USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The pastor's jubilee : a discourse delivered in the South Church, Salem, Mass., April 24, 1855, by Brown Emerson, D.D. on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination : with an appendix > Part 8
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In the Essex Gazette of March 12, 1771, appeared the following an- nouneement :
"Last Thursday, Mr. DANIEL HOPKINS, of this place, was married to Miss SUSANNAN SAUNDERS, daughter of Mr. John Saunders, Merchant.
"IF The following is presented to Mr. Hopkins and his Lady, by one of his Scholars :
"' Joy to my Master, on his change of state!
May his dear Sukey prove a faithlul mate ;
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Their hands now joined, their hearts elate with joy, Oh ! may no future grief their bliss annoy : Their lives, extended to the latest span, Be spent in praising GOD, and serving man ; Calm, and unruffled, smoothly pass away,
And Health, and Peace, and Love, still crown each happy day.'"
The above wishes were almost literally realized, in the long, happy, and useful lives of Mr and Mrs. Hopkins. He died on the 14th of December, 1814, in his eighty-first year, -she died on the 15th of March, 1838, in her eighty-fourth year.
The last time he preached was at the Monthly Communion, on the first Sabbath in the preceding October. From that time, with the exception of a few days. he was confined with a painful sickness, which rapidly wasted his strength. until death terminated his sufferings.
Mr. Emerson's Sermon on the Sabbath after the Interment of Dr. Hopkins, to which reference has already been made, contains a just tribute to his life and character. The Salem Gazette of Tuesday, December 20, 1814, thus noticed his funeral :
"The interment of Dr. HOPKINS took place yesterday afternoon. with every mark of respect which could be paid to his memory. The solemn services at the Meeting House were as follows: The Introductory Prayer by Rev. Dr. Worcester. (of the Tabernacle Church. ) Salem; Sermon by Rev. Dr. Spring, of Newburyport, from 1 Corinthians, xv. 58; Conclu- ding Prayer by Rev. Reuben Emerson. of South Reading ; with music adapted to the mournful occasion." [The Commissioned Officers of the Regiment of which he was Chaplain, attended the funeral in full uniform. ]
An interesting fact, connected with the interment, is thus recorded by Dr. Bentley :
" It has been a well known and general practice at funerals, to set before the sextons who attended, a quantity of ardent spirits, which they were permitted to drink without restraint. This practice so unnecessary in itself, so unbecoming the solemnity of the occasion, and so manifestly inju- rious in its consequences, was put a stop to in the following manner : At the interment of Dr. HOPKINS, the Committee of the New South Society came to the resolution to provide no ardent spirits for the sextons ; and this determination so commended itself to the citizens of this place, that the sextons one and all requested their several societies to discontinue the prac- tice of providing such refreshments for them."
The action of the sextons was in this wise : After the funeral. a conimu- ยท nication appeared in the Gazette of Friday, to the following effect, viz :
"At the present day of general licentiousness of manners, it becomes the friends of order and morality to set their faces against every evil work. It is well known to be the practice at FUNERALS in this town, to set before the sextons who attend. a quantity of ARDENT SPIRIT, which they are permitted to drink without restraint. This practice is not only unnecessary in itself. and unbecoming the solemnity of the occasion, but manifestly injurious in its consequences. Under this conviction, and for the purpose
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of discountenaneing the practice, the Committee of the New South Meeting House Society, at the interment of their late venerable and beloved senior pastor. Dr. Horkiss, thought it proper not to provide any ardent spirit for the sextons. As no reproach was thereby intended for any man of sobriety and temperance, it is hoped that the surviving relations of deceased friends will check the evil tendency of the custom, and determine, so far as the influence of their example shall extend, to effect a reformation."
This called ont the following notice from the Sextons, published in the Gazette of December 27, 1814. It contains some eurions suggestions, as to the reasons for the practice alluded to. The article is thus given :
"A piece appearing in this paper of last Friday, reflecting on the char- acter of the Sextons in this town, they feel themselves obliged to notice it. The practice of providing some refreshment at funerals, for Sextons, in a separate apartment. has been a enstom from time immemorial. It has often been thought necessary, to prevent contagion. It might also be supposed by any reasonable person not improper, in such weather as it was [a thick snow storm] when the Rev. Dr. Hopkins was interred. But as there ap- pears a disposition to attach an importance to the subject it does not deserve. - to set the matter forever at rest, the Sextons severally and jointly request their Societies to discontinue providing refreshment for them."
Dr. Hopkins, as has been stated, was not in the habit of writing ont his Sermons; but. among his productions which have been published, are his Charge at the Ordination of Rev. J. Cleaveland, Jr., at Stoncham, Octo- ber 19, 1785; his Sermon at Salem, December 29, 1799. on the death of George Washington ; and his Sermon preached at the Dedication of the New South Meeting House, in Salem, JJanuary 1, 1805.
His wife, who survived him many years, is still remembered by a large portion of the Congregation. On the 18th of March, 1838, the Sabbath succeeding her decease, Dr. Emerson, in his Discourse, paid the following tribute to her memory :
" MRS. HOPKINS was born in Salem, in November, 1754. Her father was a merchant of high respectability in this place, and was one of those who adhered to the Congregational Platform, on which this Church has stood ever since its formation in 1735, a hundred and three years ago. He died at Hanover. N. II., in 1797. His wife, Mrs. Hopkins's mother. belonged to a family of honorable standing in Boston, by the name of Barrett, and was distinguished in her day by domestic virtues and ex- cellence of moral and religious character. She died at Hanover, N. H., in 1806.
" When Dr. HOPKINS, your late venerated Pastor, came to this town, he spent a few years in teaching a School of Young Ladies -the first of the kind, of any distinction, ever taught in this place by a gentleman. SUSANNA SAUNDERS, who was afterwards his wife, was one of his pupils. There, probably, commenced that ardent mutual affection between them, which glowed to the end of life. She was married young, and became the
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mother of seven children, only two of whom survive her. She was ad- mitted a member of this Church in the twenty-fifth year of her age, and has been a member ahnost sixty years. According to the records of the Church, she has been connected with it longer than any member now living ; and, during the whole period, has maintained a moral and chris- tian character so consistent and unblemished, that neither the heart of envy, nor the tongue of slander, has ever, it is believed, found aught against her. She hated no one, she injured no one, but loved all ; and, after the example of Him, whose disciple she was. sought to do good to all as she had opportunity.
" Until within a few of the last years of her life, she enjoyed a physical constitution of uncommon health and vigor, which contributed, in no small degree, to form that evenness of mind and cheerfulness of spirit for which she was remarkably distinguished, and which diffused an air of vivacity through all her social intercourse. This made her company sought and admired both by the aged and the young.
" Under the trials, which, at times, she was called to suffer, though her sensibilities caused her to feel quick and keenly the arrows that pierced her heart, yet her mind never lost its balance. No clond of affliction ever darkened the serenity of her soul ;- no storm could disturb its calmmess. This happy temperament gave a corresponding character to her piety. She was firm and unwavering in her adherence to those religions truths, which she had so long professed to believe ; and, while she maintained them with consistent dignity, ever manifested a spirit of kindness and liberality toward those who conscientiously dissented from her views.
" In the social relations of wife, mother, neighbor and friend, she was free from guile, frank, open-hearted-ever sympathizing in the joys and sorrows of others, and always bearing the law of kindness upon her lips. And it is no mean praise, that, in the responsible and difficult station she has occupied, for sixty-five years, in connexion with the Pastoral office, at which so many eyes are constantly directed. and where so much is re- quired, she has been blameless, and harmless, without rebuke.
" Very few, comparatively, reach the good old age to which she attained. Her longevity may be aseribed. under the blessing of God, to her great equanimity and self-government. She lived eighty-three years and four months. And it is a testimony of some weight in favor of her social virtues, that a female of her own age, who followed her to the tomb, has lived with her, without interruption, at least sixty years .*
" MRS. HOPKINS, during several of her last years, has been afflicted with an asthmatic disease, which, at times, has been extremely painful, and finally terminated her mortal existence. These distresses she bore with exemplary patience and submission. When, about two years ago, she was brought, in her own apprehension and that of her friends, to the brink of the grave, she expressed in strong terms the steadfastness of her hope in Christ, and her willingness to leave the world. She appeared to have peace, if not joy, in believing. Her last sickness was short ; and when she expired she was probably asleep, and passed the Jordan without
. Miss Abigail Sinith ; see next page.
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a pang, or a struggle, or even the motion of a limb or feature. Her pure spirit, we trust, is now with Christ in paradise, where she enjoys, to-day. such a Sabbath as eye hath not seen, uor ear heard. neither has entered the heart of man."
The aged female, alluded to in the preceding extract, was Miss ABIGAIL SMITH, who died on Friday evening, March 23. 153S. (only a few days after the decease of Mrs. Hopkins, ) at the age of eighty-three. The following obituary notice was published in the Essex Register of March 26 :
" For the last sixty years, Miss Smith lived in the family of the late Mrs. Hopkins, and her daughter. [Mrs. Emerson. ] and assisted in bring- ing up two generations of children. To these she has been deservedly dear, and will long be remembered by them with a sincere affection - for as gently as 'a nurse cherisheth her children.' did she ever deal with them. She performed the duties of her station with the utmost fidelity, and always identified the welfare of the family with her own.
" When her friend, whom she had served with so much devotedness, was gone, it seemed as though the card of her life was severed ; for. from that moment. she gave up every worldly care, and began to sink into the arms of death. She survived Mrs. Hopkins but one week ; when, over- come by sympathy, and with only a slight disease, her mind sustained and comforted by the Promises. . she rested from her labors.' She died in the Faith and Hope of the Gospel."
C. - PAGE 18.
DR. EMERSON sailed from New York in the packet ship Queen of the West, Capt. Woodhouse, on Thursday, May 21, 1846, but the ship came to anchor that night, inside of Sandy Hook, and did not finally leave until Friday morning. 22d. She arrived at Liverpool on the 19th of June. Among the passengers was Col. William Schouler, then editor of the Lowell Courier. now of the Cincinnati Gazette, who wrote for his paper a series of letters descriptive of the voyage.
On his return. Dr. Emerson took passage in the Cunard steamship Cambria, Capt. Judkins, which left Liverpool on the 4th of September, and arrived at Boston early on the morning of the 1sth. There were thirteen ministers among the passengers, including Rey. Drs. De Witt. Forsaith, and Pressley, and Rev. Messrs. Kirk, Gorham D. Abbott. ( who had assisted Dr. Emerson. for several weeks, during a time of great religious interest in 1843.) Prof. Hope, and Dr. Pomeroy of Bangor. Although there were so many clergymen on board, the Captain declined repeated importumities from the passengers to allow one of them to deliver a discourse, alleging that, according to the regulations. no preaching was permitted except by clergymen of the established Church of England. and that, unless there should be one such present, he was himself required to read the service. with some published sermon.
Our distinguished countryman, Washington Irving, was likewise a pas- senger, and, at the last dinner on board, addressed the company in reply to a complimentary sentiment.
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The following Original Hymns, -" Farewell." and a " Welcome Home," -were written to be chanted by the choir, the first two on the Sabbath before Dr. Emerson's departure, and the last on the first Sabbath after his return. They were respectively composed by a young gentleman and young lady, both members of the choir :
HYMN. WRITTEN BY MR. JOHN MACKINTIRE.
FAREWELL, farewell, the parting word is spoken,
How full of magic power that thrilling word !
How are the heart's entwining tendrils broken, How are the fountains of the spirit stirred, How doth the soul with joy or sorrow swell,
At mention of that meaning word, " Farewell!"
May joy attend thee in thy distant wanderings,
Guide ! who hast led us through life's mazy track,
Ever our minds to fill with holy teachings,
And leading many a contrite wanderer back,
Whispering sweet words of comfort to the soul,
Fointing the racer to his final goal.
Yet though we miss thy voice with fervor burning, And from yon stand, thy form erect and bold, Soon may we hope to see thy safe returning, Like the glad shepherd to his waiting fold, Laden with wisdoin, from experience taught,
And holy trust from heaven's full store-house brought.
Yet mournful thoughts will rise, as, gazing round us, We mark what changes passing time has made ; How many ties are rent, that sweetly bound us To loving forms now in the cold earth laid ! Death, with his ghastly train, is ever near ;
Perchance he hath some chosen victim here.
God of the rolling seas ! whose mighty chorus Rolls ever in deep thunder hymns, to thee We yield our trust : long, long he hath watched o'er us, Oh ! watch, defend, and guide him o'er the sea ; In storm or calm, be with him on the deep, That fragile vessel on its pathway kecp.
If, through the shrouded sky, loud thunders rattle, And, round thy dark pavilion, lightnings play, And whirlwinds howl, like troubled din of battle, Then, Father, then be thou his hope and stay ; Still the wild ravings of the stormy main, And guide him safely to his home again.
Farewell, farewell, the last faint word is spoken, Good wishes waft thee from thy native shore. Accept this tribute ; 'tis our parting token ; Yet part we not as those that meet no more. If from our hearts, the bond is broken here, Hope points us upward to a brighter sphere.
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FAREWELL.
WRITTEN BY MRS. ELLEN E. BANCROFT.
DEAR PASTOR, -'tis with throbbing hearts, The farewell we are saying ; - To every eye the tear-drop starts, And o'er the cheek is straying.
Each Sabbath morn when gathered here, Thy face was wont to greet us, And that benignant eye so dear, Beaming with love would meet us.
But soon the Sabbath sun may shine, The Sabbath bells be chiming ; But far beyond the foaming brine, His rays o'er THEE be shining.
Full many a prayer will be express'd That God in health may spare thee, While o'er the broad Atlantic's breast The noble ship may bear thee.
We'll dash the tear from every eye, Each rising grief suppressing : And ask that gales may gently sigh, While on thy bark is pressing.
And when the towers of other lands, That heavenward rise aspiring, And wooded parks, or sunny strands Shall meet thy gaze admiring ; -
May friendship's ever ready hand Extend a cordial greeting, And peace and joy their wings expand, . Above thy pathway meeting.
And when thy bark is "homeward bound," God speed thy course returning, And waiting friends may gather round, Their hearts with welcome burning.
But if, within thy native land, 'T is not thy lot to meet us, We ask that on that HEAVENLY strand Thy sainted face may greet us.
SOUTH CHURCH, Salem, May 10, 1846.
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WELCOME HOME!
WRITTEN BY MR. JOIIN MACKINTIRE,
[A Member of the Choir, to be sung on the return of the Pastor, Rev. Dr. EMERSON, from Europe.]
WE WELCOME THEE ! with deop, heartfelt emotion,
We hail thee, honoured Teacher, to our midst once more,
Safe from the perils of the stormy ocean,
Spared yet again to tread thy native shore, Again to labour in the ceaseless strife,
Of winning lost ones to eternal life.
A joyous welcome ! bright familiar faces Cluster around thee, as in days gone by ;
Upon their radiant forms, no gloomy traces ; The fire of youth still sparkling in their eye ; And tottering age, with trembling limbs, and brow
With almond crowned, comes forth to meet thee now.
A joyous welcome! yet fond hearts are gushing With grief and sorrow in this happy time ; Death from our midst hath plucked bright flowers, blushing In life's fair morning, in their glorious prime ;
Though stricken down, to blossom here no more,
They bloom forever on a deathless shore.
God, the All-Merciful! in whose bright glory, The rapt arch-angel veils his sinless face, With loud thanksgivings we would come before Thee,
And in Thy temple sing Thy power and grace ;
Thee we would praise, that, o'er the treacherous main, Our Pastor Thou hast safe returned again.
Nature, on every side, is Thee revealing,
We feel Thy presence in our inmost souls ; We see Thy power, when, through the red sky wheeling, Thy cloudy car in solemn grandeur rolls ; But on the dark, mysterious, sounding sea,
Thou movest forth sublime in majesty.
Protect this Church, Most Holy One! watch over And keep her in the path that leads aright ; Thou, who didst o'er the Hebrew wanderers hover, A cloud by day, and flaming fire by night, Till, joined with Thec, among the Heavenly host, We praise Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
SOUTH CHURCH, Salem, September 20, 1846.
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D. - PAGE 20.
Miss Bulfinch became a member of the Third Church in the year 1811 She was an efficient and much respected school teacher, and was at one time an instructress in the Academy at Wrentham. Massachusetts. At the cele bration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Ordination of Rev. Elisha Fisk observed in Wrentham, June 12. 1849, the veteran missionary, Dr. Poor was present, and, in his remarks, referred to his first wife, the kuly men tioned by Dr. Emerson. The following passage is quoted from a pamphlet entitled the " WRENTHAM JUBILEE: "
" Dr. Poor then alluded to the ' Ladies' Reading and Braiding Society. established here [in Wrentham] in 1812, chiefly through the exertions of Miss Susan Bulfinch, who was then an instructress in the Academy in this place, and who afterwards became Mrs. Poor. This Society, some of whose original members are still living, was instrumental of great good. and became a parent society to many others. Mrs. Poor subsequently held correspondence with some of its members, and for many years it sent val- able aid to the Mission at Ceylon. The fruits of the timely. efficient. and faithful efforts of my late wife, (continued Dr. Poor. ) are visibly manifest in our Mission. In the department of female education, especially, her wisdom, tact, and success, were remarkable. She first succeeded in enticing into our premises a timid heathen girl, and in inducing her to overcome her fears sufficiently to remain with us and be taught. The cir- cunstances were these: Our boarding-school for boys was already full, so that we could take no more ; but we had no heathen girl under our care. At this juncture, a father came to the Mission-house bringing his son, and besought us to take charge of him. We declined doing so. not having room, and he was about to depart disappointed, when Mrs. Poor offered to take the lad, if the parent would bring along with him a daughter also. He at first refused. but was at length persuaded to comply with the condi- tion. This girl, who afterwards became a Christian, and was named Har- riet Newell Ambrose, was very useful to the natives, and her subsequent history is somewhat remarkable. We were obliged to resort to a kind of stratagem at first. to sceure a class of girls in our boarding-school. We offered to clothe them, if they would come and join the school, But, in order to convey to you my meaning. it will be necessary to refer to a pas- sage of Scripture, in which it is declared that Moses stripped the people naked : that is, he divested them of their ornaments. We therefore offered each little girl a simple ornament for the neck, and it had the desired effect. After this, we found no such inducement necessary. Our female boarding- school has flourished from that day to this, and proved of incalculable advantage to the Mission. Mrs. Poor was always, during her life. its patron and most efficient helper." She died after about tive years' service in this fieldl.
Dr. Poor was a native of our neighboring town of Danvers. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College, in the year 1-11, and of the Andover Theological Seminary in 1&14. He was ordained at Newburyport. June 21, 1815, with Messrs. Richards, Warren. Meigs and Bardwell ; embarked in the latter part of October, for Ceylon, and landed at the port of Colombo
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on the 22d of March, 1816. He did not again visit America until 1848, after an absence of thirty-three years. Returning to his post in a short time, he continued his labors until the 2d of February. 1855, when he was attacked with cholera, and on the morning of the 3d he expired, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. As he sank, and was near his end, he said, " I did not know dying was so easy." His last utterances were in distinct whispers to the native physician, "San-to-shum-San-to-shum." - Halle- lujah : - Hallelujah !"
E. - PAGE 21.
Rev. James Diman, of the East Church, died October 8, 1788, in the eighty-first year of his age, and the fifty-second of his Pastorate.
Rev. Nathaniel Fisher, of St. Peter's (Episcopal) Church, died December 20. 1>12, aged seventy.
Rev. Dr. Thomas Barnard, of the North Church, died October 1, 1814. aged sixty-six.
Rev. Dr. Hopkins, of the Third Church. died December 14, 1814, in the eighty-first year of his age, and thirty-seventh of his ministry.
Rev. Dr. William Bentley, of the East Church, died December 29, 1819, aged sixty.
Rev. Dr. John Prince, of the First Church, died JJune 7. 1836, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, and fifty-seventh of his ministry.
Rev. Dr. James Flint, of the East Church, died March 4, 1855, aged seventy-five. Dr. Emerson offered the Concluding Prayer at his funeral services.
In addition to the above, the following named died while connected with Salem churches:
Rev. John Emery Abbot. of the North Church. died at the residence of his parents in Exeter. New Hampshire, October 7, 1-12. aged twenty-six. He had been settled here about four years and a half.
Rev. Dr. Samuel Worcester, of the Tabernacle, died at Brainerd, Ten- nessee. the Cherokee Mission Station, June 7, 121, in his fifty-first year.
Rev. De. John Brazer, of the North Church, died at the plantation of his friend and classmate. Dr. Benjamim Inger. near Charleston, South Carolina, february 26, 1846, aged fifty-six.
Dr. Thomas J. O' Flaherty, of St. Mary's ( Roman Catholic) Church, died March 29, 1846, aged forty-tive.
F. - PAGE 77.
Mr. Cleveland was a native of Salem, and resided here during most of the carlier portion of his life; but has been a citizen of Boston for the last forty seven years. Although now in the eighty-third year of his age, his last annual report. ( that of his twenty-first year of service as City Mission- ary, ) states that, during the year past, he has made $17 visits in ss differ-
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ent streets, courts, and places in the city. and has distributed about $1,500 in necessaries for the comfort of the deserving poor.
Mrs. L. HI. Sigourney, in a work recently published by her, entitled " Past Meridian," thus speaks of Mr. Cleveland and his Mission :
"Still traversing the streets of Boston. in his eighty-third year, regard- less of the winter's cold or summer's heat, may be seen the venerable missionary, the Rev. Charles Cleveland, intent on deeds of mercy. The orphan, so often overlooked in the world's great strife. the suffering widow, the poor emigrant. with his sick, stranger heart, hear, approaching their desolate attic, or dark, damp cellar, a tireless foot. and are cheered by the blessed smile of one who, like the aged Apostle John, has concentrated all duty in the prevent to " love one another.' In a school for intants, under the superintendence of his wife, he manifests continual interest, and by affectionate deportment and kind counsel to all, without distinction of seet, shows the perpetual play of those hallowed sunbeams that repel the depression of age, and herald an unclouded day.'
084477
MAY 75
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
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