USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > History of the town of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
But, on the whole, by whom, under Providence, shall our independence, liberties and rights be maintained ? The answer is, the people. Though often stigmatized as their own worst enemies, and unfit to govern themselves, yet they, in every country, have been the real defenders of liberty in opposition to monarchists and aristocrats. If a majority of the people will ruin us we must be ruined. In a Republican government "the majority are omnipotent." The minority have rights, but are destitute of power. Our country, therefore, whenever the major part will sell themselves to destruction, will come to ruin, however firm, however unwilling the minority may be. But is this the situation of our country ? Is the present great Republican majority of our nation, as often represented, on the side of anarchy, confusion and dissolution ? God forbid we should indulge such a degrading thought. Though party spirit foments, though difference of opinion prevails, though ambition plots, yet we can boast that a surprising majority of the people of these United States are still firm, unadulterated Republican Americans. On them depends our safety ; if they are watch- ful and united, we are secure.
>
Killyón y MALLORY CH
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTH ABINGTON.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Organization of the "First Baptist Church" in Abington, and its Present State.
THE following statement, giving an account of the forma- tion and progress of the "First Baptist Church " located at South Abington, is furnished by their present pastor, the Rev. N. Judson Clark.
The First Baptist Church in Abington was constituted October 30, 1822. The following individuals were the constituency : Brethren Josiah C. Ransford, Jonathan R. Gurney, Robert Cook, Nathan Alden, Thaxter Reed, William Packard. Sisters Sarah Ransford, Anna Dunbar, Molly Gurney, Mary Hobart, and Deborah Gurney.
This church was recognized, as noted in the minutes, " as a church of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the name of the First Baptist Church of Christ in Abington."
The Council of Recognition consisted of delegates from the following churches : Second and Third Baptist Churches of Boston ; Baptist Churches of Hanover, Marshfield, Pembroke, and IIanson.
The religious services of the occasion were performed as follows : Introductory Prayer, by Rev. John Butler; Sermon, by Rev. Daniel Sharp, D.D .; Prayer, by Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D.D. ; Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Joseph Torry ; Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Joel Briggs. The Hand of Fellow- ship was given to the church through Deacon J. C. Ransford, he having been appointed for that purpose.
At the time of the recognition of the church, this little band of brethren had provided themselves with a house of worship,
(199)
200
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
which was dedicated to the service of Almighty God at the same time in conjunction with the services of recognition. For some time previous to the constitution of the church, these brethren and sisters had held religions services in different localities in town in private houses, and God had crowncd their efforts with signal success. Deacon Josiah C. Ransford, at that time a member of the Second Baptist Church of Boston, seems to have been especially useful in promoting vital religion in the town, and in the formation of the church.
The name of Rev. Thomas Conant is associated with the earliest dawn of Baptist sentiments in Abington. His labors were performed with fidelity and joy in Christ, though amid much persecution and reproach. Up to this time Baptists were comparatively unknown in this town, though they are as ancient as the time of Christ. Not one baptism had yet been performed in the town (as we understand the word of God). Brother Conant had the high privilege of first administering the ordinance in the town of Abington. The subject of the first baptism was Deacon Robert Cook. Deacon J. R. Gurney was baptized at the same time. These brethren are still members of the church.
The first pastor of the church was Willard Kimball. He was elected to the pastorate May 9, 1824,-was ordained June 30, 1824. The ordination sermon was preached by Dr. Sharp, of Boston. The charge was given by Dr. Baldwin, of Boston. At this time the church had increased from eleven to twenty- seven. Though the church was destitute of a settled pastor for more than a year and a half of its carliest infancy, it was not uncared for, or unblessed by the Great Shepherd. It enjoyed the ministrations of the Word the most of this time by brother Conant, and others. Brother Kimball closed his labors abont the first of May, 1826. During the two years of his ministry nine were added to the church.
Rev. David Curtis was installed pastor July 26, 1826,- closed his pastorate about October 4, 1828. Nine were added to the church during his ministry.
Rev. Silas Hall was pastor from about August 21, 1830, to
201
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
October 29, 1834 ; he gave the hand of fellowship to thirty- four. Rev. W. HI. Dalrymple was pastor from April 1, 1835, to March 19, 1837; twenty added to the church. Rev. E. C. Messenger pastor from about May 1, 1837, to May 1, 1845 ; fifty added to the church.
Rev. W. F. Stubbert commenced his ministry about the middle of April, 1846; was installed pastor of the church January 13, 1847. Dr. Choules, of Roxbury, preached the sermon. Closed his labors March, 1852. Brother Stubbert received into the fellowship of the church one hundred and seventy-eight.
Rev. Nathaniel Colver, D.D., was pastor from April, 1852, to April, 1853 ; nineteen added to the church. Rev. Horace T. Love pastor from November 1, 1853, to April 30, 1854 ; fifteen received into the church. Rev. F. A. Willard pastor from November 4, 1854, to February 12, 1856 ; nine added to the church.
Rev. A. B. Earle spent a short season with the church in the early part of 1857. His labors were eminently blessed. He baptized twenty-four.
Rev. J. C. Wightman accepted a call March 23, 1857; ordained April 14, 1857. Dr. Parker, of Newton, preached on the occasion. Resigned May 16, 1858. Nineteen were added to the church.
Rev. C. H. Colver supplied the desk nine months, com- mencing July 1, 1859.
The church has had her vicissitudes ; but through them all the pillar of Jehovah's presence has led her, and His right arm has sustained her. She has had her winters, but God has dissipated them by the genial sunshine and refreshing showers of spring, which, in time, have given place to the abundant growth of summer, and the rich ingatherings of autumn. She has enjoyed many special visitations of God's sovereign, redeeming grace. Many will have it to say, in that day,-I " was born there."
The whole number connected with the church since its organization is four hundred and sixty-five; of these, three
202
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
hundred and fifty-four have been added by baptism. The present number is two hundred and fifty-four .*
The church has been blessed with a noble baud of pastors, all of whom still live, and are to-day toiling in their Master's vineyard. Their labors and their successes are their fittest encomiums.
The following brethren have been deacons of the church, viz. : Josiah C. Rainsford, Jonathan R. Gurney, Robert Cook, Samuel Norton, Noah Fullerton.
The church has ever held, as claiming her first and best endeavors, the glory of God in the salvation of lost men in her midst. She has, however, entered, with a warm heart and an earnest hand, every field of Christian enterprise ; thereby seeking the best interests of man for time and for eternity, as a religions, intellectual, social and physical being. The oracles of God, as found in the Old and New Testament, is her creed and the law of her life. From this she allows no subtraction ; to it, she allows no addition. The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, is her bulwark and her watchword. For the sake of convenience, however, she has her articles of faith and her covenant. These differ in no essential point from those usually adopted by Baptist churches.
The first meeting-house was built in 1822,-dedicated October 30, 1822. Sermon by Dr. Sharp, of Boston. It was twenty-seven by twenty-four feet on the ground, and ten feet in height. The second house was built in 1832,-dedi- cated January 13, 1833. Dr. Sharp preached the dedicatory discourse. It was forty-one by forty-five feet, and cost two thousand seven hundred dollars. The present house was
* Since the above was written, the Clerk of the Society has handed me the following for insertion :-
Rev. George R. Darrow, the present pastor, commenced his labors with the church on the first of April, 1864, and as the result of his labors thus far, sixty-eight new members have been added to the church, making the present number two hundred and ninety-three.
J. L. CORTDELL, Church Clerk.
203
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
dedicated January 13, 1847. Dr. Sharp preached the sermon. Cost, six thousand dollars. This house was raised in 1857. Under the audience-room the church has supplied itself with a very commodious and pleasant lecture-room, and ante-rooms for other church purposes. The cost of raising and refurnish- ing was five thousand dollars.
The present pastor entered upon his labors December 11, 1860.
N. JUDSON CLARK.
SOUTH ABINGTON, January 28, 1862.
At the organization of this church, there was some oppo- sition, as stated above, and there were many regrets. The Union Calvinistie Society (Congregationalist) had been incor- porated but a few years, and in becoming so had to encounter much opposition. It was a poll parish, and limited in its numbers ; and it was thought that one religious society was sufficient for the population of the place ; and when Rev. Thomas Conant, named above, administered the first baptism by immersion that ever took place in this town, it was not very strange, under these circumstances, that there should be some excitement and some unpleasant feelings, especially as it ought to be considered that the other society felt fully confirmed in their belief that their mode of baptism was right.
But now, after forty years, we can see that the population here has so increased that the two societies are, and can be, well supported ; and this, notwithstanding the law which was passed soon after the establishment of this church, giving free toleration in religious matters.
This church, from a small beginning, has taken a standing that could hardly have been expected. From the first baptism, a little over forty years since, amidst opposition and many discouragements, especially in the first half of that period, it has increased in numbers very rapidly ; - indeed no such increase has ever attended any other religious society in town in so short a period.
The expenditures of this church, with the aid of a few
204
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
others who attend their meetings, have been quite large. The cost of the three buildings exceeds fifteen thousand dollars. The last (the present meeting-house) is in good style, and is an ornament to the place. The payments to their several minis- ters, and other expenses, must have amounted to over twenty thousand dollars, making, in the whole, nearly forty thousand dollars.
The church, with the society, has been favored with an able and worthy succession of ministers, all of whom, as stated by their present pastor, are now living, and engaged in the ministry.
The leading instrument in the formation of this church and society was the late Deacon Josiah C. Rainsford, from Boston. He was very gentlemanly in his manners,-sincere and com- panionable : he had an interesting family, who were very sociable and pleasant. IIe has left no posterity here ; but his name, with that of his amiable consort, stands recorded on the church books as two of the first eleven who composed the church at its organization.
At this day there is no collision betwixt the two societies (the Union Calvinistic and Baptist), and there has not been for a long time ; each one pursues its even tenor in harmony, -friendly relations exist between them,-interchanges of their respective pastors take place, and both congregations, at times, meet together in each 'other's places of worship for religious services.
CHAPTER XXIV.
A Statement of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the " Bap- tist Church of Christ in East Abington," including a Declaration of their Belief and Covenant. By their Pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin.
I CAN remember when there was but one communicant of the Baptist denomination in town ; at least, that I knew of, and that was Anna Dunbar, a maiden lady ; and this was over sixty years ago. And there were but a very few of that order until 1822, and no meeting for public worship, when a church was organized of eleven members, and a small house erected in South Abington for their accommodation. The number of communicants, since then, of the two Baptist Soci- eties in town, has increased to several hundreds. The growth of the church under consideration, since its institution, has been very rapid ; tlie society consisted at first of twenty-two members, all from other Baptist Societies, by letters of recom- mendation. Since then, or rather since January 7, 1855, when the second baptism took place, over one hundred members have been added, averaging about twenty yearly. The house of worship which the society has erected is a very commodious edifice, and well finished, and makes a fine appearance ; well located, being nearly in the centre of the flourishing village of East Abington. The population of that part of the town required another religious society. It was commenced on a liberal scale ; the first minister, Rev. Mr. Love, had a salary of one thousand dollars per year, which was considerably above the average salaries of the other ministers in town.
The statement of Rev. Dr. Chaplin is as follows :-
(205)
18
206
BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST ABINGTON.
BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST ABINGTON.
A number of the friends of Christ in the neighborhood and elsewhere, had been for some time deeply impressed with the fact that only an inconsiderable portion of the people in the village of East Abington were in the habit of regularly attending Divine worship on the Sabbath. Indeed, it had been thought that the church accommodations of the village were not sufficient for more thau about one-sixth part of the entire population of the vicinity.
About the beginning, therefore, of the year 1854, a move- ment was made by Brother George W. Chipman, of Boston, which, earnestly seconded by some of the enterprising citizens of the community of East Abington, resulted in securing for a time a hall for Divine worship; and on the fourth Sabbath in March, public services were commenced. Rev. Horace T. Love, then pastor of the church in the south part of the town, was, by invitation, present, and preached. After that time, services were held regularly every Sabbath day, with a prayer and conference-meeting Sabbath evening, and also on Wednesday evening, such supplies for the pulpit being engaged as the brethren were able to secure.
On the first day of May, 1854, a number of the friends of Christ, all members of Baptist churches, met at Manson Hall, and for the purpose of promoting their own personal holiness and maintaining the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel, and extending the Redeemer's kingdom on the earth, organized themselves into a society, under the name and title of "The Baptist Church of Christ in East Abington."
The constituent members were twenty-two in number, viz. : -
Eliab Coy, dismissed from Royalston Centre Church, Me .; Horace T. Love, dismissed from South Abington Church, Mass. ; Catharine G. Love, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass .; Catharine W. Love, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass ; John Chamberlin, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass .; Mary
207
BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST ABINGTON.
P. Chamberlin, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abing- ton, Mass. ; Clarissa Wales, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass. ; Mary Chamberlin, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass. ; Albert Chamber- lin, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass .; Matilda M. Chamberlin, dismissed from Baptist Church, South Abington, Mass. ; John Wilks, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass. ; Rebecca Wilks, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass. ; Hannah Maria Dunn, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass. ; Rachel Foster, dismissed from Baptist Church in Sonth Abington, Mass. ; Lydia Bass, dismissed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass. ; Harriet A. F. Tower, dis- missed from Baptist Church in South Abington, Mass. ; Martha Foster, dismissed from Charlestown High Street Church ; Martha A. Foster, dismissed from Baptist Church in Charlestown, Mass. ; Angeline Gray, dismissed from Bap- tist Church in Malden, Mass .; Elizabeth Hatelı, dismissed from Baptist Church in Hanover, Mass. ; Rebecca Stetson, dis- missed from Baptist Church in IIanover, Mass. ; N. B. Tanner, dismissed from Baptist Church in Bristol, R. I.
A Declaration of Belief and a Covenant were adopted, and the Rev. Mr. Love, one of the above number, was invited to become pastor of the church, with a salary of one thousand dollars a year.
This church was publicly recognized by a council which convened in East Abington, May 4, 1854 ; and the Rev. Mr. Love was at the same time recognized as the pastor. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Rollin H. Neale, D.D., of Boston.
Baptism was, for the first time, administered in October, 1854.
At a church meeting held March 13, 1855, it was voted to take immediate measures for the erection of a meeting-house, and a subscription was opened for the purpose of securing the necessary means. Liberal sums were subscribed by members of the society, and by friends abroad. Among the latter
· 208
BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST ABINGTON.
may be mentioned Edward Chamberlin, Esq., and George W. Chipman, Esq., of Boston. The house was completed in the year 1856, and was publicly dedicated to the worship of God, September 4, of that year. Sermon by Rev. William Howe, of Boston.
The church has enjoyed many proofs of the Divine appro- bation upon its labors, and feels much encouraged to perse- vere in the work to which her Master has evidently called her. The Spirit of God has, we believe, brought not a few, in attendance upon the ministry in this place of worship, to believe in Jesus and become his followers.
During the spring of 1860, there occurred an interesting work of grace, as a part of the fruit of which, twenty-eight were baptized into the fellowship of the church, on the pro- fession of their faith. The present number of members is one hundred and twenty-five.
The following is a list of the successive pastors of the church :-
Rev. Horace T. Love, Rev. Wm. P. Everett, Rev. William S. Mckenzie, and Rev. Dr. Chapliu, the last of whom is the present pastor.
The church edifice is sixty feet by forty, with fifty-five . pews, and a singing gallery. The church is provided with a bell and an organ.
DECLARATION OF OUR BELIEF.
1. We believe that the Bible, comprising the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, is exclusively the Word of God to man ; aud that it is an all-sufficient rule of faith and practice for every Christian, to the exclusion of every other rule. But since there are others who profess to believe the Bible to be an all-sufficient rule, whose faith and practice are nevertheless manifestly different from our own, we therefore declare more particularly :-
2. According to the Bible, we believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost-ONE GOD-living
209
BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST ABINGTON.
and personal in His being, and infinite in all His attributes, who, as an Infinite Sovereign, worketh all things after the counsel of His own will; but concerning whose acts of fore- knowledge, predestination, foreordination, and election, in rela- tion to our free agency, we, His finite creatures, know nothing. God is great; "His judgments are unsearchable, and His ways past finding out."
3. According to the Bible, we believe that man, created holy, is fallen, and is by nature and practice a sinner totally depraved, and exposed to the wrath to come ; " the wrath of God being revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteous- ness."
4. According to the Bible, we believe that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after death the judgment ; that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust ; that the life that now is is man's probation state ; that the life to come will be his retribution state, and that his retribution will, according to his character in his probation, be either a heaven of endless happiness, or a hell of endless misery.
5. According to the Bible, we believe that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life ;" that Jesus Christ, " wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities," and now for us an advocate with the Father, has become the "propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world ; " so that " whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
6. According to the Bible, we believe that " except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God; " that this regeneration is the work of God the Holy Ghost, manifesting itself in us, however, by repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ ; that God now commands all men everywhere to repent, and requires them to pray for mercy, and to believe His Word, and to receive His grace, and to obey the laws of His Gospel, promising to aid them in doing 18*
210
BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST ABINGTON.
so by the gift of the Holy Ghost ; and that whosoever therefore resistethi the Holy Ghost does it at his peril.
7. According to the Bible, we believe that true disciples of Jesus Christ will, by the promise of God, persevere unto the end and be saved; and practically, therefore, that we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence fast unto the end ; that the doctrine of the persever- ance of saints, in its theoretical and practical view, is beauti- fully blended in the words of our Saviour, at John x. 27, 28 : " My sheep hear My voice ; and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish : neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand."
8. According to the Bible, we believe that God has instituted the Christian Church on earth, and that a proper church of Christ is an independent society of visible believers, united together for the purpose of promoting their own personal holi- ness, maintaining the ordinances of the Gospel, and extending the Redeemer's Kingdom ; and that it is their inalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of their own con- science, without being amenable to any man or body of men therefor.
9. According to the Bible, we believe that the ordinances of the Christian Church are exclusively two :- Baptism, and the Communion of the Lord's Supper : that the only true subjects of Baptism are believers ; and that a man is baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, only by being overwhelmed in water upon a profession of his faith ; and that baptism is a proper pre-requisite to a right participation of the Lord's Supper ; and therefore that every Christian should be baptized without unnecessary delay, and thereafter should be regular in his attendance at the seasons appointed by the Church for the Communion.
10. According to the Bible, we believe that the first day of the week, called " the Lord's Day," is God's holy Sabbath of rest ; that it is by Him set apart pre-eminently for His worship, both in private and in the public services of the sanctuary, and for the instruction of the young at home and in
211
BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST ABINGTON.
the Sabbath school, and therefore it is our indispensable duty to abstain from all recreation and unnecessary labor on that day ; and that we assemble ourselves together in the sanctuary to worship God by calling on His holy name in prayer, singing His praise, reading His Word, and speaking and hearing His truth.
11. According to the Bible, we believe that it is the duty of Christians to worship God daily in their households, by reading His holy Word, and by calling upon Him in prayer.
12. According to the Bible, we believe that God has insti- tuted upon earth the Christian ministry, without, however, any distinction among ministers of the Gospel in rank or grade of office ; that there is properly no prelacy in the Christian ministry ; and that it is pre-eminently the duty of the Christian minister, in lis pastoral relation, to preach the Gospel in the sanctuary on the Sabbath, and from house to house on other days of the week ; and in all things to preside over and care for the flock; and that in this great work he should be sustained by the prayers and cooperation of the people of his charge.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.