USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Shirley > History of the town of Shirley, Massachusetts, from its early settlement to A.D. 1882 > Part 18
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"JOHN EDGERTON,
"JONAS LIVERMORE, S Committee."
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To which communication the donor made the follow- ing reply :
"Gentlemen :- Your note as a committee expressing the thanks of the town of Shirley for the bell given them by me for the use of the town, I receive without ostenta- tion, having only the good of the town in view. I dread not the censure of the malicious, nor court the applause of any, but am grateful for the approbation of my friends, and they are welcome to the gift. Accept, gentlemen, my sincere wishes for your prosperity. I am, gentlemen, your humble servant,
" WALLIS LITTLE.
"CAPT. JOHN EDGERTON,
"MR. JONAS LIVERMORE, S Committee.
"Shirley, April 4, 1808."
Mr. Whitney had continued to perform the entire ·duties of his office for more than forty years when he was attacked with paralysis, which impaired his speech and rendered him unable to conduct the services of public worship. He was consequently obliged to ask assistance of the town in supplying the pulpit with preachers. Help was afforded from time to time, but the wiser part saw the necessity of re-establishing a permanent ministry, and this they proposed to do by settling a colleague "with their aged and infirm pastor." To effect this object a town- meeting was held September 23, 1811. It was "voted to choose a committee to consult with a Mr. White respecting settling in the ministry in this place." "Joshua Longley, Esq., Wallis Little, Esq., Mr. Nath1 Livermore and Mr. Nath1 Holden were appointed for said committee." It is, however, presumed that nothing was effected, as the town records contain no further reference to the candidate.
About this time disturbances began to occur in town, occasioned by the prospect that a large increase of cost would be incurred for the support of public worship. Mr. Whitney, though unable to preach, could by the
.
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terms of his settlement claim his salary during life ; and if a colleague were to be settled the expense of the min- istry would be more than doubled. To bring about a reconciliation Mr. Whitney made the following generous proposal :
"To the Selectmen of the town of Shirley-to be com- municated to the inhabitants in town-meeting assembled :
"SHIRLEY, November 12, 1812.
"TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF SHIRLEY :
"Gentlemen :- I have been anxiously concerned to have public worship carried on in this place ever since, by the providence of God, I have been unable to lead in it myself. You have been supplied more than twenty sab- baths without any expense to the town ; and I now expect the pulpit will be supplied a considerable time yet to come by the kindness and charity of Congregational ministers ; and I would further observe that if I should increase in health and strength a few months to come, as I have for several months past, it is very probable that I shall be able to perform the public services of the sanctuary my- self. But, considering my age and infirmities, I sincerely wish to have you settle another minister in this town as soon as you can. And I now renew the offer that I made by your committee last year, that if the town will settle another minister with me that is not yet fifty years old, and one whom the neighboring churches shall approve, I will, from the day of his ordination, relinquish one-half of my salary forever thereafter. I would further observe, such is my solicitude for the welfare and order of the town, that I should willingly relinquish the whole salary if they would settle another regular minister,-if I could do it and do justice to myself, my family and my creditors .. Wishing you divine direction, I subscribe myself your affectionate pastor,
"PHINEHAS WHITNEY."
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
This friendly and unimpassioned appeal to the good sense of the people was not entirely without effect. The pulpit was supplied for about two years by labors of love from neighboring clergymen, by lay services, by town appropriations, and by private subscriptions. The minds of the people were then favorably disposed for renewing the attempt to establish a regular ministration of the word and ordinances. Rev. William Bascom had just received a dismission from the Congregational Church in Fitch- burg, and was regarded by the church in Shirley as best fitted to labor here in the offices of pastor and religious teacher. Accordingly a town-meeting was held, and with the following result :
"Sept. 14, 1814. Voted, to give Rev. William Bascom a call to settle in the gospel ministry in this place, as col- league with Rev. P. Whitney, and that a committee of five be appointed to carry this vote into effect." "Voted that Joshua Longley, Esq., Wallis Little, Esq., James Parker, Thomas Whitney and Nathaniel Holden be this committee."
Before, however, any action could be taken the chair- man of the committee died very suddenly, and Nathaniel Day was chosen in his place. On the day of the above- named meeting the church was convened, and the follow- ing is from the records of their proceedings :
"After addressing the throne of grace for direction, it . was voted, to proceed to give the Rev. William Bascom an invitation to settle as colleague with the aged and infirm pastor of the Church and Christian Society in Shirley."
These rich anticipations were doomed to be disap- pointed owing, most probably, to a neglect in carrying the plan into immediate execution. The candidate was soon employed and settled in another town, and full half a year rolled away before the subject was again brought forward. At the town-meeting in May, 1815, it was "voted that the town hire six months' preaching and hear candidates."
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Within one-half of this time the right man came, as we should infer from the ecclesiastical records which follow :
"Aug. 14, 1815. Voted to give Mr. Samuel Howe Tolman a call to settle as colleague with Mr. Whitney, in this place, in the gospel ministry.
"Voted to accept the report of the committee, chosen to consider and report what sum is necessary for the town to give Mr. Samuel Howe Tolman, as a salary and settle- ment, which report is as follows :- We, a committee chosen at a legal town-meeting on Monday, the fourteenth day of August, in the year one thousand, eight hundred and fifteen, to take into consideration and report to the town what measures are best to be taken, and what salary and settlement to propose to Mr. Samuel Howe Tolman to settle as a colleague with the Rev. Phinehas Whitney in the ministry, in the town of Shirley, report as follows :
"I. That the town give him, the said Samuel Howe Tolman, as a salary during the life of Mr. Whitney, one hundred seventy-seven dollars and seventy-eight cents ; and, at the decease of Mr. Whitney, an additional sum of two hundred and twenty-two dollars and twenty-two cents, and ten cords of wood; in the whole, after the decease of Mr. Whitney, four hundred dollars and ten cords of wood, to be paid him annually so long as he supplies the pulpit and does the duties of a faithful congregational minister in the town of Shirley.
"2. That Rev. Mr. Whitney make over one-half of his salary in every part (which he has proposed to the congregation, to settle a colleague) to Mr. Tolman, in writing, in consideration of his settling as a colleague with him in the work of the ministry in the town of Shirley, during the life of said Whitney.
"3. That, in lieu of a settlement, the town of Shirley purchase a real estate, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars, for a parsonage for the congregational minister, for his use and improvement as long as he supplies the 30
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pulpit and does the duties of the office of a faithful min- ister ; but still to remain the property of the town forever. Said purchase, if accepted by the town, to be made within one year after the ordination ; or, if not done at that time, to pay four per cent. until it is completed.
"To be left at the option of the town to pay twenty dollars, or ten cords of wood as mentioned above, after Mr. Whitney's decease.
"NATHANIEL HOLDEN,
"THOMAS WHITNEY, "NATHANIEL LIVERMORE, "WALLIS LITTLE, "DAVID LIVERMORE,
"MATTHEW CLARK, "JOHN WALKER, "FRANCIS DWIGHT, "JAMES PARKER, JR., EDMOND STAPLES, " JAMES PARKER."
The terms proposed to Mr. Tolman-as given in the above report-received the following modification at a sub- sequent meeting of the town :
"Sept. 19, 1815. Voted to Mr. Samuel Howe Tolman the complete interest of fifteen hundred dollars, annually, so long as he supplies the pulpit and does the duties of a faithful congregational minister in this place,-instead of purchasing a parsonage to that amount and giving him the use and improvement of it, as it was voted in the town- meeting on the fourteenth day of August, last past ; and also that the town will grant him two or three sabbaths to be absent from the pulpit if necessary.
"Voted to choose a committee to consult with Mr. Tolman and appoint a day for his ordination. Chose Mr. David Livermore, Wallis Little, Esq., and Mr. Matthew Clark, committee.
"Voted that the selectmen be a committee to let out the entertainment of the council for the ordination.
"The committee that was appointed to consult with Mr. Tolman and appoint a day for his ordination, reported
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verbally that they had met and consulted him on that sub- ject, and had appointed Wednesday, the twenty-fifth day of October next, for the day of his ordination.
," Attest, THOMAS WHITNEY, Town Clerk."
The church voted its concurrence with the foregoing action of the town, at a meeting convened August 14th, 1815 :
" After addressing the throne of grace for direction-
"I. Voted unanimously to give Mr. Samuel H. Tol- man, of Winchendon, an invitation to settle as colleague with the aged and infirm pastor over the Church and Christian Society in Shirley.
"2. Voted to choose a committee of three, viz : Wallis Little, Esq., Matthew Clark, and brother Nathaniel Holden to present Mr. Tolman, at a proper time, with a copy of the proceedings of the Church on this occasion.
"A true copy : Attest, PHINEHAS WHITNEY, Pastor."
An ordination, in those days, was of such rare occur- rence that it called out a large concourse of people. At an early hour, on the appointed day, the common swarmed with life and the meeting-house was filled to overflowing with persons anxious to witness the imposing ceremonies.
The venerable council assembled at the house of Stephen Longley, Esq., to deliberate on the momentous duties of setting apart a brother Levite, by solemn conse- cration, to the work of the gospel ministry. The record declares that-
"At an ecclesiastical council in Shirley, Oct. 25, 1815, agreeably to letters missive :- The council was organized by choosing Rev. John Bullard, moderator, and the Rev. Levi Pilsberry, scribe. The following churches were present by the pastors and delegates, viz: The church in Groton-church in Pepperell-church in Rindge- church in Lancaster-church in Townsend-church in
4
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Leominster - church in Hingham-church in Antrim- church in Lunenburg-church in Winchendon.
"The council united with the moderator in addressing the throne of divine grace, for aid and direction in the solemn transactions of the day."
After attending to the usual preliminaries, "The council assigned the following pastors to take parts in the exercises of the ordination :
"Rev. Seth Payson, D. D., to make the introductory prayer.
'Rev. John M. Whiton to preach the sermon.
"Rev. John Bullard to make the ordaining prayer.
"Rev. Daniel Chaplin to give the charge.
"Rev. David Damon to give the right-hand of fellow- ship.
"Rev. Nicholas B. Whitney to make the concluding prayer.
"JOHN BULLARD, Moderator. "LEVI PILSBERRY, Scribe."
The expense incurred for entertaining the council was sixty dollars. The sermon, charge and right-hand of fellowship were printed, at the expense of the church, for general distribution.
The settlement of a colleague formed a new era in the ecclesiastical history of the town, and was an event to which the aged senior pastor had long looked with anxiety and hope. Bowed down, as he was, with the weight and infirmity of years, and unable, for a single occasion, to conduct the services of the sanctuary, he had striven to persuade his people to re-establish the ministry on a per- manent basis, by having one with them on whom they might rely for all the duties that belong to the sacred office. His mind was now relieved of its burden of offi- cial cares, which were hereafter to be borne by one freshly entered into the service. And as the venerable man beheld his young associate putting on the harness of the spiritual soldier, he could not fail to mentally exclaim,
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with old Simeon: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace."
But the next chapter will show the fallaciousness of all such hopes, as it records the dismission of the young colleague before the death of his aged senior.
CHAPTER III.
Ministry and Dismission of Mr. Tolman-Death and Character of Mr. Whitney.
At the time of the settlement of Mr. Tolman the lines between the Calvinistic and liberal parts of the Congre- gational body had not been established, and hence the orthodoxy or heterodoxy of his faith were not a subject of discussion. It was only supposed necessary to have a Congregational minister, and the spiritual wants of the great majority would be met and supplied.
But it was soon ascertained that the sentiments of Mr. Tolman-and his manner of presenting Christian truth- were widely different from those clergymen by whom the Shirley pulpit had been supplied. High Calvinism seemed to be brought in competition with a liberal Arminianism, which gradually disturbed the harmony that ought to have subsisted between the church and its newly elected pastor. He was, however, regarded a man of piety, whose walk -both in the church and in the world-was according to godliness ; hence he was much respected as a man by those who doubted the correctness of his religious opin- ions.
By consulting the records kept by Mr. Tolman we have found that during his ministry one of his deacons, John Heald, and his daughter, Elenor Bowers, sepa- rated themselves from his church, on account of his faith
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and preaching, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in Lunenburg. The reasons for this step were embodied in a letter addressed to the church, by the dissenters, the principal one of which was, "that the doctrines of Calvin- ism were taught in the ministrations of Mr. Tolman." Whereupon the church took the following action in relation to the delinquents.
"Shirley, September 5, 1816. The church after the preparatory lecture, met, at which time a paper, without any date, signed by Dea. John Heald and Elenor Bowers, was read. The church, after hearing it read a number of times, and deliberating upon it, passed the following votes, namely :- Voted, I. That the church consider the conduct of Dea. John Heald, and Elenor Bowers his daughter, irregular and highly disapprove of it; because they have, for a long time, withdrawn from the ordinances of the Gospel administered in this place, and have violated their covenant obligations; and because they would not return to their duty, after having been visited by their ju- nior pastor and Dea. Brown.
"2. Voted that Dea. J. Heald be no longer an officer of this church."
At the commencement of the fourth year of his min- istry Mr. Tolman found the dissatisfaction of his people increased to such a degree as to render a continuance of his union with them unpleasant to himself and unprofitable to them. This was occasioned in a great degree by the inability of the town to support two pastors after the Shakers and Universalists had withdrawn and established altars peculiar to their own faith. Accordingly he requested a dismission from the pastoral office. The church records contain the following entries, in relation to this event :
"Shirley, January 31, 1819. The church tarried after the blessing was pronounced. The junior pastor then re- quested that the ministerial relation between them and . himself be dissolved. The church then proceeded to act upon the request of their pastor in the following manner, namely : I. Voted, unanimously, to grant their junior
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pastor his request, and to unite with him in calling an ecclesiastical council, that he may be regularly dismissed and recommended to other churches.
"2. Voted to choose a committee of three to confer with their pastor in appointing the council, and chose Dea. Brown, Nathaniel Holden, Esq. and Thomas Whit- ney, Esq. The meeting was then adjourned sine die.
"SAMUEL H. TOLMAN, fun. Pastor."
The records of the council are here introduced as an interesting historical item of the times, and as an indica- tion of the ministerial standing and christian character of Mr. Tolman. This result was drawn up by the scribe of the council, who well knew Mr. Tolman, and who would not be persuaded to give an exaggerated picture of the subject submitted to him.
RESULT OF AN ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL CONVENED AT SHIRLEY, FEBRUARY 17, 1819.
"At an ecclesiastical council convened at the house of Thomas Whitney, Esq., by virtue of letters missive from the junior pastor and church of Christ in Shirley, were present :
"Rev. DANIEL CHAPLIN, D. D. Groton.
" Dea. SAMUEL LAWRENCE, delegate,
"Rev. JOHN BULLARD, Pepperell.
"Dea. JONAS PARKER, delegate,
" Rev. DAVID DAMON,
"Bro. PETER BROWN, delegate, .
Lunenburg.
"The council formed by choosing Rev. Daniel Chap- lin, D. D., moderator, and Rev. David Damon, scribe. The moderator then addressed the throne. of grace in prayer. Then proceeded to hear a statement from the junior pastor and a committee of the church, by which it appeared that the junior pastor had requested to be dis- missed from his pastoral relation to the church, and that
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the church had voted unanimously to grant his request, and to unite with him in calling an ecclesiastical council to confirm their doings, and to recommend their pastor as ex- pressed in their letters missive to the churches represented in the council ;- and by which statement it appeared also that the church and their junior pastor still continued of the same mind with respect to his dismission and recom- mendation.
"Whereupon the council voted unanimously to confirm the doings of the church in Shirley and the Rev. Samuel H. Tolman, their junior pastor, and that he be hereby dis- missed from his pastoral relation to the church in Shirley, and that we do most cordially and cheerfully recommend him as expressed and embodied in this result.
"It is with extreme regret that the council witness and are called to sanction the dissolution of the pastoral rela- tion between the Rev. Samuel H. Tolman and this church, so soon after his settlement. But notwithstanding the praiseworthy exertions of the Congregational Church and Society in this place to maintain him, a deficiency has arisen in his support which renders his dismission in our view necessary.
"Our regret on account of the Rev. Mr. Tolman's sepa- ration from this church and people is the more increased, the more we reflect on his piety and .prudence, his exem- plary character, his engagedness in the cause of religion, and his ministerial qualifications. We live in his imme- diate vicinity ; we have witnessed his diligence and fidelity as an ambassador of Christ, from the time of his settle- ment in this place ; and it is with sincere and deep sorrow that we contemplate the prospect of his removal from our vicinity. We do assure our brethren in the ministry and the churches everywhere, that his praise is in all the churches in the neighborhood. We have not heard even sectarians allege anything against his moral and religious character ; but, as far as we are informed, they with one voice pronounce their belief that he is a man of God. Nor do they except what is involved in his difference of opinion from them respecting religious doctrines and rites.
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The confident hope that God will make our dismissed brother an instrument of great usefulness in some other part of the Christian vineyard reconciles us, in some measure, to the event of his present dismission. We do most affectionately recommend him to all vacant churches of the Congregational order, and to the ministers of the gospel in general, as a faithful minister of the new cove- nant, whom they may employ in clerical profession with- out hesitation, and who, we doubt not, will be esteemed very highly in love for his works' sake wherever he may be called in providence to labor.
"With regard to the church and people who are now left destitute of a minister able to engage in the active duties of the sacred calling, we view them as in a situation peculiarly critical. We hope, brethren and friends, that you will be duly sensible of your danger. Inroads are making in almost every place upon the congregational order. When the members left of our order are few, as they are here, the danger is extreme. We beseech you to keep together as a religious society, to cultivate love one to another, to be very frequent and earnest in prayer to God, in your present destitute condition. We recommend to you to maintain public worship as much of the time as you are able ; and we hope you will steadfastly aim at the settlement of another minister in this place; use every prudential means to promote that desirable event, and es- pecially look to the Great Head of the church in prayer, beseeching that in due time you may be provided with a pastor who shall break to you the bread of life and preach to you and your children the unsearchable riches of Christ. It will be a real grief of heart to us to see you in a state of complete religious anarchy and confusion, des- titute of the word and ordinances of the gospel, and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. We cannot con- template (and we trust you do not) the danger which you and your children are in of falling into such a state, with- out the deepest emotions of concern.
31
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
"We pray that the Lord of the harvest would send another laborer into this part of his vineyard, and save you and the families which are dear to you from the evils which we fear. We hope you will add your best endeav- ors to our prayers, and that you will persevere in these endeavors-for in due time you will reap if you faint not. We must not despair concerning the final prosperity of Zion. The divine promise cannot fail, but will be cer- tainly fulfilled to all who earnestly seek to promote the Redeemer's cause and kingdom. Brethren and friends, we commend you to God and the word of his grace and to the consolations of his Holy Spirit.
"Voted unanimously. " DANIEL CHAPLIN, Moderator.
"DAVID DAMON, Scribe.
"Shirley, Feb. 17, 1819.
"A true Copy : Attest, DAVID DAMON, "Scribe of the Council."
At a town-meeting of the same date a vote was passed concurring with the church and council in their proceed- ings in relation to Mr. Tolman.
During his ministry in this place-which lasted only three and a half years-he solemnized five marriages ; re- ceived fourteen persons into communion with the church, and conferred the seal of baptism upon thirteen children. Thus it is perceived that his short ministry was blessed with the fruits of spiritual improvement to a part of his people.
Mr. Tolman was subsequently settled in Dunstable, and afterwards removed to Merrimack, N. H. Here he preached for different societies in that and the neighboring towns, everywhere eliciting the kindness and good-will of the people to whom he ministered, until he finally pur- chased him a home in the town of Atkinson, N. H., to which place he removed in the latter years of his life, and where he died, April 2d, 1856, at the age of seventy-five years.
The senior pastor lived but a few months after the dis- mission of his colleague. He had long suffered from a
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paralytic affection which somewhat affected his mental as well as his physical powers. He had attained the ad- vanced age of four score years, and seemed awaiting the time of his departure. He was confined to his house but a few days before his death, which occurred December 13, 1819. On the sixteenth the funeral rites were solemnized in the presence of a large concourse of people. The body of the deceased was carried to the meeting-house in which he had so long officiated as pastor. Prayers were offered by the venerable Dr. Chaplin of Groton, and a sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Foster of Littleton, from II Corinthians, iv, 7,-"We have this treasure in earthen vessels." His remains were borne to their final resting place by the Congregational ministers of the neighbor- hood, who came to sympathize with the bereaved family and parishioners of the deceased pastor.
His grave is in the churchyard, in the centre of the town, hard by the sanctuary of his former public devotions and instructions, and is marked by a plain marble slab, erected by his eldest son, Thomas Whitney, Esq. He is the only minister that ever died in the town, and his re- mains sleep in the cemetery that contains the relics of his family and parishioners-to whom he ministered for more than half a century, and who have now been gathered about him in the place of the dead.
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