USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Gardner > History of the town of Gardner, Worcester County, Mass., from the incorporation, June 27, 1785, to the present time > Part 41
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
God, for, in March, 1799, there was an article in the warrant, " To see if the town will do anything further about the bass- viol, act or transact anything thereto." Upon which, the town " Voted, That the singers act as they think best about bringing the bass-viol into the meeting-house, or not bringing it in."
It should be observed here, that the old meeting-house was, for many years, entirely destitute of any means of heating, foot- stoves supplying the place of modern conveniences for making the worshiper comfortable. During the intermission, the con- gregation availed themselves of the glowing fire, upon neigh- boring hearth-stones, at which, having warmed themselves, and refilled, with glowing coals, their foot-stoves, they were ready for the service of the afternoon. Nor should we overlook the existence of the tithing men, whose presence, in the congrega- tion, was recognized, by every boy, whose good behavior, in time of worship, this important functionary was empowered to secure.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CIIURCII.
The first church of Christ formed, in this town, was the Congregational. It was constituted, by an ecclesiastical council convened for that purpose, February 1st, 1786. This council was composed of the neighboring churches of Westminster, Templeton, Winchendon and Ashburnham. This church, which has ever since been connected with the First Parish, was com- posed, originally, of members of the churches of the neighbor- ing towns, who brought from these churches, letters of dismis- sion and recommendation, to the council forming them into a church. At the same time, there were a few who united with this church by profession, making the total membership, at the organization of the church, thirty-three. The following is the covenant adopted by this church, in the presence of the coun- cil, at this time, there being no articles of faith :-
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
COVENANT.
" We whose names are hereunto subscribed, apprehending ourselves called of God into the church state of the gospel, do first of all confess ourselves unworthy to be so highly favored of the Lord, and admire that free, rich grace of his, which tri- umphs over so great unworthiness. And thus with an humble reliance on the aids of grace therein promised for them that, in a sense of their inability to do any good thing, do humbly wait on him for all, thankfully laying hold on his covenant, and would choose the things that please him.
" We declare our serious belief of the Christian religion, as contained in the sacred Scriptures, and with such a view thereof, as the confession of faith, in our churches, for the substance, has exhibited. Heartily resolving to conform our lives unto the rules of that holy religion, as long as we live in the world, we give up ourselves unto the blessed Jesus, who is the Lord Je- hovah, and adhere to him, as the head of his people, in the covenant of his grace, and rely on him as our Priest, and our Prophet and King, to bring us unto eternal blessedness. We acknowledge our everlasting and indispensable obligations to glorify our God, in all the duties of a godly, sober and righteous life ; and very particularly, in the duties of a church state, and a body of people appointed for an obedience to him, in all the ordinances of the gospel.
" And we thereupon depend upon his gracious assistance for our faithful discharge of the duties thus incumbent upon us. We desire and intend and, with dependence on his promised and powerful grace, we engage to walk together, as a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the faith and order of the gospel, so far as we shall have the same revealed unto us, conscien- tiously attending the public worship of God, the sacraments of the New Testament, the discipline of his kingdom, and all his holy institutions, in communion with one another ; and watch- fully avoiding sinful stumbling bloeks and contentions, as be- come a people whom the Lord has bound up together in a bundle of life.
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" At the same time, we do also present our offspring with us, unto the Lord, professing, with his help, to maintain the daily worship of God in our houses, and to do our part in all the other methods of a religious education, that our children may be the Lord's.
" And all this we do, flying to the blood of the everlasting cov- enant, for the pardon of our many errors, and praying that the glorious Lord, who is the Great Shepherd, would prepare and strengthen us for every good work, to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
Then follows the names of the subscribers to this covenant. Previous to this time, however, the town had not been remiss in its duty, in providing for itself, gospel preaching. In its third town meeting, held November 7th, 1785, the citizens were called upon " To know their minds concerning of hiring of preaching." A vote was passed, choosing " a committee to hire preaching. Voted, To hire four days preaching." March 14th, 1786, the town .. Voted, To hire preaching one-fourth of this year. Chose a committee of two, to hire preaching this year. Voted, To leave it to the committee, who to hire for to preach. Voted, That the committee hire four Sabbaths in the spring and four in the summer, and the rest in the fall."
Although there was an article, in the warrant for the annual town meeting, for 1787, " to know the minds of the town, con- cerning hiring preaching the ensuing year, and grant money for the same," yet the town voted, to pass over this article. The inference is, that, being so busy in the erection of the new church, there was a disposition to economize, in matters of parochial expenses.
In 1788, the town " Voted, To hire preaching the present year." Voted, £20 for this object, and that " the committee hire a man to begin to preach by the middle of May next, as near as they can."
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
The town, at its annual meeting in 1789, voted to raise £20 for preaching and chose a committee of three to carry their vote into effect. They then " Voted, That the committee that was chosen to hire preaching this year, hire Mr. Parker three Sab- baths following, then to lay out the rest of the money, as they shall think best for the town." May the 11th, of the same year, the town, evidently having heard with satisfaction, Mr. Parker, called a meeting " To see if the town would join with the church in giving Mr. Frederick Parker a call, to settle in the work of the gospel ministry, in this place." At this meeting they "Voted, That all freeholders shall have liberty to express their minds by vote, or verbally." " Voted, That they liked Mr. Frederick Parker well enough to have him for their gospel minister."
" Voted, To join with the church, in giving Mr. Frederick Parker a call to settle in the work of the gospel ministry in this place." A committee was then chosen to draw conditions of settlement, which were, that Mr. Parker was to receive " for the settlement, £150, to be paid in neat stock, at the then mar- ket price." "For salary £60 per year, for five years, and £66 per year afterwards. One-half of the above salary, to be paid in produce of the farm, viz. : Beef, pork, grain, butter, cheese, at the market price ; also twenty cords of hard wood yearly, cord wood length, delivered at his dwelling house." It is evident, that Mr. Parker was, for some time, in doubt as to his duty, in declining or accepting this call, of the church and parish, since, on the twentieth day of the following October, the town was called together, to see if they were willing " that Mr. Frederick Parker would have until next spring, to make answer to the call that we have given, if it is agreeable to him." At this meeting, the town " Voted, That Mr. Frederick Parker may refuse giving his answer to the call given him, by the church and congregation, to the settlement in the gospel min- istry in this place, if it should be most agreeable to him, until next spring." They also voted, at the same time, to hire Mr. Frederick Parker six Sabbaths, beginning the second Sabbath
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in November, and preaching four Sabbaths then, and the other two next spring. At the March meeting, 1790, the town voted, to raise £30 for preaching and " that the committee hire Mr. Frederick Parker four Sabbaths, if he can be had." It is evi- dent, from the record, that Mr. Parker, after due deliberation, declined the call, for, in June 1790, a town meeting was called "to see if the town will coneur with the church, in renewing of the call of Mr. Frederick Parker, in the work of gospel min- istry in this place." The call was renewed, twenty-six voting in the affirmative and six in the negative. Although their hearts were evidently set upon Mr. Parker, as their first pastor, he, nevertheless, declined their second urgent call. In 1791, the town voted to expend £30 for preaching. They also " Voted, That the committee hire some person of a good character for four Sabbaths."
At length, " the person of good character" appeared, who was destined to serve the town and church, as their pastor, for the succeeding thirty-one years. July 21st, 1791, the town was assembled to act, among others, upon the following article : " To see if the town will join with the church in giving Mr. Jonathan Osgood a call, to settle in the work of the gospel ministry, in this place." At this meeting, all the frecholders were desired, in the warrant, to attend and show their approba- tion, or disapproval, as they saw fit, as to giving Mr. Osgood a call.
At this meeting, the town voted to unite with the church in giving Mr. Osgood a call, sixty freeholders voting in the affirm- ative, and three against it. " Tried by the voters, thirty-two for it, and two against it." A committee was also chosen, to draw conditions of settlement and salary. This committee, after an adjournment of about one hour, reported as follows : " First, for his settlement, £178, one-half of it to be paid in one year, from the time of his settlement with us in the gospel ministry, and the other half in two years, from his settlement ; and £75 for his salary, yearly, as long as he continues in the gospel ministry with us." This report, of the committee, was
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
not agreeable to the town, thirty-four freeholders voting for, and thirty against the report, while nineteen voters were in favor, and fifteen against it. The vote was reconsidered. The town then voted for the settlement of Mr. Osgood, £160, and for his salary, £75.
Subsequently, the town voted to give Mr. Osgood, twenty cords of hard wood, yearly, to be delivered at his dwelling house, to begin in three years after he should be settled. On the conditions above described, Mr. Osgood accepted the call, in a letter, a copy of which may be found on page 170, vol. 1, Town Records. In this letter, to the church and congregation, bearing date, September 21st, 1791, he says, " I trust that you will endeavor to strengthen my hands by your Christian con- duct, and that you will be desirous that harmony should be kept up with the neighboring churches, and that I should frequently exchange with my brethren, the clergy. The proposals you have made me for my support, are according to the infancy of the town. If at any future period, as you increase in wealth, I should stand in need, I trust you will be ready to afford me relief. I shall depend that you punctually fulfill the proposals you have made."
Previously to this date, July 6th, 1791, the church taking the lead, as it always should in such matters, had passed a vote inviting Mr. Osgood to become their pastor, also, " To choose a committee to apply to the selectmen for to call a town meet- ing, to see if the town will join with the church, in giving Mr. Jonathan Osgood a call, to settle as a gospel minister in this place." September 21st, 1791, the church " Voted, To send to the five adjacent churches and to two churches in Andover, the second church in Boxford, the church in Littleton and the church in Bolton, for a council to assist in the ordination of Mr. Jonathan Osgood as a gospel minister in this place." This council was convened October 18th and 19th, and after the ex- amination of Mr. Osgood, and the proceedings of the church and town, in giving him a call, the church " Voted, That it was their desire that the council proceed to ordination." It appears
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from the above records, that Mr. Osgood was installed as the first pastor of this town, October 19th, 1791.
Rev. Jonathan Osgood was born in Andover, Mass., Septem- ber 21st, 1761. In early life, he was engaged in the business of a tanner, which he was obliged to relinquish, on account of ill health. He then fitted for college, graduating at Yale, in 1789. It is not known, with whom he studied theology. As is elsewhere indicated, in this work, Mr. Osgood was a very active and useful pastor, among the people of those earlier days, who were prompt, in fulfilling their pecuniary obligations to him. Sometimes, in case of depreciation of the currency, they made him a present of £25, and annually voted him twenty cords of " good hard wood," to be delivered at his door, at a specified time. This wood was always vendued off at the an- nual town meeting, in lots of four cords each.
Aside from performing the duties of a pastor and physician, he was the counsellor of those, in the town, who needed advice on subjects not immediately connected with his two professions. He never allowed his medical business, however, to interfere with his duties, as a minister, on the Sabbath. It was always understood, that if a physician was needed, at a time which would interfere with his clerical duties, on the Sabbath, another than himself must be sent for. From this course, he was never known to deviate. Some are now living, who have a vivid re- membrance of the appearance of Mr. Osgood, as he rode hur- riedly to the steps of the meeting-house, upon his foaming horse, at the hour of morning service, having just come from visiting his patients, in some distant part of the town, some kind parishioner taking charge of the beast, while its owner reverently ascended the pulpit stairs, as a physician of the souls of those, for whom he was set to watch. Mr. Osgood was actively interested in all municipal and state affairs, serving the town as a member of the school board, drafting petitions to the General Court, and the President of the United States, and representing the town, in the legislature. He built, for himself, the house now owned by Deacon Henry Lawrence, where he
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died, May 21st, 1822, greatly lamented by his parishioners and friends, whom he had served, as a minister of the gospel and physician, for nearly thirty-one years, and was buried at the expense of his parish, which then embraced the whole town. He married Miss Orange Wadsworth, of Farmington, Ct., by whom he had five children.
Mr. Osgood was a man of fine personal appearance, very portly in his mien, possessing a loud, clear-toned voice, which he used with impressive effect, in offering prayer, while seated upon his horse, on the muster field.
" A man he was to all the country dear, And passing rich with forty pounds a year. Remote from towns, he ran his godly race, Nor e'er had chang'd nor wish'd to change bis place."
The church, under the ministrations of Mr. Osgood, enjoyed a goodly degree of prosperity. It was not, however, without some instances of heart burnings, derelictions from duty, on the part of some of its members, and cases of discipline, which were faithfully attended to, by the pastor and the church. Some of its members absented themselves from divine service, be- cause, as they informed the committee, they had not money to buy decent clothes and to pay for the elements used at the Lord's Supper. Some also,, like Mr. Sullivan Jackson, gave the church trouble and anxiety, because of their rejection of the rite of infant baptism. Others, not satisfied with the " standing order," desired to withdraw to other churches. Some were offended with their brethren and ceased to attend communion. All these disturbing elements were kindly and patiently dealt with, by the pastor and the people, in order to reclaim them, but, in some cases, without avail. It should be remembered, that these were times when the various religious denominations, which had sprung up, and were disseminating their new views, were making their influence felt, in every town throughout the commonwealth, and were greatly disturbing the serenity to the " standing order," who looked with no com- placency upon the departure of any of its members, to other folds.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
Subsequently, to the death of Mr. Osgood, the pulpit was supplied, by various individuals, some of whom came very near being called. as pastor, till 1824, when a town meeting was called, May 3d, to see if they would give a call to Mr. Sumner Lincoln, to settle as a stated gospel minister. The town " Voted, To give Mr. Sumner Lincoln a call to settle with us, in the work of the ministry," one hundred and twelve voting in the affirmative and none in the negative. Mr. Lincoln was to receive five hundred dollars as his salary, with the addition of a pew, called the minister's pew, in the meeting-house, for his use, " so long as he should supply the desk, as a gospel min- ister." Mr. Lincoln accepted the offer, making, at the same time, a request, which the town voted to grant, to have the privilege of being absent two or three Sabbaths, annually, if he should wish to visit his friends. Previously, upon the same day, without a dissenting voice, the church voted to invite Mr. Lincoln to become their pastor. The town, acting in its capacity as parish, chose a committee, at the same time, to confer with Mr. Lincoln, in regard to a council, for his ordina- tion and installation. This committee reported that the follow- ing churches be invited with their pastors and delegates : "The Congregational Church in Athol, Barre, Templeton, Hubbards- ton, Westminster, Petersham, Ashburnham and Ashby." At the same meeting, the town " Voted, That a committee of five be chosen to let out, to the lowest bidder, the provision for the council ; to appoint marshals for the day, and secure the meet- ing-house against damage." They also " Voted, That the fore- going committee, be a committee to send the letters missive, to the council."
It will be seen, that this was a departure from the true method, which should always be observed by the church, in taking the lead in extending a call to a candidate, and inviting the parish to concur. This unusual proceeding is explained. by the fact, that the church had previouly voted, February 12th, 1823, unanimously, " To yield the privilege and to dispense with the custom of preceding the town, on occasions of this
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kind, and to act with the town, in convention, in all measures relating to a settlement of the gospel ministry among them." The council, which ordained and installed Mr. Lincoln, over the First Church, in Gardner, as its second pastor, convened, for that purpose, June 16th, 1824.
Mr. Lincoln was born, at Warren, June 20th, 1799. He grad- uated at Yale College, in 1822, and studied theology at New Haven, Conn., and, as stated above, was ordained and installed over the First Church and Parish, in Gardner, June 16th, 1824, from which he was dismissed, by an ecclesiastical council, August 11th, 1830, that he might become the first pastor of the Evan- gelical Congregational Church and Society, of Gardner, over which, he was installed, as pastor, upon the same day of his dismission, from the First Church and Parish, which he had served, as pastor, for a little more than six years. Mr. Lincoln was twice married. His first wife was Miss Gratia E. Smith, daughter of Dr. Nathan Smith, of New Haven, by whom he had ten children. His second wife was Mrs. Abbie Comee Harwood, daughter of Mr. James M. Comee, of Gardner, by whom he had two children. Mr. Lincoln is now pastor of the First Con- gregational Unitarian Society, of Wilton, N. H. In 1857, the name Increase was legally prefixed to his name, which was given him in infancy, but which was never recorded. He was named for Increase Sumner; Governor of Massachusetts, who died the year he was born. As a minister of the gospel and pastor of the First Congregational Church, and afterwards of the Evan- gelical Congregational Church, in this place, he was always actively interested in everything that pertained to the highest welfare of the town, and to the spiritual interests of the people whom he served. He was, for several years, a member of the school committee, and did very much to improve the educational advantages of the town. At the time of his settlement, in Gard- ner, the two great national questions, of slavery and temperance, were coming prominently before the public, in which Mr. Lin- coln became greatly interested, both as a strong anti-slavery and temperance man. Into the discussion of these questions, both
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in private and in public, Mr. Lincoln entered, with great zeal and persistent energy, which have never abated, even to this seventy-ninth year of his age, and fifty-fourth of his ministry. It should be stated, in this connection, that the last vote of the town, acting in its double capacity of town and parish, was passed April 2d, 1827, during Mr. Lincoln's pastorate of the First Church, and was as follows : " Voted, To grant five hun- dred dollars for the Rev. Sumner Lincoln's salary." From this date, the town and parish virtually ceased to be one.
At this particular period, in the history of the First Church and Parish, namely, 1830, there sprung up a diversity of religious sentiment, respecting what is termed Unitarianism and Ortho- doxy, which resulted in a division of the church, and the dismis- sion of Mr. Lincoln, the strictly evangelical portion withdrawing and forming a new church and society, of Gardner, hereafter to be noticed. Previons to this separation, an amicable arrange- ment was entered into, whereby the tankards, cups, plates, table- cloth, and chest containing these articles, should be owned and used in common, by the remaining and the newly formed church ; also, that the money in hand, and otherwise due, should be equally divided between them.
At the same time, namely, July 28th, 1830, Mr. Lincoln made the following proposition to the First Parish : " I hereby agree to have the civil contract, between me and the First Parish and Church, in Gardner, dissolved, and to take a dismission from the same, provided the parish will pay me one hundred and twenty-five dollars, and pay their proportional part of what is coming to me for preaching since my ministerial year commenced, till the contract is dissolved ; and provided they will agree to call a council, of three ministers and delegates, that I shall choose, to carry the same into effect, and provided they will grant me the use of the meeting-house, and to preach in it, till the first of September, next."
Whereupon, the parish " Voted, To accept the agreement which Rev. Mr. Lincoln made with the committee, provided the parish be at no expense for the council." Also, " Voted, To
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grant one hundred and seventy dollars for the purposes specified in the warrant." Having now virtually become a Unitarian Church and Society, measures were at once adopted by the par- ish, to provide itself a pastor, in sympathy with their religious views. November 1st, 1830, a meeting of the parish was called, to see if a call should be extended to Mr. Jonathan Farr, to settle with them as their minister. A call was extended to Mr. Farr, November 15th. The salary offered was four hundred dollars a year, to be paid semi-annually. He was to remain their pastor so long as the majority of the parish were satisfied with him ; whenever they were dissatisfied with him, they were to give him three months' notice. In case he should become dissatisfied with them, he was to give the same notice. His dis- missal, whenever it occurred, was to take place without expense to the parish. Mr. Farr was ordained, as pastor of the First Church, by a council composed of Unitarian ministers, Deceni- ber 9th, 1830, and was dismissed in July, 1833.
Rev. Jonathan Farr was born at Harvard, September 20th, 1790. Studied theology at Harvard College. After his dis- mission from Gardner, he never was again settled as a minister. He died June 3d, 1844.
September 21st, 1833, the parish voted to give Mr. Curtis Cutler a call, to become their pastor, at a salary of five hundred dollars a year, to be paid annually. The conditions, of his settlement, were the same as those of Mr. Farr. He was ordained and installed October 30th, 1833. His connection with the parish ceased in 1839.
Rev. Curtis Cutler was born in Lexington, January 1st, 1806. He was a graduate of Harvard College, where he studied the- ology. He died in Cambridge, in September, 1874. As a pastor, Mr. Cutler was well received by his parishioners. He was dismissed from Gardner, at his own request. His depart- ure was greatly regretted by those to whom he ministered. Dur- ing his ministry, the parish " Voted, To give leave to take the sounding board down, and whatever it fetches, to go towards trimming the pulpit." After the dismission of Mr. Cutler, Rev.
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