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 7
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It seems natural to suppose that it was the somewhat simi- lar experience of trial and conflict through which his own
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Congregational Church and Parish, Essex.
church in Canterbury had passed and the additional troubles he had suffered in College, for conscience sake, during pre- cisely the same years, as well as his intense interest in the revi- val moment and the complete harmony of his views with those of the new church in Chebacco, that drew him into an especially close sympathy with them, when he was balanc- ing between the two places and decided him to cast in his lot with the people here as their fellow prisoner in the bonds of the gospel.
Having accepted their call Dec. 26, he was ordained Feb. 25, 1747, in the presence of a large audience, though the ser- vice was held in the open air, at an inclement season.
One of his grandsons (not a clergyman), in a foot-note to the printed pages of his journal, has, I grieve to say, viewed this matter of his settlement here from altogether another standpoint, and suggested an additional if not an entirely dif- ferent motive for his decision, as follows :
"From a social and worldly point of view the Boston invitation must have been far more attractive than the Chebacco call. But he had found in that plain community of farmers and fishermen, one magnet of superior power. I have no doubt that it was the bright and comely Mary Choate Dodge,- mentioned later in his journal as his 'dear and loving spouse '- who virtually determined the question where he should stay."
We ought not for an instant to admit this soft impeachment ; and yet the very next recorded event in his life was his mar- riage, on the fifteenth of July following, to Mary, the only daughter of Mr. Parker Dodge of Hamilton.
From the year 1749, Mr. and Mrs. Cleaveland lived on Spring street, in a house whose site is now occupied by that of Mrs. David Choate; and it was in that mansion that they entertained the renowned Whitefield as their guest in the autumn of 1754. The entry in Mr. Cleaveland's journal is :
"Oct. 28. Rev. George Whitefield came to our house and preached the next morning in our meeting-house. He then went to Cape Ann, preached twice, and came and lodged with us that night. I think it a great honor to have his company."
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Two Hundredth Anniversary.
This is not the place to attempt to delineate the character of Mr. Cleaveland or to give a sketch of the ministry of this zealous man of God, this eloquent preacher and indefatigable worker. But some brief mention of three passages in his life may be appropriate, to illustrate the kind and quality of his labors and services for this church and parish.
I. The first of these takes us on to the years 1760-64. The country had just passed through the long and exciting French war which had absorbed the public mind. Many had re- turned from army and camp life, demoralized in their principles and habits ; there was a great increase of Sabbath desecration and profanity, and even in the churches it was a time of relig- ious declension.
At this aspect of things, on return from a temporary absence, Mr. Cleaveland's spirit was stirred within him. . With his strong faith in the Bible doctrine of prayer, he persuaded his church to agree to spend one day every quarter of the year "in a congregational fasting and praying," as he says, "for the out- pouring of God's spirit upon all nations agreeable to the concert for prayer, first entered into in Scotland, some years since (in 1744) ; and also to spend a part of a day once a fortnight in a private religious conference. This for near half a year was held once a week, for the most part, and divers at those meetings were favored with a remarkable spirit of prayer for the rising generation".
From this significant statement we learn the origin of the Quarterly Fast, in which three of the other churches in Ipswich began to unite in 1780, and which was maintained here for a hundred years and more-the centennial year of its estab- lishment being observed by an exceedingly interesting service in our meeting-house, Dec. 31, 1860.
This record also discloses the earliest observance, in this community, of the Monthly concert of prayer for the conver- sion of the world, for which a circular invitation was sent out from Scotland in 1746, five hundred copies of which were
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Congregational Church and Parish, Essex.
sent to New England. How enlightened and comprehensive Mr. Cleaveland's views were upon this subject of the respon- sibility of the church for the spiritual welfare of the whole world, and how dear this object was to his heart, appears also from the following remarkable letter which he wrote in 1763, on the duty of undertaking the christianizing of the American Indians :
" Very Dear Sir : Since I have understood that the preliminary articles of Peace are ratified, by which the vast country on the eastern side of the river Mississippi, from the source of said river to the ocean, is ceded" (i.e. by France) " to his Brittanic majesty, I have been ready to think we never had so loud a call and so wide a door opened, to use endeavors to propa- gate the gospel and spread the savour of the knowledge of Christ among the Indian tribes, which inhabit or rather range in the extended wilds of North America, as now we have. A view to christianize the Heathen was a pious motive with our Forefathers to come into this America at first; and what all along has been an obstruction to their conversion God has now removed. And as God has now given the English nation all North America, it can't be thought that we render again according to the benefit done unto us, if we neglect to improve all proper means to communicate to the heathen the inestimable treasure of the Gospel, which God has long indulged us with and now secured the enjoyment of to us, against those that ever have sought to deprive us of the same. Moreover, can it be supposed that God has wonderfully crowned the British arms with success and given us all this vast country which is now ceded to us, merely for Great Britain's and British American Colonies' sake - seeing the promise is of the heathen to Christ for an inheritance?"
Surely Mr. Cleaveland and his church were fully abreast of the times in which they lived. Within three years of the time of entering upon the use of these most scriptural means for securing a spiritual reformation there followed a religious revival, which, engrossed the attention of the whole commu- nity and for the intensity of feeling experienced by those who were the subjects of it and the number of them-in all about an hundred persons, -as well as for the spread of it into many other places round about, has never been paralleled, in the history of this church.
Mr. Cleaveland's published account of this, in 1767-in a
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Two Hundredth Anniversary.
pamphlet of some thirty-two pages, entitled : "A short and plain narrative of the late work of God's spirit in Chebacco in Ipswich in the years 1763 and 1764" *- is a story of ex- ceeding interest throughout.t
THE REUNION OF THE TWO CHURCHES AND PARISHES.
2. Another of Mr. Cleaveland's more important services was that which he performed in securing the reunion of the two churches here. Coming to Chebacco, as he did, when the controversy between the two alienated divisions of the original church and parish was at its height and fiercely rag- ing, at the invitation of one of the two contending parties, he of course identified himself with its cause and became its champion. The last of the four pamphlets relative to this controversy, entitled : "Chebacco narrative rescued from the charge of falsehood and partiality; by a friend of truth," was believed to have been written by him and gives some idea of his bold spirit in that contest and of his style as a writer. #
The fact is therefore all the more noteworthy that he, the very man who had thus so hotly assailed the opposite camp, succeeded within a generation, in reconciling those brethren mutually offended and estranged for so long a time, -carrying on the process of uniting the fractured members and the healing, unto perfect soundness, so that apparently no trace of ill feeling remained.
Indeed the members of the old parish must have learned through their observation of him as a christian minister, their intercourse with him as a fellow townsman, and their knowl- edge of his kindness to the soldiers of their families in the
* See Appendix F.
t One of the Manchester converts was Edward Lee, a sailor, "who caught the flame of divine love from the glowing soul of the Chebacco minister and attended his preaching the rest of his life." Thirty years afterward Mr. Cleaveland preached the funeral sermon of this man at Man- chester, in December, 1793; and a brief biographical sketch of him was published in 1849, by the American S. S. Union.
# See Appendix G.
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Congregationat Church and Parish, Essex.
French War, to respect and appreciate and love him, in order to make as they did-though still stronger financially than his parish-the first proposal for reunion, within three months after the dismission of their last minister, Mr. Porter, in 1766. The first real step towards this was the arrangement made in 1768, to worship together, half the year in each meeting- house ; the second was the agreement, in 1770, that the old parish should pay four-sevenths of Mr. Cleaveland's salary ; and the decisive step was (by proposal of the old church) a joint meeting of the two churches at the centre school-house, April, 1774, for a conference relative to a union, and the unanimous vote by each church, separately, "to bury forever, as a church, all former differences between them and the other church and to acknowledge the other a sister church in charity and fellowship."
By vote of each church at the same place, the first Monday in June, with a concurrence in their action by the two parishes, July I, an ecclesiastical council, to assist and advise the two churches in uniting in one, was called, which met, Oct. 4th, in the new meeting-house. It consisted of the other four churches in Ipswich and the church in Byfield, and Rev. Mr. Leslie was its moderator.
To settle a difficulty of longstanding between the new church and that in Manchester, (occasioned by the former church's receiving to communion, members of the latter under disci- pline), there was an adjournment until the 25th. This obstacle having been removed, a plan of union, articles of faith and a covenant, the preparation of which had been assigned to a committee, were reported to the Council, accep- ted and recommended to the two churches. The churches, also, after deliberation, passed a unanimous vote of accept- ance; and these documents were subscribed in the presence of the council by Dea. Seth Story, moderator, and five other brethren of the old church, and the pastor and twenty-two brethren of the new.
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Two Hundredth Anniversary.
1
The Compact was in part, as follows :
"Heads of Agreement for uniting the Second and Fourth Churches of Ipswich into one Congregational Church, come into in the presence of a council of Churches."
"I. We, the Second and Fourth Churches of Ipswich, covenant and agree to become one Congregational church, under the name or style of the Second Church of Ipswich.
3. We covenant and agree to receive the word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be our absolute and only rule relative to the doctrines of faith, the worship of God, church-government and discipline, all relative duties, and a virtuous life and conversation.
4. As we aim to be a true Protestant Church in our united state, we covenant and agree to profess unity of faith with the Protestant church in general, by adopting that system of Christian doctrine held forth in the Westminster shorter catechism and the New England Confession of Faith ; 'it being a sound, orthodox system or summary of Scripture doctrine, accord- ing to our understanding of the word of God.
5. And, as we aim to be a strictly Congregational Church in point of church-government and discipline in our united state, we covenant and agree to adhere to the platform of church government and discipline drawn up by a synod at Cambridge in New England, A. D. 1648, as containing our sentiments, in the general, relative to a church-state, its power, its offi- cers. their ordination, the qualifications for church-membership, admission of members, the communion of churches, &c., &c., -in a word relative to church-government in general.
And now, as a visible political union among a number of visible saints is necessary to constitute them a particular Congregational Church, and this political union or essential form is a visible covenant, agreement or consent, whereby they give up themselves to the Lord to the observing of the ordinances of Christ together in the same society ; so a visible politi- cal union between us as churches is neccessary to constitute us one particu- lar Congregational Church :
Wherefore, we, the Second and Fourth Churches of Ipswich, having agreed to become one united Church of Jesus Christ for the worship of God and the observing of his ordinances together in the same society, and having before as distinct churches covenanted with God and one another in a distinct covenant respectively, do now as churches, consistent with sacred regard thereto, covenant together to be one church of Jesus Christ, and solemnly renew covenant with God in Christ to walk and worship to- gether as one body, by signing together the following form or covenant *
*This covenant which is given in the church records is there stated to have been taken verbatim from the covenant framed by Rev. Mr. Higginson, for the church in Salem, Aug. 6, 1Szo: with the omission of one paragraph, and the addition of two paragraphs and two clauses.
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Congregational Church and Parish, Essex.
which is in substance the same as is understood to be the original cove- nant of the Second Church of Ipswich, in which it (that is the Second Church) was founded.
"In testimony of our holy resolution in the strength of Christ to stand and walk together in the fellowship of the Gospel, in a careful observance of this covenant and the foregoing heads of agreement, we not only call Heaven and Earth to witness, but set our names hereunto. in the presence of an Ecclesiastical Council, this 26th day of October, 1774."
The record proceeds :
"It was then desired that if any of the congregation had aught to object to the articles, they would signify it. There was no objection. Thereupon the moderator, in the name and by the unanimous vote of the council, saluted the brethren as a united church by the name of the Second Church in Ipswich, and gave the right hand of fellowship to them as a sister church ; also gave the right hand of fellowship to the Rev. Mr. Cleaveland, as Pastor of the united church, and the other Elders of the Council did the same. The united church voted their thanks to the Council, and the business of the day was concluded with singing the one hundred and thirty-third and a part of the one hundred and twenty-second Psalms, and with prayer by the moderator." .
As this very year the church had for the first time voted "to choose some of the brethren skilled in singing, to lead the church and congregation in the service of singing praise to God"-instead of the lining of the hymns by one of the dea- cons-and such men as Joseph Perkins, John Choate and Abraham Perkins were the first choristers, it is not to be doubted that those Psalms extolling fraternal union and pray- ing for the peace of Jerusalem were sung with great musical skill and fervor.
The legal union of the two parishes under the name of the Second Parish was effected the next year, by conditions of union adopted by them both, March 2, .1775, and an act of the General Court passed on their petition, April 10th.
To Mr. Cleaveland, in his successful accomplishment of this so desirable but difficult undertaking, could properly be ap- plied the prophecy of Isaiah: "Thou shalt raise up the foun- dations of many generations ; and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in."
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Two Hundredth Anniversary.
Most fully merited was the tribute paid to his memory for this beneficent work, by Rev. Dr. Parish of Byfield in his memorial discourse preached not long after Mr. Cleaveland's death :
1 "That Mr. Cleaveland was a man of consummate prudence, of irre- proachable conduct, of meekness of temper and suavity of manners we have ample evidence in the union which has taken place under his minis- try, between the two churches and congregations, which now compose this society.
At first he was the minister of only one of these when very probably both, possessing the spirit of the times, might not unjustly be compared to two clouds, which at every moment disgorge the thunder and dart terrific flames ; but, by the attractive influence of him whose death we all deplore, the clouds, dissolving, lost their awful form, the storm was hushed, the darkness fled. The gentle shower, the peaceful bow succeeds."
REV. MR. CLEAVELAND'S CHAPLAINCIES.
3. The third kind of service which Mr. Cleaveland ren- dered the community was in his military chaplancies. Like his eminent predecessor, Rev. Mr. Wise, he served his country in this office in two wars, with a sincere and fearless patriotism.
In the French and Indian War ( 1756-1763) he was com- missioned March 13, 1758, on the staff of Gen. Bagley of the Third Provincial Regiment of Foot, the fourth company of which was made up of Chebacco and Hamilton men, officers and privates, in the army of Gen. Abercrombie, which was to attempt the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Travelling on horseback Mr. C. joined his regiment at Albany, and was with it on the northward march early in June, to and across Lake George; in the bloody and disastrous fight which followed, on the 8th, not far from its northwest shore, in an attempt to force the intrenchments of the French posted there; in its retreat; and during the remainder of the sea- son until autumn. Obtaining a furlough, he returned home in October.
The next summer his regiment was ordered to reinforce the garrison occupying the fortress of Louisburg on the island
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Congregational Church and Parish, Essex.
of Cape Breton, (which had been taken in 1758), during the operations of Gen. Wolfe against Quebec. Mr. Cleaveland, "much affected by the parting scene with wife and chil- dren," as he writes, sailed from Boston, July 14, on the sloop Wilmot, Capt. Gay, and because of fogs, calms and head- winds had a voyage of fourteen days to the island. There he was occupied with his duties as chaplain until, Quebec having fallen and the troops having been ordered back to New England, he started on his return voyage, Oct. 30, 1759 and arrived in Boston, Nov. 9.
During these absences his pulpit was supplied a part of the time by neighboring ministers. Often there was no preach- ing, but a meeting was held every Sabbath and prayers were always offered for the pastor and the soldiers.
Not only is the sea-chest he took with him on this expedi- tion preserved in the Essex Institute at Salem, together with his commission signed by Gov. Pownall, but also his journal and letters ; from which we learn quite fully of his preaching and his private exhortations to the soldiers, his ministering to them when sick, sending their messages home, and com- municating to their friends tidings of their welfare, sometimes of their sickness and death; his lamentations over the pro- fanity and other vices prevalent in the army, and various experiences of camp and garrison life. On the voyage he had prayers night and morning, and he reports a great refor- mation from swearing, among the crew, through his expostu- lations with them. The editor of that portion of the Journal, which has been published in the Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, fitly remarks :
" These journals abundantly show also that he knew how to mingle on terms the most friendly with men whose habits of life and thought had always been very different from his own. It is impossible to doubt that the British nobleman, the English colonel, and even the Church of Eng- land clergyman, with whom he then and there came in contact, fully appreciated and readily acknowledged the solid worth of this poor, but brave, Yankee, Puritan, Congregational Minister."
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Two Hundredth Anniversary.
A few extracts from his journal and the Louisburg letters to his wife, which have never before been printed, are as follows :
"I need help from above to be wise and faithful. I desire you and all the christian friends to pray for me, that I may be a fisher of men, and may cast the net on the right side of the ship."
Aug. 22. "I live very comfortably here, but not so agreeably as in my own family, with my best friends. But I doubt not in the least of my being called by Providence to be here as yet. And, O, that my being here may not be in vain, but that God would own and bless me and make me a blessing to many ready to perish. Profane swearing seems to be the natu- ralized language of the Regulars in general. Last Lord's day I preached from the words of Christ, . But I say unto you, swear not at all.' We had a very crowded assembly; vastly more Regulars than Provincials. My Lord Rollo, the Governor's Lieut. Col., was present."
"One thing looks encouraging : that every time we meet we are more and more thronged. and last Sabbath in the afternoon, the house was crowded quite full, half an hour before the bell rang, and it was said that in the time of worship, as many stood around the house, as were within; and to appearance they gave very earnest attention. But nothing will be efficacious, unless the arm of the Lord is revealed and the Divine Spirit poured out. O pray for me. and let my people know, as you have opportu- nity, that I desire they would continue instant in prayer for me. And give my kind regards to all the ministers that are so good as to preach for me in my absence, and let them know it is my earnest desire they would pray much for me and stir up the godly, as they have opportunity to do the same."
Sept. 2. "I am not without hopes that God will bless my labors in Louisburg, especially among the Regulars. The seats in the meeting- house are commonly filled with them before the Provincials get there, and they give such good attention."
On the Sabbath after the news of the taking of Quebec was received, Mr. Cleaveland "preached on the occasion of the recent victory to a full and solemn house." The Sabbath following, Oct. 14, he "preached to a very crowded house indeed." The 15th was "a day of rejoicing over the victories at Quebec. The weather was greatly like winter." On the 19th "the rejoicing still continued." Oct. 25th was observed as a day of religious thanksgiving and Mr. C. again preached to the garrison, from Heb. 13, 13.
On the voyage home he wrote :
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Congregational Church and Parish, Essex.
"Nov. 4. (Sabbath), There was no walking on deck on account of the roughness of the sea. Met a little privateer with English colors ; hailed her, but she made no answer. One or two other ships made their appear- ance and hoisted the red flag, and we the blue. At 4 p.m., we saw land along shore for several leagues. After filling, tacking and floating, the wind sprang up at midnight, much in our favor."
"Nov. Sth. A fine breeze, pleasant weather, and hopes of soon getting home. The Lord be praised for such a favorable breeze."
"Nov. 9th. Fair wind still continuing-good dinner. We ran well until sunrise, than it began to rain. The light is ahead, but the wind dies away and we move slowly. However, by gentle breaths we arrived at Boston, and cast anchor by 3 o'clock, p.m."
"Nov. 11th. (Sabbath), Went to Mr. Bowles' and dined, then crossed Charlestown ferry, got a horse and did not get down from it, until I reached my own door, where I found my family well. Thanks to the Most High God, for his good hand over me, in returning me in safety. What shall I render to God for all his benefits toward me? God grant me grace to walk answerable to the mercies I have received. Amen and Amen."
In the earliest preparations for armed resistance to Great Britain near the close of 1774, Chebacco was on the alert to do its part. Of the meeting held Dec. 20, for organizing a military company of foot, at which sixty-eight men signed the muster-roll of the "Training Band," Mr. Cleaveland was the clerk. And the strong probability is, both from their sentiment and phraseology, that the courageous and patriotic "Resolutions" passed at that meeting and preserved in his hand-writing, were drawn up by him. Two of these are as follows :
" 2. Resolved: That the officers, who shall be chosen and shall accept of the choice, shall hold themselves obliged, in obedience to their superior Officers appointed agreeable to the advice of the Provincial Congress, to send us forth to action in the Field of Battle in Defence of our constitu- tional privileges, whensoever there shall be a manifest call for it against our common enemies."
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