USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > The history of Wenham : civil and ecclesiastical, from its settlement in 1639, to 1860 > Part 11
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Soon after the settlement of Mr. Swain, an un- fortunate difficulty arose between Mr. Josiah Fair- field and two other members of the church, viz .: Messrs. John Gott and Richard Kimball. The church refused to take it up and declined to join in a mutual council. Mr. Fairfield upon this pro- ceeded to call an exparte council, which met May 15, 1751, first at the house of Mr. Fairfield, and
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afterwards at the meeting-house. A committee was appointed by the church to confer with the council. The result of their deliberation was that they advised the church to consider those articles of Mr. Fairfield's complaint which were not involved in the law. An attempt was made to reconcile the parties, which resulted in a confession on the part of Mr. Gott, respecting a portion of the charges against him. The other articles of complaint the church, after a patient hearing, decided to be not sufficiently proved. This investigation continued through several months. The council met again in November, and approved the decision of the church. This, we believe, is the only ecclesiastical council ever convened in Wenham for any purpose, except to settle or dismiss a pastor. These dif- ficulties occurring so early in his ministry must have been exceedingly annoying to Mr. Swain, but he appears throughout to have acted with wisdom and firmness. The account which he has given in the records of these troubles, is singularly calm and dispassionate, and his entire course seems to have commanded the respect and approval of his people.
In 1755, a war was commenced with France, though not formally declared till a year later. An expedition was planned against Crown Point upon Lake Champlain, in which the New England Colonies were actively engaged. A regiment was formed in Essex County, of which Mr. Swain was
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chosen chaplain. It is probable that he was not long absent, but returned with the close of the season to his parish.
Mr. Swain, as well as his predecessor, suffered much from the fluctuating state of the currency. Various sums were granted to him at different pe- riods by the town, to compensate for the deprecia- tion of his salary- at one time £10, at another £30, at another, £100. During the revolutionary war, the society became so impoverished that the pastor was employed, in addition to his other duties, in teaching the village school, for which service he was to receive £300 in the depreciated currency of the times.
Mr. Swain had the reputation of being the best writer in the Association, though rather a dull speaker. He appears to have been somewhat formal and reserved in his manners, and so did not gain that hold upon the affections of his people that some of his predecessors had acquired. The records speak of his having had difficulties with the church, but of what nature is not now apparent. During the period of his ministry, the country passed through two long and severe wars, the effects of which extended to every town and neigh- borhood. The minds of men were intensely exer- cised upon the great events which were transpiring around them. The country was passing through a great transition state. The attention of people was diverted from religious to secular affairs ; there
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were few conversions, and the ordinances of the church were irregularly administered. On account of ill health Mr. Swain appears not to have preach- ed much for some time before his death, which occurred June 27, 1792, at the age of 71. He had been pastor of this church for forty-two years. During this period over one thousand persons were baptized, five hundred and fifty-three died, one hundred and twenty-seven were admitted to the church, and one hundred and nineteen owned the covenant. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Forbes, of Gloucester.
A few months afterwards, Rev. Adoniram Jud- son was invited to take charge of the church and society. A council was convened, consisting of the churches in Chebacco, Ipswich Hamlet, Man- chester, and the two churches in Beverly. They met Dec. 26, 1792, and organized by electing Rev. Mr. Cleveland, moderator, and Rev. Mr. Cutler, scribe. " They proceeded regularly and unani- mously to the installation of Rev. Mr. Judson, which was done decently, and to the satisfaction and joy of a great concourse of people." About the same time the half-way covenant was abolished, and none admitted to partake of church ordinances, but such as had been admitted to full commu- nion.
Mr. Judson remained in Wenham but a short time. £60 were offered for his settlement, and £95, with the use of the parish lands, as his salary.
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Considering this sum insufficient, he soon request- ed to have it increased, but the town voted unani- mously, to make no addition whatever, to his sala- ry. Upon this, Mr. Judson asked a dismission, which, after some delay, was granted. A council was convened, which resulted in his being dismiss- ed, Oct. 22, 1799, This appears to be the first in stance in which an ecclesiastical council assembled in town, for the purpose of dismissing a pastor. Mr. Judson afterwards settled at Plymouth, where he remained till 1817. In his old age he became a Baptist, and died at Scituate, Nov. 26, 1826, aged seventy-six. During the seven years of his minis- try in Wenham, twenty-four persons united with the church, twenty-three were baptized, forty-two couples were married, and fifty-two died. A son of his, Rev. Dr. Adoniram Judson, became the dis- tinguished Baptist missionary to Burmah.
After the dismissal of Mr. Judson, the church became much divided, and was for some years des- titute of a pastor. Attempts were made to induce several clergymen to settle with them, but without success. At length, in 1805, the choice of both church and people was united upon Rev. Rufus Anderson. Their invitation was accepted, and on the 10th of July, of that year, a council was assem- bled to perform the services of his installation. The sermon on this occasion was preached by Rev. Dr. Worcester, of Salem, from Eph. i. 23. Dr. Dana, of Ipswich, offered the installing prayer, Dr. Wads-
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worth, of Danvers, gave the charge, and Dr Ab- bott, of Beverly the fellowship of the churches. A salary of $500 a year was offered to Mr. Anderson - a liberal sum, if we consider the relative expens- es of living, and the income of other professions at that time.
The 10th of October following was observed as a day of prayer and fasting, "in remembrance of the late drought, and especially under the judg- ment of the present prevailing and mortal sick- ness." " The day was generally observed; it seemed to be a holy solemnity."
The next year a new covenant and articles of faith were drawn up by a committee appointed for the purpose, and were approved by a vote of the church. These articles are somewhat lengthy, and treat in considerable detail, of matters of discipline and church government, as well as of principles and doctrines. In an abridged and condensed form, they still constitute the creed and covenant of the church.
Mr. Anderson's ministry appears to have been generally very acceptable, but failing health soon impeded his activity and usefulness. He died Feb. 11, 1814, of " pulmonic consumption," from which his health had been gradually declining, for two or three years, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and ninth of his ministry. His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Worcester, of Salem, from 2 Tim. i. 12. From it we learn that he was born at Lon-
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donderry, N. H., March 5, 1765; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1791; was ordained pastor of the second church in North Yarmouth, Oct. 22, 1794, where he remained about ten years. Dr. Worces- ter says of him : " Mr. Anderson was possessed of good natural talents, improved by diligence in study, especially in the study of the Holy Writings. His mind was active and efficient, and in regard to objects deemed by him important, would easily kin- dle into ardor. His passions, naturally quick and strong, restrained and sanctified by Divine grace, diffused around him a mild and benign, a warming and cheering influence." These qualities secured to him the warm attachment of his people, and his ministry was quite successful. While he was over this people, forty persons were added to the church, sixty-seven were baptized, forty-five cou- ples were married, and seventy died. During the latter part of his life, Mr. Anderson was engaged in preparing a history of foreign missions, and em- ployed his son Rufus to assist him in the work. The latter, now senior secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, thus became interested in that cause to which his life has since been devoted.
A committee was appointed to supply the desk, upon Mr. Anderson's death, and several candidates were successively employed. A call was given by the town, in 1815, to Mr. Ebenezer Hubbard, but the church refused to concur. Much division and
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dissension ensued. June 20, 1816, the town in- structed the committee not to employ any other candidate but Mr. Hubbard. A part wished to employ him till the money raised for the year, which was only $200, should be exhausted. Mr. Hubbard at length left, and was soon after settled at Middleton. In August, 1817, the church and town agreed to invite Rev. John Smith to become their pastor, which invitation was accepted, and he was accordingly installed November 26th of the same year. His stay here, however, was short. Two years after coming to Wenham, he received the appointment of Professor of Theology, at Ban- gor. A council was called September 8, 1819, to consider the subject of his dismission, and after much consideration recommended that he should accept the appointment thus offered, and that his pastoral relation with this church should be dis- solved. Only one person joined the church while he was here, one was baptized, nine couples were united in marriage, and eleven died. Mr. Smith remained at Bangor till his death, in 1831. He was a man of strong logical powers, which were cultivated almost to the neglect of taste and imag- ination. He labored under an impediment in his speech, and did not excel in those graces of man- ner and style, which are so essential to the popular preacher. His people, however, seem to have been united in him during his stay, and after he left were ready to agree in their efforts to obtain another pastor.
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Rev. Ebenezer P. Sperry was very soon employ- ed as a candidate, and within three months receiv- ed a call to settle, and was accordingly installed, March 20, 1820. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. French, of Northampton, N. H., from Romans x. 1. Rev. Mr. Stearns, of Bedford, offer- ed the installing prayer; Dr. Wadsworth, of Dan- vers, gave the charge, and Rev. Mr. Oliphant, of Beverly, the right hand of fellowship.
The first record of a Sabbath school appears un- der Mr. Sperry, although it is stated that a school had been commenced as early as 1818, under Mr. Smith. April 20, 1822, the church stopped after a preparatory lecture, to make arrangements for opening the school. "It was agreed that the church should be considered an organized body to patronize and superintend it." At first it was held only during the summer months, but it was soon extended through the year, and considered second in importance and usefulness only, to the stated worship of the sanctuary.
In 1826, the labors of Mr. Sperry were rewarded by a revival of great interest and usefulness. For fifteen years subsequent to 1810, only thirteen per- sons had united with the church, which thus be- came much reduced in numbers, while most of its members were aged and infirm. In these discour- aging circumstances, " a day was set apart for fast- ing and prayer by the church and people, to sup. plicate the continuance of the gracious influences
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of the Holy Spirit." Their prayers were answer- ed, and within a year fifty-nine persons were added to the church by profession.
A Baptist church was organized October 12, 1831, in the east part of the town, and John Hood and Charles Holden, with their wives, were dis- missed to join it.
Mr. Sperry's ministry appears to have been very successful. During the seventeen years of his pastorate, one hundred and twenty-three persons were united with the church ; one hundred and fif- ty-four were baptized; eighty couples were mar- ried, and one hundred and ninety-two connected with the society, died. By his own request, he was dismissed, April 30, 1837. After leaving Wen- ham, he served as chaplain of the House of Correc- tion, at South Boston, and subsequently, removed to Ohio, where he was installed pastor of a church, and remained in the active discharge of his minis- terial duties till his death, which occurred quite suddenly, January 1, 1853. He was born in New Haven, Conn., June 3, 1785; graduated at Middle- bury College, in 1808; was ordained at Dunstable, N. H., November 3, 1813; died at Lyme, Huron Co., Ohio, at the age of sixty seven.
Shortly after Mr. Sperry's dismission, a unani- mous call was extended to Mr. Daniel Mansfield, to become the pastor of this church and people. The invitation was accepted, and accordingly he was ordained July 26, 1837. The sermon on this occa-
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sion, was preached by Rev. Dr. Woods, of Ando- ver, from 1 Timothy iv. 12; ordaining prayer by Rev. Dr. Crowell, of Essex; charge by Rev. Dr. Emerson, of Salem ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Fitz, of Ipswich ; charge to the people by Rev. Mr. Park, of South Danvers.
Mr. Mansfield is so well remembered by many who knew him, that it is hardly necessary to speak at length, of the events of his ministry. He ap- pears to have possessed good talents and sound judgment, while his modesty, gentleness and fideli- ty, won for him the respect and affection of his people. Upon the second centennial anniversary of the organization of the church, he delivered two historical discourses, which were afterwards pub- lished, and evince careful preparation, and consid- erable research. Another discourse of his, preach- ed at the dedication of the new meeting-house, at Wenham, December 20, 1843, was also published. His health, which was never robust, gradually de- clined, and on the 8th of April, 1847, he died in the midst of his people, in the fortieth year of his age, and the eleventh of his ministry. , During his pas- torate, sixty-one were added to the church by pro- fession and twelve by letter; eighty-eight were baptized ; seventy-one couples united in marriage, and ninety-three persons died within the limits of the society. Mr. Mansfield was born at Lynnfield, August 8, 1807 ; made a profession of religion in 1826 ; graduated at Amherst, in 1833 ; was ordain-
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ed over the church at Wenham, July 26, 1837, and died April 8,1847. His remains were buried in our cemetery, with the former pastors of the church. A neat monument was erected over his grave, by the members of his parish, inscribed with an affectionate testimonial to his worth.
The church remained vacant until October 27th, of the same year, when Mr. Jeremiah Taylor was ordained and installed as its pastor. Mr. Taylor commenced preaching in Wenham, August 1st, and continued to supply until his ordination. The ser- mon was by Rev. O. A. Taylor, of Manchester ; or- daining prayer by Rev. Dr. Dana ; charge to the pastor by Rev. Dr. Crowell, of Essex; charge to the people by Rev. T. A. Taylor, of Slatersville, R. I .; fellowship of the churches by Rev. R. Tay- lor, of N. J .; the sermon and other exercises of the occasion were printed, and are in the hands of many of our people.
Of Mr. Taylor as a man, a citizen, and a minister of the gospel, it is unnecessary to speak. During his ministry of nearly nine years, twenty-two per- sons were admitted to the church by profession, and fourteen by letter; twenty-six infants were baptized, and fifty-three couples united in marriage.
In July, 1856, Mr. Taylor received a call to be- come the pastor of the first Congregational church and society in Middletown, Conn., and at his re- quest, a council was convened August 19th, to con- sider the question of his dismission. This council,
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of which Rev. S. M. Worcester, D. D., of Salem, was Moderator, and Rev. J. B. Sewall, of Lynn, Scribe ; after a careful investigation of the sub- ject, voted by a small majority, “ that it is expedi- ent that the pastoral relation of Rev. J. Taylor be and hereby is dissolved. As an expression of their personal feelings, the Council deem it suf- ficient to say that, in their unanimous judgment, the resolution adopted at the meeting of the Parish on the 16th, is worthy of entire confidence." This resolution was as follows :
Resolved, " That it is the earnest and sincere desire of the members of this Society that the Rev. Mr. Taylor shall con- tinue our pastor ; that we will do all in our power to render the connection happy and prosperous, and that while we deep- ly regret the object of the meeting, we cannot let the oc- casion pass without bearing our united testimony to the most faithful discharge of all his ministerial and parochial duties ; and especially to the eminent ability, the true Christian spirit and fidelity manifested by him in preaching to us the word of God; and to the unimpeachable character he has sustained in all the walks of life during his settlement with us."
The church at the time of Mr. Taylor's departure, Sept. 1, 1856, numbered one hundred and eighteen members, of whom thirty-eight were males, and eighty were females. The contributions for various benevolent objects the year previous, amounted to $330.00. The Sabbath School at the same time contained about two hundred scholars, under the care of twenty-four teachers. The School has a
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well selected library of over three hundred volumes.
After Mr. Taylor's dismission, the church re- mained for nearly three years without a pastor. In July, 1858, an invitation was extended by the church and parish to Mr. John S. Sewall, then a student in the theological seminary at Bangor, to settle with them in the work of the ministry. The invitation was accepted and arrangements were made for his ordination in the following autumn, but in consequence of the sudden and severe illness of the candidate, his coming to Wenham was deferred till Spring. Mr. Sewall's health was at length so far restored that he was ordained as pastor of the church and society, April 20, 1859. The sermon on this occasion was preached by Rev. J. B. Sewall, of Lynn, a brother of the candidate ; the ordaining prayer was made by his father, Rev. J. Sewall, of Granvil 3, N. Y. ; the charge was given by Rev. Dr. Worcester, of Salem, Moderator of the Council; the right hand of fellowship was given by Rev. J. O. Murray, of South Danvers ; and the address to the people by Rev. I. E. Dwinell, of Salem. The exercises of the occasion were solemn and impressive. May the connection thus auspiciously begun, long continue to be a source of abundant blessings to both pastor and people.
The present meeting-house is the fourth which has been built by this church and society. The first, which was probably designed to be merely
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temporary, stood near the house now occupied by Mr. H. Tarr. The road then passed from the Pond along a valley somewhat to the east of the present road where it now lies, and was carried directly over the eminence upon which the church was built, and nearly over the spot now occupied by the town house. In 1663, a new church was built, " twenty-four feet square, and twelve feet stud," which, with various alterations and enlargements, continued to be occupied till 1748. Here all the town meetings and public assemblies were held, and at times it appears also to have been occupied as a school room. The house was afterwards enlarged and repaired. Before the church at Ipswich Hamlet was formed in 1714, many of the inhabitants of what is now Hamilton, were in the habit of attending worship in Wenham, and one- third of the house belonged to them. This third was estimated at the time they withdrew, to be worth £39 11s. 6d., which would make the value of the whole house about $400.
There appears to have been no pews in this house. The inhabitants were seated strictly ac- cording to their supposed rank. This seating of the meeting-house was a subject of frequent wrangling and jealousy. It was usually. left to the selectmen, but was often also devolved upon a committee specially chosen for the purpose. The rules according to which the rank of different individuals was determined, are not preserved in
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our records, but they were probably much the same as those adopted by the neighboring town of Beverly, a few specimens of which I beg leave to quote :
" That every male be allowed one degree for every complete year of age he exceeds twenty- one.
" That he be allowed for a captain's commission twelve degrees, for a lieutenant's, eight degrees, and for an ensign's, four degrees.
" That he be allowed three degrees for every shilling of real estate in the last parish tax, and one degree for every shilling for personal estate and faculty.
" Every six degrees for estate and faculty of a parent alive to make one degree among his sons, or where there are no sons, among the daughters that are seated.
" Every generation of predecessors heretofore living in this town to make one degree for every male descendant that is seated. That parentage be regarded no farther otherwise than to turn the scale between competition for the same seat.
" That some suitable abatement in degrees be made where it is well known that the person is greatly in debt.
" Married women to be seated agreeable to the rank of their husbands, and widows in the same degree as though their husbands were living.
" That the foremost magistrate seat ( so called )
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shall be the highest in rank, and the other three in successive order."
The women were seated separately from the men, while the children were crowded into the galleries and upon the stairs, or wherever they could find a vacant place. The care of looking after these juveniles was devolved upon the tythingmen, one of whom used to sit among them to restrain their mischievous propensities.
This practice of seating the congregation ac- cording to their supposed property and rank, may seem very strange to our ideas of republican equality, but it was perfectly in accordance with the public sentiment of those times. Our ancestors, while jealous and tenacious to the last degree of their own rights, were always ready to render all due homage to the rights and claims of their superiors. While the seats were free to all, some arrangement must, of course, have been adopted to secure harmony among their occupants. The plan of seating the house was strictly agreeable to the spirit of the age, which allowed the precedence on all public occasions to magistrates and men of age and respectability.
In 1747, a vote of the town was obtained to build a new meeting-house, and a committee of nine persons, viz. : Mr. John Gott, Richard Dodge, John Kimball, Benjamin Edwards, Josiah Herrick, Ebenezer Waldron, Nathaniel Bragg, Edmund Kim- ball, and Caleb Coye, was appointed to superintend 17*
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the work, but the season being late, the whole mat- ter was deferred till the next Spring. It was then determined to take down the old meeting-house, and to make the new one " fifty-two feet long, forty- two feet wide, and twenty-four feet stud." A com- mittee was moreover appointed, consisting of Dea. Jonathan Kimball, Jonathan Porter, and William Dodge, to provide at the expense of the town for the day of the raising " six gallons of rum, eight pounds of sugar, two barrels of cider, two barrels of beer, one hundred weight of bread, one hundred weight of legs of pork, and forty pounds of cheese. to be taken care of by said committee in ye prudentest way they can for the end aforesaid ; which drink and provision," (the record goes on to say) " was provided by the town on the above said 2nd day of June, 1748." They then proceed- ed to finish the house and build the galleries and steeple. It was next voted to make twenty-four pews around the wall of the house on the lower floor, and to sell them at auction to the highest bidders. Subsequently twelve additional pews were constructed, " six in front and three on each end of the body of the seats, to be five feet in depth, and to have an alley of three feet between them and the wall pews." The galleries and the principal part of the body of the house, however, still continued to be free, and a committee for assign- ing to each one his appropriate seat, continued to be appointed till a period considerably later.
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