USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > A history of the town of New London, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, 1779-1899 > Part 60
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" borough in the state of Massachusetts and county of Bristol,
*The original of this Bond is now in possession of J. M. Seamans, Esq., of Brook - line, Mass.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
" in the full and just sum of two thousand Spanish Millª Dol- " lars, to be paid unto the said Elder Job Seamans, his Certain " Attorney, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, to the " which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves " and heirs, in behalf of this town firmly by these presents. "Sealed with our Seals .- Dated this twenty eight day of " March, in the year of our Lord-Anno Domi-one thousand " seven Hundred and Eighty Eight.
" The condition of this present obligation is such that whereas " we the above named Committee were impowered the twenty " fourth day of this Instant by a vote of this town, to give unto " the above named Elder Job Seamans a Bond for his Security of " title to a Lot of Land containing one Hundred and fifty acres " be the same more or less, Bounded as the Propriaters records " of this town do shew, being No. Eighty two, which accord- " ing to the charter of this town was to be the right of the first " Settled minister in this town forever,-if he the sd Seamans " his heirs or assigns are not Damaged or Disposesed of sd Lot " of Land or any part Thereof then the above written obliga- " tion to be void and of none effect, or else to abide and remain " in full force and virtue,
" Signed Sealed and Delivered-(Signed)
" in presence of us Levi Harvey [Seal]
John Adams [Seal]
" Eben" Hunting
"Jonathan Adams
Sam1 Brocklebank [Seal]"
This was in the Autumn of 1787. In February, 1788, Elder Seamans again visited the town, with a view no doubt to set- tle the question of duty in regard to this call. Under date of Feb. 18-which was Monday-the following entry is made in his diary : "Set out upon a journey up to New London, "and on Saturday Feb. 23ª, arrived at Deacon Harvey's." The next day he preached at Capt. Morgan's. On Monday the 25th he preached at Lieut. Messer's. On Wednesday of the same week the Records of the church show their first entry as follows :
"Records of the Baptist church of Christ in New London.
" Wednesday, Feb. 27th, 1788. This day the Baptist breth- "ren in this town & the towns of Sutton & Fisherfield [now "Newbury ] attended a conference meeting at Ensign Nathaniel
667
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
" Everett's, upon the expediency of coming into church State. " Elder Job Seamans from Attleboro', in the State of Massa- " chusetts, being present opened the meeting by prayer, then "read and expounded the I chapter of Haggai. Then the " brethren entered upon conference on the subject before them, " and there appeared to be a good agreement amongst them, " although their number was small. Upon which Jeremiah " Everett, Ebenezer Sargent, & Benjamin Baker, and sisters " Elizabeth Whittier and Esther Sargent concluded to petition " the church in Sutton, of which they were members, for a dis- " mission, so that they might join in constituting a church in "New London."
This initial meeting at Ensign Everett's may be regarded as the springhead of this centennial stream of church history. On Thursday, March 25th, Simeon Kezar and Nathan Goodwin, according to the second entry in the records-" told their expe- " rience, in their call out of darkness into marvellous light, and " were baptized by Elder Seamans." The next Saturday was observed as a day of fasting and prayer, " to seek the mind of " God in constituting a church in New London," and the breth- ren and sisters present " gave themselves up to each other's " watch and care for the present, until they should see what the " Lord would do with them." Beautiful form of spiritual asso- ciation ! This was the embryo church. Every subsequent step taken by these devout and earnest-spirited men and women was taken with great deliberation and much prayer. A second day of fasting and prayer was appointed for Sept. 10th, and the brethren concluded " to propound themselves, so that if any "one had any objections against their moral character, they "might have opportunity of bringing them in." On Sunday Sept. 2Ist, at the close of public worship, the brethren and sis- ters-II in all,-" Signed Articles of Faith and Covenant, " similar to those received by the Associated Baptist churches " in this county." Meanwhile Elder Seamans had decided it to be his duty to enter this white and inviting field. Accordingly in June he resigned the pastorate of the church in Attleboro', which he had held with abundant tokens of the divine blessing, for 15 years, and removed his family to New London, starting on the 20th of June, and arriving in this town on July 1,-an interval of twelve days, the distance being about 150 miles !
668
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
The entry in his diary* on the occasion of his leaving his flock at Attleboro', is tender and touching :
" Thus my poor labors ' ended in Attleboro', where I had "seen two special seasons of God's grace, and had many a " comfortable hour of soul-reviving communion with God (if " I am not deceived) and where my eyes have been held wak- " ing, with sorrow, forbidden to sleep. And now a new scene " of trials opens before me."
On the Sabbath following his arrival in New London with his family, the good Elder chose very aptly the text for the morning, Acts 10 : 29, the question of the Apostle, " Therefore " come I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent " for : I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?"- And for the afternoon the 33d verse, the reply of Cornelius,- " Immediately, therefore, I sent to thee, and thou hast well " done that thou art come. Now, therefore, are we all present " before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of " God."
No more earnest and important question could be asked by a new pastor entering upon his work-" for what intent have ye sent for me ?" What have you called me here for? Why am I here at all? What are you looking for as the outcome of this ministry ? What spiritual profit are you seeking? What do you want me to do for you? - And no more morally earnest and appropriate answer could be given than that which Cornelius gave to Peter: - " We are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." We are before God to hear from God through you. You are to be God's mouth-piece to us. What He tells you we want you to tell us. "All things," the whole counsel of God. Speak it out, herald it in our ears, the whole truth, the entire, un- abridged, unmutilated gospel of the blessed God.
Sunday, the 28th of September, following the arrival of Elder Seamans, was signalized by meeting for the first time in the new meeting-house, which had been about two years in building. Even then the house was only partially finished. That first meeting-house, which was voted by the town, and
* The Diary of Elder Seamans, covering more than fifty years of active ministerial life, is a marvel of neatness and good taste, both in form and in spirit. It is in pos- session of Daniel Seamans, Esq., of New London, a grandson.
669
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
built under the direction of a committee appointed by the town, stood on the ground which now constitutes the southern part of the cemetery, having the old graveyard, or churchyard, at its left. The house was still standing when I first came to town in 1853, but was soon after purchased by Ex-Gov. Colby, moved to the academy lot and rebuilt into what is now known as Colby hall.
On the 16th day of October, according to the records : " The " brethren met in conference at Elder Seamans's, agreed to "appoint Thursday, the 23d day of this month, to constitute a " church, to send requesting counsel and assistance of the Bap- " tist churches of Christ in Canaan, Sutton, and Wendal."
In accordance with this vote, on Thursday, October 23d, 1788, one hundred years ago to-day, the church was formally constituted, and recognized by the representatives of the invited churches, as a regular church of Christ. The exer- cises were held in what was then called the new meeting- house.
The new church, consisting of only twelve members, eleven of whom were constituent members, and one, Elizabeth Whit- tier, who was baptized and received to membership on the very day the church was recognized, proceeded at once, October 30, to complete its organization by the choice of Elder Sea- mans as pastor, and soon after, January, 1789, of Ebenezer Hunting as deacon, and Nathan Goodwin as a " standing scribe in the church."
The church sent a letter to the pastor-elect, containing the formal " call" to the pastorate, and the town in public meet- ing, that all things might be done in order, agreed with the church in their call, which was certified to by a letter sent to him by the selectmen, under date of November 29th, 1788.
First things are seeds of future harvests ; beginnings are prophecies of what is to come. The oak is in the acorn. These earnest, deliberative, prayerful, and orderly beginnings of this church are to me most significant indexes, pointing to the pro- gress and prosperity of the century now completed. The letter of the church to its first pastor-elect, seems to me a model both in form and in spirit. It is spread upon the records, as all such documents ought to be, and reads as follows :
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
" The Baptist Church of Christ in New London-to Elder " Job Seamans-Wishing grace, mercy & peace to be multi- " plied unto you. Dear brother, it having pleased the Su- " preme Ruler in his all wise Providence to cast your lot with " us in this town, & a way being opened for you to preach the " everlasting gospel among us; for which, blessed be his " great name ;- as we believe through grace given unto you. " You have here given up yourself to the Lord in covenant, " and to us by his will ; and joining with us in constituting a " church in this place : and a church when constituted wants " those gifts that our glorious Redeemer, the Great Head of " the Church, did purchase & give unto men, when he as- " cended up on high; and we, being satisfied with your gifts " & qualifications, for the work of the ministry, and with the " dismission from your former pastoral charge; and having " had some opportunity of observing your moral character ; " but especially believing that a dispensation of the gospel of " Christ is committed unto you ; and having had great satis- " faction with your public movements among us ;- We there- " fore, dear brother, earnestly request you that you would take " the pastoral charge and care of this church ; hoping in the " mercy of God that you may here see much of the displays of " divine grace, & of the travail of Christ's soul, and that you " may have the satisfaction of seeing much of the fruits of " your labor of love amongst us, which may be for a seal of " your ministry & crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord " Jesus : promising through the help of divine grace, to con- " tinue our ardent prayers to God for you, that you may have " much of the promised presence of the Great Head of the " Church ; and asking the same of you that you and we may " be workers together in the Lord, unto all well-pleasing.
"And we upon diligent search into the divine word, do find " that the Lord hath ordained that they that preach the gospel, " shall live of the gospel, and that ' the workman is worthy of " his meat, and the laborer is worthy of his hire,'-I Cor. "9: 14,-Matt. 10: 10,-Luke 10:7,-we fully agree with " the town in giving up the lot of land given by charter to the " first settled minister in the town, to you & to your heirs and " assigns, together with the use and improvement of one half " of the parsonage lot, as long as you continue to be our min-
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
" ister ; also forty pounds, lawful money, a year, as a salary " for the support of yourself & family.
" (Signed) NATHAN GOODWIN, Com. in behalf EBENEZER HUNTING, S of the Church. " NEW LONDON, NOV. 2ª 1788."
What minister could refuse such a call from such a field? To be sure the call was not " loud " in a salaried point of view, though for the times it was generous-a minister's lot to consti- tute a farm, one half the parsonage lot, and $200 a year, with the prices of home produce low, and necessary expenses mod- erate. But in all that constitutes a real call to the pastorate, this call was " loud." The field was broad, the spiritual har- vest white, and the laborers few. The whole town was prac- tically a unit in giving this call, and, more than all, the divine voice was distinctly audible in an unmistakable undertone of approval. The call was accepted, and again, in accordance with orderly church procedure, a day was set for the formal installment, or, as the record calls it, reinstallment, of the pas- tor. That day was January 21, 1789. A large council of the churches in Canaan, Wendall (now Sunapee), Sutton, and Weare convened at the house of the pastor on the day pre- vious. The council was duly organized by the choice of Elder Thomas Baldwin, of Canaan, as moderator, and Elder Amos Wood, of Weare, as clerk. It is plain that this council con- sidered that they had a function beyond the mere satisfac- tion of the church's action in a service of recognition. They were called together to install a pastor in an office, with a view to permanency and protracted work and usefulness. " Who is this man; what is he? Has he the needed qualifications ; is his record good? Is he the right man for the place, and if we install him, will he stay installed?" So much, at least, seems to be implied in the action of the council, which, accord- ing to the record, " inquired into Elder Seamans's ministerial qualifications, his dismission from the church [in Attleboro'] and recommendation to this church."
The services connected with the installation were held in the meeting-house, on the day appointed, when Elder Wood preached the sermon, Eider Baldwin gave the charge, Elder Ambrose the fellowship of the churches. Thus prayerfully
672
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
and solemnly and impressively, a relation was entered into which practically was to be life-long : - a pastoral relation which was to continue in the providence of God and with the blessing of the Great Head, for nearly forty years. And the whole method of this settlement, the wise deliberation, the repeated seeking of the mind of God, the careful and orderly procedure in the constitution of the church and the call of its first pastor, the council of installment, the provision for future support, all seem to forecast the protracted and divinely blessed work that was to establish this church in its very beginning in the doctrine and fellowship and service of Christ. How dif- ferent this from the hasty, inconsiderate, hap-hazard way of not settling, but employing, a minister in too many cases in our own times ! Pastors are too often hired, not settled, recognized but not installed, with the result of a spasm of religious interest on the part of the church and congregation, and a spurt of effort and a flash of success on the part of the minister, rather than a growth, a development, a lasting and permanent blessing to either party !
Thus well begun, the pastorate of Elder Seamans went stead- ily on, not without trials and reverses, but in the final issue with abundant success, for nearly forty years. In 1790, the church was received into the Woodstock Association, with which body most of the churches in this vicinity were connected.
No sudden and exciting religious interest followed the settle- ment of the first pastor. Up to 1792, the church numbered only eighteen members, a gain of six in the three or four years of its existence. In the year 1792, a deeper religious interest became apparent, the church itself was quickened, and souls were converted. During this year fourteen new members were received to the fellowship of the church. The work of grace in the town became general and all pervasive. In the year 1793, seventy-five were added to the church. There were only fifty families in town; of these thirty-seven were repre- sented in this church by both husband and wife. It is doubtful if at any time, before or since, so large a number, relatively, of the whole population were members of the church.
In 1794, the church numbered one hundred and fifteen, a gain of more than fivefold in about two years. This was the first great awakening in town. But as almost invariably hap-
673
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
pens, this great ingathering was followed by some years of spiritual declension. Both church and pastor were sorely tried by the defection or misconduct of members, and the church records are freighted with the woes of discipline. In this also, the church was scrupulously faithful ; sometimes seemingly too scrupulous. Personal difficulties, even of a domestic nature, as between husband and wife, father and son, were brought into the church. But this shows at least the moral earnestness of these our Baptist church fathers, in the matter of the Christian walk and life. Religion, in its organized relations and activities, was to them a solemn and serious busi- ness. The Christian profession was no meaningless form ; the covenant of the church was no rope of sand, but a chain of mutual promises with links of strong obligation that must not be broken. With them watch-care was both watch and care,- and sometimes more of the watch than the care!
In the year 1795, some difficulty arose about the obligation of the town to pay the pastor's salary, and a new arrangement was effected by which the town was released from all financial obligation in the matter. This ended the period of church and state union in the Baptist church in New London. I am not apprised of such an arrangement ever having been tried in any other church of our order, though there may have been many.
During the years 1809-'10, the town experienced another gracious visitation of the Holy Spirit, and about forty were hopefully converted and baptized into the fellowship of the church. Among those received in this ingathering were many who became pillars in the temple of God. The work was genuine, and far reaching in its results, and with possibly less of subsequent defection than the revival of fifteen years before.
Again a great work of grace was experienced in 1819, in which thirty members were received at one communion season and twenty-seven at another; this was known as the "great reformation," and the church was largely strengthened by the addition of between eighty and ninety new members.
The following account of this great revival is taken from the Farmer's Cabinet of August 14, 1819. The Cabinet was pub- lished at Amherst, N. H. :
43
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
" Communicated for the Cabinet.
" REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN NEW LONDON, N. H.
" God has again been pleased, in his great love and mercy, " to visit the people in this place with the influence of his Holy
" Spirit, and to send the messages of pardon and peace to all " who would believe on his son Jesus Christ.
" The church in this town had received two considerable " additions in consequence of two considerable revivals in the " years 1792 and 1809.
"The present revival became apparent the first part of " last winter, and the attention of the people was awakened " to attend meetings all the time during the winter. The " weather was remarkably favorable ; the people being remark- " ably united in Baptist sentiments, there was no collision ; a " general impression of seriousness was seated on the counte- " nances of all. This reformation has been carried on with " great solemnity. The Lord has been pleased to speak with " a still small voice, and every thing has appeared harmonious " and pleasing.
" Eighty persons have been added to the church in conse- " quence of this reformation ; and a considerable number have " not yet joined the church, who have hopes that God hath 4' wrought a saving change in their hearts.
" That the prayers of the righteous avail much, hath been " verified in this place. The Christian people here, previous " to this reformation, were much engaged in prayer, that the " Lord would visit the people and work a saving change in " their hearts."
Thus far in the period of thirty-two years of Elder Seamans's ministry, he had been permitted to see three marked seasons of revival, in 1792-'93, 1809-'10, and 1819-'20. Many con- versions occurred in other years, in the ordinary course of church and pastoral work, but these were the three great soul harvests of his protracted pastorate.
Elder Seamans closed his direct work as pastor with the year in 1823, though the church records contain no note of any for- mal resignation, nor any action looking to the settlement of another pastor, till the year 1828. He was advanced in years and in feeble health, having been constantly in pastoral work
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
in Attleboro' and in New London for more than fifty years. He continued to reside in town till his death, which occurred October 4, 1830, nearly forty-two years after his settlement.
" Servant of God, well done ! " Rest from thy loved employ ;
" The battle fought, the victory won, " Enter thy Master's joy !"
I have dwelt thus at length on this initial pastorate on account of both its intrinsic and its relative importance. The written history of this forty years, as recorded in the church books, and more particularly in the very complete and painstaking diary kept by the pastor, records a marvellous amount of work done with great fidelity, persistency, and devotion. That pas- torate, covering as it does more than one third of the century of the church's existence, has left an indelible impress not only upon the church in its inner life and its outward activities, in its steadfastness in doctrine, its loyalty to denominational stand- ards, its interest in benevolent and missionary enterprises, but on the whole town as well, and the region round about. If the unwritten history of that forty years could be recorded, to- gether with its outcome, as it is recorded in the books of God, and as " the day" will record it, how should we be filled with grateful praise for such a man as Job Seamans !
In the autumn of 1824, Rev. Joseph Davis moved his family into town. There is no record of any action of the church in regard to his relation to the church except his reception as a member. It is stated, however, in the records of the society that he was " employed" as a preacher. He seems to have been so employed year by year for two or three years. It is plain that he was not regarded as a settled pastor, but a kind of stated supply.
The New Meeting-house.
During the interval between the active work of Elder Sea- mans and the second pastorate-the second meeting-house in town-that in which we are now assembled, was built. The records of the Baptist society contain the following items in regard to the building of this house :
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
"June 4th, 1825. Voted as the sense of the Society that a "new meeting house should be erected for the use of the " Society."
On the 18th of the same month,-" Voted That if a meeting " house should be built for the use of the Society, it ought to " be erected at the four corners near Jonathan Everett's."
It is evident that the question of location was prominent in the minds of the movers for the new house. There was at this time some honest rivalry for the leadership between the old town centre on Summer street and this " Colby hill " as it was called. The old centre had the meeting-house ; the would-be centre wanted as much.
There is no further record in regard to the building of the new house of worship until December, 1826. Meanwhile, it would seem, the house was erected, whether with or without instructions from the society does not appear, by private parties ; for on the date last named it was,-
" Voted, to accept of the New Meeting House built by " David Everett and Anthony Colby, and the Common around " the same. Chose Joseph Colby & Jonathan Greeley to take " a conveyance of said Meeting House and Common."
It is proper to note in this connection that the ownership of the meeting-house, as was usual in those times, was twofold : the pew-holders owned it, each having a " deed" of his pew, and the society owned it as a whole. The expense of building was paid by the sale of the pews beforehand, so that the society in its corporate capacity was not involved in the financial re- sponsibility. This will account for the active independence of the society as referred to.
After this date the church records contain allusions to the old meeting-house and the new meeting-house, and for a series of years the Sabbath services were held on alternate Sabbaths in the two houses. Sometimes the old house is referred to as " the town Meeting House."
This house as it was originally built was of sufficient capacity to accommodate all who wished to worship in it, till the open- ing of the academy in 1853, when on account of the large number of students requiring seats, it was enlarged by cutting
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