USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Shrewsbury > History of the town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1717 to 1829, with other matter relating thereto not before published, including an extensive family register > Part 10
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In 1723, HEPZIBAH, wife of Edward Goddard.
In 1733, DOROTHY, wife of Samuel Crosby.
These ten were wives of the first founders of the church.
In 1731, a question arose respecting the expediency in church government of having Ruling Elders in the church.
This question, and matters growing out of it, engaged the at- tention of the church ten years or morc.
Church meetings were frequent, many Committees chosen, and a voluminous correspondence carried on between this church and that of Framingham, of which the Rev. John Swift was Pastor, and which disclosed a controversy with the latter church and that of Hopkinton, of which the Rev. Samuel Barrett was Pastor.
The Rev. Mr. Cushing's records, in relation to this matter, occupy at least fifty pages - in which he says, under date of 1734, " The church of Shrewsbury enjoyed great peace and unanimity, as to outward appearances, from its first gathering and founding of it, till about this time, some things were controverted, at least among some of them, as the following narrative will show," - yet it appears by his records that the difficulty began in 1731 - probably it was not until 1734, that the consequences of it assumed a serious aspect.
This " narrative" of more than fifty manuscript pages, consists of copies of letters, charch proceedings, reports of Committees,
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results of Councils, &c., and, although interesting, is too lengthy for insertion here - a summary of it is this.
"In or near the year 1731, Simon Goddard removed his habitation from Framingham to Shrewsbury, and, after some time, he delivered me a letter superscribed after this manner."
" To the Rev. Mr. Cushing, Pastor of the Church of Christ in Shrewsbury -to be communicated to said Church ; and this is the form of the letter."
"Rev. and Beloved,
I am, by reading and considering the Platform of church Government composed by the Synod in this country, and com- paring the same with the Scriptures, persuaded the form of Government therein prescribed is very agreeable therewith, and am accordingly desirous of a dismission from the church of Framingham, to a church, who acknowledge the said Platform as the rule of their discipline - And whereas the Divine Providence has now fixed my habitation in this place, I am also desirous of an admission into this (rather than to any other) church in case I may therein be subject to that (Platform) and no other discipline, o at least no further or otherwise subject to any other discipline, than my judgment shall be enlightened from the holy scriptures. I apprehend, that much of the benefit and comfort of church fellowship and communion depends on harmony in judgment among those of the same communion; and that in order to such harmony, the principles of Government must be known and mutually consented to ; and that I may act with the greater clearness and certainty in this affair, I humbly desire to be plainly informed, whether I may join myself with this church under the- condition above expressed.
If you shall please to condesend to afford me such information it will greatly oblige, Rev. and beloved,
Your brother and humble servant,
SIMON GODDARD."
This letter is dated Shrewsbury, Dec. 15, 1731.
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I have thought it proper to insert Mr. Goddard's letter entire ; since, as it was the origin of all the subsequent proceedings, his views ought to appear as he stated them, and at full length in his own words.
" Upon receiving this letter (says Mr. Cushing,) I asked said Goddard, whether he was free, that I should privately show it to some of the church, observing to him, that if they were apprized of it beforehand, they might be the better prepared to make answer; and he said he was. I then desired as he had opportunity, he himself would also speak of it to others -when I showed the letter to some of the church, they said they had nothing against my offering it to the church. But yet I found, that when I showed it to some judicious persons out of town, they observed it was very odd for this person to set up an inquisi- tion upon the church of Shrewsbury, and although, when I put it to them, whether they thought I had best offer it, although some dissuaded, yet others did not care to do that - but as things appeared to me, I thought I had best offer it to the church." He did so -" whereupon some of the brethren observed there was a passage in it unintelligible, and desired that it might be explained by him, that offered it - but one, if not more pleaded, that they apprehended said Goddard meant no more, than to be subject to the Platform ; but were answered, that it was our busi- ness to consider well what we did ; for we knew not, but that long after, this business might be examined by us, or others - one or more signified their esteem for the Platform, and that they thought it proper or necessary, that the church should be subject to some human composure, and manifested their desire, that the church should either accept of the Platform as the rule of their discipline, or say how far they would conform to it ; others observ- ing it was probable some had not read the Platform, or were not acquainted with it, and thought it miglit be proper for the brethren of the church to read it - whereupon I observed, that it would take some considerable time for such a number to read the book referred to, and that, if the meeting were adjourned for a long space of time, it was likely it would be forgotten - I therefore dissolved the meeting. But in the run of a little time, the said
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Goddard brought me another letter - and this is a copy of his letter :---
April 8, 1732.
Rev. and Beloved,
Having had no answer to my request of Dec. 15, last, and understanding that some seem to be at a loss about the meaning of those words therein, wherein my desire to be subject to no other government, than that of the Platform is expressed, or least no further or otherwise than my judgment shall be enlightened from the holy scriptures - these are to signify, that my intention was, and is, only this, that if there be any particular point or par- agraph in the Platform, that yourselves judge not to be right, [upon conviction from the scriptures I would readily fall in with the others of the church] -thus humbly praying answer from, Rev, and Beloved,
Your Brother and humble servant, SIMON GODDARD.
Upon receiving this, I warned the church to come together - but the morning before they met, said Goddard was at my house and I informed him, that his explanatory letter was so worded, that I questioned, whether it would be agreeable to the brethren.
Then said Goddard desired, that I would be assisting in answer- ing what was objected against his first letter ; but I told him it was not proper for me to meddle with it - and as I was going to the meeting, I had another letter delivered to me, to be offered instead of the last mentioned -- thus : -
"April 8, 1732.
Rev. and Beloved,
Having had no answer to my request of December 15, last," (&c., word for word as his last previous letter, except what I have there included in brackets and in this omitted,) he then adds, " that if, I knew what they were and could from the scriptures be of the same opinion with yourselves, I should gladly get a dismission to this church. Thus praying an answer, &c. &c.
SIMON GODDARD."
Mr. Goddard underscored in his last letter, but not in the former, what there appears in italics,
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May 4, 1732, the church met to consider the explanatory let- ter from Mr. Goddard " - adjourned to the 25th inst. - then met "and it was put to the church, whether they were ready to give Simon Goddard an answer to the writings he had laid before them - they answered in the affirmative. I offered the meeting present to propose the form of a vote and none attempting it, I proposed this, and submitted it to their cosideration - viz : If it be your minds to accept of the writings our brother Simon God- dard hath offered to us, or to admit him a member of this church by virtue of his writings presented to us, it is desired you would manifest your minds by your usual vote of lifting up your hands - one brother apprehended the vote not properly worded - I then observed, I knew not how to word a vote without referring to his writings, and desired him to, if he pleased, to propose the form of a vote; but he not attempting it, it was desired the form of the vote, I had offered, might be read again, which was done, and, upon due consideration, was urged by a brother, to be put to a vote - and it clearly passed in the negative. I think only the brethren of Simon Goddard voted in the affirmative. .
After this, for reasons rendered, I thus applied myself to the church - I humbly conceive it is your mind, that our brother Goddard should be treated with due respect on all accounts, and that you are desirous, that he should be sensible of it - therefore proposed this as the form of another vote, viz : If it be your minds, that our brother Simon Goddard should be admitted to full church fellowship and privileges upon the same terms and condi- tion that others have, at all times, been admitted, you will mani- fest it by the usual sign of voting. And when it was offered to trial, the vote very fully passed in the affirmative," and the meet- ing was dissolved.
The narative then proceeds to state, "Simon Goddard not obtaining admission into the church of Shrewsbury by virtue of kis writings before mentioned, he, in conjunction with four others, all members of Framingham church, removed their relation from Framingham church without their leave, and were admitted into the church of Hopkinton in January, 1732 - and soon after this be informed me what he had done, and manifested his desire to
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enjoy occasional communion with the church in Shrewsbury, and desired I would lay his desire before the church - I soon told some brethren of his desire, who answered, they were not at present satisfied about his leaving Framingham church in the manner he did. Whereupon I delayed making his request public, but, he continuing in his motion of having his case brought before the church, I again spoke to those, that I had privately talked with, and one or more answered, for their part they were not free the church should come together on that business, for they feared it would make division and trouble. But the said Goddard con- tinuing unwearied in his request, and faulted me, as Pastor, for not laying his case before the church. - I told him that some had manifested their mind to the contrary, which kept me from making his request public - but at length, at his importunity, I signified to him, that if as many, or more, should move for a meeting, than had on the other side shown unwillingness, I knew not but that I might call a meeting ; but withal gave him to understand, that if any desired the church to meet on that affair, I chose their desire should be offered in writing. Soon after this I received a letter, thus -
" March 14, 1735.
Whereas we understand by our neighbor and brother Simon Goddard, who is an inhabitant in town, and is, so far as we have seen or heard, a man of sober and religious conversation, that the reason why he doth not hold occasional and transient com- munion with us at the Lord's table, though a member in full communion of a neighboring church, is not want of charity on his part towards this or any other churches of Christ in the vicinity, who hold the Head, though they may differ from the form of government formerly agreed upon by the synod in the land, and to which he professes his adherence, but that he has manifested to yourself long ago his desire to commune with us, but has been delayed to know, first what is the mind of the church, these are, therefore, humbly to request that there may be a church meeting called as soon as may be, and therein due consideration had on this matter, and that, unless his principles or practices appear to the church to be such as justly to exclude him from the catholic
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communion professed in these churches, or expose him to public censure, he may be encouraged to sit down with us at the Lord's table. In hope that our request thus offered will not be denied nor delayed, we rest, Rev. sir, your brethren and humble servants.
SAMUEL CROSBY, JOHN CROSBY,
ISAAC STONE, EBENEZER BRAGG, JOHN PARKER, AMOS PRATT,
EDWARD GODDARD, Brethren of said BENJAMIN GODDARD, § Simon Goddard."
" This letter was laid before the church, April 24, 1735, and after some debate the church was pleased to appoint a commit- tee, viz., Ebenezer Bragg, Samuel Crosby and Jonathan Keyes, to carry a letter from the church to the churches of Framingham and Hopkinton, to see what light they could gain and offer to the church relating to the matter before us."
" June 28, 1735. The church met. A number of writings were read, that were directed to the church from the church in Hopkinton, and from the Rev. Mr. Swift, of Framingham, and they are here transcribed, but before they were read, the letter sent from the church of Shrewsbury to the churches of Fra- mingham and Hopkinton was read. It was directed and sent to be communicated to both of those churches," thus
"Shrewsbury, May 16, 1735.
Rev. and Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ,
An important affair (as we thought) was brought before our church on the 24th day of April last, signed by eight of the brethren, and after some debate on the matter, the church was pleased to appoint a committee, viz., Bragg, Crosby and Keyes, to go to Framingham and Hopkinton, to see what light they could gain and offer to the church relative to the matter lying before us; and being desired to send something in writing, I
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thought it most proper to send the whole of what was brought before our church, for you to judge and report upon, which is as follows " - (then follows a copy of the letter signed by eight members of the Shrewsbury church to Rev. Mr. Cushing, with this addition by Mr. Cushing) -" the request is very reasonable, if no reason can be alleged against it; and apprehending the churches, to whom we send, to know the said Goddard's character and circumstances better than we do, we desire that you would favor us with an answer in writing, and that you would please to answer the committee to any reasonable questions relating to the said affair.
JOB CUSHING,
Pastor of and at the desire of the church of Shrewsbury."
" The church of Christ in Hopkinton to the church of Christ in Shrewsbury wisheth grace, mercy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. and Beloved,
We hereby signify to you that we received your letter and messengers very friendly, by which, and by whom, we under- stand that you desire to be acquainted with the grounds upon which our brother Simon Goddard was received into full com- munion with this church, he being before a member of the church of Christ in Framingham, and not dismissed from them to us -
.
Be it known unto you, therefore, beloved brethren, that upon the Congregational principles, as we apprehend, we received him into our communion, as may appear by the impartial consideration of the letter directed to us by him, together with several others of the brethren of Framingham church, wherein in the grounds of their desire of entering into this special relation to us are ex- pressed, as also our letter directed to the church of Christ in Framingham, and Mr. Swift's letter, directed to the pastor of this church, a copy of all which we herein enclose. As for the character of our well beloved brother, Simon Goddard, we sub- scribe to your description of it, and can heartily recommend him to your holy communion, and for our verbal answer to your com-
-
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mittee's questions, we refer you to the committee themselves for satisfaction in this matter.
Brethren pray for us, your brethren in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel. Hopkinton, June 18, 1735. In the name and consent of the church. SAMUEL BARRETT, Pastor.
JOSEPH HAVEN, ) Ruling JOSEPH BIXBEE, S Elders."
"Copy of a letter inclosed in the above written letter."
Framingham, Aug. 29, 1732.
Rev. and Beloved,
Whereas you have asserted the Congregational cause, and set- tled a presbytery of Elders in your church, according to the. Platform composed by a Synod of Churches in this country in our primitive times, we the subscribers, members of the church in Framingham, being very desirous of a relation to a church of those principles, humbly offer our desire to be received into your church fellowship and communion, and though we have not ob- tained a dismission from the church in Framingham, yet we are persuaded you will not judge the want thereof a bar to our re- ception, when the reasons inducing us to lay this, our desire, be- fore you, have been duly considered, which reasons are as fol- low's, viz :
Ist. Having, according to our abilities, searched the holy Scriptures and consulted not only our own reason, but also the judgments of many great and learned divines of divers persua- sions, with respect to church government, we are fully persuaded, that the form of church government specified in said Platform, and which you have embodied, is a very safe and regular gov- ernment, and is consonant to and warranted by both scripture and sound reason, and that the kingly office of Christ and our own peace, comfort and edification are greatly concerned in our bearing testimony to, and searching an interest in the benefits of such a wise and good constitution.
2dly. The Rev. pastor of the church of Framingham, being of the opinion, if we understood him, that neither that, nor any other Platform of human composure, but the Scriptures only,
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ought to be received as the rule of government, and those gifts or qualifications for rule and government in the churches, are so connected with gifts and qualifications for public teaching, that the former cannot be without the latter, we cannot but be of a differ- ent opinion, and are wholly at a loss as to what form of govern- ment we must be subject to, whilst we remain members of that church, since all Christian Protestants allow the Scriptures to be the only standard, and yet do vastly differ as to the meaning of them with respect to church order and government, and though we would not willingly grieve or offend, much less judge or cen- sure, such as differ in opinion from us, yet we do and must say, that we cannot be easy under a government, wherein a single elder has the whole power as to the proper acts of rule and gov- ernment, and is under no restriction in the exercise of that power by any Platforms.
3dly. We labor under the grievous inconvenience, in the church of Framingham, that whereas, though sense of duty sometimes obliges us to speak and act in church affairs, yet we cannot do it without being exceeding liable to be accounted offenders, and represented as disturbers of the peace of the church.
This inconvenience, together with all the occasions, or jars and contentions, in the management of church discipline, which naturally arise from diversity of opinions in the church, about the mode of government, would cease, if such of us, as are of Con- gragetional principles were admitted into a church of our own persuasion, and this may be done, as we humbly conceive, with- out any great prejudice to the church of Framingham, or the Rev. pastor, for we shall be no less obliged to the support of the ministry in Framingham, by virtue of the Province Laws, nor will it prevent our still remaining auditors in the congregation there, except on some few Sabbaths in the year, nor can we see any reason, why it should break Christian charity, or hinder our occasional communion with them at the Lord's table, or mutual watchfulness over each other for edification.
4thly. It has been our earnest desire to have had the consent of the church of Framingham to our admission into your com-
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munion, and we have requested of the Rev. pastor to lay our desires before the church, that either we might enjoy a Congrega- tional discipline in Framingham, according to the Platform, or be dismissed to your church ; but are left, after long waiting, to des- pair of ever prevailing to have a meeting of the church for either of these ends ; and have, therefore, no other remedy but this, of asserting our right to liberty of conscience, and offering our pleas, without the consent of the church of Framingham, to your com- munion, which we now do, begging an interest in your prayers to God for us, that, by his grace enabling us, we may so order our conversation as to give no offence to the godly, but on all occa- sions manifest our hearty love and esteem for all such, especially our brethren of the church of Framingham, notwithstanding dif- ferent persuasions concerning church government; and that we express meekness and patience under the censures of the rash and uncharitable, and enjoy peace with God and peace with all men, especially with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sin- cerity, of what denomination soever.
And heartily wishing to yourselves an increase of temporal and spiritual blessings, we rest and subscribe, Rev. and beloved,
Your brethren and humble servants, THOMAS MELLEN, EDWARD GODDARD, BENJAMIN WHITNEY, SIMON MELLEN, SIMON GODDARD.
To the Rev. Mr. Samuel Barrett, Pastor, and Mr. Joseph Bixbee and Mr. Joseph Haven, Ruling Elders in the church of Hopkinton, to be communicated to the said church."
" Copy of another letter inclosed in the above-said letter."
"The church of Christ in Hopkinton, to the church of Christ in Framingham, wisheth grace, mercy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. and Beloved,
Whereas several of the brethren of your communion, viz., Thomas Mellen, Edward Goddard,* Benjamin Whitney, Simon
* Father of Simon Goddard.
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Mellen and Simon Goddard, have offered their desires to be re- ceived into this church, solemnly declaring, that the reason in- ducing them hereto, is their belief, that the Congregational prin- ciples respecting church government, as they are set forth in the Platform, composed by the Synod of churches in this country, are agreeable to the holy Scriptures, which principles, we, the church of Christ in Hopkinton have embodied, and having met together to consider of the motion made to us by your above named brethren, have thought it consistent with Christian pru- dence and charity to acquaint you with the same, that we might have your approbation and consent in the matter ; or otherwise, that you will offer such objections to us, that may justify our de- nying them admission with us, wishing an increase of all grace and good to you, and begging an interest in your prayers for us, your brethren in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel.
In the name and at the desire of the church,
SAMUEL BARRETT, Pastor. JOSEPH BIXBEE, ) Ruling JOSEPH HAVEN, S Elders.
P. S. The church of Christ in Hopkinton have appointed the second Wednesday in January next, to consider what may be offered by the church of Christ in Framingham respecting the admission of the above named members of that church.
Hopkinton, Dec. 8, 1732."
"Copy of the Rev. Mr. Swift's letter to the pastor of the church in Hopkinton."
" Framingham, Jan. 5, 1733. Rev. Sir,
Respecting the dismission of church members to remote churches, where they do not cohabit, we never had any such custom in our church, nor yet in the churches of Christ in New England, that I can learn ; and I wonder that you should lead in such an affair, seeing that, at our last association at your house, you declared that you could not take Capt. Goddard under your pastoral watch and care, and that you saw no reason for it, while he lived at Framinghanı.
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However, if you, or the church of Christ in Hopkinton, or our brethren that you mention, shall obtain the result of a proper council of churches or elders, I shall, I hope, show all due re- gard to any light that they shall offer. In the mean time, I shall be glad, if you, or some other hand, would reply to the inclosed,* which hath not been answered by any argument in any pamphlet before or since, in the judgment of the learned and judicious, that I have had opportunity to converse with. I fear, lest you bring to pass, what I formerly told you was my fear. Wishing you divine conduct in all your affairs,
I am, sir, your brother in Christ and humble servant,
JOHN SWIFT."
" P. S. Rev. Sir, - I desire you to communicate my mind, and that if I may have the result of a proper council, I shall then communicate it to our church. But I decline any motion towards bringing in any way such innovation (as that you write about) among our churches without proper advice.
Idem, JOHN SWIFT."
Jan. 9, 1733.
" At the same meeting, immediately upon reading of the aforesaid letters, many were read, sent from the Rev. Mr. Swift. The first, thus superscribed," ___
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