USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Memorial history of Bradford, Mass. > Part 11
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" (d) It is settled that all legislation that sanctions in any condition the " sale of intoxicating liquor to be drunk as a beverage is morally wrong, "an evil and only evil, deeply mischievous to all the interests of any " community.
" (e) Strong drink produces that exciting, reckless, maddening influ- " ence under which a very large proportion of all the brutal, hideous, vio- " lent crime is committed. Strong drink is raging.
"III. Application. What can be done to save our population from " the woe and sorrows and contentions and babblings and wounds without " cause and redness of eyes ? God has solemnly declared that the drunk- " ard shall not inherit his kingdom. But there is not one only, but many "drunkards in our community. Not one but many in imminent danger " of becoming such. Every one who drinks to inebriation is a drunkard. " What mean those hellish yells, those horrid oaths, those heaven-defying " blasphemies, that break the stillness of the night, and disturb the mid- "night slumbers? What mean those dreadful acts which are an outrage " upon all that is human, which set at defiance the law both of God and " man ? No need of more effort ? What mean the woes and sorrows and " contentions and babblings and wounds without cause and redness of " eyes? There is need, pressing need, of an advance movement for saving "men from the appetite, the character, the doom of the drunkard."
The preaching was regarded as arrogant, and men who were not in sympathy were defiant. The whole town was in fever heat, blood was hot, reason and candor and charity were forgotten. A low class of men and boys, taking advantage of the popular feeling, and pos- sibly urged on by the rumsellers, paraded the streets with an image dressed in new black broadcloth, repre-
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senting the Pastor of this church. They bore it on a rail, a pail of water plainly in front, and a rum bottle half concealed under the arm. The image was sent out in a boat on the river and burned before the rude gaze of vile men. While no respectable person approved this deed it was not openly condemned. Many persons opposed the Pastor; a goodly number clung to him. There were special meetings in the old Academy, when tears fell and tender words were spoken. Strong friend- ships grew up in those sad days which continue in the memory of some now living. The Pastor saw his way clearly, and he acted then as always from sense of duty -he resigned.
On the fifth day of April, 1820, the council met and the pastor was dismissed. These words were placed on the records of the church as the sentiment of the churches represented in council.
"We consider our Reverend Brother Ingraham an orthodox, able, and " faithful minister of Christ, whose labors have been signally owned and " blessed."
Another record stands on the same book as the action of the church.
" Whereas it has pleased the great Head of the Church to dissolve the " connection." &c. "Resolved, that we have ever regarded him as a " faithful Ambassador for Christ, * our confidence in him remains " unimpaired."
' Resolved, That his unwearied efforts to promote the spirituality of this " church * demand our most thankful acknowledgments."
It is evident that a reaction took place after the sep- aration was completed. A young man of prominence in the parish gave voice to a general sentiment when he sought opportunity to make confession to his pastor in these words, "I cast my vote against you for telling me the truth." Mr. Ingraham went from Bradford to the beautiful village of Brandon on the western slope of the Green Mountains of Vermont, and he was emi- nently useful in his labors. His name is very precious among that people. The elders in Israel speak of his
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zeal, his clear, pungent presentation of the truth of God, his unwearied efforts to bring men to personal ac- quaintance with the Lord Jesus.
SEVENTH AND EIGHTH PASTORATES.
The church placed on record its appreciative estimate of its pastor, Rev. Mr. Ingraham, on the same day of the meeting of the dismissing council, and on the 30th day of the next June united in giving a call to the Rev. L. Ives Hoadley, and he was settled Oct. 13, 1830. The churches represented in the installing council were as follows: Church in Theological Seminary, Rev. Ralph Emerson, D. D .; 2d Church, Rowley (now George- town), Rev. Isaac Braman ; Byfield, Rev. Isaac R. Bar- bour; 2d Church, Ipswich, Rev. D. T. Kimball ; 2d Church, Haverhill, Rev. Joseph Coffin; 3d Church, An- dover, Rev. Samuel C. Jackson; 2d Church, Bradford. The services were in the following order; Introductory Prayer, Rev. Spencer F. Beard; Sermon, Rev. Ralph Emerson, D. D .; Consecrating Prayer, Rev. Abijah Cross ; Charge, Rev. Isaac Braman ; Right Hand of Fel- lowship, Rev. S. C. Jackson, D. D. ; Concluding Prayer. Rev. I. R. Barbour.
Mr. Hoadley was born Oct. 25, 1790; graduated at Yale, 1817 ; studied Theology at Andover, Mass; gave the valedictory of his class at graduation; was invited to remain a Resident Licentiate on the Abbot Founda- tion ; assisted Dr. Wisner, of the Old South Church. Boston, part of the year 1820-1; was ordained pastor of the Calvanistic (now Center) Church, in Worcester. Mass, Oct. 15, 1823.
The ministry of this Pastor in Bradford was pleasant to minister and people. He was a peace-maker. The ยท blessing of God attended his labor. Additions were made to the church. The revival scenes of those years
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are among the pleasant memories of many persons now living. Mr. Hoadly was a rare scholar. After his dis- mission, on account of infirm health, he engaged in va- rious editorial labors ; edited the last volume of " The Spirit of the Pilgrims;" labored five years with Rev. Dr. Jenks in editing " The Comprehensive Commentary," his department in the work being the condensation of Henry, the abridgment and adjustment of Scott with Henry; and, in the later part of each volume, the col- lection and making up of many of the notes from a wide range of other authors. He was dismissed from the church in Bradford by the same council which installed his successor, Jan. 30, 1833.
During the ministry of Rev. Moses C. Searle, the subject of church accommodations engaged the attention of the people. The church had worshipped in the meet- ing house on the common for more than eighty years. It was built about 1751. The house had " become de- cayed," and was " less commodious and capacious than was desirable," and it was voted "that it be taken down" Nov., 1833. The old meeting house with its hinged seats, the sounding board, the square pew with balustered rail, the separate seats for the deacons and the elders, the aisles crossing at right angles in front of the pulpit, the three porches around which the people of more than two generations had gathered and through which they had passed in glad solemnity to the worship of God-the old meetinghouse, richer than any that had preceded it in associations, and precious in memory for what it has been-must give place to the new white church with spire and belfry, and narrow pew and cush- ioned seat and polished pulpit of mahogany wood. Mr. Searle did not see the completion. Physicians urged his removal to a warmer clime and he resigned the pastor- ate. The church assented and he was dismissed by a council which met in March, 1834, but by fault of the scribe no record was left, and hence the date of the dismission is uncertain.
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The *new church was "dedicated to the public worship of Almighty God, Oct. 8, 1834." Invocation, Rev. Mil- ton P. Badger, of Andover; prayer by Rev. Isaac Bra- man, of Georgetown; sermon by Rev. Dr. Dimmick, of Newburyport, text Ps. 1. : 2; prayer by Rev. Mr. Kim- . ball, of Ipswich, and benediction by Rev. Mr. Whittle- sey, of Haverhill.
THE CHANGED INDUSTRY.
The agricultural life of the early history continued for a century and a half. After the revolutionary war the people of this country gave more attention to man- ufactures. The increase of population at the commer- cial centers led to the division of labor and the ad- vancement of practical arts and trades. The indepen- dence of the government resulted in the growth of home industries, labor was reorganized, manufactures received a new impulse, and became new factors in the economy of life in the opening of the nineteenth century.
The herds of Bradford had been long restricted by substantial fences from roaming at will in the free " commons," and they no longer wore the brand-mark authorized by the General Court, a bow and arrow, the arrow penetrating the figure of a heart. The produce of the farms is not sufficient to satisfy a laudable am- bition. The increasing population demands new avenues of labor. There is a tradition of a pottery established on Bradford highlands, where brown earthen ware was made for a time. It is within the memory of men that a mill was very busy grinding corn and wheat on the little stream which flows through the Buswell place. Ship building at an early day was carried on by John At- wood and others. Shubal Walker was the pioneer in the manufacture of leather. Johnson's creek had at dif- ferent times three fulling mills, ffour saw mills, two bark
* A very good painting of this church is in the possession of Mrs. D. Fitts, of Bradford.
t Many of these facts are taken from Dr. Perry's discourse, 1820.
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mills and five grist mills, the sluice of one of these "dug by Cuff Dole, a person of color, of remarkable strength, steady habits, and who died in the comfortable hope of a blessed immortality."
The manufacture of shoes was begun in the early part of this century. Indeed it has been shown by a gentleman* of very careful research that this industry was carried on before the revolutionary war. In 1792; Samuel Tenney, and soon after Uriah Gage and Timo- thy Phillips and William Tenney were engaged in the manufacture of " sale shoes" in Bradford. They found market in Boston, Salem, Newburyport and Portland. " They carried their goods to market on horseback." The ambition of the trade was soon developed and ex- tended. Salem vessels carried Bradford shoes to the West Indies. They were sent to the Southern states. A commission house was established in Georgetown, D. C. Trade extended to Philadelphia and to the cities further south, and this manufacture became, after the war of 1812, one of the organized industries of the coun- try. The business was no longer precarious ; the goods were not made as an experiment. The industry had come into being partly, indeed, by the creative agency of men who were gifted with foresight and wisdom but it was also a response to one of the demands of the more com- plex social life. In its later development this trade has assumed vast proportions. It has been the controlling element in the history of the town for many years. It has engaged a large capital. It has extended to every State and Territory. It has gone to the islands of the sea and to South America. Its increase is marked from year to year. In 1838 the manufacturers of Bradford removed their business to Haverhill, and the town has since been a quiet place of residence, while its people * See a very interesting address by H. I. Ordway, Esq. of Boston.
t These facts were gathered in a valuable historical address by Warren Ordway, delivered before the Farmers' and Mechanics' Institute of Brad- ford.
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have been among the most active, industrious and suc- cessful in the pursuit of this prosperous industry. The names of the manufacturers, Montgomery, Hoyt, John- son, Ordway, Webster, Sawyer, Farrar, Kimball, Day, Waldo, Merrill, Ford, Carleton, Durgin, Pearl, Town, Hopkinson, and many others, are familiar to all who know the history of the growth of this town, the comfort of its people, the easy affluence of many of its citizens, and the remarkable freedom from distressing poverty. The good things of this life are never equally dis- tributed ; it would be impossible to maintain a perfect equality if the gifts could be so bestowed. But the ac- tual necessities of the poor in this goodly town are so few that most of them are supplied from private distri- bution of charity. The town poor farm was actually sold for the reason that the town had no paupers to live on it. The town has not yet seen its greatest success. The valley of the Merrimack, growing more beautiful every year, and increasing in population, in thrift, economy and business sagacity, is to be the happy home of a prosper- ous, happy people. The river banks will have more manufactories enlivened with the hum of machinery and the labors of the busy artizans who will carry forward the industry of life, and in the future as in the past achieve success.
NINTH PASTORATE.
During the interval of nearly two years a call was given to Rev. James W. McLane, "a teacher in the Classical School at Andover." The call was declined. An urgent invitation was afterwards extended to Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns to become Pastor. Mr. Stearns had supplied the church for some time but declined the call. Rev. Nathan Munroe, ninth Pastor, was born at Minot (now Auburn), Maine, 1804 ; graduated at Bow- doin College with highest honors ; graduated at Ando-
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ver 1835 ; ordained at Bradford, Feb. 10, 1836. The council was large, and the parts were assigned as fol- lows : introductory prayer, Rev. Mr. Whittlesey ; sermon, Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. ; consecrating prayer, Rev. Dr. Perry ; charge to Pastor, Rev. Dr. Dimmick ; right hand, Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns ; charge to the people, Rev. L. Withington, D. D. The ministry of Mr. Mun- roe is well remembered by a large number of persons now living, and it is not needful to utter at this time their esteem for him and his work. During the second year of his ministry the following memorandum was made in the records of the church, in the hand writing of Dea. Jesse Kimball :
" March 24, 1837. This day died Dea. John Hasseltine, aged 80 years. " The ancesters of Dea. Hasseltine removed from this town to Chester, N. " HI., where he was born in 1756 In early life he came to this place and " made it his residence till his death, He was possessed of much physical " energy, and sustained a good character as a man of integrity and up- " rightness, but knew nothing of religion experimentally until the revival " of 1806, when himself, wife and several children were hopefully made " subjects of renewing grace, and united with this church. In June, 1807, " he was chosen deacon, which office he held till his death, and the active " duties of it to perform with credit to himself, and to the acceptance of ' the church, until his infirmities rendered it necessary to elect another, " which was done by choice of Dea. William Day in 1829. Dea. H. took "a deep interest in the prosperity of the church in this place and of Zion ' generally, and contributed readily to sustain those measures which were " devised in furtherance of this object. He had clear views of the evil of "sin, and especially of his own sinfulness, and continued to supplicate for " mercy to the last. His end, however, was peace, and he died with a " hope full of immortality."
A full generation had passed away since the revival in which Dea. Hasseltine was brought into the church. Mr. Munroe numbers among his parishioners many per- sons who have come from other towns. The population, under the increasing stimulus of trade, has become less stationary. New familes come in, business is more re- munerative at the centres of trade. The result is a changing population ; not fluctuating and migratory, but increasing by valuable accessions from abroad. Mr. Munroe was a faithful Pastor, studious, a strong advo-
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cate of an orderly walk by the members, conservative in his views and in his practice, and thoroughly devoted to his work. His labor was blessed with special seasons of refreshing from on high. Under his ministry the annual meeting of the church on the first Monday of January for prayer and mutual confession and edification, became a regular appointment. It had been the practice of the church to hold that meeting by special vote. Parson Allen was accustomed to ask the church to renew the covenant with the beginning of the year. Sometimes he wrote a special covenant which he asked the members to sign.
The style of Mr. Munroe's preaching on extraordi- nary occasions may be shown by an abstract of a fun- eral sermon. At the same time it may show the char- acter of one who was greatly beloved in this town. Hon. Jesse Kimball, a deacon in the church, died Dec. 19, 1846. Mr. Munroe's sermon at the funeral was pub- lished. Text, Rom. v. : 7 ; subject, The good man. 1. He is a man of strict and unalterable integrity. 2. He is kind, affectionate, benevolent. 3. He regards the lesser duties, his character is symmetrical, he is actuated by princi- ple not impulse. 4. He is humble, unconscious of his own excellence. The daily beauty of his life which is so visible to others, is not the object of his own thoughts and admiration, so much as the standard which he would use, the ideal pattern he would imitate. 5. The crown- ing excellence is piety. To a christian mind the truth is obvious, and to all minds it should be familiar, that " The Christian is the highest style of man."
The sermon closes with a careful delineation of the char- acter of his honored friend. The words which fell from the Pastor's lips will be welcomed again in these pages by that large number of persons who love the memory of that good man. The following extract is very much abridged :
" Dea. Kimball, the son of James and Lucretia Hasseltine Kimball, born " April 15, 1792, was possessed of no ordinary powers of mind, his intellect " clear, perceptions quick, judgment good, his mind carefully cultivated. " Ile was fond of good books, was a careful reader, with the light litera-
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"ture, such as makes the mind feeble and sickly, and, as it were, gives it " the consumption, he had little to do. He loved what was solid, fitted to "give strength .* His love of knowledge was intense. and he became highly
* At the same time Mr. Kimball had a relish for those lighter forms of literature in poetry and works of the fancy and imagination. It is said that he was accustomed to write poetry for his own diversion and for the gratification of his friends. The following lines have been ascribed to him. The subject of the sketch is well remembered by the older residents of Bradford :
Within our knowledge lives a man, And when his earthly course began No one can tell-but this is true : He lives as well as I and you, E'en by himself. The date's forget, And when it was it matters not. His grave appearance seems to show 'Twas more than fifty years ago ; His aspect is of sable hue, His ancestors in Africa grew ; But Providence has fixed his lot In a more highly favored spot. His mansion, neither fine nor great Affords no proof of pomp or state, 'Tis placed beside the public road, On land by charity bestowed, And equi-distant, full in view, The deacon, and the parson, too : The sight is pleasant and serene. There academy and church are seen. When entered into, then and there How white the table and the chair, No less the chest, how soft the bed On which to rest the weary head. The cellar too, and each deposit So kept in view ; but more the closet. Over the fire-place hangs a key, Emblem of trust-and such is he. The church and hearse engross his care, This academy a greater share. A Bible too he can produce, Kept more for custom Than for use.
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" intelligent, fitted to be a companion of men of culture. He was well ac-
For so it happened He who bought him, How to peruse it Never taught him. Was gardener too for all around, He tills their most productive ground.
Under his care, the fertile soil Amply repays the arduous toil ; Day after day he labors hard, And homeward bears his rich reward.
His frugal housewife spreads his board, And shows to what his stores afford. Unlike the Southern tawny race, No despot arises from place to place ; But nurtured in this happy land, He reaps the product of his hand. Thus happily his days are spent, In humble state he rests content ;
Freed from the cares of useless wealth, While luxury robs of health. Thus far my thoughts I have expressed, Howe'er it may affect the rest ; But if you are in like condition, We'll gain redress by a petition. He oft disturbs my morn's repose,- Dissolves my dreaming, drowsy spell, By the noisy tinkling of his bell. To sum the whole to one short view, He's bellman, sexton, collector, too. Thus may he ne'er want for a friend, To do for him what he has done ; A friend both human and divine,
On his last closing hours to shine. Divine, when carthly comforts cease, Bear him to the realms of peace.
Composed by Jesse Kimball, Esq., on the colored man called Joel. A youngster was sent home for pencil and paper, and written under the fence in the field where they had been at work, near Joel's, directly after eating their field dinner.
BRADFORD, MASS., Sept., 1815.
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"quainted with the principles of law. As a man conscientious and pure. "He filled many important offices, was a member of the General Court of " this Commonwealth thirteen years, an active member of the Board of "Trustees of Bradford Academy. He had the entire confidence of all. IIe " was hospitable to strangers, generous, tender and compassionate to the " poor. As a Christian he was sincere, humble, stable, faithful. His "piety was clear, intelligent, warm. He never forgot his covenant with " God, nor his obligations to the church. Ilis life was like the light and " warmth of the sun."
It is not needful to speak at length of the laborious, faithful, fruitful ministry of Munroe. He was successful in no ordinary degree in the benevolent work of the church, he was faithful in doctrine, in discipline; there was a peculiar charm in his conversation, his house was a place of bountiful hospitality. The church was prosperous un- der his ministry. A new house of worship was built, blessed revivals occurred adding many to the fold of Christ.
One of his earlier sermons is well remembered by some who heard it in May, 1837. A brief analysis, and a few extracts, will give some idea of his sermonising. Text, Ps. 17: 15. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Introduction. "This is the language of a devout soul, fully trusting " God. Ile was in the midst of the prosperity of wicked men. From this " earthliness with all its luxury he turns away to catch a glimpse of eter- " nal joys. Three topics : 1. The condition of the Christian in this " world. The Christian is never fully awake in this life, is more or less un- " der the influence of lethargy. The carnal man finds motives to stimu- " late him in everything, the spiritual man can be kept awake only by " light and truth from above. Though the life is renewed, yet there is a "proneness to sleep in the renewed life, while the old man isas wakeful as " ever. The degree of spiritual stupidity is never known by any one this " side heaven. The man who is asleep does not know it till he wakes. " Sometimes Christians are greatly aroused, they are kindled to unwonted "glow ; the worth of the soul, heaven and hell are realities, slumber is "shaken off, but only partially ; even then the soul is only partially "awake. Every soul is capable of an intensity of activity, of which these " better hours are only a slight earnest. In this life the Christian is never " satisfied. He seeks a better, purer life and higher joy. He is compassed " with infirmnity, exposed to sorrow, distressed by the sight of sin which by " all prayers and tears he cannot prevent 2. The change which the " Christian anticipates. (a) He is to awake, the torpor is to be shaken off, " his powers are to stand forth in revived sensibility, life will have new en- " ergy, hindrances are to cease, springs of new emotion are to open their foun-
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" tains within him. (b) The Christian is to awake with the divine likeness, " as we are told, " when he shall appear we shall be like him," have the di- " vine image, never more to be lost or effaced. 3. The condition of the " Christian after this change. He will be satisfied with respect to him- " self, with his condition, his attainments, his employ, his companions, his "prospects. He will be satisfied in respect to God. In some things we " cannot now see the goodness nor even the justice of God. Then all will " be clear. He will be satisfied in regard to the destiny of all created be- "ings. The whole subject of the final destiny is one of perplexity. But ' after the change comes the darkness will be driven away. Reflections. " (a) What obligations the Christian is under to Christ. (b) What " a glorious thing it is for the Christian to die. (c) Behold the infatua- " tion of the worldly-minded Christian."
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