USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Sketches of the churches and pastors in Hampden County, Mass. : and also, an address delivered to the pastors by Rev. T.M. Cooley, D.D., at Mettineague, September 13, 1853 > Part 2
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6. Ministers may partially or wholly fail of suc- cess, by their imprudent or wrong actions.
The frailties of good men meet with no commiser- ation from the world. Instead of calling forth their tears, they awaken a spirit of raillery and derision. They are not covered with the mantle of charity, but sounded from lip to lip, as an argument against religion. And we know, too well, the character and dispositions of men, to expect any of their partiality in their animadversions on the frailties of ministers.
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ADDRESS.
" For them," says Massilon, "they have eyes more censorious, and a tongue more empoisoned than for other men." The messenger of God, therefore, must, of all men, be most distinguished for sanctity of manners, for integrity, gravity, and every lovely trait of character. Were I to describe a preacher such as Paul himself would hear, approve, and own.
"I would express him simple, grave, sincere ; In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain ; And plain in manner, decent, solemn, chaste And natural in gesture, much impressed Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds May feel it too ; affectionate in look, And tender in address, as well becomes A messenger of grace to sinful men."
His elevated station and awful responsibility require a corresponding dignity of deportment, mingled with meekness and affection, which will command both love and respect. It was the remark of an ancient king, " that a great man cannot commit a small sin." Said another ancient king, " Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor ; so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor." An act of indis- cretion and sin, seen in one in the sacred office, which might pass unnoticed in other men, makes an impression on those who witness it, which will
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ADDRESS.
never pass away. It is fresh in mind when they behold him in the pulpit, and, by an association of ideas, is connected with his most fervent prayers and affectionate addresses. Who can tell the sad effects of such indiscretions in the ministry on the susceptible, immortal mind ? "Be ye, therefore, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." I feel it my duty to add, in this connexion, that, as far as I know, the orthodox ministry in New England, and, indeed, in our whole country, have been unsurpassed in zeal, self-denial, prudence, gifts, and graces, by any body of men in any age or country, with the exception of the days of inspiration.
Having adverted to the causes, so far as human instrumentality is concerned, I proceed to consider some of the consequences of an unsuccessful ministry.
1. God himself is dishonored.
These ambassadors of God are, in some sense, His representatives. They are workers together with God. They act in His name. Their fidelity and success will bring to Him a revenue of glory, while their imprudences and scandals "will give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme." Far less poignant was the wound inflicted by the spear of the Roman soldier, than that of a professed friend and disciple, who betrayed the Son of Man with a kiss.
2
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ADDRESS.
2. The sufferings of the cross become of none effect.
When God made heaven and earth, it cost Him but a single word of His power. "He spake, and it was done, He commanded, and it stood fast." But, in the new creation, the price to be paid was the humiliation, the sufferings, and even the accur- sed death of the Son of God. In creation, some of the divine perfections are displayed ; but in redemp- tion, there is a harmony of all the attributes of divinity. "Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other." How affecting the thought, that by a failure of suc- cess in the ministry, Christ is dishonored, and the Cross of Calvary is of no effect. " He that despis- eth you, despiseth me ; and he that despiseth me, despiseth Him that sent me."
3. The loss of many souls is another conse- quence.
In every human being there is a rational spirit, which is valuable beyond all price. In intellectual endowments, man sustains an affinity to angels of light. In duration, he will outlive the material universe, ages untold. In capacity for happiness and for suffering, he exceeds all thought and concep- tion. The obscurest parishioner, in his future, end- less destinies, will partake of a sum of pure happiness, greater than all the angels in heaven
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ADDRESS.
have hitherto enjoyed, or he will be doomed to endure a suffering, incomparably greater than all which fallen spirits in hell have hitherto endured. Therefore, if one immortal mind were committed to us, with the charge, keep this man, and, "while we were busy here and there," he should be missing, who could compute the affecting consequences ? Follow this parishioner to the closing scene of life, and he dies in despair. Follow him to the final judgment, and he is among the lost, at the left hand. Follow him till the greatest reach of thought is lost in endless futurity, and his sufferings continue unchanging and unchangeable.
Apply this illustration to our whole charge, during the pastoral life. The average term, from the ordi- nation to the decease of a minister, is estimated at twenty-five years. A quarter of a century is the term of labor for each pastor, on an average. One thousand souls is the usual number within each pas- toral charge. Computing the changes by births and removals, the sum-total must be two thousand souls. All are immortal-all to be accounted for, to be saved or lost under his immediate watch !! Their salvation, in a very important sense, depends, under God, upon his fidelity. If he fails totally of success, so far as his instrumentality is concerned, they must all perish. Nor is this the full extent of his influ- ence. He will give a moral complexion to the
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ADDRESS.
character of the next generation, which will exist, in its distinctive features, long after he has passed away from the earth.
4. If ministers fail of success through their own fault, it must deeply affect their personal interests.
"We watch for souls as those who must
account." The pastoral work is laborious, difficult, and responsible. If executed with earnestness, and with purity of intention, it will not fail of a glorify- ing reward. "Thou shalt save thyself and them that hear thee." To save himself will furnish to the faithful pastor an occasion of admiring gratitude for ever. To save them that hear him, will fill his immortal crown with gems of unfading lustre. "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His appearing ?"
There is no other station where a want of fidelity is connected with such distressing and enduring results. What if civil rulers neglect their con- stituents, or sport with their liberty and life ? What if Pharaoh imposed a rigorous service upon a de- fenceless people, and they sighed by reason of hard bondage, or fell dead under the lash of hard task- masters ? What if the unoffending Madiai were locked up in damp and loathsome prisons, till the lamp of life was nearly extinguished ? What if multitudes have shed their blood on the battle
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ADDRESS.
ground, to cherish the pride, or gratify the revenge of tyrants? What is all this complication of human suffering, compared with that of a congregation of lost souls, who have perished under an unfaithful ministry ?
A voice from Heaven said to an ancient prophet, " O son of man, I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel. When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die, if thou shalt not speak to warn the wicked man from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand." Every one of us now in the pastoral office may apply the same charge and sanction to ourselves. Have we, beloved brethren, acted up to these high responsibilities ? Let us look back to the day when we were set apart to the sacred office, by imposition of the hands of the Presbytery. We often propose to ourselves the question, Have we redeemed the pledge of our ordination vows ? The inquiry is not whether we have pleased our parishioners. Our very failings may have done this. Neither is the inquiry whether we have been successful. Success, or the failure, is not the sure test of the ministerial character. The inquiry is the same as it will be at the Day of Judgment, when every sermon, every prayer, every pastoral visit, every duty, and every neglect shall be made to pass before us by the
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ADDRESS.
Judge. Have we cherished a warm and active faith, watching diligently against every estrange- ment from God? Have we exhibited the Gospel plan of salvation clearly, fully, and earnestly, warn- ing every man, day and night, with tears ? Should we visit our burial-grounds, or examine our bills of mortality, would none be found who have sunk down into endless suffering, and that through our neglect ? It would stamp a boon on the darkness of the bottomless pit, if the lost souls could lay their sins to the charge of their ministers. It would shroud in darkness, so to speak, the bliss of Heaven, if the blood of the wicked unwarned were found on our skirts.
In referring to my own protracted ministry, re- markable almost beyond example, for the blessing of health and comfort, my infirmities, failures, and crimson sins compel me to exclaim, My leanness ! my leanness ! May my dying prayer be that of the publican, " God be merciful to me, a sinner !" God has been pleased to assign me the term of my ministry, in the very age which I should have chosen for myself. It commenced with the commencement of Home Missions and Foreign Missions. The apocalyptic vision has passed before my eyes, as a most precious reality. Rev. xiv. 6. " And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on
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ADDRESS.
the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Charitable and benevolent institutions have sprung up, as by enchantment. About the same time, and I record it with adoring thankfulness, commenced a series of revivals of religion, which led President Griffin to remark, that, when pastor of the Church in New Hartford, Conn., he could enumerate sixty places, in contiguous coun- ties, which were laid down in one field of pure revi- vals of religion. The four quarters of the globe have felt the influence of these heavenly visita- tions.
I cannot omit to mention that, in connexion, in association, with the ministers in this county, I have enjoyed unmingled satisfaction. Great har- mony has marked our proceedings. " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." In no instance has it been our painful duty to pass a judicial censure against any brother, for immorality or heresy. And, if the churches within our bounds, as well as the pastors, could hear my feeble voice, on this occasion, I would earnestly enforce the exhortation of the apostle (1 Tim. v. 17), " Let those be counted wor- thy of double honor who fatigue themselves with labors,* in word and doctrine." The labors of the faithful pastor, in this age, both at home and in
* Thus Doddridge paraphrases the original KomtwvTal.
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ADDRESS.
numerous calls abroad, are great and pressing. Hence the occasions for journeying and crossing the Atlantic, for recruiting a broken constitution. Hence, too, not a few of " the precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold," break down, and die young, or in middle life. Especially would I com- mend to the churches the sentiment of our Lord, that they that preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel. Parsimony, in this particular, has been a fruitful source of failure of success in the ministry. "The laborer is worthy of his reward." "The liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand."
But I hasten to a conclusion
Brethren, there is much to encourage you in your work. The promise stands unrepealed, " Lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD." Be true to your trust, and you will enjoy the peace of God that passeth knowledge. You will live in the affections of the Church, and will die in her bosom. Your spiritual children will moisten the dust that covers you with their tears, and embalm, in affectionate remembrance, the coun- sels you have given them, while the lips which uttered them are silent in death. You will esta- blish a witness in the consciences of those who perish, that their ruin was not through your neglect. The churches to whom you break the sacramen-
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ADDRESS.
tal bread, and whose offspring you consecrate with the sacramental water, will stand forth as the wit- nesses of your fidelity. And the Saviour whom you love, and serve, and honor, will at last address you in these glorifying expressions-" Come ye blessed of my Father, ye have been faithful over a few things, I will make you rulers over many things ; enter ye into the joys of your Lord."
"This I say, brethren, the time is short." What you do you must do quickly. Your parishioners are dropping from between your hands, into the grave, some of them, perhaps, into hell. They will be taken from you, and soon-sooner than you are aware-you will be taken from them. My own ministry of fifty-eight years, if not sooner called home by Him that sent me, will probably terminate, by mutual consent, with the present year. A long ministry is short. I repeat it, therefore, emphati- cally, what ye do, ye must do quickly.
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace ; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." Amen.
2*
1241151
SKETCHES
OF THE
CHURCHES AND PASTORS
IN
HAMPDEN COUNTY, MASS.
HAMPDEN WEST ASSOCIATION.
BLANDFORD.
THIS Church was organized in Hopkinton, in 1735, by Rev. Thomas Prince, of the Old South Church, in Boston. Those who composed it were immigrants from the north of Ireland, and adopted the Presbyterian form of government ; it was nomi- nally a Presbyterian church till A. D. 1800, when it became Congregational.
REV. WILLIAM McCLENATHEN, a minister from Ireland, was installed in 1744, and continued about two years. After that he was chaplain in the army for a time ; he did not sustain the character of a good minister.
85
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SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
REV. JAMES MORTON, a minister from Ireland, was installed in August, 1747. The first two years of his ministry were quiet. After that the people began to complain, and their disaffection increased from year to year. They referred their difficulties to the Association for advice, at almost every meeting of that body, and had two or three councils. He was finally dismissed, June 2, 1767. Dr. Bellamy was Moderator of the council. He was a man of some talent, loose in his expressions, so much so, that he often conveyed ideas which he did not intend. He was imprudent, and often gave occasion to others to speak reproachfully. He continued to reside in Blandford till he died, October 1, 1793, aged 79 years.
REV. JOSEPH PATRICK, of Warren, graduated at Yale, in 1767, and was ordained June 25, 1772. Rev. Mr. Jones, of Warren, preached the sermon. The ordination was under a tree. The Presbytery, before setting him apart to the sacred work, admin- istered a public admonition to him for riding from an adjacent town, on Sabbath evening, and also to those who preferred a complaint against him for so doing. He was dismissed the December following, and died in 1783. The Church was destitute of a pastor fifteen years.
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IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
REV. JOSEPH BADGER was born in Wilbraham, and graduated at Yale, in 1785. He fitted for col- lege with Rev. Jeremiah Day, of New Preston, Ct., and was ordained October 24, 1787. He was, mn many respects, a very remarkable man, had a relish for hard service, and was in it all his life. He was a soldier in the Revolution several years, and his education, when he left the army, was very limited ; he paid his own way through college, studied the- ology with Mr. Levenworth, of Waterbury, Ct. He was dismissed October 24, 1800, for the pur- pose of going to Ohio as a Missionary. In that new country, he was abundant in his labors, and endured many hardships. Sometimes he preached to white people, and sometimes labored among the Indians ; and, in 1812, was chaplain in the army. An interesting history of his life, written by himself, may be found in the Quarterly Register, vol. xiii. p. 317. He died in Wood County, Ohio, in 1846, aged 89 years.
REV. JOHN KEEP is a native of Longmeadow ; graduated at Yale, in 1802, studied theology with Mr. A. Hooker, of Goshen, Ct., and was ordained, Oct. 30, 1805. He was dismissed in 1821, at his own request ; was settled in Homer, N. Y., after- wards at Cleveland, Ohio. He now resides in Oberlin, Ohio, without pastoral charge.
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SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
REV. DORUS CLARK is a native of Westhampton ; graduated at Williams' College in 1817, studied theology at Andover, and was ordained Feb. 5, 1823. The sermon was preached by President Moore, of Amherst College. He was dismissed February 17, 1835, and installed pastor of the Second Church, in Chicopee. He was dismissed in 1840, and connected with the religious press in Boston several years, and now resides on a farm in Waltham.
REV. CHARLES J. HINSDALE is a native of Newark, N. J., graduated at Yale, in 1815, studied theology at Andover and Princeton, spent some time at the south, and was ordained at Meriden, Conn., in 1823. He left Meriden, and came to Blandford, where he was installed, January 20, 1836.
The Church at Blandford consists of 120 mem- bers. The population is diminishing, by emigration. Salary of pastor, $550, raised by subscription.
CHESTER.
THE Church was organized December 20, 1769. The town was then called Murrayfield.
REV. AARON BASCOM was a native of Warren,
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IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
graduated at Harvard in 1768, and was ordained the day the Church was organized. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Jones, of his native place. He married Theodotia Ashley, of Westfield, and had two sons, John and Reynolds, who graduated at Williams' College, and were preachers of the gospel. Mr. B. died May 18, 1814, aged 67; his funeral sermon, by Rev. J. Nash, of Middlefield, was published. He was a good man, earnest, and de- voted to his work.
REV. SAMUEL M. EMERSON, son of Rev. John Emerson, of Conway, graduated at Williams' Col- lege in 1810, and was ordained February 1, 1815. He was preceptor of Westfield Academy for a time prior to his ordination. He was subject at times to great depression of spirits. He was dismissed De- cember 10, 1817, was settled afterwards at Man- chester, and then at Heath, where he died suddenly, of a disease of the heart, July 20, 1841, aged 55 years. He was a good scholar, and a good man.
REV. RUFUS POMEROY was born in Southampton, in 1784, graduated at Williams' College, in 1808, studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard, of Shel- burne, and was ordained at Salisbury, Vt., September 15, 1811. He was dismissed November 19, 1816, and installed at Chester, November 20, 1819. He
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SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
was dismissed June 27, 1827, and installed at Otis, in 1832, but was dismissed after a few years. He still resides in Otis.
REV. SAUL CLARK Was a native of Southampton, graduated at Williams' College in 1805, was settled first at East Haven, in 1808, and continued there ten years. He was then for a few years pastor of the Church in Baarkhamstead, dismissed, and installed at Chester, November 11, 1829. While there he published a sermon on The Saints' Perseverance. He was dismissed about 1831, and became pastor of the Church in Egremont, June 5, 1834. He con- tinued there a few years, was dismissed, and re- moved to East Haven, where he died in 1849, aged 69 years. He was a man of full habit, inclin- ing to corpulency, and of ardent temperament.
REV. ALANSON ALVORD was not a graduate of any college ; he studied with Dr. Cox, of Brooklyn, N. Y., was ordained here November 19, 1834, and dismissed February 7, 1838. He preached a while in New Hampshire, as stated supply, and then went to northern Illinois, where he remained till 1852, when he came to the east, and is now preaching in Vermont.
After he left, Rev. S. W. Edson was stated sup- ply about three years, and did a good service for the
41
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
people, in securing by his labors the building of a new meeting-house.
REV. FRANCIS WARRINER, son of Solomon War- riner, of Springfield, graduated at Amherst in 1830, circumnavigated the globe in 1831-34, and pub- lished The Cruise of the Potomac, the name of the ship, in which he was teacher of the midshipmen. He studied theology at New Haven, was ordained October, 1841, and dismissed June 22, 1847. He is now at Waterford, Vt.
REV. DAVID BREED, of New Haven, is not a gra- duate of college ; in 1848-9, he was superintendent of the boarding-school among the Choctaws, at Pine Ridge ; returned, studied theology at East Windsor, and was ordained February 17, 1853. This Church has 70 members. Salary, $400 with a parsonage.
CHESTER FACTORIES.
THIS is a village in Chester, on the Western Rail- road. The Church was organized November 13, 1844, and consists at the present time of 31 mem- bers. It has never had a settled pastor. Rev. Hubbard Beebe preached there every other Sabbath for one year. Rev. P. K. Clark preached there
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SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
half the time from 1846 to 1848. Then Rev. Dil- lon Williams preached all the time one year ; and since then, Rev. John C. Strong has preached there as a stated supply.
CHESTER VILLAGE.
THIS was a village in Chester, on the Western Railroad, but has recently been annexed to the town of Norwich. The Church was organized August 26, 1846, and has now 57 members. For two years Mr. Clark divided his labors between this Church and the one at Chester Factories, until 1848, after which he preached at this place all the time until 1852.
REV. TOWNSEND WALKER, of Monterey, graduated at Williams' College in 1839, has been pastor of a Church in the State of New York, and has accepted a call to become pastor of the Church in Chester Village, and is to be installed in December, 1853. The Church consists of 60 members. The salary paid is $550.
43
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
EAST GRANVILLE.
THE early records of this Church do not show when it was organized, though it is known to have been done in 1747. This town was first called Bedford.
REV. MOSES TUTTLE graduated at Yale, in 1745. and was ordained at the time the Church was organ- ized. The place of his nativity is not known ; but from the fact that he had a foreign brogue, it is thought he might have been a native of Scotland. He married a daughter of Rev. Timothy Edwards, of East Windsor, Ct., and sister of President Ed- wards. When he asked her father's consent to the marriage, he replied, "I shall consent so far as not to forbid it; but I can do no less than inform you that you cannot live with my daughter." " Why," said Mr. T., "is she not a Christian ?" "I hope so," said Mr. E., "but grace may live where you cannot."
He was dismissed in 1754, spent some time in New Jersey, returned to East Windsor, built a house in that part of it called Wapping, provided for his wife and four children as well as he could, left them there and preached at Southold, L. I., where he died in 1785, supposed to have been about 65 years old. He is said to have been an orthodox and godly man ;
44
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
but his wife was a woman with whom he could not live, who seemed to delight in making him unhappy. Two of his children died in the poor-house.
REV. JEDEDIAH SMITH may have been a native of Suffield, Ct .; it is not certain. He graduated at Yale in 1750, and was ordained December, 1756. Rev. Lemuel Haynes, who listened to his preaching, says, "He was an evangelical preacher. He used to make at times considerable impression on my mind ; he would very earnestly call upon the youths to remember their Creator." He at length em- braced Stoddard's views of church-membership, and advocated the admission to full communion of those who gave no evidence of regeneration. Many mem- bers of the Church were decidedly opposed to the doctrine. He was dismissed April 16, 1776. He had eight sons and two daughters ; and being op- posed to the war of the Revolution, he accepted an offer made him by Gen. Lyman, who was a tory, of large tracts of land in Mississippi, and embarked at Middletown, Ct., for the " Father of Waters." A son of Gen. Lyman was engaged to be married to his daughter. While ascending the Mississippi, Mr. S. was seized with a fever ; in a fit of delirium he leaped overboard, was rescued from the water, but died soon after. His body was buried on the bank of the river, which the water gradually wore away,
45
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
and in a flood his body was borne from its resting- place, and no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. He died September 2, 1776, aged 50 years.
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