USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Westminster > History of Westminster, Massachusetts (first named Narragansett no. 2) from the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a biographic-genealogical register of its principal families > Part 15
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
understood by presenting the several charges which appear to have been preferred on the occasion for consideration and final judgment. Four copies of these charges are in existence ; three of them without signature, apparently prepared by private individuals as expressive of their personal views in the matter, and one which seems to have been made up from the others and duly signed by responsible parties, and which was, without doubt, the one submitted to the ecclesiastical tribunal. It is given in full.
" The Charges alleged against the Rev. Elisha Marsh, to be laid before a Council to be called by the Rev. Mr. Marsh and his Church.
"First. For what we look upon as unfaithfulness in the work of the Ministry ----
" I. For leaving his people so often and so long at a time without preach- ing and likewise for neglecting his study and so preaching the same matter over again.
"2. For putting by the service of the Lord's Supper several weeks after it is usually administered.
"3. For saying he had never preached upon the doctrine of Election and that he never would for he did not know anything about it and did not concern his head about it.
"Second. For Doctrines delivered in Publick: --
"I. That for a man to vilifie or endeavor to take away another's good name is equally heinous in the sight of God and man as to take a drawn sword and run him through the heart and kill him dead upon the spot.
"2. That he knew of his own certain knowledge that if there was not a speedy Reformation among us, the great blessing of the Gospel would be taken from us.
"3. For delivering that every one under the light of the Gospel might be saved if they would do what they could, and he would assure them that there was Salvation purchased for every one that was present.
" Third. For saying when asked what made the difference between those who are under the same means but having a different end, and he said we make the difference-for words yt are very offensive.
"Fourth. 1. For saying in the Church, when Baldwin alleged against him his saying that he would as soon worship the devil as worship a Being requiring more of any man than he is able to perform, [he] did not know [but] he did say some such thing for he did not worship any such Being, for that is the Devil.
" 2. For saying to Noah Prat, I'll sware I have a good mind to split your brains out, and swore yt if ever he came within his walls again he would split his Brains out.
" Fifth. For ill-administration with respect to Baldwin in taking a vote of the Church without giving Publick notice of the same.
"Sixth. For Prophanation of the Sabbath in Challenging Joseph Stevens, Jr., to swap powder-horn strings a sabbath-day night after meeting. " JOSEPH MILLER, FAIRBANKS MOOR, THOMAS STEARNS, SETH WALKER, RICHARD GRAVES, PHILIP BEMIS."
These several charges the council considered one by one, and rendered the following decision, copied in full from the original document.
"A Council of five Churches, namely, the Chh in Sudbury, the Chh in Oxford, the Chh in Southburgugh, the Chh in Marlbury, and the Second Chh in Lancaster, meet at Narragansett No. 2 at the Desier of the Chh and agrieved Brethren, to give them our advice undr the great uneasiness yt
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DECISION OF FIRST COUNCIL.
have arose among them on many accounts, after humble Prayer and Suppli- cation to God for direction and hearing what they say before us we come to the following result : -
"I. As to the instances of the Revd Mr. Marshes unfaithfulness Referred to under the first article, considering his own circumstances and the circum- stances of this people and other Reasons Given by Mr. Marsh we judge they do not supporte that charge.
"2. As to those articles that Respect Doktrens that Mr. Marsh has de- livered in publick and in privet conversation, this we think he Exprest him- self in an unsuitable and faulty manner, yet upon hearing his explination and what he has delivered agreable there to in divers Sermons, we cant Charge him with unsoundness in these Doctrins.
"3. As to the article about Noah Prat it dose not appear to us that the evidence Produiced did Support it.
"4. Respecting the administration of Mr. Marsh and the Chh in the case of Bauldwin we think they are to be Justifyed and that he [Baldwin ] ought to make an humble acknowledgement to Mr. Marsh and the Chh for his ill conduct in order to the Chhs Receiving him to favor.
" 5. As the Last article of Mr. Marsh proposing to swap powder horn Strings with Joseph Stevens Junr on Sabbath evening, we Cant but Blame him for the Same as a very unsuitable motion.
" And now to conclude, we Ernestly Intret the Rev. Mr. Marsh according to the Diricteon Giveen by the apostle to Titus to Shew himself in all things to be a pattern of Good works in Doctrin, Shewing uncoruptness, Gravity, sincerity, Sound Speech that cannot be Condemned, that he that is of the Contery Sort may be ashamed having no Evil Thing to Say of him.
" And to the Breathren, we Recommend the Direction of the Same apostle to the Romans to follow the things that make for Peas and the things wherewith one may edifi another.'
"' Finally Breathren fare you well, be pietyful, be of good Comfort, be of one mind Live in peace and the God of love and peace Shall be with you. amen.'
" Datd at Naraganset No. 2
"Oct. 23 1747 -
" Israel Loring, Modr, Desents aganst Every article of this result but the last.
" JONATHAN RICE, SAMUEL STEVENS, JONATHAN TOWNE,
DAVID OSGOOD, DAVID WOODE, JOHN CAMPBELL,
NATHAN STONE, AARON SMITH, JOHN MELLEN."
So it appears that Mr. Marsh prevailed before the council ; every charge but one made against him being disallowed and pronounced groundless.
It could hardly have been expected that the complainants would rest satisfied with the verdict and with the involved impu- tation against their own personal judgment, character, and Christian worth. Nor did they. Such offenses as, in their opinion, had been committed by their minister could not be so summarily disposed of and condoned; such indignities as had been heaped upon some of their heads could not be so easily forgotten.
The leader in the opposition to Mr. Marsh at this time was William Baldwin, whose cause of complaint was not only the one entertained in common with many of his brethren, based upon the alleged malfeasance of the minister in regard to both doctrine and practice, but a personal one also. He felt that he
8
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
himself had been wronged, insulted, abused by Mr. Marsh, and on that ground, as well as upon others, he was not disposed to submit to the decision of the council. And he consequently very soon demanded a rehearing of the case before a new coun- cil-one truly impartial and disposed to be governed in their conclusions by the principles of justice and equity. It was without avail. Mr. Marsh and his friends were, of course, satisfied, and would not consent to any further action in the matter, while most of his opponents seemed inclined to let it rest, awaiting the progress of events and the workings of Provi- dence. Not so, Mr. Baldwin. He felt himself to have been unjustly treated and dishonored, not only before the church and people of Narragansett, but wherever he was known. But between the determination of Mr. Marsh and those supporting him on the one side, and the practical indifference prevailing on the other, he could do nothing. Smarting under the indignity that had been heaped upon him, and probably prompted by it, he sold out his property in the township and returned to Newton, whence he came. And there nursing his indignation and sense of wounded honor, he sought to enlist the sympathies of the churches of the neighborhood in behalf of himself and his cause, and to secure a second council, whose decisions should exonerate him and relieve the church of Narragansett No. 2 from the reproach that had befallen it through the maladmin- istration, heresy, and misconduct of an unworthy and recreant pastor.
The special personal grievance of Mr. Baldwin was that Mr. Marsh had treated him in a domineering and insolent manner, and had succeeded by unfair means in having him brought into condemnation of the church as a troublesome and mischief- making member. It appears from papers still extant that the question of censuring Mr. Baldwin had been presented to that body on a given Sunday, when there was a fair representation of all interested parties present, and that the accused was fully vindicated and acquitted of all blame, by a majority of those authorized to act, to his own satisfaction and that of his friends ; but that afterward, when he was out of town and many of those sympathizing with him were absent from church, Mr. Marsh, without previous public notice, although he had privately in- formed his own party of what he was to do and so secured a full attendance of his own supporters, brought the matter up again, and not only obtained a reversal of the former vote in Mr. Baldwin's favor, but actually secured his suspension from church membership and from participation in all church privi- leges and ordinances. At any rate, this was Mr. Baldwin's rep- resentation and one of his principal reasons, as he alleges, for demanding a re-adjudication, in ecclesiastical order, of the case.
By a letter missive, over his own signature, dated Newton, Aug. 18, 1748, Mr. Baldwin made an appeal to certain ministers
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INHARMONIOUS RELATIONS CONTINUE.
and churches, the names of which have not been preserved, in- voking their aid in bringing the difficulty to a satisfactory set- tlement. To this letter, no copy of which has come to hand, there seems to have been no immediate response, and Mr. Baldwin, fearing he had not been explicit and positive enough in his declarations, wrote a second one, more definite and full, going over the whole ground of complaint and renewing his request for another council. This letter is preserved, but it is too long for insertion here. While writing on his own respon- sibility, as he frankly says, Mr. Baldwin claims to have the concurrence of a number of the brethren of the church, "who would also have subscribed the letter but by reason of the distance had not opportunity." He also claims that "at least one half of the Church are aggrieved with the doctrine and conduct of their Rev. Pastor and want relief."
On a separate sheet of paper, also preserved, is a series of charges against Mr. Marsh, methodically expressed and tabu- lated, apparently prepared for the use of the council, if it should be convened as desired. There has also been found a list of the witnesses to be called to substantiate the several charges specified.
What came of all this can not be determined at this late day. Great pains have been taken to find some reliable information upon the result, but without success, so that all questions re- lating thereto must be left to conjecture. Whether the council asked for was ever held or not ; whether or not Mr. Baldwin ever received satisfaction from Mr. Marsh and was restored to good standing in the church; whether or not the difficulties between the pastor and many of his people were in some good degree adjusted and harmonious relations restored, -these are inquiries that no one can answer. Only this is known, that Mr. Marsh went on for several years after these narrated trans- actions took place, discharging the duties of his office, receiving his salary, and living in the community in comparative peace and on terms of apparent friendliness and mutual good will. At any rate, there was a cessation of open hostility, an acquies- cence in things as they were, an outward calm that passed for content and harmony. But that for the time being, through the years 1747, 1748, and 1749, there was strong, deep, bitter feeling on both sides, there can be no question. The papers quoted and the action referred to, show this beyond all perad-
venture. Collateral records and memoranda prove how much Mr. Marsh was distrusted as a minister, and how closely he was watched. Certain of his people seemed desirous of finding some cause of offense against him, some ground of accusation, and prepared themselves to maintain and prove charges, should opportunity offer and occasion require. Of this there is ample evidence. Among the documents and loose papers that have come down from the custody of Dea. Joseph Miller, who was
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
active in church affairs and who preserved with scrupulous care whatever was entrusted to his keeping or deemed important by him, are notes or diary extracts, of which the following, illus- trative of the period of history under notice, are samples :
" An account of the Sabbaths that we are without preaching in the Nar- raganset from Oct. the 21, 1747, which was the time of the Council. Nov. the Ist we were without preaching and Nov. the 8 and the 15 & the 22 we were without preaching. Nov. 29, we had two old sermons from II of Hebrews 17, 18, 19 verses.
"Oct the 23 [1748] we were without preaching. Oct the 30 we had two old sermons from ist Epistle of John the 4th Chapter & first verse."
Sharp eyes were on Mr. Marsh about this date, to see not only that he did not shirk his duty, but that he preached sound doctrine, as further extracts prove :
" Psalms 119: 96 verse. 'I have seen an end of all perfection but thy command is exceeding broad.' In his improvement of his sermonde upon that subject he told us that obedience is the condition of Life. for without holiness there can be no happiness, on Apr. 16, 1749.
"On the same subject he told that obedience was that on which our eter- nal welfare turns.
"Upon St. John the 3, - in his discoursing upon it he told us we are not [saved ] by the merits of Christ alone.
"July the 18 1753. Mr. Marsh preached from Daniel the 12 Chapter and the 13 verse in which Discourse he told us that these words, which 1 find in the 13th Chapter of the Acts and the latter part of the 48 verse which words are ' And as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed,' which words as they stand in our translation, he said repeatedly were false."
But if Mr. Marsh's doctrine and conduct were not satisfactory to some of his hearers, matters pertaining to his salary were not satisfactory to him. Whether this arose from the failure of the proprietors to pay him the sum agreed upon promptly and in current money, or from the depreciation of monetary values already adverted to, does not appear. At the same time, it should be said in their behalf that on the 22d of June, 1748, in the very midst of the trouble, they not only voted him the stipulated amount of £45 for the sixth year of service, but also "that £26 12s. 6d. be assessed and paid into the Proprietor's treasury for the Rev. Mr. Elisha Marsh, Considering the Depre- ciating of money in his third, fourth and fifth years' Sallery and Considering the great Rise of the nesseuryes of Life since his Settlement, he giving a Discharge in full for the said three years," and that "thirty Pounds new tenor be assest together with the forty and five pounds new tenor for his Sixth year's Sallary."
But the reverend gentleman did not accept the additional grant on the terms proposed. He felt he had a claim for a larger sum, which had probably been previously presented and which, not being allowed, he sought to have acknowledged by an appeal to the court of the general session of the peace at
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REV. MR. MARSH APPEALS TO THE COURT.
Worcester, as the following extract from the records thereof clearly shows :
"Feb. 7 1748-9. A Complaint of Mr. Elisha Marsh, Minister of God's word in a place Called Narraganset No. 2, in the Co. of Worcester, Sheweth, that the Proprietors of sd place contracted with him to settle among them in the work of the Gospel Ministry and to give a yearly salary of 45 pounds current money, and that on the 20th day of Oct. 1742. he was accordingly ordained minister of God's word among them and has since been continued in the work of the ministry with them, but that said proprietors have not fulfilled their contract, there now remaining due to him 200 pounds which they refuse to pay, whereby the Petitioner is brought under great difficulty and as per the Petition or Complaint on file appears, praying relief in the premises and that said Proprietors may be compelled to pay him his arrear- ages according to Contract.
" Read and Ordered that the Complainant, the Rev. Elisha Marsh, serve the Clerk of said Proprietors or Committee with a copy of this Complaint or Petition, as also with the Order of this Court thereon that they shew cause if any they have at the Court of General Sessions of the Peace to be held at Worcester in and for the County of Worcester why the prayer of the Complainant ought not to be answered."
Upon receiving this citation, the standing committee caused a meeting of the proprietors to be held May 4, 1749, at which William Brattle, Edmund Trowbridge, and Daniel Cook were chosen a committee to appear at the Worcester court and make answer to Mr. Marsh's complaint. The committee seemed to prevail in the controversy, as may be reasonably inferred from the court record : "May 9. 1749. Rev. Mr. Marsh's Petition and Complaint nol pros."
Nothing more is heard of this matter, and things seemed to go on more quietly and in regular order for some time after- wards, although dissatisfaction still existed and an evident determination on the part of some of the people to have him dismissed from his pastorate. It was not easy to overcome the deep-seated discontent and uncertainty manifested at the last-named meeting, when it was ordered that £88 7s. 6d. be paid to the Rev. Mr. Marsh for his seventh year's salary "in Case he Continues our Minister." On the 26th of October, the same year, £81 15s. were voted him "to make good the deficiences in former grants" (whether including or in addition to what had previously been allowed does not appear), and £88 for the year ensuing, "at two equal payments, one the 22d day of April and the 22d day of October next, unless the Bills may be Ex- changed for Silver befor that time in which Case one hundred and twenty Eaight ounces of Silver be paid him at two Equal payments on the days aforesaid."
Before the year expired, comparative quiet was restored and it seemed to be understood that the minister was to remain, for it was voted, Sept. 12, 1750, "that Mr. Elisha Marsh have a place in the meeting hous to bulde a pue for him self and his heirs &c."
The next month, Oct. 24th, the proprietors voted "that they will proceed in finishing so fare of the meetinghouse as to build
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
the cannope over the pulpit and the Communion table and to build ye Stayers and the Gallerys." They also voted "that they Raise six shillings Lawful money on each Right for finish- ing the meetinghouse and buying a Cushing," and "that Mr. Marsh have £55 for his Ninth years Salary.' "Voted on the eleventh article to buy a hansom Cushing.'
In the advertisement calling a proprietors' meeting June 19, 1751, the following novel article, illustrating one of the customs of the times, was inserted :
"To know the minds of the proprietors whether they will sell the vacant places in the meetinghouse that are Left for pews at a publick Vandue to the Highest Bidder, and also to chuse a Committee to dispose of the same, they being under obligation not to sell them out of the hands of ye proprie- tors or inhabitants the purchasers taking them for their seats."
Whereupon it was
"Voted to sell ye pew spots and chose a committee to sell them at a public Vandue to ye highest bidder also that ye Committee be guided by the article in the advertisement in selling the pew spots.
"Voted to put [use ] ye money raised by selling the pew spots to finish ye meetinghouse.
"Voted the committee lay out ye pew spots into eighteen divisions."
Dec. II, 1751.
"Voted to give ye Rev. Mr. Elisha Marsh forty five pounds for his tenth years Sallary."
But Mr. Marsh was not yet satisfied with what he received, and in the summer of 1752 entered a second complaint against the proprietors, at the Worcester court, for not paying him his rightful due. Citation to the clerk was issued as before, a meeting was called, and a committee was chosen to make answer to the court, and, as before, Mr. Marsh lost his case.
On the 28th of March, 1753, the eleventh year's salary was granted, and on November 23d the treasurer credits himself with the payment of £45 "in full."
In the notice of a meeting of the proprietors, to be held Nov. 7th, was the article
"To see what addition they will Mak to ye Rev. Mr. Marsh's Eleventh years Sallary, and also grant his twelfth years Sallary with an addition to it that shall be thought Hansom and Credable."
Pursuant to this article
"It was put to vote whether they would Make any addition to Mr. Marshes Eleventh years Sallary and it passed in ye Negative.
" Also voted to give Mr. Marshs twelfth years Sallary also voted Not to Make any addition to Mr Marshes twelfth years Sallary.
"Voted that ye Commitee Chosen to finish ye meetinghouse be a Com- mitee to procure a hansom Cushen for ye pulpit."
At a proprietors' meeting held April 23, 1755, it was
"put to vote whether they will grant Rev. Mr. Elisha Marsh thirteenth years Sallarey according to Contract, passed in ye afairmitive.
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OTHER TROUBLES WITH THE MINISTER.
"put to vote whether they will grant Mr. Marsh eight pounds six and eight pence as an adition this year passed in ye Negetive then put to vote whether they would grant him five pounds this year as an adition to his Salarey passed in the Negetive."
About this time Mr. Marsh was in trouble of another sort. It appears from the records of the Worcester County court that he had been accused by one of his fellow citizens, Richard Graves, before Peter Atherton, a magistrate of the province, to the effect following, to wit :- "That the said Elisha, having a malicious intent and design, &c. did, on Dec. 12, 1754, and since, make spread publish, utter and declare several lics and false reports to abuse the complainant, tending to his damage and defamation and to the deceiving of others &c in words fol- lowing." (The specifications are omitted.) The justice had pro- nounced Mr. Marsh guilty and fined him ten shillings. Mr. Marsh appealed to the higher tribunal, and the jury, after hcar- ing the case returned a verdict of "not guilty," each party pay- ing its own costs in the affair.
" April 7 1756. The fourteenth years' salary of the minister was granted and ten pounds as an adition this present year.
"June 1 1757. Voted Mr. Marsh forty five pounds according to Contract for this year, then put to vote to Know their minds whether they would grant an adition to Mr. Marsh's fifteenth years Salary the sum of eight pounds Six Shillings and Eight pence and the vote passed in the afarm- etive."
But though, so far as the records show, there had been for several years apparent harmony between Mr. Marsh and the people, no open objection being made to his preaching or prac- tice, yet it is evident that the old feeling of dissatisfaction still existed and only awaited the proper occasion for breaking forth anew. Probably the minister was more prudent and cautious in his course, having learned discretion by experience, yet was he deemed heretical and unsafe as a religious teacher and guide. The discontented members of the church, jealous of their cherished faith, seemed to bear with the distrusted pastor with commendable Christian patience and charity, till those qualities ceased to be virtues in their judgment, when they rose in vindication of themselves and of the imperiled doctrines they held so dear. They started a movement again in opposition to Mr. Marsh, which resulted in the calling of another council on the 23d of November, 1757. There are no records of the proceedings of this body to be found, and no notes of the churches represented in it. But it appears from the second book of the proprietors' clerk that it was presided over by the Rev. Ebenezer Gay of Hingham, a man distin- guished in his day "for his great learning and as well known for his wit as for his many virtues." He belonged to the Ar- minian wing of the church, whereby it may be presumed that the council, as a whole, was in sympathy with Mr. Marsh rather
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
than his opponents. Nevertheless, it felt obliged to regard him as blameworthy upon the points at issue in the controversy and to censure him for his course, as will soon be shown.
Among some old papers brought to the notice of the writer, one has been found, much timeworn and somewhat mutilated, which bears unquestionable evidence of containing the charges preferred against Mr. Marsh at this time, properly tabulated for the use of the council. It is given substantially in its orig- inal form, the missing portions being supplied in brackets :
"[To the Rev. Mr.] Marsh, Pastor of ye [Church of Christ in] Narragan- set No. 2. Rev. Sir, We [present herewith the things concerning which we feel] great uneasiness with you in yr [ministry of the Gospel among us] viz : -
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