USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > North Middleborough > The history of the Church of North Middleborough, Massachusetts : in six discourses > Part 3
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Solomon, the second son of the Titicut minister, gradu- ated at Yale College in 1775, and was ordained as minister of the Congregational Church in Petersham, Mass. This son is remembered " as a man of large frame and great phys- ical power."* During what was called Shay's Rebellion in that part of the State, anecdotes are told of his intimidating the troops who came to Petersham to commit violence.
Samuel, the third son, graduated at Yale College in 1777, and was ordained over the Church and Society of Warwick, Mass., in 1779. He remained with this people till his death in 1812, thirty-three years, greatly beloved and esteemed by them.
Timothy, the youngest son of Rev. Solomon Reed of this place, graduated at Yale College in 1782, and settled as a lawyer in West Bridgewater. The descendants of these four sons are numerous, and through these, the minister of this ยท place a century ago, still lives. Not only were his own sons fitted for college and put into the ministry, but a nephew of
* History of the Reed family by J. W. Reed.
MR. AND MRS. REED OF PILGRIM BLOOD. 27
his wife and his own nephew as well-his second wife being a cousin - William Reed was educated, becoming the min- ister of Easton, where, for a quarter of a century he faith- fully labored, and died universally lamented, leaving de- scendants who delight to honor his memory. This minister of Easton was brother of Mrs. Gurney, the wife of the succes- sor of Rev. Solomon Reed.
Mr. Reed, the minister of this place, was twice married -first, in 1748, to Miss Abigail Stoughton of Connecticut, and again, to his cousin, Sarah Reed. During her maiden life, she was accustomed to say there were three conditions, with which she would not be connected in marriage, viz : with a widower, who had children; with a clergyman ; or with her own cousin ; and singularly enough, all these were realized in the case of Mr. Reed. They were both natives of Abing- ton, children of William and Jacob, sons of William Reed of Weymouth, whose father, William, settled there in 1635, coming from Gravesend, in Kent, England, that year. . Their grandmother was Esther Thompson of Middleborough, and her mother was Mary Cook, daughter of Francis Cook, who came over in the May-flower. Says Ignatius Thomp- son, who has written a history of the Thompsons, it was not uncommon for Esther's mother, that is, the great-grand- mother, of Mr. and Mrs. Reed, on Sabbath morning, after breakfast, to take a child of six months in her arms, and walk to Plymouth, thirteen miles, attend meeting and re- turn home the same day. I conclude she must have risen earlier Sabbath morning, than some of us of this generation, do. Thus allied were the minister and his wife of this parish a hundred years ago. They were of the true Pilgrim blood and strong in the faith of the fathers and mothers of New England, I have no record of the installation of Mr. Reed in the books of this church, but Dr. Davis of West- field writes in his reminiscences of early ministers, that it was " the 26th of January, 1757" and he adds " he was well esteemed till his death, the 7th of May, 1785, aged sixty-six.". It should have been, in his sixty-sixth year-he was born Oct. 22, 1719. The records of the church during this period
28 . CHURCH OF NORTH MIDDLEBOROUGH.
are preserved, and are in his handwriting, From these, it appears there were thirty received to the church, supposing the record to be complete ; three dismissed to other churches, two cases of discipline. Seventy-five baptisms are recorded, mostly children. One hundred and seven marriages are re- corded. There is no record of deaths or funerals. Nine ecclesiastical councils were attended, three of which were. called to ordain and install the pastor's sons. There is the record of the choice of four deacons at different times " after solemn prayer to God for His presence and direction"- Mr. Fobes, his first name not given, Samuel Keith, in place of Ephraim Keith declined, Zephaniah Wills and Daniel Leach. It was voted to "sing Dr. Watts' version* of the Psalms for the present" and Messrs. Joshua White. Job Alden, Simeon Alden and Silas Alden were chosen choris- ters."t The parish records add a few items of interest, viz : "March 31, 1777" among other things done, they " choose Mr. Isaac Perkins to take care of the young people on Sab- bath days." Who knows but that some of your fathers and mothers, who were then "young" may have been very much better for this "care"! As an illustration of the fluctuation of money value during the war of the Revolution ;; in 1779,
*That this people are not given to change, appears from the fact this "version" is still used, supplemented by "hymns and spiritual songs, to which are added select hymns from other authors." After using other collections in other places, it is not altogether unpleasant to come back to a book which connects the present with many a past generation, and has a savor of scripture about it as well as the flavor of the olden time.
t The names of those who have served as choristers have not been re- corded, nor are they remembered, but I learn that the choir of this parish for the last fifty years has been remarkably well-trained in church music. Some of its members have obtained a wide reputation as singers and teachers of music, as, Daniel Crane, Daniel Perkins, Cyrus White, Solomon White, Sr. As leaders or prominent members of the choir, in past years, may be men- tioned, in addition to the above, Bela Fobes, Solomon Keith, Sumner Keith, Oliver Eaton, Solomon White, Jr., Soranus Wentworth, Otis Pratt, Henry C. White, Earl Ingalls, Charles E. Alden, Lloyd Parsons, Elizabeth Parsons (now Mrs. Albert Pratt), Clarinda Richmond (afterwards Mrs. Seth Fuller), Jane Richmond (afterwards Mrs. Orin Wade). The choir is at present led by Andrew Alden, and consists, besides the leader, of Lysander Richmond and daughter Lucy, Wales Hayward, Bela Fobes, Herbert Alden, Ida Pratt, Laura Wilbur, Helen Sherman, Mary Johnson, Mary Perkins, Mrs. Sybil Leonard, and Mrs. Francana Reed as organist. There was a flourishing band for a long time, and also a choral society, within the limits of the parish.
# The part which this Parish bore in the Revolutionary war I am unable
29.
THE DEATH OF REV. MR. REED.
there was" voted Rev. Solomon Reed one-thousand pounds for his salary for the year past," the" one thousand" being considered equal to the"sixty pounds" heretofore. and again in 1780, there were voted, "two hundred Spanish milled silver dollars or the value thereof." About this time, the people were exercised on the subject of the meetinghouse, and "pew spotts" were again sold on the " men's side" and on the " women's side", to raise money for repairs. I should judge the precinct was a good deal straightened to keep along and make its payments. They voted in 1784, to allow Mr. Reed his usual salary, sixty pounds, "provided he allow all the paper money he hath received of the parish in years past and which he hath receipted for, to be good in the nominal sum." There was one vote, the 6th Sept. 1784, which sounds strange to us in this day and which shows a change in pub- lic sentiment for the better. "Voted, to petition the Great and General Court for a lottery to raise a fund in order to support a minister in this parish." At the same time they asked " leave to sell the ministerial lands," which lands. i. e. part of them, were subsequently sold, and put into a fund. These lands, I understand, were on Pleasant St. Whether the " lottery" petitioned for, ever came off we do not know. It is to be hoped, not. In 1755, a petition for "a lottery to build a bridge across the great river "was sent in but it seems to me a great shame they should have asked the privilege of a lottery to raise money for the minister. It was not long that Rev. Mr. Reed would need any more of their money for his support. This action was in September, 1784. Their minister died in May, the following year, 1785. There is no record of his death on the church books but in
to give in full, but unquestionably " the joining borders of Bridgewater and Middleborough " fell not behind their neighbors in furnishing men for the common defence. That they were early on the march and in the field, is to be inferred from the story which has come down to us through the children, concerning the battle of Lexington. Two volunteers from this vicinity, who were in the fight, one of whom was wounded, used to say, that after the British had been repulsed and fled, going to a well for water, a poor fellow was found half dead with fright, who had crawled down there for safety, and it was only after assuring him that the battle was over, he could be persuaded to come up. It is safe to say that this man was not recommended for promo- tion, and that he never drew a pension.
30 ' CHURCH OF NORTH MIDDLEBOROUGH.
an old family bible of his cousin William was found a coarse half sheet of manuscript, yellow with age but clearly written with a plain hand thereon, appears the following notice :
"Died at his house in Titicut parish, with a lingering illness, on the seventh instant,"-month not named, but we know it to have been May-" the Rev. Solomon Reed, pastor of a church in Middleborough and was interred on the tenth, aged sixty-five. The interment was attended by a numerous concourse. in procession to the meetinghouse, where a prayer was made, and a sermon suited to the occasion from Isaiah 33 : 20, was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Shaw, of Bridgewater."
You might like to hear the text read : "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities. Thine eyes shall see Jeru- salem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down ; nor one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken." That text was preached from here nearly a century ago, and it is for you to say whether it has been proved true. But to con- tinue our narrative :
"The whole was concluded by a pertinent and pathetic prayer by the Rev. Mr. Porter, while an effusion of tears marked the affliction of the church and people, and testified the respect they bore his memory. The character of Mr. Reed, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and a luminary in the candlestick in which Providence had placed him, was respectable. The advancement of Christ's kingdom in the hearts of his flock and among mankind in general,. was a subject in which he was much engaged. He was a workman that needed not to be ashamed, for he rightly divided the word of truth, and gave to every one his portion in due season. The doctrine of the Gospel, which he fervently inculcated in public, and the friendly, pious counsel which he imparted in private, were proved and enforced by his life and conversation. He lived to behold and regret true relig- ion perverted, on the one hand into metaphysical disquisi- tion and vain jangling, and on the other, reduced to a level with natural endeavors and human exertions. That experi- mental. religion which purifies the heart and overcomes the world, was the object which he strove to promote. Its amiable effects were exemplified in his life; its peculiar con - solations were powerful in his death. His natural and his spiritual children, the people of his charge and all that knew him, rise up and call him blessed. May we die his death ! And may our last end be like his !"
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THE JOURNAL OF REV. MR. REED.
Among the carefully preserved treasures of the Pilgrim Society in Plymouth are a few manuscript sermons of Mr. Reed,* "written in a fine, clear hand, in an easy, flowing style of composition, indicating decided ability." Beside these is also the original of a manuscript journal, kept by him from the 3d of October, 1743 to the 9th of January, 1745. . With a few extracts from this journal I shall bring my notice of the Titicut minister to a close :
"1744 : 9th January. O Lord, Thou art my God. And Thy loving kindness and faithfulness towards me in looking upon me and redeeming me from my sinful backslidings, notwithstanding all my negligence in seeking of Thee, calls not only for my thankfulness but strong engagements of soul for Thyself. And now, O God, I solemnly renew the covenant I have entered into with Thee, and I am resolved, by Divine grace, to be more careful to keep my covenant with Thee than I have ever yet been. I am resolved never to live one day carelessly, without Thee, as I have done; but, if I should lose Thy comfortable presence, I am re- solved, as Thou shalt enable me, to make it my business carefully to seek Thee until I shall find Thee again."
"1744: 27th October. I was guilty in the morning of speaking a word too lightly about Satan and his tempta- tions, or the like, and I had a very heavy charge lying against my soul after this, most all the day, but in the even- ing my weary, sinking, discouraged soul was comfortably supported and refreshed with a sense of God's mercy and goodness."
"1744: 18th December. Tuesday. I think I felt some- thing of religion in the morning, but I grew dull and care- less, accused by conscience and exceedingly sunk down into discouragements in the afternoon."
" Wednesday, 19th December. I was exceedingly bar- ren and lean, and I was very much sunk down under . a sense of my guilt and vileness."
"1745 : 7th January. Monday. I had some accusations of conscience in the morning, but not totally beaten down."
" Wednesday, 9th January. I felt something of a sweet religious frame ef spirit."
"Abington, Sunday, December 23, 1744. Heard Mr. Brown in the afternoon. Monday, I traveled to Duxbury and heard Mr. Whitefield preach in the evening, and then I
* History of the Recd Family.
32 . CHURCH OF NORTH MIDDLEBOROUGH.
traveled with him and heard him every day, all the week. Sunday, December 30, preached at Titicut, and we had some token of the Divine presence. I heard Mr. Whitefield again on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Bridgewater, Easton and Taunton. N. B. Mr. Whitefield is exceedingly filled with the spirit of Jesus, and not ashamed of Christ, His cause or children, and a wonderful power attended his administrations. The assemblies seemed much quickened, melted down, and sometimes many were overpowered with a sense of Divine things and crying out. N. B. Some- times, since I have been with Mr. Whitefield, I have felt guilty, low and dull; sometimes I have been sweetly re- vived and refreshed."
The body of Mr. Reed rests in the village graveyard. by the side of the people to whom he preached. Not one, who ever saw him or heard him, survives him. The last parish- oner of 1785 is gone. Ninety years have sufficed to sweep them all away. The oldest man or woman amongst us was then unborn. And who of us will be amongst the living of earth ninety years hence? Where will we be, and what our employments, in the eternal world?
Thanks to Mr. Isaac Pratt, who in 1853 planted "a stone," with a suitable inscription,* "as a tribute of re- spect by one who," as he tells us, "cherishes the memory of this man of God, as the pastor of his early youth." And near it is a tablet to the "memory of Mrs. Abigail, wife of Rev. Solomon Reed, who died Feb. 6th, 1763, in the forty- ninth year of her age."
Hereafter I hope to pursue the narrative of the history of this Church and its ministry, Messrs. Gurney, Colby, Bliss, Packard, Little, Edwards,-but I have been particu- larly anxious you should know this earlier history, which comes not within the remembrance of any of you, and concerning which the records are very meagre. In the laudable enthusiasm of our countrymen to rehearse and repeat the story of the nation's birth as an independent nation a hundred years ago, it certainly is becoming in us to
* The inscription gives Hanover College, instead of Harvard, as his alma mater, which is a mistake. His name appears on the Cambridge catalogue, for the year of his graduation. He is erroneously called "the first settled pastor." He was the second, preceded by Rev. Mr. Backus.
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INDEPENDENCY.
call to remembrance the birth and beginning of this church, which stands for independency* in the sisterhood of church- es, and as it has not only been born but perpetuated and strengthened, even down to the present time; so let it live and flourish with God's blessing centuries to come,- a last- ing blessing to the place, an honored part of Christ's own redeemed, saved church militant on earth, to become a part of this same church triumphant in heaven.
* Although Webster marks the ordinary use of this word for indepen- dence obsolescent, he recognizes its use ecclesiastically as still current, with the following definition : "The doctrine that a local church is independent of every other church in respect to government, control or direction." And one who holds to this doctrine, styled an Independent, he describes as "one who believes that an organized christian church is complete in itself, compe- tent to self-government, and independent of all ecclesiastical authority." This accepted definition of Independency and an Independent, consistent with the idea of church fellowship, whether in the form of council or confer- ence of churches, seems to have been the seminal thought of those men, who in 1776, July 4, issued their "Declaration of Independence," and signed their names to the memorable document, with no fear of the King before their eyes. Civil power, according to that declaration, and according to the earlier compact drawn up on board the Mayflower, is lodged in the people, and they elect and define the duties and prerogatives of their rulers. Church power is left by Christ with His church, to appoint officers, who are to exercise such authority as the church chooses to give them, " neither as being lords over God's heritage," writes Peter, who, by some has been supposed to hold the keys of Christ's Kingdom, " but being ensamples to the flock." This is all the power Peter ever coveted or claimed - the power of a good example, and the might of being a man of God, a meek, Christ-like disciple. "And, when the chief Shepherd shall appear," is the promise and encouragement for all time from the pen of this Apostle; " Ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
5
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DISCOURSE III.
PREACHED JULY 18th, 1875.
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children .- PSALM XLV. : 16.
In this wonderful messianic psalm occurs the promise which is full of cheer and comfort to such as sometimes take a desponding view of the future of Christ's church. Men die -the choicest and the best - "Your fathers, where are they ? And the prophets, do they live forever?" Alas ! "The godly man ceaseth, and the faithful fail from among the children of men.". Who shall take their place? Who will live when such men die? How is the church of Christ to be kept alive? What will become of the ark of the Lord? Alas ! alas ! What shall we do? "Help, Lord!" And then breaks in upon the gloomy, desponding soul, too little be- lieving these words of promise and gracious assurance, "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children." Ah ! blessed Lord, we accept Thy word as true, and desire to draw com- fort from this "sure word of prophecy."
Encouraged by the interest you expressed in my former attempt to give you the history of this ancient church, I to-day resume the work where I then laid it down, in the year 1785, at the death of Rev. Solomon Reed, just ninety
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1851505
35
CALL OF REV. MR. GURNEY.
years ago. Not a parishioner of that ancient time survives. All, all are gone! The most aged among us were then un- born. After Mr. Reed's decease, it is probable the ministers of the neighborhood supplied the pulpit for a season. For on the 17th of May, 1785. just one week after Mr. Reed's burial, it was "Voted, that the Precinct committee give Mr. Timothy Reed, the son of the deceased minister. an order on the treasurer for entertaining the ministers who give us preaching." This is an old custom, in case of a minister's death, thus to fill up a few sabbaths for the benefit of the bereaved family, and as an expression of sympathy to the church, with ministrations of pastors in the vicinity. In August, it was voted to employ Mr. Silas Brett, as a supply, first for four, and then for eight sabbaths. Mr. Brett proba- bly lived near. IIe had been in the habit of preaching to the people. Mr. Cary also preached a few sabbaths, but during the summer of 1786 there was no regular preaching. The ministerial lots and meetinghouse lot were leased. Not far from this time, a considerable portion of the church lands were sold and the avails put into a fund. In March, 1787, Mr. Job Alden was appointed to entertain ministers wbo preach, and to secure supplies. He was also authorized to make a few needed repairs on the meetinghouse. About July of this year, Rev. David Gurney began to preach. He interested the people; August 1st they " voted to hire Mr. Gurney two sabbaths more," and then " Aug. 13, four sab- baths more." But they evidently were cautious, and as they were calling a man in those days for life, they wanted to be sure they were suited,-and so, "Sept. 10, the Precinct being met by adjournment, voted to hire Mr. Gurney two sabbaths more." And now having tested the man to their satisfaction, a meeting was called the 27th of September, to consider the question of giving Rev. Mr. Gurney a call.
"September 27th, 1787, the Precinct being met accord- ing to notification, voted to choose a moderator by nomina- tion, and made choice of Joshua White, Esq. 2d. Put to vote whether the Precinct will concur with the Church in said Precinct in the call of Rev. Mr. Gurney to be the min- ister; and the Precinct did unanimously concur with said
36
CHURCH OF NORTH MIDDLEBOROUGH.
Church in said call. 3d. Voted, to give Mr. Gurney by way of encouragement. thirty pounds per year, and the interest of the money the parish lots were sold at, said interest be- ing eleven pounds, ten shillings per year, and likewise the use of five hundred pounds to be paid in building and in lands. 4th. Made choice of Lieut. Isaac Perkins, Mr. Edward Richmond and Mr. Job Alden, as a committee to acquaint Mr. Gurney with the votes of the Precinct with respect to the above call. 5th. Voted, to employ Mr. Gurney to preach with us until he gives his answer. Adjourned to the. 25th of October."
At which adjournment, the statement of the salary was changed to be the same as Mr. Reed's, "sixty pounds in cash, or farm produce at cash price, and the interest of what the parish lands were sold for; " and then again the 6th of November, it was again changed from "farm produce" to " corn and rye at cash price." Mr. Gurney's. answer to his call was made to this meeting, and was as follows :
" To the third church of Christ in Middleborough, and congregation assembled at said place :
Brethren and Friends : I have taken into serious con- sideration the invitation you have given me to take the pas- toral care of the church and people of God in this place. The importance of the charge, the weight of the calling, the magnitude and extent of the labor, have raised in my mind some painful and anxious exercises, and I trust that your fervent prayers have not been wanting that I might be en- dowed with wisdom from on high, to direct me in the way of duty in this weighty crisis. I have considered the ap- pearance of unanimity and engagedness that prevails among you for the re-settlement of the gospel ministry in this soci- ety, and am pleased with the vigorous, the noble exertions that have been made for the support of a minister. These considerations, together with the unanimous call I have re- ceived, and the expressions of friendship toward me, and of desire that I should take the charge of this people in the Lord, have induced me, with cheerfulness to accept of your invitation, and to devote my time and talents to the service of this people according to the directions of our Redeemer; and while I thus give myself to you in the laborious task of . the gospel ministry, let me ask your earnest prayers that I may obtain mercy to be found faithful in the service of our common Lord; that I may be inspired with wisdom and prudence to fulfil the important office, that my labors may be crowned with abundant success, and that finally we may
37
ORDINATION OF REV. MR. GURNEY.
rejoice in the Lord in the kingdom of everlasting glory. The employment, you must be sensible, is arduous and requires the greatest attention, diligence and labour. It is therefore expected that the minister be handsomely supported by the people, and while I offer you my services in the work of the ministry, it is expected that the people proceed upon the proposed plan of raising a fund and establishing it on a permanent foundation. In fine, it is expected that whatever proposals are made, the minister be comfortably and hon- orably supported by the people, with whom he labors, and with whose care he is entrusted. It is my earnest prayer. that the Lord prosper the proceedings of this day, that you and your pastor may long rejoice together, that he may have the unspeakable satisfaction of seeing the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hands, and that by this intended settle- ment the Kingdom of Christ may be built in this place and throughout the world. (Signed) DAVID GURNEY.
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