USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, 1836 > Part 21
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' Mr. Ellis having received this information, appeared on the 27th of December, 1784, in open meeting of the precinct, and gave his answer in common form, signifying his acceptance of their unanimous choice, and his perfect confidence in the punctu- al fulfilment of their promises. Pursuant to the aforesaid call and answer, on the 30th day of March, 1785, Mr. Ellis, by a mutual council called for that purpose, agreeably to the known usages and customs of the Congregational churches in the com- monwealth of Massachusetts, was installed to the pastoral care and charge of the church and congregation, in the first precinct in the town of Rehoboth.
' Precinct matters now assumed an agreeable aspect, love and friendship were prevalent ; the people rejoicing in their pastor, at the same time he was rendering thanks to Almighty God, who had made him the subject of their unanimous choice. Great and conspicuous was their christian fellowship ; their good order and unity seemed so well established, that their happiness and tranquility appeared to the prophetic eye to be commensu- rate with life.'
But these bright prospects were soon overshadowed with clouds, which were ere long to pour their fury upon the heads of both minister and people.
At his settlement, as has been already noticed, the inhabit- ants of the first precinct in Rehoboth, contracted to give Mr. Ellis one hundred pounds annually, for his support during his ministry among them; and voted to raise the same sum, or whatever part of it should be found needful, by taxation. This was, of course, their free and voluntary act. About thirty pounds of the salary were raised from funds held by the precinct. These funds the committee of the precinct, in the capacity of trustees, had power to loan and receive interest from, ' which they were bound to apply to the support of a Congregational minister, residing and officiating in the work of the gospel min- istry within that precinct.'
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All things went well with the people, for some time ; and all were contented, so long as the minister could preach without calling for his salary. Thus affairs continued for four years, the salary unpaid, the minister distressed, and the debt of the pre- cinct accumulating. Mr. Ellis, compelled by necessity, began to call for the payment of his salary ; and the precinct, at the annual March meeting, four years after the instalment, made grants of money sufficient to discharge it, and ordered the same to be raised by assessments. But here their labours stopped, and went not beyond their vote ; ' and in no one instance,' says the Narrative, ' was an assessment made and carried into com- plete execution. Though they begun a good work, yet, being destitute of the grace of perseverance, they failed in its final completion, and brought difficulties to themselves and all con- cerned.'
' A number of the precinct expressed great dissatisfaction at the ungenerous usage of Mr. Ellis ; and, by their request a meeting of the precinct was called, and, when assembled, they chose assessors, and ordered seventy-one pounds, twelve shil- lings and four pence, to be assessed in the mode pointed out in the vote before recited ; this sum, together with the interest money, was sufficient to discharge the first year's salary.'
' The assessors, pursuant to their appointment, made the as- sessment, and delivered the rate-streaks to an officer, with a warrant, directing him to make an impartial collection. This procedure offended some, and disgusted others : to support a minister by a tax was now judged criminal. While the minis- ter could live without his salary, and no one was called upon for his support, all was peace - all was harmony and friendship ; he was a christian indeed. Reverse the scene, and mark the change. As soon as an assessment is made for the salary, and the collectors call on the assessed for the money, various com- plaints are heard ; many think it a grievous thing to pay a minis- ter, - a hireling, as he is termed, is an odious being -such an one cannot be a good man; new discoveries are made, new principles of religion are adopted ; in short, they are quite of- fended with a minister who has the audacity to request a fulfil- ment of their contract.'
It should here be remarked that the precinct, at this time, were by no means all Congregationalists. There were six or seven Baptist churches in the different parts of the town, to which some of the inhabitants of the precinct belonged. The
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desks of these in some instances, were supplied by men who had rushed from the plow into the pulpit, exchanging the ' frock of tow' for the ' gown of black,' or in some cases literally re- taining it; and, with scarcely learning enough to read their texts, had commenced open war upon the whole educated min- istry, declaiming strongly against ' dictionary larning,' ' black coats,' ' fat salaries,' and ' hireling priests.' These men la- boured on their farms or in their shops during the week, and on the Sabbath preached for little or no compensation. Their zeal made way for their arguments to the understandings, while their practice addressed itself to the pockets of many. Aside from these things, others were decidedly opposed to supporting the ministry by a tax, who would, perhaps, have given liberally to a subscription for that purpose. Such was the state of things when Mr. Ellis came to Rehoboth. Backus, speaking of Mr. Ellis's salary, and the mode of raising it, says, " this sum was voted by but little more than twenty men, and near three hun- dred men were taxed to pay it." These meetings were regu- larly called, and if the majority of the individuals of the precinct did not attend, but suffered themselves to be ruled by the mi- nority, it was their own fault ; and, provided a quorum assem- bled, the whole precinct were bound to abide by their proceed- ings. If they had made contracts, and voted to raise money to fulfil them, there was no alternative for the precinct, so far as the past was concerned, but to discharge them according to agreement, in the same manner as though the whole precinct had voted in making them. The past could not be remedied ; the future alone, if the voice of the majority had not been ex- pressed, was at their control, either to continue the present course, or strike out a different one. But the majority of the precinct, being dissatisfied with Mr. Ellis, on his calling for his salary, endeavoured to provide not only for the future, but flat- tered themselves that by their vote they could annul also the past. A meeting of the precinct, after having been legally warned, was holden Sept. 7, 1789, at which it was voted, " that all collections of money, by way of tax, be postponed till further orders of the parish ; and that the treasurer and collectors of said parish are directed by said parish to govern themselves ac- cordingly." And at another lawful meeting of the precinct, holden March 8, 1790, it was voted, " that the precinct assessors call on the former collector for his rate streaks, together with liis
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warrant and money, and an account of what money he has col- lected, and of whom collected."
' By the assessment made and collected, as has been related, Mr. Ellis was not benefited, for no part of the money collected was paid to him, though to raise the arrearages of his first year's salary, were the ostensible objects of the assessment.'
Mr. Ellis's situation now was far from being pleasant. 'It was now five years since his instalment, and he had received but a very inconsiderable sum towards his salary ; his friends had voluntarily afforded him some supplies ; but as to any help or assistance from the precinct, as such, their last before-men- tioned votes and proceedings forbade his indulging the least hope or expectation.'
Placed in such a situation, his only alternative to recover his salary, for the support of his family and the payment of the debts he had necessarily contracted, was to commence a suit at law. Averse to such a disagreeable resort, he for a long time delayed it, hoping that some settlement would be made ; but seeing that out of the question, in compliance with the advice of his friends, he brought his action against the precinct for the recovery of his salary. The precinct chose agents "to appear at court, and defend the suit, brought by the Rev. John Ellis, to recover his salary." The action was tried at a court of Common Pleas, by a jury, who gave in for the plaintiff, estab- lished the contract, and judgment was rendered thereon. The precinct then appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court, where they were again defaulted, and the plaintiff had judgment.
These decisions were by no means gratifying to the precinct ; and they next endeavored to get rid of their minister. At a meeting held Feb. 7, 1791, the precinct voted agreeably to the third article in the warrant for the meeting, that the precinct do not agree that the Rev. John Ellis shall of- ficiate as a minister in said precinct, at the expense of said pre- cinct ;" also voted " That the precinct clerk notify the Rev. John Ellis of the same, by giving him an attested copy." " Thus they flattered themselves,' says the Narrative, 'that they had !ischarged their minister, and boasted much of their novel and short method of dismission.'
At this period, the church and other friends of Mr. Ellis, living in the precinct, were called by the precinct, "The socie- ty attending on the Rev. Mr. John Ellis's preaching ;" the other
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inhabitants of the precinct, who were on the opposition, styling themselves " The Precinct," and considering themselves, by virtue of their vote last aforesaid, wholly discharged from their original contract. At a meeting lawfully called, and holden Sept. 5, 1791, by the precinct, they passed the following vote, viz. "That if the society attending on the Rev. Mr. John Ellis's preaching, will settle with the aforesaid Mr. Ellis, and pay him his demand from time to time, as it becomes due, for his services as their minister, and pay all costs and charges, the precinct hath been put to, on account of the action said Ellis hath brought against said precinct, for his back salary, and save the precinct harmless, so that neither tax nor suit shall be brought against the inhabitants of said precinct for the sup- port or maintenance of the Rev. Mr. Ellis aforesaid, in future ; then, and in that case, the payment being made as aforesaid, the precinct doth agree, that the society aforesaid shall an- nually receive the interest arising on the precinct's money, so long as they continue the Rev. Mr. John Ellis as their minis- ter ; and that said society enjoy the privilege of the precinct's meeting-house on sabbath days, to attend public worship in, so long as they continue the aforesaid Mr. Ellis to preach in said house."
The society took no notice of this offer, knowing that the property, from the conditions on which it was given, belonged to the Congregational society, and felt themselves under no ob- ligation to the precinct for offering to give them what necessari- ly belonged to them, (they being the only Congregational soci- ety in the precinct), on condition that they would pay the pre- cinct's debts.
We now approach what is called " The Long Meeting." At a meeting of the precinct, Sept. 26, 1791, it was voted, " That the door-keeper be directed by this precinct not to open the doors of the meetinghouse in said precinct after the 17th day of October next, on any pretence whatever, except for some public town-meeting, or funeral occasions, or by order of the trustees of said precinct, or by request of the committee hereaf- ter to be chosen to supply the desk in said house." At the same meeting the precinct chose a committee to supply the desk. One of this committee was a member of a Baptist church in Providence, the second constantly attended the Baptist meet- ing, and the third publicly declared himself a Baptist.
The time fixed upon by the precinct for closing the meeting-
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house doors, was the week in which the Supreme Judicial Court was to sit in the county of Bristol, when it was expected that Mr. Ellis would obtain judgment to recover his salary. Mr. Ellis and his people continued to meet as usual in the house for worship till the sabbath after the vote was to go into effect. On this day they assembled as usual, but found the doors shut and doubly barred, and that no admittance could be obtained without violence. Some of the leading men of the precinct party ap- pearing, they were requested for the key, that Mr. Ellis and his church and people, might enter, to celebrate the public worship of God. This they refused, saying that it could be had only in the the way pointed out by the precinct in their last mentioned vote. After waiting till they were satisfied that no admittance would be given, Mr. Ellis and his people retired, and the meeting- house remained shut during the day.
' The sabbath following, being the 31st of October, A. D. 1791, Mr. Ellis, at the request of his church and people, re- paired to the meeting-house. When he arrived the doors were again found shut and barred, and also people of the disaffected party placed at each door, to prevent any admittance. The particulars of this transaction are too many to be given in detail : suffice it to say, that after waiting, perhaps a quarter of an hour, the doors were opened, and a certain man, by the name of Northrop, from Narraganset, (a place so called, in Rhode Island state), a Baptist elder, who had been previously engaged by the disaffected, entered the pulpit. Soon after Mr. Ellis came in and advanced towards the pulpit ; but when he came to the stairs, he was so violently opposed by two men, seated on them for that purpose, that he found it impracticable to pro- ceed. The persons on the stairs who made resistance, were or- dered by authority to withdraw, but they did not obey. The men who were seated on the stairs, and made the forcible re- sistance, were afterwards called upon, in a legal manner, to an- swer for their conduct in that particular, and were adjudged guilty of a breach of the peace, and sentenced to pay costs of prosecution, amounting to ninety-five pounds, fifteen shillings, and eleven pence, - a high price for a seat upon the stairs in a decayed meeting-house.'
On the next sabbath the precinct employed the Rev. Isaac Backus, a distinguished Baptist minister of Middleborough, and author of the history of the Baptists that bears his name, - to preach for them ; and at the same time doubled the number of
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the guard on the pulpit stairs. Mr. Ellis and his society being now convinced that the object of the precinct was to introduce and establish a Baptist denomination, and wholly shut them out of the meeting-house, repaired to Mr. Ellis's house, and were compelled for a while to worship in private houses.
Here it should be observed, that at the time when the precinct passed the vote for shutting up the meeting-house, they also voted and ordered their trustees, " to sell the securities belong- ing to the precinct (as they worded the vote) for the most they would sell for in money." 'The same securities were a part of the fund; and by the express condition on which they were lodged and entrusted with the committee of the precinct, they were absolutely forbidden to use or expend any part of the principal, for any purpose whatever.'
At a lawfully warned meeting of the precinct, Dec. 5, 1791, it was voted, "That one of the former chosen to supply the desk, on his request be dismissed, and another chosen." The one now chosen was a member of a Baptist church in the town of Swan- zey ; so that two of the present committee were now professed Baptists, and the third a nominal one. They also directed the same committee to agree with the Rev. Philip Slade, a Baptist minister, to supply the desk in the meeting-house of the pre- cinct, as a precinct minister, for the term of three months from the time of passing the vote.
Mr. Ellis and his society now became convinced that no rea- sonable accommodation was to be looked for from the precinct, and that redress must be sought from another, and a higher source.
' In this situation, considering the benefit of the fund, and the use of the meeting house to be of importance to them and their posterity, Mr. Ellis's church and people applied to the General Court of the Commonwealth ; and by a petition expressive of the facts, and representative of their peculiar situation, suppli cated them to incorporate the petitioners into a body politic ; vested with equal and similar powers, privileges and immuni- ties, as precincts then were, or might be, in the Commonwealth. The precinct made great opposition, and used every means to prevent the prayer of the petitioners being granted. This may be collected from the following vote, passed at a lawful meeting of the precinct, May 21st, 1792, in this form, viz : " That the agent chosen by said precinct to appear at the General Court, is directed to use his best endeavours to prevent a petition
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presented to said court, for an act of incorporation, by Ephraim Starkweather and others, passing ; and employ counsel, if ne- cessary, for that purpose.""'
The General Court, believing the petitioners to have been in- jured, and that their religious rights had been invaded, granted, by a great majority, the request of the petitioners. The follow- ing are the title and preamble to the act of incorporation :
" COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
" In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two.
" An ACT to incorporate certain persons, by the name of the CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY, in the first precinct, in the town of Rehoboth, in the county of Bristol, whereof the Rev. John Ellis is the present pastor - and for repealing an Act made and passed in the year of our Lord 1762, en- titled, ' An Act to invest the committee of the first precinct in Rehoboth, with corporate powers for certain purposes therein mentioned.'
" Whereas in and by said act, the said precinct, in their cor- porate capacity, are authorized annually to appoint a committee, who shall be a body corporate, by the name of the trustees in the first precinct in Rehoboth, with power and authority to re- ceive the sum of six hundred pounds, and the same to manage and conduct, until the same, with other additional funds, shall amount to the sum of twelve hundred pounds ; and the interest of said sum to appropriate and pay to the minister of the Con- gregational church, residing and officiating in the work of the ministry, within the said precinct forever. And whereas, from a change in the religious sentiments and professions of the inhabit- ants of said precinct, those who constitute said church, and are adherents to the Congregational order or denomination of chris- tians, are become the minority of said precinct, by means whereof, the fitness and propriety of said precinct's appropri- ating said committee or trustees cease : And the persons hereafter named, being the church aforesaid, and the principal part of said Congregational order or denomination of christians, having petitioned this court to be incorporated, for the purpose of managing and conducting the funds and estate of every de- scription, holden for, or belonging to the said Congregational so-
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ciety, or appropriated to the support of a minister of the Con- gregational church, residing and officiating in the work of the ministry within the said precinct.
" Therefore be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the aforesaid recited act, and every clause and part thereof, be, and are hereby repealed."
The court then proceeded to incorporate the petitioners, mentioning them severally by name, being seventy-one in num- ber. And by said act of incorporation, among other things, it was enacted, " That said petitioners, and all such other inhabit- ants of the said first precinct in Rehoboth, as by a major vote of the society, hereby constituted, be admitted to the benefits thereof, at a regular meeting of the qualified voters, called for that purpose, be, and they are hereby incorporated into a dis- tinct religious society, by the name of the Congregational So- ciety in the first precinct in the town of Rehoboth ; and are hereby vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities, that precincts or parishes within this commonwealth do, or may enjoy. Further, it is enacted that the trustees of said Congre- gational society shall be, and they are, hereby, empowered to take, hold, receive, and manage, all the estate and rights of property of every kind, both real and personal, which do, or hereafter may, appertain and belong to the Congregational soci- ety, or are legally appropriated to the use and support of a Con- gregational minister in the first precinct in Rehoboth ; and also such other grants, appropriations, and donations, real or per- sonal, as have been, or hereafter may be, made for the pur- poses aforesaid. And said trustees, in the said capacity, are empowered to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, to answer and be answered unto, to defend and be defended against, in all courts and places, and before all persons and judges what- soever, in all singular suit and suits, causes and actions, of what kind soever."
The bill, after three readings in the House of Representa- tives, and two in the Senate, passed to be enacted, and was ap- proved by the governor, June 23, 1792.
The trustees of the incorporated society now called on the trustees of the precinct for the possession of the meeting house, and also demanded the monies which had been entrusted with them for the support of a Congregational minister, residing and officiating in the work of the ministry within said precinct.
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The precinct refused compliance ; but continued to hold the meeting house, and make what use of the monies they pleased. The incorporated society now appealed to the strong arm of the law, for the recovery of what had been decided to be their rights. Two actions, for this purpose were commenced ; one for the recovery of the fund, which was brought in the common course of civil actions ; the other, for obtaining possession of the meeting house, was brought under the statute of forcible en- try and detainer. To recover, in this form of action, it was ne- cessary for the Congregational society to prove, in addition to ' forcible entry,' that the house was forcibly detained from them. Although the society were satisfied, that, should they attempt to enter and take possession of the house, they would be resist- ed and prevented ; still they must make the attempt, and show that they were forcibly excluded, in order to convince others. To reduce this to a certainty, the society resolved to assemble at their usual time on the sabbath, and, by their trustees, intro- duce their ordained minister, Mr. Ellis, and request him, in be- half of the society, to officiate. From an attempt of this kind, arose the story of " The Long Meeting ;" an occurrence of such novel and interesting scenes, that I shall give it entire, in the words of the ' Narrative,' which was written from actual ob- servation.
" The story is, in brief, as follows :- On a succeeding sab- bath, the trustees of the society called upon Mr. Ellis, and re- quested him to officiate for the society that day. He complied - was conducted to the meeting house, and introduced to the desk. Some of the inhabitants of the precinct had previously possessed themselves of the house. Elder Philip Slade, with certain others, were in the desk. The trustees informed the people assembled, that they had requested Mr. Ellis, their right- ful and ordained minister, to attend and officiate ; whom the church and society wished to hear. No sooner had this infor- mation been given, and the request made, than the elder rose, and began reading aloud ; and, by the elevation of his voice, and the rapidity of his utterance, seemed to drown all other voices, and not to give an opportunity for any other person to be heard.
" In this way the meeting continued for some time ; at length, an opportunity offering, one of the trustees rose and command- ed silence - urged the right of the society to use and occupy the house without molestation. He was not regarded - reason
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had lost her empire -frenzy and blind enthusiasm were her substitute. The elder, with his assistants, were in constant em- ploy -reading, singing, and exhorting, were the different branches of the exercise. In fine, nought could be heard but loud vociferations - raised cantations, and frightful exhorta- tions - issuing from warm hearts, and warmer passions. The astonished temple, with its new occupants, trembled and mourned ; the direful dirge being echoed and re-echoed ; not Ætna's eruptions are more dreadful, or the howl of beasts of prey more alarming to the lonesome traveller, than such worship to a man of sober, serious reflection - who contemplates the Being he worships as possessed of divine attributes ; - who re- gards the heart, and observes the motives that prompt to wor- ship. The enthusiastic reflects not - enthusiasm is reason run wild ; whatever is novel - whatever is strange and alarming, increases the enthusiasm, and is thought really and truly divine; hence the invention is prompt, the zeal fervent, and neither flesh or spirit can have rest.
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