USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > Centennial historical discourse of the Presbyterian Church, Bedford, N.H. : delivered Sabbath July 2, 1876 > Part 2
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Removed to Princeton in 1756.
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The negotiations with Mr. MacClintock having failed, the people now turned their attention to Mr. Houston, and at a town meeting August 5, 1756, it was “voted unanimously, to give Mr. John Houston a call to the work of the ministry in this town." A committee was appointed to treat with him. At an adjourned meeting August 7th, it was voted to give him “ six hundred pounds old tenor, or new tenor equal thereto ;" but this vote was on the 30th of the month reconsidered and it was finally agreed to give him "equal to forty pounds sterling in old tenor, as the law shall fix the rate of dollars or sterling money, and that what number of Sabbath days they should think themselves unable to pay he should have to his own use deducted out of the aforesaid sum." It was also ordered that the committee should agree with Mr. McGregore to moderate in a call, should Mr. Houston accept.
The work on the meeting-house still went on slowly. Special „ committees were appointed, one to "shingle and board it," an- other to procure sashes and put them in, another to underpin, and another still to lay the floors and make the doors and win- dow frames. There was no contract work-all had to be done by committee, and sometimes the committees refusing to serve, others had to be appointed, which caused much delay, and must have been vexatious. But however slow the progress, they paid as they went, and thus avoided the burden of a debt.
The winter of '56 wore along, and it was still uncertain whether Mr. Houston would accept his call ; the town appointed other committees to procure preaching. At length, however, Mr. Houston signified his acceptance of the call, and in July of 1757 "forty pounds " were voted to defray the charges of the ordination.
Mr. Houston was ordained as pastor of the church of Bed- ford on the 28th of September, 1757. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Jonathan Parsons, of Newbury, from I Timothy : 1, 2. Rev. David McGregore gave the charge, and other ministers took part in the services. From Matthew Pat- ten's journal we learn that the text of Mr. Houston's first ser- mon after his ordination was, " Fear not, little flock, it is your
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Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." "Very ap- propriate," says Mr. Savage, "as it must have been a small church in the midst of the wilderness."
On his settlement, Mr. Houston, as first pastor, according to the provision of the original proprietors, came into possession of certain lands in the town. The people of Merrimack having then no settled ministry, and being, many of them, of the Pres- byterian persuasion, attended worship in Bedford. This was somewhat inconvenient, and in 1758 the town voted to allow the the people of Merrimack who paid rates to support the Gospel in Bedford, " so many Sabbath days of our Rev'd Pastor's time, for public worship, to be held at John Burns', as they pay in pro- portion with us toward his annual salary for the present year, if our Rev'd pastor be willing."
The details of Mr. Houston's ministry are such as were com- mon to the New England ministry of that time. There were many hardships, incident to the building up of a church in a new country, but he addressed himself to the work with zeal and energy, and during his pastorate the church gradually in- . creased in strength and influence. He gave especial attention to catechetical instruction, and was much interested in the young people of his charge. He was conscientious and earnest in his piety, devoted to the cause of his Master, and labored earnestly for the spiritual welfare of the people under his charge. During the earlier years of his ministry he seems to have en- joyed the respect and confidence of his people, and was happy in his relations with them. But at the beginning of the Revo- lutionary war general dissatisfaction arose against him, because of his adherence to the cause of the mother country. In taking this position Mr. Houston was undoubtedly conscientious, and acted in accordance with what he believed to be the will of God in the matter. Time has sufficiently demonstrated that he erred in judgment. But we who are removed from those scenes of intense excitement can afford to impute to him only such mo- tives as were dictated by what he understood as his duty in the matter. In giving a faithful record of the facts as they occurred, it is due to the memory of one who, in all other respects, bore
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an irreproachable character, to regard this great mistake of his life as resulting from an error of the head and not of the heart.
The first intimation we have of a feeling of disaffection of the people of Bedford against their pastor, appears in a call for a town meeting, dated May 2d, 1775. It was immediately after the news of the battle of Lexington, and the excitement of the people throughout New England was at the highest pitch. The article in the warrant was, " To see what method the town will take relating to Rev. John Houston, in these troublesome times, as we apprehend his praying and preaching to be calculated to intimidate the minds of his hearers, and to weaken their hands in defence of their just rights and liberties, as there seems a plan to be laid by Parliament to destroy both." The meeting, which was called for the 16th of May, voted to shut the doors of the church against the pastor, and to stop the payment of his salary till he should come to a sense of his duty. Mr. Hous- ton made a statement of his position to the town, but it was de- clared to be unsatisfactory.
On the 15th of June, 1775, the town voted his dismission, and adopted a strong resolution condemning his course.
As Presbyterians, however, they recognized the fact that he was still pastor of the church. It had been the practice in for- mer years to vote him a certain number of Sabbaths to himself, ranging from four to ten. At the meeting of March 27th, 1776, they voted him the whole year to his own use. In the meantime they requested him to join with them in their application to Presbytery for a dissolution of the pastoral relation, and a com- mittee was appointed for that purpose.
At the formation of the Synod of New England, at Seabrook, N. H., May 31, 1775, three Presbyteries were constituted out of the old Boston Presbytery, namely : the Eastern, or Presby- tery of Salem ; the Middle, or Presbytery of Londonderry ; and Western, or Presbytery of Palmer. On the division of these Presbyteries Mr. Houston and his congregation were united to the Presbytery of Palmer, and he was directed by Synod to con- vene the new Presbytery and moderate the first meeting. The position he had taken on the state of the country, however, had
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rendered him unpopular with his ministerial brethren, and the unfriendliness resulting therefrom led him to omit the duty as- signed him by Synod. Thereupon the Synod directed the Rev. Moses Baldwin, of Kingston, to act in his stead, and Mr. Hous- ton, having promised that he would satisfy both the civil author- ity and the Synod for the course he had taken, was recom- mended to bring the evidence of such satisfaction to his Pres- bytery, and through them to the Synod. This action was taken in September, 1776, more than a year after his dismission by the act of the town, and while he was as yet ecclesiastically, al- though not practically, pastor of the church.
The Synod met at Londonderry, September 3, 1777. At this meeting a committee from Bedford appeared, and asked the ad- vice of Synod respecting their troubles with their pastor. · Mr. Houston being present was interrogated as to his promise to ·give satisfaction to Synod respecting his conduct. It appearing that he had not done so, he was deemed guilty of a breach of promise and contempt of Synod, and deprived of his seat in the body until he should give satisfaction to the Synod for his con- duct, either directly or through his Presbytery. The committee from Bedford was also directed to bring the matter of their grievances before their Presbytery, in the regular way.
The following year, September 3, 1778, at Londonderry, the Synod re-affirmed its action respecting Mr. Houston, declaring his contempt of Synod to be highly blameable, but promised to recommend him to the churches as a member in good standing on his compliance with their requisition. At this meeting of Synod, Bedford congregation and Mr. Houston were annexed to the Presbytery of Londonderry, and that Presbytery was di- rected to take cognizance of their affairs. Before the adjourn- ment of the meeting, however, the troubles in Bedford again came up for discussion, and both parties agreeing, the Synod passed the following resolution :
" Whereas, There appears to be a dissatisfaction among the people of Bed- ford relative to the Rev. Mr. Houston, whereby he is not likely to be useful among them in the ministry, by consent of both parties, this Synod do dis- - solve his pastoral relation to said congregation."
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Mr. Houston is described as having been of a stern and in- flexible disposition, but the progress of the war, coupled with the almost universal condemnation of his countrymen, led him, subsequently, to modify his position. He had stood out in de- fence of his views to the point of surrendering his pastoral charge, and losing his standing in the Synod. But now, being left free to act according to his own will, he appeared before the authorities of the state and took the oath of allegiance, of which the following is a copy :
" State of New Hampshire : $ 1 In committee of Safety, October 28th, 1778.
This may certify all persons that the Rev. John Houston has taken the oath of allegiance and fidelity to this, and the United States of America.
Attest : M. WEARE, Chairman."
At the meeting of Synod, at Windham, the following year, September 15,. 1779, Mr. Houston's name appears on the roll of Synod, and also the following minute, in the record of its proceedings :
" A report being given by Mr. Stickland and Mr. Williams, that the Rev. Mr. Houston brought from the State of New Hampshire a testimonial satis- factory to this Synod, do now restore him to full standing with this body."
Mr. Houston's name appeared on the roll of Synod up till the time of its dissolution, 1782. He remained in connection with the Presbytery of Salem, which succeeded the Synod, until 1785, when, in June of that year, at a meeting in Sylvester, the Presbytery gave him the following letter of dismission and recommendation : " Voted unanimously, that the Rev. John Houston (agreeable to his petition to us), be dismissed from this body, and recommended to the churches wherever God in his Providence may call him." He afterwards united with the Associate Presbytery.
Mr. Houston continued his residence in Bedford, preaching as he had opportunity, and making, occasionally, what might be called missionary tours into northern New Hampshire and Ver- mont. He died February 3d, 1798, agad 75 years.
From the time of Mr. Houston's dismission, 1778, until 1804,
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a period of twenty-six years, the church was without a stated pastor. How it survived this long period without the stated preaching of the Gospel, it is difficult now to understand. The whole period is almost a total blank with respect to any matters of historical interest. The names of Benjamin Smith and James Little (Elders), occasionally appear on the rolls of Presbytery and Synod as delegates from Bedford.
In the records of the town we find that a certain sum of money was voted annually to provide preaching. Rev. William Pickles, a native of Wales, and a man of considerable pulpit power, supplied them statedly about two years, from 1787 to 1789, but aside from this there was no regular preaching in the town. During this long period of destitution the church mem- bers became much scattered, and there was almost no spiritual- ity in the church. No revivals of religion are recorded, and it would seem that there had as yet been no general religious in- terest in the church from the beginning of its history, although there were, undoubtedly, some conversions under the ministry of Mr. Houston. Towards the close of the century there were decided indications of a desire to secure again a settled minis- try. It was voted in town meeting that the money appropriated for preaching should be used only for those who would come as candidates ; and the committees appointed to secure the same were desired to apply to Presbytery for supplies in a regular way. Early in the beginning of the century six new elders were appointed to serve with those already in office, and Rev. Mr. Morrison, of Londonderry, was invited to ordain them and ad- minister the Lord's Supper.
March 6, 1804, the town voted a call to the Rev. David Mc- Gregore, of Londonderry, and in May of the following year Mr. McGregore accepted the same.
On the 5th of September, 1804, Rev. DAVID McGREGORE was ordained and installed pastor of the church in Bedford, by the Presbytery of Londonderry, Rev. Dr. Morrison, of London- derry, preaching the sermon.
Mr. McGregore completed his collegiate course at Dartmouth College, in 1799, and studied for the ministry under Dr. Mor-
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rison. Upon his settlement in Bedford the affairs of the church assumed altogether a more favorable aspect. Meetings of ses- sion were recorded and delegates regularly chosen to attend meetings of Presbytery. In 1806 a regular system of ministe- rial visitation'was inaugurated, in which the elders alternately accompanied the minister. Numbers were added to the church from time to time, and church discipline was more strictly ob- served. The year 1818 was marked by a state of general reli- gious interest, and during the year twenty-two persons were re- ceived into communion with the church.
Mr. McGregore was a man of superior social qualities, and com- manded the respect of his congregation, as well as of his breth- ren in the ministry. Many of those who united with the church under his preaching became eminent for usefulness, remaining firm in their attachnient to the cause of the Master to the end of life. A few of them survive to the present day, and still bear witness to the earnest gospel preaching and ministerial fidelity of the pastor through whom they were converted to Christ.
During the earlier part of his ministry, Mr. McGregore la- bored as a missionary in connection with the N. H. Domestic Missionary Society, extending his tours into the northern section of the State. His labors were blest in the awakening of con- siderable religious interest in the places where he preached.
The relations of Mr. McGregore with the people of his charge were marked by harmony and good will throughout. During his ministry the church increased in strength and influence, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper were regularly and more frequently administered, and the general tone of morals and religion improved. He was a man of sound doc- trinal views, and of good pulpit ability. His sermons, some of which are still extant in manuscript, evince a logical mind and a diligent study of the Holy Scriptures. He is spoken of as having faithfully preached the Gospel, enforcing the practical duties of religion with great fidelity.
In April, 1825, Mr. McGregore apprised his church of his desire for a dissolution of the pastoral relation, and requested them to unite with him in application to Presbytery for the same.
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Accordingly, the Londonderry Presbytery, at its meeting at Not- tingham-West, (now Hudson,) on the last Wednesday in April, 1826, dissolved the pastoral relation between Mr. McGregore and the church in Bedford. Mr. McGregore removed to Fal- mouth, in Maine, in 1831, and died there October 18th, 1845, aged 74. He was the nephew of Rev. David McGregore, and great-grandson of Rev. James McGregore, the first minister of Londonderry. His pastorate continued twenty-one years, as did that of Mr. Houston.
About the time of M. McGregore's dismissal a " Presbyterian Society " was formed in the town, in accordance with the laws of the State, and to it the general affairs of the church were committed. While, therefore, the town negotiated with Mr. McGregore on the terms of his dismissal, nothing appears in the records with regard to the call of his successor.
On the 5th of July, 1826, Rev. THOMAS SAVAGE was installed pastor of the Presbyterian church in Bedford, by the Presbytery of Londonderry, being its third settled minister. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Dr. Whiton, of An- trim, N. H.
Mr. Savage was born in Boston, September 2d, 1793. He prepared for college at Phillips' Academy, Andover, and gradu- ated at Harvard in 1813, the eleventh of his family who had graduated at that institution. Having pursued the study of theology for three years, at Cambridge, he accepted an invita- tion to become a private tutor in Louisiana. About this time he experienced a change of views with respect to the system of theology he had adopted, and finished his preparation under the care of the Mississippi Presbytery. By that body he was or- dained to the work of the ministry in 1822, and preached two years at Baton Rouge.
Returning north in 1824 he supplied the pulpit of Dr. Cod- man, of Dorchester, for one year, during his absence, and im- mediately after received his first invitation to preach in this town.
Mr. Savage entered upon his life-work here under very en- couraging circumstances. He was young, vigorous, finely edu- cated, and fully imbued with the spirit and energy needed for
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his work. He was earnest in his piety, remarkable for the ur- banity of his manners, and for the genial kindness of his dispo- sition. He was, withal, an eloquent preacher, possessing supe- rior pulpit address and power, and soon won to himself the affection of his people, the esteem of his ministerial brethren, and the respect and confidence of the people of that part of the State where, during his long pastorate, his name became the synonym, not of what it literally imported, but of those virtues which are the embodiment of a perfect Christian gentleman. Politeness-genuine Christian politeness-was, in fact, his dis- tinguishing characteristic. To a temperament naturally genial, were added the refinements of education, and the graces of the Christian life, making him, says Dr. Wallace, in his memo- rial discourse, "a model for the young, a pattern for the Christian, and an example to be imitated by that profession to which he was an ornament."
In the freshness and vigor of his early life Mr. Savage de- voted himself to the work of the ministry, and the results of his labors were soon apparent. He immediately brought to the attention of the session the duty of systematic visitation, and a plan was adopted that had for its object " a revival of religion," by bringing the question personally to the attention of all. The town was divided up into districts, and committees of visita- tion appointed to go from house to house, pledging them- selves "unitedly to engage in the work, immediately to go about it, and not to grow cold or weary in it." The Sabbath- school, which had been previously held in school-houses, without much interest, was now transferred to the church and held dur- ing intervals of Divine service, with happy effects. On the 11th of October, 1827, a Thursday afternoon prayer meeting was commenced, which has continued without interruption until the present day, now almost fifty years. In 1829 a Temperance Reform began and a Temperance Society was formed, through the joint influence of Mr. Savage and a temperance discourse delivered by Dr. Justin Edwards. The result of this movement was, that whereas seven places were licensed in the town during 1829, by the selectmen, for the sale of ardent spirits, only two were licensed the following year.
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These Christian efforts were ordered, in the Providence of God, as preliminary to that wonderful work of grace which swept over the country in 1831. The church in Bedford was partaker, to a large degree, in that revival season, and acces- sions were made at that time which have had a lasting influence upon the church and the world. At the May communion of that year, 5 were added on profession of faith ; in September, 91 ; and the following January, 17, making 113 in all. This was certainly a most encouraging result for the young pastor, and for a country church it certainly evinces a work of no ordi- nary magnitude. Many of those brought into the church at that time became bright and shining lights in the world ; nearly all of them continued to adorn the Christian profession to the end of life, and some still survive to attest to the present generation the genuine nature of the work of divine grace in their hearts.
It was during this revival year that the question of building a new meeting-house first took definite shape. The old build- ing had stood and served its purpose for a period of 75 years, and was now too small and inconvenient to meet the wants of · the growing congregation. During the year 1831 subscriptions were started and an association formed for building a meeting- house. The building was finished during the following year, and on Christmas day, December 25, 1832, the house in which we now worship was solemnly dedicated to the worship of Al- mighty God.
In the succeeding years Mr. Savage continued to enjoy the confidence of his people, and accessions were yearly made to the membership of the church, as fruits of his ministry. In an historical discourse prepared and published during 1841, he re- ported that 272 had been added to the church on profession since his settlement, being an average of 18 per year.
On the 19th of May, 1850, the town celebrated the Centen- nial anniversary of its incorporation. It was a great day for Bedford. Many distinguished visitors, former residents of the town, and others, were present. It was estimated that about 2000 persons participated in the festivities. The Hon. Isaac O. Barnes, of Boston, a native of Bedford, delivered the Centen-
.
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nial address. A History of the town-the joint work of Rev. Mr. Savage, Dr. P. P. Woodbury, and Mr. William Patten, was published, embracing most of the facts of interest connected with the town history up to that date. It was the result of great labor and is an unusually interesting book of its kind.
Once more, near the close of his ministry, Mr. Savage was permitted to witness the Divine approval of his labors in a re- vival of religion. In 1864 a revival began in Manchester, in connection with the preaching of the Evangelist, Rev. A. B. Earle. The work extended to Bedford. Special meetings were held, and a deep and general interest prevailed. As a result, 72 persons united with the church during the year, on profession of faith.
On the 3d of January, 1866, the pastoral relation between the Rev. Thomas Savage and the church in Bedford was dissolved by the Presbytery of Londonderry. The pastorate of Mr. Sav- age extended over a period of nearly forty years, and embraced the most important period of the church's history. He had suc- ceeded in binding the church together in harmonious action in all Christian work, and bringing it forward to rank with the' strong churches in the state. His pastorate, on the whole, was eminently successful, and the influence of his labors will long be felt upon the cause of religion in this community.
Mr. Savage did not long survive the termination of his pas- torate. He died on the 8th of May, 1866, aged 72 years.
" As a preacher," says Dr. Wallace, " Mr. Savage was practi- cal and impressive. He did not dwell so much on the distinctive doctrines of the Gospel, as many preachers. He did not preach theology as a system. Yet he preached salvation only by the cross. But its doctrines .were mingled with precept as the leaven pervades the mass in which it is hidden. They appeared not as the veins penetrate the marble, but as the painter's color shades the whole."
Another says, "My earliest recollections of Mr. Savage go back to the first years of his ministry in Bedford. The impres- sion that he made on my young heart was that he was a power- ful and pathetic preacher. He lodged his texts, subjects and
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manner firmly in my memory. In the revivals of thirty years ago I remember him as one of the most active of laborers. He never seemed more at home and joyous than in the inquiry room. So earnest, affectionate and persuasive was he that he drew all our hearts towards himself and his Saviour."
A writer in the Boston Recorder, soon after his death, says of him : " His pulpit efforts were often signally felicitous, and not a few will remember-after the General Association of 1864, at Manchester, had voted to offer special thanks for converting grace vouchsafed to the congregation-how in prayer he took the great assembly up bodily to the gates of heaven, so that we could almost hear the songs of joy resounding within."
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