USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > History of Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, civil and ecclesiastical, from its first settlement in 1739, to april 1852 > Part 7
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Nothing further was done towards the settlement of a pastor until the 30th of March, 1767, when the district voted, 22 to 4, to concur with the church in their choice of the Rev. Timothy Fuller to settle with them in the work of the gospel ministry. The same pecuniary encourage- ment was voted Mr. Fuller, as a settlement, which had
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MR. FULLER'S ORDINATION.
been previously offered Mr. Goodrich. They also voted · him an annual salary of &£53, 6s, 8d .; and an addition of &6, 13s 4d, to be paid to his wife at the expiration of five years from his ordination, thenceforth to be contin- ued yearly; and the same amount additional in ten years, thenceforth to be paid yearly so long as Mr. Fuller shall continue to be their minister and fulfil the work of the ministry. A committee was appointed to wait on the Rev. Mr. Fuller, with the above invitation, to which he returned an affirmative answer.
On the 9th of September, 1767, Mr. Fuller was or- dained as pastor of the religious society. There were present on this occasion to assist in the solemnities of the ordination, pastors and delegates from the First Church in Danvers, the second Church in Shrewsbury the second in Lancaster, and the Churches in Wilmington, Rutland, Holden, Weston, Westminster and Middleton.
As a substitute for the old covenant, the following was adopted by the church, on the 9th of November, to be used in the admission of members :
" A Covenant for admission into the Church.
" You declare your firm belief of one Infinite and Eternal God, Father Son and Holy Ghost, that the Sacred Scriptures are of Divine origin, and comprehend our whole duty as it re- lates to faith and practice ;- You resolve to conform your lives to the rules of God's word till death,-giving up yourselves to God the Father as your portion, to God the Son as your Re- deemer, and to God the Holy Ghost as your sanctifier guide and comforter :- You acknowledge your indispensable obligation to serve and glorify God in a holy, sober and godly life, and prom- ise to live in obedience to him walking inall his ordinances blameless :- You promise also by the help of God to walk with the Church in the faith and order of the gospel, attending the public worship of God, the Sacrament of the New Testament, the duties of his kingdom and all his holy institutions, so long as you continue in the place :- you promise to devote your off- spring to God, and to instruct them in the principles and prac-
91
COMPLAINTS AGAINST MR. FULLER.
tice of religion ; carefully avoiding every cause of contention and every source of sin, as becomes God's people in covenant with him ; and this you do flying to the blood of the everlasting covenant for the pardon of your sins, praying that the Lord Je- sus who is the great Shepherd would prepare and strengthen you for every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
After the adoption of the above covenant and at the same meeting, the first Deacons of the church were elect- ed. These were Timothy Keyes and Adonijah Howe. It was also voted " that the sacrament be administered once in two months ; but may be omitted at particular times as the pastor may judge expedient." On the 10th of April the year following, the Hon. Moses Gill pre- sented to the Church a flagon, tankard, cup and dish for the communion table, and also a baptismal basin.
Mr Fuller continued to exercise his ministerial func- tions to the general satisfaction of his parishioners for nearly eight years, when, during the opening struggles of the revolutionary war and amid the violence of party contention, he was suspected of entertaining unfavorable views in regard to the rights and liberties of the Colo- nies. In view of the alarming state of affairs, the Gene- ral Court, at its session in 1774, were desirous to have Gov. Gage appoint a fast. He refused to comply with their wishes, whereupon they recommended a day for public fast and prayer, in imitation of their pious ances- tors, " who on all occasions of common danger and dis- tress devoutly looked to God for direction and favor." The people of Princeton desired Mr. Fuller, in accord- ance with the recommendation of the General Court, to hold a fast, but he declined. Many took offence at this course ; and from this period the disaffection commenced
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COMPLAINTS AGAINST MR. FULLER.
which seemed to produce in the minds of the people an indomitable determination to dissolve their existing con- nection. This however was not the only complaint brought by the people against their pastor. Many things that had passed unnoticed for years, were construed into grievances. The following letter, from a committee of the church, contains a summary of these allegations ;-
" To the Rev. Timothy Fuller.
" SIR, We are dissatisfied with your conduct in the pastoral office in the following particulars. 1. Your not catechising and instructing the children more frequently. 2. Your neglect of pastoral visits and of conversation on spiritual things. 3, An unchristian backwardness to instruct and enlighten your flock, which we fear proceeds from a disregard to their spiritual welfare. 4. Your neglecting lectures when first settled among us. 5. Your refusing to appoint a Fast when motioned by the Gene- ral Court on account of the fearful apprehension of losing liberties of country, through the arbitrary proceedings of the British Parliament. 6. Your treatment of the Church, when seeking for satisfaction in the articles of charge.
Timothy Keyes, Stephen Brigham, Stephen Harrington, Ichabod Fisher, Thos. Gleason.
Princeton, March 26, 1776."
Mr. Fuller returned an answer to this bill of charges by letter, " which stands on record," say the church re- cords, " in the Old Church Book." This book, unfor- tunately, has been lost ; consequently the reply is not accessible to the writer. From April, 1776, to May,
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MR. FULLER'S REPLY.
1786, no record is preserved on the church book of any transactions. " Sometime subsequent however," says Mr. Russell in his History of Princeton, " to the trial of the suit at Salem, which he commenced against the town for the recovery of his salary, Mr. Fuller published a vindication* of his conduct, in which is incorporated, probably, the substance of his reply to the church." With respect to the charge of toryism he says,-" What my people believed, I am unable to determine ; but I persuade myself they did not believe me opposed to the measures of my country, because there was nothing in my conduct or conversation to justify such a faith, con- sidered as a rational principle. My principles did not forbid my offering the petitions of the people for relief ; but I readily joined with my people on all days set apart by any Court or Congress, for public devotion, and led them in their addresses to heaven for aid and deliver- ance."+ In regard to the charges of neglect of lectures, catechising, and pastoral visits, he says,-" To these I at that time answered, that I had rarely omitted a lecture previous to the communion, except for a period some- what exceeding a year after my settlement, when lec- tures were not so statedly appointed as afterwards, by reason of necessary avocations. That I had made it a rule to catechise their children twice a year, from which I had seldom deviated. That I had visited them all generally once a year ; and never neglected to visit per-
* " This is a small pamphlet of twenty-three pages, entitled ' Remarks, &c.' and purports to be written in reply to some strictures upon a pamphlet published by the Rev. Mr. Thatcher. It is without date or signature, and but few copies probably exist. For the one in my possession I am indebted to the politeness of Charles Mirick, Esq "
+ The charge of toryism, against Mr. Fuller, we have narrated in the Chap- ter on the Revolutionary War.
9
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MR. FULLER'S REPLY.
sons in sickness, upon their offering a note for public prayers, or upon particular application, and on such visits had endeavored to adapt my addresses to their cir- cumstances." The charge of levity, in presiding at the church meetings, is explained by supposing " the mode- rator laid down his head on the seat before him, shiver- ing with the cold, which the people might fondly con- strue into a shake of laughter." " It may be impossi- ble," somewhat satirically continues the writer, " some- times in such debates and altercations to suppress a re- luctant smile. And there may be such a concurrence of circumstances, as to protect a man from censure, in such a case, on any occasion whatever, except an immediate ad- dress to the Deity." Mr. Russell proceeds, " The ty- ranny in church government, another subject of com- plaint, seems to have been charged upon Mr. Fuller in two instances in particular ; in one of which, he refused to put a vote whereby the church would go into an im- mediate investigation of the charges, then for the first time brought against him. On his refusal, the church were on the point of voting in a new moderator, when he dissolved the meeting. In the other instance, he over- ruled a motion to choose a committee to collect articles: of charge against him, remarking that if any one hadi anything against him, he had full liberty to offer it, and in due time, it should be laid before the church, but that he would not be active in choosing a committee to hunt up articles against him. In vindication of Mr. Fuller's conduct, in this respect, I should remark that, up to this time, the ministers claimed the right of negativing any vote of the church which they disliked."*
Such was the character of the charges against Mr. Ful-
See ' History of Princeton' pp. 41, 42.
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ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL.
ler, and such his reply to them. During several months, continued but ineffectual efforts were made to secure equitable adjustment. Meeting after meeting was held. It was finally decided, on the part of the church and town, to submit the determination of the whole matter to an Ecclesiastical Council. Consequently a Council convened March 11, 1776, at the house of Caleb Mi- rick, from the churches in Worcester, Westminster, and the first in Shrewsbury. After the organization of said council, notice was given to Mr. Fuller and his presence solicited ; who, on receiving said notice, communicated through them a letter to the town and church commit- tee, proposing a mutual Ecclesiastical Council, on the following terms :- " Ist. To consist of nine churches, four to be chosen by each party, the ninth mutually, and to be selected from this county, in consequence of the almost universal adoption in Worcester county, of the ' Bolton plan.'# 2d. Each church to be represented by its pastor and two delegates. 3d. That all articles of grievance be submitted to them. 4th. That each party be served with a copy of these articles at least fourteen days before the sitting of the Council. 5th. That the Council regulate their own proceedings. 6th. That the number of persons sitting in Council from each church be equal. 7th. That each party choose several churches extraordinary, out of which they may supply, if any of the first choice should happen to fail." These proposals were assented to on the part of the committee, with the substitution of seven churches instead of nine. Mr. Ful- ler consented, and accordingly the committee, in con-
* Previous to the year 1776 it had been the unanimous practice of the minis- ters to negative any vote of the church which they disapproved. This right, however, the church in Bolton disputed, and their views were finally sanc- tioned by an Ecclesiastical Council. Hence the " Bolton plan."
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ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL.
nection with Mr. F., proceeded to the selection of church- es. A disagreement, however, arose between the par- ties, in choosing the " extraordinary churches," which defeated the whole plan. Hence the former council, with the addition of the first church in Dedham and the church in Weston, convened on the 16th of April, and Mr. Fuller was requested to appear before said Council, by a letter from the Rev. Mr. Maccarty, who had been elected moderator. This he refused to do, stating as an objection, that he considered that they were an exparte Council, and of consequence were devoted to the inter- ests of his opponents.
The Council then proceeded to make the following proposition,-that they would name twelve churches, from which each party should select three, mutually con- senting to the church in Weston, (which was then pre- sent) as the seventh, which should be a council for the final settlement of all grievances. With this, again, Mr. Fuller refused to comply, stating as an objection, that it would be, in effect, exparte, as the whole twelve from which the mutual council was to be chosen, were selected by the sitting council. Says Mr. Fuller in his reply to the proposal of the council,-" If my brethren had pro- posed to choose my judges, I should not have thought it strange, but that you, gentlemen, should propose that they should do the same thing by proxy, is a little wonder- ful." At the same time he renewed his proposal for a mutual council, on the same conditions as before men- tioned. This was declined by the council, on " account of the embarrassments thrown in the way" at the first at- tempt, in the selection of the " extraordinary churches." The council now proceeded to advise Mr. Fuller to re- quest a dismission. He however declined, but waited
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.
on them, proposing a mutual council on one of the two following conditions :- 1st. He would " set aside six of the churches which the brethren had chosen," the six that remained, in connection with the seventh which should be mutually selected, to constitute the council. 2d. " I will set aside," says Mr. Fuller, " twenty church- es, and the brethren as many more, and then we will cach choose three congregational churches, of good standing, any where in the province, no objection on either side; who, together with one mutually agreed upon, shall be a mutual council."
Neither of these propositions were acceded to ; and the council on the 19th, again proceeded to advise, fi- nally, Mr. Fuller's dismission. He was accordingly dis- missed. Subsequently Mr. Fuller called an exparte council, consisting of Rev. Mr. Howard's church, Bos- ton, Payson's of Chelsea, Whitney's of Shirley, Adams' of Lunenburg, and Barnard's of Salem. The result of this was favorable to Rev. Mr. Fuller. Being dissatis- fied with the result of the first council, and also believing it to have been illegal, Mr. Fuller commenced a suit against the town in 1782, for the recovery of his salary from 1775. The case was argued at Salem in Novem- ber, by Judge Parsons in behalf of the plaintiff, and Messrs. Sullivan and Lincoln for the defendants. Mr. Fuller, however, lost his case-a verdict being found in favor of the town, and thus ended this unhappy and pro- tracted controversy.
The Rev. Timothy Fuller, a graduate of Cambridge University, in 1760, was born in Middleton, in this State, in 1738, and descended from an ancient family, who em- igrated from England to this country in 1628. After his dismission from Princeton, Mr. Fuller removed to
9*
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REV. DANIEL ADAMS.
Martha's Vineyard, and preached in Chilmark until the close of the revolutionary war. In 1782 he removed to Middleton, his native place, and in a short time subse- quent to that period, he returned to Princeton, where he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. In 1788, he represented the town in the convention which approved and adopted the present Federal Constitution. In 1796, Mr. Fuller removed to Merrimac, N. H., where he was employed in cultivating the soil, until July, 1805, when he died, at the age of sixty-five .*
* For the materials of the biographical sketch of Mr. Fuller, as well as of several other clergymen, I am indebted to the History of Princeton by Russell.
CHAPTER VII.
Unsuccessful efforts for a re-establishment of the Gospel Ministry-Settlement of Mr. Crafts-fle requests a Dismission-Letter to him-Rev. Mr. Good- rich-New Meeting House-Mr. Russell's Settlement-Dedication of Meeting House -Mr. Russell's Dismission-Settlement of Mr. Murdock- First General Revival of Religion in Town-Church Covenant-Mr. Mur- dock's Dismission.
In the period of little more than ten years subsequent to the dismssion of Mr. Fuller, several candidates were heard, and three unsuccessful attempts were made for the re-establishment of the Gospel ministry .* The first of these was on the 26th of January, 1778, when the town " voted to concur with the church in their choice of Mr. Daniel Adams of Medway for their Pastor," at the same time offering him &400 as a settlement. At a sub- sequent meeting the inhabitants voted a salary of £70,
* January 7, 177º, was set apart by a vote of the church and town, for humil- ation, prayer, and supplication of the divine assistance, for the re-establish- ment of the Gospel ministry.
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REV. MESSRS. LITCHFIELD AND HUBBARD.
to be paid him annually, so long as he should continue in the ministry with them, as follows : One half at the Rate of Indian Corn at four shillings per bushel, and the remainder in cash, from the fluctuating currency of the times. Mr. Adams declined this invitation.
In October, an invitation was given to Rev. Paul Litchfield to settle in the place, and a settlement of £600, with the same pecuniary encouragement as an annual salary, which had been previously offered Mr. Adams, was tendered to him. At a subsequent meet- ing, however, the town so far reconsidered this as to vote,-" that there be paid to Mr. Paul Litchfield each and every year during his continuance in the ministry among us seventy pounds as followeth ;- twenty-three pounds, six shillings, eight pence, at the Rate of Indian Corn at three shillings per bushel, &23, Gs, &d, at the Rate of Beef at twenty shillings per hundred ; and &23, 6s, 8d, in cash of the present currency." Mr. Litchfield declined this invitation. It was renewed in May, 1779, by a vote of the town, 46 to 22, with the settlement augmented to £1200, with the same salary, only £17, 10s, however, being payable in the then currency. This invitation he also declined.
In January, 1781, Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard was invi- ted to settle, and a settlement of £200 lawful money, of- fered, payable " at the rate of Indian Corn at 3s, Rye at four shillings a bushel, beef at 20 shillings per hun- dred, and pork at three-and-a-half pence per pound." A salary also of £73, 6s, 8d, of lawful money payable at the rates of Indian Corn, Beef and Pork, as above .* It was also voted subsequent to this period, that thirty
* This was a necessary expedient to avoid the depreciation of the paper cur- rency of the times.
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REV. THOMAS CRAFTS.
cords of wood annually, be added to this salary. Mr. Hubbard however declined the invitation.
No further attempts were made for the re-establish- ment of the Gospel ministry until January, 1786, when Rev. Thomas Crafts received an invitation from the in- habitants to become their pastor. It was voted that " the sum of £200 be paid him in six months after his or- dination, as his settlement, and that the sum of £80 be paid him as his annual salary, and that twenty cords of wood be delivered him every Fall so long as he shall continue our minister." Mr. Crafts accepted the call, and was ordained on the 28th of June, 1786 .* On this occasion letters missive, inviting their presence by pas- tor and delegate, were sent to the fourth church in Bridgewater, the church in Brattle-street, Boston,-in Roxbury, Brookline, Shrewsbury, Rutland, Holden and Sterling, all of which were present.
Mr. Crafts continued to discharge the duties of the
* "No little display would seem to have been made on this occasion, if we may judge from the following account, which I accidentally came across among a mass of loose papers in the Town Clerk's office, and which speaks loud for the multitude present or the poverty of the town. The people of Princeton would be the last to let such an occasion pass wanting in a single one of the ' good things of this life' which usually load the groaning tables of the ordination day."
'To the Town of Princeton, to me Debtor.
For going to Hardwick, to carry Mr. Crafts-the call of the town, .. . 09 00
Also for fetching cider, plates and dishes from Shrews- bury and carrying them back again, . .. 06 00
For going to Westminster for knives and forks, and for a horse to carry one of the cooks home, 07 60
For nine dozen eggs for the Council,. 06 00
18 60
Princeton, June 30, 1786.' ADONIJAH HOWE.
I also find about this time-
' The Town of Princeton,. . . To Samuel Dadman, Dr.
For one leg of bacon 1634 lbs.,. 0 13 11 2.' which it is not unfounded conjecture to suppose, went the way of the ' nine dozen eggs for the Council.' ">-Russell's Hist. of Princeton, Chap. v.
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LETTER TO MR. CRAFTS.
ministry with fidelity, for about three years, until his health failed. For nearly two years he was unable to preach, when all hope of recovery, so as to be able to carry on the work of the sacred office, being cut off, he requested and received, a dismission from the pastoral re- lation.
That Rev. Mr. Crafts was very highly respected and beloved by the people of his charge, is evident from the following letter, sent him on the occasion of his dismis- sion :-
"REVEREND SIR :- The Church and Congregation in Princeton having this day, according to your request, voted your dismission from your Pastoral Relation sole- ly on the account of your ill state of health and little prospect of your future usefulness in that work ; We the Church and Congregation in this place declare that it is with reluctance that we are constrained to part with you under these considerations ; that it has been with pleasure and much satisfaction that we have sat under your ministry ; that we sincerely sympathize with you under these (your)afflictions ; that we ardently wish Al- mighty God would take you and your family under His Gracious Protection, and if it be his pleasure, to give you a confirmed state of health, and make you yet use- ful in your public character, and long continue you a blessing to the world.
"We ask an interest in your prayers, and subscribe "Your affectionate Friends and Brethren,
Moses Gill, Moderator."
" Signed at the request of the town in town meeting assembly.
To the Rev. Mr. Thos. Crafts."
102
REV. MR. GOODRICH.
Rev. Thomas Crafts was a native of Newton, son of Dr. John S. Crafts, who removed to North-Bridgewater when his son was quite young. The latter graduated at Cambridge University in 1783. After his removal from Princeton he returned to Bridgewater, in which place and Weymouth he resided until 1802, when, having re- gained his health, he settled over a church and society in Middleborough, where he continued his labors until his demise, January 19, 1819, at the age of 60.
For several months after the dismission of Rev. Mr. Crafts, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Hezekiah Good- rich, who was subsequently settled over the church and society in Rutland. On the 5th of December, 1791, it was " voted unanimously that Mr. Hezekiah Goodrich's late preaching has been acceptable to the town, and that the committee be instructed to apply to him to preach six Sabbaths on probation-after the term which he is engaged has expired." Whether Mr. Goodrich com- plied with this vote we are not able to say, He how- ever received no call from the church or town to settle over them in the ministry. No attempt was made, from 1791 until 1795, for the re-establishment of the Gospel ministry in Princeton.
The first Meeting House exhibiting signs of decay, the question was discussed in Town Meeting, March 9, 1795, " shall a new meeting-house be built." It was the opinion of the town to build a new house. A com- mittee, consisting of Dea. Howe, William Whittaker, Capt. Samuel Hastings, His Honor Moses Gill, and Lieut. A, Merriam, was appointed to draft a plan and estimate the probable cost. Subsequently this commit- tee reported the probable expense of said house as fol- lows : £1039, 8s for materials, £60 for extra expenses,
103
NEW MEETING HOUSE.
£700 for carpenters' work; and the probable amount which would accrue from sale of pews, and the old house at &1875. The committee also reported the following plan :- Dimensions, 70 by 55 feet ; to contain 75 ground and 26 gallery Pews. Their report was accepted by the town, whereupon a building committee, consisting of Hon. Moses Gill, Capt. Samuel Hastings, Lieut. Amos Merriam, David Brooks and William Whittaker, was chosen. This committee was instructed to erect the "New Meeting House on the ground where the old meeting-house stands, or as nigh it as shall in the judgment of the committee be most eligible." The pews in said house were disposed of May 6, 1795, some months previous to its erection .* The whole amount of receipts from the sale of the same was ££1728, 3s, 1d, and the whole cost of said house (exclusive of the bell, which was purchased some years subsequent for $470, and the painting, for which $320 was paid afterwards,) £2273,3s, 1d, consequently there was a deficiency of £545, 4d, which was raised at a subsequent period by a general tax.
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