USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Townsend > History of the town of Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from the grant of Hathorn's farm, 1676-1878 > Part 7
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Mr. Dix, was a native of Reading, born March 23, 1736; was graduated at Harvard University, 1758, ordained March 4th, 1761, died November 12th, 1797, in the thirty-sixth year of his pastorate, aged sixty-two.
The Dix family, not only in the Rev. Samuel Dix's generation, but in that which preceded it, was noted for great perseverance, strict conformity to puritanical princi- ples united with a good degree of culture.
One of his brothers was the first school-master of the town of Dunstable, New Hampshire, another brother, who resided for a short time in one or two of the neighboring towns in New Hampshire, was the grand-father of John A. Dix. Ex-Governor of New York. They belonged to that class of men to whom we are largely indebted for both civil and religious liberty.
The class in which Mr. Dix graduated at the university contained an unusually large number of men who after- wards entered the ministry, some of whom in ability and usefulness were much above mediocrity. One of his class-mates, Rev. Samuel Payson, was ordained at Lunen- burg, September 8, 1762, and died February 14, 1763,
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aged 24. Mr. Dix was about twenty-five years old when he was ordained.
Rev. Simeon Howard, a distinguished divine, of the same class in college, was for a time Professor of Divinity at Edinburgh, Scotland. Thirteen, of this class of thirty- one members, were ministers of the gospel.
When Mr. Dix came to this town, log-cabins were about going out of fashion, being superceded by substan- tial frame houses, made from lumber sawed at "Conant's mill," or the mill at the Harbor. The house now owned and occupied by Israel H. Spaulding, was built for Mr. Dix, and he lived there till 1770, when he moved to the parsonage given to the town by Lieut. Amos Whitney.
In most instances, these houses were large, uncom- fortable two-story structures, the rooms on the first floor being generally finished with a suitable panel-work ceil- ing. The second story, which was the dormitory of the family, except the parents, seldom had any finish unless perhaps a temporary partition across the middle of the house. The pattering of the rain on the roof in mid- summer, or the more blustering music of the wind at the December solstice, were both welcomed by the rustic sleepers within.
The town voted to give Mr. Dix £133 6s. 8d. for his settlement, and £66 13s. 8d. for his annual salary. It soon became apparent that this sum was inadequate to his sup- port, on account of the abundance of paper money then in circulation. The town with alacrity increased his pay, in proportion as the scrip lessened in value.
In 1779, the town "voted to raise £1,000 for the sup- port of Rev. Samuel Dix, and his family, the present year, including his salary," and at a town meeting July 4. 1780.
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"voted to raise £6,000 to make up Mr. Dix's salary to the fourth of September next."
The pastorate of Mr. Dix was a continued era of good feeling and concord, and in fact, no disagreement of any magnitude ever visited the church in this town for nearly a century from the time it was gathered.
Mr. Dix was a very successful pastor, and was much respected and beloved by all who knew him, as a neighbor, a citizen, a "man of God." In addition to his labors in Townsend he did considerable work of a missionary char- acter at towns in this vicinity, where they had no ordained minister, and only occasional preaching. He did pastoral work in the towns of Raby [now Brookline ], Mason, Jaffrey, Hancock, and Limerick [now Stoddard ], in the State of New Hampshire, and at Ashby. He took much interest in the moral and religious affairs in these towns. and he had the pleasure and satisfaction of living long enough to know that each of these places had a regularly ordained minister.
The church and people in Brookline were under many obligations to Mr. Dix ; and it was in accordance with his advice and good judgment, that the Rev. Lemuel Wards- worth was chosen first minister of that town. Ashby, also, had no settled minister until seventeen years after Mr. Dix was settled in Townsend. He must have made many journeys to these places, some of them long and tedious, during the prime of his life, not only to preach the word, but to solemnize marriages : to visit those who languished under pain and sickness ; to alleviate the sor- rows of the bereaved, when death had sealed the eyes and frozen the liquid current of vitality.
Mr. Dix was admirably adapted to the sacred calling which he espoused. He was dignified without coldness or
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arrogance, cheerful without levity, and strictly courteous and condescending in his deportment. He gave his undi- vided attention to his pastoral duties, and with the excep- tion of one or two patriotic sermons, delivered during the early part of the revolutionary war, he labored faithfully for "a crown incorruptible" both for himself and the people committed to his charge. He was an excellent classical scholar, and as a writer he would lose nothing by comparison either with his contemporaries in the ministry, or those who succeeded him in the church in Townsend.
The following is a sample of his style. It constituted an effort complete in itself, and on account of its clearness and brevity it is here inserted in full.
The charge, by Rev. Samuel Dix, of Townsend, at the ordination of Rev. Eli Smith, of Hollis, November 27. I793 :--
The great Savior. who is the head over all things to the Church, having, in his all governing providence, and as we trust, by his most gracious Spirit, called you, Sir, to this part of his vineyard, and united you with this people in love ; and you being now solemnly introduced to the important work of the gospel ministry, and ordained a pastor of this flock in particular ; we charge you, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to be faithful, as is required of his stewards, in the execution of this sacred office. and every part of it.
Preach the word : the word of God : the same truths and doctrines, which Christ and his Apostles preached. Preach them plainly and fully. Shun not to declare the whole counsel of God. Preach them actively and urgently, as becomes their inconceivable importance,
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embracing all convenient opportunities. Be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine.
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. In order to this, give yourself to reading and meditation, that your profiting may appear to all. Take heed to yourself and to your doctrine ; continue in them, that you may both save yourself, and those that hear you.
We also charge you to be friendly and faithful to our Divine Master, to his Church and the interest of his king- dom, in respect of administering the seals of his covenant, Baptism and the Lords Supper. Teach the people of the Lord to discern between the holy and profane. Seek the purity as well as the increase of the church, which is Gods building ; that being fitly framed into Jesus Christ, the chief corner-stone, it may grow into an holy temple in the Lord.
That you may know how you ought to behave your- self in regard to discipline, in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, learn of Christ and his apostles.
Take the oversight, not as being a lord over Gods heritage, but being an ensample to the flock. Observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Thus endeavor to preserve and promote the peace, unity and edification of the body of Christ. Now, therefore, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. For this purpose, and that you may be thoroughly furnished to all good works, continue in prayer ; interceding for all men. Pray with and for the people of your charge, not only in public, but also in private. Wait on
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the Lord, and he shall strengthen thy heart, and bless the people whom you may lead and teach, from time to time. in His name, who is the fountain of all grace and glory.
Whenever you may be called to assist in separating one to the great work, on which you are now entering, attend to his qualifications, especially as to his moral character, and religious sentiments. Lay hands suddenly on no man ; but the things you have now received in trust. commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Be thou, Sir, an example of the believers, in conver- sation and charity, in faith and purity. Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called.
Dear brother, we give you charge, in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and of Christ Jesus, who. before Pontius Pilate, witnessed a good confession, that you keep this commandment of the Lord, without spot. unrebukable, until the appearing of Jesus Christ, who saith, Surely I come quickly. AMEN.
Mr. Dix was held in high estimation by the Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason, New Hampshire, who, at his own expense, caused two or three of his addresses to be printed, as exemplars of eloquence as well as piety, and from these the above was extracted. Mr. Dix married Miss Abigail Chandler, of Boston.
The Rev. Stephen Farrar, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, who preached the funeral sermon of Mr. Dix. says of him : "He sustained the character of an upright and faithful man, who shone peculiarly in the virtues of meekness, patience, humility and self-denial," and that his
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preaching was accompanied with "earnestness and pathos of address."
During the latter part of his life, for sometime, he experienced a degree of illness from which he suffered considerably ; still he attended to his regular pastoral duties. There was a large assembly at his funeral, among which were many ministers, who came considerable dis- tance to pay their respects to the memory of their friend and brother, for whom Death had "unveiled eternity." These reverend gentlemen gratuitously supplied the pulpit made vacant by the death of Mr. Dix, about two months from the time of his decease.
The ensuing summer, the town "voted and chose Lieut. Jacob Blodget a committee to obtain a suitable stone to be erected at the grave of Rev. Samuel Dix." On his gravestone is inscribed as follows :-
ERECTED BY THE TOWN
TO THE MEMORY OF
REV. MR. SAMUEL DIX.
The Second Pastor of the Church of Christ in Townsend,
Who departed this life, Nov. 12, 1797,
In the 62d year of his age, and the 36th year of his ministry.
He was sound in the faith, a lover of souls ; humble. meek and patient under trials, kind, charitable and benev- olent to all.
Ye living mortals, take a solemn view Of this, my silent. dark and long abode, Remember, you were born like me to die. Therefore prepare to meet a righteous God.
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The town soon began to search for a minister, and in every particular regarded the advice of Mr. Farrar, con- tained in the funeral sermon : "You are now left as sheep without a shepherd. But the great Shepherd of the sheep still lives, and may His watchful care be your guard and defence. See that you be not like sheep scattered and dispersed upon the mountains ; broken and divided into parties ; but with united hearts and fervent cries, look to Him who can repair your breach, and give you a pastor according to his heart."
There were several candidates for a settlement over the church and congregation before the town made a choice.
Rev. Joshua Heywood ( D. Col. 1795,) preached through a candidacy of "six sabbaths" during the summer of 1798, and in the autumn following the town "voted to hire Mr. Whitney (probably Rev. Nicholas B. Whitney. Har. Col. 1793,) for six sabbaths, commencing the third sabbath in February next. The length of time that Mr. Palmer preached as a candidate is not known, the town voting about the first of September. "to hear Mr. Palmer further in regard to a settlement."
The action of the church in regard to Mr. Palmer's settlement, as represented by the records, was as follows :
"The church met according to previous agreement, at the meeting house in this place Sept 3ª. 1799, and chose the Rev. John Bullard moderator.
"Having addressed the throne of Grace for light and direction-Voted
"Ist To proceed to the choice of a gospel minister. and
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"2ª To invite Mr. David Palmer to be our pastor and teacher.
"N. B. Each of the brethren present gave his vote in favor of Mr. Palmer except one, and he had no objection against him, but want of personal ac- quaintance.
"The meeting was then adjourned without a day.
JOHN BULLARD Modr. pro tem."
The record continues thus : "Mr. Palmer having been served with a copy of the above votes (the Town concur- ing in the same) gave an affirmative answer to our invi- tation. The chh. being notified met accordingly upon adjournment, 2ª day of December 1799-& voted
"Ist To invite the Pastor & delegation of each of the following churches viz, the chhs. in Windham 2ª society, N Ipswich, Shirley, Lunenburg, Lisbon, Groton. Ashby, Pepperell, Boscawen, Mason, Hollis, Brookline, & Fitch- burg, to join in council for the purpose of separating our Pastor elect to the work whereunto he is called.
" 2ly That Deacons, Richard Wier & Daniel Adams & brother Jacob Blodget, be a committee to prepare and forward letters missive to the above churches for sd purpose, and to lay before the council the doings of the church & Town.
"3'ly Voted to dissolve the meeting.
"The meeting was dissolved accordingly.
JOHN BULLARD Moder Pro Tem."
The terms on which Mr. Palmer was settled, including the use of the parsonage. the condition in which it was to
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be fitted when he commenced occupancy, the manner in which he should leave the same, should he choose to do so. the mode of proceeding in case either party should become dissatisfied, and other "provisos" are profusely spread on the records of the town.
The first day of January, 1800, was appointed for the ordination, the exercises consisting of prayer by Rev. Daniel Chaplin, of Groton; sermon by Rev. Andrew Lee, of Lisbon, Connecticut ; charge by Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason, New Hampshire ; right hand of fellow- ship by Rev. John Bullard, of Pepperell.
The new year, ordination day, opened bright and pleasant, the mercury being just below the freezing point ; a few inches of snow, fastened down by a hard crust, rendered all kinds of locomotion very agreeable. The learned council, pastor elect, and invited guests, dined at the widow Sarah Conant's tavern, at the Harbor, at 12 o'clock.
After the good cheer of "mine hostess" had been under consideration for a suitable length of time, these venerable divines formed a procession and marched by the music of fife and drum, to the meeting-house on the hill, where they found a crowd in and around the building, through which, with slow progress, they arrived at the pulpit and its sur- roundings. This was a perfect holiday for Townsend and its vicinity. In addition to the multitude standing on the ground looking in at the windows, which were partly open for purposes of ventilation, a stage had been built up at the gallery windows, from which a view of the speakers was obtained, and almost everything heard that was said inside the house, in which every foot of room was oc- cupied. These outsiders were very quiet ; not a loud word
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was spoken, yet occasionally at the motion of a finger, or a wink, a cord would be dropped down when the fisher- man aloft would "get a bite" and up would go a bottle or a flask. Who knows that these were not "smelling bottles" to prevent dizziness at that altitude ?
Every house in town was open, and the hospitalities of both the season and the occasion were as free as air. A descendant of Samuel Stone, who built and lived in the house now occupied by Samuel Stone Haynes, informed the writer that one hundred people dined with Mr. Stone on that day, and that twenty-five of them passed the night with him. Most of the prominent men in town were similarly favored with the presence of friends and relatives.
This was the last festival of the kind in which all our people participated, for long before Mr. Palmer left the church militant, and before his successor was ordained, it was my church, my minister, my mode of baptism, and sectarianism began to unfurl the banner of discord.
Rev. David Palmer was born 1768, at Windham, Connecticut, graduated at Dartmouth College, 1797, was preceptor of New Ipswich Academy, 1798, ordained the third pastor in Townsend, January Ist, 1800, married Chloe Kinsley of his native town, 1794. and died at Townsend, February 15, 1849, aged 81 years.
Townsend at the time of Mr. Palmer's ordination was an entirely different town from what it was when either of his predecessors entered the ministry. The privations attending the converting of a wilderness into a township. filled with the industries and embellishments of civilized life, had all been endured and accomplished. The event- ful days of the revolutionary war, through which our fathers struggled and bled, had all taken their places on
David Palmer
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the historian's page. Our people had just commenced to manipulate metalic federal money, and enter on the enjoy- ments of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The printing press,
"The mightiest of the mighty means. On which the arm of progress leans."
had approached the town as near as Leominster on one side, and Amherst, New Hampshire, on the other. Edu- cation had received a fresh impetus by the establishing of the academies at New Ipswich and Groton, and by more liberal appropriations for the support of common schools. Enterprise and progress were the watchwords at the com- mencement of the present century.
Everything considered, the town and church made a judicious choice for their third spiritual advisor. Mr. Palmer was decidedly a popular man in all his social re- lations, and his influence as a townsman was felt partic- ularly by the children and youth of Townsend. During most of his pastorate it was the custom, among their other duties, for the ministers to examine the teachers, and in part, to superintend the schools.
There was not a school in town that did not hail his approach with pleasure. Most of the elderly people in town, who attended school here in Mr. Palmer's time, not only remember the blandness of his countenance, but they still retain pleasant recollections of the method in which he would interest and instruct them in their lessons and duties by some chaste anecdote, or simple story told in a peculiarly appreciable manner.
He entered into the spirit of improvement in all things and never frowned on any legitimate amusement. Music he loved, possessing both a cultivated voice and ear.
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At a town meeting in 1806, "Voted to grant Fifty dollars for the support of a singing school this year, and chose a committee to conduct said school. Chose for said committee, Rev. David Palmer, Mr. Peter Manning and Mr. Eliab Going."
Mr. Palmer was also a practical educator outside of the pulpit. About twenty young men fitted for college with him, a part of whom will be noticed in another part of this work.
Mr. Palmer solicited for the money which was paid for the first bell ever hung on any belfry in this town. In the course of the canvass, he spoke to one of his people. an old man bent down by the weight of years, almost to the form of a semi-circle, but possessed of a good amount of wealth. He explained to the old gentleman the object of his visit, setting forth the advantages of having å bell, and in the conversation, he said that every one, and particu- larly every stranger, who looked up and saw a bell in the belfry, would have more respect for Townsend. "I know" said the octogenarian, rolling his head over on one side and casting up one eye to Mr. Palmer, "but I have most done looking up." "I should be pleased then if you prefer looking down, to have you look down into your money purse for a moment." "That can be done," said the old man, handing over three hard dollars to the minister, when they parted in excellent humor.
Mr. Palmer was a successful pastor. During his ministry two hundred and fifty members were added to the church, sixty-two of that number having joined during the year 1826. He studied divinity with Rev. Andrew Lee, of Lisbon, Connecticut. As a preacher, he was rather doctrinal than practical, but interesting. his exer- cises not being as long as were those of some of his
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brethren, who exchanged pulpits with him. A few of his sermons were "published by request of his hearers," one of which was delivered on the twelfth anniversary of his ordination, from the text, "This day shall be for a memo- rial,"-Exodus 12, 14. This and other printed discourses were written in a clear, forcible style. exhibiting deep thought, good scholarship, and unfeigned piety.
The introduction of unitarianism into New England. and the inauguration of the Harvard Divinity School in 1817, swept away all religious unanimity from among the churches. The cities took the initiative in the crusade against the faith and opinions of Knox and Calvin, but were soon reinforced by most of the large towns in the Commonwealth. This great tidal wave reached Town- send, about 1825. Rev. Mr. Thayer, of Lancaster, was the first preacher of this doctrine here. The unitarians increasing during this time, the town voted to grant the use of the meeting-house to them for a certain number of sabbaths at several times. "Owing to some misunder- standing in regard to the rightful use of the meeting house. one sabbath, both denominations appeared and claimed it ; but the unitarians had taken possession." . A writer in the interest of the congregationalists thus describes what oc- curred at that time :-
"Coming into the church one sabbath morning, the pas- tor found that the unitarians had procured their champion. Rev. Dr. Thayer, of Lancaster, and put him in his place. Walking up in front of the pulpit, Mr. Palmer turned and publicly addressed his people, stating that he felt the pulpit by right belonged to him, but as another had been put in his place, he should not contend with him, nor should he countenance error by remaining. He declared his purpose
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to retire to the school house, and such as should follow him, he would preach to there. Immediately as the pastor left the house, he was followed by his flock, like the faith- ful sheep who knew the voice of their shepherd, till not a member of the church remained behind, and not one of the singers formed the choir.
"The pastor preached to his flock that first sabbath from the text, Nehemiah 6, II, 'Should such a man as I, flee ; and who is there, that being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life ; I will not go in.' An exami- nation of this text with the verses following, and a consid- eration of the use at this time made of them, will reveal the words to have been aptly chosen."
The unitarians asked for the use of the meeting-house one-fourth of the time, or that Mr. Palmer would exchange with ministers of that denomination, or with the universal- ists, that they might enjoy preaching for that part of the time. To this, Mr. Palmer would have agreed, but some of the leading men of his church objected. The truth is it was generally known, that Mr. Thayer was in town on the evening before Mr. Palmer and his people left the church : that Mr. Palmer was in consultation with Mr. Thayer during the evening ; that their meeting was pleas- ant and agreeable ; that then a method, whereby the unita- rians were to have a hearing during one-fourth of the time, was agreed upon by these ministers : but that after they had separated. certain influential church members interviewed Mr. Palmer, and squarely objected to the arrangement : and for the sake of effect, the programme, that was carried out the following day, was ordered. Mr. Palmer's text, on arrival at the school-house, is very good proof of a premeditated act. These two ministers had ex- changed pulpits several times previous to this time. By
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this difficulty, some curious phases of human nature were developed. A short time after this, the congregationalists erected their brick church, repudiated Mr. Palmer, and put in his place an eloquent young man, whom they con- sidered amply qualified to combat unitarianism. On the other hand in almost as brief a time, the unitarians finding themselves masters of the situation so far as the meeting- house was concerned, ordained a minister, took a dislike to him soon after, dismissed him, and, for a time, placed Mr. Palmer back in his old pulpit again.
The conduct of the men of wealth and influence, in the congregational church at that time, towards Mr. Palmer, can never be explained in a manner that will place them in an enviable or even an honorable position. Mr. Palmer never withdrew his connection from the church over which he was ordained, and from which he was dismissed in July, 1830, after a pastorate of thirty and one-half years. After this he preached for some time in Brookline, New Hampshire. Although he was never in indigent circumstances, he was the recipient of many favors from kind-hearted people who sympathized with an elderly gentleman deserted by those who should have been his friends.
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