USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Ludlow > Ludlow: a century and a centennial, comprising a sketch of the history of the town of Ludlow, Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 5
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As relics of these days are shown at the present time a shoe worn by Capt. Miller's grandchildren, and a shell used for calling together the " men-folks," whose resonant sounds (those of the shell, not of the men-folks) are said to have been heard three full miles when blown at the brink of the Chicopee.
Passing these interesting reminiscences of this period, let us turn our attention next to events a little later, re- luctantly leaving the tentative days of the grandsires for transactions occurring during the lives of the sires of our present citizens. In the last decade of the century all the districts received the full privileges of towns-a fit- ting transition from older to newer days.
SECTION III.
1800 то 1828.
ECCLESIASTICAL ERA-THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCHES.
Source of civil institutions-Religion in the town in 1800-The con- troversy-A summary proceeding-Suggestive epistle-Exit Mr. Steward-Thurber-Phelps-Union efforts-Hedding-His min- istry-His sacrifice-A new comer-Fast-day services-Alexan- der McLean-Difficulty-Moody-Johns-E. B. Wright-Sketch -Acceptance of call-Ministry-Methodism in 1802-Itinerants -A class-How it died-Later efforts-Dr. Fisk-Isaac Jenni- son-Church built-Repairs on old church-The store-Cemeter- ies-The first hearse-Improvements-A dastardly proposition- War of 1812-Muster at Hadley-The Horse Company-The men of 1812-Desertions-Almost an execution-A souvenir- Schools-Districts-Musical- Log-cabins-Political-Post-office -Wages-Potato crops-A scare-Another scare-Frost's corn -David Paine's death-The Annibal excitement-Theories con- cerning it-A sequel-" Nick and Tarzy "-Town bounds-Pub- lic lands-Roads-Bridges-Succession of bridges at Wallama- numps-Put's bridge-Cooley bridge-The camels-The present Put's bridge-Calkins' manufactures-Other enterprises-A still -Glass works-Wallamanumps privilege-Putnam's scythes- The Jenckes's-The Springfield Manufacturing Co .- Develop- ment of the village.
THE dependence of our civil upon our ecclesiastical in- stitutions must always, in the final argument, be conceded. While some may point to the successes of social institu- tions and municipalities when freed from their primal or forced association with religious theses or observances, the candid inquirer will find himself faced by the fact that the
41
SOURCE OF CIVIL INSTITUTIONS.
ecclesiastical invariably gives birth to the civil. In our ma- turer times the church and state may thrive best without formal interdependence ; but that very maturity to which we may have arrived, really or seemingly, has developed from the incipient supremacy of the church. Governmen- tal laws and social restrictions, educational advantages and commercial facilities, are traceable, surely and directly, to the wholesome religious belief and usages of ancestral wor- thies. Well indeed is it for our generation and those to come, if we concede this principle. The state grows up under the foster care and nurture of the church, finally to go forth at its majority fully prepared for its mission. Let not the child forget its nativity. We deem it no object to seek some artificial title for the period we enter. The establishment of the churches is an import- ant epoch.
It will have been observed that the earlier ecclesiastical references have left the religious affairs of the town in a state of experiment. The Methodist itinerants, flying evangels, have left their pointed message and sped away, with no apparent lasting results. The little handful of Baptists in the east part of the town have gone regularly to their Bethel southward, but extend their influence through an area very limited. The Congregationalists have, it is true, a feeble organization in 1800, and a min- ister of their order settled over the town ; but we have seen how small were their actual numbers and how dissatisfied they were all becoming with their minister, who, though learned and eloquent and pious, must have failed to com- mend himself to Calvinists of the Saybrook or Westmin- ster schools. We shall see two of these three classes of believers in the town thoroughly organized into successful and useful churches before we lose sight of the period whose outlook is before us.
Resuming the controversy over Mr. Steward where we
6
42
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
left it in 1800, the people seem still in earnest about the cessation of his labors in the town.1 The next movement appears to have been made by the friends of the pastor, asking in 1801 for a reconsideration of the action just be- fore taken, but the movement failed in securing approval of the town, at least openly. Some sort of a truce must have been made, however, for the incumbent is still here in October, and foils by his influence, evidently, a move- ment of the opposition " to hire a candidate to preach the gospel." The "ins" are almost always better than the "outs," and possession gave tenure another year, when again the warrant bristled with the notes of war. The presence of even an errant presiding elder would have been welcome, doubtless, for things have come to such a pass that the town fathers feel constrained to try a desper- ate alternative, even "to see what the town will do rela- tive to the Continuance of the Rev" Antipas Steward among us in the manner in which he stays at present, and to take such measures as shall be thought proper to Cause Mr Steward to be Dismissed from any further care of the Church and People in said town." They have stripped from him his revenues, but an insatiate crowd demand also his mitre, and go so far as "to choose a Committee of five members to join a Committee of the Church or any part thereof, to take the most effectual measures to re- move M' Antipas Steward from the Church and People in this town." Two days later the troubled minister re- ceived a suggestive note which has been preserved :
" To the Revnd Antipas Steward, Pastor of the Chh in Ludlow.
Rev. Sir
Whereas the Situation of the Pastor and Church in this place is such as we Suppose need advice and counsel this is to Request you to call a meeting of the Church to see if the pastor chh and town can
1See p. 31.
43
CHURCH AND STATE.
agree upon a mutuall council to advise and direct us what is expedient to be done in our present circumstances
Ludlow, Decm ye 8, 1802.
TIMOTHY KEYES
TYRAS PRATT
JAMES KENDALL
ELISHA HUBBARD
STEPHEN JONES
MOSES WILDER
LEONARD MILLER."
The town committee was thus reinforced by Messrs. Keyes, Pratt, Jones, Wilder, and Miller, probably from the church, while John Jennings, Aaron Colton, and Tim- othy Nash, appointed, for some reason withheld their sig- natures. Of course there was little use to resist such an appeal, and the council met in due time and dismissed Mr. Steward in 1803, a little less than ten years from the date of his installation.2
The Ludlow Israel seems to have tired of a king for a season, for we hear of no attempts at settlement or prop- ositions for protracted service for half a score of years. Rev. Laban Thurber,3 over whose later career a cloud un- fortunately rested, supplied a while in 1805 and 1806, and Abner Phelps in 1808, the latter to " preach out" the town grant of one hundred dollars, which he evidently did to the satisfaction of some. The amount allowed about this time was not to exceed five dollars per Sabbath -not a severe restriction either, as money was valued then. A reluctance to grant money for the support of the gospel is evident very soon, no doubt largely influenced by the primal sounds of the cry for the dissolution of church and state. We shall see that the influence of the teachings of New England dissenters was beginning to be felt, even in Ludlow, as early as 1810. A committee of
2See Mr. Tuck's account of the proposed texts, Note VI.
3A Baptist.
44
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
two from each religious denomination was allowed to sup- ply preaching in that year, Deacon Stephen Jones and William Pease representing the Congregational claims, " Master " Samuel Frost and Uriah Clough the Methodist, and Ezekiel Fuller and Abel Wright the Baptist, but with no appropriation.
A singular state of things comes next to our view, in glancing at the History of Congregationalism. For years its people will welcome to their homes and hearts Method- ist clergymen.
In 1810, or in the succeeding year, came " Elder Elijah Hedding " to Ludlow. Appointed to the New London dis- trict as presiding elder, he found it desirable to move from his itinerant's home at Winchester, N. H., to some conven- ient point in the central part of the field assigned. The feebleness of the denomination in New England at the time is evident from the fact that Mr. Hedding selected Ludlow as his home. His oversight reached from New Hampshire line to Long Island Sound, from Needham to the ridge of the Green Mountains. Finding the ecclesiastical affairs in so lamentable a condition in the town of his adoption, he set himself to remedy the same. Paying no attention to the unsuccessful designs of some to oust him from the town by proposing to have him warned out as having "no visible means of support," the good minister accepted an invitation to preach in the meeting-house on a Sabbath when he was home. Gaining the good-will of the people, he supplied another Sabbath when at liberty, as his district work occupied his time but eight Sabbaths in a quarter. A very satisfactory arrangement was finally made whereby Mr. Hedding supplied the desk every Sabbath at his com- mand, filling up some of the rest with the services of a talented local preacher, Joshua Crowell of Ware. Under this administration prejudices were disarmed very speedily, and all brought into sympathy with the minister thus
45
HEDDING -- MCLEAN.
uniquely combining the duties of presiding elder in the Methodist church and stated supply in the Congregation- alist.
This arrangement lasted as long as Mr. Hedding lived in town-a year. The friendship between the minister and the people was of the warmest kind. His pure life and godly sermons told in spiritual effect. The conference session drew near, and with it the limitation of Mr. Hed- ding's agreement. The people were suited, desired him to stay, asked him to stay. It was a trial to him. On the one hand were home and ample support, a satisfied and loving people-on the other, a life of wandering, with all the uncertainties and privations of the earlier itiner- ancy. Yet he did not waver, but took his next charge without murmuring.
In 1813 the war was raging against Great Britain, and the people were in a state of excitement. All on the sea- coast became nervous, and flocked to the inland regions in troops. Among these refugees from the dangers of the war with England was a small, bright-eyed man from Provincetown, on Cape Cod, who strayed into Ludlow in the Fall. After severe defeats in the north-west, President Madison issued a proclamation for a day of fast- ing. It so happened that the Provincetown stranger arrived here at just about the day appointed for the fast service. He inquired for a meeting, and was told that there was no minister in the town and no service had been appointed. He replied that he was a clergyman, and would be pleased to conduct worship if the people so de- sired. They gladly accepted the proposition, gathered together and listened to a flaming sermon from a Metho- dist local preacher on the fitting text : "The people of Nineveh believed God and proclaimed a fast." Among other good things he hoped that in the company there were "no immoderate eaters and drinkers, no gluttons
46
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
or wine-bibbers." Such was the advent of Alexander McLean into Ludlow.
So pleased were the people with the sermon and the man, that arrangements were at once made for a trial ser- vice of four weeks as minister. The towns-folks then insisted that Mr. McLean should be hired for a year, and he was engaged. Ludlow was henceforth his home. His fac simile is here presented :
Alexander Mr. Lean
Under his administration, continued until 1816, matters went on quite smoothly, at least for a while. True, there were some who objected to the idea of a settled Methodist preacher, but as the town managed the ecclesiastical affairs, there was little room for objection. The causes of disquiet are easily surmised.
In 1814 there was a great mortality in the town, num- bers of homes being made desolate. Under the ministra- tions of evangelists and Mr. McLean a powerful awakening followed, " more extensive," says our informant, "than ever was known in the town before." Large numbers professed a hope in God. Of course a question of church relationship arose. Intimately associated with this was another. Mr. McLean was not, according to existent church rules, competent to administer the ordinances of
baptism and the Lord's supper. Wordy altercations between the parties followed, which were resultful in alienation of feeling. The Congregationalists signed a declaration of church relationship, and would no longer affiliate with the town's minister. In 1817 his official services seem to have terminated. Later in the year the town again authorizes the three denominations to furnish the pulpit supply, but with the proviso that the money should be expended within the meeting-house. An un-
47
REV. E. B. WRIGHT.
successful attempt to press a call to Mr. Eli Moody indicates the presence of that gentleman a little after, while vet- erans speak with animation of frequent supply from Rev. Mr. Johns of South Hadley. In 1819, the society and town unite in calling one destined to bear a leading share in the doings of the town for nearly a score of years.
Rev. Ebenezer Burt Wright was born in Westhampton, and graduated at Williams College in 1814. He pursued theological studies at Andover, was licensed by the Salem Association at Danvers, April, 1817. He was a young man, full of fire and zeal, having a profound conviction of duty and a lofty reverence for his exalted office, when he came as a candidate to Ludlow. The people were pleased with him, and extended a call, which, after earnest and prayerful consideration, he accepted in fitting terms. The character of the man, perhaps, could not be better shown than by excerpta from his letter of compliance. "I regret the disappointment that I may have occasioned by delay- ing my decision so long ; but in a case of so great conse- quence I could not presume. My doubts are at length chiefly removed. There is a God who reigns. I have endeavored to ascertain His will; and I dare not proceed contrary to what His will appears to me to be. * I hope God designs to make me (unworthy as I am) an instrument of building up the kingdom of His Son in this place ; most cheerfully do I devote myself to a people in whose welfare I feel much interest. For you I trust I shall heartily labor, and permit me to expect that my labors will be constantly assisted by your fervent prayers." He was ordained pastor, December 8, 1819.
The influence of such a man in the town could not fail to be salutary in the highest degree. The little band of church members, reduced to about half a dozen when Mr. Steward left, had been, to be sure, increased by revival influences and accessions from other towns. Yet, with no
48
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
organizer and leader, healthy growth was almost impossible. Mr. Wright's ministry was well qualified to induce confi- dence in the society-not only mutual confidence among his own people, but a feeling of respect on part of the scattering numbers of Baptists and slowly increasing company of Methodists, as well as outsiders. When the town has at length commenced the process of divorcement from the church, we see from year to year the records of the clerk referring, probably in accordance with the verbiage of the day, and yet with real or fancied fondness, to "Rev. E. B. Wright's society."
The life and career of Mr. Wright is within the memory of many living, some of the chief actors in the events of his ministry in Ludlow being still upon the stage of action. We have not the liberty of so freely dilating upon trans- actions so recent. His friends should lay away references to the pastorate and pen down reminiscences for future annalists. No one ever questioned his sincerity or purity. The Wilbraham historian appreciatingly speaks of " that saintly man, Ebenezer B. Wright."4 On two occasions,5 having been made acquainted with the real or imaginary weakened financial ability of the town, he relinquished a hundred dollars of his salary. His honesty was proverbial -at times almost leaning to credulity.
Over his life there seems to have come a shade of sor- row. It is not for us to judge where responsibility rests or rested. The story is simple enough, when stripped of its explanations. He was human, and, not unlike others of his race, was charmed by the attractions of a worthy lady in the parish, but one upon whom smile of wealth and rank in position had not rested. There were objec- tions presented by well-meaning persons, very likely pressed beyond judicious limits. His mind was fixed upon
4Stebbins' History, p. 150.
- 51823 and 1827.
JA- BRADLEY-CO.
2 3. Wright
REV. E. B. WRIGHT,
MINISTER OF THE TOWN FOR SIXTEEN YEARS.
49
METHODISM.
the alliance, and, baffled, finally reeled and tottered. Borne away to the care of skilled persons for a while, he recovered and returned, but he returned to celebrate the intended nuptials. The marital life was one of great hap- piness.
Under the administration of Mr. Wright the Society thus obtained that strength and position which has been continued to the present day .. Let us now glance at the history of Methodism during the same period.
It will be remembered that we left the interests of Methodism at a very low state in 1800.6 The itinerants had abandoned the field and left little to remind of labors there save the good seed sowed, which, to all appearances, was buried deeply. But those old itinerants knew no such word as fail, and soon resumed labors in Ludlow. In 1801, probably on invitation of "Master " Frost, the preachers were again invited here, and successfully. Meanwhile the new cause had received accessions. In the Fall of 1801 David Orcutt, perhaps the first class-leader in the town, removed hither, and for seven years at least meetings were held at Samuel Frost's. The circuit preacher who organized the class was Henry Eames, and March 29, 1802, was the date of founding. There were about a dozen members. Augustus Jocelyn, the next cir- cuit preacher, established a Sabbath appointment in Lud- low and spent a considerable portion of his time here.
In August, 1802, occurred a notable event in the his -- tory of the movement-what is now remembered as an "old-fashioned quarterly meeting." The place appointed, of course the house of Samuel Frost,7 being too small was enlarged for the occasion by the addition of a rude shed, covered with brush and tree branches. Preparations com- plete, an audience was not wanting, for crowds assembled.
6See page 32.
7Now the Kellogg place, near Eaton's mills.
7
50
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
A large delegation from the towns around, even as far as East Hartford and Granville and Pomfret, came to the place of rendezvous. The towns-people, of course, were out in force to see the first real demonstration here of what some have been pleased to term "Christianity in earnest." A sermon by the presiding elder, Daniel Ostrander, perhaps his grandest effort, made the occasion memorable to all. From this time to 1808 there were maintained services, private and public,8 without much omission. Among the preachers were Gove, Tucker, Sampson, Norris and Lambord. There was rather de- crease than otherwise in the latter part of the time mentioned, until finally the class was discontinued by Lambord. Uriah Clough, however, gathered together the remnants of the organization into another class after a little delay.
This class seems to have lasted during half a score of years at least. Of course no demonstrations towards a pulpit supply were made during the labors of Hedding and McLean. Yet during the ministry of the latter he seems to have encouraged the visits of Methodist preach- ers, who often, we are told, spoke in the old meeting- house. Quarterly meetings were held in the edifice, and a local preachers' conference once occurred there. He also reorganized the West Middle class on a more perma- nent basis.
After 1816 there was little done by the Methodists for a number of years. Occasional preaching services oc- curred through the town, and the social meetings were more or less faithfully attended. Yet there was little accomplished save by the agitation of the Arminian tenets and preparation for future successes.9 The class
8There was awhile preaching services in two places in town.
9 At about 1820 the opponents of the parish tax law formed an organization under the name of the " Methodist Legal Society," with McLean as nominal pastor.
51
REV. WILBUR FISK.
was almost defunct in 1825, when aid came from an un- expected quarter.
The earlier itinerants were not men of eminent scho- lastic attainments, and hence found themselves at a disad- vantage when before many of the New England people. And yet their natural qualifications were not to be de- spised, while the experience gained in their peculiar work was better for them than a collegiate education. Still advantage would frequently be taken of their lack of specific education by pedantic clergymen of the standing order. Not always did the itinerant come out second best, even in these encounters. The anecdote of Jesse Lee is illustrative of this. An Orthodox minister ad- dressing him in Greek, he replied in Low Dutch, much to the discomfiture of his antagonist, who supposed the response was in Hebrew. When however a graduate of Brown University went into the Methodist itinerancy the new movement received dignity not before obtained this side the sea.
Such were the facts with reference to Wilbur Fisk and his relations to Methodism. As he took the school re- cently established in the northern wilds of Newmarket and transplanted it to the neighboring town of Wilbra- ham, scarcely less undeveloped, the people of the standing order looked on with at least respect. And when this same Wilbur Fisk, as pious as learned, as earnest in mis- sion work as in founding schools, of rare eloquence and rarer earnestness, left his classes behind and rode up into Ludlow to preach the gospel to handfuls of people, the populace began to understand that Methodism had come to town to make its abode here.
Dr. Fisk was not long in winning the confidence and attention of those who were willing to convene at the residence of Rev. Alexander McLean10 to listen to his
1ºThe present home of Joshua Clark.
-
52
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
earnest proclamation of the gospel truth. Soon there was a harvest of souls and a demand for organization into a church. In a few months Mr. Fisk, through Mr. McLean, caused letters missive to be sent through the town, inviting the Methodists and all favorable to the en- terprise, to meet at the house of Zera Fuller11 on the afternoon of February 5, 1827, to consult with reference to "erecting a house for the Public Worship of God, to be located as near the center of the M. E. Society in this
town as possible."12 Soon everything was under way.
Captain Joseph Miller furnished the timber. Rev. Isaac Jennison, preacher, architect and boss-carpenter, went with the old gentleman and his little grandson, (now Dr. Wm. B. Miller of Springfield,) to select the tall straight pines for the sills and posts and plates. They were gath- ered from the forest near Wood's pond, where Sylvester Miller, now lingering with us, cut down the first tree marked. McLean was a valuable and persistent worker in the enterprise, soliciting funds and labor and material the whole town over. Few, if any, were slighted in those invitations. The axe and adze were made to fly, (by none more dexterously than by Parson Jennison,) the patient oxen and sturdy drivers conducted the logs to the mill and soon the hand of Jennison had framed the mas- sive timbers. The crowd who came to that raising saw every stick take its place in order, every mortise receiv- ing its tenon to the very shoulder, every trunnion going home tightly, and no rum to help either, thanks to the advance in temperance principles in half a century.13 At last the work was done and the place ready for the dedi- cation, which occurred, probably, July 5, 1828. The size was 40 by 50 feet.
11Where A. J. Chapin now lives.
12 We take our extract from the letter to Elias Frost, son of Samuel, ever a warm friend to the cause, whose name to-day is " as ointment poured forth."
13See Historical Address, account of raising the church.
53
EXTRAVAGANT INNOVATIONS.
Methodism was now fairly established in the town. Jennison and Noah Perrin supplied the charge that year, while a new minister was appointed to preach after the dedication.
We will glance at other interests in the town before closing the record of this ecclesiastical era.
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