USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > History of the town of Plymouth, from its first settlement in 1620, to the present time : with a concise history of the aborigines of New England, and their wars with the English, &c. > Part 30
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'4. Women and children teaching and exhorting in the pub- lic assemblies, contrary to the apostolical direction. Many other things might be mentioned, but are omitted. But inas- much as it has been publicly suggested that three fourths of this church are unconverted, we would humbly move that we may meet together, in order to know whether they are in char- ity with one another, and also, that the admission of members may not be too hastily pushed on, till we are better satisfied concerning the spirit that stirs up people to their duty herein.'
It does not appear that this address received the required at- tention; and a part of the society, dissatisfied with the prevail- ing disorder, resolved to separate, 'the old lights from the new.' Josiah Cotton, Esq., with eighty others, petitioned to be separ- ated from the old society, which was granted; and in 1744, a new church and society was formed from the old, and was called the Third Church and Congregation in Plymouth. This was the seventh from the ancient church. The venerable El- der Faunce was an opposer of Croswell, and on this occasion, a seceder from Mr. Leonard's church. This new society erect- ed a house of worship, which was dedicated by Rev. Mr. Eels, of Scituate, January 5th, and he preached in it again on the following sabbath. This house was located in King's, now Mid- dle street, and was a neat, convenient edifice, of wood, with a tower and spire in front. The lot was a donation from Thomas Murdock, Esq. Croswell continued to distinguish himself by his arrogance and fiery expressions against many who were es- teemed as the best of men in society. He held the opinion, that holiness of heart and life is no good evidence of justifica- tion; but that it lays in some feelings, or impressions, or mani- festations of the love of God, and joy in him, without, or beside
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[1744-6
the scripture. His many trances, visions, dreams, and extacies, finally cooled the wild proceedings, and terminated the delusion.
In 1744-5, Mr. Whitefield, an English Episcopal clergyman, about twenty-five years of age, itinerating through the coun- try, came to Plymouth by invitation and preached six sermons to a very numerous audience. The power of his oratory, ac- companied as it was, by very extraordinary gesticulations, and by great fluency and readiness in speaking without notes, to- gether with his new and unusual phraseology, and his zeal in the cause to which he had devoted so much labor, was very captivating with most people, though some did not like and others would not hear him.
Mr. Whitefield came again to Plymouth, November 1755, and preached five sermons in three days, with popular applause.
The Rev. George Whitefield, in 1749-50, made a public confession (in print) that he had been too free with the charac- ters of men, and also using the apostolic style in his writings, giving too much heed to impulses, and having too much wild- fire in his zeal; all which he condemned, but his admirers ap- proved .- Cotton's MS. Diary.
July, 1744 .- The first society in Plymouth, erected a new meeting-house, which they began to raise on the seventeenth, and on the twenty-ninth they began to meet in it. Mr. Leon- ard preached on the occasion.
November 7th, 1744 .- Rev. Thomas Frink, who had been minister at Rutland, was installed as pastor of the third church and society in this town, when Rev. Dr. Chauncy of Boston preached the sermon. This connexion continued till 1748, when by mutual consent Mr. Frink returned to Rutland. He is said to have possessed strong mental powers, and handsome literary acquirements. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1722.
May 2d, 1745 .- Mr. Thomas Foster, son of the late pious Deacon Foster, and Mr. Joseph Bartlett were chosen deacons.
February 27th, 1745-6 .- Thomas Faunce, ruling elder in the first church, died at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. He was the son of John Faunce. The father dying while the son was a child, Captain Thomas Southworth took him by the hand at the grave, led him to his own home, and from that time bestowed on him paternal affection. In the family of Mr. Southworth he was educated and instructed, and here his mind received the rudiments of those principles of humility and piety, by which he was so remarkably distinguished in after life. It has been related, that the elder has often been heard to say that for this education he should have reason to bless God to
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all eternity. He was first chosen deacon and afterwards elder, and he was the last that held that office. In those days the of- fice of elder was one of great consideration. An elder was regarded as the virtual representative of the church, and on an equality with the pastor. He was bound to keep a watchful eye over the doctrines preached as well as the principles and practices of the brethren.
The Elder's house stood on the west side of the road near Eel river bridge. The house in which Mr. Josiah Morton now lives was a new addition attached to the ancient house, which was taken down about thirty years ago. Elder Faunce had two sons and two daughters, and the descendants are very numerous.
Rev. Jacob Bacon, who had been a minister of Keene, New Hampshire, about ten years, was installed over the church of Plymouth, in 1749, of which he continued the beloved and respected pastor till 1776, when the connexion was dissolved by mutual consent, the society stilll diminishing in consequence of the war. Mr. Bacon preached about eighteen months at Plympton, second parish, (now Carver) whence he retired to Rowley, where he died 1787, in the eighty-first year of his age. Mr. Bacon was born at Wrentham, 1706, graduated at Har- vard College 1731.
October 3d, 1754 .- Mr. John Torrey, son of the former dea- con, was chosen to that office. In the autumn of the year 1755, the Rev. Mr. Leonard labored under many infirmities of body, and, in the spring of 1756, he asked a dismission, which the church granted on certain conditions. The precinct agreed to give him £160, lawful money, and he removed his family to Norton, June, 1757-dismission from his pastoral relation to the church not to be completed till another minister was settled. The connexion with the Rev. Mr. Leonard being thus dissolv- ed, the church used unwearied endeavors for the resettlement of the gospel ordinances among them ; but it wastwo years before their desirable purpose could be accomplished. Among the numerous candidates, were a Mr. Sproat, then settled in Con- necticut, afterwards minister in Philadelphia ; Mr. Whitney, Mr. West, and not less than four or five others. At length the church and congregation were happily united in the choice of Mr. Chandler Robbins of Branford in Connecticut. The votes in the church being thirty-three to two, in the parish fifty-two to nine. The stipulated annual salary was £100 lawful money, with the improvement of the parsonage, and the privilege of cutting firewood from the parish lot. The parish also agreed to build for his use a parsonage house, which is the one now stand- ing on the north side of Leyden street, and occupied by the present pastor.
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[1794
Mr. Robbins was solemnly ordained to the work of the min- istry, January 30th, 1760. The churches assisting on this oc- casion were, the first, third, and fourth, of Bridgewater; the first of Rochester; the first of Plympton; the first of Middle- borough ; Abington ; Halifax ; Bristol ; Taunton; Raynham; Berkley; Milton; and Branford, in Connecticut. The sermon was preached by Rev. Philemon Robbins, of Branford, the father of the pastor elect. On the same day that Mr. Robbins was ordained, the church, pursuant to agreement, and by the advice of the council, gave Mr. Leonard, who was personally present and assisted in the laying on of hands, a dismission in the most cordial terms, and a free and hearty recommendation to other churches. In 1783, the third church and congrega- tion united with the first church and congregation into one pa- rish. The meeting-house belonging to the third parish was de- molished, and the lot disposed of, leaving an alley-way, six feet wide, through said lot.
In 1794, about fifty persons of high standing in the parish, not in all points satisfied with the ministry of the Rev. pastor, advanced proposals for a separation, and a formation of a new religious society, offering at the same time to erect a new house for worship. This proposal received attention at the hands of the pastor and church, and committees were chosen by the parties. Interviews and consultations ensued, compromise and reconciliation were attempted, but in vain. On the side of the church, the most rigid adherence to rules, precepts, and doc- trines, was manifested. The applicants, too honorable to tor- ture the feelings of a conscientious minister, and deeming the peace of society too precious to be disturbed, yielded to the stronger side, consenting still to pay their proportion for the support of preaching preferred by the majority, and contenting themselves with the report of their committee, which closes as follows: ' Upon the whole, the committee are constrained to lament the narrow policy of the church, in excluding from its communion many exemplary christians, merely on account of their different conceptions of some points of doctrine, about which learned and good men have entertained a great variety of opinions, and this circumstance is more especially a source of regret at this enlightened period, when the principles of civil and religious liberty are almost universally understood and practised; for, whatever stress some persons may be disposed to lay on matters of mere speculative belief, the benevolent genius of the gospel will teach its votaries, amidst all their dif- ferences of opinion, to exercise mutual candor and indulgence that they may, if possible, preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.'
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1799]
June 30, 1799 .- Rev. Chandler Robbins, D. D. departed this life, aged 61, after a ministry of 39 years over the ancient church and congregation in this town. He was born at Bran- ford in Connecticut, August 24, 1738. His father was Rev. Philemon Robbins, a native of Cambridge, Mass. who gradua- ted at Harvard College 1729. He graduated at Yale College 1756, and he is said to have been there distinguished as a cor- rect classical scholar, and besides common acquirements in the classics, he learned the French language, which he read, wrote, and occasionally spoke, through life. In his church records, I find one instance in which he performed the marriage ceremony in the French language. 'Early impressed with the truth and importance of the christian system, and qualified, by divine grace, for the gospel ministry, he commenced a preacher of this holy religion before he reached the age of twenty.' Dur- ng his ministry he was ever anxious to be instrumental in soft- ening the callous heart of impiety, and silencing the tongue of nfidelity: and his exemplary piety and religious zeal were cal- culated to shield him from the reproaches of those who dissent- ed from his doctrines. In him was an example of religion united with taste and accomplishments, courteous manners with an amiable cheerfulness of disposition. The funeral solemni- ties of Dr. Robbins were performed in the meeting-house, when the throne of grace was addressed in an impressive man- her, by the Rev. Mr. Shaw, and an ingenious discourse was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Sanger. His remains were deposit- ed in the Plymouth burial ground, with the puritan fathers, the parish by a committee, directing the solemnities and defraying the expense. On a subsequent sabbath the Rev. William Shaw delivered a well-adapted discourse, which was published and dedicated to his bereaved family and flock.
Dr. Robbins manifested, unceasingly, an interest and solici- tude for the cause of religion in general, and for the welfare and prosperity of the church and society of which he was the pastor. In theological sentiment, Dr. Robbins was strictly Calvinistic, believing the five points equally essential with any points in holy writ. He also adopted some of the peculiar doctrines and tenets of Hopkins, with which his sermons were often tinctured, to the displeasure of many of his hearers. His occasional sermons were delivered with graceful eloquence and animation, which seldom failed to receive the applause of his audience. When, in May, 1794, he preached before the convention of ministers, from Acts xx. 26: 'I am free from the blood of all men,' -coming out of the house, Dr. Clark of Boston, cordially thanked him for his excellent sermon. Dr. Morse asked him,
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why he did that, since he did not concur in the sentiments which had been delivered? He replied, ' I love to see a min- ister act the part of an honest man.' He observed to a friend, that he felt it to be his duty on that occasion to offer a distinct exhibition of his own views of the christian salvation. His suc- cess in producing and maintaining the harmonious union of his numerous flock, was remarkable. But his peculiar suavity of manners and christian humility, with his felicity of expres- sion, rendered his religious sentiments acceptable to many persons, who would not have well received similar sentiments from any others. He maintained, for several years, an exten- sive correspondence with English clergymen; one of these, whom he held in much estimation, was Rev. John Newton, rector of Olney, in London. Dr. Robbins coinciding with this gentleman in religious views, imported numerous volumes of his works, for the use of those of his parish who maintained similar sentiments.
A Doctorate in Divinity was conferred on him at Dartmouth College, in 1792, and by the University of Edinburgh, in 1793. His pastoral cares were very extensive, comprising the whole town, with the exception of Ponds' parish, subsequent to the year 1783, when the third church and society united with the first. In the discharge of his laborious duties, he was ever found faithful and.kind. He preached chiefly without notes having before him, as he termed it, the skeleton of his sermon In prayer, he was peculiarly devotional and fervent. His voice was melodious, and his taste for music, both vocal and instru- mental, was truly refined. Notwithstanding his parish was one of the largest in the commonwealth, and a considerable portior entertained sentiments opposed to those of the pastor, yet not & family but could unite under the same altar in the bonds o charity. Whatever may have been the diversity of opinion en. tertained by such a multitudinous assemblage, peace and har. mony were seldom interrupted, nor affection and respect for the minister diminished. Dr. Robbins was consoled and encouraged in his ministerial labors by the accession of about fifty member: to his church in the latter part of his life, and an uncommon engagedness in the cause of religion among the people of hi: charge. The poorest family in the parish would meet him a the threshold with delight, the sick and afflicted relying with perfect confidence on his cordial sympathy and condolence.
Dr. Robbins was destined to live during a remarkable period of our national history. In the revolutionary struggle he wa: a most zealous advocate for liberty and independence, and ren dered essential advantages to the cause in his sphere of action
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He was among the foremost of our patriotic clergymen, and subsequently, when our political hemisphere was darkened by party spirit, he pursued a consistent course in the support of order and good government. He married Jane Prince, of Boston, niece of late Rev. Thomas Prince, the annalist of New England. This accomplished lady died September, 1800, aged 60 years.
Their children who lived to adult age, were five sons and two daughters; two of the sons were graduates of Harvard, one of whom died at Marietta, where he was settled in the ministry. Two sons and a daughter still survive.
Dr. Robbins's publications bore such strong marks of the divine, the gentleman, and the scholar, as to reflect much honor on his name and memory. They are as follow :-
Replies to Essays of Rev. John Cotton, on the practice of the half-way covenant .- Sermon on the death of Madam Wat- son, consort of George Watson, Esq., of Plymouth .- Sermon on the death of Mrs. Hovey, wife of James Hovey, Esq .- At the ordination of Rev. Lemuel Le Baron, at Rochester, 1772. -At the annual election, Boston, 1791 .- Address commemora- tive of the French Revolution, 1793 .- Sermon on the anniver- sary of the landing of the fathers at Plymouth, December 22d, 1793 .- Century Sermon at Kingston, April 2d, 1794, at the request of its subject, Ebenezer Cobb .- Sermon before the Massachusetts Convention of Ministers, 1794 .- Sermon at the ordination of Rev. Eliphalet Gillet, at Hallowell, August 12th, 1795 .- Address before the Massachusetts Humane Society, June 14th, 1796 .- Sermon at the ordination of Rev. Ward Cotton, at Boylston, 1797.
After the death of Dr. Robbins, the pulpit was supplied by the ministers who composed the association to which he belonged, and the salary was continued for the benefit of the widow and family. The selection of a candidate to fill the office of pastor to this ancient church and congregation, was considered as a measure requiring great circumspection. A clear majority were in favor of a learned and enlightened clergyman, possess- ing liberal principles, free from all sectarian dogmas, who would preach the christian salvation in its pure simplicity ; while a re- spectable minority manifested a conscientious adherence to the faith and doctrines of their late beloved minister, whose memo- ry they cherished with filial affection. Their feelings and de- sires were to be consulted, and it would have been unkind to deprive them of their rights, or to control their opinions. The parish committee proceeded to the choice of a candidate, Mr. James Kendall, a native of Sterling, who commenced his proba-
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tionary course on the 2d sabbath in October, 1799. In Decem- ber, he received an invitation to become the pastor of the church and congregation, which, with much deliberation, he accepted. The call was first given by the church, 23 to 15, and concurred in by the congregation, 253 to 15. A committee of three from the church, and five from the parish, was chosen to make prepar- ations for the ordination. The day appointed for that solemnity was January 1st, 1800; and the churches invited were, second church in Andover, church in Sterling, first church in Cam- bridge, church in Dorchester, third in Newbury, Brattle street in Boston, church in Kingston, third church in Bridgewater, church in Carver, church in Marshfield, second in Plymouth, second in Rochester, first in Middleborough. Also, were in- vited President Willard, Rev. Dr. Tappan, and all the govern- ment of Harvard college. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. French, of Andover, and the other solemnities were per- formed by Rev. Dr. Peter Thacher, Rev. Dr. Tappan, Rev. Mr. W. Shaw, and Rev. Mr. Howland, of Carver. On the following sabbath two excellent sermons were preached by Dr. Tappan, which were published. Rev. Mr. Kendall graduated at Cambridge, in 1796, and was a tutor there when he received the invitation to settle. The honorary degree of D. D. was conferred on him at Harvard University in 1825. The condi- tions of settlement were, six hundred dollars salary, and the improvement of the parsonage, consisting of a house and gar- den, and several pieces of land and meadow; subsequently, one hundred dollars were added, in consideration of fire wood.
In October, 1800, the Rev. Dr. Dwight, then President at Yale college, passed a sabbath in this town, and officiated in our pulpit. In his third volume of travels, he makes the fol- lowing remark: 'On Sunday, we found a large and very decent audience in the. old church. A singular custom was here exhibited to us; more than fifty bills were read by the clergyman, desiring the prayers of the congregation for fam- ilies in affliction. They were, principally, occasioned by the death of nine inhabitants, almost all of them at sea, which had either happened, or been first heard of, during the preced- ing week. In such a case, it seems a bill is presented for ev- ' ery branch of a family, which is peculiarly interested in the mel- ancholy event.' This practice is now, in a great measure, dis- continued.
In 1801, the third congregational church of Plymouth was organized from the first church, and is the seventh branch from the original stock, now existing. In 1802, Deacon John Bishop and one hundred and fifty-three others were incorporated into a
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society, by the name of the third congregational society. In heir petition, they stated the first parish consisted of 3044 souls, nd more than 500 rateable polls, making it inconvenient to worship in one house. This new society erected a house of worship in 1801, in a pleasant situation fronting the training green, sixty feet by fifty-two, with a cupola and bell. Their irst minister was Rev. Adoniram Judson, who had formerly een pastor of a church and society at Malden, county of Mid- lesex. He was installed May 12th, 1802, and becoming a aptist, the connexion was dissolved August 12th, 1817.
Mr. Judson was held in respect for his moral virtues, and his heek and pious demeanor. He died in Scituate, in 1826. The ldest son of Mr. Judson has been a zealous and respectable Baptist Missionary in the Birman empire, since the year 1812. The Rev. William T. Torrey succeeded Mr. Judson, and was stalled January 1st, 1818, and he was dismissed March 12th, 823. It is understood that the cause of his dismission existed ith the church, there being a majority in the congregation in is favor.
On the 26th of November, 1814, the first church was called mourn the death of a pious and beloved brother, Deacon Villiam Crombie, aged eighty-three years. He was a native f Andover, and officiated in the office of deacon nearly thirty- ight years. 'He was,' says the church records, ' a good man, nd an excellent spirit was in him.' This was fully verified uring the whole course of his life; being meek and humble in is temper, few men exhibited clearer evidence of a pure and pright heart. He had several children; but one only, the idow of the late Dr. Nathaniel Bradstreet, of Newburyport, urvives.
In 1814, a new church and society were formed at Eel river, roin the first and third congregations, and being incorporated, hey erected a meeting-house in that village, which will accom- hodate the inhabitants in that vicinity and South Ponds, who ere distant from three to six miles from their former place of worship. This is the fourth congregational church and society Plymouth, and the Rev. Benjamin Whitmore is their min- ster.
A Baptist church was constituted here in 1809, and the Rev. Lewis Leonard was ordained their first pastor. Rev. Caleb Blood, of Boston, preached the sermon. Mr. Leonard was suc- eeded by Rev. Stephen S. Nelson, July 28th, 1820, who con- inued his connexion till May, 1823, when Rev. Benjamin Graf- on became their pastor. He resigned in May, 1829, when the office devolved on Rev. Thomas Conant, their present pastor.
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[1824-31
In 1821, this society erected a commodious house of worship, in Spring street.
We have a small society in town of the denomination called Christians. The sentiments of this denomination have been explained at large by Rev. Mr. Clough. They object to the Trinity and other Calvinistic doctrines. By some they are called Free-will Baptists. Mr. Joshua V. Himes was ordained their minister, in 1825. This connexion was soon dissolved, but without any faulty conduct on his part.
In 1824, Rev. Frederic Freeman succeeded Rev. William T. Torrey, as pastor of the third church and congregation in this town, and was installed accordingly, having been ordained in North Carolina, as an Evangelist. * This church ever have been Calvinistic in doctrine and practice, and their pastor was professedly of the same orthodox persuasion. But in 1830, six year's after his settlement, the church became greatly agitated by a spirit of disaffection according to the statement of the aggrieved party; a majority of the church manifested a desire that the pastoral connexion should be dissolved. To prevent this, a compromise by a division of the church was agreed upon. and a mutual council was called to sanction the measure of separation. This council convened on the 17th of March, and the result of their deliberations was a separation of the aggriev- ed party, consisting of 59 members, to be formed into a distinct church. The seceding division then convened another council. April 13th, by whom they were organized, and they are denom. inated the Robinson Congregational Church. This is the fifth church in Plymouth, and a society consisting of seceders from the third congregation having united with them, they, in 1831 erected a handsome house of worship in Pleasant street, and engaged Rev. Charles J. Warren as their religious instructor. Thus our churches multiply by divisions and subdivisions.
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