USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 29
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Rev. Julius H. Seelye, who succeeded Dr. Stearns as president of the college, was installed as pastor of the College church, May 24, 1877. Sept. 12, 1878. Rev. Thomas P. Field was invited to become associate pastor of the church, and accepted. He was appointed to the " Samuel Green professorship of Biblical history and interpretation and pastoral cate," established in 1864 by John Tappan, Esq. of Boston, and held by Dr. Stearns, in connection with the presidency of the college, until his death. Dr. Field served as professor in the college and associate pastor of the College church until 1886, when he resigned, and was succeeded by
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Rev. George S. Burroughs of New Britain. Conn. Dr. Seelye served as pastor of the church until he resigned the presidency of the college, in 1890. Dr. Burroughs continued in office until 1892, when he resigned, to accept a call to the presidency of Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind. Rev. John E. Tuttle, D. D., was appointed to the Samuel Green professor- ship in 1893, and installed as pastor of the College church, Nov. 17 of that year.
The college chapel was dedicated in February, 1827. For more than forty years this building served as the home of the College church. In 1864, William F. Stearns, son of President Stearns and a prosperous merchant in Boston, gave $30,000 to the college to be used in erecting a suitable church edifice. There was a difference of opinion among the college authorities as to the most suitable location for the building. Its present site was decided on by several distinguished architects, and the corner-stone was laid, Sept. 22, 1870. The building, constructed of granite. is, perhaps, the handsomest edifice on the college grounds. Shortly after the close of the civil war, George Howe, Esq. of Boston, whose son, a graduate of the college, was killed in service, presented to the college a fine chime of bells, which were placed in the tower of the College church.
From its beginning, the church has been a great power for good in the college. Some of the best-known preachers in America have occupied the pulpit of the College church. In the earlier history of the church revivals of religious interest were of frequent occurrence and a very large percentage of the students were admitted to church membership. There were many cases of church discipline. Councils were frequently held to ordain missionaries for the foreign service. Feb. 23, 1864, Joseph A. Leach was ordained as chaplain of the 19th Regiment U. S. colored troops. In 1859, it was voted to adopt the "Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book " in chapel worship and other religious meetings. Sept. 26, 1869, E. S. Snell and Edward Hitchcock were elected as the first permanent deacons. The practice before that time had been to elect as deacons two members of the senior class, to serve one year. In 1877, a leader of the choir and an organist were chosen. In 1889, a plan proposed by Dr. Burroughs was adopted, for receiving students from other churches on certificate, who did not transfer their relation to the church by letter.
In connection with the College church, and under its inimmediate super- vision, an interesting and valuable mission work has been conducted among the colored residents of Amherst. The years immediately succeeding the close of the civil war brought with them to Amherst, as to many towns in New England, a considerable increase in the colored population. A majority of these people were useful and industrious citizens, abundantly
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AMHERST COLLEGE WELL.
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AMHERST COLLEGE CHURCH.
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ZION CHAPEL.
able to provide for their own bodily needs, but lacking for many years the religious privileges enjoyed by their caucasian brethren. The missionary enterprise which resulted in the building of Zion chapel was inaugurated by three women connected with the College church, two of them wives of college professors, the other a resident of the town while her sons were being educated at the college. As early as 1861, a Sunday-school class had been organized among the colored people. Its meetings were held, at first in the Amherst Academy building, and after the latter was torn down, in the brick school-house on Pleasant street, and later in the chapel of the First Congregational church, in the rear of what is now known as College hall.
In 1868, the trustees of Amherst College gave permission for erecting a building for chapel purposes on land owned by the college at the corner of Northampton and Parsons streets. The sum of $697.90 was raised by subscription for a building, of which $117.30 was contributed by colored persons ; the largest cash donation was $100, the smallest ten cents. The building was erected, and was dedicated March 12, 1869. The exercises of dedication were conducted by President Stearns, assisted by Professors Hitchcock, Tyler and Seelye, and Rev. J. L. Jenkins. The cost of the building was $601. Many articles of furniture were contributed, some by persons living in Amherst, others by men and women living in distant towns and cities who had been impressed with the nature and importance of the work that was being carried on. At the time the chapel was dedi- cated, there were 91 colored people resident in Amherst, and the average attendance at the school was 30. J. B. Seabury, a student at the college, had been in charge of the school for the two years preceding.
The first mention of Zion chapel found in the College church records is under date of Feb. 1, 1877. when it was voted to appropriate $25 during the year for the expense of fuel and lights at regular meetings in the chapel, if the receipts from collections should be sufficient after defraying the current expenses of the church. Dec. 13, 1877, the church voted to expend the balance of receipts for 1878, from collections on communion Sundays, after the regular church expenses had been paid, as follows : 1st, $25 for lights and fuel at Zion chapel ; 2d, $25 to Rev. S. L. Hobbs; 3d, an additional $25 to Rev. S. L. Hobbs if the colored people should pay an equal amount in addition to what they paid in 1877. Feb. 29, 1880, $25 was appropriated for expenses of the mission school, to be placed in the hands of the lady teachers: also $25 per quarter to Rev. Mr. Hobbs for services at the mission branch, provided those in attendance paid at the rate of SS per quarter. Oct. 5, 1882, it was voted to pay $1oo to Rev. D. W. Marsh for his services at Zion chapel during the coming year.
In addition to the mission work conducted under the auspices of the
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College church at Zion chapel, students at the college have for many years engaged in regular mission work at two stations, one at the school-house . in the southeast part of Amherst, the other at a school-house in what is known as " Pratt's Corner" in Shutesbury. Regular services are held in these places Sunday afternoons during the college terms. The missionary spirit has ever been strong among the alumni of Amherst College, as is testified by the considerable percentage of their number who have engaged in home and foreign mission work. The words of wisdom and eloquence uttered from the pulpit of the College church have echoed . from Green- land's icy mountains to India's coral strand."
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CHAPTER XXXII.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH .- CONNECTION WITH CHURCHES IN NEW SALEM AND NORTHAMPTON .-- INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION .- PASTORS AND TERMS OF SERVICE .- THE MEETING-HOUSE .-- METHODS OF RAISING FUNDS .- MISCELLANEOUS VOTES.
It was nearly ninety-three years after the organization of the church in Hadley; Third Precinct, ere another church, differing from it in faith and doctrine, was regularly organized in the town of Amherst. In Novem- ber, 1827, the following communication was addressed to the First Baptist church in New Salem :
" The Undersigned, being so situated that we can enjoy but little of gospel privilege with you & finding many students in the Academy & College & others members scattered through Amherst & vicinity belonging to different Chhs of our faith & order. all as sheep without a Shepherd-We feel it our indispensable duty to unite & exert ourselves to remedy these existing evils & procure greater religious enjoyments.
Therefore, to promote the honour & glory of God, the good of his cause and the welfare of our own souls, & others in the establishment of the worship of God & the privileges of the Gospel among us. we wish to be set off as a branch of this Chh. vested with certain rights & privileges necessary to carry our objects into effect as shown in the following proposed resolution."
This paper was signed by Stephen S. Nelson, an elder of the Baptist church in New Salem but resident in AAmherst, and the following members of his family : Emilia Nelson, Emilia D. Nelson, William F. Nelson and Ephraim R. Nelson. The " resolutions " submitted were agreed to by the
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church in New Salem, as testified by the clerk of the church under date of Nov. 18, 1827. They conferred the following rights and privileges upon the members of the church resident in Amherst : To be set off as a branch of the church, by the name of the " Branch of the First Baptist Church in New Salem :" to notify and hold meetings for worship and business, and vote and do business among themselves independently ; to employ ministers of their own choosing and support them in their own way; to admit members among them, watch over and discipline them, and, if found necessary, to remove them : to enjoy the ordinances and privileges of the gospel among themselves or with the parent church ; to pay and support individually with the parent church only in accordance with the privileges enjoyed by them; to establish for themselves any constitution, creed or covenant not inconsistent with the Bible or with churches in their fellow -. ship; to enjoy all other rights and privileges of an independent church and be considered as such except that they be called a branch of the church in New Salem ; but in case they should cease to keep up their worship then they were to be considered as members of the parent church.
The first meeting of the Amherst Branch of the First Baptist Church in New Salem was held at the house of Rev. Stephen S. Nelson, Dec. 7, 1827. Mr. Nelson was chosen moderator, and Rev. Solomon Peck, pro- fessor of Latin and Hebrew at Amherst College, clerk. The moderator and clerk were appointed a committee to prepare a creed and covenant. This committee reported at a meeting held Dec. 12, and after discussion and amendment, the articles submitted by them were adopted, at a meeting held Dec. 18. At the latter meeting a committee was appointed to prepare a code of articles whereby to express the sentiments of the church on important principles of faith and practice, not specially noted in creed and covenant. Feb. 29, 1828, the church voted that the Lord's Supper be celebrated on the evening of Sunday, March 9; on the latter date the communicants met at the house of Rev. S. S. Nelson and held their first communion service, ten members of the church taking part, eight males and two females. Sept. 19, 1830, it was voted expedient that the church be dismissed from the church in New Salem, and become a branch of the Baptist church in Northampton. Oct. 1 of the same year, it was reported that a letter of dismission had been received from the New Salem church ; this was afterwards presented to and accepted by the church in Northampton. July 3, 1831, the church voted to approve the maintenance of public religious worship every Tuesday evening "at the home of Bro. Woods." The first baptism occurred Aug. 21, 1831, two persons being baptized in the river at " Mill Hollow." Nov. 19, 1831, i was voted that a contribution for contingent expenses and for the poor
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. of the church be taken regularly after the administration of the Lord's supper.
At a meeting held May 5, 1832, it was voted to request a dismission from the church in Northampton, for the purpose of constituting a church in this town. to be known as "The First Baptist Church of Christ in Amherst." July 9, 1832, it was voted expedient to take inimediate measures to constitute a church of Christ in Amherst. A committee was appointed to draw up articles of faith and a covenant. Invitations were sent to the Baptist churches in Shutesbury, Northampton, Belchertown, Sunderland and Montague to send pastors and delegates to a council to be held for the purpose of forming a church organization. This council met, Aug. 3, 1832, at the house of Solomon Peck. Rev. L. Austin served as moderator and Solomon Peck as clerk. A church was organized with 40 members, 19 male and 21 female. Public exercises were held at the brick school- house that stood on Pleasant street. The church voted to adopt the articles of faith and covenant of the Federal Street Baptist church of Boston. Isaac Robbins and Eli Cowls were elected deacons. Sept. 16, 1832, the church voted to join the Wendell association of Baptist churches, and was received into its fellowship the 26th of the same month.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Mason Ball. The precise date when he began preaching in Amherst is not recorded ; the minutes of a meeting held Aug. 31, 1834, are signed by " Mason Ball, pastor." March 10, 1835, a committee appointed to supply the pulpit engaged the services of Mr. Ball, " who had supplied the church for two years." Oct. 31, 1836. it was voted to extend a call to Rev. N. G. Lovell of Princeton, to offer him a salary of $500 per year, 'to give him three Sabbaths for a vacation and to move his goods to Amherst. Mr. Lovell accepted the call and began his labors Nov. 20. Dec. 26, 1839. Mr. Lovell requested a dismis- sion which was granted ; he preached his farewell sermon, Jan. 19, 1840. April 6 of the same year, Elder S. S. Nelson was requested to preach until a minister should be settled ; he agreed to supply the pulpit until the first Sabbath in May. July 19, Elder Joseph Hodges was invited to supply the pulpit at a salary of $300. Mr. Hodges accepted and began his labors Aug. 2, continuing with the church for one year when he left and went to Coleraine. At a meeting of the church and society, held Aug. 8, 1841, it was voted unanimously to keep up the worship in the meeting-house every Lord's day, " preaching or no preaching." Such was the temper of the men and women who were the founders of the Baptist church in Amherst. not easily discouraged, but determined under no circumstances to abandon the undertaking in which they had engaged. At this meeting the deacons invited Elder S. S. Nelson to preach to them. Soon afterwards, Rev. Mr.
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Chase was sent by the Baptist conference to supply the pulpit, and remained until December.
Dec. 1, 1842, the church extended a call to Rev. George Waters of Norwich, Conn., to become its pastor, at a salary of $500. Mr. Waters . accepted, and began his labors Dec. 25. He served very acceptably to church and congregation for three years, but in the spring of 1846 dissen- sions arose between pastor and people which led to a serious schism in the church. The primary cause of trouble would seem to have been a disturb- ance of church meetings by some of the younger members of the congregation, together with the punishment inflicted upon them. This led to argument and ill-feeling, and soon the church-members were arrayed in two opposing parties. The pastor's opponents called an ex-parte council of delegates from Baptist churches in towns near by, which met at the - meeting-house, Feb. 10, 1846. The pastor and his adherents also called an ex-parte council, which met the following day. The members of the two councils decided to join forces and hold a mutual council to consider all matters at issue. To this action both parties to the controversy consented ; the council having considered all the testimony presented decided that there was fault on both sides and advised a reconciliation. Feb. 22, 1846, the church, at Mr. Waters' request, voted to give him a letter of dismission. As a result of this trouble, many members withdrew from the communion and the usefulness of the church was seriously impaired.
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Feb. 28, 1846, the church extended a call to Rev. Mason Ball. Mr .. Ball accepted and served the church for several months. April 21, 1851, Rev. E. A. Cummings was called to the pastorate ; he accepted, and was. ordained and installed, May S. He continued in service until Oct. 17, 1852, when he was dismissed at his request, the church at the same meeting which acted on his dismission voting to extend a call to Rev. E. Anderson. Mr. Anderson accepted, and recognition and consecration services were held Dec. 15. His pastorate was brief, terminating, at his. Trequest. Sept. 3. 1853. Dec. 31, 1853, the church invited Rev. E. A. ( ummmings to become its pastor again, "as soon as consistent with his previous engagements." He accepted the call and continued in service until January, 1855, when he resigned. During the greater part of 1855, the pulpit was supplied by George S. Stockwell. Oct. 5, 1856, a call was extended to Rev. J. T. Smith of Bristol, Conn., which he accepted. He continued in the service for more than eight years, resigning his office,. Jan. 27. 1865. The church voted not to accept the resigation, but Mr .. Smith insisted and preached his farewell sermon, April 31.
Feb. 18. 1866, the church extended a call to Rev. A. J. Padelford ; he wiepied and began his labors Feb. 25. Recognition services were held.
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March 21, and on the same day the church was rededicated having under- gone extensive repairs and alterations. Mr. Padelford continued in office until March 1, 1868, when he tendered his resignation. The church appointed a committee to request him to reconsider his action, but he refused. The church voted, in May, to secure the services of Frank E. Tower of Petersham as stated supply for the remainder of the year. In October of the same year, it was voted expedient to ordain Mr. Tower and install him as pastor of the church. He accepted the call in a letter dated Nov. 18, and was ordained and installed, Dec. 23. The first year of his ministry was marked by a great revival, resulting in many conversions. Dec. 23. 1871, Mr. Tower resigned, and March 24, 1872, Rev. A. P. Buel of New London, Conn. was called to the pastorate. He did not accept at the time, but consented to supply the pulpit. The call was renewed, June 30. and this time was accepted. The date when Mr. Buel's pastorate ended is not recorded, but April 6, 1873, the church extended a call to Rev. J. V. Osterhout of Webster, which he declined. May 18, 1873, a call was · extended to Rev. I. F. Lamson of Northboro ; this also was declined.
Rev. Sylvester Burnham supplied the pulpit for a time, and in July, 1873, was called to the pastorate. He accepted, and continued in service until March of the following year. when he resigned. In May of the same year. a call was extended to D. W. Hoyt which he accepted, and was ordained, July 29. In 1875, a branch of the church was organized in Erving. Mr. Hoyt resigned in March. ISSO ; Dec. 12 of the same year. a call was extended to Rev. G. F. Genung. He accepted, and recognition services were held in January, 1881. He continued in office until January, 1884. when he resigned. The church at first refused to accept his resigna- tion, but he insisted. Rev. J. B. Child was called to the pastorate the same year, continuing in office until March, 1892. when he resigned. In October of the same year, Rev. G. W. Holman accepted an invitation to settle as pastor of the church.
The first mention of a meeting-house is found in the church records under date of May 11, 1834. when an agent was appointed to solicit aid from abroad to build a meeting-house. Oct. 24, 1834, the church passed the following vote: "Whereas several individuals have taken efficient measures to erect a meeting-house by subscription to be the property of the First Baptist Chh. in Amherst, and whereas they have connected with the said house a basement story which the Chih. may own as their property provided they will defray the expense of said basement story, And whereas the Building Committee have made the above proposal therefor, Voted to take the Basement Story as our property." A committee of five was appointed to finish the basement, and authorized to hire money to pay the
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expense. April 25, 1836, Seth Fish, Salvader Andrews and Austin Fast- man were appointed deacons to hold the meeting-house in trust.
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July 6, 1837, the church adopted a constitution and series of regula- tions for the management and disposal of church property. The preamble reads as follows : "The Ist Baptist Chh. in Amherst having erected a house for divine worship for the accommodation of themselves and others who choose to meet with them wish to be guided by the following regula- tions in the management and disposal of their house of worship and other property." This constitution contained, among others, the following provisions : That the meeting-house and all other property belonging to the church should be " considered as theirs, under their management and at their disposal ;" the settled pastor or stated preacher should ever be a " regular Orthodox Baptist minister ;" if the church should ever be dissolved or become extinct, the meeting-house and all other property belonging to the church, except such slips or other property as were owned · by private individuals, should revert to the treasury of the Massachusetts Baptist Convention ; every pew in the meeting-house should be subject to the provisions of the constitution ; should the church at any time consider it expedient to demolish, move, alter, repair or rebuild the meeting-house, each pew-owner should give up his pew for that purpose and be allowed full value of his pew when thus surrendered, provided he should take the amount of said valuation in a pew or pews in the meeting-house when rebuilt or so altered and repaired.
At a meeting held May 23, 1837, it was voted " To give back the bonds to our trustees that the basement of our meeting-house may be sold for $2500 and clear the Chh. of all debt for our meeting-house except about Stoooor Stroo." June 22, 1837, the trustees were authorized to sell enough of the " pew ground " or slips in the meeting-house to pay the debt due the building committee of said house. No pews were to be sold at a less price than appraised, and they were to be sold only on such conditions as should secure the pulpit forever to a regular orthodox Baptist minister. July 7. 1839. the church extended a vote of thanks to persons who by generous assistance had enabled them to pay off the debt on the meeting- house. April 21, 1851, it was voted "to approve and encourage the painting and repairing of the meeting-house." For many years the base- ment of the meeting-house was used for store purposes. Oct. 4, 1862, it was voted to see whether the church could have a room in the basement for prayer and conference purposes, if so, what must be done to put it in order. March 23. 1864, a committee was appointed to fit and furnish the southwest room in the basement as a vestry ; the first meeting in the new vestry was held June 4. 1865. Sept. 12, 1864, a committee was appointed to procure plans and estimates for repairing the house of worship; they
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reported a plan involving the expenditure of $1000, and a committee was appointed to raise funds for carrying on the work. July 7, 1879. the church voted to rent the vestry to Postmaster Jameson for $50 a month.
In the years immediately following the organization of the church, various methods were resorted to for the purpose of raising funds, for the payment of current expenses. Feb. 1, 1834. an agent was appointed to attend the state convention. to secure aid to support the gospel ministry. March 10, 1835, two agents were appointed to solicit aid to pay arrearages for preaching. A committee was appointed to circulate subscription papers to raise money to be paid monthly for the purpose of supporting preaching the coming year. Dec. 12, 1836, it was voted that all the pecuniary expenses of the church, with the pastor's salary, be averaged upon each member of the church, according to their ability. Jan. 17, 1837, it was voted to make all the pews in the meeting-house free. May 6, 1866, a committee was chosen to have charge of the church finances. In 1869, it was voted to make the seats free and to take collections for current expenses.
Oct. 31, 1836, a committee was appointed "to procure an apparatus to warm the meeting-house." June 22, 1837, it was voted that the sexton be furnished with oil to light the house. In 1838, the trustees were authorized to deed a pew to the pastor of the church and his successors in office, to be held by them as a " minister's pew " forever. April 5. 1844, it was voted "to authorize the committee heretofore appointed by the church to put in the baptistery into the Baptist meeting-house to finish said work by placing a carpet upon the platform of the desk and the platform in front of the desk, and whatever is necessary to complete the work." Oct. 2, 1870, it is recorded that the ordinance of baptism was omitted owing to a lack of water to fill the baptistery, Mention is first made of the appointment of ushers, in 1838. June 30, 1833, a set of communion vessels was presented to the church by Elisha Bogue, Esq. In 1846, it was voted to procure the juice of the grape for communion services. In 1852 it was voted to dispense with the use of the juice of the grape and to use "sweet wine" at communion. In 1866, a silver communion service and set of table linen was presented to the church. The subject of temperance seems to have attracted the attention of the church at an early date. It was voted, in 1835, to form. a temperance society. In 1843, it was voted that it was the duty of every member of the church to belong to some temperance society, and the following resolution was passed : " We as a church cannot hold fellowship with any member of the same faith and order with ourselves, or receive to the ordinance of baptism and subsequent fellowship any person who will not adopt the aforesaid principles."
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