USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > History of Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, civil and ecclesiastical, from its first settlement in 1739, to april 1852 > Part 9
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" The other reason why we cannot consent to receive you as our minister, is because we are not satisfied with the doctrines which you have preached and which it is presumed you will continue to preach, should you be settled here. However cor- rect you may view yourself, and however many good things you may say, yet we are constrained to think that your scheme of doctrine is not fundamentally that which is revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Without any impeachment of your honesty we must view the gospel which you preach to be radically a different thing from that preached by Christ and his apostles, and which the primitive and reformed churches received. It is with no small concern we have viewed the attempt recently made in our own country to alter and mutilate the sacred rec- ords of our faith ; to lower down the character of our divine and adorable Saviour to that of a mere man or of a mere crea- ture ; and to subvert the foundation of our heavenly hopes, laid in the sacrifice of atonement offered on the cross. We wish not to have a scheme of religion, of which these are some of the leading principles, preached in this place. However many apparently good things may be mixed with it, we are fully per-
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REMONSTRANCE OF CHURCH.
suaded that it will not conduce to our own edification, to the good of our children, nor to the spiritual welfare of the people in this town.
" For these reasons, sir, we are constrained to dissent from the call you have received from the Town, and respectfully to re- monstrate against your settlement in this place in the character of a gospel minister. We hope you will take these things into serious and prayerful consideration, and act, in the view of them, as wisdom and prudence may direct. We entertain a good degree of confidence that you will not, by an acceptance of the call, sanction the irregularity under which it has been obtained and presented, and thus aid in depriving us of our rights, and in breaking down the walls which separate the church of Christ from the world ; and that you will not suffer yourself to be obtruded upon us not only without, but against our consent. Should you be settled here under existing cir- cumstances, you must it seems, be sensible of the critical sit- uation in which you will be placed, and be destitute of that prospect of harmony and usefulness which ought to have a weighty and governing influence with those who engage in the arduous and highly responsible work of the gospel ministry. Our hope and request is, that you will speedily negative the call you have received from the town of Princeton."
Such were the objections presented to Mr. Clarke by a very large majority of the church. Of the validity of the first, it is due to that majority to state that the set- tlers of New England adopted the congregational sys- tem as their ecclesiastical constitution, and early intro- duced the " Cambridge Platform." In that Platform the following declarations are found : " Officers are to be called by such churches whereunto they are to minis- ter. Of such moment is the preservation of this power, that the churches exercised it in the presence of the apostles. The power granted by Christ unto the body of the church and brotherhood, is a prerogative or priv- ilege which the church does exercise, in choosing their own officers, whether elders or deacons."* Cotton Ma- ther who wrote the early ecclesiastical history of the
* Chap. viii. Sec. 5, and Chap. x. Sec. 5.
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RIGHT TO CHOOSE PASTORS.
congregationalists, quotes the following conclusions ex- pressive of the sentiments of an Assembly of Congre- gational ministers who were convened at Cambridge, in the early days of our country . " A body of Christians associated for all the ordinances of the gospel, are a church of our glorious Lord which have among other precious privileges, a right from Him to choose their own pastors. The churches which have recovered this right from the oppression of man, under which many churches of the reformation are to this day groaning, ought to keep the precepts and the favors of the Lord, and not easily part with what he has given them. To introduce a practice in the choice of a pastor which being followed, may soon bring a pastor to be chosen for a church, which few yea none ofthe church have voted for, would be to betray and even destroy a most valuable right that such a society has a claim unto ; and many evil consequences are to be ex- pected from it." To these quotations Mr. Mather adds, this pertinent remark,-" "T'is very certain, that the right of a church to choose its own pastor was recognized and exercised in all the times of primitive Christianity ; yea 'twas one of the last things that the man of sin ravished from the people of God. The taking away of this privilege from the people, is by Calvin justly called impia spoliatio, a spoil impiously committed on the church of God."*
We add one extract more from the Result of an Ec- clesiastical Council at Sandwich, relative to the usages of the early New-England Churches :- " It is a truth of sufficient importance to be repeated, and too clear to be contested, that the church is a distinct body, independent of the parish for its existence and for the exercise of its
Ratio Discipline, pp. 16, 17. 26.
11
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RIGHT OF THE CHURCH.
rights. Churches are of divine institution, and subject to the laws of Christ ; parishes are of human establish- ment, and subject to human laws. Among the inherent and essential rights of a church, the right of electing its own pastor is one of the last to be surrendered. By the same divine authority by which churches are instituted, it is ordained that they should have pastors. The sa- cred pastoral office is not of man, but of God. There is evidence most authentic and abundant, that in the primi- tive times, the right of churches to elect their own pas- tors was universally exercised and held most sacred ; and as emphatically said by one of the fathers of New- England, ' it was one of the last things that the Man of Sin, ravished from the people of God.' This right is distinctly asserted by the Platform of our churches, which for a long course of years has had the sanction of our legislative and judicial authorities; and from the earliest periods of our history it has been exercised throughout New-England, with very few exceptions and very little interruption."*
It is true that the usages of the church varied some- what at different periods. Under the Colonial govern- ment the election of a gospel minister was exclusively with the church, and none, but members were permitted to exercise " the right of suffrage in any important con- cern." Under the Provincial government, the congre- gation were admitted to a concurrent vote in the settle- ment of a minister,-the right of the church to proceed and elect their own pastor being preserved inviolate. Under the constitution and laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, the rights of the town or congregation were enlarged and those of the church somewhat im-
* Panoplist, vol, xiii. pp. 277, 278.
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MR. CLARKE'S REPLY.
paired ; but still the right of the church to elect its own minister was not taken away. " The mode of settling ministers," said the venerable Judge Sedgwick, " has continued in every respect the same, since the establish- ment of the constitution as it was before." The law indeed gave a town or parish a civil right to elect their own minister ; but when chosen, he was a mere civil officer or teacher, and not a minister of the gospel.
Concerning the second objection in the remonstrance of the church to the settlement of Mr. Clarke, we need not remark. The fact that he preached a doctrine, es- sentially differing from that which, in their view, was revealed in the Holy Scriptures, was sufficient to author- ize them in their refusal to receive him as their pastor .*
As might be expected from a candidate, for the im- portant work of the gospel ministry, on receiving such a remonstrance from the church, Mr. Clarke negatived the call of the town, on the 30th of September. The follow- ing is an extract from his letter declining said invitation ; -" The first reason I have to offer for not complying with your invitation is that there appears to be that want of unanimity and harmony in your proceedings which are desirable and necessary in the settlement of a minister, I do not feel willing to settle under so great an opposition when compared with the number in my favor. Had I any reason to suppose that in case I should settle with you, most of those who are now opposed to me would attend upon my religious instructions, treat me with friendship and christian love and strive to pro- mote the union and welfare of the Town, this objection
* By a vote of the church Thursday, the 20th day of December was set apart as a day of public fasting and prayer. Rev. E. Brackwood of Westborough preached on the occasion.
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MR. CLARKE'S REPLY.
would be done away ; but from conversation I had with some of them, before leaving Princeton and from a re- monstrance which has been handed to me from the church, I have reason to suppose that most of those who are opposed are determined not to receive me as minis- ter of the the town or Pastor of the church, and conse- quently my life would be rendered unhappy, my useful- ness be diminished and the peace of the town in a great measure destroyed. This reason, therefore, has with me considerable weight. Another reason for my not complying with your invitation is because there are so many who appear to be indifferent towards me, who do not vote at all. I have understood that there are more than two hundred voters in town. It appears that only one hundred and forty-seven have voted in this case, forty-four of whom are opposed ; so that not more than one half of the town are really my friends. I have always considered that those who did not vote should be counted on the side of opposition. It was my request and con- stant prayer while I was with you, and it was my hope, that every person would act either for or against me, so that I should be left in no doubt respecting the minds of all; and could I now be satisfied that, as some have suggested, those who did not vote are my friends and really wish to have me for their minister, my first objection would in a great measure cease ; but so long as so many are opposed and so many indifferent I shall feel unwilling to settle with you. But my principal objection against complying with your invitation is that I conceive the en- couragement you offer me is not sufficient. From what I can learn respecting the expenses of living the salary you offer me without any settlement or any perquisites, is not sufficient to support a minister and raise him above
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SECOND CALL AND REPLY.
pecuniary embarrassment. Should I ever be settled I shall wish for a competency and nothing more ; so that I may be enabled to pursue my studies and attend to my parish duties with profit to myself and people, which cannot be done by those who are obliged to attend to other employments besides their profession in order to live above embarrassment. I have thus stated my rea- sons to you fairly and candidly, and they are of such weight with me that I have felt it my duty to answer your call in the negative."*
The friends of Mr. Clarke, not satisfied with what had transpired, a town meeting was warned, to be held on the 14th day of October, to take into consideration his reply. At this meeting a committee was chosen, " to see what further encouragement it would be proper to offer Mr. Clarke as an inducement to settle in the work of the ministry." This committee reported in addition to the before stated salary the sum of four hundred dol- lars as a " settlement." At the adjournment, on the 16th of the same month, after a protracted debate, the report was accepted, and the call renewed, when the vote stood-yeas 66, nays 59.
Mr. Clarke finding the opposition inflexible, answered the town negatively a second time, on the 10th of No- vember. We subjoin an extract from his second reply : " For this renewed mark of your respect and attach- ment be assured I feel the highest gratitude. But my friends I cannot express to you the anxiety I have expe- rienced since you renewed your invitation. It having been represented to me by many that should I settle with you, those who did not vote either for or against me, would undoubtedly unite under my instructions., and
* Town Records.
11*
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PETITION CIRCULATED.
that most if not all the opposition would cease, I felt it my duty both to you and myself to return into town and satisfy myself on the subject. I have therefore taken such measures for the purpose, as wisdom and prudence appeared to dictate, and have obtained sufficient knowl- edge of the state of the town as to enable me to come to a result. Be assured that this result has not been a hasty one. In the presence of God I can say that duty and conscience have dictated it. I have again concluded to answer you in the negative. I have been brought to this conclusion from the conviction that I can neither be useful or happy as your minister. If the word of those who profess to be Christians can be relied on, I am con- vinced that the greater part of those who are opposed to me are determined not to unite in my settlement or at- tend on my religious instructions. I am satisfied too that the greater part of those who have not voted, al- though they cannot be said to be opposed, are yet indif- ferent ; that they cannot be considered as my real friends and would for choice rather not have me for their teacher. I am satisfied also that some who are my real friends wish me not to stay under the present gloomy prospects."*
On the termination of the second attempt, it seems that Mr. Clarke's friends were still dissatisfied. A person was appointed to circulate a petition throughout the town for another meeting, to see if the town would renew their invitation. One hundred and five signatures were obtained. We subjoin the conclusion of this peti- tion,-" Fearing the most alarming consequences if we do not succeed in inviting and encouraging him to settle with us in the Christian ministry, we do earnestly en- treat you, once more, as soon as may be, to call a town
* Town Records.
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CALL OF COUNCIL.
meeting, to see if the town will renew their invitation to Mr. Samuel Clarke, to become their Christian minister." The petition was addressed to the selectmen, and con- sequently a meeting was warned, which convened on the 11th of February, 1817. A renewal of the invitation with a request for concurrence on the part of the church, resulted-yeas 81, nays 44; but no further pecuniary encouragement was offered to the candidate. The church, however, by a vote of twenty to six refused con- currence, and at the same time requested the town to dismiss the idea of settling Mr. Clarke, and to give di- rections to their committee to engage some other can- didate, in whom it was possible they might all be united and live in harmony.
To these solicitations of the church, the town in turn refused to give heed ; but at the adjournment of their meeting, on the 21st of February, they voted to refer their troubles to an Ecclesiastical Council. With this vote the church concurred, doutless in hope of obtaining relief. Letters missive, in the name of the church and town, were accordingly addressed to the church in Wor- cester under the charge of Rev. Dr. Bancroft, the church in Shrewsbury under the charge of Rev. Dr. Sumner, that in Lancaster under the charge of Rev. Nathaniel Thayer, that in Rindge, N. H. under the charge of Dr. Payson, and that in Millbury under the charge of Rev. Joseph Goffe,-each of which were represented by their pastor and delegate. The Council assembled at Prince- ton, March 6, 1817, and after taking into consideration various communications from the committees of the church and town relating to the business on which they were assembled, came to the following conclusion :-
" That by reason of existing difficulties in this church
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ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL.
and town; and as there is opened by Providence a pros- pect of the re-settlement of the Christian ministry, if a spirit of mutual condescension and forbearance is in ex- ercise ; this Council do, after due deliberation, and in the persuasion that it will be more conducive to the restora- tion of union than any other means they can devise, of- fer for the consideration of this church the following ad- vice : That on the seventeenth day of the present month, the brethren of this church be regularly notified to as- semble in church meeting; that when assembled, the the original covenant* of this church, a copy of which accompanies the result of this council, and in which an alteration will be found, to conform it to the language of scripture, be submitted to their consideration. We as- sure the members who shall adopt this covenant that we will recognize them as the church of Chrish in Prince- ton. After taking this step, we recommend to them as soon as may be, to submit to their body the question of concurrence with the town in the election, of Mr. Samuel Clarke, to be their minister. In case they shall concur, and he shall accept their invitation, we recom- mend that a joint committee of the church and town be authorized to issue letters missive for the purpose of in- viting an ordaining council to consummate the proposed union.""
Only six of the ten individuals comprising the mutual council supported the " result," while the remaining four entered the following " Protest" to the proceedings : "We the undersigned, members of the aforesaid coun- cil, materially differing in our views and convictions from the above Result, and believing the same repug-
* A new church covenant was substituted during the ministry of Rev. Dr. Murdock, for the old covenant, as narrated in a previous chapter.
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PROTEST OF THE MINORITY.
nant to what duty requires, feel ourselves bound in the fear of God, to enter our solemn Protest against said Result, for the following reason, viz :
" 1. Because it recommends an unnecessary and un- authorized subversion of the confession of faith and form of covenant adopted by this church in circumstan- ces peculiarly solemn,* and which appear to us happily calculated to maintain the purity of the church in faith and practice.
" 2. Because said Result appears to us inconsistent with the character given by inspiration of the church as a pillar and ground of the truth ; and as an unwar- rantable attack on the rights and usages of the New England churches, which have been uniformly recog- nized from the infancy of the country to the present day.
"3. Because said Result exhibits an alarming stretch of ecclesiastical power, which threatens the liberties and privileges, and even existence of Congregational church- es, by depriving them of the right of choosing their own pastors, breaking down their sacred enclosures, and subjecting them to the unenlightened guidance of the world.
"4. Because, in our view, said Result tends to perpet- uate and increase unhappy divisions which exist in this church and society, and which might probably Le heal- ed by such temperate measures as wisdom and duty ap- pear to dictate.
" With these views and impressions, we would fondly cherish the hope, that the good sense of the town of Princeton will lead them to make a solemn pause, before they adopt and pursue a course so apparently fraught with evils to themselves and their children after them ;
* In time of a special revival of religion in Princeton in 1810.
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PROTEST OF THE MINORITY.
and that the minority of the church will seriously re- flect, and humbly bring the subject to the throne of grace, before they depart from their solemn covenant engagements to God and their brethren, abandon the faith which they professed before many witnesses, and surrender themselves into the hands of those who have never named the name of Christ.
" We cannot but deeply sympathize with this precious section of the kingdom of our Lord in their present op- pressed and gloomy situation, in which we view them as suffering in the cause of truth and holiness. We advise and exhort them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free ; to bear with patience their present trials, and to be much in prayer that God, in his mercy, would be pleased to turn their capitvity, and cause light to arise upon them in the midst of obscurity.
" At the same time we recognize them as a true church of Christ, and tender them our best wishes and friendly counsel and assistance in all matters and things conducive to their spiritual prosperity.
" With most fervent wishes for the harmony, peace and religious welfare of the church and people of Princeton, we close this our solemn Protest, which we found ourselves in duty bound to offer, and humbly commend them to the favor and guidance of the great Head of the church."*
The original covenant referred to in the Result of the Mutual Council, is one that was adopted by the church on the 9th day of November, 1767, termed " covenant for the admission of members." Rev. Timothy Fuller was the pastor of the church in Princeton, at that time,
* Signed by Rev. Seth Payson, D. D, Rev. Joshph Goffe, Elder Oliver Bond and E. Brown.
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MR. CLARKE'S COVENANT.
and the covenant was used until 1810. That the proposed alteration of phraseology, in order to make the covenant conformable " to the language of scripture," would essentially change the character of the instru- ment, and make it as dissimilar to the original cove- nant of the church as Unitarianism is unlike Trinita- rianism, was the opinion of many at the time. That the reader may have the opportunity of comparing the two for himself we transcribe the covenant as altered, term- ed Mr. Clarke's covenant, and refer him to page 90 for the original :-
"You declare your firm belief in one infinite and eternal God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. You believe that the sacred scriptures are of divine original, and contain our whole duty as it relates to practice.
" You resolve to conform your life to the rules of God's word till death, and give up yourself to God the Father as your por- tion, to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your Re- deemer, and to the Holy Ghost as your sanctifier, guide and comforter.
" You acknowledge your indispensable obligation to serve and glorify God in a sober, holy life, and promise to live in obedience to him, walking in all his ordinances blameless.
"You promise, by divine aid to walk with the church in the faith and order of the gospel, attending the public worship of God, the sacraments of the New Testament, the discipline of the church, and all his holy institutions, so long as you may be continued in the place.
"You promise to devote your offspring to God, and to in- struct them in the principles and practice of religion ; carefully avoiding every appearance of evil and every temptation to sin. "This you engage, flying to the blood of the everlasting covenant for the pardon of all your sins, and praying that the God of Peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep would prepare and strengthen you to every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and forever. Amen."
On the 17th day of March, 1817, the day appointed by
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MR. CLARKE'S REPLY.
the council, the church met at the Town House, and, af- ter a " candid deliberation," voted, to reject the recom- mendation of said council, as an unauthorized and arbi- trary infringement upon their privileges and rights. On this occasion, 20 voted non-concurrence, 8 to concur, and 2 were neuter. On the same day, the town held an adjourned meeting, at which they ordered that a copy of the result of said council be presented to a committee, and that said committee notify Mr. Samuel Clarke of his third call to settle with them in gospel ministry, as soon as may be.
Our limits do not permit us to transcribe the third let- ter of Mr. Clarke, accepting the invitation of a majority of those who voted in the town. We however give an extract. Under date of April 6, 1817, he writes :
" My Brethren, I come to you with the deepest humility, sensible of my own insufficiency for so great an undertaking ; yet relying on the mercy and assistance of that great and good Being, who has hitherto directed my steps, and praying that in this trying and important hour he would not forsake, but still continue to prosper and bless me, I come breathing nothing but love and peace. It is from the conviction that your harmony and happiness is to be promoted by having me as your minister, that I have concluded to accept your call. I have been satisfied, from the disposition you discovered towards me after I gave my last answer, and from your recent conduct and zeal, that you are really and firmly attached to me, and that this attachment and affection will be continued so long as I shall be in any de- gree worthy of them. It is my desire, therefore, to come to you in the fulness of the Gospel of peace, ardently praying that I may be made an instrument of promoting your peace and joy in Heaven.
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