History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859, Part 17

Author: Clark, George Faber, 1817-1899. cn
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Boston, Crosby, Nichols, and Co., and author at Norton
Number of Pages: 608


USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > 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 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45


They had been taught, and they believed, that the preaching of the gospel truths was all-important for their spiritual prosperity ; and hence, before all the bearers at the funeral of the late pastor had preached in their turn in his pulpit, the church and society are preparing to maintain the preached word among them. We find, therefore, that in just one month from the death of Mr. Palmer, or May 4, 1791, the parish chose a committee of three, as an addition to a committee of like number already chosen by the church, " to supply the pulpit for the future."


Some candidates preach,1 but none are chosen, till


1 The names of those who are known to have preached as candidates are a Mr. Allen; Mr. Hooper, supposed to have been Hezekiah, a native of Bridgewater, who graduated at Harvard, 1789, and was settled at Boylston. He died of consumption when twenty-six years old. In Davenport's His- tory of Boylston, he is said to have been " a young man of good talents and attainments, a gentleman in his manners, and a pattern of meekness and humility." Mr. Thomas, supposed to have been Nehemiah, of Marshfield, who graduated at Harvard, 1789, and was settled at Scituate; a Mr. Gray, " an old man;" and Stephen Palmer, son of Rev. Joseph Palmer, of this town. (See graduates.)


PITT CLARKE.


173


OF REV. PITT CLARKE.


the 12th of October, 1792. On that day, the church, by a vote, "invite Mr. Pitt Clark to settle in this place, over this Church and congregation, in the work of the Gospel Ministry." Nov. 19, the parish concur with the church in extending the invitation, and "choose a committee of thirteen to take into con- sideration what to give Mr. Clark as a Settlement and Salary ;" then adjourned to the 7th of January, 1793 ; then " voted to give Mr. Pitt Clark one hundred and fifty pounds, as an encouragement to settle with us in the Gospel Ministry as a settlement."} __ " Voted to give said Mr. Clark 80 pounds salary Pr. year, so long as he remains our minister and supplies the pul- pit."


There seems to have been some misunderstanding as to the meaning of this last vote. On the 25th of February following, the parish change it so as to read thus : "Voted to give Mr. Pitt Clark Eighty pounds as


1 As a further encouragement for him to settle with them, a subscription- paper was drawn up April 1, 1793, and £79. 8s. was pledged "in addition to the Encouragement " above mentioned, " provided he settle as the minister of sd. Parish." As a matter of interest, we copy the names of the donors, with the sums given : -


£ s.


£ s.


George Leonard .


20 0


Benjamin Pearson


0 6


Daniel Dean .


4 10


Eleazer Clapp


1 10


Joseph Hodges


1 10


Ephraim Lane, jun.


1 10


Silas Cobb


. 10


David Clapp .


1 10


Jonathan Leonard


2 10


Daniel Parker


: 10 1


Ebenezer Titus 1 10


Isaac Basset .


1


0


Daniel Knap


1


0


Isaac Stone


0


6


Samuel Morey


3


0


William Martin .


0


6


Josiah Hodges


1 10


Jonathan Briggs .


0


6


John Hall . 4 10


Thomas Danforth


0


6


William Cobb.


1


0


Daniel Lane


0


6


Ephraim Lane


1 10


Isaac Lane


0


6


Noah Wiswall


. 10


George Palmer


12


Seth Smith, jun.


2


0


Samuel Hunt.


0 12


Ephraim Raymond .


3.


0


Stephen Jennings


3 0


Samuel Morey, jun.


1 10


Isaac Hodges, jun. Abel Franklin


0


6


Elijah Cobb


1


0 Samuel Copeland John King


1


4


Elijah Danforth .


0


12


1


0


Thomas Braman


2


0


Brian Hall .


0 12


William Lane


0


6


Michael Sweet


0 12


Elijah Lane


0


6 Laban Wheaton


1


0


Asa Copeland


1 10 Joseph Phillips


0


6


Laban Smith .


0


6 Isaac Braman


1 10


0 12


Joshua Pond .


1


0


15*


174


SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND DEATH


a salary annually, as long as he shall continue with us in the work of the Gospel Ministry." This, however, did not satisfy all parties. Another meeting is called, and a committee chosen to consider the matter ; and finally, March 25, 1793, the following vote of explana- tion is carried at a meeting of the parish : -


"That the true intent and meaning of the sd. parish is, that the sum of not less than 80 pounds be granted annually, and paid to the said Mr. Pitt Clark, as a salary for his sup- port during the time, or so long as, he should be Resident and officiate in the work of the ministry in sd. parish, by preach- ing and performing other duties and services, agreeably to the form and Customs adopted and practised upon by mini- sters of the Congregational Churches and Parishes in this Commonwealth. Provided, nevertheless, that, if it shall be more agreeable to Mr. Clark, it is voted that this Parish will grant a salary to him of not less than eighty pounds for four years, and not less than 100 pounds annually, after that time, on the principles and limitations aforesaid."


This was, no doubt, satisfactory to Mr. Clarke ; and, in a few weeks, his letter of acceptance of the call was received. It is in these words : -


"To the Congregation, Chh., & Parish in Norton.


" Having maturely considered your invatation and propo- sals to settle with you as a Gospel Minister, consulted my friends on the subject, and frequently addressed the throne of grace for special direction, I have determined to accept of your call, and to settle upon the last proposal and offer made by sd. Parish on the 25th of March last; viz., That sd. Parish pay me annually, as a salary, not less than eighty pounds per year for the four years immediately succeeding my ordina- tion, and not less than one hundred pounds annually from the expiration of said four years, so long as I shall be resident and officiate in the work of the ministry in sd. Parish : ex- pecting to be treated, in all respects, according to the general forms and customs adopted and practised upon by the mini- sters of the congregational chhs. and parishes in this common- wealth. Imploring the grace of God to assist me in the


175


A


OF REV. PITT CLARKE.


faithful discharge of my duty, and thereby to promote ye glory of God and our spiritual improvement,


Ditt Clarke 1


" NORTON, April 27, 1793."


May 7, 1793, it was " voted that the ordination of Mr. Pitt Clark be on the first Wednesday of Sept. next ; " and a " committee of five, to agree with some person to provide for and entertain the Council that shall be called to the ordination of Mr. Clark," was chosen. At an adjourned meeting, May 20, it was de- cided to have the ordination on the first Wednesday of July.


On the same day, Lieut. William Morey, Silas Cobb, and Lieut. Tisdale Hodges, were chosen a committee " to superintend the business of the ordination."


Letters-missive were sent to nineteen churches, in- viting them to meet and form a council, and assist in the interesting services, - thirteen of which were present. According to previous arrangement, he was ordained July 3, 1793. The exercises were as fol- lows: Rev. Jason Haven, of Dedham, made the first prayer ; Rev. Thomas Prentiss, of Medfield, preached the sermon ; 2 Rev. Jonas Clark, of Lexington, made the ordaining prayer ; Rev. Jacob Cushing, of Wal- tham, gave the charge; Rev. Roland Green, of Mans- field, the right hand; and Rev. Abiel Holmes, of Cambridge, concluded with prayer; and the church- records, in the handwriting of Mr. Clarke, say, "The whole was conducted harmoniously. Decency and or- der were observed through a crowded assembly. Thus one generation passeth away, and another cometh."


1 During the first years of his ministry, he wrote his name Clark; to- wards the close of life, he wrote it Clarke. We regard the " e " as super- fluous; but we write his name as he chose to write it towards the close of life. The autograph we give was not the one attached to the letter above, but was written a few years before his death.


2 This Sermon, and also the Charge and Right Hand of Fellowship, were published. The text was 1 Cor. ii. 2: " For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."


176


SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND DEATH


" Few were the incidents which checkered, and fewer which marred, his long and faithful ministry. In the main (with one prominent exception), it seems to have been singularly happy and serene, and fraught with manifold sources of satisfaction to his virtuous bosom." 1 Mr. Clarke was always very liberal in his religious opinions. The Christian' spirit of toleration and respect for believers in a different faith from his own is traceable through his whole ministry. He wished not in any way to shackle the human mind ; and the church, to some extent, soon caught the spirit that controlled their pastor. At a church-meeting held April 1, 1803, after the choice of two deacons, - one of whom was Deacon Lysander Makepeace, who has just passed on from earth, -" the Church considered the propriety of requiring written relations from those who wished to be admitted, as has been the practice ; and, considering them as an unscriptural bar, they voted unanimously to lay them aside, and to give encourage- ment, that every believer who gives the church satis- factory evidence of his belief, in any other way most agreeable, should be admitted." In passing this vote, the church showed much wisdom and good sense. The latter part of the year 1805, the question came up, " whether those who held to Baptist peculiarities shall be admitted into full communion and regular standing with this Church ?" The matter was considered at several church-meetings; and finally, on the 31st of January, 1806, "after freely discussing and duly weighing the project, they unanimously agreed in the following vote, and passed it without a dissenting voice : " -


" Whereas some persons have manifested a desire of join- ing our church, who hold to baptism by immersion and deny infant-baptism, - voted, that such persons, by giving evidence of their faith and sincerity, may be admitted into full com- munion, and to all the rights and privileges with us ; provided,


1 Rev. A. Bigelow's Funeral Sermon, p. 19.


177


OF REV. PITT CLARKE.


nevertheless, they shall not vote in any matters against the Congregational platform and interest."


This is additional evidence that the spirit of Jesus possessed both pastor and church. It shows that they were liberally-minded, and willing to accept all who came clad in the livery of Christ, whatever might be their belief.


July 31, 1793, a few days after the settlement of Mr. Clarke, the original church-covenant was changed so as to read thus : -


" CHH .- COVENANT.


"You do now sincerely and very solemnly give up your- self to God, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; and you receive him as your God and portion, designing to live unto him. You give up yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, thro' whom God is manifest in the flesh, and who is the great head of his chosen people; and you receive him, as made of God, unto you, wisdom and righteousness, sanctifica- tion and redemption. You likewise join yourself to this chh. of Chr .; engaging, in the communion hereof, by his help, to attend upon the ordinances of the Gospel, while your oppor- tunities hereby to be edified in your most holy faith shall be continued to you. This you declare ?


"We, then, the chh. of Christ in this place, receive you into our sacred fellowship, and promise, that, by God's assist- ance, we will treat you with such affection and watchfulness as your sacred relation to us now calls for. This we do, im- ploring of our Lord that both we and you may obtain mercy to be faithful in his covenant, and to glorify him in that holi- ness which becometh his house for ever. Amen."


This covenant was not recorded on the church-books, but was recently found, with the date affixed, among the papers and in the handwriting of Mr. Clarke; and I am assured that it is the one used during his mini- stry. To this the candidates assented when they were admitted to the church.


Below we give another, which is supposed to have been read to the candidate for admission to the church, and received his or her assent previous to being pro-


178


SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND DEATH


pounded for admission. It is believed to have gone into disuse soon after Mr. Clarke's settlement : -


"FOR THOSE WHO OWN THE COVENANT.


" You believe the word of God, contained in the Scriptures of the O. and N. T., to be the truth, with all the great points of doctrine contained in them, and professed by this chh.


" You take, avouch, and profess the Lord Jehovah to be your God; and promise, as God shall help you, to fear him, and seek him, and love him, and obey him, with your heart and soul and mind and strength. You take God the Father to be your Father, and give yourself (and yours) to him as your Father for ever, hoping for all fatherly mercies from him.


" You take the son of God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ, to be the Mediator of your peace, and your great high Priest, prophet, and king ; and you rely on his grace, mediation, and sacrifice, obedience, intercession, and powerful influence, for your salvation. You take the Holy Ghost to be your great Influencer, sanctifier, and Comforter. You give up yourself and offspring to be regenerated, pardoned, restrained from sin, defended from temptation, rescued from evil, sanctified, supplied, comforted, and brought to Christ, by the power and mercy of the Lord your God.


" You submit yourself and yours to the care and watch, discipline and government, of this chh., and of Christ in his chh .; and faithfully promise to endeavor to abstain from all sin, to lead a Godly and virtuous life, to promote reformation, to walk in a consciencious and constant observance of all the ordinances of Chr. Jesus our Lord, - wereof you are at present capable, and hereafter as you shall be further quali- fied and capable; looking for the mercy of God in our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."


During the latter part of Mr. Clarke's ministry, Mrs. Peddy Bowen,1 daughter of Judge George Leonard, made a present of church-furniture to the church,


1 She was the widow of the late Hon. Jabez Bowen, of Rhode Island ; who, at one time, was Lieutenant-Governor of the State. She died at the paternal mansion-house in Norton, where she had resided for some years after the death of her husband, on the 13th of September, 1850, aged eighty- nine years, eleven months, and four days. She was a woman of rare beauty and accomplishments. (See further notice of her in Genealogical Register, vol. v. p. 101, &c.)


-


179


OF REV. PITT CLARKE.


" consisting of 2 Flaggons, 6 cups, and 2 plates, - all of best quality silver plated ; together with a durable basket to contain them, and rouge for keeping them clean and bright. prime cost, $61.42."


June 3, 1829, the church "voted to accept this present of Church-plate, to be consecrated to the ser- vice of the Communion ; and also to present their unit- ed thanks to the worthy Donor, for her elegant and valuable donation." A committee was also chosen. for that purpose, who presented to Mrs. Bowen the following communication : -


" NORTON, June 3, 1829.


" DEAR MADAM, - We, the undersigned, have the honor to be a Committee from the chh. of Christ in Norton to ex- press their sincere thanks for the elegant and valuable present of Church - Vessels you have presented; which they thankfully accept, and will consecrate to the sacred use of commemorating the dying love of our blessed Redeemer.


" May you, Madam, long live to partake of the elements which will be presented in these sacred vessels ; and, when it shall please the Great Head of the church to call us home, may you share largely in that blessed eulogy, 'Well done, good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joys of thy Lord.'


" We are, Madam, with consideration of great Respect, " Your humble servants, " P. CLARKE, E. RAYMOND, Committee."


The most important event (already alluded to) which occurred during the ministry of Mr. Clarke was the division of his church and parish, and the formation of a new society. Probably the time has not come when an impartial history of all the causes that led to the separation can or should be written. Although Mr. Clarke acted the only part that an honest man could have acted under the circumstances, yet he felt grieved, not at his own conduct, but at the conduct of others, and especially at the treatment he received from those he had ever regarded as his friends. For many years before his death, he kept


180


SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND DEATH


a sort of diary, wherein he recorded some of the prin- cipal events that transpired, and expressed his feelings, at certain epochs in his life. In the last entry he ever made in his journal, and only a few weeks before his death, - and which may therefore be considered as his dying testimony, - in alluding to the events of the last two or three years, he says, -


"No part of my whole life has been so trying to my feel- ings as this portion of it. Before this period, I had lived in great harmony with my people for about 40 years ; and they appeared as much united as any religious society of my acquaintance. But, unexpectedly, a rich and respectable family in my parish took an affront, and rose in hostile array against me. Soon after this hostility commenced, others, who styled themselves Orthodox, joined the opposition, and charged me with changing my sentiments, and not preaching the Gospel. I thought myself preaching the same Gospel I ever did, and felt more and more interested in preaching the true Gospel. The unexpected charge led me to examine more fully the ground of my faith; to search the scriptures more closely ; and to declare more plainly, tho' prudently, what I conceived to be the whole revealed counsel of God."


As the result of his inquiries, he prepared a docu- ment, seting forth, in a lucid and forcible manner, his theological views, which he intended to present as a New-Year's gift to his people ; but his sudden sickness and demise prevented him from doing it. It was soon after given to the world under the title of a "Pastor's Legacy to his People." We have read it with mingled feelings of admiration and love.


The spirit of Jesus is traceable on every page. If his head was astray, his heart was certainly in the right place. Whether his head was wrong, it is not for the historian to say. We think, however, no one, who reads his legacy attentively, can rise from its perusal without having his heart touched with coals from off the altar of God ; for those pages could have been penned under no other influence than that of the Holy Spirit. I have found, in his own handwriting, what purports to be the "Creed [of] Pitt Clarke,


181


OF REV. PITT CLARKE.


1794," the year after his settlement. As he was ac- cused of changing his opinions after he was settled, we will here introduce his " Creed of 1794" entire, and then make a few extracts from his "Legacy," and let the reader judge whether his views had essentially changed or not : -


" CREED.


" 1st, I believe in one God, the Father of ye whole human race, - ye Lord, God, and Judge of ye world ; in his uni- versal and particular providence, that he is omniscient and omnipresent ; perfectly holy, pure, gentle, good, and merciful ; ye only object of worship; ye source of all our earthly bless- ings ; ye Father of our immortal spirits; ye Author of our immortal hopes ; and ye righteous judge of quick and dead.


" 2nd, I believe in ye Lord Jesus Christ, ye only begotten son, whom ye Father hath sent into ye world to save man- kind from sin and sorrow ; in his ministry of love and benevo- lence ; in ye divine authority of his mission and doctrines ; in his miracles, which proved him to be ye son of God with power, and a messenger sent from heaven to reclaim and save sinners ; in his perfect example; in his sufferings, &c., on ye cross ; in his triumphant resurrection, and ascension into heaven, where he ever liveth.


" 3rd, I believe in ye holy spirit; that it was shed forth abundantly on ye first disciples of our Saviour, imparting unto them all necessary wisdom and knowledge, and ye power of working miracles in ye first state.


" 4th, In ye resurrection from ye dead, and in ye future judgment ; In a state of just and equal retribution, according to ye deeds ; In ye paternal character of God, and ye forgive- ness of sins ; that God is in himself merciful, and ready to forgive ; that he has appointed, as a condition of salvation, repentance towards God ; that of his own free grace, and ac- cording to his promises, he will pardon and accept ye penitent and reformed sinner, and render to ye impenitent indigna- tion to every soul that continues to do evil. I believe in ye eternal and unalterable obligations of virtue; that this is ye first law of heaven, and that, without it, heaven cannot be en- joyed ; that this is ye great object of revelation, ye chief duty and greatest glory of man; that nothing will be accepted in substitution for it ; that it secures ye best happiness of [man] in this world ; is ye only preparation for death, and our only


16


182


SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND DEATH


ground of hope in Christ, in ye favor of God and happiness of eternity."


We now quote a few extracts from his legacy : -


" In all human creeds, I find some good things, and some not supported in scripture. The good, I treasure up; the bad, throw away. I profess to be a follower of Christ; and glory in being called a Christian, as his followers were first called Christians at Antioch. I have the example of my Master and his immediate followers, not to assume any name but Christian, - not to call any one master but Christ. Our Saviour was not a sectarian or an exclusionist, in the modern sense of these terms.


" I believe that there is one only living and true God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. I believe God to be an infinite Spirit, spreading the emina- tions of his Being throughout the Universe ; possessing every adorable attribute and perfection ; the only proper object of supreme love, adoration, and praise.


"I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, and Saviour of the world ; the brightness and the image of the invisible Jehovah ; and that in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily ; and that, through him, we have access by one spirit unto the Father. Him hath God exalted to give repentance and remission of sin. By him we receive the atonement, - even reconciliation with God; for in him, through him, or by him, God is reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing unto men their tresspases. I believe and baptise in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; in devout acknowledgement of God, the Father of all; of Jesus Christ, the Son of God ; and of the Holy Spirit, the inward com- forter and support of his people. I believe in the necessity of a new birth, or a change of heart; for the natural birth gives no idea of God or of eternity. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and sees and enjoys only fleshly gratifica- tions. Children, though born innocent, are destitute of holi- ness till they are capable of right affections. When the eyes of their mind are opened to see God and eternity, and the affections of their heart are placed on things above, then the new birth takes place; a new and spiritual world is opened to the view ; the affections are raised from earthly to heavenly objects ; and the whole man is brought into new and higher


183


OF REV. PITT CLARKE.


relations. I believe that this change of heart consists in a change of affections from sensual to spiritual enjoyments ; from sin to holiness; from things seen and temporal to things unseen and eternal.


" I believe that this happy change is to be brought about through the instrumentality of God's word, blessed and sanc- tified by His holy spirit. I believe that this change is to be known by the fruits of it, which are good works. He who does righteousness is born of God. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, says Christ, if ye have love one to another; for love is the best evidence of a good heart. Genuine conversions make better hearts, tempers, and lives; better parents, children, neighbors, and citizens. Such conversions cause their subjects to become more up- right, humble, and peaceable ; more charitable towards those who differ in oppinion ; more willing to co-operate with all good people in promoting practical piety. I believe that sudden conversions are not so much to be relied on as those more gradual, which have been brought about by deliberate reflection and consideration ; for the subjects of sudden con- versions may not know what spirit they are of, till they have time to try the spirits whether they be of God. The fruits of a good spirit are love, joy, peace, gentleness, hu- mility, meekness, goodness, faith, hope, temperance, &c .; the greatest of all, charity. I believe that there are some good people in all denominations of Christians; and that, at the last day, a great multitude, which no man can number, - of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, - will stand before the throne of God, clothed with white robes, and palms of victory in their hands. I believe that the final judgment will be in perfect accordance with this grand prin- cipal of the Gospel, - that God is no respecter of persons ; but that, in every nation, he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, will be accepted of Him. I am willing to be judged by the Bible ; for I make this sacred volume the sole rule of my faith, preaching, and practice. By this standard we must all be judged in the great day of accounts ; and we must receive according to the sentence which it shall then give."




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.