USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Lanesborough > History of town of Lanesborough, Massachusetts, 1741-1905 > Part 2
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ceive a salary (in addition to the enjoyment of the Glebe prop- erty, which. except the house, will not be worth much to me) (f $500. which I presume is as small a sum as will support my family respectably and enable me to exercise the duties of char- ity and hospitality. Fifth. with regard to wood, which, al- though a small matter when divided among a whole parish, is an important item in the expense of a clergyman, I shall leave it altogether to your generosity, believing that whatever your cir- cumstances will enable you to do to render your minister com- fortable, will be cheerfully and willingly performed."
The conditions appear to have been agreed to, for Mr. Shaw was settled and remained for 34 years as rector. I regret to find. however, frequent references in the records of the annual Easter business-meetings to arrearages and delays in paying Mr. Shaw's salary.
The names of the first class presented by Mr. Shaw for con- firmation are of interest. They are as follows :-
Mrs. Miles Powell. Miss Deborah Goodrich,
Miss Maria Curtiss, Miss Lonisa Curtiss,
Miss Jane Butler,
Miss Jane Foote.
Miss C. Butler. Miss Tirzah Harrison.
The early days of Mr. Shaw's ministry witnessed stirring scenes in both church and state. It was in the time of the at- tempted nullification of Federal laws by South Carolina, the first beginning of acts which culminated in secession and con- sequent civil war: it witnessed the rise of the Oxford movement in the church: the publication of the famous Essays and Re- views: the conflict of high church and low church, and broad church, and ritualistic parties; it witnessed the death of Bishop Griswold and the accession of Bishop Eastburn, and the inaugu- ration of more aggressive movements for church extension; it witnessed the organization of domestic and foreign missions in the Episcopal church on a firm basis, and the abandonment of the old style of confining the ministrations of the church to families brought up as church people, and half apologizing for presuming to do even this. Throughout the fresh, stirring life of those days and the controversies incident to them, Mr. Shaw
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kept always a cool head and was pre-eminently a man of peace. He was characterized not by remarkable gifts in some one direc- tion. accompanied by corresponding defects in all others, but by a remarkable poise and symmetry of character, was remarkably well balanced, wise, judicious, sensible: and while some might be over sanguine and others unduly depressed, he was always sound in judgment, even and hopeful in temperament, always consistent and firm and to be depended on: alike the friend and counsellor of the old, the middleaged, and the young; one who could rejoice with them that did rejoice and weep with them that wept, and be, in the best sense of the words, all things to all men. With his happily constructed disposition he lived long years among his people until partial blindness and the growing infirmities of years called for a temporary rest from ac- tive service. His life was one prolonged practising of the Prophet's injunction, "Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little;" a daily unostentatious sowing of good seeds whose fruits are found all over the land, and every- where to the glory and praise of God.
His letter of resignation reads as follows: "For reasons sufficiently urgent and obvious I resign the rectorship of St. Luke's church. I cannot, however, withdraw from a connec- tion formed before most of you were born and which has ever been harmonious and pleasant without painful emotions, and without some degree of anxiety in regard to its results. The parish is now united and flourishing. Its members and re- sources have been much increased during our connection, and although the desire expressed by many friends for a longer continuance among them renders a separation more trying, a ministry of 44 years, 34 of which have been devoted to your service, justifies a temporary respite from parochial cares and responsibilities."
Subsequently to Mr. Shaw's leaving St. Luke's parish his health was so far improved that for nearly 20 years longer he continued to labor in different fields, although not doing full work for a portion of the time.
Soon after leaving Lanesborongh he received from Brown
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University the degree of Doctor of Divinity. At the time of his death he was the oldest clergyman of the church by years of ordination, and also the oldest graduate of Brown University. It is a singular fact that Dr. Burnhans was also the oldest clergyman of the church at the time of his death, and that the same must have been the case, or very nearly the case, with Mr. Humphrey; rather a remarkable record, surely for a single small parish . Before leaving Dr. Shaw, mention should be made of what was perhaps the most important event in his ministry, that is the erection of the present church building.
In 1836, five years after Mr. Shaw's arrival, a building com- mittee consisting of Almon Curtiss, Jason Newton, Stoddard Hubbell, Sherman Curtiss, and Titus Wood contracted with William Babbit and Hiram Crandall to procure materials for and erect a church 60 by 44 feet, walls 26 feet high, to be finished in as good style as the church in Pittsfield, for $2250 and the material of the old church. They also contracted with Solomon Stoddard to prepare the walls, lath, plaster with three coats of hard finish, and put up chimneys, raise tower the same as the Pittsfield church, for $750. On Easter, 1836. the old church was opened for the last time; on the next day it was taken down, by June the walls of the new church were raised; by July the tower was raised: in September it was lathed, plas- tered and painted: on Christmas day it was opened for the first time. During the interval the congregation worshiped in the stone school house. In addition to the sums mentioned, con- siderable more was in point of fact expended for labor and ma- terials. One or two items may be of interest :-
There was paid to Jason Newton for plank, $15: Abial Platt for stone, $176; John Farnum for lime, $48; Benjamin Paul Pratt for stone, oil, and paint, $121; Leonard Seott and Almon Curtiss for work, $55: parties in Pittsfield for supplies and work, $200; making the total cost of church, $3694.61.
On Monday preceding the opening of the church the pews were sold for $3200. The prices paid for some of the pews (which have remained in substantially the same families ever since) may be of interest :-
Almon Curtiss, $115; Nehemiah Talcott, $110, $100; Titus Wood, $100,831: Bradley Sherman, $95: Laban Lasell, $200: Eli Bradley. $105. $85. $40: Stoddard Hubbell, $125; Jason Newton, $150, $60: Joel Bradley, $100; Asahel Sherman, $100. Edward A. Newton also gave $100 for a pew for the Rector's family and also $100 for a pew for elderly people. The remain- ing pews which would make too long a list to be given in full, were sold at prices ranging from $95 to $20. It is noticeable that among the purchasers were Judge Savage and Henry Shaw. and that Bushrod Buck purchased a pew to be for the use of the poor. In addition to this sale of pews some money was raised by subscription, the largest donors being Laban Lasell, $300; N. Talcott, $200; Jason Newton, $200; Eli Bradley, $250: Asahel Sherman, $200; Edward A. Newton, $200. Laban Lasell also purchased a piece of ground to enlarge the church lot.
A new organ was placed in the church about the same time, costing $354. Edward A. Newton and Laban Lasell being the principal donors. This was supplanted in 1862 by the present organ, costing $800, Edward A. Newton, Jedediah Newton and William T. Filley being the largest subscribers, the old organ being sold to St. John's church, North Adams.
The church has been several times repaired and beautified. notably in 1855, being frescoed and carpeted and the present blinds being put on. In 1846 a chandelier was purchased from St. Stephen's church. Pittsfield. On July 22, 1858, the church was struck by lightning during the night on the north west pinnacle of the tower, leaping from this to the roof and tearing the rafters on both sides and entering the church by the north cast window. passing from thence to the ground, tearing every- thing in its course. This necessitated considerable repairs, the first of which was naturally the placing of lightning-rods in position. Of the money required for these repairs Edward A. Newton was the principal donor.
After Dr. Shaw's resignation, the Rev Lewis P. Clover. D. D., was called to the rectorship, which position he held till 1867. His subsequent ministry was mostly in the Middle States. He died recently at an advanced age in Poughkeepsie,
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N. Y. During his incumbeney extensive changes were made in the chancel and a new robing room was erected.
We notice at this stage of the parish's history the beginning of a new order of things which has continued to the present time. Previous to this time not the slightest mention of any ladies' work is found in the records, but on this occasion we find it stated that the ladies raised all the money. The men. however. responded the following year by raising $200 for a new bell, the largest donors being Asahel Sherman, Henry Farnum, and Chauncey Filley.
From 1868 to 1811 the Rev. William C. Mills was rector. His subsequent ministry was in the West. A short time ago he died in San Francisco, holding at that time the position of city missionary. During his residence some $1300 was ex- pended for improvements on the rectory and repairs on the church rendered necessary on account of damage inflicted by a violent tornado. Following Mr. Mills was the Rev. Francis Gilliat, who remained only about six months. He has since officiated in several parishes in different Eastern States.
Following was the Rev. J. S. Pearce, rector from Sept .. 1821 to Sept. 1873. Mr. Pearce subsequently spent eleven years as rector of St. John's church, Northampton, Mass., and is now stationed at the church in Portsmouth, R. I. He died about four years ago.
For about six months after this the Rev. Joshua Morsell. D. D., was rector. Ile went from here to City Island, N. Y., where he died about 15 years ago on Christmas day while in the pulpit.
From 1875 to 18:9 the Rev. C. C. Adams was rector. Dur- ing his incumbency the west end of the church was beautifully decorated: also the Glebe was much improved. Mr. Adams sub- sequently labored in Michigan and Iowa, and is now residing in Connecticut.
On Sept. 4. 1880, the Rev. C. J. Palmer commenced his labors, which have continued to Oct. 2. 1599. Within this period the church has been re-painted. re-carpeted and Te- cushioned; the pews also have been altered: likewise two stained-
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glass windows have been put in position. These improvements have been rendered possible by much hard work on the part of the ladies supplemented by large gifts from Mrs. David L. Sey- mour and family. Lamp-posts have also been placed in front of the new church and a new bell procured by the liberality of Mrs. J. W. Newton.
In April. 1900. Rev. A. B. Morehouse became the Rector and continued in that relation until his death, May, 1902. At pres- ent Rev. Franklin Knight is officiating. In 1898 a beautiful parish house was erected by Mrs. Titus Eddy in memory of her mother, Mrs. David L. Seymour, and dedicated with appropriate services by Bishop Lawrence Sept. 25th of that year.
But to resume the narrative of the civil history of early days. Meanwhile the town was growing and Jannary 20, 1265, was in- corporated. As it was about this time that many other settle- ments were made in this region. the towns comprising it were organized into a county by themselves and were many of them incorporated about the same time, and Gov. Bernard was called upon to assign names to them. This he did, drawing on the names of persons or places with which he had been associated. Coming from Berkshire. Eng., he named the new county after his old home. The town next south of this was named after William Pitt, the prime minister. One member of the privy council at the time was the count of Lanesborongh, and his wife was a person of considerable influence and popularity, as was shown by her being commonly called "Lovely Lanesbor- ongh." This suggested the name of the principal town of the connty. which name. adjective and all, it has borne ever since.
To this region, now rapidly developing, an unusually large percentage of the courtly and aristocratie elements of the State began to flow, including a large number of college graduates. The new community began to take the front rank, which for many years it was destined to hold. in fact for about 80 years. until the tremendous advantage which the building of the rail- roads through certain other towns gained for them the place of ramk which otherwise they never could have secured. Although not near the centers of Revolutionary disturbance, Lanesbor-
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ough was among the first to take a stand for liberty. Three delegates from Lanesborough were at the conference at Stock- bridge July 6, 1774. to calmly but firmly assert the rights of Americans. And at the State convention soon after. Peter Curtiss of Lanesborough was a member of the committee that brought in the resolutions to abstain from tea while it should be taxed, and on Aug. 31st (still two years before the Revolu- tion) the town voted $100 for powder and lead: and a Commit- tee of Safety was appointed consisting of Peter B. Curtiss, Gideon Wheeler, Francis Giteau, Jedediah Hubbell, Nathaniel Williams and Miles Powell. descendants of all of whom are well known to this vicinity. Of these Mr. Curtiss was afterward well known as the first representative in the Legislature from Lanesborough. and Dr. Giteau is conspicuous as an ancestor ol the notorious assassin.
Throughout the war devotion to the cause of Independence continued unabated. and while there were a few Tories, the enormous list of Lanesborough soldiers on the side of indo- pendence would seem as numerous as the able-bodied men in the town could possibly have been. And though the town records give many a pathetic bit of evidence to what straits the people were brought. yet their votes show how little thought of look- ing back ever, crossed their minds.
But the end at last came and peace and independence were assured. But still much remained to be done. As in other parts of the country so in this county the disorders indneed by the war and the increased acquaintance with French enstoms and opinions induced great laxity in religious observances and in the tone of public morals. An idea of the state of things in the neighboring towns at this time may be gained by noucing one or two incidents occurring in the adjoining villages. In one of them, just after the war, an old minister who came to re- visit. his people after an absence of a few years found things as follows: "There was no convenient place in which to assemble for publie worship. Inquiry was made whether the former meeting-house could not be fitted up for the purpose for one Sabbath; but it was found to be impracticable, as the windows
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were broken . the doors had fallen down and the floor had long been occupied by sheep. It was further said that if a meeting should be appointed anywhere else, there would be but little in- terest taken in it, and but few would attend. It was common to devote the day to visiting. sitting in taverns and to horse- racing." So much for the state of things in one of our neighbor- ing towns.
In another. it is related that when a meeting was called to set- tle a minister, no sooner had the question been put than every person present left the room as though to show, by not taking the trouble to vote at all, their contempt for the whole subject.
Of still another town it is stated in a pamphlet written at this time, "In this village the tongue of slander, like the busy hopper of a mill. is never idle; old grudges and aspiring ambi- tion continue to feed the flame.
If these (and they are but samples of many similar state- ments) fairly represent the condition of the times it is not likely that Lanesborough altogether escaped the infection .. Although religion certainly was never openly contemned, the proofs of moral laxity are unhappily abundant; as to the fre- queney of slander nd, political vituperation it is at least sug- gestive that when Dr. Burhans revisited Lanesborough soon aften, he took as the subject of his sermon, "Sins of the Tongue," as though this were a peculiarly appropriate subject.
In civil affairs, matters were in a very unsettled and threat- ening condition. Riots and anarchy were rampant. And for a long time it was uncertain whether the colonies were to rise to the level of their opportunity and form a strong, stable gor- ernment, the future home of uncounted millions, where were to be solved the problems which the old world had failed to meet, or on the other hand were to be a mere horde of petty princi- palities, withont power, influence or prestige, unable to affect the destinies of the world for either good or ill. Seldom have the destinies of the worldl hung on a slenderer thread than when the federal constitution was being debated by the several states and its fortunes hung trembling in the balance. Massa- chusetts was one of the most important of the states. The con-
vention of Massachusetts when it assembled had an undoubted majority of members purposing to vote for rejection. But in the providence of God this was not to be.
A little town among the Berkshire hills had sent a very large man to the convention,-a man of whom Daniel Webster after- wards said that "of all the men he had known this was the one most characterized by sound sense, correct principles and a cor- rect judgment as to public affairs. " Jonathan Smith addressed the convention in a speech (which all may read in the Madison papers) characterized by wonderful adroitness, worthy of the acutest lawyer in discarding all adventitious issues and present- ing the subject in the true light of the supreme momentousness of the situation. His speech did the work. The constitution was ratified, other states fell into line. The United States became a nation and entered on the work that is to remould the world. Well may Lanesborough name her chief hill "Constitution hill," for whatever high calling Providence may have in store for her she is not likely ever to do a work of more lasting consequence than when she sent her chiefest son to the constitutional con- vention of a century ago.
But though Jonathan Smith was her greatest son and his work her greatest contribution to the world's life, yet Lanes- borough had other sons made of similar kind of stuff who were. associated in the inception of other important things. Men like. Henry Shaw, the friend and confidant of the chiefest statesmen of the land, and his son. the chiefest of all the humorous writ- ers America has produced, whose gifted pen has penetrated and shattered many an abuse which mere sermons would have as- sailed in vain: there were men like Briggs, the renowned gov- ernor of the commonwealth. and Barnes, the surgeon-general of the United States, and Volk, the celebrated sculptor, and Tal- cott, who, strong in everything he touched, always at his post in church even walking twelve miles after midnight when de- tained away from home late on Saturday, rather than be ab- sent from church on Sunday morning: there was Hubbell, who in a long life of 100 years, was always a tower and pillar of strength to every good cause, whose devotion to religion was
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such that when deafness made it impossible otherwise to hear the minister. he always sat in the pulpit by the minister's side, so as to hear every word and join intelligently in the services. There were the whole family of Bradleys, each worthy of a separate mention, and the Curtisses and Wheelers, always sure to be foremost in whatever they touched: there was Newton. so long a chief pillar of St. Luke's church and Asa Barnes, one of the leading men of the county. There was Jabez Hall, prom- inent in the war of 1812: and there were many others. like the Shermans and Bucks and Williams and Farnums and Nourses and Lassells and Woods and Bacons, to mention only those most prominent in the records of 50 and 100 years ago. all able co- laborers with these in every good work. Under the guidance of such men as these the town rapidly grew and developed.
Even 80 years ago there were five hotels, three tanneries, five shoe shops. three tailor shops, tive blacksmiths, two cloth dress- ing factories, two wagon shops, five saw mills, one mill for mak- ing spinning wheels besides the grist mills, harness-shops and a number of stores; and chiefest of all the extensive business in marble quarrying.
Some $200,000 worth of marble was sent to different parts of the country, much of which was used in the construction of the most prominent buildings. The interests of religion and education were also duly attended to. Eight large boarding schools, one at least accommodating as many as 150 pupils. have at different times been maintained. Some of these were patronized by pupils from the most distant points, and all stood high in the public estimation. The names of the old teachers. Burhans, Talcott, Tolman, Gilbert, Day. Knapp, Green and others. will awaken memories all over the land. In 1818, the Baptist church was organized through the efforts of Dr. William HI. Tyler and Gov. Briggs, and received its share of the money raised from public taxation. This society grew rapidly and for many years was a power in the community. In 1834 there was a great revival which resulted in the conversion of 170 persons. About 30 years ago a Methodist society was organized which has always maintained its full share of influence in the town.
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A few of the things in the beginnings of which Lanesborough men were prominent may be mentioned. The first definite move- ment to plant the Episcopal church in every considerable town in Massachusetts was made as the result of a motion to that ef- fect by the delegates from this parish .- the towns of Spring- field, Worcester, Pittsfield and Northampton being especially mentioned. The general theological seminary was called into being by a committee of the general convention, of which com- mittee the rector of this parish was a member. The first move- ment to prepare missionary teachers for Africa was made at a gathering in which the same rector was a prominent participant. The first movement to establish misssionary associations in the several parishes to interest them in work beyond their own bor- ders was made by a visitation to every parish in the State. con- ducted by two gentlemen, one of whom was from this parish. The passage of the famous protective tariff bill of 1824, which was such an important epoch in the history of manufacturing in the whole United States, was largely due to the representa- tive from this district whose home was in Lanesborough.
Lanesborough people were the principal originators of the first agricultural society formed in New England, which by annual exhibits and premiums has done much to develop the farming interests. It was on motion of the representative from Lanesborough that the Legislature directed that the dog tax should go to the support of public libraries. And it is a suit- able recompense of this act that Berkshire County should be chief among the counties for size of libraries in proportion to the population, and that Lanesborough should have a larger library than even Boston itself, in proportion to the relative size of the two places.
Such were the men of olden times in this fair village of the hills. Such were the men who went before you, expelled the Indians, felled the forests, subdued the soil. Such were the men who labored, and into whose labors you have entered.
Your problems are not the same as theirs: but in the ever widening stream of human history, they may be not less but more. Theirs it was to prepare and make ready the way, to
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prepare one portion of a great land which was to be an asylum and refage to all the oppressed and persecuted in all this wide and weary world, to afford a place and an environment where they could be remouldled and fashioned into a higher and sweet- er and purer life. To prepare a land of freedom where everyone could unfold and develop what was in him without let or hin- drance. This they did: and into this land strangers from all over the world are flocking in unprecedented numbers: even al- ready about 50 per cent. of your inhabitants are of foreign ex- traction.
It is your work, as that of every town in all this broad land to enter on this work, than which there could be no grander, of elevating. educating. redeeming, saving this seething throng, assimilating and Americanizing them; to raise them to the highest moral stature by your schools, your libraries, your churches, and by the contagion of the atmosphere of your own sweet, pure lives. And in so doing yon may find your own rich est gain. An illustration of our duties and our possibilities in this regard is found in a phenomenon of Nature whose fruits are at our very doors. Long centuries ago the hills and valleys all about us had become exhausted of their wonted powers. The life they once had was all exhausted and they needed enrichment from withont. In the good providence of God vast glaciers from the distant north began to move southward: they gathered up the rocks and soil of all the countries through which they pass- ed: they brought them all in due course of time to the fields about us: at last melting, they deposited a vast mass of new soil thoroughly mixed and ground together, which proved to be just the addition that was needed to restore vitality and richness to the land. Some of the unused debris left by these dissolving glaciers, we see in the Wizard's Glen in our eastern border. In manner like to this, from time to time the original stock of a nation loses its freshness and pristine vitality; and by processes almost as rigorous as the glacier, God sends a new supply of strength from other regions. The replenishing the worn out strength of the Roman Empire by the vast inthix of the Goths with their new. fresh life is but a familiar example of what is over
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