USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton > Historical sketch of Hampton, N. H., for 250 years, 1638-1888 : and of the Congregational Church in Hampton, N. H. > Part 2
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years two hundred and twenty were added to the church. In 1698 fourteen were dismissed to join the church in Exeter. The congregation must have grown, as there was a demand for more seats in the meeting-house. Dis- cipline was enforced, and active measures taken to bring the young people to a sense of their covenant obliga- tions. In 1704 it was voted, -"That the Present Selectmen take care that all the Clay Walls in the Meeting House that are not ceiled shall be Smoothed over with Clay and Washed with . White Lime & made Hansom," "to have the flore over the Beams of sd Meeting House covered with Bords, and these bords that are Seasoned Joynted & nayled Down." Even then they would have things " hansom." A new bell was also purchased to replace the old one, which was " splitt." A parsonage was built. And the fortification was removed from the meeting-house. There seems to have been a general waking up. The life, that cometh down out of Heaven, was astir in this church. From these scattered farm-houses they crowded the roads that led to the Ring; and fervent prayers were answered; and discouraged, and almost despairing, souls were lightened; and eyes dim with watching again saw the salvation of the Lord. The able preacher and faithful pastor, may be worn out by overmuch work, died sud- denly, March 27, 1710, at the early age of fifty-two. His memory still lingers, like the fragrance of the faded rose that has been laid on the casket of the loved one. The descendants of some of those, whom he led to Christ, sit at our communion. During his ministry 320 were admitted to full communion, and there were about 975 baptisms.
His successor, Rev. Nathaniel Gookin, who had married his daughter, was ordained pastor November 14, 1710. . At a town meeting held in April, 1710, quite a number dissented from the vote to hire a minister for
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the town for reasons which do not appear on the record. The prosperity of the church continued under the earnest labors of this excellent man. Although, besides the ordinary losses, in 1711 forty-nine members were dismissed to form the church in Kingston, and in 1726 twenty to join the new church in Rye; at his death the church numbered two hundred and fifty-three members. In 1712 the church had for communion purposes "three Pewter Flagons, I Pewter Tanker, I Pewter Bason, I Table Cloth, & 5 Napkins." A subscription was cir- culated, and with the money raised " was bought Eight Silver Beakers, which was committed to ye two deacons Dow & Dalton." We also find frequent assessments on members for Communion expenses. A new meeting- house was also built. It was voted that it be built on "ye meeting-house green as near ye present meeting- house as shall be judged convenient;" and that "it be built 60 feet in Length & 46 in width, and 27 feet in stude between joints, and yt a steeple or Turret be built to the house at one end thereof from ye beam up- ward of convenient and suitable bigness & heidth to said house, and that there shall be one pew in sd house, & that for the minister's family." By a subsequent vote these dimensions were slightly changed to make "it more proportionate and hansomer." The old meeting- house was to be sold for the benefit of Mr. Gookin. On October IS, 1719, the new meeting-house was occupied for the first time. To prevent confusion and unseemly dispute the town appointed a committee to assign seats in the meeting-house. New assignments were made whenever needed ; for there are frequent votes ordering such assignment. In the year 1729 were remarkable physical disturbances, terrible thunder-storms and an earthquake. The earthquake was almost anticipated in the first of Mr. Gookin's four sermons on " The day of trouble is at hand." Religion then was in a sad
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state. The earthquake shook up the people. There was a marked seriousness through the place, and many were added at successive communions to the church. Mr. Gookin in his graphic description of the earthquake writes, -" Many are now asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward. They say, Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant, not to be forgotten. Making a credible profession of faith and repentance, they draw nigh to the Lord's table, and ob- serve that (hitherto) too much neglected ordinance of his Supper. This is the happy effect, which, by the grace of God, the earthquake has had upon some among us." Mr. Gookin died August 25, 1734, at the early age of forty-eight." "Learned, prudent, pious, and very much loved," a contemporary writer describes him, "excelling as preacher and divine." In the town records there is a glowing eulogy on his character, but too long to quote. His tombstone tells us that "he was a judicious divine, a celebrated preacher, a most vigilant and faithful pastor, an ornament of learning and religion, and an excellent pattern of piety, charity and hospitality." He was certainly an able preacher and faithful pastor. With characteristic kindness the parish built for Mrs. Gookin's use a house and barn, voted her 80 pounds per year during her life or widowhood, 15 cords of wood yearly, and the keeping of three or four cows and a horse. In addition to this fifty pounds were given her for immediate expenses. This church is noted for its kindness to its ministers.
Mr. Ward Cotton was chosen to assist Mr. Gookin, who was in feeble health, and was ordained a few months previous to his death, June 19, 1734. The salary finally voted by the town was :- 100 pounds in paper money, and 20 pounds in provision ; after four years five pounds to be added annually till the salary amounted to 120 pounds in money and 20 pounds in provision; the use
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of the parsonage, hay and land sufficient to keep two or three cows and a horse, and the necessary fire-wood. The promised increase of salary seems to have been more than made good. In 1740 and subsequent years 40 pounds were added to his salary "on account of the low value of paper money this year; " and in 1742 he received a special contribution for his "more than ordi- nary labours." There were also further additions made to his salary; and in 1742 it was voted to make his " sallary as good as it was when he Bargained with us being tryed by the Silver currency to stand for one year." About this time were several votes ordering that more pews be built. It was also ordered that pews be sold to the highest bidders, and a maximum and minimum price was put on them. About 1737 and 1739 members withdrew to form the church at North Hill (now North Hampton), apparently with some mis- understanding and lack of good will on the part of this church. It seems to have been a time of weeding out and spiritual growth. Frequent cases of discipline are recorded, and frequent additions to the church. At the communion in March, 1741, forty-one members were received, apparently the largest increase at any one time hitherto. During his ministry 437 members were added to the church, and there were about 1200 baptisms. In 1738 we have the first record of a contribution for Home Missions. The meeting-house was repaired, and a new steeple built; four new flagons and four cups purchased for communion purposes; and other improve- ments made. One sad event happened then, the terrible throat distemper, which first appeared at Kingston, in May, 1735, and "ravaged from Pemaquid to Carolina."
" The general description of it is a swelled throat, with white or ash-colored specks, an efflorescence on the skin, great debility of the whole system, and a strong tendency to putridity." Fifty-five children died of it in this par-
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ish ; in the second parish (Hampton Falls) where it was specially fatal, it carried away one-sixth of the inhab- itants within thirteen months. This was a time of much spiritual prosperity and readiness for the work. But a dark cloud gathered on the clear sky. The pastor be- came physically infirm; and, may be in consequence of this infirmity, lapsed into sad immorality. A council was called, and he was dismissed November 12, 1765. At a meeting held June, 1766, it is recorded, -" In. consequence of Mr. Cotton's confession - Voted, to re- ceive Mr. Ward Cotton to the Charitable Communion of this Church as a Brother in Communion with us." But he did not again become its pastor.
. Before the next pastor was settled, on June 14, 1776, deacon Joshua Lane was killed by lightning on his door-step. A more terrible storm now swept the whole country; but the church kept on the even tenor of her way. You would not know from the church records that now the war for our National Independence was being waged. Rev. Ebenezer Thayer succeeded Mr. Cotton, and was ordained September 17, 1766. There was some opposition to his settlement. The church then consisted of two hundred and sixty-four members. It grew amid the storm. During Mr. Thayer's pastorate one hundred and two were added to the church. The meeting-house was renovated, new pews added, and seats made for the singers. A parson- age was also built. May be in these troublous times the congregation was not as orderly as it might be. The tything men were instructed to see that persons took their seats immediately on entering the Gallery. One of the most important occurrences of Mr. Thayer's ministry was the change of hymn-books. Up to this time the book used was the Bay State Psalm Book as improved by Henry Dunster, First President of Har- vard College, in conjunction with Richard Lyon. It
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was voted at town meeting, January 17, 1772,- "To exchange Dunster's Version of Psalms for Doctr Wattses Psalms & Hymns." It seems to us strange to read in the records of town-meetings votes authorising the singing of new tunes in church service, giving minute instructions as to singing, and fixing the length of intermission between the services. The town inter- fered in ecclesiastical matters further than was profitable for either town or church. That discipline was not neglected is apparent from votes of the church appoint- ing committees to assist the pastor in this matter. Mr. Thayer preached on Sabbath, and died next day, No- vember 6, 1792. The town paid his funeral expenses, and gave a gratuity to his widow. He was a man of singular purity of life and singleness of purpose ; yield- ing, and yet manly ; a lover of peace, without any sacri- fice of dignity. In his letter, on the falling off of salary caused by the depreciation of the currency, recorded in the Town Records, he manfully asserts his rights, and yet cheerfully waives these rights in the interests of Christian peace and unity. And in justice to the peo- ple it must be said that they honestly attempted by additions to his salary to make good whatever of loss there was from depreciation of the currency. Leaning on a summer afternoon against his tombstone in yonder cemetery, the most conspicuous monument there, the eye wanders with pleasure over the intermingling of green field and grateful forest, while to the ear comes the faintest hint of the vast ocean. Lovelier by far the character of him whose mortal remains sleep in that grave ; and the whispers of what he was and what he did for this church should come to our ears now, even as the ocean ever utters its voice beneath the din of day and during the silence of night.
After Mr. Thayer's death an unfortunate division rent the church. As far back as 1712 we find Presby-
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terian tendencies. They now come to the surface. After unsuccessful attempts to settle Nathaniel Thayer, Daniel Dana, and Jonathan Brown, the town voted at a meeting held October 19, 1795, "to give Mr. William Pidgin a call to settle in this town according to the Presbyterian form of church government." The vote stood: 63 for, 20 against. As the town could not, ac- cording to Congregational usage, settle a minister with- out the consent of the church, and as a vote for the call of Mr. Pidgin was negatived by the church, this was a necessary step, if he was to become the minister of Hampton. The church held a meeting on the same day, and adjourned to the 27th, when it was voted, - " Not to give Mr. William Pidgin a call to settle with us." Mr. Pidgin addresses his acceptance of the call " To the Presbyterian Church & Society in Hampton." At a church meeting held January, 1797, a unanimous call was voted to Jesse Appleton, who was ordained February 22. Then began the angry controversy and lawsuits, into the history of which I have not time to enter. A sad cloud rests on Mr. Pidgin's character. Under the wise and judicious leadership of their talented pastor the Congregational Society prospered. Being ousted from the old meeting-house, they built a new meeting-house in 1797, (our present town-house) and dedicated it November 14th of that year. On Novem- ber 10, 1807, Mr. Appleton was dismissed to assume the Presidency of Bowdoin College; and the old difficulty seemed healed, only to break out in another shape.
The Presbyterians returned to the old church, and the reunited church used the new meeting-house. Rev. Josiah Webster was installed pastor June 8, 18OS. The town voted him a salary of $525, and the use of " the house parsonage." Mr. Webster was as upright in character as in person ; scorning to do anything mean or dishonorable ; an untiring worker in all moral and
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religious reform; a diligent pastor and able preacher; earnest in revival work; treating opponents with manly frankness and Christian courtesy; maintaining his own opinions without regard to consequences, and giving re- spectful attention to the opinions of others. He was a leader in the Temperance movement when it cost some- thing to be a Temperance worker. By vote of the church October 4, 1835, the use of ardent spirits was prohibited to church members. There was but one vote in the negative. The first Sunday-School was organized during his pastorate in 1818, and three years later the first Sunday-School Library was introduced.
On March 31, 1825, the present articles of faith and covenant was adopted,- "former attempts to adopt arti- cles having failed ; but " as the record reads, "God has produced a mighty change within the last 17 years."
In 1808 it was voted to tear down the old meeting- house on the Green, and sell the lots at public auction.
Stoves were introduced by a vote of the town in 1821. The stove was so to be placed " as not to injure the meeting-house, or any person who sits therein." Our fathers must have been afraid that the thing would explode. Mr. Webster was an earnest worker in revival efforts; but, strange to say, there was much opposition in the church to special efforts and revival work. But he persevered in face of opposition, and much success attended his labors. We read of a prayer- meeting that continued three or four hours.
There was a marked work of grace in 1819, and thirty- four members were added to the church. In connection with this revival Mr. Webster writes :- " A very large number, besides those who obtained hope of a new heart, seemed convinced that the special influences of God's Spirit were sent down upon us, tho' always before many of them had denied any such influences." In the long and bitter controversy with the Baptist Society respecting the ministerial fund, and which resulted in the separation of the town from the church, Mr. Web- ster never stooped to take an unfair advantage ; and this
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cannot be said of all the parties to this strife. But I do not propose to rake up the embers of a scarcely ex- tinguished quarrel. At the March town-meeting, 1835, it was voted, - " That Mr. Webster be no longer min- ister of the town, and that the Ministerial funds be di- vided." To this vote the selectmen of the Congrega- tional Society objected. The controversy was sub- stantially settled by a division of the fund (I cannot say, an equitable division) among the three Societies in 1836; though the echoes of the strife lingered about three years longer. In 1844 the old meeting-house became the town-house. Mr. Webster died March 27, 1837. During his ministry one hundred and seventy members · were admitted to the church. In yonder cemetery a granite shaft fitly symbolises the strong and upright character of him whose dust rests beneath.
I can merely glance at his successors, confining myself to the installed pastors. Erasmus D. Eldridge was called to the pastorate in 1838, and dismissed be- cause of failing health in 1849. During his ministry the building we now occupy was built. Under his faithful labors one hundred and fourteen members were received on profession of faith. His successor, Rev. Solomon P. Fay, was ordained in 1849. The church was then on a sea of troubles ; but this skilful pilot at the helm brought her safely through. At this critical period of her history it was well for the church that there stood in her pulpit one who was so able a preacher, and so wise and judicious a pastor. Mr. Fay was dis- missed August 29, 1854. Rev. John Colby became pastor of the church in October, 1855, and was dis- missed in November, 1863. The church grew spiritually under his zealous ministry; and in the troubles that arose his voice always was for peace. The church- meeting held June 27, 1864, which remained in session until 2 o'clock in the morning, must have been very in-
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teresting or - very stormy. The next settled pastor, Rev. John W. Dodge, was installed October 19, 1865, and dismissed November 18, 1868. His labors here were abundantly blessed, and many members were added to the church. After being about a year acting pastor, Rev. James McLean was installed December 15, 1870; and was dismissed after a short, somewhat troubled, but on the whole successful, pastorate of one year. During this time a new hymn-book, "The Tribute of Praise," was introduced. I think a better might easily have been selected. To-day we lay it aside, and intro- duce " Spiritual Songs." The next pastor of this church, Rev. Walcott W. Fay, was ordained February 20, 1884, and dismissed November 16, 1886. The unbroken harmony of the church and frequent additions to its membership during this short pastorate testify to the successful labors of this young, energetic, and talented minister, whose worth the churches are now finding out.
This brings the history of the church down to the present time. It has now 136 resident members; 49 males, and 87 females. The little sapling has grown to be a great tree. The little congregation, that met in the rude log meeting-house two hundred and fifty years ago, has continued its unbroken history, the oldest church in New Hampshire, down to this year of grace, 1888. Many changes have taken place. The pine for- ests of Winnicunett have been cut down. The Indian wigwam has vanished. Productive farms and comfort- able homes have displaced the wilderness. The old landmarks are disappearing. Meeting-houses have been built, and taken down, and rebuilt. Creeds have changed ; and new modes of worship crowded out the old. But the church remains the same, because her foundation is He who is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. She still holds to the same truths, and worships the same God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Her Bible is the
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same, and her essential faith the same. She has written the epitapas on the old tomb-stones in yonder ancient cemetery; she speaks the same words of hope by dying beds to-day. Now, as then, at marriage feasts she changes the water of common mercies into the wine of heavenly blessings; and writes over the gates of the cemetery not, "We are all passing away ;" but, " I am the resurrection and the life." Yes, as out yonder, in · the calm and the storm; when in the still moonlight the waves flash and gem the rocks with silvery spangles, and when the fog creeps over the sea and hides the treach- erous rocks; when the stars listen to ocean's gentle murmur, and when the loud voice of the angry billows startle the darkened heavens, - the light from White Island flashes over the sea, and safely guides the ship on its course; so in the calm and the tempest - when peace and happiness bless the life, and when the stress and storm of trial and temptation beat upon it, this church has been the lighthouse, sending its unquenched rays across the waters and through the darkness, safely guiding on his way every voyager to yon eternal shore.
May this old church, which has such a grand his- tory behind it, for many centuries to come still point the way to heaven. May the succession of able and faithful ministers who have stood in its pulpit, be con- tinued for more than two hundred and fifty years in the future. When the congregation, that now assembles within the walls of its meeting-house, are sleeping in yonder cemetery may it still send to heaven the voice of prayer and praise, and from its pulpit still be broken the bread of life to hungry multitudes. May it still at marriage feasts change the water into wine, and carry the ministrations of the blessed gospel of Christ to the sick and into the homes of the disconsolate. Yes, I will add the petition, as at the beginning there was but one church in the town, and every Christian found a con-
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genial home within its pale, and fit food for his soul hunger in its ministrations; so may this venerable church broaden its creed, and diversify its modes of worship, and present the gospel simply as the Master taught it, that again every disciple of Christ in the place shall be assured of a welcome to its ordinances, find a sweet resting-place in its communion, be fed by the pure bread of life broken in its pulpit, and strengthened and guided on his way heavenward by the Christ-like charity of its members and the Christly worship of its services. May it be, not as "the great red star" that at every sunset flashes from White Island, but as the immortal star looking down from the wide heaven, and sending its light across the path of many generations.
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