barstow,-each of the ministers of said churches being accompanied with a delegate. The following is the result :- " The council express their sympathy with the aggrieved persons, as the long tried friends of truth, and as honestly supposing themselves entitled to a dis- mission because they cannot, as they think, conscien- tiously come into the measures of the church, lest they approve of things that are wrong. And yet we think they misjudge in this respect ; and on the other hand, the council are fully persuaded that the reasons urged by the church against granting the request of the petition- ers, are sound and judicious; and that it would be wrong to perpétuate divisions by erecting à new church state in Princeton."*
The present Congregational Meeting House was com- pleted in 1838. Mr. Demond continued his labors in this place until 1839, wlien, at his request, he was dis- missed on the 8th of November of that year. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H., in 1816, and pursued his theological studies at Andover.
Rev. Mr. Harding, the successor to Rev. Mr. De- mond, was ordained March 20, 1840. The exercises were-Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Paine of Hol- den ; Sermon by Rev. Mr. Rogers of Franklin st., Boston ; Ordaining prayer by Rev. Samuel Gay of Hubbardston ; Charge to the pastor by Rev. Josiah Clark of Rutland ; Fellowship of the churches by Rev. Samuel Lamson of
* For the course taken by the disaffected, see succeeding chapter.
171
REV. MR. GOLDSMITHI.
Brighton ; Address to the church and society by Rev. Cyrus Mann of Westminster; Concluding prayer by Rev. S. G. Buckingham of Millbury ; Benediction .- Mr. Harding was dismissed, at his request, on the 28th of August, 1844.
In March, 1845, it was voted by the church and parish to give Rev. Joseph Vaill a call to settle. Mr. Vaill however declined. In June of the same year, Rev. Al- fred Goldsmith accepted an invitation to settle in Prince- ton. His installation took place July 15, 1845. The exercises on the occasion were as follows :- Introductory prayer by Rev. J. W. Cross of West, Boylston; Ser- mon by Rev. G. W. Blagdon of Old South Church, Boston ; Installing prayer by Rev. S. Sweetser of Cen- tral Church, Worcester ; Charge to the pastor by Rev. E. Smalley of Union Church, Worcester ; Fellowship of the churches by Rev. A. Bullard of Barre; Address to the people by Rev. S. S. Smith of Westminster ; Con- cluding prayer by Rev. O. B. Bidwell of Hubbardston, and Benediction by the pastor. Mr. Goldsmith contin- ued his labors until the 17th of June, 1849, when he was, at his request, dismissed.
Since the last date, the Congregational Church in Princeton has had no settled pastor. It was voted, June 20, 1850, to give the Rev. Wm. D. Hitchcock a call to settle over the church in the work of the gospel ministry. Mr. Hitchcock negatived the call. He how- ever continued to supply their pulpit for ten months ; and has since settled over the Congregational Church in Clinton. Their pulpit, since he left, has been supplied by different ministers, mostly by students from the The- ological Seminary at Andover.
172
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
CHAPTER XII.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Introduction of Methodism into Princeton-Messrs. Lewis and Fay join Class at Worcester-First Methodist Preaching by Rev. James Porter-Revival of Religion under the Labors of Rev. Mr. Paine-Formation of Classes -- Hubbardston and Rutland made Stations-New Meeting House-First Quarterly Conference-Purchase of Furniture for Parsonage-Present to the Church-Stationed Preachers-Munificence of Mrs. Nabby Brooks. .
Methodism is said to be "a child of Providence." That it was introduced into Princeton under Providen- tial circumstances none can doubt, upon becoming ac- quainted with its brief history. During the first of the year 1838, Mr. George Lewis and Mr. Silas Fay, the former a member of the Baptist church and the latter a member of the Congregational church, requested dis- mission from those churches. Their request being granted, they joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in Worcester. The Rev. James Porter, who was the stationed preacher at that time in Worcester, and under whose watchcare they had placed themselves, was invited to come to Princeton to preach. With this request he very readily complied, and, in March of the same year, preached in the old Town House, to a large concourse of people. He learned at this time, the condition of the place, and the existence of a desire to become better acquainted with Methodist doctrines and usages, on the part of many of the people,
As they desired preaching on the Sabbath, which he was unable to render himself, he requested Rev. Benja- min Paine, of Oxford, (who at that time sustained a su- pernumary relation to the New England Annual Confer- ence of the M. E. Church,) to spend a few Sabbaths in Princeton. Mr. Paine complied with the request, and
173
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
commenced preaching here the third Sabbath in April, 1838, and continued until the first of June following,- at which time he engaged to preach for them one year additional. From the commencement of his ministerial labors among the people, there was an evident serious- ness and an increasing attention to the words of life preached by him, until some time in August following ; when, at Valley village, or "Slab city," where he had held a third service on the Sabbath, a revival of religion broke out. Such was the interest now manifested on the subject of religion, that hundreds assembled to hear the word, while the revival influence extended into every part of the town and also into several of the adjacent towns, especially Hubbardston and Rutland. It is said to have been the most extensive and powerful revival of religion ever experienced in this community. As the fruits of it, many were added to the church of Christ .- On the 15th of August, Mr. Paine formed a class of about twenty members in Hubbardston, and on the 31st, one in this town of about thirty members.
In the early part of the succeeding year, another class was formed, in Rutland, consisting of twenty-five mem- bers. During the conference year many accessions were made to these classes, especially to the one in Princeton, so that at its close, in June, 1839, the M. E. Church numbered in all, comprising the three classes referred to, 138 communicants. Many of this number were the former members of Rev. Mr. Phillips' church, which has been conspicuous in the preceding chapters. Many accessions during this revival were also made to the Congregationalist church in this place .* At the session of the Conference in June, 1839, as Mr. Paine
* See Church Records, vol. ii.
174
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
had heretofore sustained a supernumary relation, it was changed to that of effective, and he was then stationed at Princeton. At the same Conference, Hubbardston was also made a station, and Rev. J. Whitman, jr., ap- pointed to labor there; and Rutland was left to be sup- plied by the Presiding Elder.
Immediately on the return of Mr. Paine from Confer- ence, the church and society under his charge, feeling the need of a more convenient place for public worship, commenced building a meeting-house. This house was erected at an expense of about forty-five hundred dol- lars, exclusive of the bell, (which was purchased by subscription, at an expense of about five hundred dol- lars, of which Jonas Brooks, Esq. paid two hundred dollars.) It was completed in the course of the ensuing winter, and dedicated on the 13th of February, 1840. The dedicatory prayer was offered by the Pastor, and the sermon preached by Rev. M. L. Scudder, now of the New York East Conference. During the early part of the year 1840, the Methodist Episcopal Society com- menced its legal existence. The first quarterly meeting conference was held on the 16th of February of that year. Rev. Bartholomew Otheman, now of Providence Annual Conference, was the Presiding Elder. At this Conference, George Lewis, Jonas Brooks, Esq. and Ed- ward A. Goodnow, were elected the first stewards of the M. E. Church in Princeton. The class leaders that had been previously appointed by the pastor, were, John H. Brooks and Luther Crawford.
Mr. Paine, who accomplished much for the society in its infancy, continued his labors with them until June, 1840, which date terminated the term preachers are al- lowed to remain at one time, on the same station, or
175
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
circuit, in the Methodist Episcopal connection. Rev. Stephen Cushing was appointed as the successor of Mr. Paine. During the ministrations of Mr. Cushing, a considerable amount of furniture was purchased by sub- scription, for the use of the stationed preachers in Prince- ton. In the year 1841, Rev. William R. Stone was sta- tioned over this church, whose pastoral labors were high- ly appreciated by the church and congregation. Rev. J. R. Sawyer was appointed to succeed Mr. Stone in 1842. Mr. Sawyer, after laboring a few months with the people, withdrew from the M. E. Church and con- nected himself with the " True Wesleyans."
Fortunately for the church and society, Rev. Joseph W. Lewis, who was at that time preaching in West Boylston, was engaged as Mr. Sawyer's substitute. Mr. Lewis was vigilant in looking after the spiritual inter- ests of the church. He labored with them with great acceptance until the session of the Conference, in 1843, from which he was returned to Princeton, as also from the succeeding one in 1844, closing his labors here in 1845. During his [ministrations several were added to the church. Rev. Kinsman Atkinson succeeded Mr. Lewis, who was diligent in the work of the ministry.
In 1846, Rev. Howard C. Dunham was the stationed preacher. In September of this year Mrs. Olive Winch presented to the church a set of communion service. The money by which said set was purchased, was earned by her own industry after having passed the age of three score years and ten. On the 6th of September, 1846, the following resolution was unanimously adopted by the church :- " Resolved, That the thanks of this church be given to our aged and respected sister Winch, for the set of communion service she has this day presented to
176
BAPTIST CHURCH.
us, with the assurance of our Christian regards, and prayers that she may ever feel that it is more blessed to give than to receive."
In the years 1847-8, Rev. Albert A. Cook, was stationed here, whose labors much increased the congre- gation. The succeeding conference year, Rev. Henry M. Bridge was the pastor. Rev. Jeremiah L. Hana- ford was appointed in April, 1850, and continued till April, 1852. Rev. Simon Putnam is the stationed preacher this year .*
The Methodist Episcopal Church and Society in Princeton, have a fund of little more than $600, which was presented said church and society some years since by Mrs. Nabby Brooks, the annual interest of which goes to the support of public worship. The church gives promise of accomplishing extensive good. Hitherto its influence has been most salutary, and we trust still more numerous and healthful influences will emanate from it.+
* We have not thought it best to give any biographical sketches of the dif- ferent preachers of this church, as their stay has necessarily been limited.
t For Articles of Faith of the M. E. Church, see Discipline, sec. ii.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Formation of the Baptist Society-First Baptist in Town-First Preaching --
Rev. Mr. Andrews-Organization of the Church-Articles of Faith-Rev. Mr. Walker-Rev. Mr. Johnson-Settlement and Dismission of Mr. Morse -Call and Settlement of Mr. Lovel-His Dismission-Settlement of Mr. Ball-Settlement of Mr. Cunningham-Accessions to the Church-Dis- mission of Mr. Cunningham-Temporary Supply of the Pulpit.
The records of the Baptist Society do not bear an earlier date than 1817. On the 9th of April of that year
177
BAPTIST CHURCH.
sixty-one individuals, several of whom were members of the Baptist church in Holden, formed themselves into a society by the name of " the Baptist Society in Prince- ton." Tradition reports that Mr. Aaron Perry, living upon the farm now known by the name of the " Rice place," was the first person of this denomination belong- ing to town. The records of the town partially confirm the voice of tradition. At a town meeting, held May 5, 1770, it was voted that " Aaron Perry be left out of the ministerial rates,"* on the account of his being of the Baptist persuasion, and an article was inserted in the warrant for the town meeting to be held May 27, 1776, " to see if the town will abate all, or any of the ministe- rial rates of those persons that are of the Baptist persua- sion." The vote of the town in reference to this article reads as follows :-- " Voted, to abate the ministerial rates of Stephen Ralph, Sadey Mason, and Aaron Perry." For several years subsequent to this period this favor was refused.
The records of the Society commence, as before stated, April 9, 1817. William Everett was chosen moderator, and Stephen Mirick, jr., clerk. Previous to this time, however, there was occasional Baptist preaching at the house of Mr. Perry, and, as early as the year 1805, the Rev. Elisha Adams, then Pastor of the Baptist church in Templeton, commenced preaching in town at the residence of Mr William Everett, usually spending eight or ten Sabbaths in Princeton during each year. The Baptists in town then belonged to the Baptist church in Templeton ; but on the 31st of December, 1807,
* The "ministerial rates" related to what was raised for the support of the Established Church.
16
178
BAPTIST CHURCH.
at their request, they were dismissed, and became connected with the church in Holden.
Under the ministration of Mr. Andrews, several addi- tions were made to the church. He continued his labors until 1819. For three years subsequent thereto, Rev. John Walker preached to them one fourth of the time. There was a revival of religion under his ministry, and as fruits of it nearly twenty became connected with the church in Holden, Their meetings during this period were usually held at one of the school-houses, mainly at the " North school-house," so called. In 1822 they re- quested a dismission from the church in Holden, for the purpose of being " united into a distinct church." This request was granted on the 31st of July of that year, and they were duly organized as a Church of Christ in Princeton, numbering at the time twenty-eight members. The following are the Articles of Faith adopted at the organization :-
"1. We believe that the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, were given by infallible inspiration of God, and that they contain our only and sufficient rule of faith and practice.
"2. We believe that the Holy Scriptures teach us that there is only one living and true God ; possessing infinite immutable wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth ; and that this one God consists in three Persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
"3. We believe that the first man, Adam, was created up- right and holy, and by a divine constitution was placed the head and representative of his posterity, so that all mankind descend- ing from him by mutual generation, are, in consequence of his disobedience, involved in a state of sin and guilt, yet so as not to destroy the moral agency of mankind, nor the personal re- sponsibility of every individual.
"4. We believe that Jesus Christ is truly and properly the Son of God, and that in him the Divine and human natures are so united as to be one Person, and that he is the only Me- diator between God and man.
"5. We believe that Jesus Christ was from Eternity set as
179
BAPTIST CHURCH.
the Mediator of the new covenant, and that in that covenant a certain number of the human race was given to him, of the Fa- ther, by an irrevocable purpose of Grace, who shall infallibly be saved through the Mediator of the atonement, by faith in Christ, renovation of heart, and true holiness.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.