USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Essex > Two centuries of church history : celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the organization of the Congregational church & parish in Essex, Mass., August 19-22, 1883 > Part 2
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Shortly after the founding of this church the people in this part of the town began to desire a free school for them- selves. Heretofore they had been obliged to go for their schooling, as for their religious worship, to the further part of the town. A general meeting was therefore held in the meeting house, of all the voters in the parish, who, it must be remembered were all church members. The minister of the parish, Rev. Mr. Wise, is surposed to have been present and to have made an earnest address, exhorting his parish- ioners to "save their children from ignorance, infidelity and vice." The result of this meeting, which was thus due largely to the influence of the church, was the appointment of a committee to secure a teacher and a suitable room for a school. Nathaniel Rust, Jr. was chosen and he opened the
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school in his own house in June, 1695, and continued teaching for several years. The first school house was built in 1702. The school-masters were at this time, and for many years, chosen by the parish ; and the parish was then nearly identical with the church.
From 1687 to 1715 the Ipswich grammar school was under the charge of Mr. Daniel Rogers, son of President Rogers, of Harvard College. During this period eight Chebacco boys were fitted for College in this school, their names were William Burnham, Benjamin Choate, Francis Cogswell, John Eveleth, Francis Goodhue, John Perkins, Henry and Jeremiah Wise. These names at once suggest to us that it was the an- cestors of some of the principal families now living amongst us, who thus valued education and did all in their power to se- cure its blessing for themselves and their children after them. History has preserved for us a specimen* of the work of one of these Chebacco boys which will give us an idea of how the good people of that day estimated and used their advan- tages. In 1729 Rev. Jeremiah Wise, son of our first pastor, preached the election sermon in Boston, "before his Excel- lency, William Burnet, Esq. the honorable and .Lieutenant- governor, the Council and representatives of the Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay." Among other things, the preacher said these words : ,
"The education of youth is a great benefit and service to the public. This is that which civilizes them, takes down their temper, tames the fierceness of their natures, forms their minds to virtue, learns them to carry it with a just def- erence to superiors, makes them tractable or manageable, and by learning and knowing what it is to be under govern- ment, they will know better how to govern others, when it comes to their turn. And thus it tends to good order in the State. Yea, good education tends to promote religion and reformation, as well as peace and order ; as it gives check to
*History of Essex, p. 147.
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idleness and ignorance, and the evil consequences thereof. Further by this means men are fitted for service, for public . stations in Church and State, and to be public blessings. The public would greatly suffer by the neglect thereof, and relig- ion could not subsist long but would decay and even die with- out it. The public weal depends upon it, and therefore it ought to be the public care, and so it has been in the best formed Commonwealths, who have erected and endowed public schools and colleges for the education of youth. This was our fathers early care, even in the infancy of the country, and their pious zeal for the glory of God and the good of their posterity has been remarkably blessed. Learning has flourished greatly under the care of the government, new colleges have been erected, and God has raised up generous friends to become benefactors to them."
The training that fitted our old pastor's son to make this earnest plan for enlarged views on the part of the "Civil Rulers" in regard to education, must have been given him in his Chebacco home and in the Chebacco church, and in the Ipswich School.
As the years go on, increasing attention is paid to educa- tion. In the early part of the present century the number of pupils in the three schools has increased to nearly three hundred, and each year the appropriations of money for school purposes show an increase over those of former years. As we turn the pages of the History of Essex, we meet with an ever enlarging number of names of those who went out from this parish to receive a liberal education, and to enter upon the professions and other higher walks of life. Exactly how much of this was due to the influence of the church, and to the wise counsel and instructions of its pastors, none can tell ; but we may have the living testimony of a score or more lib- erally educated sons of Essex, who are to-day occupying important and influential positions in professional and business life, that the first quickening of the intellectual life within
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them, and the first impulses that impelled them toward a higher career were traceable directly to the teachings and personal influences of Crowell or Bacon or Choate. If this is true in the present it is safe to assume that it was equally true in the past. We may thank God to-day, for the large number of educated men that this church has given to the gospel ministry, and to the other useful and honorable pro- fessions in her day.
I cannot close this brief review of educational matters without alluding somewhat more particularly to the distin- guished sevices and unique work in this department, of one who has probably had more to do with shaping the more recent intellectual life of the place than any other person, and whose influence can still be distinctly felt. I refer to the late Hon. David Choate. I am sure that our thanksgiving to-day must include a great deal of gratitude to God, for giving to the church, and to the town, a man who was fitted and disposed to do the work that this man did.
'"For twenty seven years" says his biographer*, "he engaged in his profession ( of teaching ) with a perseverance and en- thusiasm that was marvellous. In the midst of that period he secured the erection of a new school building, and such a division and classification of pupils as enabled him to give to his own department at length the character and the curric- ulum of a high school. And that was at a time, be it re- membered, when there were not more than a dozen high schools in the State. Here his power as an educator had freer scope, and was so marked and peculiar that no adequate · idea of it can be given in few words. Through his energies, and personal influence with friends of learning, the school was provided with a library, a fine case of instruments for use in the study of natural philosophy, astronomy, and sur- veying, with outline maps, a piano and other appliances now common enough, but then rare indeed, if anywhere to be
* Rev. Prof. E. P. Crowell
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found in the larger high schools. While courses of lectures on various branches of study were provided, the instruction itself was of a very high order. Hard study was indeed ex- acted of every scholar and each recitation was a searching test of the work done at one's desk or at home and of the pupils comprehension of the subject. Speaking of the school of another teacher, he once remarked: 'One great charm about the school was that the pupils were first brought up to as high a standard in close, hard study, in school and out, as they could be, and then made happy and cheerful in it'. But . the excellence of Mr. Choate's school was not limited to this. No mechanical routine ever existed there, nor were the exer- cises of the daily sessions ever suffered to run in ruts. His pupils did not merely recite what they had learned from the text-book, but they were taught continually from the living lips. Whatever the lesson in hand it was his part to invest it for the whole class with a new interest, to let light in upon what was obscure, to go over the whole subject with expla- nation and comment and illustration, until it was fully under- stood and mastered by all. One of the distinguishing charac- teristics of his seminary might be said to be this direct contact of the mind of the teacher with that of the pupil as an inspir- ing quickening influence,-an electric force. He was fertile in expedients to excite a thirst for knowledge in the indolent, . and an enthusiasm in the most sluggish, to secure steady application, and the independent and vigorous use of each one's own powers. One unique contrivance for effecting these most important ends was a 'general exercise' of half an hour every morning for the whole school, which usually consisted in a familiar lecture on some one of a great variety of topics distinct from, or supplementary to, the regular course of study, and which, abounding in facts of history and science and the arts, in aphorisms, biographical anecdotes, pratical sugges- tions as to habits of study, combined instruction and enter- tainment, and was admirably adapted to stimulate and enrich
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the minds of those who heard it, Often the members of the school were required to take notes of what was thus com- municated orally, or to give the substance of it in writing in their own language. This indeed was but one of the many kinds of practice in composition, training in which was another prominent feature of the school, Mr. Choate being a firm believer in the saying of Bishop Jewell, which he would sometimes quote, that 'men gain more in knowledge by a frequent use of their pens than by the reading of many books'.
The fame of the school went into all that region round about. Scores of students were drawn in from different towns, in the vicinity and at a distance; there was an average number of members of about sixty ; and never did the per- sonality of a teacher more deeply impress itself upon his pupils. Horace Mann's remark was preeminently true of Mr. Choate as an instructor: 'The teachers influence is like that grade of ink which when first put upon paper is scarcely visible, but soon becomes blacker, and now so black that you may burn the paper on coals of fire, and the writing is seen in the cinders'."
I have made this somewhat extended quotation because it seemed appropiate to let another, who had known Mr. Choate personally and thoroughly, speak for him. As but recently a comparative stranger here, I can add my testimony to the great and permanent value of his influence, both in secular and religious education. That influence is still almost as really and distinctly felt by those who are working in the same lines of endeavor, as though he were still alive. .
Turning now from these educational matters to the politi- cal life of this community in the past two centuries, we find the impress of the church to have been as marked and decided as we would expect to find it from what we know of the character of its men, and of the circumstances in which they lived. From the very beginning the founders and supporters
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of the church, were the founders and supporters of the town, and its ministers were actively engaged in civil and military affairs. I will confine myself to two or three incidents from the abundant materials that are ready at hand, for the illustra- tion of this topic, in the expectation that others will give a more detailed account of facts.
Four years after the founding of the church, Sir Edmund Andros, the recently appointed Governor of all the New England Colonies, levied a tax upon the people of this colony, of Id. on £1, which was in direct violation of their charter rights. The people of this town, under the lead of their minister, met together and "determined that it was not the duty of the town to aid in assessing and collecting this illegal and unconstitutional tax."* A general town meeting was addressed by Rev. Mr. Wise, who made "a bold and im- pressive speech in which he urged his townsmen to stand to their privileges, for they had a good God, and a good King to protect them." A report of this meeting was transmitted . to the Council, as follows :
"At a legal town meeting, August 23, assembled by virtue of an order from John Usher, Esq. for choosing a commission to join with the Selectmen to address the inhabitants accord- ing to an act of his excellency the Governor, and Council, for laying of rates. The town then considering that this act doth infringe their liberty, as free English subjects of His Majesty, by interfering with the Statute Laws of the land, by which it was enacted that no taxes should be levied upon the subjects without the consent of an Assembly, chosen by the freeholders for assessing the same, they do therefore vote that they are not willing to choose a commissioner for such an end, without said privileges, and, moreover consent not that the Selectmen do proceed to lay any such rate, until it be appointed by a General Assembly, concurring with Gov- ernor and Council."
* History of Essex, p. 98.
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As the result of this, Mr. Wise and five others, John Andrews, William Goodhue, Robert Kinsman, John Appleton and Thomas French, were arrested, carried to Boston and tried for "contempt and high misdemeanor." Mr. Wise was "suspended from the ministerial function, fined £50 and costs, and obliged to give a £1000 bond for good behavior for one year. The others were also heavily fined and dis- qualified for holding office. "The evidence in the case, as to the substance of it," says Mr. Wise, "was, that we too boldly endeavored to persuade ourselves we were Englishmen and under privileges, and that we were, all six of us aforesaid, at the town meeting of Ipswich aforesaid, and, as the witness supposed, we assented to the aforesaid vote, and, also, that John Wise made a speech at the same time, and said that we had a good God and a good King, and should do well to stand to our privileges." The town afterwards made up the loss to these defendants; and Mr. Wise brought an action against Chief Justice Dudley, who had denied him the privi- lege of habeas corpus, and recovered damages.
It has been written that "The first man in America ever known to oppose the idea of taxation without representation, sleeps in the grave of the Rev. John Wise of Chebacco.
An interesting anecdote is related of Mr. Wise in his later days as follows :* On coming to church one Sunday morn ing the sad news is spread from neighbor to neighbor, that on the evening before a fishing boat arrived which had had a narrow escape from pirates in the Bay, and that the crew had seen these pirates capture a Chebacco boat and put several men aboard of her to convey her with the captured men, away to a distant port. This, of course, is an especial cause of anxiety to those who have friends at sea. In his prayer Mr. Wise "remembers all that are in danger, in perils by land in perils by sea, and prays especially for the deliverance of those neighbors and friends that had fallen into the hands of
* History of Essex, p. 133.
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pirates. 'Great God,' he fervently cries, 'if there is no other way, may they rise and butcher their enemies,'- an expres- sion long remembered, because the event showed that on that morning they rose upon the pirates and slew them, and thereby safely reached home."
The estimation in which Mr. Wise's public services were held while living, may be gathered from these words which were written at his death. "He was of a generous and public spirit ; a great lover of his country, and our happy constitu- tion ; a studious assertor and faithful defender of its liberties and interests. He gave singular proof of this at a time when our Liberties and all things were in danger. And with un- daunted courage he withstood the bold invasions that were made upon us. He was next called ( in his own order ) to accompany our forces in an unhappy expedition, where not only the pious discharge of his sacred office, but his heroic spirit ; and martial skill, and wisdom did greatly distinguish him. * Upon the whole, justice and gratitude both oblige us to give him the Title of a Patron of his Country and a Father in Israel, and to join with an eminent. minister in his publick mention of him that he was our Elijah, the Chariot of Israel, and the Horsemen thereof, our Glory and Defense."
The gradual encroachments of the English upon their lib- erties, which finally culminated in the war of the Revolution, were watched by our fathers with increasing excitement and indignation. When the news was received here that the cargoes of tea, which had arrived at Boston, had been thrown overboard in the harbor, they meet in town meeting, and voted :
"I. That the inhabitants of this town have received real pleasure and satisfaction from the noble and spirited exertions of their brethren of Boston, and other towns, to prevent the landing of the detested tea, lately arrived there from the. East India Company, subject to duty which goes to support persons not friendly to the interests of this Province."
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"2.' That they highly disapprove of the consignees of the East India Company, because of their equivocal answers to a respectable committee of Boston, and their refusal to com- ply with the wish of their countrymen."
"3. That every person who shall import tea, while the act for duty on it continues, shall be held as an enemy."
"4. That no tea shall be sold in town while this act is in force; that if any one sell it here he shall be deemed an enemy."
"Voted that these resolves be sent to the committee of correspondence, of Boston."
The women of that day were as patriotic as the men and heartily cooperated in these efforts to resist the persistent in- vasion of their rights. In these exciting and critical times a most active part was taken by the fourth pastor of this church, the Rev. John Cleaveland.
An anecdote in the early experience of this man will give us an idea of his character, and also of the difference in some respects between the spirit of those times and of our own.
Shortly after entering Yale College at the age of 19, he went in vacation, in company with his parents and friends and a majority of the members of the church to which he be- longed, to a meeting of the Separatists, and listened to the preaching of a lay-exhorter, or "new-light preacher," as the followers of Whitefield were called. Mr. Whitefield's methods were deemed "subversive of the established order of the , churches," and on this account "were obnoxious to the gov- ernment of Yale."
Upon his return after the vacation he was called before the faculty for the offence of having listened to this preaching, and upon his refusal to confess that he had done wrong, was expelled from college.
Years afterward his degree was conferred upon him by the college authorities, unsolicited, and his name was enrolled with the graduates of his class of 1745.
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Mr. Cleaveland's voice was heard everywhere, in public and private, at the approach of the revolutionary struggle, urging his flock to stand firm, and to make any sacrifice for the cause of liberty. When the war fairly broke out he enlisted as Chaplain of Col. Little's regiment; "the 17th Foot, Continen- tal Army." Says the historian of Essex :* "He practiced as he preached. It was remarked to the author by aged people forty years ago that Mr. Cleaveland preached all the men of his parish into the army and then went himself. Three of his four sons were in the service for a longer or shorter time. One of them, Nehemiah, enlisted in his six- teenth year, and served in the army investing Boston, and, at a later period, in New Jersey and at West Point. 'Not only by his professional services as Chaplain, but by various con- tributions to newspapers, he did much to encourage and further the great enterprise which had its issue in our national independence.'"
The same author relates this amusing anecdote of Mr. Cleaveland. "For the defence and protection of the coast of Cape Ann, a force of militia from the more inland towns was drafted, to be stationed there. On their march thither they passed through Chebacco, halted, and were paraded on the common, where they received their Chebacco fellow sold- iers. On this occasion a prayer was offered by the ardent and patriotic Cleaveland. While he was praying in his sten- torian voice "that the enemy might be blown"-"to hell and damnation," loudly interrupted an excited soldier, -"to the land of tyranny from whence they came," continued the undisturbed chaplain, without altering his tone or apparently noticing the interruption.
Bancroft mentions this old Chebacco pastor, as one of those Chaplains who preached, to the regiments of citizen- soldiers, a renewal of the days when Moses, with the rod of God in his hand, sent Joshua against Amalek."t
*History of Essex, p. 208. tHistory of U. S. Vol. IV : chap. 13.
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In the war of the rebellion the ready responses of this town to the President's successive calls for troops, the patriotic sen- timents heard here from all classes of citizens, and the bravery and endurance of the soldiers who went out to battle for the peace and good name of their country, show that, in later years, the old time ardor and public spirit had not died out.
It is the testimony of one who had much to do with the Essex men in the army* "that none were more prompt at the call of duty, none more obedient to commands, none made less complaint during the fatiguing march" than they.
But not only in times of war did the character and training of our citizens show itself. In times of peace, in seasons of quiet, every day experience, in the period of slow and almost imperceptible development, the influence of their traditions, the example of their ancestors, and the earnest utterances of . this pulpit have been active forces that have given a decided character and value to the institutions and doings of the peo- ple of this town. These are things for which we cannot thank God too heartily, and of which we can hardly be too proud.
I have spoken, dear friends, of the influence of this church, as the exponent of the religious idea of our fathers, upon the intellectual and political life of this community. It remains for me to touch very briefly upon the part it has played in forming the social and moral life of the place. In their ear- liest days the various settlements and towns of New England were a good deal like large families. The people were thrown together and united by the circumstances in which they lived. Therefore it has been remarked that their social, civil, and ecclesiastical regulations resemble those which are adopted in every well-regulated family. It was the patriarchal stage in the history of our land. Under these circumstances, and with such men for their ministers as we have found the minis- ters of our fathers to have been, it is not surprising that the influence of the church and its pastors was very strongly felt
*Capt. Chas. Howes.
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in the homes and in the hearts of all. Mr. Wise was " a tall, stout man, majestic in appearance, of great muscular strength," and with a voice "deep and strong." He was well calculated to inspire respect in the minds of his flock, for the house and the word and the laws of God. All the children were scrupu- lously instructed in the catechism. They were baptized in infancy and early taken to meeting on the Lord's day. Prep- arations for the Sabbath began on Saturday, and everything was done to secure the peace and quiet needed for devotion and spiritual rest. The Bible was read and respected in every home, and the father of the family opened and closed the labors of each day with family prayers. As we read of those simple and unostentatious homes we have a picture of pure and true domestic happiness such as is hardly afforded by any other age or country in the whole history of the world. And there went out from these quiet abodes of contentment and piety, noble men and women to do noble deeds and live noble lives.
The existence of Slavery in this town is mentioned in the year 1717, when it appears, by a bill of sale dated July 30, that "Joshua Norwood of Gloucester, sold to Jonathan Burn- ham of Chebacco, for £64 in bills of credit, a negro boy whom he had bought of Thomas Choate of Hogg Island." The modifying influences of our fathers' religious ideas upon this institution, and the circumstances that justified them in holding slaves at all, are thus brought out by Dr. Crowell in the history of the town .* "They did not send vessels to Africa to bring slaves to this country. They did not enter at all into the slave trade, nor willingly give it any encourage- ment. On the contrary they remonstrated most loudly against it. All the slaves here were originally brought from Africa to this country in English ships, and forced upon the colonies. 'England,' says Bancroft, 'stole from Africa, from 1700 to 1750 probably a million and a half of souls, of whom one-
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