USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Lee > Lee : the centennial celebration and centennial history of the town of Lee, Mass. > Part 18
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Joshua Noble Danforth was the son of Hon. Joshua Danforth, of Pittsfield, who was an officer in the Revolu- tion ; his mother was a daughter of Hon. David Noble, of Williamstown. Born in Pittsfield, 1792, young Danforth fitted for college at Lenox Academy, and graduated at Williams in 1818. After completing the course of theo- logical study at Princeton, his first settlement in the ministry was at Newcastle, Delaware, and his next at Washington, D. C. He had left this and was acting as Agent of the Colonization Society, when he received the call to succeed Dr. Hyde. After leaving Lee, he became pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, at Alexandria, Va. He resigned this, and became a second time an agent for the Colonization Society, continuing in this till just before his death, which occurred at Newcastle, Del., November 14, 1861. He received the degree of D. D., in 1855 from Newark College, Del.
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During the year 1839, the church voted, though un- successfully, to call Rev. Robert McEwen, and then with like ill success, Rev. H. N. Brinsmade, of Pittsfield, Rev. Laurens P. Hickok, of Hudson, Ohio, Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop, of Auburn, N. Y. They voted, 1840, January 24, to call Rev. W. B. Bond, and the call being accepted, the council for his installation met March 18. Rev. Dr. Shepard, was Moderator : Rev. T. S. Clarke, of Stock- bridge, Scribe ; the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Osgood, of Springfield ; the charge was given by the Moderator: and the Right Hand, by Rev. Mr. Brinsmade. After a 6 years' pastorate Rev. Mr. Bond resigned 1846, March 18, and was dismissed April 8. Mr. Bond is still living, and is pastor of the church in New Braintree, Mass. He has many warm friends in Lee, and was pres- ent at the Centennial Celebration.
1846, October 23, the Church voted to call Rev. Ralph Smith of Curtisville, and the council for his installation met December 8. Rev. T. S. Clarke of Stockbridge, was Moderator, and preached the sermon ; Rev. E. B. Andrews of Housatonic, the Scribe, gave the Right Hand ; Rev. J. W. Turner of Great Barrington, gave the Charge; and Rev. Henry Neill of Lenox, the Address. Rev. Mr. Smith resigned 1850, November 8, and was dismissed December 4, and died at Saugerties, N. Y., November 2, 1867, aged 57.
Ralph Smith was born on Long Island, November 24, 1810; graduated at Williams College, 1830, and then studied medicine at New Haven; was ordained pastor of the church at Curtisville, June 26, 1844. After leaving Lee, he preached at Milton, Conn. From September, 1851, till May, 1855, he . was pastor at Cornwall, Conn. ; then stated supply at Trumbull, Conn. ; pastor at Wol- cottville, from April, 1856, to September, 1857; at New Canaan, from May, 1860, to April, 1864. Mr. Smith was
Engraved by A H. Ritchie.
truly yours Nahum Gale
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a man of more than ordinary ability. He was an orig- inal thinker and a close observer of men and things, but not a systematic student. Some of his sermons showed genius of a high order, but he often neglected prepara- tion for the Sabbath till Saturday evening, and as a con- sequence his pulpit performances were not always up to his own standard: As a pastor, also, he failed in some essential particulars, but his most intimate friends cherish his memory with great respect.
1851, February 14, the Church invited Rev. Sereno D. Clarke to become their pastor, and he was installed by a council that met June 10, 1851. Rev. Heman Humph- rey, D. D., was Moderator, and preached the sermon ; Rev. W. H. Phelps of Curtisville, Scribe ; Rev. Samuel Harris gave the Right Hand; Rev. Dr. Todd, the Charge ; Rev. Henry Neill, the Address. At the first anniversary of his installation, June 11, 1852, the pastor tendered his resignation, and was dismissed by council, June 22. Mr. Clarke was a scholar, a good preacher, and faithful pas- tor, but for some reason never seemed to feel at home in Lee, and though during his pastorate there was unusual religious interest, he did not incline to stay long enough to harvest the fruit of his labors. He is still living, de- voting much of his time to literary pursuits. He writes a strong magazine article, and has published several works that reflect credit upon their author.
1853, July 4, a unanimous call was extended to Rev. Nahum Gale, Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the Theological Institute at East Windsor, Conn. The coun- cil for his installation met, 1853, August 31. Rev. Dr. Field was Moderator, and gave the Charge; Rev. W. H. Phelps, Scribe; Rev. Dr. Tyler preached the Sermon ; Rev. Mr. Harris of the South Church, Pittsfield, gave the Right Hand; and Rev. Dr. Todd the Address to the Peo- ple. Dr. Gale's pastorate continued till his death, which
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occurred September, 18, 1876.» The outline facts of Dr. Gale's life are as follows : Born at Auburn, Mass., March 6, 1812; removed to Worcester in early life, where he was apprenticed to learn the carpenters' trade ; becoming interested in religion, he determined to get an education and be an ambassador for Christ; fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover ; graduated at Amherst Col- lege in 1837; taught the Amherst Academy two years ; graduated from East Windsor Seminary in 1841; was or- dained at Ware, Mass., June 22, 1842; married Mar- tha Tyler, daughter of Rev. Dr. Bennett Tyler, August 10, 1843 ; became professor in East Windsor Theological Seminary in 1851, and was installed pastor of the Con- gregational Church in Lee, September 1, 1853.
Dr. Gale was no ordinary man. His intellect was nat- urally vigorous, and he strengthened it by diligent study and by intercourse with intelligent society. He had the rare executive faculty of making the most of himself and of all by whom he was surrounded. His long pastorate of twenty-three years in Lee, left an impression on the church and society, second only to that of Dr. Hyde. His forte, as he said himself, was in the pulpit, and not in parochial visits. When stimulated by congenial soci- ety, his conversational powers were of a high order. He had a wonderful store of facts and anecdotes in his memory, and could recall those pertinent to the occasion and the topic under discussion. This rendered his conversation brilliant and humorous. This humor, however, never cropped out in the pulpit. There he was always grave. His preaching was logical rather than emotional. To the cause of missions he was ardently devoted ; was a cor- porate member of the American Board of Commission- ers for Foreign Missions, and seldom, if ever failed to be present at the annual meetings. Education also received from him its due share of attention. At the
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time of his death, he was a Trustee of Williams Col- lege, and had been for fifteen years. He died in the midst of his usefulness, sincerely mourned by his church and congregation, who erected a fitting monument to his memory.
February 13, 1877, the church and parish united very harmoniously in extending a call to Rev. Lyman S. Row- land of Saratoga, N. Y., to become their pastor. The call was accepted, and he was installed April 5. Presi- dent Seelye of Amherst College, preaching the installa- tion sermon. Dr. Gale was so able a preacher, and held so prominent a place in church and society, that it was feared it would be difficult to find a successor to fill the position, but Mr. Rowland received an unanimous call, and has steadily gained in the affection and respect of his people since his installation.
BENEVOLENT OPERATIONS.
1797, April 4, the church voted that it would be expe- dient to do everything in their power to encourage and forward the design of the New York Missionary Society, and that a contribution should be proposed the next Sab- bath. The sum collected, April 16, was $32.50, a liberal contribution for those times, which was forwarded to the New York Missionary Society. Contributions continued to be made occasionally to the Foreign Mission Cause, gradually increasing in amount, till the organization of the American Board in 1810, when more systematic ef- forts took the place of spasmodic contributions.
The Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society was formed 1798, February 21, and up to 1829, its collections amounted to $13,776.03. Of this sum, Lee contributed $708.73. The Church, after this time, sents its contri- butions directly to the American Home Missionary Soci- ety. Of this latter organization, Lee has ever been a
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faithful auxiliary, the annual contributions for Home Missions through this channel, now amounting to over six hundred dollars.
The Berkshire Bible Society was organized, 1817, June 17, one year after the institution of the American Bible Society, and Lee has ever been one of the foremost of its auxiliaries, though the contributions of late years have not increased in the same ratio with those to Foreign and Home Missions, indeed, they have decreased. The annual donations for the past few years have amounted to about $100.
1825, June 15, the Berkshire Missionary Society was formed, auxiliary to the American Board of Commission- ers for Foreign Missions, with auxiliaries in the sev- eral towns of the county. Lee took an active interest in the cause of missions at an early day, the young men forming an association to work for its support. The plan was to take a piece of land and raise corn upon it, the proceeds of which were devoted to the cause of missions. After the establishment of the Lee Auxiliary Missionary Society, the mode of raising funds by personal solicitation was adopted, and solicitors, both male and female, were appointed in each school district. The result was a large increase in the amount of contri- butions, and the flow of benevolence in this direction was still further augmented when Dr. Gale became pastor of the Congregational Church. The amount now annually contributed to Foreign Missions by the united effort of the gentlemen and ladies' associations, does not vary much from $1,000. Smaller sums are also annually con- tributed to the American Missionary Association, the American Tract and Education Societies, the Congrega- tional Union and the Congregational Publishing organiz- ations.
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COLONIZING A NEW CHURCH.
1811, June 2, the Church, in giving letters te Jedediah Crocker and wife, Mrs. Moses Hall, and Mrs. Abijah Crosby, about to remove to Ohio, expressed their opinion that it was expedient for them to settle near those going from Lenox, and form themselves into a church. Such a church was actually constituted in this town-a part of the members connected with the Congregational Church of Dover, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, having been till then members of the Church in Lee.
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
The Lee Congregational Sunday-School was organized about the time when the interest of the Massachusetts churches was first aroused in the question of providing public religious instruction on the Sabbath for the young. In Dr. Hyde's hand-writing in the Church records, we read :- "June 10, 1819, at a Church meeting, the pastor introduced the subject of Sabbath-Schools, and after free conversation it was voted to establish one in this town. The following . brethren were chosen a Committee to make arrangements for that purpose, viz .: Josiah Yale, Deacon David Ingersoll, Oliver Kellogg, Asahel Foote, Ephraim Sheldon, Jared Ingersoll, and Josiah Spencer." The School was organized soon after, at the Center School-house ; and when the classes were formed, marched in procession to the Church. Deacon Josiah Spencer, who removed to the West in 1832, was the first Superin- tendent. The recitations of the scholars were their own selections from the Bible, and from Dwight's hymn book. The second Summer, Hannah Crosby (now Mrs. Henry Sınith) recited 6,000 verses, and received a prize. The number of scholars was 60 to 70, mostly between the age of eight and fifteen. Deacon Spencer soon established a branch school at South Lee. For several years a
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Committee was annually appointed to revive the Sabbath- School, which was suspended during the Winter season. In 1826, June 9, " the Church voted to become the Sab- bath-School Society of Lee, and to be an auxiliary to the Massachusetts Sabbath-School Union." 1829, April 17, when the School numbered 230, and 70 more were in Bible classes, Deacon Nathan Bassett was chosen by the Church, Sunday-School Superintendent; William Porter, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer; Abner Taylor, Librarian. The Church had voted, 1824, September 9, that some part of the semi-annual collection for the American Education Society be appropriated to the purchase of books and tracts for the children belonging to the Sabbath-School.
Committees some years appointed to bring in scholars would largely increase the numbers in spite of interrup- tions occasioned by the death or removal of pastors. When Deacon Caleb Belden was chosen Superintendent, special efforts were made to furnish clothing to any poor children. In 1853, when Dr. Gale became pastor, the library was small, the different classes had different lessons, the children were fewer than now, the singing was chiefly by adults, and the Sunday-school concerts were seldom attended by the children. In 1861 and 1862, class-books were kept, and the number of verses learned, marked. New books were added to the library of a higher grade, and a new system of library registration adopted. Christ- mas was observed with festivities appropriate for children. In the Spring of 1867, many of the scholars felt the breathings of a better life. Seventy-five from the school during the period of five years preceding and including this, connected themselves with the church. Benevolent contributions increased year by year. Previous to 1857, the amount annually collected, averaging $50.00. With increasing experience the management of the Sunday- school improved, and this was seen not only in the mode
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of instruction, but also in better question-books, and an enlarged library. The Semi-Centennial of the school was celebrated with appropriate exercises, 1869, December 23. Dr. Gale's address and the other proceedings, so far as they could be made a matter of record, were published by vote of the church. The school has for some years past supported a teacher among the freedmen, making its do- nation through the American Missionary Association, by whom the teacher is appointed. At no period of its history was the Sunday-school doing better work than under its present management.
SINGING IN CHURCH.
In addition to what Dr. Gale has said of the arrange- ments for singing in the old meeting-house, special credit should be given to the people of those early days of poverty and struggle, who yet were determined not only to build a meeting-house second to none in the county for elegance and convenience, but also to secure as good instruction as the times could afford for the better per- formance of the service of praise. 1802, November 1, $40.00 were voted to support singing under the direction of the Selectmen. Their varied duties and responsibili- ties made their office no sinecure To be "Musical Director " in these days is supposed to require some knowledge of the art: but perhaps this putting responsi- bility upon officials brought out latent talent as giving everybody the right of suffrage, is supposed to develop good qualities as citizens.
1783, July 18, the church " chose Mr. David inger- soll, choriester." The town afterwards made special appropriation for singing, as for instance, in 1812, May 4, voting for this purpose $60.00. Alvan and William Ingersoll, sons of Deacon David Ingersoll, were promi- nent singers and leaders. Among others remembered as
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prominent in the service of song in the earlier days, are Abner Taylor, Sylvanus Foote, Ebenezer Bradley, Gurdon J. Hollister, and Capt. James Landers.
The only instrumental accompaniment for many years, -- and even that was regarded by many as an abomination when first introduced,-was the bass viol, which for more than a score of years was played by Capt. Landers. He guarded it as carefully as he would a favorite child, bringing it with him every Sabbath from his home, and arousing approving admiration by his masterly handling of the well-rosined bow. Capt. Hollister occasionally played the flute, but the bass-viol was for a long period regarded as the all-sufficient accompaniment to the voices of the singers as they led in the choral harmonies of Old Hundred and Duke Street, or in the different parts chased each other in the favorite fugue tunes of Northfield or Lenox. In 1852, an organ was placed in the church at an expense of $1,300, which amount was raised by sub- · scription, many members of the church and parish object- ing to praising God with wind instruments. This organ was burned with the church in 1857, but was replaced by a larger and better one the following year.
CHURCH EDIFICES.
" The first religious meeting, as has been said, was held in Deacon Oliver West's barn. The meeting was after- wards held in Peter Wilcox' barn, which stood in the rear of what is now Dr. Wright's house on Main street. The meetings were held in Mr. Wilcox' barn, and in the unfinished chamber of Lyman Foote's house, until 1780, when they were held in the meeting-house, then first built. The town voted, 1778, November 16, " to build a meeting-house, 48 by 36, and that £700 be raised to defray the expense." This vote was not carried into effect, for the next year, December 7, 1779, the town
JULIA M TOLMAN DEI
FIRST CHURCH .- BUILT IN 1780.
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passed the following votes : " To build a meeting-house in and for the use of the town, of 50 feet long, and 36 feet feet wide. That Hope Davis, Job Hamblin, Oliver West, Peter Wilcox, Levi Nye, Samuel Porter, Prince West, Daniel Church, and Noah Crocker, be a committee to build a meeting-house, where the town shall agree to set it, and sell the pew spots at a public vendue, except the town will agree to pay them some other way." " Voted, to set the meeting-house where the last committee set the stake."
The building committee were required to give bonds to the town, probably that they would build according to the votes. The various contradictory motions passed 1781, August 28, will show the tribulations and perplexi- ties of a building committee, aggravated by a more than ordinary amount of human perversity in the people of the town.
" A motion made to see if the town will take the meeting-house of the committee, and pay their cost ; passed in the negative."
" Motion made, to see if the town will sell the seat ground, to pay the cost of finishing the meeting-house, passed in the negative."
" Motion to see if the town will raise any sum of money to lay out on the meeting-house, passed in the negative."
The town voted, 1784, January 13, to chose a " com- mittee to take into consideration the affairs of the build- ing the meeting-house, and see whether the former committee have fulfilled their agreement. This investi- gating committee either did not find affairs to their mind, or the town had no mind to discharge them from their unfinished trust, for in March, there was “ no vote to give up the bond to the committee, who built the meeting- house."
The next year, May, 1785, the town " voted to choose
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a committee of three men, to settle with the committee that built the meeting-house." After appointing this settling committee, questions came up respecting " the bond," " alterations in the inside," and selling the pew next to the pulpit stairs. " At an adjourned meeting, the meeting-house was accepted, the bond given up, and the committee allowed to sell 'pew-spots,' according to their contract with the town. At the same meeting, the town raised £18 to pay for a pew and pew spot, next the pulpit stairs, and gangway leading into the west porch." The word gangway, here applied to an aisle of a church, indicates that seamen's language was brought to these mountains from "the Cape." The pew was bought for the use of the minister, when the town should have one ; and as they had no minister at this time, two of the peo- ple were allowed to " improve the pew " at the cus- tomary rent till it should be wanted.
When the proposition was made, a fortnight later, that the town " purchase the whole of the meeting-house," it was negatived, nor would the town vote to raise £50 " to finish the meeting-house." Yet in November it was " voted to raise £50 for flaging the meeting-house and
building seats in the same." 1789, May 11, the town " voted to raise £9 to pay Peter Wilcox for the land on which the meeting-house stands." The question of finish- ing the meeting-house, and even of enlarging it, came up very often for the next eight years. 1796, April, it was voted that individuals shall have the privilege of building pews in the porch alleys, and selling them toward defray- ing the expense. It is doubtful if any one took advant- age of this vote to speculate in church property, for the question of building a new meeting-house took the place of all questions pertaining to the old one.
The location of the first church is fixed by the site of the well dug near it. It was built on the east side of what
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is now the park, and faced the south. The road as it turns the corner, east of the park, passes over the old well. There was no steeple, nor tower, nor bell. The sides were sheathed up with wide unpainted boards. There was a projection or porch in front, 8 feet wide, ex- tending over one-third the width of the building. Simi- lar projections were put up over the other doors on the east and the west ends. For several years, the meeting- house had no glass windows, no stationary seats, no door- step, and never was lathed. The style of architecture, says Dr Gale, was " of the composite order, a combina- tion of what may be called the square box and primitive Gothic." The frame, composed of massive timbers, rough as the woodman's axe left them, was all exposed from the floor to the ridge pole. Through the triangles made by the braces, staging poles were inserted, and on this roost, spanning the room, a daring boy is known to have perched on the Sabbath, remaining there through the afternoon service. The square pews occupied the larger part of the floor. There were galleries on three sides : in the front of each gallery was one long seat : back of this seat in the side galleries were four square pews; in the rear of the seat in the end gallery, three such pews. The singers stood in the front seat, with their leader. On one side of the only door of entrance sat Daniel San- tee, the negro, with his long cane in hand, and Betty, his wife, sat on the other side of the door. Daniel faithfully kept the unruly dogs out of the church, and was a terror also to all roguish boys within. In a plain pulpit, fast- ened to the north end of the house, midway from the floor to the plates stood the young minister. Over the pulpit was the indispensable sounding-board, for in those days it was thought that the voice of the preacher would not descend to the pews, if there was not something over his head to prevent the sound from rising. No cushions
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relieved the discomfort of the rude seats; no stove quieted the chattering teeth during the cold Berkshire winters. Such was the place in which for twenty years our fathers worshipped God."
THE CHURCH BUILT A. D. 1800.
The story of the building of the new meeting-house has been told with all needful fullness of detail by Rev. Dr. Gale, and can be only briefly summed up in this his- torical review.
The question of building a new church edifice came up as early as 1796 ; but year after year, found it diffi- cult for the people to agree how this should be done. One method, adopted in 1799, was to "class the pews," dividing them into five classes, of different values, $25 to $75, each subscriber agreeing to pay for a pew of a cer- tain class. But the amount raised, $3,475, was not what had been desired. Then it was voted to vendue the pews. 56 individuals bought 58 pews. No pew brought less than $50. Ebenezer West gave $99.50 for one pew. Josiah Yale bid off four for $268.50. A building commit- tee was chosen, Josiah Yale, Joseph Whiton, Seth Backus, Nathan Dillingham, Nathan Bassett. The committee were to assign each man's lot of material for the pur- pose of building. In May, 1800, the plan of venduing the pews, was abandoned, the town voting to build by subscription if $4,000 can be raised. The raising took place, July 4th, 1800. It was a day of great interest. Under an awning, the ladies furnished breakfast for 100 men. Cannon were fired, the drum and fife were played. There was no religious service, at the laying of the cor- ner stone, but Dr. Hyde offered prayer at the raising, and came down every morning to conduct family worship at Mr. Foote's for the men who were at work. At the rais- ing, a stick of timber eight inches square, stood eight or
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