USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Shirley > History of the town of Shirley, Massachusetts, from its early settlement to A.D. 1882 > Part 16
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and have hired preaching part of the time since we were set off; and so it is, that there is now about one-third of our Ratable Polls are inlisted into His Majesty's Service ; but we being desirous to settle a Minister among ourselves, (but think ourselves not able without some further assist- ance than to raise our Estates, and what Polls we have,) and there being several Hundred of Acres of unimproved Lands lying within our District, which is made much more in value for our improvements ; so that we humbly pray your Honour and Honours, to enable the said District of Shirley to assess all the unimproved Lands lying within the said District, for three years next coming, at two Pence per Acre, to enable us in settling of a Minister, and other necessary charges in said District ; and to assess and col- lect the same in such way and manner as your Honours shall see meet ; as in duty bound shall ever pray.
"JAMES PATTERSON. "JOHN WHITNEY."
"IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Sept. 26, 1755.
" Read and ordered, that the Petitioners serve the Non- resident and other Proprietors of the unimproved Lands in the District of Shirley with this Petition, by inserting the substance thereof in one of the publick Prints for three weeks successively, that they show cause (if any they have) on the second Friday of the next setting of this court, why the prayer should not be granted. Sent up for concurrence.
"T. HUBBARD, Speaker.
"In Council, Sept. 26, 1755. Read and concur'd.
"THOMAS CLARKE, Dep. Sec'y.
"Copy examined, Per THOMAS CLARKE, Dep. Sec'y."
The above was taken from the "Boston Gazette, or Country Journal," and was printed in that paper October 6th, 1755.
Whether public worship was entirely suspended from November, 1755, until the following July the record does
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not state ; it is probable, however, that there was preach- ing at least a part of that time, sustained by funds pre- viously collected ; but the next entry is as follows : "July 29, 1756. Voted to hire six days' preaching, if Mr. Good- hue will preach with us." Mr. Goodhue was a candidate for settlement in Shirley, as will be seen in a subsequent part of this history. In the December following it was "Voted to have six sabbaths' preaching." Then it would seem that the meeting-house was closed until November, 1757, when it was "Voted to hire four sabbaths' preaching this winter." Then it appears that there was a suspension until July 6, 1758, when it was "Voted to hire three days' preaching." And, in the autumn of the same year, it was "Voted not to have any preaching this fall or winter." In the April of the next year, 1759, it was "Voted to hire three months' preaching as soon as may be." In the following August it was "Voted to have six sabbaths' preaching ;" and at a meeting holden November 30th, it was "Voted to hire some preaching this winter." Then the whole subject matter of public worship laid over for almost one year, when we read the following action : "Nov. 3, 1760. Voted to have twelve sabbaths' preaching, and voted to hire on probation. Voted not to pay over 12s. per day for sª preaching." Thus it appears that the people of Shirley were unable to maintain public worship more than about one year out of the first seven years of the town's organization ; yet they never lost sight of their pur- pose, but persevered in the good work until they had obtained a settled and permanent ministry, as the reader will soon discover.
Turning from this branch of the ecclesiastical record and passing back a few years, we come to notice the building of the first temple for religious worship, which was set up, like the Jewish tabernacle, in the wilderness.
In 1753, October 24th, the first steps were taken to have a public meeting-house,-religious meetings having been previously conducted in private dwellings. A town (or district) meeting was convened at the house of Robert
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Henry, and adjourned from there to the place that had been selected as a suitable location for a meeting-house. It was then and there "voted to move the meeting-house place from where the committee stated it, about thirty poles west, to a white-oak tree and heap of stones." And William Symonds, Jerahmeel Powers, and Samuel Walker were chosen a committee "to move the meeting- house ;" that is, to establish its location, or perhaps to remove the timber that had been prepared for the house. At the same meeting the people were invited to labor on the house and grounds, and were allowed four shillings a day for a man, and one shilling a day for a pair of oxen. Pursuant to this arrangement a site was prepared, and the frame of a house was erected during the following month (November) ; and it stood nearly opposite the location of the present centre school-house.
On the 6th day of the next month (December) it was "voted that the frame be covered on the outside, ceiled up on the inside, both floors be laid, and the roof covered with long shingles, and that this work be accomplished before the middle of May next." On the 26th of Decem- ber another meeting was organized, at which a vote was passed "to raise £16 to provide building materials." A former vote, to cover the house with long shingles, was reconsidered, and short ones were substituted. It was also voted that each tax-payer might find his proportion of the materials.
May 3d, 1754, a town-meeting was convened, at which it was voted to extend the time appointed for the completion of the above-named work and the underpin- ning of the house, to four weeks from that day.
This structure must have presented a rude appear- ance, being only rough-ceiled on the outside, and wholly without pews or seats, either on the ground floor or in the galleries. Still it was an essential point of attraction for all true lovers of the sanctuary ; it protected them from the rough winter blasts and from the scorching suns of summer,-and supplied the hardy settlers with a place of
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worship which they would gladly occupy until more pro- pitious times should open to them fairer accommodations.
Some months after the occupancy of this house had commenced, the galleries were furnished with permanent seats, as was also the central part of the ground floor. Leave was also granted to such of the inhabitants as were able, to purchase places and erect pews against the walls of the house. Tradition says that the town built a pew on the right-hand side of the pulpit for the family of the minister ; and that Francis Harris erected one for his own use on the other side of the pulpit; and that, for a long time, they were the only pews the house contained. In a process of years the ground was all taken up and the four sides of the house were walled with pews. There could not, however, have been great uniformity in them, as every man built his enclosure according to his own fancy.
After the meeting-house had been supplied with seats, a committee was appointed to provide each inhabitant with a permanent place ; or, as the record has it, "to seat the house." The largest tax payers were considered the most honorable, provided they had done nothing of an immoral nature to degrade their standing ; and by this rule all the worshippers were arranged throughout the house. The two front seats on the lower floor were called highest,-and the front seat in the front gallery was next in order ;- then, the third seat below; afterward followed the other seats in rotation, the men occupying places at the right- hand of the broad aisle and their wives the same position on the left-hand. As property was ever varying, this deli- cate business of "seating the church" had to be attended to every year, that the aristocratic rule might not be violated.
In 1762-nine years after the house was built-the town "voted to choose a committee to repair the meeting- house and make some new windows, as they shall receive orders. Capt. Longley, Capt. Harris and Nathan Smith were chosen for the above committee." "Voted to leave it to the committee to repair the meeting-house as they shall
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think proper ; that they shall put a new window in the ministerial pew, and that as much light be given to the pulpit as possible." A wise provision, truly !
October 24, 1763, "Voted that each seat in the meet- ing-house shall go out on the sabbath days according to their dignity." The people of later generations may too often fail of proper respect for their superiors in standing and years; yet a change from the etiquette of former . times betokens no deterioration of public manners.
This house-which was used for town and military meetings as well as for the public worship of God- was continued for these purposes for the space of twenty- two years. Thither, regardless of storm without or cold within, almost all the people made their way on every re- turning Sabbath. Thither the faithful parent carried his infant offspring-of one week old-to the altar of bap- tism. There the convicted sinner consecrated his life to the work of righteousness, and there the trembling peni- tent craved the forgiveness of a prayer-hearing God. Such, however, had become the increase of population that the house was now found too small for the accommo- dation of its worshippers; it was, therefore, decided to exchange it for a larger and more commodious structure. Accordingly it was disposed of, and the materials of which it was composed were converted into a barn, on the farm now owned by Mr. Melzor V. Farnsworth.
After the first meeting-house was set up and enclosed, the people resolved, without unnecessary delay, to have a settled ministry. On the 4th day of April, 1754, "It was voted to give a minister a call; and Mr. John Whitney, James Patterson, William Symonds, and William Longley, were then chosen a committee to seek advice of the neigh- boring ministers." "Voted that the committee shall go to the ministers hereinafter named, viz: Mr. Caleb Trow- bridge, Mr. David Stearns, Mr. Phinehas Hemenway, Mr. Secomb, Mr. Joseph Emerson, and Mr. Daniel Emer- son."
Nothing is recorded as resulting from this first effort. According to a prevailing custom, therefore, the people
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agreed upon the observance of a day of fasting and prayer, that they might have the divine guidance in a matter of such great moment. In pursuance of the plan the assistance of the neighboring clergymen was solicited and the fast was observed, June 18th, 1755.
From this time until February of the following year a Mr. Goodhue from Hollis, N. H., supplied the pulpit. He remained in town during this period, and boarded with Mr. Jonas Longley,-the town voting Mr. Longley £5 12s. "for the minister's board and for keeping his horse." An invitation was then extended to Mr. Goodhue "to settle with the people of Shirley in the Gospel min- istry." To this invitation Mr. Goodhue acceded, provided that a mile of territory from the town of Lunenburg could be annexed to Shirley, for the doing of which a petition had already been forwarded to "the Great and General Court" at Boston. This petition was not granted, and the laudable efforts of the people thus far to settle a minister were defeated.
Nearly two years after this the same gentleman, who it appears was yet a candidate, received a second call to take up his abode in Shirley. The town voted to give him "£133 6s. 8d. for a settlement ;" one-half to be paid in labor or building materials, and one-half in money. It was also voted to give £46 13s. 4d. a year as a salary, until there should be one hundred ratable polls in town, and then £6 13s. 4d. should be added to the annual salary. These offers the candidate again saw fit to decline, and the people were again disappointed.
More than a year passed away, in which the ministry was sustained a part of the time as the people could find and compensate preachers. April 30, 1759, it was once more voted to take advice of the neighboring ministers, and probably another fast was kept.
From this time until the following December a Mr. Sparhawk, from Lynn, supplied the pulpit on probation ; which resulted in his receiving an invitation to settle.
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The following terms were proposed on the part of "ye District :"
"Voted to give Mr. Sparhawk £133 6s. 8d. as a settle- ment, and that one-half be paid in three months and the residue within the year. And, voted to give £53 13s. 4d. as a salary, to be raised to £60 when the town, or district, should have seventy-five families; and to £66 13s. 4d. when there should be eighty-five families." It seems that these terms were not accepted by the candidate ; where- upon, at a subsequent meeting, the people voted him the last mentioned sum at once; but he declined remaining with them. This was a third disappointment; but it did not dishearten the anxious seekers after the blessings of a stated ministry, but rather gave stimulus to their efforts.
And it seems they did not labor in vain. February 25th, 1762, Mr. Phinehas Whitney of Weston - having preached an allotted time on probation-received a unani- mous call to settle. The same terms were proposed to Mr. Whitney that had been made to Mr. Sparhawk- with the addition of twenty cords of wood, annually, to be carried to his door-with which terms the candidate com- plied. . The district owned certain lands, which were sold to Mr. Whitney towards paying the sum voted to him as a settlement, on which lands he erected his buildings and lived. The farm is pleasantly situated half a mile west from the meeting-house, and is now owned by Mr. Thomas K. Fisk. The house built by Mr. Whitney pos- sessed much architectural taste, and stood until the year 1855 when it was demolished.
. The records that relate to the settlement of Mr. Whit- ney are here inserted :
May 12, 1762, " Voted to let Mr. Phinehas Whitney have the land that was purchased for the use of the dis- trict, for seventy-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence ; and, voted to have Capt. Harris give Mr. Whitney a deed of sd land and take a receipt of Mr. Whitney for so much of his settlement."
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The following is the letter of acceptance from Mr. Whitney :
"TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE DISTRICT OF SHIRLEY :
" Gentlemen :- It is now some time since you gave me an invitation to settle with you in the work of the Gospel ministry. Doubtless you are sensible that a matter of such great importance and consequence ought to be well weighed and maturely considered, in order for a proper resolution ;- accordingly I have had the same under con- sideration some considerable time, and I have not been unmindful to ask wisdom and direction from the Fountain of wisdom and Head of all influence-as well as advice from the ablest counsellors I could find-and am now ready to give you an answer. And, gentlemen, I am obliged to you for the favorable opinion you have con- ceived of my public performances, as well as private converse among you, and that you are unanimous in your desire that I should settle among you ;- the consideration of which, I think, is a strong circumstance that Providence designs my settlement among you, and obliges me to think that I have a call from God to accept your invitation. I acknowledge that I am too much unfit for the business, and unable of myself to perform the great and important work; but yet, depending upon the grace of Christ to assist and strengthen me, I freely accept of your invita- tion. I very earnestly desire that you would not be unmindful of me in your prayers to God, that I may have grace and strength to go through this great work. The offers you make in regard to my maintenance, I acknowl- edge are very generous, considering how few you are in number, together with all other considerations ;- and I doubt not, if you are punctual in your payments, and also are kind and generous, and your love and regard for me is sincere, and continues thus to be,-I say I doubt not but that I shall have an honorable maintenance, and with a blessing live comfortably among you. I heartily wish that we may be mutually blessings to each other, and that all the blessings and benefits of the new and everlasting
1
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covenant may be our portion. May the God of peace keep you in love and peace, and ever delight in your prosperity, and finally bring us to live and dwell together in the heavenly kingdom ; which is the hearty wish and fervent prayer of your most devoted servant,
" PHINEHAS WHITNEY. "Shirley, April, 1762."
This letter was directed "to Capt. Longley, Capt. Harris, Ens" Longley, Lieut. Powers, and Lieut. Walker, committee for the District of Shirley, to communicate to the inhabitants."
The preliminaries being thus happily settled, the district proceeded to the ordination of the candidate, an account of which performance is here subjoined, from the church records :
"Shirley, June the 23d, 1762.
"Mr. Phinehas Whitney was ordained pastor of the church which was gathered in Shirley, by the venerable council on that day appointed for the ordination. The churches sent to were the following, viz :- The church in Stow-the church in Lancaster-the church in Pepperell -the church in Weston-the church in Groton, and the church in Harvard; who attended by their elders and delegates.
"Introductory prayer was made by Mr. Emerson of Pepperell. Sermon was preached by Mr. Woodward of Weston-charge by Mr. Gardner of Stow. The Rev. Timothy Harrington of Lancaster made the last prayer and gave the right hand of fellowship."
It is not stated who made the consecrating prayer, but probably Mr. Dana of Groton.
The church, which the council organized previous to the ordination, adopted the following compact, which was copied-as is believed-from the one in use at Groton,
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where the most of the members who subscribed it had pre- viously belonged :
"A CHURCH COVENANT.
"We whose names are hereunto subscribed,-being inhabitants of the District of Shirley, New England,- knowing that we are very prone to offend and provoke the Most High God, both in heart and life, through the pre- vailence of sin that dwelleth within us, and manifold temptations from without us, for which we have great reason to be unfeignedly humble before him from day to day ;- do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, with dependence upon the gracious assistance of his Holy Spirit, solemnly enter into covenant with God, and with one another according to God, as follows :
"Imprimis. That, having chosen and taken the Lord Jehovah to be our God, we will fear him, cleave to him in love, and serve him in truth with all our hearts, giving up ourselves to him to be his people; in all things to be at his direction and sovereign disposal; that we may have and hold communion with him, as members of Christ's mystical body, according to his revealed will, unto our lives' ends.
"2. We also bind ourselves to bring up our children and servants in the knowledge and fear of God, by holy instructions, according to our best abilities ; and in special by the use of Orthodox catechism, that the true religion may be maintained in our families while we live; yea and among such as shall live when we are dead and gone.
"3. And we further promise to keep close to the truth of Christ, and drawing with lively affection toward it in our hearts, to defend it against all opposers thereof, as God shall call us at any time thereunto ; which that we may do we resolve to use the holy scriptures as our plat- form, whereby we may discern the mind of Christ, and not the new-found inventions of men.
"4. We also engage ourselves to have a careful in- spection over our own hearts, viz., so as to endeavor, by
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the virtue of the death of Christ, the mortification of all our sinful passions, worldly frames, and disorderly affec- tions, whereby we may be withdrawn from the living God. "5. We moreover oblige ourselves (in the faithful improvement of our ability and opportunity) to worship God according to all the particular institutions of Christ for his church, under Gospel administrations, as to give reverent attention unto the word of God, to pray unto him, to sing his praises, and to hold communion each with others, in the use of both the seals of the covenant, . namely, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
"6. We likewise promise that we will peaceably sub- mit to the holy discipline appointed by Christ in his church, for offenders; obeying (according to the will of God) those that have the rule over us in the Lord.
"7. We also bind ourselves to walk in love one towards another, endeavoring our mutual edification, visit- ing, exhorting, comforting, as occasion serveth, and warning any brother or sister which offendeth, not divulg- ing private offences, irregularly, but heedfully following the several precepts for church dealing, (Matthew xviii, 16 and 17,) willingly forgiving all that do manifest, unto the judgment of charity, that they truly repent of their mis- carriages.
"8. Moreover we farther agree and covenant that we will have ruling elders and deacons, and when any differ- ences may arise between any members of the church, then they shall be tried and admonished by the pastor, ruling elders and deacons; if either party be dissatisfied with their determination, then there may be an appeal to the church at large; and if either party be dissatisfied with the determination of the church, then there may be an appeal to an ecclesiastical council, according to the custom of congregationalism.
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
.
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make us perfect in every good work to do his will, work- ing in us that which was well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
" PHINEHAS WHITNEY.
"JOHN LONGLEY.
"CHARLES RICHARDS.
" RICHARD HARRINGTON. "JONAS LONGLEY.
"STEPHEN HOLDEN.
"SAMUEL WALKER. his "DANIEL & PAGE. his mark "JOHN & PATTERSON. mark "JONATHAN MOORS. "JONAS STEARNS. "FRANCIS HARRIS.
"HEZEKIAH SAWTELL."
This covenant provides for church elders as well as deacons, but there is no record that such officers were ever appointed. About one month after the settlement of a minister, John Longley and Hezekiah Sawtell were elected deacons, and not far from this time ten persons were united with the church.
The custom of "owning the covenant" was adopted by the church in Shirley, that children might receive the seal of baptism whose parents were not in regular com- munion with the church. This custom-no longer in use -has been the cause of much bitter controversy in New England. Yet it prevailed so extensively that most of the infants, in many towns, received the rite. In Shirley, a large portion of those born before the present century were presented for baptism.
Parents who were not church members in regular standing, before offering their children were required to own the following
"COVENANT.
"You do now, in the presence of God and his people, own the covenant into which you were entered and given
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up to God in baptism, and take upon yourself the obliga- tion your baptism laid you under. You do now humbly beg of God, remission of all your sins [both actual and original,]* and with all your heart you desire to accept of Jesus Christ as your only Savior, as he is offered to poor sinners in the Gospel ; and you do now solemnly promise, to the best of your power, and as God shall enable you, that you will forsake the vanities of the world, and in all respects live as those with the great God and his people ; and you do now particularly promise, as God shall enable you, to make it your prayer and endeavour that you may be prepared aright to attend to the ordinances and institu- tions of Christ, and meet him where his death is showed forth ; and you likewise promise to submit yourself to the watch and discipline of the Church of Christ, and strive that your behavior be approved by both God and man.
"Do you consent to this covenant?
"May God enable you to keep it."
It was also an established ecclesiastical rule, for parents who had recently united with the church and wished to bring their adult children to baptism, to require such children to own the following
" COVENANT.
"You do now solemnly give yourself to God in Jesus Christ, the mediator of a new covenant. You do sin- cerely beg of God the forgiveness of your sins, whether original or actual, through the blood of Jesus Christ; and with all your heart you desire to forsake every sin, and lead a new and holy life ; and as you are about to receive the badge of Christianity-the initiatory seal of the cove- nant of grace-you do solemnly promise to the best of your power to live as a Christian, and to do your whole duty to God and to man, as far as you know it. You like- wise submit yourself to the watch and discipline of the
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