USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Middlefield > History of the town of Middlefield, Massachusetts > Part 23
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"9. That we believe John Brown and his companions were innocent of the crimes with which they were charged, viz., treason, murder and an attempt to incite the slaves to insurrection. ...
"10. That we deeply deplore the fate of those noble and self-sacrificing men . . . that we sympathize with them in their martyrdom. ... "
These fiery resolutions well expressed the feelings of the pastor and also of Deacon Alexander Ingham who was a stalwart tem-
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perance reformer and anti-slavery worker, "laboring," he tells us, "in the midst of much opposition." .When it is remembered that Dr. Jefferson Church, another son of Middlefield, who bore attacks from the pulpit and press in Springfield because of his early opposition to slavery, was an intimate friend of John Brown, the fierce intensity of this document is largely explained.
Judged by the standards of the time, the people of that day gave generously for missionary and benevolent objects. On the first day of 1860 they gave $26.00 for the American Board; on April 1, $19.50 for the American Tract Society, and on October 14, $17.00 for the American Missionary Society. This society with its warm interest in the negroes was so close to Mr. Bridge- man's heart that when he entered the amount on the church records he wrote, "Alas, how little sympathy is felt for a mis- sionary whose object is to send out and support a gospel purified from the sin of slavery."
Dissatisfaction at last arose in the church in the spring of 1862. Mr. Bridgeman preached anti-slavery almost continually, and being somewhat pugnacious, stirred up those of his flock who did not share his extreme position. A year later the society agreed with the statement of the church that "the experience of the past and the present state of public feeling among us forbid us to hope that our pastor can be useful here." Therefore the church and society "kindly and respectfully" asked the pastor to unite with them in calling a council for his dismission. This was on March 16, 1863. The council met on May 19, and while commending Mr. Bridgeman, regretted that the church was send- ing him away, and urged it in the future to be very careful about settling or removing ministers. As since that time the custom of installation has almost ceased, the church has avoided the possibiliy of incurring the disapproval of a council. The council also provided that Mr. Bridgeman should receive $300 more than was due him, with the use of the parsonage for six months, if he should wish it. This money was promptly paid. By 1863 the Civil War was nearing its climax and expenses must have been soaring. In two calls issued in 1865 ministers were offered salaries of $900. Mr. Bridgeman had received but $525. He often paid for goods by orders on his salary, perhaps because of lack of money.
3. 3. Bestee)
MIDDLEFIELD MINISTERS
REV. JOSEPH M. ROCKWOOD REV. LEWIS BRIDGEMAN REV. JOHN H. BISBEE
REV. ALEXANDER DICKSON REV. CHARLES M. PIERCE REV. EDWARD CLARK
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Nearly two years and a half passed before the church again had a resident minister. Many supplies were heard and candi- dates examined. By the time of the arrival of the next pastor the new parsonage had been built. March 2, 1865, the society voted to accept the offer of Sumner U., James T., and Oliver Church to build the house and furnish the land if the society would, without their aid, dig and wall the cellar, and give them the parsonage buildings which then stood on the Parsonage Lot. These were taken down and with the materials the new house was constructed, which still serves as a parsonage for the pastor of the Middlefield Church.
On September 4, 1865, Rev. John Dodge was called at a salary of $900. It was provided that his ministry might close on two months' formal notice from either party, and though installation was suggested in his letter of acceptance, he was not installed. One has described him as "lovely in life." But his stay was not a long one. As was not unnatural shortly after the Civil War, there were financial troubles, and at one time a large deficit was reported. Mr. Dodge did not receive the last installment of his salary until more than five months after he left town. He resigned June 24, 1867, because of the impaired health of his daughter which made it necessary to move to some place where she could be taken to ride over smooth roads. Mr. Dodge might well have complained of the winter snowdrifts, for it is said that once the snow so blocked his barn door that his horse could be taken out only by leading it through the house.
In spite of the shortness of his pastorate Mr. Dodge accom- plished much. During the year 1866 no fewer than twenty-five members joined the church on profession and fourteen more by letter. The last Sunday of Mr. Dodge's service in Middlefield was July 14, 1867, a little less than two years from the time of call. On January 5, 1868, he was given a letter of dismission and recommendation to a church in North Brookfield, Massa- chusetts.
After a period during which many supplies and candidates were heard, the church called Rev. Charles M. Pierce, a native of Hinsdale, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Williams College in 1857 and of Andover Seminary in 1861. Before coming to Middlefield he had been pastor for four years at West Boxford,
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Massachusetts, where he was ordained in 1863. He came to Mid- dlefield at a salary of $900 and was installed July 1, 1868.
Two days after his installation an important meeting was held. Among the measures taken up the following resolution, proposed by Deacon Alexander Ingham, was passed :
"Resolved That the use or sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, or the refusal to bear proportionally the expense of supporting the Gospel ministry and the maintenance of public worship are in our judgment in- consistent with Christian character."'
It was during Mr. Pierce's pastorate that the changes began to be manifested which marked the decline of industry and popu- lation in Middlefield. The removal of the younger generation to more profitable farming lands in the West, and the death and removal of a number of the older members reduced the available income for maintaining the church, and in the spring of 1879 Mr. Pierce was asked to accept a reduction of two hundred dol- lars in his salary. He assented, "provided with this reduction the society were cordial in wishing him to remain their pastor." His pastorate had been fruitful. In 1877 no fewer than thirty- nine members were added on profession. At length after thir- teen years of service, Mr. Pierce resigned July 7, 1881 ; his resig- nation was reluctantly accepted and he was dismissed July 26. He continued in the pastorate in three other churches for more than twenty years longer ,and retired in 1903. He died in Wor- cester, Massachusetts, March 4, 1915.
After Mr. Pierce's resignation came a series of very short pastorates. On November 26, 1881, Rev. Samuel E. Evans was called at a salary of $700. A native of Fitchburg, he was grad- uated from Harvard in 1863, from Andover Seminary in 1866 and from Chicago Seminary in 1867. Mr. Evans was a genial and energetic man, a vigorous pastor and a good preacher, and the church genuinely regretted the termination of his pastorate which closed on July 1, 1883. After several fruitless attempts to find a pastor the church called Rev. Albert G. Beebee in May, 1884, at a salary of $700. He remained until May, 1886, when he was called to Southwick, Massachusetts. Rev. John A. Wood- hull, a graduate of Yale in 1850, began to serve the church Sep- tember 1, 1886, and continued with it until June 1, 1889. Both of these pastors were courteous gentlemen of the old school, who
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maintained dignified services but were unable to do more than continue the routine. After nearly a year during which many candidates were heard, Rev. William E. Morse began serving May 1, 1890, at a salary of $800. He was an ambitious man of considerable native ability. His personal aggressiveness, how- ever, aroused some opposition and he resigned after a year's pastorate. He later served a church in Somerset, Massachusetts.
The Baptist Church had given up its preaching services in 1890, at the time of the resignation of their beloved pastor, Rev. Joseph M. Rockwood. In April, 1891, and again in April, 1892, they were cordially invited to worship with the Congregational- ists. On May 8, 1892, the Baptist Society was asked to appoint a committee to co-operate with a committee from the Congrega- tional Society in obtaining a minister. During the period when candidates were being heard the church became incorporated and was thus enabled to do business without a society. In the Act of Incorporation, dated August 9, 1892, Hiram Taylor, Jonathan McElwain and Royal D. Geer and their associates and successors were made a corporation with the name "The Con- gregational Church of Middlefield, Massachusetts."
On September 19, 1892, Rev. Lucien C. Kimball was called at a salary of $700, with the privilege of being absent half the time if he furnished satisfactory supply. He was a graduate of Andover in 1887 and was ordained in that year. He undertook to edit a religious paper, The Church and the Times, and doubt- less expected to give half his time to this. Since the paper did not succeed, he devoted all his time to the church.
Shortly after the beginning of Mr. Kimball's pastorate, the Chapel, which had been owned by the Church family but placed at the disposal of the church, was given to the church as its property by Oliver Church and the heirs of Sumner U., and James T. Church. This fine gift the church accepted with thanks and invited the Ladies' Aid Society and the Christian Endeavor Society to meet there as formerly.
The church met with financial difficulties during 1895 and a grant of $300 was obtained that year from the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society. This was paid to the pastor in quar- terly installments, beginning November 1. The financial situa- tion did not improve, the church lacked leadership and about the
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middle of 1896 Mr. Kimball resigned. He was later pastor at Dummerston, Vermont. The discouraged condition of the church is reflected in the vote to turn over the funds of the church to the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society, to be held in trust by it, the income to be paid over so long as preaching was main- tained. In case of failure of services for one year, the funds were to revert to the Missionary Society. Fortunately, the en- ergy and optimism of the next pastor made it unnecessary to carry out this vote. Mr. Kimball closed his services in August, 1896. He afterward preached for a number of years at Hop- kinton, New Hampshire.
Rev. Herbert Alden Youtz, a native of Iowa and a graduate of Boston University, began serving the church early in Novem- ber, 1896, and continued until the close of 1898. With courage and enthusiasm he revived the spirit of the church, and helped it to become self-supporting, refusing longer to accept aid from the Home Missionary Society. This achievement was due partly to the more cordial attitude of the Baptists. The pleasing per- sonality of the pastor endeared him to his parishioners. Both Mr. and Mrs. Youtz, being good singers, greatly revived and ex- tended the musical activities of Middlefield, not only during his pastorate but during many subsequent years, since Middlefield became his summer home. His pastorate was fruitful in strengthening the growing ties between the Congregationalists and Baptists which have caused the former spirit of rivalry to give place to one of warin fellowship. It was in these days that the Baptists, who had for some years been joining in the at- tendance on preaching, accepted the invitation to unite forces in the Sunday School, instead of holding theirs in their own house of worship. Thus the religious forces of Middlefield were united in one church and new enthusiasm was created under the leader- ship of Mr. Youtz. On December 17, 1898, having been called to another charge, Mr. Youtz resigned and the church regretfully released him a few days later. After a pastorate in Providence. Rhode Island, and a period of study abroad, Dr. Youtz became professor of Christian Theology in Chicago, Montreal and at Auburn, New York. He is now connected with the Graduate School of Theology at Oberlin, Ohio.
Rev. Henry M. Bowden, a native of Walden, New York, a stu-
MIDDLEFIELD MINISTERS REV. HENRY M. BOWDEN REV. SEELYE BRYANT
REV. HERBERT A. YOUTZ REV. WM. T. BARTLEY
REV. WM. A. ESTABROOK
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dent at the University of Pennsylvania and a graduate of Yale Divinity School in 1886, began as pastor May 7, 1899, and con- tinued a high-minded and scholarly pastorate for three years. It was during his pastorate that the meetinghouse was destroyed by fire. On Monday afternoon, June 11, 1900, lightning struck the steeple and set it on fire. As the spot could not be reached by water and the solid timbers could not be cut off, the people had to watch helplessly while the flames crept downward and burned the church to the ground, consuming also the Town Hall, which stood just south of it. One of the most pitiful moments was when the bell, as if mourning its own fate, fell clanging and crashing to the ground.
The Baptists immediately offered the use of their church, and a service was held there the following Sunday. Steps were taken to solicit funds for a new building. The insurance was $2,000, and by July 2, $1,400 had been subscribed. At that date it was decided to issue a circular letter, bearing a picture of the old church, and an appeal for funds. Through the kindness of Mr. Harding, an architect in Pittsfield, two plans, one for a wooden, the other for a stone church were prepared without charge. August 15 a third plan was asked for, and it was voted to build of wood. August 22 it was voted to consider the obtaining and repairing of the Baptist Church. September 10 it was decided to buy the Baptist Church for $500, with the understanding that the money would be given back to the Congregational Church to be invested so as to be used sometime for a new house of wor- ship. May 21, 1901, the building committee was authorized to proceed to build. It was difficult to proceed at all, as many wished to repair the old Baptist Church, and many others would have liked to build a wholly new structure, perhaps of stone, so the matter was long delayed. Services were held for some time in the new Town Hall, which had recently been completed.
On April 12, 1902, Mr. Bowden resigned and closed his serv- ices May 1. He has been for many years a professor in the American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.
On November 3, 1902, Rev. Seelye Bryant was unanimously called and accepted. He was born in Sivas, Turkey, was grad- uated at Amherst College in 1887, and at Princeton Seminary in 1890. He began his pastorate January 1, 1903. On February
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17, 1903, the discussion of the new church was again resumed, and it was decided to build it of wood with a spire of reasonable height. It was finally decided to buy the old Baptist meeting- house for $250 and remodel it. The Baptists donated the money they received to furnish new windows for the new church. The structure as rebuilt consisted of the Baptist meetinghouse moved to the site which the burned Congregational meetinghouse had occupied, with the Chapel, formerly the Methodist Church, joined to it on the north side, and a new tower and belfry, in the angle between them. This is all that represents the "spire of reason- able height." It was not very high and Mr. James Ingham ex- pressed the opinions of some people when he declared that it was "too clumpid." Mr. Asher Pease provided the ornamental steel ceiling for the main audience room. The building was finally dedicated on January 14, 1904. With such a composite building it was fitting that there should be greetings at the dedication from Methodist and Baptist friends and from Berkshire Congre- gational Churches, and that the beloved Rev. J. M. Rockwood, the last Baptist minister, should have made the invocation.
On March 24, 1907, Mr. Bryant resigned, having been called to the Olivet Church in Springfield, Massachusetts. Rev. Francis A. Fate served as pastor during the rest of the year. On No- vember 5, Rev. Wm. A. Estabrook of Amherst was called. His service began January 1, 1908. His pastorate of nearly six years was an era of good feeling and the church prospered. Meanwhile Middlefield was becoming increasingly a place of popularity as a summer residence. Mr. Estabrook left in July, 1913, to take a pastorate in Brimfield, Massachusetts.
In the autumn of 1913, Rev. William T. Bartley, Ph.D., a native of Concord, New Hampshire, was called, and began serv- ices December 1. He was graduated from Yale in 1891, from Andover Seminary in 1897, and received the degree of doctor of philosophy from Yale in 1895, for graduate work in the classics. His beautiful Christian spirit and fine literary tastes endeared him to all. During his pastorate Mr. Bartley made an extensive study of the church and town records, which has served as the basis for this history of the Congregational Church. July 22, 1917, the pastor resigned in order to begin work in the Congre- gational Church of Canaan, New York.
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On August 14, 1917, the church voted to ask their former pas- tor, Rev. Herbert A. Youtz, to superintend arrangements for supplying the pulpit until a settled pastor could be secured. As a result, during the winter which followed, the pulpit was filled by Mr. Albert D. Stearns, who had been a student under Mr. Youtz at Auburn, New York. During his stay of several months, Mr. Stearns greatly endeared himself to the people of his parish.
For the next year the church was served by Rev. Aaron Avery Gates, who had been a student under Mr. Youtz at Chicago, and who during his stay of one year continued his studies at Hart- ford Seminary. The following year the pulpit was supplied in part by Rev. Alvah J. Rhines of Huntington, a graduate of the Y.M.C.A. College of Springfield, Massachusetts.
On October 11, 1920, the church extended a call to Rev. R. Barclay Simmons of Shoreham, Vermont, who began his pas- torate the following month. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons were very successful with the young people of the town, especially the boys. These happy relations continued until the end of his pastorate in November, 1922, when Mr. Simmons resigned to accept the call of the First Congregational Church in Chicopee.
The present pastor, Rev. J. G. Robertson, began his work August 1, 1923. He has had a wide experience in rural fields and begins his pastorate with the most cordial feeling of the people.
The isolation of Middlefield, the limited resources of the church and the severity of the winter season upon the hill-top has always made it hard for the church to obtain and hold pastors for long periods in recent years. But it has the loyal support of the ma- jority of the community and the good will of all residents. Among former citizens of the town and members of the summer colony the church has found staunch supporters, who aid to support the church work, and so the gospel is still preached where the church stands "on the rocks," and where the Word has been spoken during the past one hundred thirty years.
David Mack's deeply religious life and his generous support of the church are well known to Middlefield people, and have re- ceived wider notice through the tract called "The Faithful Steward." He was a deacon in the Congregational Church for many years, living not only through the long pastorate of Mr.
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Nash, but through those of Mr. Parker and Mr. Bisbee into that of Mr. Clark. He was connected with the church society, of which he was a constituent member, for sixty-two years, and occupied the same pew in the meetinghouse for fifty years.
Among the early deacons were Daniel Chapman, Malachi Love- land, Job Robbins, George W. McElwain, Erastus John Ingham and Zachariah Field.y Deacon Alexander Ingham is remem- bered not only for his religious zeal but also for his work in edu- cation and the cause of temperance. In this period also served Deacon Harry Meacham and Deacon Amasa Graves. Deacon Jonathan McElwain was not only town clerk for many years, but was clerk of the church for forty-five years. He was active in Sabbath School work, and his blameless life was an example to the younger generation. Deacon Hiram Taylor was a very lovable and generous man. His gifts to the church were large. During the last illness of Mr. Royal D. Geer, who had been the caretaker of the church for many years, Deacon Taylor assumed his duties for some weeks and gave the proceeds to Mr. Geer. In later years the faithful services of Deacon Barton B. Graves and Deacon George S. Bell are well remembered.
Among the prominent early supporters of the church was Uriah Church, Jr., who married Phebe, daughter of Colonel David Mack. Concerning him Rev. Edward Clark once said, "When I entered the sanctuary on a Sabbath morning, let the weather be ever so inauspicious, there was one man that I was sure to see, if his health would possibly allow. He sought no excuse for staying away from the sanctuary, he did not plead a slight illness or advancing years, or the wearisome acclivity that he was to ascend. There was one man of intelligence and faith whom I felt sure of meeting there, and who in unpleasant weather took certain pains to come." Following in the footsteps of their parents Sumner, James Talmadge, and Oliver in the Congrega- tional Church, and Lyman in the Baptist Church, in proportion to their material prosperity were devoted and generous up- holders of the Gospel in Middlefield.
In Middlefield, as elsewhere, music has been the handmaid of religion from earliest times. At a meeting held on Christmas Day, 1800, reminding us how little thought there was then of making Christmas a holiday, the town appropriated $40 to hire
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a singing master that winter. Such an action may well have been in the interest of church music, for there were many singers in those days, so many in fact that at times the front seats all around the gallery of the first meetinghouse were filled with those who had voices to sing. These were the days when Russell Little was chorister, who like others of his family, had an ex- cellent voice. The question of hiring a singing master was often brought up in town meeting, though sometimes the town chose to take no action. In 1851 or 1852 a subscription paper was circu- lated specifying, "provided a satisfactory arrangement can be made with the Baptist Society, we the subscribers promise to pay the sums set to our names and unite with them in a singing school." The sum of $50.50 was subscribed. These singing schools were in their prime when the singing masters were Edwin Reed, George Lucas, Joseph Gibson, Thaddeus Lyman, Sylvester Bartlett, Homer Carter and others. The Meachams, Littles, Smiths, Wrights, Churches, Robbinses, Aldermans, Bells, Spen- cers, Hawes and Graves were familiar names in connection with church choirs in Middlefield.
Musical instruments as aids to the voices of the choir were in- troduced early in the nineteenth century. Mr. Isaac Gleason played a bass viol back of the singers for years; afterward the double bass, violin, flute, clarinet and all manner of stringed instruments were employed up to the advent of the harmonium. The record states that Isaac Gleason received $42 in 1833 "for his services in singing the past year." His oldest son, Gillet Gleason, was musical and somewhat expert in church music, being a good tenor singer. He taught vocal music and singing school in the surrounding towns.
Enoch Dwight Graves was probably the most prominent man in musical affairs in his day. He had a large family of boys all of whom were good singers. One son, Edward, was especially gifted, and was a leader of several choirs and a successful teacher of music when singing schools were common. The father, who was familiarly known as Dwight Graves, was a man of un- usual musical talent, and was connected with the choir for forty years, for the greater part of that time as leader and director. At the age of twelve years he was engaged to take charge of the singing, and sang soprano for several years until his voice
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changed to bass. He played violin, single bass and double bass viols for many years. At one time during his leadership the church in Easthampton had an organ given by Mr. Williston, and Graves learned that their bass viol was for sale. He went to Oliver Church and stated the circumstances. Mr. Church gave him the money for the purchase of the instrument. Mr. Graves used the viol in the choir for many years. Later the Congrega- tional Church at Worthington gave up their bass viol for an organ, and Mr. Graves, realizing that this was a superior instru- ment, went again to Mr. Church for assistance. Mr. Church willingly gave him the money. Mr. Graves was delighted with the instrument and played it during the remainder of his stay in the choir. He was a man of large frame, and his rugged fea- tures bore a look which would not soon be forgotten when the choir failed to sing with "due expression" or a member was so unfortunate as to get off the key. We are told that when the choir had sung through a piece by syllable when practicing, Mr. Graves would utter the command, "Apply the language" when he wished the words to be sung.
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