USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Warner > Historical discourse delivered at the centennial celebration of the Congregational Church in Warner, N.H., June 12, 1872 > Part 3
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This Covenant was signed and assented to by William Kelly, Joseph Sawyer, Richard Goodwin, Nehemiah Heath, Francis Davis, Abner Chase, Moses Clark and Parmenas Watson. The story has come down, that when the Council was convened, it was rumored they would not proceed, be- cause there was not a sufficient number of persons giving evidence of piety to form a Church; and that Isaac Wal- dron (who certainly had zeal, if not other qualifications) sent word to the Council that rather than they should fail for members, he would take hold and join the Church himself, though he should prefer to be excused.
After the Covenant, the church record continues, "The Council then proceeded to the Meeting House, where the solemnity was performed as followeth : The Rev. Moderator opened the meeting, the Rev. Jacob Emery of Pembroke made the first prayer; the Rev. Henry True of Hampstead preached a sermon from 2nd of Timothy, 3d Chapt. 17th verse : ' That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works;' the Rev. Abner Bayley of Salem gave the charge ; the Rev. Giles Merrill of Plaistow gave the fel- lowship; and the Rev. Jacob Rice of Henniker concluded with prayer."
Thus the little Church was organized in the wilderness. Though the names of males only are given as at first signing the Covenant, yet the wives of nearly all these first signers probably united at the same time. Nehemiah Heath, Joseph Sawyer, and Richard Goodwin, with their wives, joined this Church by letter of dismission from the Church in Hamp- stead, which was probably one reason why that Church was invited to sit on the Council.
Rev. William Kelly was born at Newbury, Mass., Octo- ber 31, 1744. He was the son of John Kelly, who after- wards' removed to Atkinson', N. II., where he died in 1783, aged eighty-four. The son graduated at Harvard College in 1767, and studied divinity with Rev. Henry True of Hamp-
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stead. He married, February 14, 1773, Lavinia Bayley, daughter of Rev. Abner Bayley of Salem, N. H. He was dismissed from his pastorate in Warner March 11, 1801, but continued for several years to preach more or less in the town. He resided here until his death, which was occasion- ed by a fit of apoplexy, May 18, 1813, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. Great interest gathers in our minds around Mr. Kelly, as the first minister. He was of small stature, and of a pleasant countenance. In disposition he was very kindly and genial, inclined to the lenient view of men and things. His sermons and prayers were short, as compared with the average of the times. In theology he was of the class who, at that day, were called moderate Calvinists. He was a man of prayer. One of his sons (who was with us until a few months since, and who we had hoped would be spared to link this anniversary more closely with 1772,) has spoken of the impression which used to be produced on him by his father's often retiring to a private room of their house for prayer. When he came out his face seemed to shine like that of Moses.
March 17, 1772, the Church met for further organization. On that day, in the language of the records, "after the meeting was opened by solemn prayer to God for direction, Parmenas Watson and Nehemiah Heath were chosen Dea- cons." These two men served the Church in this office - Deacon Watson for fifty-eight years, Deacon Heath for forty-eight; though during the latter part of, their lives younger men were appointed to aid them. How much of responsibility and care they bore for the Church! We be- lieve that in regard to them the Master said, " Well done, good and faithful servants." Both Deacon Watson and Deacon Heath were at times Selectmen, and filled other town offices. In the early days, a Deacons' seat was always pro- vided in the churches, directly in front of the pulpit, facing the people. There the Deacons sat, though their families
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occupied pews with the rest of the congregation. This cus- tom was given up in Warner when the present church was built.
Another well-known character of the early times was the tithing-man. Two tithing-men were annually appointed by the town, and their duties were to keep order in and around the church, and to prevent persons from breaking the Sab- bath by traveling, or in other ways. The boys usually well knew the tithing-man's seat in the meeting-house!
As to church music, in the very earliest times, probably not even the singers had books containing the tunes, but only a few hymn-books. Yet from them they sang many of the same words of praise which we sing to-day-those dear old hymns which abide from generation to generation. At the communion service, the Deacons read two lines of a hymn, which were sung, then the other two lines, and so on. Af- ter music-books were introduced, the first which the oldest living inhabitants of the town remember was the "Christian Harmony." No better title has since been devised. In Mr. Kelly's day, two of those who for a time led the singing were Enoch Morrill and Jacob Osgood. There were but five or six singers. Among them were Miriam Stevens, (wife of James Osgood,) Rachel Floyd, (wife of Enoch Os- good,) and the wife of John Hardy of Tory Hill. At first there were no musical instruments. At a church-meeting, probably near the beginning of 1800, though not dated, it was voted "to admit the Bass Viol in Publick Worship." The town coincided, by voting, March 4, 1800, "that the singers should be admitted to use Bass Viols and any other sacred instruments on the Sabbath in the meeting-house for the fu- ture." Later the violin was introduced, though not without some opposition at first. Deacon David Heath first played the bass viol, afterwards Deacon Barrett, John Ela, Deacon Wheeler, and others.
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During the last century, though there were Pulpit Bibles, the Scriptures were not generally read in the churches .. When they were first read here appears by a vote passed by" the Church May 4, 1815, " That the Holy Scriptures be read on the Sabbath; it being left discretionary with the Pas- tor whether or no to read Scott's Notes and Observations."
Marriages were cried by the town clerk at the close of the Sabbath meeting-a custom which could not have been most agreeable to the parties, however much it gratified cu- riosity. One of the oldest of our living citizens acknowl- edges that on the day when his fate was to be thus an- nounced, he went over to Salisbury and attended church. In these days, it is to be feared that people thus circumstanced would stay away without seeking some other place of wor- ship. But then every one attended church.
The customs of the times favored courtesy and reverence. When the service was finished, Mr. Kelly came down out of the pulpit and passed down the middle aisle, bowing right and left to everybody. The congregation all waited till he had passed out. During prayer, the people stood, though occasionally a minister preached whose prayers were so long that they sat down and got up three and four times for weariness. Rev. Ethan Smith of Hopkinton sometimes prayed an hour by the watch.
A fraternal spirit prevailed in the church. While offences against christian morality and violations of the church cov- enant were disciplined, great care and tenderness seem to have been exercised in this matter.
During the ministry of Mr. Kelly, persons were admitted to what was called the " Half-Way Covenant." By this was meant that persons of upright life and correct sentiments might be baptized themselves, and receive baptism for their children, without examination as to a change of heart and per- sonal faith in the Redeemer. Those who availed themselves- of this permission were said to, "own the Covenant." They
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avere not considered members of the Church, nor admitted to the Lord's Supper. It appears, however, from the Diary of Rev. Mr. Walker, first minister of Concord, under date of June 3 and July 1, 1764, that in that Church persons were propounded to own the Covenant after the same manner as when they were to unite with the Church. But the promise which they made was to seek after further evidences of christian character. The "Half-Way Covenant" was in general use among the early New England churches. It svas not scriptural, nor according to the example of Christ and his apostles. Yet it may have operated with many as it did with one who afterwards became a valuable member of this Church, who said that he thought owning the Cov- enant did him good, and that it was a restraint upon him to remember he had given up his children in baptism. Infant baptism was in those days sacredly honored by the Church.
Mr. Kelly was dismissed March 11, 1801, by a Council composed of the pastors and delegates of the churches in Canterbury, Concord and Pembroke. The Church chose him as their moderator, and he continued to fill that office until his death. It is very pleasant to add that we find proof of their continued affection for him in the vote they passed after his death, in which, as if he were still their pastor, they thank Rev. Moses Sawyer, Rev. Mr. Smith and Rev. Mr. Bliss for their kind offices in attending his funeral, and especially Mr. Sawyer, for his " able and well adapted discourse delivered on the occasion."
After the dismission of Mr. Kelly, the Church were for thirteen years without a pastor. Those were years of trial. The Church, however, secured preaching a good deal of the time. When they could not have it constantly, they made an effort for it on Communion Sabbaths. A Mr. Davis, an Englishman, from Albany, preached for a time. A revival followed his labors and quite a number united with the Church. Rev. William Harlow preached here for several
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years. The Church, January 7, 1809, gave him a call to settle, but the town refused to concur. Mr. Harlow after- wards preached for three years at Auburn, in this State. A Mr. Rolfe preached for a time, and the Church, Dec. 23, 1810, invited him to settle, but he either declined, or the town refused to concur. During these years, the town raised very little for the support of preaching. The only sum voted for this purpose was $150 in 1805, of which sum each society was to have its proportion. Those who loved the Church were fast learning that its support must depend upon them- selves, not upon those who were indifferent or hostile to it.
As early as April, 1802, the Church voted to attempt to form a Congregational Society, and chose a committee of five for the purpose. The object was not accomplished, however, until ten years later. December 5, 1812, the Con- gregational Society was incorporated, and, with modifications of its constitution, it has continued to the present time. Among its early members were many who were not connected with the Church, but who felt that the maintenance of religious institutions was an object in which every moral, intelligent, patriotic citizen should take an interest. So ought it always to be. The Society, from that time on, has had the charge of the support of the ministry, for though the town voted, October 8, 1813, to join with the Church in giving Mr. Woods a call, they never raised any money for salary. Fi- nally, in 1819, the Legislature passed a law abolishing the ancient mode of settling ministers by towns; or in other words, the connection of Church. and State. Henceforward the history of the Church is connected with the town only as it should be, by the moral benefit it has conferred upon it.
God was preparing good for the Church. In the middle of 1813, a young man named John Woods, just licensed to preach, was employed a few Sabbaths. The people became interested in him, and on September 21st, 1813, the Church gave him a call to become their pastor, in
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which the town soon after concurred. He was offered by a . Church in Massachusetts nearly double the salary which this Church could pay, but he had become interested in this people, and felt that his duty was here, and therefore ac- cepted their call. He was ordained June 22d, 1814. As respects the general interest it awakened, an ordination in those and earlier days was like a muster. Everybody came. The Congregational Society voted, June 1, "to have music to cs- cort the Council to and from the meeting-house." As usual on ordination days, there was abundant provision for the council and for all friends present. It is told, in illustration of the times, that, it being a year of scarcity, Levi Bartlett was sent to Newport to get wheat for the ordination. He could get none there, and went to New London, where he succeeded in buying it of the father of the present Governor Colby. He bought two bushels, at $2.50 a bushel, and brought it home on horseback. So valued was it that the people would not use a teaspoonful for anything but the or- dination.
The Council was composed of Rev. Dr. Seth Payson of Rindge, Rev. Dr. Asa McFarland of Concord, Rev. Ethan Smith of Hopkinton, Rev. Ebenezer Price of Boscawen, and Rev. Moses Sawyer of Henniker, with a delegate from each of these churches, and two delegates from Bradford. Dr. McFarland offered the introductory prayer. Dr. Payson preached from II Timothy, 11. 2: "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Mr. Smith made the ordaining prayer, Mr. Sabin gave the charge, Mr. Sawyer the right hand of fellowship, and Mr. Price offered the concluding prayer.
Mr. Woods was born at Fitzwilliam, N. H., in 1785. He graduated at Williams College in 1812, and pursued his studies in preparation for the ministry with Rev. Dr. Pay- son of Rindge, who, at that period, had divinity students.
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He was dismissed from his pastorate in Warner June 17, 1823; was pastor of the church in Newport, N. H., from 1824 to 1851 ; and afterwards preached for a time at Fitz- william, where he died May 4, 1861, aged 76. Mr. Woods was a strong man; a plain, pointed preacher, strictly Calvin- istic, and fearless in presenting doctrinal truth. He had a sound judgment, and was well adapted to the peculiarities of the time when he came. Says one who knew him, " Hc was a man who threw up the sub-soil and laid deep founda- tions. At the same time he looked for the work of the Holy Spirit. He let the Holy Spirit do the work, and he followed after." While to those who did not really know him he perhaps seemed severe in his presentations of truth, he was found on acquaintance to be reasonable, kindly, and warm- hearted.
Before Mr. Woods' ordination, he presented to the Church a Confession of Faith, containing a more specific statement of the great doctrines of the Gospel than the Covenant they had previously used. This was adopted by them March 14, 1814. A new Confession of Faith and Covenant were pro- posed by Mr. Wellman, and adopted July 31, 1831. These have continued in use until the present year, when, on the 11th of May, another Confession of Faith and Covenant were adopted. These several Confessions, though different in expression, are all essentially the same in doctrine and spirit.
It is interesting and instructive to read of various meas- ures adopted by the Church and pastor to promote religious growth. March 4, 1814, " the Church agreed to spend one hour every week (viz .: from 8 to 9 o'clock Saturday even- ing) in reading the devotional parts of Scripture, and in. special prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit and a revival of religion in this place." July 30, 1815, they voted to ob- serve the monthly concert of prayer for missions on the first Monday of every month.
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July 10, 1817, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted by the Church : " Whereas, it has pleased God in the economy of grace to make an everlasting covenant of mercy with the believer and his seed, and he has proposed, ยท through the instrumentality of pious parents, to bestow spiritual blessings upon their offspring ; and whereas we are bound by our covenant engagements before God and his people 'to bring up our families in the nurture and admo- nition of the Lord,' which engagements we are sensible have in times past been greatly neglected ; therefore
" Resolved, That we feel ourselves under solemn obligations, both as individuals and as a Church of Christ, to pay special attention to our baptized children ; and we hereby engage that we will daily read or cause the Holy Scriptures to be read by or before them, will pray with and for them, and will catechize, warn, exhort and counsel them from time to time, as their age, circumstances, opportunity and duty re- quire.
" Resolved, secondly, That, unless providentially prevented, we will meet at least twice every year to present ourselves and our baptized children, who are capable of receiving in- struction and who are under our command, before the Lord, unitedly to implore the blessing of our Covenant God upon them, to instruct them in the things of religion, and en- deavor to impress their minds with a proper sense of their special obligations to God on account of their special priv- ileges as the children of His covenant people.
" Resolved, thirdly, That we will encourage unbaptized children, and we do carnestly desire that their parents and guardians would encourage, direct and assist them to meet with us, to receive religious instruction, and share with our children an interest in the prayers of the Church."
These semi-annual meeting's of the Church with their chil- dren were continued for many years with great profit. The baptized children were regarded as standing in a very close
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relation to the Church, of which some places in the records call them " minor members." Besides the meetings already named, Mr. Woods held catechetical meetings occasionally, on week-day afternoons, in the district school-houses, where there were families of the Church. At these meetings the children recited lessons which they had previously learned at home, under the care of their parents. The older chil- dren had questions to be answered by repeating verses of Scripture; those under ten recited Emerson's Catechism. The old people say, when asked how all this could be se- cured, "The children were expected to go, as much as on the Sabbath. Christian people made their religion the first thing; they laid their plans to attend the meetings, and to have their children attend." One who was a child under Mr. Woods' ministry speaks of him as a children's minister, and of the impression produced upon her mind by his read- ing such hymns as,
" Children, in years and knowledge young, Your parents' hope, your parents' joy, Attend the counsels of my tongue, Let pious thoughts your minds employ."
The Sabbath-school connected with our church was estab- lished about this time, in 1817, and has continued ever since. The school connected with this Church must have been one of the earliest in the State. The Sabbath-school system has proved a great blessing; but let us remember that no such system can supersede the necessity of the personal religious influence of the parents and the pastor over the children.
On January 2, 1817, the subject of ordaining deacons was discussed ; and it was voted that three neighboring ministers be invited to assist in the ordination of the deacons in this Church in April following. The deacons in our Church have frequently since, though not always, been set apart in this way.
The Standing Committee of the Church were first appoint- ed November 23, 1820, after the Church had, in the lan-
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guage of the record, "repeatedly sought divine direction and blessing."
Thursday, October 24, 1821, was observed by the Church as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer, agreeably to the recommendation of the General Association. The pastor states that about seventy were present, and that there was a pleasing union of heart.
These various efforts of the pastor and people were at- tended by the divine blessing. A precious revival of religion was enjoyed ; and, especially during the years 1814 and 1816, numbers were added to the Church. One who experienced religion at about this time states that he knows of hardly any of the converts who did not hold out.
Mr. Woods was, as already stated, dismissed June 17, 1823. His resignation of his pastorate was duc chiefly to remissness in the payment of his salary. The society voted him, at his ordination, a settlement of $500 and a salary of $400 and twenty cords of wood annually. The salary, how- ever, was soon but partly paid, and the arrearage increased year by year, until he felt constrained to ask a dismission. The trouble seems to have arisen, not from lack of regard for Mr. Woods, but from a failure on the part of a portion of the people to realize their personal responsibility to aid efficient- ly in supporting the gospel. This is proved by the fact that his resignation took many by surprise, and when a new sub- scription paper was started for his support, three times as many as before put their names upon it. The arrearage, however, remained unpaid, and for that reason he thought it his duty to accept a call from another people.
From 1823 to 1827 the Church was without a pastor. Rev. Henry C. Wright preached here for probably about two years.
Rev. David P. Smith, afterwards settled at Greenfield, supplied the pulpit for six months, and Rev. William Har- low for four months.
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January 14, 1827, the pulpit was first occupied by a man who was destined to prove a great blessing to this Church. This was Rev. Jubilee Wellman. He was at first engaged for only four weeks, but continued to preach a considerable part of the time until September 26, when he was installed as pastor. The Lord led pastor and people along by his own manifest guidance in the matter. Mr. Wellman him- 'self states that for several months previous to his coming, several members of the Church felt peculiarly solicitous for the souls of those around them. Though destitute of stated preaching, besides regularly assembling upon the Sabbath for religous worship as a body, several, (and perhaps many) of the members of the Church had constantly maintained prayer-meetings, longing to cultivate a spirit of piety and of desire for the effusion of the Holy Spirit. "A few at least,", to quote his language, "began to feel like Jacob of old, when wrestling with the Angel of the Covenant." Soon the Lord made it evident to them that they had not prayed in vain. On the 21st of January, one young lady was received to the Church on profession of her faith. This event at the time seemed to make a powerful impression upon the audience, es- pecially upon the young, and it was afterwards learned that several received their first serious impressions from witness- ing it. From that time, the pious and observing could no longer doubt that God was in the place by the special pres- ence of the Holy Spirit. Evening meetings were appointed. At one held Feburary 5, fifteen attended as enquirers, and on Feburary 12, twenty-six, though in each instance the weath- er was very unfavorable. During the next few weeks some sixty or seventy at different times attended the meeting for religious enquiry, and most of them gave good evidence of becoming disciples of Christ. Twenty-eight united with the Church by profession in 1827. Mr. Wellman notes the fact that the Church was saved from loss of blessing "by the caution used against speaking evil of any ;" making it only
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their care "faithfully to preach the gospel, and apply it to the heart and conscience." He says, "The means (other than the preaching of the word upon the Sabbath,) which seemed to promote the revival, were visiting from house to house,' and addressing each individual by name, urging the necessity of immediate repentance; and meetings for special prayer. In various parts of the town cight or ten religous meetings were almost constantly held by the brethren, weekly, for three months." But above all, he says, "God has dimmed the pride of all human glory, by showing that the work here was emphatically His. Many who now rejoice in hope were first impressed with a sense of sin while at home. One was deeply impressed with his sinfulness while employed in hunting or fishing upon the Sabbath. This man lived in a remote part of the town, and was notorious for his impiety and disregard of gospel institutions. God gave the increase. To Him be glory and dominion forever, Amen."
We turn back to say a few words of the new pastor. Mr. Wellman was born in Greenfield, Mass., in 1793, and grad- uated at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1823, in the third class which left that institution. He was settled at French- port, Maine, from September, 1824, to January, 1826, then at Warner, and afterwards at West Westminister, Vt., from March, 1838, to January, 1842. In October, 1849, he was installed at Lowell, Vt., and died at that place March 16, 1855, aged 62. He was thoroughly in earnest in his work, and a man who communed much with God. Says one who has known the history of the Church, "He was a man for the time; peculiarly fitted to build upon the foundation pre- viously laid." As a preacher he was faithful and acceptable. In social life he was a christian gentleman, generous, kind- hearted, and much beloved by the people.
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