History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 96

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 96

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" All his endeavors to remove the obstructions to his settlement having failed of success, Mr. Breck, on the 28th of July, 1735, in a letter which is recorded at length in the parish records, accepted the call.

" Arrangements were made for his ordination on the 14th of October following. On that day a council assembled for this purpose, consisting of seven elergymen, namely, Messrs. Chauncey, of Hadley, Devotion, of Suffield, Rand, of Sunder- land, Cook, of Sudbury, and Cooper, Welstead, and Mather, of Boston, with their delegates. Then ensued a scene snch, perhaps, as never occurred in an ecclesias- tical council in New England before or since. in the midst of its deliberations, a civil officer entered the council armed with a warrant from a magistrate, ar- rested Mr. Breck, and carried, or attempted to carry, him off to Connecticut, ' there to answer to such things as should be objected against him.' The church and parish were justly indignant at this flagrant attempt to deprive them of their chosen pastor. . At a meeting of the church, held two weeks afterward, two of its leading members were appointed to go to Boston and present to the General Assembly of the province the remonstrance of this church and precinct against these proceedings, and to assert the rights and privileges of the church and parish to choose their own minister and have a council ordain him. The result was that the council was again convened, and Mr. Breck ordained on the 27th of January, 1736 Rev. Dr. Cooper, of Boston, preached the ordination sermon, which was published.

"The opposition to Mr. Breck in his own church and parish did not at once subside after his settlement. A few leading men, who had failed to secure his rejection by the ecclesiastical council, appear to have been guilty of the folly of seeking to defeat his settlement by an appeal to a legal tribunal. It was in this way : A provincial statute made it obligatory upon every parish to be provided with an orthodox minister, under penalty of being liable to a prosecution for non-compliance. Complaint was made that the parish was not provided with snch an orthodox minister, and a summons was served upon it to appear before the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for the County of Hampshire to an- swer to this complaint. The parish appointed a committee of five to represent and defend the parish, authorizing them 'by all ways and means, with the best advice that may be had in the law, to answer to this complaint, and at the charge of the Precinct to appear, defend, and pursue the said canse from court to court, and to carry the same before any proper authority whatsoever, and where they may think it necessary in order to a final issue and determination of the matter. And that they have power to prosecute and defend as aforesaid, in any cause or action that may arise by the virtue of the said complaint or controversy, or in the management thereof.' William Pynchon, Sr. (a great-grandson of the first Pynchon), was made chairman of this committee .*

" The severe ordeal through which Mr. Breck passed at the commencentent of his ministry bere undoubtedly exerted a very favorable influence upon his character. If he had been rash and imprudent before he was ordained, he was prudent and discreet afterward. By his careful and conciliatory course he soon disarmed all opposition among his own people, and established himself firmly in

their confidence and affection. One of the first measures adopted by him to in- gratiate bimself with his flock was prompted probably more by his heart than by his head. Within a few weeks after his ordination he took to wife Ennice Brewer, the daughter of his predecessor, with whose widowed mother he had boarded while preaching as a candidate. Another method that he adopted to conciliate his opponents in the parish was this, which proved to be quite effectual. If he wished any favor, he would be careful to ask it of some one of his people whom he had reason to believe unfriendly, rather than of those regarded as his staunch supporters. This expression of his confidence in them soon won their confidence in him, and in a short time harmony and mutual regard marked all their intercourse. He was a man of uncommon talents. Dr. Lathrop, of West Springfield, who studied theology with Mr. Breck, says of him, ' Ilis intellectual powers, which were naturally superior, were brightened by his education, and enlarged by an extensive acquaintance with men and books. As he accustomed himself to a close manner of thinking and reasoning, and filled up his time with diligent application, so he acquired a rich furniture of the most useful knowledge.' 'He was easy of access, given to hospitality, faithful in his friend- ships, tender and attentive in all domestic relations, compassionate to the dis- tressed, and a lover of mankind. In a word, he was an accomplished gentleman and exemplary Christian.' Mr. Breck entered upon his ministry with a church of sixty-seven members,-thirty-two male and thirty-five female members. Na- thaniel Munn and Ilenry Burt were the deacons. In the course of his ministry of forty-eight years there were admitted to full communion, by letter and by profession, three hundred and thirty-one.

" Deacon Munn died on the last day of December, 1743, at the age of eighty- two, and Deacon Henry Bort about five years later (Dec. 11, 1748), at the age of eighty-five. Contemporary with them during the latter part of their lives was Deacon Nathaniel Brewer, a son of the former minister, and brother-in-law of Mr. Breck. He was by travle a carpenter, and much employed as such iu the repairs of the meeting-house, and the house owned by the parish and occupied by the minister. Ile appears to luve Iren a man highly respected in the church and parish. Hle survived Mr. Breck, and died on the 8th of March, 1796, at the age of eighty-five years. Jonathan Church was a deacon early in the ministry of Mr. Breck. He is mentioned in that capacity in May, 1747. He was admitted from the church in Longmeadow, March 3, 1742, and died Oct. 27, 1761. Josiah Dwight united with this church by letter from the church in Hatfield, Sept. 25, 1743, and was afterward chosen a deacon. The date of the choice is not stated. Ile is more frequently mentioned in the records by his military title of colonel and his civil title of esquire. lle died Sept. 28, 1768, aged fifty-two years. Prob- ably he was elected after the death of Deacon Church, and if so, his term of office was comparatively brief. Daniel Harris joined the church by profession Feb. 24, 1765. He was a deacon of the church certainly as early as March, 1773, as he is so called in connection with his election at that time as parish assessor. He had previously served several years as parish clerk. He was one of three deacons who, after the death of Mr. Breck, took an active part in extending a call to his successor. Deacon Harris died on the 22d of June, 17:5, at the age of fifty-three. Moses Bliss was admitted to the church Oct. 13, 1754, being then a student at Yale College. There is no record of his election as deacon. In fact, there is none of any election to that office at so early a period. But he is spoken of as a deacon in August, 1780, when his daughter was baptized. He continued to hold the office until his death, on the 3d of July, 1814, at the age of seventy- nine years. He was by profession a lawyer, and was for many years a judge of the local court in the old county of Hampshire.

" The first record of the church now extant is one kept by Mr. Breck. With the exception of two or three cases of discipline. the entries in it are only of admissions to the church, baptisms, marriages, and deaths. In a female hand, perhaps of his wife or daughter, is entered under date of April 23, 1784, ' Died, the Revd Rolt Breck, Pastor of the First church in Springfield, in the 71st year of his age and 49th of his ministry.' At his funeral a sermon was preached by Dr. Lathrop, from II. Timothy, 4th chapter, 6th, 7th, and 8th verses. An im- portant event during the ministry of Mr. Breck was the building of a new meeting-house. The parish passed the vote to build it in April, 1749. It was erected the same year or the year following, so far as to be ready for nse, although not entirely finished until 1752. It was 60 feet long by 46 wide, and 26 feet high between joints. This house, the third built, was the immediate predeces- sor of the present meeting-house, and stood directly cast of the ground now occupied. The principal entrance was on the east side, but there was also an en- trance through the tower. Some of our older inhabitants remember well this house, with its high pulpit and square pews.

"On the 8th day of November, 1784, the church ' voted unanimously to choose Mr. Bezaleel Howard to be their minister. On the same day the parish voted to concur in this choice, and to offer Mr. Howard one hundred and fifty pounds for a settlement, and one hundred pounds lawful silver money annually for his salary, together with the use and improvement of the parsonage house and lands, so long as he should continue in the office of a gospel minister.' The answer of Mr. Howard, necepting this call, was communicated on the 27th Jan- mary, 1785. The satisfaction with which the new pastor looked forward to his future residence in Springfield was strongly in contrast with his first impres- sions of the place. He came here at first an entire stranger to the village and its inhabitants, sent by the president of his college to supply the vacant pulpit for six Sabbaths. His journey was on horseback. The road was solitary, and the approach to the town from the east far from attractive. He rode down the hill to the main street, then the only settlement, and looked up and down the street. The buildings were mostly unpainted, and many of them dilapidated. The aspect was chilling to the young minister, and he said to himself that the day when the six weeks of his engagement should be ended would be a happy day to bim. Directly opposite the road by which he entered the village he saw one white house of a more cheerful aspect. At the door of this mansion he

* At the trial of this complaint, which occurred soon afterward, "the Court of General Sessions of the Peace" decided that the parish was provided with an orthodox minister, and dismissed the complaint.

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

presented himself, and announced his unme and errand. 'You have come to the right place,' replied the proprietor, and at once extended to him the hospi- talities of his house. The six weeks wero spent pleasantly. The call to settle followed, and in that white house the young pastor found his future wife. It was to him indeed 'the right place.' Mr. Howard was a native of Bridgewater, a graduate of Harvard College in 1781, where he was afterward a tutor, and was ordained pastor of this church April 27, 17:5. The ordination servion was m euched by Rev. Timothy Hilliard, from Titus, 2d chapter, the last clause of the 15th verse,-' Let no man despise thee.'

" In the year 1803 the health of Mr. Howard failed, and the parish was obliged to provide for the supply of the pulpit by other clergymen. llis disability proved to be of a more serions and permanent character than was at first antici- pated, and at its meeting in April, 1805, a committee was appointed to confer with ham, and consider the expediency of dissolving his relation to the parish, and the terms upon which it should be done. At an adjourned meeting in May, 1×05, this committee, through their chairman, the Hon. John Hooker, reported that they had made an agreement with Mr. Howard, by which he was to be re- lieved from pastoral labor, relinquish all claim for his salary and for the use of the parsonage house and lands, and was to be paid the sum of $2000 in three an- nual installments. The pastoral relation, however, was to continue until the settlement of another minister, and then be dissulved without further terms or conditions. This agreement was duly confirmed by the parish, and Mr. Howard continued to be nominally the pastor of the church until the ordination of his successor, in 1809.

" Mr. Howard received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Har- vard College in 1824, and was usually spoken of as Dr. Howard in the later years of his life. He died in 1837, at his house on Elm Street, close by the church,-the sume now owned and occupied by Mr. Henry Fuller. At the cour- menrement of his ministry, in 1785, the membership of the church was 117. At the time of the settlement of his successor, in 1809, it was not far from 177, showing au increase of 50 in twenty-four years.

"The deacons at the commencement of Mr. Howard's ministry, as already stated, were Nathaniel Brewer, Daniel Harris, and Moses Bliss. The vacancy vansed by the death of Deacon Harris, in 1785, was filled the same year by the election of William Pynchon, Esy., to that office. Mr. Pynchon was a lineal descendant from the original founder of Springfield, and from his distinguished son, John Pynchon. He was for thirty years the parish clerk, and most of that time its treasurer. He also held the othees of town clerk und treasurer and register of deeds. lle died March 4, 1808, at the age of sixty-eight years. Chauncey Brewer, son of Deacon Nathaniel Brewer, and grandson of Rev. Dan- iel Brewer, was a deacon of the church during the pastorate of Mr. Howard. He was a physician, and attained considerable eminence in his profession. He died in March, 1830, at the advanced age of eighty-seven. Ilis venerable form is well remembered, as he appeared when he occupied his pew on the Sabhath, on the south side of the pulpit, in the present meeting-house.

" On the 24th of November, 1808, the church, by a unanimous vote, invited Mr. Samuel Osgood to settle with them io the work of the gospel ministry, and Chauncey Brewer, George Bliss, and John Hooker (then the deacons of the church in active service) were appointed a committee to inform him of the vote. This call was given after he had preached here two Sabbaths, and, considering the fact that he was the thirty-seventh minister who had been preaching here, either as a candidate or a supply, since the resignation of Dr. Iluward, it was certainly a very complimentary vote. Mr. Osgood-or, as he is more frequently called, Dr. Osgood-was born at Fryeburg, Me., Feb. 3, 1784. He completed his studies, preparatory to entering college, under the instruction of Daniel Web- ster, who, in after-years, was accustomed, whenever in this town on the Sabbath, to attend this church, and listen to the preaching of his former scholar and life- long friend. Dr. Osgood graduated at Dartmouth College in 1805, having joined his class during its junior year. Ile at first inclined to the law as a profession, and actually commenced the study in a lawyer's office. He soon, however, abandoned it, and commenced a theological course with Rev. Dr. Harris, of Dor- chester. 1Te was licensed to preach in 1806, and preached his first sermon in Roxbury; his second in Quincy, where he had for hearers ex-President Jolin Adavis and his son, afterward President John Quincy Adams, He sooo after went to Princeton, where he completed his theological studies. Returning to Massa- chusetts, he was a candidate in three different places for settlement, including this, toward which the scalo eventually turned. He was ordained here on the 25th of January, 1809. His former theological instructor, Dr. Ilarris, preached the sermon, Dr. Lathrop, of West Springfield, gave the charge, and Rev. Ezra Witter, of Wilbraham, the right hand of fellowship.

"The ministry of Mr. Osgood commenced under most auspicious circumstances. Ile was then in the vigor of youthful manhood, with a constitution that gave promise of uniform health,-a promise that had a remarkable fulfillment for more than half a century of his after-life. Ilis mental powers were solid and strong rather than showy. He had a church of 225 members, Ilis parish (then terri- torial) evibraced the whole population of the town,-from Chicopee River on the Horth to Longmeadow on the south, and from Wilbraham line on the east to the Connecticut River,-comprising about 2200 souls. The officers of the church were men of fervent piety and cultured intellect, and held stations in the church and in the world of wide and commanding influence. One of theni, Judge Moses Bliss, had reached an advanced age, which disqualified him in a measure from the active duties of the deaconship. Dr. Chauncey Brewer, not yet threescore- and-ten, was still able to officiate at the Lord's table on communion Sabbaths, and to perform other services pertaining to the office.

"George Bliss and John llooker, both mien of large culture, high standing, and influence, were then in the full vigor of middle life. Of the times of their «lection to the office of deacon the record makes no mention. But there ean ho no question that they held the office at the very beginning of Mr. Osgoud's pas-

torate, and probably before. They were both of the legal profession, and ranked among the first of its members. Mr. Hooker was for eighteen years the judge of probate for this county, and one of original corporators of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions.

" At the time of Mr. Osgood's settlement many of the ministers and churches in this commonwealth were drifting away from Trinitarian orthodoxy toward Unitarian views, Mr. Osgood, although holdliog in the main with those who adhered to the Trinitarian doctrine, was at first regarded as more liberal than many of his ministerial brethren ; but as the breach widened between those who claimed the appellation of Liberal Christians and those who held the old ortho- dox standards, Mr. Osgood had no hesitation in ranging himself with those who adhered to the tenets of John Calvin.

" When the old meeting-house was found too strait and too uncomfortable for the congregation, and the parish decided to build the present edifice, the stormi, which had been for some time gathering, burst. In August, 1819, about 25 mem- bers of the church, comprising some of its most respectable and influential mem- bers, including the venerable ex-pastor, made application for a certificate of their regular standing. and a recommendation to the people of God as in full commun- ion, that they might be formed into a separate church. It was known that there were others who stood readly to join in this movement when it should be success- fully inangurated. The result was a secession, formidable, not in numbers, but in the standing and influence of those concerned in it. In the language of Dr. Osgood, uttered thirty years afterward, 'This was a trying time to me and to many of my parishioners. Families, who had long worshiped in the same sane- tuary, and who had enjoyed most familiar and delightful intercourse, and somo of whom were united in the tenderest boods of consanguinity, were sundered for a time. If no speeches of recriminatioo were made, there were bitter feel- ings with some on both sides.' In this crisis it was fortunate for the stability of this church and its pastor that the officers of the church were not only good men, hut wise men. They stood firm, and the pastor felt that his hands were streogthened. It was also fortunate that the orinister who was settled over the new Unitarian Society was a gentleman of peculiar amiability and disposed to prace. The era of ill feeling gradually passed away, and forbearance and cour- tesy eventually characterized the intercourse of the parties.

"In 1827, Mr. Osgood received the honorary degree of D.D. from Princeton College, and was afterward usually addressed and spoken of by that title, The active pastorate of Dr. Osgood continued down to May, 1854, a period of forty- five years. At that time, when he had reached the full period of threescore-and- ten years, he retired from the active duties of the pastoral office, although con- timing still to retain the pastoral relation to the end of his life. His death occurred on the 8th of December, 1862. It might have been said of him, 'His eye was not dim, or his natural force almated.' It is rare that the death of a minister, or indeed of any citizen, leaves so wide a gap in the community where he has resided as did that of Dr. Osgood. For more than half a century he had taken a prominent part in the moral and religions movements of this town. No man was so universally known to the people as he. Few had so strong a hold upon their respect and sympathy. He was ever prompt to extend a helping hand to the suffering poor who came under his observation; his hospitality was unstinted, although often severely taxed. Occupying as he did the position of minister of the first parish of the largest town in Western Massachusetts, at the confluence of travel from every quarter of the compass, his house was pre- eminently a minister's tavern. He was a genial mao, social in his tastes and habits, fond of conversation, and ready to take an active part in it. He possessed ao immense fund of anecdote, with which he was accustomed to interest and anmse those in whose company he chanced to be. His own peculiar traits of character have made him the subject of many anecdotes. Dr. Osgood enjoyed, to a remarkable extent, the most robust health during the whole of his minis- terial life. In reviewing his ministry at the end of forty years, he claimed, and with justice, that he had never been detained from his pulpit a single Sabbath on account of sickness. Ilis person was mianly, indicating uncombion physical strength. I have heard it said of him that in his prime ho was the most athletic man in Springfield. Many anecdotes are told of him in this regard, some of them quite amusing. In any notice of Dr. Osgood, as the pastor of this church and minister of this parish, a position affording a field of great usefulness so long filled by him with acceptance, it is proper that there should be some men- tion of the invaluable aid which he derived from his wife. She was, indeed, an exemplary woman, one who may be safely held up as a model to the wives of ministers all over the land. This parish appreciated her usefulness in the station she filled here, and as some expression of its respect for her continued to her during her life a considerable part of the annuity which had been paid tu her husband. She survived him between eight and nine years. Although Dr. Osgood wrote more than two thousand sermons, some of them of rare ability, and delivered on occasions of unusual public interest, yet, with only one or two exceptions, none of them were ever published. He had an almost in- vincihle repugnance to having his sermons printed. At the close of the fortieth year of his ministry he preached a discourse from Acts, 20th chapter, 26th nud 27th verses, in which he reviewed his ministry from his settlement down to that time. It was a discourse of great interest and power, and the church strongly solicited and obtained his consent to its publication.

"It has been already stated that the deacons officiating during the earlier por- tion of Dr. Osgood's pastorate were Chauncey Brewer, George Bliss, and John looker.

" Deacon Hooker died on the 6th of March, 1829, at the age of sixty-seven. Deacon George Bliss survived him one year, and died on the 8th of March, 1830, at the age of sixty-five. Eight days afterward Deacon Chauncey Brewer died, on the 16th of March, 1830, at the age of eighty-seven. Owing to his age and infirmities he had retired from active duty in the office for some years, and, about the year 1822, Col. Solomon Warriver was choseu a deacon to take his

851

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

place. Col. Warriner was a native ef Wilbraham, from which place be removed to Springfield about the year 1800. From Springfieldl he removed to Pittsfield, and resided there until December, 1820, when he returned to Springfield, and resided here during the remainder of his life. Refore leaving Springheld he had lwen the leader of the choir, and upon his return he was reinstatedl in the same position, and continued to preside over the music of this church for more than a quarter of a century. During nearly the same period of time he held the office of deacon. lle was also for many years superintendent of the Sabbath-school. In September, 1849, he took a dismission to the South Church in this city. He diedl June 14, 1860, at the age of eighty-two. Boardman Ilubbard was chosen a dearon April 5, 1826, thus increasing the number of deacons performing actual service, from three to four, Deacou Hubbard was employed in the United States Armory, and resided on the hill. He united with this church by letter from a elmarch in Middletown, in March, 1824, and was dismissed to the Fourth Church, now the Olivet Church, at some time between 1836 and 1844, probably about 1841. Daniel Bontecou and George Merriam were elected deacons March 5, 1833. Mr. Merriam held the office until March 6, 1842, when, with thirty-two other members, he was dismissed to unite in the organization of the South Church. Deacon Bontecou continued to officiate until May 2, 1845, when he, too, was dis- missed to the South Church. He died Nov. 24, 1857.

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 96

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896