USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Memorial history of Bradford, Mass. > Part 12
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After leaving the pastorate, owing to the failure of health, Mr. Munroe engaged in labor for the American Sunday School Union, and subsequently he became edi- tor of the Boston Recorder in connection with Rev. Parsons Cooke, who was his life-long friend. He con- tinued to reside in Bradford till his death, and he sleeps under the evergreens in the new cemetery with the generation he so faithfully served. His memory is faithfully cherished by those who still remain to testify to his fidelity in the gospel.
TENTH PASTORATE.
Genial, scholarly, versatile McCollom; born in Salem, N. Y., 1814; graduated Dartmouth College, 1835; tutor Dartmouth College, 1837-8; graduated Andover, 1840; ordained Pittston, Me .; installed, Great Falls, 1844 and at Bradford, Jan. 25, 1854. The church welcomed him heartily. His ministry continued pleasantly through twelve years, in which the church was strengthened, often refreshed and quickened and enlarged. The re- vival of 1857-8, which blessed the churches so widely through the land was here a renewal of life. The peo- ple with the pastor bowed in prayer and devotion that they might rise and go forth with fresh zeal to the work of the master.
Mr. McCollom was a good sermonizer, his style fresh,
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his thoughts practical, his manner pleasing and earnest. He was peculiarly happy in his addresses to the young. The following analysis may show the style of his ad- dress and the earnestness of his spirit. The sermon was written after leaving Bradford. Text, 1 John, 2: 13.
" Words written by a very old man, nearly a hundred years had passed "over his head, his own work almost done. The venerable apostle looks "with deepest interest upon the energy, elasticity, vitality, strength of "young men. He knew the possibilities of good garnered in them. He "knew the temptations and dangers and responsibilities. In the same "spirit I address you, young men, to-night. (a) My first advice is, " Look well to your strength, for your strength may be your temptation, " and your weakness may be your ruin or may be brought by culture and " care, so as to be your salvation here and hereafter. The old heathen " exhortation is good enough to be Christian advice, 'know thyself.' Close " beside every virtue lurks a temptation urging you to turn your good into " evil, virtue easily degenerates into vice. Courage is a good thing, but " it easily degenerates into rashness. Benedict Arnold had courage, but " the whole army had not a more reckless, useless, dangerous officer. (b) "Be governed by Christian principle. First, last and always be a Christ- " ian. You are starting, the sea is bright, beautiful. Courage, then, "spread the sail, steer for the land of the blessed ; what doth hinder? " The sea is treacherous; sunken rocks, currents, whirlwinds, many a " long line of breakers ahead. How are you to navigate such a sea ? There "is a chart, a compass, a sure rudder, there is an anchor ; take these, "you know what they are. (c) Be thoughtful. I mean not reverie but "sober, earnest, continuous thought. Reflection separates man from the " brute, it allies him to angels. God allows strong stimulants to act upon " us, leading us to think, and to be eager for knowledge. Nature is before us, " with mysteries in power, glory, beauty ; deep, solemn voices come down " from heaven and up from the earth, and within are still more solemn " voices, whisperings, questionings, shadowy recollections, longings for " truth. 'Who am I ?' they are saying 'Whither am I going?' But " let me caution you. Do not make the common mistake of regarding skep- " ticism and infidelity as proofs of thought and strength. (d) Be ac- " tive You have a work to do ; do it faithfully, earnestly. Action is the "rich fruit of meditation. Thought and action are essential. To act "without thought is frivolous, to think without action is barren. (e) Be " watchful against temptation. Life will be a rough road even though " you are started for the eternal city. What shall we do then ? The Apos- "tle tells you : 'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be " strong.' Let me tell you a secret, my young friends : unless you are care- " ful you will watch when there is the least danger, and leave danger un- " guarded. Men are afaid of breaking down when they are strongest, " but are not afraid of their weakness. No man is so afraid of rash gen-
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" erosity as the close-fisted man who was never known to do a generous " thing.
The ministry of Mr. MeCollom was a delight to the whole people. His sermons were able, the variety of his topics suited all ages and every class of mind. During the civil war he was absent for several months with the soldiers, acting under the Christian Commis- sion. His words of cheer in the army, in many a tent, by many a soldier's sick bed, will be long remembered by those who fought the battles of their country. It was a strange thing that bonds so strong as those ex- isting between pastor and people should be severed. But under the influence of a call from the church in Medford, the pastor resigned and the people reluctantly consented, and he was dismissed Sept. 20, 1865, by a council which left for record these words, " His ability, his courteousness, his manliness, and his christian char- acter have endeared him to the churches around, who will unite with this church in deep regret at his de- parture." Mr. McCollom often preached in Bradford after the close of his pastorate. He welcomed his suc- cessor, the present pastor, to the place to which the church had called him, and at the installation, Jan. 11, 1866, he gave the charge to the people with words of love and wisdom, and gave to the new pastoral relation his heartfelt and prayerful benediction. Where, a few years after, the Lord called him home from the labor of earth to the reward of heaven, loving hands bore his precious form and laid it tenderly in its resting place that he might sleep with the great number to whom he had ministered, who now rest from their labors.
I shall not enter upon the years that follow. The church holds on in its chosen way. Two seasons of special revival have encouraged the people and added large numbers to the church since the present pastorate began. The population has increased largely, the work of the church is enlarged, the hope of the people is still in the favor and blessing of God.
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Thus we have followed along the pathway of the two hundred years. The footpath of the Yorkshire herdsmen has grown broader. The forests have cleared away ; the river which then unmolested took its way to the sea now turns the wheels of our prosperous in- dustry and floats on its bosom the burden of an in- creasing trade. We look abroad upon a people in the full enjoyment of civilization and refinement and afflu- ence, and we behold a populous commonwealth with its free institutions and its still glowing promise of the rarer glory in the coming days.
The times are auspicious. This church enters on its third century of life in the most hopeful day the world has ever seen. The church of every name and in all the world, after centuries of halting, has fairly com- mitted itself to the aggressive work in carrying the gospel to every creature under heaven. All paths of commerce become the thoroughfares of the gospel. Lib- eral sentiment is the sign of the times. Imperial power melts away, all nations are becoming free, it is the in- evitable progress of events. The thought of the exiled Puritan which was in his soul as the exalted vision has become the experience of mankind.
One thing we are to remember. The Yorkshire men, those heroes in the primitive life, who laid the founda- tions, were men of faith and reverence for God. They believed what God said. The " Thus saith God" was ultimate authority. The voice of all that sainted throng who in these two hundred years have passed to the ยท life beyond, would be one in this, "Trust God and follow him."
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES.
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES.
ROWLEY AND BRADFORD.
Address by Rev. John Pike, D. D., of Rowley.
It was fitting that the church at Bradford in celebrat- ing its two hundred years of life should recognize the mother church at Rowley, and it was peculiarly pleasant to receive, through him who was the pastor of that church during a whole generation, her salutations and benedictions. After the opening services the venerable pastor spoke as follows : Mr. President :
I congratulate you and your associates that you have reached this memorable occasion, and, also, that as the first-born, you have distanced the mother in the pursuit and possession of much which concerns the life here and that beyond. Yet, as this is your natal day, and the period when the doctine of heredity is pressed so far to the front, it seems to be wise that after the Scripture, song and prayer, you should be reminded of the original in which the possibilities of your past, pres- ent and future, were included. The leaping brook, the clear stream, the dashing waterfall, the rapid river, wide and deep, pressing on toward the sea ; and all the sur- roundings which they fertilize, hang upon the lakelet far away among the hills. So the generations that have . here fallen asleep, and that which now survives are united as effect, and cause, with the colony upon vonder shore that had a character which was formed amid the embarrassments of the old world, and matured while battling with the seas, and subduing the forests, and in
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those unfinished homes, the blaze of whose fire was an image of their brightness and contentment, and whose life was one of self-sacrifice and devotion unto God. When I consider the three earlier Pastors of the mother church : Ezekiel Rogers, who was a fortress of defence against the satanic attacks of the old world, upon his faith and practice, and only left, when he could take the aggressive for God in a new and larger sphere, and who had such genius and piety, that he drew most skil- fully from the vast storehouse of knowledge; so that from Andover all around to the sea, they came to his Thursday lecture to catch and bear away the fire of his thought, and, even to the last, was said to be a tree so loaded with fruit, that the branches bent so low that the very children could pluck, eat and live : Samuel Phillips who, second in time, was side by side with the first in power, whose culture was unusually great, and whose benevolence was high, deep and broad, passing down in the family line, till it brightly shone in the Academies of Exeter and Andover, the Theological Sem- inary, and the lesser ornaments of city and country : Samuel Shepard so wonderful in the delicacy of his disposition and in the fervor of his piety, that it seems not strange that he should after only three years of ser- vice here, be wanted among the stars of light. When, I say, I consider these, under whose ministry your an- cestry were placed, I shall naturally think that through this triple channel have flowed, and been deposited in the place where we now stand, those finer and stronger elements which make your higher intelligence possible, the reception of the word and works of grace more easy, and the struggle for personal salvation more certain and successful. We look back, then, to Rowley, and see those influences coming up like the mist which rose at the bidding of God, to make the early Paradise lovely and fruitful, and spreading over the large territory which was covered for years by its sacred but homely
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name, so that it seemed like the land of Judea, not so much for its luxuriant products, as for some of its im- mortal men, whose courage, energy and piety, were a power infusing, with every day, life into others, and which led them to die upon this hill ; while with strengthened eye and prophetic vision they looked out upon the re- gion yet to be possessed and saw inscribed upon its ris- ing population, " Freedom to worship God," " A church without a bishop, and a state without a king."
There are certain things in which the mother church and her earliest daughter have been in the larger part of their career upon the same line. Manifestly, they have been one in the idea of a permanent ministry. Both have seemed as indisposed to change their Pastors, or substitute for them stated supplies, as a happy family would be to change its father, or appoint a guardian in his place. Permanence was to the mother, so like the laws of nature, that for one hundred and thirty-five years she was not for a single day without a settled Pastor, and passed one hundred and seventy-one years of her memorable life, before she ventured to dismiss one. The parents were his, and the children his, and there was time enough allowed for him to put the signa- ture upon both which would be acknowledged at the gate of heaven, and allow him to preach still from his dust, when his voice was silenced in the church and home. The picture of those years may be more easily imagined, than correctly drawn. The area of toil was large, but the energy, skill and patience, were in propor- tion to the demand. Seldom did they raise the Mace- donian cry to others, "Come over and help us." and as seldom did they think of any easier way of coming to Christ, than by beholding the sights and hearing the sounds of Sinai, where sin was made so fearful that many entered with higher gratitude, and with a better trust upon the great highway of holiness, where was written, and sounding at every step of their pilgrimage
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"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shin- eth more and more unto the perfect day." They went not out amid the startling wonders of the world, to bring them in, and make the sabbath service endurable and amusing, but were satisfied with the "bread which com- eth down from heaven," and with the water over which it had been said, " If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink." Having studied long and earnestly the minds and hearts of their hearers, they rose humbly and majestically in their pulpits as the Saviour did in the synagogues of Judea, keeping their eye intently fixed upon the way opened to the lost soul, and its recovery, and inattentive to every thing that did not throw light upon it; they felt as the Captain did, when examined by those appointed to select a pilot for one of the higher steamships, who, when asked the question if he could name the shoals and knew the snags upon the Missis- sippi river, said, "I do not know one of them, but the current of the river from St. Louis to its outlet, I know perfectly, and there I am accustomed to sail my ship, without prying into the snags, or meddling with the shoals that line its sides.
The changes of the last two centuries may well sur- prise us, as they certainly would surprise those from whom we have descended, could they re-visit the spot which was consecrated to their simple, humble life. There is one thing, however, in which we should find them, and they would find us, as unchanged as the ocean upon which they sailed, and the compass which directed their course hither. It is the confidence in the inspired word, and the system of truth so generally acknowledged through the centuries to be derived therefrom, each part of which strengthens the whole, and none of which can be ex- plained away without damage to the explainer, and those whom he has incautiously instructed. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away."
Arise, then, ye generations of the future, and take
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the places which we are fast vacating that we may join the ancestral throng whose name and praise we this day celebrate. Take the precious word of God which we commit to you, not to stimulate your speculations, but to guide your thoughts and regulate your lives. Come to this consecrated spot, when another century has passed, to survey that sun of which David speaks. when he says, "The Lord God is a Sun," and to which Malachi refers, when prophecying the rise of the " Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings." Perhaps, when your observations are made and all your measure- ments are complete, there may be a more vivid idea with you than with us, of the distance between God and the fallen stars which have lost their connection with him, and the strength and glory of that redemptive force which brings them back, to the circle of his attractions, and makes them move in harmony with his own course, while "Nearer my God to thee," will be fast passing from the wish of the song to be the joyful fact of your historic life.
And now with this happy anticipation of the future Centennial, with the most pleasant remembrance of the scholarly and devout Munroe, who laid here, deep and broad the foundations of that faith upon which he rested, and to which he welcomed others as their only hope ; and the beloved McCollom whose mind and heart were closely wedded to. the same faith, and who illustrated it in such select and beautiful language, and with so at- tractive a manner as to allure many to receive and adorn it : with a joyful view of the intelligence, com- fort and piety of the daughter of my present home, and with the delightful assurance that you have a minister as your guide, who combines in himself the culture, be- nevolence and sincere piety which the three earlier min- isters of the mother colony possessed, I lift my hands over you saying, "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee : The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee : The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
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GROVELAND, THE DAUGHTER CHURCH.
Address by Rev. A. C. Swain.
In responding in behalf of the daughter church, Groveland, I believe I can give to you her congratula- tions, which certainly she heartily gives to you upon this interesting occasion. She rejoices with you over your two hundredth anniversary, and is glad for all the pros- perity which has attended the efforts of the mother church. Her life grew out of the success and growth of the first half century of your existence. Many of those who left you to form the Second Church, were al- lied perhaps with the early history of your church into which they had been spiritually born, and hence would leave with the dearest remembrances of trials and vieto- ries. I regret that the early records upon our own church books are somewhat scanty as they refer back to the very beginning, so far as pleasing incidents are concerned ; and yet we have handled within a few days those books, the leaves of which and the covers bear the mark of great age. And well may he who likes the task fall down and do homage to them. I believe it is only within the limits of our time to speak of the organization of the daughter church, and of those pastors who faithfully watched over the interest of Zion. Some- time in 1726 application was made by a few families to the General Court, to be set off from the first church, Bradford, to form what should be known as the East Parish. This being granted, on the 7th of June, 1727, the church to be known as the East Parish, was organ- ized, with 48 male members, who were set off from the first church, Bradford. Upon the same day Rev. Wil- liam Balch was ordained as Pastor. The council was composed of the churches of Newbury, Byfield, Beverly, and Haverhill. In July of the same year 53 female
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members were transferred from the first church to the East Parish church. The latter having as her officers Samuel Tenny and Richard Bailey, one as an Elder, the other as a Deacon. Thus she was organized with a membership of one hundred and one; within a year in- creased to one hundred and seventy-nine, and an assist- ant Deacon, William Hardy, Jr., chosen. The first Pas- torate covered a period of 65 years, but the last 13 years as a Senior Pastor with a Colleague. Rev. Ebenezer Dutch was ordained as such Nov. 17, 1779. With these words the first Pastor of this church, at the advanced age of 88, closed this life, "Come, Lord Jesus, I am ready." The second Pastorate extended over a period of 34 years, during which time the present house of worship was built. This took place in 1791, dedicated probably in August. The sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Dutch at the dedication, entitled "A Discourse upon the public worship of God," can still be read. The house since has been moved, altered and enlarged. Mr. Dutch passed away suddenly on the 4th of August, 1813, aged 62 years.
Sixteen months elapse, when Rev. Gardner B. Perry is installed as the third Pastor, Sept. 28, 1814. One whom we learn took a decided stand in the cause of temperance, while he also early engaged in the Anti- Slavery movement. Two Pastors of this Association are present to-day who remember his closing ministrations, while within a year we have buried one who was a church member when Dr. Perry was installed. Too late to make use of, a discourse of his "containing a history of the town," was handed me. He died Dec. 16, 1859, aged 76. Rev. David A. Wasson was ordained as Col- league with Dr. Perry Sept. 4, 1851. His Pastorate en- dured but for a year, when the same council which had ordained 'him dismissed him, to the happy relief of that already divided people. Rev. Daniel Piekard was with- in a year of this dismissal ordained as Colleague with
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Dr. Perry, who still enjoyed the confidence of his peo- ple as Senior Pastor. This successor, beloved by his church, occupied for four years, and then retired on ac- count of ill health. Rev. Thomas Daggett was ordained March 4, 1857-not now over the East Parish church, but over the Congregational church, of Groveland, which had taken this name when the town was set off from Bradford in 1850. This Pastorate ceased April 20, 1864. . On Dec. 29 the same year, Rev. Martin S. Howard was installed, a man beloved, by his people and blessed in his labors. A dismission was granted him Oct. 5, 1868.
In 1870, on the 20th day of April, Rev. John C. Paine having accepted a call of the church, was installed as Pastor. The Pastorate of Mr. Paine is still fresh in the minds of many of this Association and community, and it is enough for me to say that the people over whom he ministered speak kindly and lovingly of him. He was dismissed Oct. 30, 1877, and died at an advanced age two years after.
The present Pastorate began July 6, 1881. The in- terim had been filled by Rev. James McLean as acting Pastor. Such we find to be the history of the church which was formed out of this. The daughter church has not existed without her trials. She has passed through many. She has been tinctured with unbelief, and the flock divided thereby. But yet she has withstood all this, and to-day we trust she has something of her old time strength. We ask of you sympathy and your pray- ers that we may do the work of the Master faithfully.
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THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH, CENTRE CHURCH, HAVERHILL.
Poem, by John Crowell, M. D., of Haverhill.
Dr. Crowell remarked that it might seem strange to some that the Centre church, which was established in 1833, should be called the contemporary church. He explained that when the controversy arose in the First Parish of Haverhill fifty years ago, resulting in separa- tion, the church consisted of ninety-one members. Of this number eighty-nine left and formed the Centre church, which is thus, practically, the contemporary church. The First Parish retains the original organiza- tion of 1640.
Dr. Crowell then read the following poem :
Through the dim vista of the centuries A vision clear unfolds before my eyes, Rich in the mellow tints some master paints On face divine of prophets and of saints ; Or, when on broader canvas we behold The horizon's glory in its flush of gold, When hill, and lake, and wood, throw back the gleam,- The afterglow of day's refracted beam.
Upon the river's bank the village stands, 'Mid quiet openings and fertile lands. Stern, rugged men their homes have planted here, The men who seek no rest, and know no fear ; Who suffer long for truth and conscience' sake, Who form no creeds that they themselves will break. Plain, simple men, who daily walk with God, And fling defiance at the oppressor's rod. Amid their hamlet home a house they raise, Rude, strong and homely, where God's praise Ascends, awhile men clutch their old king's-arms, Waiting on God, but quick for war's alarms.
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The years roll on. Upon the other side Of that broad stream, whose waters calm divide The pleasant lands, behold another town Lifts up its modest head, and, like a crown, Adorns the brow of the encircling hills. From that old seaward town, whose record fills An honored page, they come, who, with strong hands, Lay the foundations of these " Merrimack Lands." Ere yet a Church of Christ was gathered here, These men and women on Lord's day appear In the old house on the Pentucket side, To hold communion at the holy tide.
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