USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Bernardston > History of the town of Bernardston, Franklin county, Massachusetts, 1736-1900, with genealogies > Part 15
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148
REV. RICHARD ELLIOTT BIRKS.
to be loyal to a 'bad ' King (not believing in the divine rights of kings) and also refused to give their assent and consent to every- thing in the book of common prayer. It was of such stock and in the old meeting houses and manses still largely supported by the descendants of those sturdy and independent puritans," that Mr. Birks was reared and it is evident that he freely imbibed of the spirit of intelligence, thrift and manly independence of the people of that locality. From his father, a disciple of Dr. Channing, he received his early education and teachings in Unitarianism.
When just ready for the university, his father's death obliged him to change his plans, and his latter education was obtained wholly by his own efforts, but by self-sacrificing perseverance he was enabled to'prepare himself for the ministry, and was ordained at Topsham, Devon, England, in 1872. He was afterwards minis- ter at Northampton, Tanworth, Chichester, Gloucester, Douglas, Isle of Man and finally at Rawtenstall, near Manchester, in all of which places he rendered good work, being especially successful in building up and restoring societies in those parishes where there had existed a lack of religious enthusiasm and life. He was in this country during the last years of the civil war, returning for a brief season to London in 1866. His marriage occured in Boston in 1867, and he kept his residence there until 1871, when he again crossed the water, returning in 1892, and coming to Bernardston in 1896.
Besides his ministerial labors, Mr. Birks has always taken an ac- tive interest and part in all matters pertaining to improvement and education, being always found upon the liberal, progressive side, and his record since coming among the people of Bernardston is but a rounding out and completion of the busy, useful life he spent . in England. He numbers among his transatlantic acquaintances some of the foremost writers and leaders in reform, who hold him in grateful remembrance. Although having been here but a short time, the society have recognized his sterling qualities and are glad to thus number him among their cherished pastors.
CHAPTER VIII.
BAPTIST SOCIETY-PASTORS-ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY -PASTORS-UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY-PASTORS-METHODIST SOCI- ETY-PASTORS -- DORRELLITES.
Chronologically the Baptist society ranks second. January 7, 1782, the town "Voted that those persons who are professed Baptists and have attended that particular form of worship shall be freed from paying ministers taxes so long back as they have been of the Baptist persuasion and have attended sd worship."
Up to this date there having been but the one religious society, all were taxed for the support of the common church. This vote of the town shows their willingness to extend to others what they themselves, or their fathers, sought in their emigration from Eng- land,-freedom to worship according to the dictates of one's con- science. Such toleration of new sects or denominations was not then so common, and this fact renders the incident all the more praiseworthy.
" Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod, They've left unstained what there they found,- Freedom to worship God."
In 1789 a Baptist society was organized, and the year following a church built on the east corner of meeting house and church street, near the place lately owned by Philander M. Slate. The same year Elder Levi Hodge was ordained as their first pastor. Subsequently the church, a small one-story building, was sold, the society having become much smaller because of internal dissen- sions, and the meetings were finally discontinued. January 1, 1808, an ecclesiastical council met at the house of William Fox. Jeremy Parker was chosen moderator, and John Noyes, clerk- both members of the church in Conway. After prayer and delib- eration it was decided to organize, and January 11 the following named persons subscribed themselves members of the Baptist church in Bernardston :
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BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Reuben Park.
William Fox.
Moses Smith.
Samuel Sikes, Jr.
Jonathan Sanderson.
Selah Hastings.
Reuben Alger.
Eunice Smith.
Mary Park.
Susanna Hastings.
Abigail Green.
Rachael Carey.
Lovice Darling.
A considerable degree of interest must have existed in the church, for the rest of that year saw 30 members added to the original thirteen. As evidence of their prosperity, in 1817 a new church was built a few rods west of the former one. The interior of this remained unfinished until about 1835. This may be ac- counted for in some degree by the parish records, which show that from 1822 until 1831 the society was without a settled pastor, and during this time the Congregational society met with them, each furnishing preaching half of the time, when they could so do. About 1835 the building was completed, and used until 1851, when it was sold and is now owned by the estate of Mrs. Ashley and oc- cupied as a dwelling.
In the summer of 1851 the present house of worship was erected, and dedicated December 10 of that year. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Baldwin of Brooklyn, from the text, "God is Love." In January, 1842, a revival was experienced, con- ducted by Elder Coles of South Reading. It lasted four weeks and resulted in much good, adding about 20 to the church. In 1853 the society membership was 93. For the past ten years services have been held a greater part of the time. The society is known as the Close Communion Baptist, and in 1888 there were 46 mem- bers, of whom 16 were non-resident. During the Rev. Mr. Worth- ington's pastorate in 1880, the audience room was repaired and partially refurnished, adding much to the attractiveness thereof. Mr. J. V. Hale has also done quite a good deal for the society in different ways, proving himself a friend in time of need.
Elder Jeremy Parker of Guilford, Vt., supplied one-quarter of the time for one year, commencing March 20, 1809, George Stock- well alternating for a time. During the nine years the society worshipped with the Congregationalists, some of the supplies were Linus Austin, Rufus Fitts, E. Montague and Tristam Aldrich. In 1834 and 1836, Rev. Edward Davenport of the 2nd Congregational
151
REV. A. A. DAVIS' HISTORICAL SKETCH.
church in Colrain supplied one-half of the time, and in 1837 the pulpit was supplied in the same manner by James Parsons of the State convention.
Since completing the above, through the courtesy of Rev. A. A. Davis, pastor, his manuscript history of the Baptist society in this place was placed at the disposal of the writer. There are in ex- istence two record books, one of the church and one of the parish. He has endeavored to bring into reconciliation the accounts con- tained in both, and has woven them into a continuous history, and, of course, was enabled to give a much more minute and graphic description than would be permissible in a work of this nature.
He places the origin of the church and society in the year 1806, taking the ground that whatever may have existed prior to this date was wholly traditionary, and not supported by any recorded evidence, hence must have related wholly to a Baptist society, and that up to 1806, the Baptist church, as an organized ecclesiastical body, did not exist. In this it would seem that he may have erred, for upon the old proprietors' record book under date of January 7, 1782, is the following: "Voted that those persons that are professed Baptists and have attended to that particular form of worship shall. be freed from paying ministerial taxes so long back as they have been of the Baptist persuasion and have attended sd worship." This vote alone, and it is a recorded action of the town, would tend to show that there was enough of a band of Baptist brethren to enable them to carry on their own form of worship whether in- corporated as a distinct society or church, or otherwise. Gov. Cush- man goes still farther and says in his historical lectures upon the town's early history, which was published in the Franklin Mercury in 1833, that "In 1789 the Baptist Society was organized in this town and in 1790 their first meeting house was built and the same year Elder Hodge their first minister was ordained. This meeting house stood on the corner west of Gamaliel Kingsley's and was in shape and size something like the Universalist Meeting house. Elder Hodge remained about ten years and a few years afterward the meetinghouse was sold. After this, Elder Rogers preached to the Baptist society a few years, but was never ordained. Elder Green was the next settled minister." Gov. Cushman's father was
152
ORGANIZATION OF BAPTIST SOCIETY.
a lifelong resident of this place and his birth antedates the forma- tion of the first society by 11 years, and of the present society, in 1806 or 1808 as the two church and parish books record it, by 28 or 30 years. Had there been no Baptist society and church in ex- istence until he had reached that age, would he not have been cog- nizant of the fact, and saved his son, who aimed to be the town's historian, from making any such misstatement? It would certainly appear so, for he was an educated man, interested and well informed relative to town affairs. Furthermore Gov. Cushman has the cor- roboration of Rev. Erastus Andrews, a former Baptist pastor, who writes in a letter dated June 22, 1863, “ Elder Levi Hodge was or- dained in Bernardston." Now is it supposable that a man can be ordained over a society and church which does not exist? And again, the plan of the town protraeted in 1795, found opposite page 49 and deposited in the State Archives, gives the exact location of both Baptist and Orthodox meeting houses. This church was but a small one-story structure and as the society as a society and the church so far as is known, as a church, went out of existence soon after Elder Hodge's departure to Warwick, (his next charge) it was sold.
The church and parish records vary by two years in placing the organization of the present society, or the reorganization of the original one, as the case might be. The book personally examined placed the date of organization as 1808. Mr. Davis gives it as 1806. That there were meetings held with a view to organization at both times is evident, from the fact that these two meetings are recorded as being held at different places and with different presiding offi- cers. The church was not built until a subsequent date, as hereto- fore stated, and prior to its erection, meetings were held at Mr. Samuel Green's, or as a life-long resident of the place said, "In Sam Green's kitchen," and the said Samuel Green's home went by the name of the " Baptist Tavern," from the fact that all the supplies of the Baptist society found there a temporary shelter.
The rest of the record as given by Mr. Davis coincides practically with the account given, only as already noticed, carried out much more minutely. It might be added that the society's method of raising funds has in several instances nearly proven a Scylla and
153
EARLY BAPTIST PASTORS.
Charybdis, the steering clear of which has been well nigh an im- possibility. The society did not submit readily to direct or com- pulsory taxation, and the methods of discipline which some at- tempted to exercise caused such men as Deas. John Burk and Daniel Slate to be excluded, and for no greater sins than that they saw fit to occasionally attend services held in other churches. This seems a restraint upon the freedom of worship sought by the pil- grims in their emigration to this country wholly to be unlooked for in their descendants, and especially in a town where the first ac- tion in religious matters taken by the town beyond the establish- ment and maintenance of its first society was, to extend freedom of worship to those who felt they could no longer ally themselves with the existing forms of the country.
Concerning the earlier Baptist ministers comparatively little can be obtained. Elder Levi Hodge, who was early ordained over the Baptist society, was a native of Glastenbury, Ct., and brother of Wm. Fox's first wife. He served in the Revolutionary war Upon the organization of this church he was secured as pastor, coming here from Easterly, Ct., retaining the relationship until 1801, when he became pastor of the Warwick and Royalston churches, being installed over the church in Warwick in June, 1802, which engage- ment he fulfilled until his death in 1819. It is said of him that he was a great worker in both secular and religious enterprises; not an educated man, but one highly esteemed as a useful and good minister in the Master's service.
Peter Rogers, the pastor of the society upon its reorganization, was a native of Connecticut, and came to Bernardston from Kil- lingly; he was a soldier in the Revolution, being appointed as one of Gen. Washington's Life Guards at the battle of Monmouth, going out from New London, was in many important battles, win- tered at Valley Forge and was discharged at Yorktown.
He went into the wara rich man ; at its close he literally begged his way home, continental bills having depreciated so that they were not accepted long before he reached New London, where he found that his property had been burned with the burning of the city. He therefore learned the cabinet maker's trade, but soon gave it up and studied for the ministry. Prior to his settlement in
154
EARLY BAPTIST PASTORS.
Bernardston in 1815, he was pastor of one or more churches in Connecticut, and also of the Baptist church in Leicester, Mass. He remained in Bernardston until 1819, when he removed to Swanzy, N. H., going thence to Waterloo, Ill., where he died at the extreme age of nearly 100 years. His ministry in Bernardston was marked by an extensive revival, 80 being added to the church by baptism one winter. It is said that " a hole was cut in the ice, the people immersed, and not one took cold."
Elder Edward Green, who was early of Halifax, Vt., was ordained over the Baptist society here November 25, 1819, the sermon being preached by Rev. George Witherel. He continued here in the ministry about three years, and at a much later date resided in Pownal, Vt.
Elders Davenport of Colrain and Lamb of Guilford, Vt., each supplied the pulpit between 1822 and 1831. They, however, did not claim Bernardston as their residence, and the opinion has been ex- pressed by some of the later pastors of the society that they should not be properly counted as ministers of this Baptist society.
Rev. Benjamin Franklin Remington of Adams came here in 1831, remaining three years. In 1863 he was supposed to be in New York City.
Rev. Aaron Burbank's ministry here covered one year. He came in 1838, from the eastern part of this State (?).
Rev. Erastus Andrews was born in Templeton, May 19, 1805. His father, Rev. Elihu Andrews, was pastor of the Baptist church in that town. In 1816 he removed with his parents to Hinsdale, N. H., where he spent his minority. In 1827 he received a license to preach and was ordained as pastor over the Baptist church in Mid- dlefield (N. H .? )May 20, 1829. The next year he spent as a supply in Agawam. In April, 1831, he removed to North Sunderland, tak- ing pastoral oversight of the church known as the Sunderland and Montague Baptist church. In 1855 this charge was resigned and his residence changed to Shelburne, where through that year he supplied half the time, the other half being devoted to Bernard- ston. In 1836 a unanimous call came to him to return to North Sunderland to his former parish, which he finally accepted. In 1839, his health being impaired, he again resigned and an absence
155
REV. ERASTUS ANDREWS.
of 5 years ensued. During this time he preached from the fall of 1839 to the spring of 1841 at Bernardston, also about the same length of time at Hinsdale, N. H., and the remainder of the time was spent in traveling through the New England and Western States.
With returning health his old parishioners in Sunderland again extended to him a third call, thus showing how closely he had en- twined his life with theirs. This call he heeded, remaining with his beloved people until 1857, in all a period of 20 years. In 1858 he assumed charge of the church in Suffield, Ct., remaining there for three years. At the expiration of this time he returned to his old home in Montague, where he had lived during the greater part of his last pastorate at North Sunderland, and this became his final earthly home.
In 1851 and again in 1852, Mr. Andrews ably represented the town of Montague in legislative halls as Representative, while in 1855 he was sent as Senator from Franklin County. For seven years he was an active member of the board of trustees of the Shel- burne Falls Academy. In 1859 the honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Brown University. Thus we see that Mr. Andrews labored for the best interests of mankind, not only in the lines prescribed by his ministerial calling, but also in advancing educational and legislative measures in accordance with his nat- ural good judgment and excellent business capabilities. He mar- ried May 10, 1829, Almira, daughter of John and Martha Bartlett of West Boylston, Mass., who died in Montague, in January, 1891. Their children were
Emory Pearl, b. March 28, 1830; was Ist Lieut. of Co. C, 31st Reg. Mass. Vol. Also provost sheriff of New Orleans under Gen. Butler. Prior to the war he was preceptor of Hollis Institute at So. Braintree, Mass.
Charles B., b. November 4, 1830; graduated at Amherst in 1858; became a lawyer of Kent, Ct., and afterwards governor of the State.
Martha Ann, b. September 3, 1833; m, Dr. E. P. Alden of Hoosick Falls, N. Y., December 1, 1858.
Erastus, C., b. May 17, 1835. ·
John L, b. April 1, 1837; died September 29, 1839.
Thomas D., b. September 26, 1839; d. May 5, 1856.
Augustus P., b. April 30, 1841.
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156
REVS. FARRER, GREEN, FULLER, BAKER, CROWLEY.
E. Benjamin, b. January 10, 1844; was a non-commissioned officer of Ist Reg. Ct. Artillery; president of Brown University of Providence, R. I .; now superintendent of schools, Chicago, Ill.
Joseph I .. , b. November 27, 1845; was a member of Co. F, 52nd Reg. Mass. Vol.
Arthur F., b. March 1, 1849.
Flora N., b. August 23, 1850.
Rev. Charles Farrer settled in Bernardston in 1842, and remained there three years, removing thence to Tennessee.
Rev. John Green was born in Belchertown, Mass., June 17, 1801. His education was acquired at the Amherst academy, and at what is now known as the Madison University of Hamilton, N. Y., grad- uating from the latter June 2, 1830. While a theological student at Hamilton he preached one year as a supply to the New Stock- bridge Baptist church in Peterborough. N. Y. During the month succeeding his graduation he began his labors in the Leicester. Mass., Baptist church, and by request of the society was ordained as an evangelist August 19, 1830, and recognized as pastor May, 1831.
August 2, 1830, he was joined in marriage to Miss Mary Thomp- son of Munson, Mass. His ministry in Leicester terminating April 1, 1840, he next went to Shutesbury, remaining there 5 years. He came to Bernardston in April, 1845, and closed his connection with this society April 1, 1848. During the next six years he was stationed at Florida and Huntington, four and two years respec- tively. Owing to failing health the duties of his profession were abandoned the most of the time until 1861, when in April he be- came pastor of the church in North Leverett, Mass.
Rev. George Edwin Fuller came from Chesterfield, N. H., to Bernardston in 1848, remaining four years and going thence to Ware.
Rev. Calvin Baker was of Cornish, N. H. He came to this place in 1852, but remained only a year. .
Rev. Harvey Crowley's pastorate lasted from 1855 to 1858. He later resided in New York State, and died in Rochester, N. Y., December 23, 1862, ae. 59.
157
REVS. STOCKWELL AND RUBERG.
Rev. George L. Stockwell was born in Lunenberg, Vt., Janu- ary 20, 1818, and there his early education was obtained ; later he studied in Massachusetts. He was ordained in the ministry in Weston, Vt., June 17, 1844. In 1858 Mr. Stockwell was settled in Bernardston, and continued there until March, 1861, when he re- moved to Springfield, Mass., where he was engaged with others in endeavoring to found an agricultural college, which enterprise had its origin in efforts previously made by Hon. H. W. Cushman to establish an agricultural department at Powers Institute in Ber- nardston.
Rev. George L. Ruberg was born May 28, 1828, on Nantucket Island. . He was of Swedish extraction, his father, John George Ruberg, being born in Stockholm, Sweden, October 23, 1793. He emigrated to Nantucket, which was his home for forty years. Here he married, his wife's name being Nancy - -; she was a native of Nantucket, being born there May 10, 1803. Until the age of 15 the subject of this sketch regularly attended school, going as high as the grammar department. During the next year the time was necessarily divided between work and instruction from a private teacher. When 17 years old he was apprenticed to the dry goods trade, his employer being a man who allowed many opportunities for study, and, who did all possible to expand and develop his clerk's ideas concerning the meaning and aims of worthy living. Prior to this time, in Mr. Ruberg's own words, "I had failed to com- prehend the ends and object of life .; could not see why it was that one like myself should have an existence at all." His opportuni- ties for theological study were as nothing. Such time as could be spared from business was spent in studying the Gospel, and at the age of 19 years he felt that his life work must be associated with the diffusion of its teachings. A lack of means, however, prevented his giving the time to preparation that he considered necessary to successful work. Hence for some years he kept on in his secular pur- suits. In May, 1861, having fitted himself as best he could, he be- gan to supply the pulpit here for the Baptist society, with the result that in July of the same year the church extended a unanimous call for his settlement. This he accepted and, by a council called for the purpose, he was publicly set apart for work in the Gospel
158
LATER BAPTIST PASTORS.
ministry October 23, 1861. Mr. Ruberg was in charge of his par- ish here for four years, leaving September, 1865. In the year 1852 he married Mary Abby, daughter of Capt. Henry J. Starbuck of Nantucket. She was born at the latter place March 21, 1831. They had three children, Nelson Curtis, born February 12, 1855; Susie Maria, born March 6, 1859; Henry Judson, born May 28, 1861. He died in North Egremont, March 6, 1901.
Rev. Thomas Wrinkle was the pastor of this society from 1866 to August 23, 1868.
Until 1871 there was no settled pastor. In June of that year came Rev. B. F. Tuck. He ministered to the wants of the people for six years, removing from this place in 1877. In July, 1884, he was stationed at Acworth, N. H.
Rev. A. W. Goodnow came in 1877, and was dismissed in May, 1878. He was followed by Rev. J. H. Parmalee, born in Wilming- ton, Vt., May 4, 1823. He was the son of Dennis Parmalee, a dea- con of the Baptist church of that place, as was also his grand- father.
His education was obtained by attendance at the academies of Townshend and Ludlow, Vt., supplemented by a college course at Waterville college, now Colby University, Maine, from which he graduated in 1850. A year was then spent in teaching, as princi- pal of the North Conway academy, succeeded by a two years' course at the Theological seminary at Rochester, N. Y. His ordination to the ministry took place soon after at Xenia, Ohio, and for several years he preached in the States of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.
During the latter part of the war of the Rebellion he had charge of the Christian commission work at Vicksburg, Miss.
About 1871 Mr. Parmalee came to Bernardston, making this town his home for the next sixteen years, and preaching here as well as in the neighboring towns. His pastoral charge of the Baptist society here extended from May, 1878, to October, 1879.
In 1887 he removed to De Funiak Springs, Fla., where he is en- joying the relaxation to be obtained from a small vineyard and fruit grove. He also devotes his time to such ministerial calls as are
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ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
made upon him. His family consists of a wife, daughter and son, Frank. The latter is married and a resident of the east part of Bernardston.
Rev. J. Shephardson came in April, 1880, and was dismissed in June, 1881.
Rev. W. A. Worthington preached here most acceptably from June 18, 1881, to May, 1883. He was later stationed at Groton, Vt., (1883) and in May or June, 1884, died suddenly in Concord, Vt.
The following named gentlemen succeeded Rev. Mr. Worthing- ton, but no biographical notices have been obtainable:
G. L. Shephardson, May, 1883, dismissed October 1, 1884. John Randlett supplied until April 1, 1885. W. S. Walker, May 1, 1885, dismissed April 1,.1888. William F. Newton of Mt. Hermon school supplied until June, 1889. Sumner Latham, September, 1889. A. A. Davis, 1892, dismissed 1895. Rev. Mr. Everett supplying since 1897.
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