USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Two hundredth anniversary of the First Congregational church in Middleboro, Mass > Part 2
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preceded his final victory. It was in May, 1868, one Sunday when the church was to sit at the communion table, when the sun had risen above the ocean high enough to shine over the eastern pines into his windows, that God's messenger seemed to hear the " striving" man cry, " Let me go, for the day break- eth !" In the glory of the Sabbath morn, Dr. Putnam was more than conqueror.
At the impressive funeral service, Dr. Elijah Dexter, by previous mutual arrangement, would have preached the memo- rial sermon, had not Dr. Putnam already had the sorrowful privilege of speaking over the Plympton pastor's remains. So the office fell to a son, afterward the distinguished scholar, Dr. Henry M. Dexter. The sermon! reveals anew the modesty of the widely lamented pastor. The preacher had been pledged by him that eulogy should be waived, and when the time came, the promise made no slight embarrassment for the speaker thus hampered. Dr. Putnam's remains were gently borne to God's acre yonder, where they now repose, distant but a few rods from this pulpit where his living hands and voice were so often raised in loving appeal or benedic- tion. Go, see the white shaft of marble. Shall this old church ever be blest with his like again? Certain it is that he, being dead, yet speaketh. For many a year to come tradi- tions will linger, and keep the revered name fragrant. In time, some avenue or park in our town will bear his name. But no such memorial needs he, whose enduring monument is in the hearts of men.
The new minister who came in February, 1866, was Rufus Morrill Sawyer. He was born in Maine, in 1820, and next Saturday would be his birthday. Like his distinguished predecessor, he came hither from a New Hampshire church, and likewise began his work here in the maturity of his powers. Mr. Sawyer had entered the ministry somewhat late in life, having previously preached but seven and five years, in two
1 Printed at the Middleboro Gazette office.
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parishes. He was of size above the average, with dark hair, and a physique apparently robust. But appearance was mis- leading. We are told that in his first parish he had labored hard in circumstances requiring peculiar grace and diligence on his part, and he was never well physically after leaving it. Thank God, Mr. Sawyer was well in other respects, as many could to-day testify who during his stay were brought out of the world's poverty into the wealth of the Christian life. It was his glory and joy to witness the most sweeping triumph of the gospel which this region has seen since the great revival that gladdened good Mr. Thacher, in 1742. The veteran Dr. Putnam had rejoiced in some goodly gains, but, as we have observed, greater ones were reserved to thrill his eyes and heart before God took him away like Moses from Pisgah. These aisles and pews, in March, May, and July of the memo- rable year 1867, saw scores of people, young and old, standing and pressing forward to receive before this pulpit the right hand of welcome into this venerable church. In that one year, one hundred and three joined our company (all but five by confession of faith), of whom many continue to this day. If any historian were to omit mention of those happy scenes, I fancy, as Habakkuk says, the beams would cry out their pro- test from the voiceless wall. O blessed days departed ! would that your counterpart might thrill us with new gladness, as in those months when angels must have looked on with rapture, as if exclaiming, " Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?"
For all this wonderful story I am sure the happy pastor of the epoch would be the last to claim the praise. Dr. Putnam and Mr. Sawyer were God's husbandmen. One had indeed planted, the other watered, but neither gave the increase. That was God. Yet what lover of Christ would not exult to be connected with an experience of the sort ? Let us not care too much who holds the sickle, provided only the precious grain is harvested seasonably into the garner of Him to whom it belongs. How can the world be deaf to the Master's words? " All souls
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are mine ; " . . . "Will a man rob God?" " Render . . unto God the things that are God's."
Mr. Sawyer's ministry was blest, both before and after his Middleboro life, with powerful religious awakenings. Before the congregation he was vigorous and persuasive, and he was peculiarly strong and winning in his frank and persistent preaching, face to face, with individual men. Here is a tableau : A winter day ; a two-horse sled is moving along the neighbor- ing highway, squeaking and groaning under its heavy load of wood; behind it on foot, to keep warm, two men are trudging ; one is Mr. Sawyer; they are earnestly talking, but we are sure their topic is not roads, nor weather, nor politics. The next scene is in this meeting-house a few weeks later; the same two men stand before the congregation, and one of the two is for the first time doing what the Savior bade men do in remembrance of him. The picture is typical. In the case above cited, the man had been a secret and negative Christian for some time, but the ninth pastor brought him out to show his Lord's colors, and be counted.
The Sunday school used to meet only from April or May to December, before Mr. Sawyer came. Thenceforward, its ses- sions lasted through the year, like the evergreen foliage of our pines.
Many recal Mr. Sawyer in his assiduous devotion to pas- toral labor, - that task so delightful, yet in some respects so wearing, which makes the minister's life the happiest, and yet, strange to say, burdensome. One friend exclaims : "How that man did walk ! He would travel on foot through drifted snows for miles in succession." For his health, think you ? For exercise? To kill time? How absurd the questions ! He was on his Master's business, to catch men - and he caught them.
O, how plain is the teaching of that life ! Would that we Christians of to-day might all feel as Mr. Sawyer felt about God's work, - "How am I straitened till it be accomplished !" Perhaps we may heed a warning, too. For his habit was, it
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seems, to work as he walked, fast and hard, possibly too hard. The parsonage sheltered a large family, yet for his neighbors he was ready to spend and be spent, not sparing himself. The sequel is sadly brief. A throat difficulty seized him, and in 1869, resigning his charge, he moved to Iowa, hoping that the inland air might bring relief. Before he was fairly settled, typhoid fever invaded his new home ; two of his children were taken, and though he recovered, his restoration was but partial. A brief journey afforded little help. His hour was at hand. It was in the year 1872 that his great heart cried to God for special grace, which he surely needed and doubtless received, to aid him in parting from his wife and five children remain- ing. From LeMars, Iowa, when New England's millions were in the hight of their Thanksgiving joy, this man of God was caught up to Paradise.
Ah, there was a workman needing not to be ashamed. His three short years of service here left a fadeless picture for the inspiration of us and our children. His is a heroic figure in our history. Faber has sung, -
" O, it is hard to work for God, To rise and take his part Upon this battle-field of earth, And not sometimes lose heart ! "
Yet the magnificent lesson is before us in Mr. Sawyer's life, that the work of God pays sweeter rewards than they surmise who have not enlisted in it.
After a slight interval, there came, in 1869, your tenth minis- ter, Ephraim Nelson Hidden. He was born and educated in New Hampshire. Day after to-morrow will be the anniversary of both his birth and marriage. It will then be eighty-four years since his birth. He is, of course, well remembered by many persons present. He is described as a solid and portly man in stature, and as wearing a black beard. His age on beginning work here was sixty, even greater than that of his experienced predecessors. Mr. Hidden was at once recognized as a man of decided talent, though not of the showy sort. While some
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rated him conservative in his methods, all seem to have aeknowl- edged him as beyond question a man of ability. Evidently he was a good, old-fashioned, scholarly preacher. He is spoken of as being somewhat animated in his preaching of the gos- pel, and in his practising of it a pattern of honor. He had declined the church's first formal call, owing perhaps to some local conditions which disposed him to hesitate, and for the same reason it may be that his work among us was more ardu- ous than it might have been. But he was no child, to let any trivial circumstance baffle him, and he faithfully preached his Master's word, welcoming fifteen new members. After his resignation he preached for six years in Edgartown and Norfolk. One November Sunday he preached twice in East Medway, and before the Sabbath was past he was taken to his eternal home. His age, when the end came, - or rather when the glory began for him, - was more than seventy. His memory is that of the just. It is blessed.
Theophilus, "lover of God," was the appropriate baptismal name of your eleventh pastor, Theophilus Parsons Sawin, 1 who began work here in 1875. He was equipped with a ripe experi- ence of nearly fifty-eight years, and his name is well known in New England. Of his physical appearance some have remarked a certain likeness to our most recent ex-pastor.
Mr. Sawin earnestly took up his blessed labor, and speedily won the esteem and confidence of the people. He was not so youthful as to excite questions as to his capability, nor yet so old as to raise doubts of his efficiency. Men pronounce him an excellent preacher. In some particulars he showed a marked contrast to his predecessor. Where Mr. Hidden would have been cool and collected, Mr. Sawin would be inclined to vehe- inence of feeling, though he was, I judge, ever master of himself. The value of both these qualities is well conceded. It is cer- tain that Mr. Sawin was a devoted minister, a fluent speaker, up with the times, progressive, animated, and interesting in
1 Born 1817 Feb. 4, in Natick, Mass.
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both public and private life. He welcomed forty into our fel- lowship on confession of faith. In December, 1877, he left us, and became pastor in Lyndeboro, N. H. Seven years later he moved to Medford, Mass., and a tombstone there tells us that in a year so recent as 18861 he was summoned to a heavenly mansion.
It is fitting at this point to pause a moment in our prolonged yet incomplete review of this church in the seventeenth, eigh- teenth, and nineteenth centuries. Our pastors thus far described - eleven true modern apostles-are all now glorified. Their average term of service in this place was above seventeen years. Four of them died between fifty and sixty years old : three in their sixties : three in their seventies ; and Dr. Putnam, the veteran who was spared to eighty-one, brought the measure of their earthly life to the goodly average of sixty-five years.
We now come in our consideration to times that have no antiquity about them. One hundred and eighty-four years have been reviewed. "There were giants in those days." Now a new period begins. In 1878, there was restored the era of comparatively young men in this pastorate. The welcome presence of two of my happy predecessors on this occasion makes it difficult for the present speaker to escape embarrass- ment, save by throwing it upon Messrs. Dyer, Hanaford, and Kingsbury. Happily, this recent period is well known. Let ns, however, note a few events in this trio of pastorates.
The afternoon sermon was dispensed with, not without mis- giving on the part of some, lest the action be an unworthy surrender to drowsy powers. The loss was met by more frequent school-house meetings in outlying districts, and by regular evening worship.
In 1888, the Putnam Christian Endeavor Society was organized, and to this we owe much of our present enthusiasm and hope. Born in weakness, it soon grew in strength, and has become an increasing power in the work of God.
1 Jan. 19.
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Perhaps the social qualities in earlier generations were cultivated more than it has been commonly supposed, but certainly the period now under review has witnessed a marked unifying of our church's social life, and our second century in departing sees our healthy old church solidified and strengthened both socially and spiritually by its youthful element. Many material blessings elsewhere noted have come in these latter days, and they give us cause for gratitude. Only sickness or other weighty reasons have cut short the pleasant and fruitful pastorates of my three immediate predecessors, whose place in the hearts of our people is still secure.
It is surely a matter for rejoicing that these fourteen men, whose service so nearly fills two hundred years, were all worthy - men of prayer, men of God. It is almost ungracious even to hint at one being temporarily under discipline in the early years of the eighteenth century. Hear again those significant Bible names : Samuel, Thomas, Peter, Joseph, Israel, Ephraim, Theophilus, Nathan, Josiah. In their meaning, their associa- tion, and especially their personality, we may feel naught but satisfaction to have them with the rest in our pastoral catalog.
There is one serions omission in our annals. What of those sweet-spirited counselors who in quiet ways have con- tributed perhaps as much as have these honored fourteen to Christ's cause - the women of the parsonage? Most of the unadvertised labors of these gentle and silent partners are beyond the reach of a modern student. As far as we can learn, they were worthy helpmeets, while having, of course, their own ways of thinking and working.
Mrs. Eaton is pleasantly remembered as a Sunday-school teacher.
Of Mrs. Putnam a friend testifies : "I always had something good to think about after visiting her." She was naturally disposed to be conservative in her view of woman's sphere and work. In her day, it was none but a brave lady who would sometimes speak in a social gathering of Christians.
Everybody loved Mrs. Sawyer. She was always helpful,
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N. J. Dryer.
H. A. Honaford.
1
Of My Stearns
I. M. Kingsbury
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and knew how to sympathize with mothers in the parish, even if like her they had a set of seven children to bless the home. Returning from her western abode, she used occasionally to visit Middleboro. Her benevolences were largely private, but they cannot be entirely hidden even at this date.
Like stories are told of Mrs. Hidden. She is said to have been a very quiet woman, but a very Christlike one. Her daughter had musical gifts, and during the residence here of the family, there was an increased interest in music.
Mrs. Sawin was a Dorcas, though doubtless not the first one to merit that title among the mistresses of our manse. She loved and clothed certain unlovely but needy persons, and her charities are not forgotten.
About Mrs. Dyer, Mrs. Hanaford, and Mrs. Kingsbury cluster many vivid and affectionate remembrances. The tale of their gracious influences, like those of our goodly succes- sion of honorable women from the beginning, might easily be prolonged, but it cannot be told in full. All appear to have been esteemed, and all were workers.
Our churchly republic has not been ungrateful to its lead- ers, and their service seems to have been both consecrated and efficient. The First Church has encountered some troubled waters, but a mighty Hand has steered ns safely through them. It has been remarked that a popular civil government might occasionally profit by the temporary aid of a wise king; some- times it may be that our church would have been a gainer by the touch of some wise prelate's hand, yet on the whole we are content to rejoice in our church without a bishop, and our state without a king, - rather, let us say, a church with thousands of bishops, and a state where all may be kings. As long as believers are not saints, it would be strange indeed if trials should not arise. There was, in 1830, a considerable disaffection in the parish, but there have been no serious troubles of late years, perhaps because our members have been intent upon the work of God.
When we look upon this yellow record book, kept by Peter
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Thacher, and dating from 1708, at the other precious old keepsakes in quaint penmanship and antiquated printing, still treasured in our archives, we feel somewhat like those visitors who see in the British Museum the famous but shrunken parchment, now well-nigh seven centuries old, that tells of English liberty. We review the history of these godly men and women, our predecessors in this church, who in one sense have all faded as a leaf, yet are still living with us in fragrant memory; we recal that we are in the same succession, and our hearts cry, in the verses of Heber, ---
" O God, to us may grace be given To follow in their train."
Would that we might speak of what our church did to pro- mote the sound doctrine of freedom, in the times when "aboli- tionist " was not what the term later became, a title of honor ; of the affectionate reluctance with which Dr. Putnam and his flock gave so much of their life to the new-born Central Church ; of the longings and prayers which followed the soldiers whom we furnished to the Union in its peril from rebellion ; of certain notable triumphs of God's grace, for example, of Jephtha Leach, a dissipated man, but gifted, hav- ing what Augustin would call splendida vitia. When more than fourscore years old he was saved, and joined our brother- hood. From the tavern that then stood hard by, friends used to lead him hither, and during worship the blind old man used habitually to stand on these pulpit stairs, lest, with his imper- fect hearing, he might lose some precious word of the gospel that his soul needed. Though blind, deaf, and in poverty because of his sins, he needs no pity now, for he was rich toward God; he kept the faith for a year, and, twenty-seven years ago yesterday, was made free indeed from all infirmity. "Regarding the reality of revivals, some communities may be skeptical, but our community is not one of them." May God keep believers of late times so faithful that it shall never become so.
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As long ago as 1842, fermented wine was banished from our communion table. But time forbids further details of these two centuries, that have seen our membership grow to fourteen hundred, lacking six. The First Church has ever been a foun- tain flowing for others. This is proved, though defects in early records preclude exact figures, by a great preponderance of dismissions over gains by letter. May the Savior keep the stream pure, that its flow may long refresh the region about it.
Such is the rapid story of these two hundred years, - a story prolonged, yet incomplete as a landscape viewed from a flying car. One shining fact appears like a monarch among mountains. It is that emphasized fifty years ago by our illustrious Dr. Putnam, in his two discourses on God's faithfulness. In a period so extended, one cannot ignore His superintending care. Nature sometimes speaks indistinctly of the Creator, while of all studies history reveals Him most plainly. Sometimes an intel- ligent man has studied rocks without finding what Hugh Miller styled their "testimony." A man may be well informed about the internal structure of the crawfish, and yet quite fail to per- ceive God therein revealed. But a strange mind must he have who studies human nature without finding the One in whose image men are made. If at rare intervals there be a famous student of history who is an unbeliever, a Gibbon or Niebuhr, the world hears of it as a singular phenomenon.
To make the present history is our concern. Shall the prayers of past generations for us be heard ? the prayers offered in 1694? again in the revival that blest New England, and especially our own town, in 1742? in the centennial year, 1794, by Joseph Barker's people? in 1828, when William Eaton's flock consecrated this stately house? in 1845, when the third half-century had closed? in the great revival of 1867? at the jubilee of this sanctuary's dedication, celebrated in 1878, during Mr. Dyer's pastorate ? At the dedication they sang the hymn of Watts, which is a prayer for the reign of Christ, beginning :
"Arise, O King of grace, arise !"
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On us depends the fulfilment of the hopes of all those former times. Let us lead lives of such healthful activity that the Savior will often visit his "plantation," where abide the people of the First Church and their neighbors, - his " husbandry."
We read of ten thousand Greek soldiers returning homeward from far-away Persia after the death of Cyrus. The way was long and hard, but they pushed on, till one day the front ranks of the marching host saw before them a broad expanse of shin- ing waters. A glad cry was raised, "The sea! the sea !" and when the rear ranks came on, the hearty shouts of thousands shook the hills. Yet the Black Sea was not their journey's end. Ah, no ! but it marked for them a mighty progress toward their home. Our exultation to-day is somewhat similar. Our pilgrimage is by no means ended, but we are glad to hail the third century before us. On its border we would pause, and like the prophet Samuel near Mizpah, raise a "stone of help." Through a notable part of our journey hath the Lord helped us. Yonder is home !
Now let us earnestly seek the spiritual welfare of others. Let us be content with nothing less than the utmost efficiency of our working powers. Let us live as if the motto were visibly blazoned above the capitals of yonder pillars : " Middle- boro for Christ !" Yea, be our watchword: "The world for Christ."
In these days, if ever, men need a forceful gospel. Social studies have properly come to the front. O, forget not, in God's name, that amid the literally hungry are brothers with a soul-hunger still harder to bear ! Let us be sure that they miss not the bread that came down from heaven, while we strive to supply their material want. Multitudes in our own midst who are quite free from temporal distresses need to be lovingly taught what Christ said is God's work. They need you and me to urge, in behalf of Him of the pierced hands : " Ye believe in God, believe also in me." The Comforter, said Jesus, will convict men " of sin, because they believe not on me."
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God knows, the old First Church keenly feels her deficien- cies, but sometimes our vision is so enthralled by our Lord that we forget all else. We mean to rejoice temperately, and not because some demon of unbelief or indifference is subject to us, so much as because our names, we trust, are written in heaven. Can we not almost hear a voice saying : "Re- joice not that ye have a majestic temple of dignity and grace ; not in its verdant environs that may grow yet more fair as the rolling years pass ; not in your two centuries of history, most of it inspiring, and some of it sublime ; rather rejoice in what- ever fidelity ye now show as ye hold up the sinless Jesus to the people of this town and vicinity, and to the strangers who come within your gates"? O, hearken to him, ye who still delay taking as your Master him who died for us all on the cross,- even ye whose lives are fair with lovely traits, like sweet musical sounds struck at random on some tuneful instrument, that ought quickly to be ordered on the heavenly theme. Let each one of us feel the claim -and a Christian's duty is no more than everybody's duty -to preach and practice steadily the dear gospel to which for threescore years these walls have echoed, and this neighborhood for ten thousand Sabbaths past.
The torch-racers of Greek antiquity had not only to win the goal, but to reach it with their light still burning, though sometimes the torch was passed from one tired bearer to an- other. Their task typifies the work of God which it is our lot to perform. We are to run in our turn with the full bright- ness of the true light. In the strength of our fathers' God, we shall not fail.
P
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At the conclusion of the sermon the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was observed, Rev. N. T. Dyer assisting the pastor, and Messrs. A. H. Soule, A. J. Wood, R. F. Thompson, and W. O. Eddy officiating as deacons.
The congregation was dismissed with the benediction by the pastor, and the organ postlude, "He, watching over Israel," from Mendelssohn's oratorio of "Elijah."
SUNDAY EVENING
An unusually large audience assembled for evening worship, and the following order was observed : -
ORGAN PRELUDE, " Offertoire in B flat " Ambrose Thomas ANTHEM, " Great God of Nations," by the Choir A. Beirly SCRIPTURE SELECTION, Psalm 145, and PRAYER, by Rev. R. G. Woodbridge QUINTET, " Traveling Home to God," by Messrs. H. F. Wood,
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