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 6
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WILBRAHAM.
THE first settlement in Wilbraham was in 1731. In May, 1741, the parish was incorporated by the name of the Fourth Parish in Springfield. It usually went by the name of Springfield Mountain, till 1763, when it was incorporated as a town, and received its present name. The Church was organized June 24, 1741.
REV. NOAH MERRICK was the grandson of Tho- mas Merrick, who came from Wales to Roxbury about 1630, and thence to Springfield in 1636. He was the youngest son of James Merrick, who was a native of West Springfield. He graduated at Yale in 1731, and was ordained June 24, 1741. He was married in October, 1744, to Mrs. Abigail Brainard, widow of the Rev. Mr. Brainard, of Eastbury, Ct., and daughter of the Rev. Phinehas Fisk, of Had- dam. Mr. Merrick died, much lamented, December 22, 1776, in the 66th year of his age, and the 36th of his ministry. The sermon at his funeral was
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preached by the Rev. Mr. Breck, of Springfield, from 2 Cor. iv. 7. The widow of Mr. Merrick died September, 1807, in the 90th year of her age.
The ordination service of Mr. Merrick was to have been performed under a large oak tree ; but as the morning proved rainy, they assembled in a barn, and there attended the ordaining solemnities.
REV. JOSEPH WILLARD was the son of Rev. Dr. Willard, of Stafford, Ct. He graduated at Harvard University in 1784, and was ordained May 3, 1787. His ordination sermon was preached by his father. He was dismissed February 11, 1794, and was af- terwards settled in Lancaster, N. H., where he died, July 22, 1827, aged 66.
REV. EZRA WITTER of Lisbon, Ct., graduated at Yale College in 1793, and was ordained August 16, 1797. His father preached his ordination ser- mon. He was dismissed May 31, 1814, and after- wards engaged as an instructor in an Academy in Tennessee. He died in 1833.
REV. EBENEZER BROWN, of Brimfield, graduated at Yale in 1813, and was ordained March 3, 1819. His ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Bartlett, of East Windsor, Ct. After a ministry here of eight years, he was dismissed, June, 1827,
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since which time he has been settled in Prescott and North Hadley, in this State ._ In 1839, Mr. B. went to Illinois as a home missionary, and continued there employed till 1848.
REV. JOHN HYDE, of Franklin, Ct., graduated at Yale in 1803, was pastor at Hampden, Ct., from 1807 to 1811; at Preston, Ct., from 1812 to 1827; and was installed at Wilbraham in April, 1828, and dismissed January, 1832. He died in 1848, and must have been full 65 years old.
REV. ISRAEL G. ROSE, of Coventry, Ct., gradu- ated at Yale in 1821, was pastor of the Church in Westminster-a parish of Canterbury, Ct.,-from 1825 to 1831, and at Wilbraham from April, 1832, to February, 1835. In November of the last-named year, he was settled at Chesterfield, where he died, February 5, 1842, aged 43 years.
REV. JOHN BOWERS, of Dudley, graduated at Yale College in 1832. He studied theology at Princeton, and was ordained December 13, 1837. Previous to his ordination, for a season, he taught in Monson Academy.
This Church has 202 members, and the Sunday- school 110. The Society pays a salary of $500.
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The SOUTH CHURCH was organized in 1785.
REV. MOSES WARREN, of Upton, graduated at Harvard College in 1784, and studied theology with Rev. Mr. Fisk, of Upton ; was licensed at Milford in 1785, and ordained September 3, 1788. He con- tinued pastor of this Church till his death, February
19, 1829-a period of 40 years-aged 71. Mr. W. sustained a respectable standing as a classical scho- lar, and was remarkable for his amiability and diffi- dence of manner. He was a man of prayer; and when he visited a minister, or was visited by one, he proposed to unite in a short prayer before they separated. He was esteemed as a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. His salary was always small, but he was contented with it.
REV. LUCIUS W. CLARKE, of Mansfield, Ct., gra- duated at Brown University in 1825, was ordained December 9, 1829, and dismissed December 13, 1832. He died at Middlebury, Vt., January 2, 1854, aged 53.
REV. JAMES A. HAZEN, of West Springfield, gra- duated at Yale College in 1834, and at the theolo- gical seminary in New Haven, and was ordained January 30, 1839. He was dismissed June 22, 1849, since which he has been settled in South
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Williamstown, and is now pastor of a Church in Lisbon, Ct.
REV. HUBBARD BEEBE. (See Longmeadow.)
REV. E. S. SKINNER, of Prattsburgh, N. Y., gra- duated at Oberlin in 1849, studied theology at An- dover, and was ordained May 19, 1853.
This Church has 76 members, and the Sunday- school 100. The Society pays a salary of $600.
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EXTRACTS
From the Minutes of the Association.
THE first meeting of the Hampshire South Asso- ciation was holden at Longmeadow, in January, 1749. Meetings were holden quarterly. The exer- cises consisted, for many years, (1) of the discussion of a question, by all the members, that had been previously given, and for which each was expected to prepare himself; (2) in advising in regard to diffi- culties that might exist in any of their parishes ; and (3) in the communication of any thing useful or interesting, which any one had been learned by reading.
It was customary for one who was preaching as a candidate in any Church, before receiving a call, to come before the Association, present his creden- tials, and undergo such an examination as would
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enable them to say he was a suitable person to be called to the pastoral office in that Church.
The following are some of the subjects that came before the Association for their consideration.
In April, 1750, the Church in Northampton ap- plied for advice in relation to difficulties between them and Mr. Edwards. The Association sent a letter to the Church, and a copy of the same to Mr. Edwards.
In January, 1757, it was agreed that, in view of the present distressed and melancholy circumstances of the land, the dark and threatening aspect of Di- vine Providence towards us, which loudly call for humiliation, fasting and prayer, we will meet once a week, in some of our Churches, till we have gone through them.
In April, 1764, the Association wrote a letter to the Northern Association, requesting their concurrence in a petition to the Governor and Council, for a re- dress of the neglect in the distribution of the procla- mations.
In April, 1767, the question was asked, whether it is the duty of a minister to act as complainant against a member of the Church of which he is the pastor ? Answer-We are of the opinion that a minister has a right to bring a complaint against a delinquent member ; but it is not a duty especially incumbent on him to perform; it is unreasonable
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for the brethren of the Church to ask him to do it, or by their neglect to make it necessary that he should.
In July, 1773, Voted, to appoint two members of the Association to prepare an essay on Family Prayer and the Christian Sabbath, for distribution in our churches.
In January, 1775, Voted, that we recommend to our people to meet frequently for prayer in this day of our calamity, and that we will endeavor to meet with them.
There was no meeting of the Association from July, 1777, to April, 1782, in consequence of public difficulties, and the broken state of the Association, arising from the deaths of several of its members.
In April, 1782, the Association addressed a letter to the convention of ministers that met in May, ask- ing that body to petition the General Court to devise and prosecute some method to procure Bibles, either by causing them to be printed, or by importation, that there might be a sufficient supply, and at a mo- derate price.
In January, 1792, it was voted that a member of the Association be appointed at each meeting to preach a Concio ad Clerum at the subsequent meet- ing.
In 1794, it was agreed that a public lecture should be preached at each meeting of the Association.
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IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
In February, 1795, a letter was received from David Austin, of Elizabethtown, N. J., calling upon all ministers to enter into a concert of prayer for hastening the latter day of glory to the Church, which concert was to be holden quarterly, and con- tinued until the object should be obtained, or he should release them from observing the day.
In February, 1799, Voted, to send a missionary to the Mohawk River, in the vicinity of Fort Stanwix, to labor four months ; to raise $80 in our churches to defray his expenses, and that we will supply the pulpit of the brother who goes, during his absence.
Rev. Joel Boker was sent for three months. The expense of the mission was assessed upon the churches as follows: Westfield, $12; Blandford, Springfield, and Monson, $8 each ; East Granville, Longmeadow, and West Springfield, $6 each ; South Wilbraham $5, and Southwick $4.
On what principle the assessment was made, the records do not show.
In October, 1800, a committee was appointed to act jointly with a committee of the Hampshire As- sociation, to compile a Psalm Book for the use of the Church, an edition of which was to be published by subscription.
In June, 1801, a committee was appointed to pre- pare an address to the congregations in the county
ยท
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on the instruction of children and the observance of the Sabbath.
In February, 1805, voted in favor of forming a General Association, provided it could be done in such a way as not to interfere with the business of the convention of ministers.
In June, 1807, voted that it is inexepedient to form a General Association at present.
In June, 1809, voted to prepare an address to the churches in the county, on the subject of family religion. Appointed two delegates to General Asso- ciation.
In June, 1812, a rule was adopted to appoint at each meeting a committee of overtures, and that in- dividuals be designated to write on the associational question.
In October, 1812, voted that the practice of re- quiring persons, who offer themselves for admission to our churches, to make a public confession of par- ticular sins committed prior to their conversion is inexpedient.
In February, 1814, a plan was adopted for sup- plying the destitute and feeble parishes in the county with missionary aid. Two pastors were appointed to preach occasionally in certain parishes.
In October, 1814, measures were taken for the formation of an Education Society. Voted to peti-
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tion Congress not to carry the mail on the Sab- bath.
May 2, 1822, it was voted to resolve the Associa- tion into an ecclesiastical council, for the purpose of considering the expediency of dissolving the con- nexion between the Rev. John Keep and the Church and people of Blandford. There were present dele- gates from the churches in Middle and East Gran- ville, and Westfield.
In February, 1823, it was Voted, that it is expe- dient to have an annual conference of the churches within the bounds of this Association, and that the churches be invited to send delegates from their number to this conference, to be held at Ludlow in June next.
February 11, 1824, it was Voted, that it is the duty of the Association to inquire of any members who shall be absent two meetings in a year, the rea- son of such absence, and if not satisfactory, that he shall be admonished.
Suffield, October 12, 1844. It was voted, at the request of Rev. Mr. Gay, that the Association be formed into an ecclesiastical council, on the subject of difficulties between him and his people.
February 8, 1825, it was voted, that it is the duty of our churches, on the removal of any of the mem- bers to other places, to furnish them with certificates of their regular Christian standing, and require them
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to unite with the Church where they reside, pro- vided it be one with which we are in fellowship. That members residing among us are to be watched over with Christian kindness, invited to unite with us in church-fellowship, and if they neglect this duty for more than one year, or become worthy of censure in any respect, that they shall be immedi- ately reported to the churches to which they be- long, and excluded from occasional communion with us.
In February, 1826, it was voted, that the breth- ren, two by two, visit the churches at some time previous to next June. That Messrs. Cooley and Knapp visit six on the east side of the river; that Osgood and Dickinson visit six on the west side and Foot and Hazen the remainder on the west side of the river.
February 9, 1830, it was voted to have a Review written for the next meeting.
At the same meeting, some resolves were passed respecting the cause of temperance, and chose a committee to prepare a circular to be addressed to the inhabitants of the county, and that the commit- tee be requested to call a county convention for the purpose of forming a county society.
In 1831, Dr. Cooley presented the following, which was adopted :
Whereas the children of ministers as well as oth-
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ers are by nature in a state of alienation from God, the children of wrath, and without the renewing grace of God must forever perish, and whereas they are in a situation to exert a very powerful influence, either good or bad, upon the community, therefore, Resolved, 1. That each member of this body set apart the evening of the 3d Monday in each month as a season for special prayer for the conversion and sanctification of our children. 2. That in all our intercourse with the children of our brethren, it shall be a special object of regard, both by example and by other means, to promote their effectual conver- sion and growth in grace. 3. That in each meeting of this Association, one prayer at least shall be offered in special reference to this object.
In October, 1833, it was voted that, in view of the low state of religion, the members of the Asso- ciation would visit each other's churches by two and two, and by co-operation with the pastor endeavor to promote the spiritual interests of the Church and people.
Also to set apart one hour on every Saturday eve- ning, for special prayer for the revival of religion, and that the members of the churches be invited to join in the concert. Also, that great caution should be used in employing Evangelists, and that the brethren hold themselves in readiness to assist each
6
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other in any ministerial duties as circumstances should permit and require.
In June, 1835, a new constitution was adopted.
October 12, 1837. Three members were chosen to write an exegesis of Christ's first miracle.
February 12, 1839, a committee was chosen to draw up what they consider the views of the Associa- tion on the subject of slavery.
QUESTIONS DISCUSSED AT MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIA- TION.
From 1749 to 1760.
WHAT arguments and considerations are especially proper to stir us up to ministerial faithfulness and diligence ?
Whether infallible assurance belongs to the es- sence of saving faith ?
Whether there is a specific difference between common and saving grace ?
What is meant by God's drawing the soul, in John vi. 44 ?
What is the death threatened in Gen. ii. 17 ?
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IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
Whether we can justify licensing candidates to preach before they are ordained ?
Whether an explicit profession of a dedication of himself to God be necessary to a person's com- ing to the Lord's table ?
Is baptism by a layman valid ?
What is the nature and extent of the forgiveness the gospel requires us to exercise ?
What is necessary to one's being a gospel minis- ter ?
What is the nature of saving faith ?
Whence arises the necessity of Christ's suffering to complete the work of man's redemption ?
What are we to understand by the expression, " Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world ?"
How are we to reconcile Acts vii. 15, 16, with the Old Testament history ?
What is meant by the expression, "He that is least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he ?"
Why did our Saviour enjoin silence upon some persons on whom he wrought miracles ?
Is it the duty of a private soldier to inquire into the grounds and reasons of the war before he fights ?
Can baptism be regularly administered in private ? What is the meaning of 1 Pet. iii. 19 ?
Whether the obscure passages of Scripture are any reasonable objection against their divine author- ity ?
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What reasons have we to expect a national con- version of the Jews ?
Whether Christ's active obedience was properly meritorious ?
From 1760 to 1790.
Did Elisha intimate to Naaman, in 2 Kings, v. 18, 19, that it was lawful for him to bow himself in the house of Rimmon ?
Wherein consisted the fault of Moses, for which he was excluded from entering the promised land ?
What method is it proper for us to take for the suppression of vice and for the revival of religion ?
How does faith justify ?
Whether the evidence of Christianity from pro- phecy is invalidated by the supposition that prophecy has a double meaning ?
Was David justified in feigning himself mad be- fore Achish ?
Whether lay-ordination be warrantable ?
What evidence have we that Jonah was a real saint ?
Does a man's moral obligation cease after he has lost the power to fulfil it, if the loss of the power was his own fault ?
Whether human nature is so depraved that a na-
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IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
tural man can do nothing that has any tendency towards his salvation ?
Whether a customary attendance on public wor- ship, in places to which a person does not belong, can be justified upon the plea of better edification ?
Whether the present method of supporting the gospel by a tax can be justified ?
Can the opinion advanced by some of late, that the people may dissolve the pastoral relation with- out the advice of a council, be justified ?
Whether there is in Scripture any foundation for the distinction between the common and special in- fluences of the Spirit ?
Wherein lies the force of the argument for the resurrection of the dead, in Luke xx. 37 ?
Whether all baptized persons are to be considered as members of the Church ?
Is the death of the martyrs a proof of the divinity of the Christian religion ?
From 1817 to 1830.
What errors in doctrine may be considered of such a gross nature as to require the person to be disci- plined, who holds and endeavors to propagate them ?
When were sacrifices instituted, and what was their design ?
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Will two persons of equal talents, sincerity and candor, after as faithful investigation of Scripture as they are able to give, embrace doctrines so different as materially to affect their religious views and feel- ings, and as to render , it either proper or necessary to refuse Christian fellowship; and by what rule are we to determine which set of opinions is cor- rect ?
Are those who embrace the opinions respecting Christ which Arius held, to be considered as em- bracing damnable heresy ?
What is the meaning of St. Paul in the epistle to Titus iii. 8 ? "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
When an individual member of a church is ag- grieved by the conduct of his pastor, what measures shall he take to obtain redress ?
Ought ministers of the gospel, who are happy in connection with their people, to remove, at the in- vitation of a college, to fill the places of president or professors ?
What is the duty of churches to the members of other churches residing among them ?
Up to what age is it proper to baptize children on the faith of their parents ?
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IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
What is the best method of conducting revivals of religion ?
What are the benefits of creeds ?
What are the comparative advantages of Congre- gationalism and Presbyterianism ?
In what sense did Christ die for every man ? What is the best mode of preaching ?
Are there any visible reasons why the Holy Spi- rit is withheld from the churches, and revivals are not more frequent in this region ?
What is original sin ?
From 1830 to 1844.
What are the best means to be employed to de- prive persons of their groundless hopes of future happiness ?
Is the 1 John, v. 7, genuine ?
What kind of preaching is best adapted to promote revivals of religion ?
Have the churches a right to require entire ab- stinence from ardent spirits, except as a medicine, as a condition of membership ?
What are the causes which so often occasion difficulties in churches and societies soon after sea- sons of revival, and which sometimes lead to the dismission of a pastor ?
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What are the reasons why recent revivals of reli- gion are comparatively of such short duration ?
What does the Bible teach respecting regenera- tion ?
To what extent ought ministers to mingle with their people in worldly social intercourse ?
What are the requisite qualifications and duties of deacons ?
In what cases is it expedient for churches to em- ploy stated supplies ?
To what church does a dismissed minister belong ?
What are the obstacles that retard the tempe- rance cause ?
Are the theories of modern geologists consistent with the Mosaic account of the creation ?
Ought ministers to unite persons in marriage who have been divorced for any cause but adultery ?
Are churches bound to admit every one who gives credible evidence of piety ?
What are the powers of an ex parte council ?
In all cases of volition is the power of contrary choice essential to free agency ?
What is the ultimate ground of moral obligation ? Is perfect holiness attainable in this life ?
Is it desirable that Congregationalism, as a dis- tinct organization, be increased and perpetuated in the western States ?
Is every word of Scripture divinely inspired ?
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IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
Is it desirable to form a home missionary society, with special reference to the promotion of Congrega- tionalism in the western States ?
Ought capital punishments to be abolished ?
THE ASSOCIATION Was divided, in 1844, into Hamp- den East and Hampden West, and the remaining questions were discussed by Hampden East.
From 1844 to 1854.
Does the power of ordination lie with the minis- ters or the Church ?
What is the Scripture doctrine of the resurrection of the body ?
How far are human governments obligatory ?
What is the duty of pastors with reference to secret societies ?
Ought the custom of settling pastors on the con- dition that either party shall have the power to dis- solve the relation, by giving three or six months' notice, to be sanctioned or passed over in silence by ecclesiastical bodies ?
What course is it the duty of the Church to take with reference to fairs and festivals ?
What is the nature and necessity of regeneration ? Ought colonization, anti-colonization, anti-slavery,
6*
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and temperance lectures, as now usually conducted, to be countenanced or frequented by Christians and Christian ministers on the Sabbath ?
What is the Scripture doctrine of the Trinity ?
What is the use of means on the part of sinners in securing their salvation ?
Does Dr. Emmons' theory of divine and human agency agree with the Scriptures ?
What is the nature and extent of inspiration in the sacred writers ?
What is the Bible doctrine of revivals ?
What is the limit of Christian obligation to obey civil laws ?
What is the foundation of virtue ?
What is sin ?
Can sin be properly and truly predicated of any thing apart from voluntary moral action ?
Is it desirable that our churches adopt the custom of our fathers with reference to creeds ?
What are the ecclesiastical powers and relations of this Association ?
Is the present attitude of the publishing commit- tee of the American Tract Society towards the in- stitution of slavery a right one ?
Should a belief in the doctrine of infant baptism be required as essential to church-membership ?
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IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
NOTICES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE LICENSED BY
THE HAMPDEN ASSOCIATION PREVIOUS TO ITS DI- VISION, FROM 1748 to 1844.
July, 1754. Josiah Whitney graduated at Yale in 1752, settled at Brooklyn, Ct., received the degree of D.D. from Yale and Harvard. He died Octo- ber 20, 1824, aged 90.
January, 1755. Elizur Goodrich graduated at Yale in 1752, settled at Durham, Ct., received the de- gree of D.D. from Princeton ; died at Norfolk, Ct., while on a journey in 1797, of apoplexy, aged 63 years.
January, 1756. Joseph Lathrop. (See West Spring- field.)
July, 1757. Gideon Noble, of Westfield, graduated at Yale in 1755, was ordained at Wellington, Ct., November 28, 1759, dismissed in 1787, and died there in 1792, aged 64.
October, 1757. Moses Bliss, of Springfield, gradu- ated at Yale in 1755; afterwards studied law, was appointed judge, and died in 1814, aged 78 years.
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