USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > The history of Princeton, Worcester county, Mass. from its first settlement; with a sketch of the present religious controversy in that place. Designed for the use of the inhabitants > Part 11
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In closing this communication, you will allow us further to add, that we feel bound, by the most solemn obligations, to adhere to the result of coun- cil, and having, by that result, and by your act, as well as our own, been constituted members of the church, we can never consent to any measures, the tendency of which would annul the doings of the sister churches which composed that council. And we feel deeply aggrieved at the apparent want of Christian confidence and love, manifested by you towards us, in refusing to meet with, and to fellowship us, and in avoiding, in the interchange of communications, the common Christian salutations. We have, and still do, heartily desire a general union. May the Great Shepherd of the sheep strengthen us all to do his will, lead us to see, eye to eye, and in his own time and way, so unite us that we may be of one heart and of one mind.
With Christian affection, we are yours, in the faith of the gospel,
CHARLES RUSSELL, CALEB DANA, MOSES BULLARD, JOSHUA EVELETH, CHARLES B. TEMPLE,
Committee of the Church.
Princeton, Nov. 21, 1835.
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HISTORY OF PRINCETON.
As there seemed now no prospect of a reconciliation with the disaffected members, and as Mr. Phillips refused to per- form the duties of his pastoral relation to the united church, they determined to take more decisive measures, and, accord- ingly, a meeting was held December 4, 1835, " to see if said church would take measures to call an ecclesiastical council, to dissolve, if expedient, the pastoral relations of the Rev. Mr. Phillips with the church, and also to consider and advise the church in relation to the unhappy difficulties existing therein." Notice of this, as of all other church meetings, was given to the disaffected members. On this occasion, it drew from them the following reply, as well as the accompa- nying letter from Mr. Phillips, addressed to the deacon of the church who had given the notice :-
To Deacon Stratton :
In the absence of Dea. Howe, confined at home by ill health, to whom you addressed a note, requesting him to call a meeting of the church at the old house, to consider the question of a mutual council, the standing com- mittee having conferred with those who worship with them, are authorized to say, that we think it inexpedient to call another council at present, hecause we are, deeply persuaded that it can do no good. When we look at the dreadful consequences which have resulted from the doings of one council, what encouragement can we have to try another. We would gladly engage in any measure from which we could see reason to hope that good might result. But as we can see none to hope for good from another council, we must decline having a voice in calling one.
. Yours, respectfully, ISRAEL HOWE, JONAS BROOKS, JOHN H. BROOKS, CALEB MIRICK, EBENEZER PARKER, JR. 7 -
Committee of the Church.
Princeton, Dec. 2, 1835.
My dear sir -- In a note you addressed Dea. Howe, respecting a meeting to confer on the subject of another council, you speak of inviting me to " unite in it, that they may consider my relation to the church, and, if thought expedient, to dissolve it, &c. It would be soon enough for me to speak, perhaps, when the church shall have united in making the proposal to me. But it may serve, perhaps, to relieve the people at the old house, and clear the way for some course they may have in view, if I so far anticipate the proposed meeting on Friday, as to authorize you to say to those who may be present, that they need give themselves no further anxiety respecting my dismission. I have had my request for it written several weeks, and have been waiting for a fit opportunity-shall improve the first, and if one does not occur quite soon, endeavor to make one-to present it. All I shall wish, as to a council, is, for a small one to ratify our proceedings.
Now that I have had occasion to speak of the subject of a council, I will add a few words, which you can communicate or not, as you see fit-which may be regarded by those whom it may concern, as much, or little, as they shall see fit. As to another mutual council, you probably know my views already. If such a council were invited, and, having met, and called in,
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and heard the parties fully, should then send for me, and say, Mr. Phillips, you have been on the ground through all these difficulties, and know, we presume, as fully as any one, their real nature ; will you state to us what you think we can propose that may be satisfactory to both parties ? I should feel coustrained to say, I must and should say, I do not think that anything that would be satisfactory to both can be proposed, at present.
As to an ex parte council, which I have understood is contemplated, I hope you will not call one, until you have pondered the subject deeply and solemnly. Such a council, indeed, from the very circumstance that it is ex parte-of and for a party, generally, though not always, does the thing for which it was called. What such a council (should one be called) might do here, we do not indeed know. But let such an one come, in the midst of the present excitement, and if they do any thing satisfactory to the party which called them, it would, in all probability, be something that will keep a very respectable portion of the church, respectable as to standing, num- bers, and what they are able to do, and have done in years past, for the support of the ministry, from ever uniting with you in attending on the or- dinances of the church, and settling and supporting a minister. My advice, then, is, and in all the solemnity that gathers around the thought of last advice, I would say it, do not call an ex parte council yet. The cause is lost if you do !
A word as to the manner in which the amended proposition, from the portion of the church at our house, was acted upon. Perhaps I misunder- stand Esquire Russell's letter ;* but if I do not, the course taken is, to me, astonishing. The letter speaks of the proposition being laid before " the church ;" by which I suppose is meant, all the members at the old house. But the proposition was not made to the church, but to a certain and definite class of persons, (in the church, indeed, as you and they would have it.) Is it possible, then, that those of you, to whom it was not made, and whom it did not personally concern, could have acted upon it, and more still, been the first to speak against it? I hope it is not yet to turn out, as has often been said, that those who have gone from our house are doing more to pre- vent a union than those who were there before; but this certainly looks very much like it. The persons concerned appointed a committee to con- fer on the " way and manner of giving a reason of their hope, and all from their own number ; seeming to suppose, and very correctly, as I think, that it was a matter which concerned them only. To have been conducted in order, the business should manifestly have been carried through by them only. The result might, perhaps, have been the same ; I was led to hope, however, from what I heard, and with considerable confidence, that, had their proposition been written and fully understood, an alteration might have been suggested, which would have been so far satisfactory to both par- ties, that the difficulties might, perhaps, have been got into a course of set- tlement. Yours, &c.
A. PHILLIPS.
As from their communication there was no probability of a union of the disaffected in the proposed measure, the church voted to call an ecclesiastical council for the purposes men- tioned in the notice of the meeting, and choose a committee to select the churches, and issue letters missive. This com-
* " Esquire Russell's letter" was the official communication of the com- mittee, of which he was chairman, on page 97, which the phraseology here used would hardly indicate.
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mittee were also instructed to invite Mr. Phillips to unite in this council, and also to delay issuing their letters to afford him an opportunity of consummating the design expressed in his letter of Dec. 2d. As, however, he refused to unite with the church, and delayed to ask a dismission agreeably to the de- claration of the above-mentioned letter, another meeting was held, December 27th, when it was " thought best that the committee should delay issuing letters missive, one week long- er, that the Rev. Mr. Phillips, or the disaffected brethren, might have opportunity to make further communications if they desired it." Accordingly, at a meeting held January 3d, 1836, the following communication was received by the church, and the appropriate measures taken, which led to the annexed reply :-
To the persons recommended by the council's committee :
The portion of the church at Mr. Phillips's house having understood from you that the amendment we proposed to the proposition, in which you proposed to give a reason of your hope, is unsatisfactory,-willing still and desirous to do any thing to affect a reconciliation, that seems to us at all consistent and right, would inquire further, whether it would be any more satisfactory to designate yourselves six, to be added to the examining com- mittee; and then, in case this committee having attended to the important duty entrusted to them, should report some individuals as not giving satis- factory evidence of piety, to have the case of those individuals-they hav- ing stood apart awhile from the church, as you proposed-decided by the voice of the church, excepting those recommended.
ISRAEL HOWE, JONAS BROOKS, JOHN H. BROOKS, EBENEZER PARKER, JR.
Committee of the Church.
To the portion of the church worshiping at the Rev. Mr. Phillips's meeting- house :
Christian Brethren-By a communication, lately transmitted by your committee, we are informed that you are " willing still, and desirous to do any thing to effect a reconciliation, that seems to us at all consistent and right." In answer, we can assure you that our own feelings are in perfect accordance with the sentiment conveyed in the language just quoted. But in relation to the inquiry you make-viz. " whether it would be any more satisfactory to designate yourselves six, to be added to the examining com- mittee"-the undersigned would reply, that, so far as they have been able to ascertain the views of the brethren, it would not be any more satisfac- tory ; because we can see no reason why there should be so large an exam- ining committee, especially when it is remembered that we have already been once examined, and embodied with the church, by a committee of reverend gentlemen, appointed by an enlightened council, and approved of, both by yourselves and us. Nor would it be satisfactory, because your inquiry is conditioned upon a principle which we believe of dangerous ten- dency, and which, if adopted, would deprive us of the rights and privi- leges of members ; and this too, as we believe, in violation of our Christian duty and covenant obligations. We would now refer you to our communi-
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cation, addressed to you a few weeks since, as containing what were then, and are now, our views upon this subject.
We remain yours, with Christian affection,
CALEB DANA, MOSES BULLARD, CHARLES B. TEMPLE,
Committee.
Princeton, Jan. 5, 1836.
The church now proceeded to carry into execution its vote. of December 4th, 1835, and, in accordance with it, an eccle- siastical.council was convened on the 20th of January follow- ing. A notice of this meeting of the council was served upon Mr. Phillips, and the disaffected members of the church, and both appeared in their defence before them. Their doings will be best learned from the accompanying result :-
At an Ecclesiastical Council, convened by letters missive, from the Con- gregational Church in Princeton, under the care of Rev. Mr. Phillips, at the house of Mr. Ivory Wilder, January 20th, 1836, to consider the expe- diency of dissolving, and if deemed expedient to dissolve, the pastoral rela- tion between the Rev. Mr. Phillips and said church, and also to give such advice to the church as they may judge proper,
Were present the following Pastors and Delegates :-
From the Church of Christ in New-Braintree, Rev. John Fiske, Pastor, Br. Job Ranger, Delegate.
From the Church of Christ in North-Brookfield, Thos. Snell, D. D., P., Dea. Jos. A. Moore, Del.
From the Church of Christ in Hubbardston, Rev. Sam'l Gay, P., Dea. Justin Ellinwood, Del.
From the Church of Christ in Leicester, Rev. John Nelson, P., Br. Sam'l Watson, Del.
From the Church of Christ in Rutland, Rev. Josiah Clark, P., Br. Calvin G. Howe, Del.
From the Church of Christ in Templeton, Rev. Lemuel P Bates, P., Br. Jona. Cutting, Del.
From the Church of Christ in West-Boylston, Rev. Elijah Paine, P., Dea. Jos. P. Parker, Del.
From the Church of Christ in Holden, Rev. Wm. P. Paine, P., Dea. Peter Rice, Del.
The council was organized by choosing Rev. Mr. Fiske, Moderator, and Rev. Mr. Bates, Scribe, and Rev. Mr. Paine of Holden, Assistant-Scribe.
The council was opened with prayer, by the moderator. A communica- tion was then read, from the Rev. Mr. Phillips, directed to the moderator of the council, protesting against any action by that body, affecting his pastoral relation, denying their right to exercise any jurisdiction in the case, and assigning, as a principal reason, that he is not the pastor of that body of men, by whose request the council has been convened.
Whereupon the council voted that a committee of two, from their body, be appointed to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Phillips, and a committee from the seceding members, and invite them to be present, and hear the statements that should be made by the committee of the church, and make any com- munications, which might serve to lead the council to a correct result.
The committee of the council attended to the duty assigned them, and the Rev. Mr. Phillips and his committee were present during the hearing of the case.
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HISTORY OF PRINCETON.
The committee calling themselves the committee of the church, consist- ing of the following gentlemen, viz. Dea. Samuel Stratton, Charles Rus- sell, Esq., Capt. Caleb Dana, Rufus Davis, and Chas. A. Mirick, presented various documents and records, which documents and records Mr. Phillips admitted to be correct, showing that a council had been called in December 17, 1834, to unite the two churches then existing, and that a plan of union was presented to the two churches, as the result of the council, which re- sult was subsequently accepted by the two churches, in regular church meetings, duly convened for that purpose, no one dissenting.
Therefore the council are unanimously of opinion, that there is but one congregational church in Princeton, viz. that which is called the united church.
The committee furthermore showed that Mr. Phillips, by invitation, con- sented to, and did supply the desk, for a length of time, for the united church and society, and then, at the request of a minority of said church, refused to officiate for them, and established a separate meeting.
The council having these documents and records laid before them, voted to choose a committee of three of their body, to confer with the Rev. Mr. Phillips, and a committee of his friends, to receive or make any propositions which they might deem proper to make, by which the existing difficulties might be amicably adjusted.
Whereupon the Rev. Messrs. Fiske, Nelson, and Paine of West-Boyls- ton, were appointed this committee, who, after a long conference, returned and reported to the council that no propositions were made to them, and those which they made were not acceded to.
The council then, at the request of Mr. Phillips, the organ of his com- mittee, attended to statements made by him, in relation to the documents laid before the council by the committee of the church, and also the reasons which led the minority of the church to secede, all which, the council were of the opinion, did not in the least invalidate, but rather corroborated the the documents of the committee of the church.
And the council, from a sense duty, cannot refrain from stating that the numerous papers presented by the committee, evince a peculiarly Christian spirit, on the part of the church, amid all their protracted and severe trials, and most clearly show that all has been done on their part which the gospel requires, or that any body of men have a right to demand.
In view then of all the facts of the case, which the council have patiently and prayerfully considered, however unpleasant and painful it may be to the council themselves, or to the parties concerned, they are most clearly guided to the following result, viz :-
That whereas, the Rev. Alonzo Phillips, pastor and minister of the con- gregational church and society* in Princeton. has refused and neglected to administer the ordinances to said church and society for a long time, and whereas, the said Mr. Phillips has refused to unite, in calling a mutual ec- clesiastical council to dissolve said relation, when requested to do so, there- by depriving said church of the privilege of enjoying a stated ministry, and hindering the prosperity and wounding the cause of Zion,
Voted, That the pastoral relation subsisting between the Rev. Mr. Phillips and the congregational church in this place, ought to be, and hereby is, dissolved.
The council, in coming to this result, are aware of the solemn responsi- bility under which they act, and however plain the case may be which has
* This was an oversight, very probably a mere slip of the pen, on the part of the council. Mr. Phillips could not, in any sense, as he contends in his "Appeal," and as we have before stated, be regarded as minister of the Unit- ed Society. The mistake is of no consequence, however, as the council dismiss him from the church only.
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HISTORY OF PRINCETON.
led them thus to decide, nothing but a pure sense of duty to the church and to the interests of Christ's kingdom, which are paramount to every other, would have led them to dismiss the pastor of this church, for whose comfort and usefulness they cherish the highest regard.
The council therefore cannot but hope that the Rev. Mr. Phillips will feel it to be his duty quietly to cease from his labors in this place.
It now remains that we express our sympathy for the united church, and urge upon them the practice of every Christian virtue.
Dear Brethren, you are now left as sheep without a shepherd. From what we have already witnessed of your Christian courtesy, and Christian spirit, we entertain a confident belief that you are in a good degree govern- ed, in your wishes and conduct, by a sincere desire to promote peace and the cause of Christ in this place. We urge you, with great earnestness, to show, by your future course of conduct, public and private, that your high- est aim is the good of mankind, and the glory of God. Strive not so much for victory, as for harmony and piety. The alienation of feeling, even among some of the professed disciples of Christ in this place, has, we fear, become serious. Reconciliation can be effected only by an enlarged spirit of forgiveness and love.
Dearly Beloved, "Avenge not yourselves." " Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."
It is the earnest advice of the council, that you, with all practicable dis- patch, provide yourselves with a pastor, who shall be a man after God's own heart. And in this, especially, strive for union, in feeling and action.
As we recognise but one congregational church in this place, and that as now worshiping in what is called the old meeting-house, we urge, as a Christian duty, and as required by church order, that the portion of this church who now worship in the new house, or in any other place, should return to their brethren, acknowledge them as such, and unite with them. harmoniously and cordially, in maintaining the institutions of the gospel, for the edification of the church, and for the enlargement of the Redeem- er's kingdom. And we cannot but cherish so high a sense of their Christian spirit and magnanimity, as to be confident that they will conform to our advice. And may the Great Shepherd of the sheep collect together the scattered flock, and then himself guard the fold against the entrance of any thing which can destroy or hurt.
And, finally, may you and we meet together, where there shall be no more divisions nor animosities, but where shall exist harmony of judgement, conscience, and feeling, all being perfectly conformed to the will of God. This result was unanimously adopted, (that is, all voting.)
JOHN FISKE, Moderator. LEMUEL P. BATES, Scribe. WILLIAM P. PAINE, Assistant Scribe.
The above is a true copy from the original records.
LEMUEL P. BATES, Scribe of Council.
After the announcement of this result, sanctioning all their past proceedings, the united church and society continued to employ preaching at the " old house." In the mean time a most extraordinary proceeding had taken place among the disaffected and alienated members. This was no less than an assumption, that they were the church, and a procedure forth- with to set aside the doings of the church proper, and to dis- miss Mr. Phillips. On what grounds they assumed to be the church it is difficult to perceive. The two original churches
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had been united by the result of the first council, and the sub- sequent action of their committee and the churches. They had worshiped together as one church for five sabbaths, when a small minority, with the pastor, seceded. They could not, therefore, claim to be, what the " Appeal" denominates one of the original churches, " a court's church ;" while, to quote the language of Mr. Phillips, " according to the Groton result, and opinion of nearly the entire orthodox community," they were evidently " no church at all." Inasmuch as they were a minority of, and had seceded from, the united church, they were neither legally nor ecclesiastically a church. This they have themselves since acknowledged, by asking a dismission of the united church for the purpose of organizing a new church. Yet of this body Mr. Phillips, between the date of the calling and the meeting of the council, of January 20th, and unknown to the church of which he was pastor, had asked a dismission, which his records say, " with much appa- rent reluctance and grief," was granted. The following is his letter :-
To the Church of Christ :
Dear Brethren,-When I answered, more than fifteen years ago, your unanimous call to settle with you in " the work of the gospel ministry," I expressed, as some of you doubtless recollect, a willingness and a determina- tion, to cast in my lot with yours, then in no very encouraging circumstan- ces ; to live or die with you. The whole history of my ministry shows, that I have never swerved from this purpose. The history of this church, too, shows that my ministry, its many faults notwithstanding, has been quite as successful as that of most other men's, under similar circumstances. The course, however, which has been pursued by some of the members of the church for the last six months, the particulars of which, as they are well known to you all, I need not state in this communication, have thrown ob- stacles in the way of my success in future, and inflicted a wound on my feelings, which must, doubtless, justify me in your view, in requesting you, as I now do, to allow me to leave you; to unite with me in the usual meas- ures for dissolving our connexion. And may the God of peace and love be with you forever. A. PHILLIPS.
Princeton, January 12, 1836.
Shortly after the sitting of the council called by the church, another, consisting, I believe, of three clergymen, was con- vened at the request of Mr. Phillips and his friends, at his house, who, without notice to the church, proceeded to con- summate the vote of the seceders. Which of these dismis- sions-that by the council called by the united church, of whose meeting due notice was given to all parties, before whom Mr. Phillips appeared in defence, and who dismissed him from the united church-or that by the council at his
14
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house-called by a small minority of this church, who had seceded, and who have since asked a dismission from it, for the purpose of organization-a council, who, without notice, and unknown to any but himself and friends, dismissed him from his relation to the disaffected members of a church- which of these dismissions, I say, would be sanctioned by ecclesiastical usage, the reader must decide.
Shortly after this proceeding, the disaffected minority em- ployed the Rev. Elijah Demond of Holliston, to preach to them at Mr. Phillips's " former place of labor." In the mean- time, the united church and society determined to leave no effort untried for the consummation of a general union, voted to " suspend public worship at their house," and attend on the ministrations of Mr. Demond. Soon after, their willing- ness to " sit under his ministry," in case they would unite with them in inviting him to " settle over the united church and society," was unofficially made known to his employers. The minority had, however, previously to this, invited him to become their minister. This invitation Mr. Demond negativ- ed. Yet without impairing the belief that he would settle with them in the event of their return to the united church, and of a concurrence of that church in their invitation. Under this expectation a portion of the disaffected returned " to their al- legiance," and, on the 5th of December, 1836, the united church " voted unanimously to give the Rev. Elijah Demond a call to settle over said church in the work of the gospel ministry." The society having concurred in this invitation, and an affirmative answer having been given by Mr. Demond, he was installed October 26th, 1836. The sermon on this occasion was preached by the Rev. Jacob Ide of West-Med- way. The remainder of the alienated members, who still re- fuse to commune with the church, have recently asked a dis- mission from it, for the purpose of organizing another. What action will result from this, is yet to be developed.
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