USA > Maine > Knox County > Union > A history of the town of Union, in the county of Lincoln, Maine : to the middle of the nineteenth century, with a family register of the settlers before the year 1800, and of their descendants > Part 15
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"And, as it is the opinion of this town that a minister cannot be useful to a society when a majority are dissatisfied with his ministration, therefore, to prevent the series of con- troversy and animosity which have often occurred in towns under those circumstances, it is proposed that the settlement be on the following conditions, viz. : That, if a major part of the supporters of Mr. Gushee shall become dissatisfied with his ministration, and shall, in a meeting for that pur- pose, state the cause of their uneasiness, and communicate the same to Mr. Gushee, and said cause shall continue six months after, then, in a legal meeting for that purpose, the major part of Mr. Gushee's supporters may vote his dismis- sion. Or, if Mr. Gushee shall be dissatisfied, and shall state the cause thereof to the society, and said cause shall not be removed in the term of six months after, Mr. Gushee may make known to the society his wish to have the contract of his settlement dissolved ; and said contract shall be dissolved in either case, and Mr. Gushee's salary paid up to said time.
" Voted that Josiah Robbins, Stephen March, Amos Bar- rett, Thomas Daggett, and Samuel Hills, with the selectmen, be a committee to confer with Mr. Gushee, respecting his settling among us as a minister of the gospel."
167
JABEZ POND FISHER.
Mr. Gushee,1 after receiving his call, made a visit to Massachusetts, returned in June, and gave a verbal answer in the negative. " One great and principal reason was, there was a respectable number of inhabi- tants of the town who were opposed to Congregation- alists, - there were Methodists, Baptists, &c." He " had an idea that another person with prudence might somewhat further unite, or at least avoid the censure that fell upon one who first came among them."
On the 30th of June, after Mr. Gushee received his invitation to be settled, the town " voted to raise by tax five hundred dollars for ministerial use." A com- mittee of five, including the selectmen, was chosen to agree with a candidate. Two of the selectmen declined; and the committee chosen consisted of Na- than Blake, Stephen March, Thomas Mitchell, Josiah Robbins, and Amos Barrett. Dec. 19, Mr. Fisher was employed to preach four sabbaths. At the same time, there was an unsuccessful attempt to get a vote "to exempt the Methodists from paying their ministerial tax to the collector."
1804.
Jan. 16, there was another attempt on a larger scale. It was designed to unite all the denominations but the Congregational. It was expected, that, at this meet- ing, Mr. Fisher would be invited to become the minis- ter. If so, there were some who apprehended there might be difficulty about having their ministerial taxes paid to preachers of their own denomination; and there were others, who, fearful of heavy taxes, were not disinclined to worship where they would pay less. If the article had been voted to the letter, it would have opened the way for evasions of the ministerial tax. It was " to see if the town will set off all the people of different denominations that do not hold with or do
1 Mr. Gushee was born in Raynham, Mass., Sept. 19, 1775, gra- duated at Brown University in 1798, studied divinity with the Rev. Mr. Fobes, of Raynham, and was licensed to preach by the Bristol County Association. He was ordained, Sept. 23, 1803, at Dighton, where he continues in the pastoral office. - MS. Letter.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
not attend to the Congregational order, so that they may enjoy their own principles and pay their own preach- ing; so that the town shall not have any demands upon them as it respects raising money to support ministers or pay for preaching, or act or do any thing as the town may think proper." The town "voted that the society of Methodists be exempted from pay- ing the last year's ministerial tax, they producing to the selectmen a satisfactory certificate that they ought to be excused by law."
At the same meeting, it was voted to invite Jabez Pond Fisher1 to settle in the ministry, with an annual salary of four hundred dollars. The invitation was accompanied with the conditions which had been annexed to the call given to Mr. Gushee. Mr. Fisher did not accept the invitation.
April 2, Geo. Wellington, Stephen March, Thomas Mitchell, Abijah Hawes, and Samuel Daggett, were chosen the ministerial committee. July 9, an article being before the town-meeting in relation to giving Jonathan Gilmore2 a call to settle, it was voted to hire him for six months; and a committee, consisting of Mr. Blake, Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. David Robbins, was chosen " to wait on him, and inform him that the town request the favor of his attendance." But there is no further record as to the proceedings.
1 Mr. Fisher was born at Wrentham, Mass., Oct. 7, 1763 ; served in the war of the Revolution ; graduated at Brown University in 1788; and, in February, 1790, was licensed to preach. " He received several calls to settle ; one at Ashby, Mass., 1791, and another the same year at Pelham, N.H .; it is believed, another from Claremont, N.H .; and, not far from that time, one at Henniker, N.H." He was ordained at West Nottingham, now Hudson, N.H., Feb. 24, 1796; and dismissed in June, 1801. A lawsuit followed, which cost the town $1,500 or $2,000. He declined a call from the church in Washington, N.II. He was installed at Boothbay, Maine, June 29, 1809, and dismissed in 1816. Subsequently, he was employed by the New Hampshire Mis- sionary Society four years. After this, he preached six or seven years at Deering, N.H .; and died there, Dec. 13, 1836.
2 Mr. Gilmore was from Raynham or Franklin, Mass. He gra- duated at Brown University in 1800. After being at Union, he went back to Massachusetts, was married, and subsequently became a far- mer in Starks, Mainc.
169
HENRY TRUE.
1805, 1806.
March 4, 1805, the proposition, " to raise money to hire preaching the year ensuing," was dropped. But, April 1, Nathan Blake, Seth Luce, Amos Barrett, Jonathan Carriel and Samuel Daggett, were chosen a committee to " hire a candidate;" and they were in- structed to send to " Mr. Fobes [ of Raynham ] or to Mr. Ripley [ of Concord ] for such candidate as they think proper." 1
The next movement was Nov. 11, "to see if the town will give Mr. Henry True a call to settle in the work of the ministry in this town, agreeably to the request of the church." The call was voted, and Mr. True invited to settle " as a minister of the gospel and pastor of a Congregational church in this town," with " an annual salary of four hundred dollars, so long as he shall continue to be the minister of this town," to " commence on the day of his ordination." Coupled with the invitation, and in the same language as before, were Mr. Blake's conditions. Mr. True preached from September to December. He went to New Hamp- shire, and spent the winter; and, April 21, 1806, the church " voted renewedly to invite him to take the charge and oversight of the church as pastor thereof."
May 14, 1806, it was voted to add twenty cords of wood and twenty-five dollars annually to the salary, and "to allow Mr. True2 four sabbaths in the year to visit his friends."
1 April 1, 1805, upon an article continued from March 4, 1805, " to see if the town will allow the Methodists to have the use of the meet- ing-house a part of the time for the year ensuing," it was "voted that the Methodists and Baptists have the use of the meeting-house at all times when the town is not supplied with a candidate."
2 The Rev. Henry True was born at Hampstead, N.H., May 20, 1770. His father, the Rev. Henry True, of Hampstead, born at Salis- bury, Mass., Feb. 27, 1726, was a staunch whig. He would not drink. any but " home-made" tea, and published, probably in a newspaper, a poem on Liberty Tea. He married, Nov. 30, 1753, Ruth, daughter of Deacon James Ayer, of Haverhill, Mass., who died Jan. 18, 1810, æt. 81. One of her uncles, it is said, was killed at the Indian attack on Haverhill. Mr. True's grandfather, James [?], belonged to Salis- bury, Mass., where the early ancestors of the name settled, and died 15*
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Notwithstanding an opposition, which will be no- ticed in detail hereafter, Mr. True accepted the invita- tion. Measures were taken for the ordination. July 14, Capt. Amos Barrett, Mr. Nathan Blake, and Mr. McDowell,1 were chosen a committee to join with the church in inviting the council. Major Maxcy, Capt. Barrett, Captain Gillmor, Mr. David Robbins, and Mr. Nathaniel Robbins, were chosen to make provision for the council. Major Maxcy, Capt. Bachelor, and Capt. Barrett, were chosen a committee "to put the galle- ries of the meeting-house in such order, by laying joists in the same, as will answer the temporary pur- pose of an ordination." The ordination took place Sept. 24, 1806. By a special vote of the church, six members present, the pastor elect was admitted to their fellowship and communion. The services were probably as follows : Prayer by Rev. Freeman Parker, of Dresden ; reading the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Coch- ran, of Camden; sermon by Rev. Hezekiah Packard, of Wiscasset ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Belfast; charge by Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Hamil- ton, Mass., an eminent divine and naturalist, and the pioneer from Massachusetts to Ohio; right hand of
at Hampstead about the time of the American Revolution. Mr. True's father died May 22, 1782. On Sunday, he preached and ap- pointed a lecture for Thursday. On Tuesday, he attended family devotions in the morning, apparently well, and died before noon. Mr. True was fitted for college, partly at the academy in Atkinson, and partly with the Rev. Mr. Merrill, of Plaistow, whose house was just within the bounds of Haverhill. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1796. He taught school five or six years in Salisbury, Beverly, Tyngsborough, and other places. He studied divinity, partly with the Rev. Mr. Laurence, with whom he boarded when teaching in Tyngsborough, and partly with Rev. Dr. Chaplin, of Groton. He preached some at 'Tewksbury and Dracut; one summer at Mr. Mer- rill's, in Plaistow; and, during one session of congress, for Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Hamilton. He has been one of the trustees of Warren Academy for many years, also chaplain of a regiment, jus- tice of the peace and quorum, and town-clerk; "none of the offices very profitable." He published a sermon delivered at Hampstead, Nov. 15, 1807. In the fall of 1849, he moved with his wife to Marion, Ohio, to reside with his son.
1 Mr. McDowell, a Scotchman, settled in the part of Union which is now within the bounds of Washington.
171
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
fellowship by Rev. Jonathan Huse, of Warren; con- cluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Dow, of Upper Beverly, Mass., who was afterwards settled at York. The coun- cil was entertained at Capt. Barrett's. The meeting- house was thronged. The occasion was one of great interest and excitement. Ordinations were not com- mon. This was the first in the town. Among the persons present were Major-General Henry Knox's family from Thomaston. The evening, as well as the day, was not without manifestations of much joy on the part of a great portion of the inhabitants.
CHAPTER XIX.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. (Continued.)
Organization of the First Congregational Church. - Mr. Huse's Ac- count of the Proceedings. - Conduct of Samuel Hills and the Rev. Messrs. Sewall, Bayley, and others. - Articles of Faith. --- Covenant. - Signers' Names. - Opposition by the Hills Party. - Hills's " Ex Parte " Council, Sept. 10, 1806. - Conduct of the Hills Party about the Ordination. - Hills censured. - Council, June 29, 1808. -. Hills's " Ex Parte" Council, Feb. 15, 1809. - Second Con- gregational Church organized. - Mr. Huse's Letter concluded.
AN account of the organization and subsequent move- ments of the First Congregational Church may be given, in part, by an extract from a letter of the Rev. Jonathan Huse, of Warren, to the Rev. Hezekiah Pack- ard, then of Wiscasset: -
" Warren, Feb. 20, 1818.
" Sir, - Agreeably to your request, I will attempt to state a number of circumstances and facts, which serve to prove the existence of a party, exclusive, and disorderly spirit in some clergymen in this district, who profess to be [of] our denomination. In doing this, I do not rely entirely on my own recollection : I made a minute of them soon after their occurrence.
172
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
" Some time about the commencement of the year 1803, application was made to me by several persons in the town of Union, adjoining this town, for assistance in forming a church in said town. I accordingly met them with a dele- gate from our church, proposed such questions to them as I thought proper, gave them some suitable advice, and exhi- bited to them a confession of faith and covenant for their subscription. After mature consideration and examination, they subscribed the articles of faith and covenant, and were acknowledged a sister-church. They appeared perfectly satisfied with each other, and united as a band of brothers and sisters. The sacrament of the Lord's supper was admi- nistered to them a few times the ensuing summer, and bap- tism to some of their children.
" In October, 1803, one man in the town, by the name of Hills, who wished to join the church, prevailed with the members to consent that the Rev. Messrs. Jotham Sewall, Kiah Bayley, and Jonathan Huse, should be invited to meet the church at Union, and see if it would be advisable to alter the covenant and articles of faith. They accordingly met. Messrs. Sewall and Bayley (who had seen the cove- nant before, and expressed their opinion to Mr. Hills) declared the covenant and confession of faith were not suffi- ciently explicit and orthodox ; that Unitarians, and every denomination of Christians, might subscribe to them ; that, in order that other orthodox churches might fellowship with them, especially their own, it was necessary there should be an alteration of the covenant and confession. I told these gentlemen and the church present, that our church would fellowship [with ] them, and I presumed the major part of the Congregational churches in New England would do the same; that the confession and covenant were almost identi- cally the same which our church, and the South Church in Andover [Mass. ], had adopted. I thought them sufficiently explicit, scriptural, and orthodox, and did not think it expe- dient any alteration should be made, unless the church was dissatisfied and wished such alteration. Each member ex- pressed his entire satisfaction with them, and said they had no wish for any alteration. Accordingly, nothing was done.
" The man (Mr. Hills), at whose request these gentlemen appeared at Union, was dissatisfied; and Messrs. Sewall and Bayley were disappointed. Hills was determined to have an alteration, and agreed with Mr. Sewall, who was then going
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ARTICLES OF FAITH.
east on a mission, to call on his return, and assist him in effecting his object. On Mr. Sewall's return, a few months afterwards, he went with Mr. Hills to the members of the church individually ; and, by talking to them in a plausible manner, induced them to give a tacit consent to some altera- tion, in order, as was said, for the accommodation of Mr. Hills. The church was convened, re-examined, and approved by Sewall; and Hills admitted. These things were done without any previous notice being given to me. The covenant and confession were afterwards shown me, and I was asked if I could fellowship with the church upon their adoption of them. I answered in the affirmative, though I expressed my dissatisfaction with Sewall's interference, and thought the alterations unnecessary.
"It soon appeared that Hills, at whose importunity and for whose accommodation the alterations were made, was determined to rule the church. He attempted to bind them by obtaining their signatures to certain restrictive articles which he presented, the principal of which was to submit themselves to the control and superintendence of the asso- ciation1 to which Messrs. Sewall and Bayley belonged. He violently opposed almost every candidate they had. He was chiefly instrumental in preventing the settlement of one or two, to whom calls were presented. It ought to be noticed, that there was a constant communication kept up between Messrs. Sewall and Bayley, and Mr. Hills, by correspond- ence and by visiting. The latter did nothing without the advice of the former."
ARTICLES OF FAITH.
The following are the " Articles of Faith and Cove- nant agreed on by the Congregational Church of Christ in Union, at its embodying, March 3, 1803, and adopted, with additions," to accommodate Mr. Hills, " Feb. 6, 1804." The additions are in brackets; the other parts being what was adopted March 3, 1803.
1 This association considered that the candidate should come " in the shadow of Bayley or Sewall, and that the church must not let the town employ a preacher ; but the church did not feel bound by this rule." Hills insisted that this association alone should supply. The town employed Mr. True.
174
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The form in which it was adopted, Feb. 6, 1804, for the purpose of accommodating Mr. Hills, was the one which continued to be used : -
" We, whose names are hereunto subjoined, that we may promote the growth of religion in our souls, and enjoy the ordinances of the gospel in a church-state, do now profess our faith, and covenant together in manner following, viz. : -
"1. We believe in one God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost [and that the Son and Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal with the Father ].
"2. We declare our faith in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which we receive as the word of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness [and contain a perfect rule of faith and practice, and that no other writ- ings ought to be received as a divine revelation ].
" 3. We believe in the fall of man, the [total] depravity of human nature [by which he exposed himself and all his numerous race to endless misery ; and that, in consquence of Adam's fall, all his posterity came into the world in a state of condemnation and wrath.
"4. We believe] the redemption through the mediation, intercession, and atonement of [Jesus] Christ [by which God can, consistently with the honor of his law, pardon and save all who repent and believe].
" 5. We believe the necessity of regeneration in order to salvation, and that this is effected by the exceeding great- ness of God's [special ] power, and [instantaneously ] wrought in an ordinary way, through the instrumentality of means.
"6. [We believe that all things, visible and invisible, were created by God for his own glory, and that he governs them according to his eternal purpose ].
" 7. We believe the true church is founded on Christ, the chief corner-stone ; and that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it, to its utter extirpation.
" 8. [We believe that salvation is offered to all, but that none will accept and be brought to true repentance and faith in Christ, but those who are chosen through sanctifica- tion of the Spirit and belief of the truth according to God's eternal purpose.
"9. We believe that all who are united truly to Christ
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THE COVENANT.
are justified freely by grace, and kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto eternal salvation].
"10. We believe Christ hath appointed two special ordi- nances to be observed by every true believer in his name, viz. baptism and the [Lord's ] supper.
"11. We believe the qualifications for these ordinances, in all adults, are sincere repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [without which no person can have any right to baptism, either for himself or his children, neither can he have any right to the solemn ordinance of the Lord's supper.
"12. We believe that God has appointed an order of men to preach the gospel, and administer the ordinances to suita- ble subjects.
"13. We believe that all offences of a public nature ought to be publicly confessed.
"14. We believe the church ought never to receive any person into their fellowship, whether he has been professor or not, until they are satisfied, in a judgment of charity, that he has been born again ].
"15. We [also] believe the future existence [and immor- tality ] of the soul, the resurrection of the bodies [both of the just and the unjust ], and the day of future judgment, in which every one will receive a reward according to his works [that Christ will at the day of judgment receive the righteous into life eternal, and punish the wicked with ever- lasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. Amen ]."
" THE COVENANT.
" And we do also humbly and penitently, asking the forgiveness of our sins through the blood of the great Re- deemer, give up ourselves to God in an everlasting covenant, in our Lord Jesus Christ ; and, as in the presence of God, do solemnly promise, that, by the assistance of the Divine Spirit, we will forsake the vanities of the present evil world [abstaining ourselves from all gaming, frolicking,1 and do our endeavor to restrain all under our care from such sinful courses ], and [so] approve ourselves the true disciples of
1 For the words " gaming and frolicking," Mr. True, with the concurrence of the church, substituted the words " amusements and practices which are inconsistent."
-
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Jesus Christ in all good carriage towards God and towards men. And we likewise promise to walk together in Chris- tian communion, as members of the church of Christ, and to attend statedly upon the administration of the ordinances of the gospel [baptism and the Lord's supper, and the public worship of God on his holy day], when it can conve- niently [with respect to health and opportunity] be done. And [we promise to sanctify the sabbath, to attend the wor- ship of God daily in our families and closets ], to watch over one another [according to scripture rule], and to submit to the discipline of the church now formed in this place [and, taking the gospel-rule of discipline for our directory, we en- gage to admit all to our holy communion who can give a rational scriptural evidence of a work of sanctifying grace upon their hearts, in a judgment of charity, whose lives correspond thereto. We do also covenant to devote our offspring to the Lord, doing our duty to them in religious instructions, training them up in the nurture and admoni- tion of the Lord]; and finally, by daily prayer to God in the name of Christ, we will seek for grace to enable us to keep this covenant. [And may the merciful God pardon our many errors and imperfections, prepare us for, and at last receive us to glory, through the merits of the great Head of the church, to whom be praise for ever and ever. Amen. ]"
When the church was organized by Rev. Mr. Huse, March 3, 1803, the articles and covenant, in the form in which he presented them, were signed by Thomas Daggett, Josiah Robbins, Abijah Hawes, Seth Luce, Margaret Hawes, and Dolly Law. On the 28th of August, the Rev. Mr. Johnson being chosen mode- rator, the church admitted Capt. John Nicholson and Sarah his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Daggett, Mrs. Sarah Robbins, Mrs. Jemima Robbins, Mrs. Dinah Mitchell, Miss Sally Boon, Samuel Walker, jun., Thomas Mitch- ell, and Stephen March; also, by letters of recommen- dation, Daniel Shepard and Sarah his wife. At the same meeting, or not long afterward, Mrs. Abigail Hills and Mrs. Martha Williams were admitted, and Abijah Hawes chosen deacon. Among those who subsequently joined it, with or without letters of
177
OPPOSITION TO MR. TRUE.
recommendation, were Jonathan Carriel and his wife Sibyl, Tempe Briggs, Rebekah Gowen, Jedidah Dag- gett, Betsey Allen, Mary Tobey, Mary wife of Thos. Mitchell, Mercy wife of Jeremiah Mitchell, Rhoda El- lis, Sarah Barrett, John Millbanks [?], Jas. Rice, John Gleason and wife, David Robbins and his wife Mercy, Mary wife of Capt. Amos Barrett, Mary True, Harriet Barrett, William Daggett, George Wellington, Polly wife of Calvin Morse, Mrs. Mero, Thomas Hemen- way and wife, Elizabeth Robbins, Daniel F. Harding, and Mrs. Rice.
"In the autumn of 1805," continues Mr. Huse, "the church and congregation invited Mr. Henry True to settle with them in the gospel-ministry. Mr. Hills, with two others, who were after him admitted into the church, opposed his settlement. They took every means in their power to prevent his giving an affirmative answer to the call. They made such representations to him as induced him to write a negative answer, which was to be read on a particular day. But his friends, finding what was done, took pains to con- vince him he had been deceived by the misrepresentations of these men. He was consequently prevailed with to sus- pend his answer, and afterwards gave it in the affirmative. The three disaffected members contended for their right to choose half the ordaining council. This privilege was not indulged them. The council was called, consisting of a representation from the churches in Hamilton, Beverly, Wis- casset, Dresden, Belfast, Camden, and Warren."
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