USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 35
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The Congregation, which entered this " meeting house," seemed to do this with a reverential awe. I occupied the wall pew left of the front door. These wall pews were raised a step or two above those in the body of the house, and I had a fine chance to view and study the people. Directly in front of me, in the first body pew on the left, sat Deacon Farrar, his wife, and Miss Abby Burgin, who usually dressed in white, and attracted boy- ish attention by the very deliberate manner in which she entered the pew and took her seat. The deacon was a dark complexioned. dyspeptic little man, with his thin black hair combed up to the top of his head, and tied in small knots to cover his baldness. In the second wall pew on the left, sat Mrs. John Moore, an elderly widow, and her son, William, whose first wife I do not recollect seeing at church; but his second wife (Mary Samp- son) soon made her appearance, full of life, bright, and handsome as any of her girls. In the first wall pew on the right of the door from the west porch, sat Capt. Stephenson and family. The Captain was an old man, quite bald and stooping. Richard Eastman occupied the body pew directly in front of the west door. David Burnside, fresh and ruddy, with blue coat and bright brass buttons, showed himself, with his wife, in the second
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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
wall pew on the left of the west door; and Thomas Carlisle, also wearing bright metal buttons, with his very dressy wife, occupied the next wall pew adjoining. The minister's pew was the first one next the wall west of the pulpit. Mrs. Everett, a handsome widow, with her daughters, occupied about the fourth pew in the body of the house, on the right of the broad aisle. Mrs. Boardman, the next adjoining toward the pulpit. That congregation is arrayed before me as if but yesterday I saw them. A little later, about 1820 or 1822, Jared W. Williams, from Connecticut, with his wife, appeared in the old church. Royal Joyslin also returned from Bath, straight and handsome as a man is ever likely to be. Soon an exceedingly pretty lady. Julia Barnard, changed her seat, and was seen sitting in church with Mr. Joyslin. Nothing attracted my boyish atten- tion more than the manner that different people stood for prayers. The women usually stood erect, with hands on the railing of the pews. Some "fidgety " little men and women were constantly changing their positions. There was Major Weeks, tall and stately, "six feet two" in stockings, standing like a post, perfectly erect, with arms folded, and his eyes cast. down on the floor a few feet in front of him, as if on parade, never chang- ing a muscle during the exercises. Deacon Farrar and a few others leaned over the top of their pews.
There was one thing that troubled my boyish mind. I could not see the singers. All I could see was several men and women come into the gallery from the east porch, and, at the close of the service, as I passed out, William Lovejoy, with strong and sonorous voice, would announce "marriage intended," etc., etc. This seemed to be a part of the service.
After a while I crept into the west gallery, where my curiosity was gratified. The singers were twelve or fifteen powerful men and seven or eight ladies. What the music lacked in scientific culture, it made up in power, and such strains of melody as went up to the " Majesty on High " were neither faint nor to be misunderstood. No choir is blessed with per- petual peace. One morning Francis Bingham appeared in the singers' seats with a bass viol. The hymn was started. The ancient chorister stopped and said: "Mr. Bingham, you must put away that fiddle. We cannot sing." But the " fiddle " held its own, for that and many succeed- ing Sundays, and, in a few weeks, Mr. Bingham was joined by O. W. Baker with a flute, and Walter Sherman with a clarionet.
At the close of the service, the doxology being sung, usually to the tune of "Old Hundred," and blessing being pronounced, the congregation left. as reverently as they came.
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CHAPTER XXVI.
Ecclesiastical - Early Preaching - First Church -Confession of Faith and Covenant - Original Members - First Pastor - " Parson " Willard's Letter - " Parson " Willard's Dismissal - Other Pastors. - Orthodox Congregational Church - Organization - Faith and Covenant - Original Members - Pastors - New Articles of Faith, Etc .- First Unitarian Society - Church Covenant - First Members - Pastors - Prominent Men in the Church - Officers-Ladies' Benev- olent Society - Sunday School - Rev. J. B. Morrison. - Methodist Episcopal Church - Early Methodism - Organization - Pastors - Financial Condition .- Baptist Church, Formation - Original Members - Church Building .- St. Paul's Episcopal Church -Confirmation - Church Editice - Rectors. - Catholicity in Coos- First Public Service at Lancaster- Priests -Church Building -- Missions.
IRST Church."-The worship of the Creator in some public form has always accompanied the first steps of the pioneer into new regions. Owing to the Revolutionary war, emigration was retarded, and for two decades after the first settlement of Lancaster the increase in popu- lation was very small. About 1779 and 1780, there was a valuable addi- tion to the number of inhabitants,-persons of wealth and education. At that period in our country's history, the towns, mostly, not individuals, supported public worship, and erected the "meeting honses." In 1786 the town of Lancaster took measures to secure the ministrations of the Gospel, and voted " that thirty-two dollars be assessed to hire preaching the ensuing summer, and, that Major Jonas Wilder, Edwards Bucknam, and Lieut. Emmons Stockwell, be a committee to hire a minister." From records we find that "Rev. Lathrop Tomson preached six Sundays for five bushels of wheat per day, in 1787." From this time there was occasional preaching, services being held in private dwellings; Major Wilder's house being most frequently used.
The town voted. April 13, 1790, "that the town will well and truly pay to the Rev. Benjamin Bell, three hundred bushels of good wheat. annually, on the following and expressed conditions: That he, the said Rev. Ben- jamin Bell, shall settle in this town of Lancaster, in the work of the Gos- pel ministry, and that he preach a certain proportion of the time in the towns of Northumberland and Guildhall, as the towns may agree, saving to the Right of the said Rev. Benjamin Bell three weeks annually for the use of visiting his friends and relations, if he see occation, and that the Town will unite with the first Church that may be hereafter formed in the Town of Lancaster on the Conditions as in this vote mentioned." (Joseph Brackett, William P. Hodgdon, and Walter Philbrook enter their dissent to this vote.)
*By Georgia Drew Merrill.
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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
October 11, 1791, it was voted " that the committee for hiring preaching (Col. Jonas Wilder, Mr. Elisha Wilder, and Mr. Stephen Willson), apply to Mr. Thursting (Thurston?), whom is preaching with us, to preach with us another term as soon as may be after his engagements are out other where; to preach with us on probation as we have a view of settling the Gospel with us." "Voted, to proceed to the building a meeting house as soon as is convenient for us. Voted, to choose a committee of seven men to examine a spot for a meeting house, and to report to this meeting at the adjournment; said committee being Col. Edwards Bucknam, Col. Jonas Wilder, Capt John Weeks, Lieut. Emmons Stockwell, Lieut. Joseph Brackett, Lieut. Dennis Stanley. Capt. David Page." (This committee, after making their report, was continued, and authorized to lay out six acres on the " plain above the sand hill, " and inspect its clearing and make it a " meeting house plot.")
It was also voted to choose a committee to make out a plan of a meeting house, and report at the adjournment. This committee was Lieut. Jere- miah Willcox, Jonas Baker and Capt. John Weeks. After the plan was adopted. the following method to raise the funds to build it was recom- mended, " that the pews be sold at public vendue. That each person give his note to the committee, who shall be authorized to receive the pay and appropriate the same. That each person be subjected to the following method of payment. That the whole sum be divided into four parts, to be paid the four next succeeding years. That each person pay six shillings and eight pence on the pound the first year, one half in June, the other in November, the rest to be divided into three equal parts and paid in. Novem- ber of each year. That four shillings on the pound be paid in cash, or salts of lye, and the rest in wheat at four shillings per bushel, or beef at seven- teen shillings and six pence per hundred weight, with this restriction, that the committee shall receive each man's equal proportion of timber, boards, clapboards, shingles, etc., if good and merchantable, and delivered when the committee shall call for them. That each person who buys a pew, shall procure sufficient bonds for payment, and his obligation to be lodged in the hands of the chairman of the committee, which shall be taken up or endorsed by a receipt from the committee." These conditions were ac- cepted by the people, and the following were chosen " to build the meeting house:" Lient. Emmons Stockwell, Capt. John Weeks, Mr. Jonas Wilder, Jr., Lieut. Jeremiah Willcox, and Jonas Baker.
In 1794 the question of settling a minister was considered at the town meeting, and a committee of nine persons was selected to "draw proposals for the settlement and salary of Rev. Joseph Willard." At the next town meeting the following report was made: "To give Rev. Joseph Willard fifty pounds a year for the next succeeding three years. This was to in- crease as the inventory of the town increased, till it reached eighty pounds.
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To be paid on the first day of March of each year. One third part paid in cash, the other two thirds in produce. On condition that we can get help from the neighboring towns as we now expect."
July 17, 1794 .- A church of Christ was gathered in Lancaster. Joseph Willard, minister of the Gospel. being present and serving as moderator.
The following confession of faith and covenant were subscribed :-
" We believe in God the Father -- allmighty maker of Heaven & Earth & in his son Jesus Christ as the alone Saviour of the world and in the holy Ghost as the comforter & sanctifier of the people & Church of God.
" We believe in the scriptures of the old & new Testaments, as a revelation of the mind & will of God to man & that they are a sufficient rule of faith & practice.
" We believe that God made man upright & that they have sought out many inventions-that all have sinned & come short of the glory of God & stand in absolute need of a Saviour & of the benign influence of the holy spirit.
" We believe in the importance of evangelical faith & repentance for the pardon & remission of sin & that without holiness no man shall see the Lord.
" We profess repentance towards God for all sin; & faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate & is now seated at the right hand of God.
" We now freely & cheerfully devote ourselves to God, thro the one Mediator between God & man, & promise as far as possible to walk in all the ordinanees of God blamelessly.
" We promise to attend to all the instituted means of religion-to maintain family worship -- constantly and devoutly to attend publiek worship, & the sacraments of the New Testament, unit- edly, whenever and so long as God shall give us ability and opportunity therefor.
"We promise to submit to & maintain the Discipline of Christ's Kingdom, as pointed out in the eighteenth chapter of St. Matthew.
" We engage to dwell together in christian love -- to watch over each other in meekness and to submit to and administer warnings & reproofs, as occasion from time to time may require.
"Finally we promise to use our endeavors to give those a religious education, that Providence has, or may commit to our immediate charge-bringing them up in the nurture & admonition of the Lord-instructing them both by example and precept.
" These as far as we know ourselves are the sentiments & purposes of our hearts, divine grace assisting us .- Subscribed by Jonas Wilder, John Rosbrook, Elisha Wilder, Joseph Brackett, Jonas Baker, Sam'l Phelps, Nath'l Shepard, Phineas Bruce, Reuben Lamson, Joseph Wilder, Elizabeth Wilder, Mehitabel Wilder, Sarah Rosbrook, Mary Brackett, Lydia Rosbrook, Mindwell Clark, Betty Baker, Levina Phelps, Deborah Weeks, Persis Everett, Elizabeth Saunders, Polly Wilder, Sarah Stanly, Ruth Stockwell."
From the church records we extract the following :-
" July 7, 1794, Jonas Baker was chosen Church Clerk and to act as Moderator in Church- meetings, till a Minister shall be settled. Voted that Major Jonas Wilder make provision for the sacrament of the Lords Supper untill Deacons are chosen in the church. - At a meeting held August 5th, 1794, it was voted to give Rev. Joseph Willard an invitation to settle with this people and at a council held Sept. 18, 1794, he was installed pastor. May 20, 1796, Jonas Baker & Samuel Phelps were chosen deacons. Oct. 30, 1801, Elias Chapman was chosen deacon, but declined and afterwards accepted; the church committee was empowered to relieve an indigent brother or sister of the church with the church money. May 4, 1810, chose Brother Joseph Wilder, deacon; Bro. Reuben W. Freeman was chosen deacon June 4, 1813; May 12, 1819, " Parson" Willard, after a pastorate of nearly twenty-five years, laid before the church his reasons for wishing for a dismis- sion. After considering this matter until July 5, it was voted unanimously that it is not expedient at present that the connection between the Pastor and the church should be dissolved. Nov. 1, 1820, Dea. Jonas Baker resigned his office as deacon."
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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
At a church meeting held August 16, 1822, the church received the fol- lowing communication from the pastor :-
" Brethren,-
" It is nearly twenty eight years since I was Installed Pastor of this Church. I have been with you thro good report & evil report, in health & in sickness. In preaching, it has been my prayerful endeavor to deliver the evangelical truths of the Gospel, and to keep nothing back which would be for your spiritual advantage. I have visited the sick, attended funerals, & performed other ministerial duties. If in any instance I have been negligent in the performance of duty, as I may have been in many, I freely ask your pardon, & the forgiveness of God.
"It appears the time has arrived when the connection between us ought to be dissolved. It has ever been a principle with me that a Minister ought not to continue with a people after his usefulness is at an end. I think I can no longer be useful in this place, upon that extensive scale which will justify a Minister in continuing with a People.
"It is unhappily the case that this town is very much divided in religious sentiment, one cry- ing out for Paul, & another for Apollos. It is pleaded by some, if I were removed the Town would be united in an energetic & engaging young man-they plead I am too old and infirm to preach-and individuals of the Church have observed, as I have been informed, they cannot be edified by my preaching. Certainly I wish not to stand in the way of a better man.
"Within a few years many have seceded from the Congregational society, and my salary has been reduced in the same proportion. For a number of years I have received upon an average, considerably short of two hundred Dollars per annum, which, you must be sensible, is far from being an adequate support. Should I continue in this way it may give People an idea that a Min- ister may live upon little or nothing, which may serve to operate against my successor, & conse- quently against the Society.
"For these several reasons, if the Brethren of the Church are convinced my statements are just, I must request them to join with me in calling an Ecclesiastical Council for my dismission.
"It is my ardent prayer to the God of all grace, that you may be united in a faithful, evan- gelical Minister of the Gospel, & that he may take the oversight of you, in the Lord.
" Your affectionate Pastor, "JOSEPH WILLARD."
The church proceeded to act on the above letter, and voted to lay the matter before the Town for its consent to call an Ecclesiastical Council. September 22, 1822, voted that the committee, chosen at the last meeting to lay the proceedings of that meeting before the town, are authorized to agree with the pastor in appointing a Council, &c. On the sixteenth of October, 1822, Rev. Joseph Willard was formally dismissed from his long and faithful pastorate, during which time he had gained the high esteem of the people as a man and minister. From this time until the settlement of James R. Wheelock, January 27, 1824, there was no pastor. Rev. Mr. Willard retained his membership with the church, and residence in the town. Rev. Mr. Wheelock, although grandson of the first, and son of the second president of Dartmouth college, could not have been exactly what the people desired, and there seemed to be a misunderstanding in regard to the terms of settlement, and January 3, 1825, he asked for a dismissal, which was readily granted. Parson Willard was then engaged to preach " with privilege of reading his old sermons." He died July 22, 1826.
November 27, 1823, Porter G. Freeman accepted the office of deacon. (William Farrar was also deacon of this church.) After the death of Rev.
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Joseph Willard, some years elapsed before there was a regularly settled minister. A Mr. Waldo preached occasionally, as did the Rev. John Fitch. In 1827 the "meeting house on the hill " was occupied by Rev. Orange Scott (Methodist). The Rev. Luke A. Spofford was here about 1829 to 1831. He was a good man and faithful pastor.
October 8, 1832, Rev. Andrew Govan, a Scotchman, was installed. His pastorate continued until August 25, 1835. He is said to have been an eccentric man, given to theological discussion, but, from the number admitted to the church during his ministry, his labors appear to have been fruitful. Mr. Govan was the last pastor of this church. The agitation of Unitarian and Trinitarian beliefs waxed hot, and, in 1836, the Trinitarian element formed "The Orthodox Congregational Church." After that time we find but one record of any action of the mother church. This we copy :-
" March 16, 1837, The Members of the ' Congregational Church ' in Lancaster are requested to meet at Center School House on Thursday next at one o'clock P. M. to transact business relative to said Church.
" At this meeting they voted that a Committee of two be appointed to confer with a Commit- tee from the New Church lately formed in this place (should they see fit to comply with the request) to form a union between the two Churches if practicable.
" Voted that E. C. Spaulding, & A. N. Brackett be said Committee." [See History of Orthodox Congregational Church.]
The mission of the "established church " had now devolved on younger and different organizations, and the "meeting-house " after the "spirit" had departed into the new religious bodies was relegated to civic purposes.
The Orthodox Congregational Church."-A "convention " of thirty- eight members of the Congregational church of Lancaster, was held at the court-house, Friday, September 23, 1836, at 2 P. M., "for the purpose of considering the expediency of forming a new church to be known as 'The Orthodox Congregational Church in Lancaster, N. H."" The meet- ing was called to order by Rev. Edward Buxton, and organized by appointing Dea. William Farrar, moderator, and Bro. Horace Whitcomb, scribe. It was unanimously voted to form said church, and adopt the following articles of faith, and a covenant.
" CONFESSION OF FAITH, Art. 1. We believe there is but one God, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of the Universe; a being self-existent, independent & immutable, infinite in power, knowledge, wisdom, justice and truth.
" Art. 2. We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspi- ration of God; that they contain a full and harmonious system of Divine truth; and are a perfect rule of Doctrinal belief and religious practice.
" Art. 3. We believe that God is revealed in the Scriptures, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and that these three are one, and in all Divine attributes equal.
" Art. 4. We believe that God made all things for himself; that known unto him are all his
*By W. A. Fergusson.
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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
works from the beginning; that he governs all things according to the counsel of his own will; and that the principles and administration of his Government are perfectly holy, just and good.
" Art 5. We believe that our first parents were created holy, that they fell from their happy state, by transgressing the Divine Command; and that in consequence of their apostacy from God, the heart of man, until renewed by grace, is without holiness, and alienated from God.
" Art 6. We believe that the Son of God, by his sufferings and death, has made a proper and adequate atonement for sin, and that whosoever will, may be saved; yet, that such is the aversion of man to the terms of Salvation, that without the special influences of the Holy Spirit all men refuse to comply with them.
" Art. 7. We believe that all who shall arrive at heaven will be saved, not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to God's purpose and grace, ' by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost'; whilst all that fail of eternal life will perish for their voluntary and obstinate perseverance in the rejection of offered mercy.
"Art. 8. We believe that repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are indispensable conditions of salvation.
" Art. 9. We believe that all true Christians will be kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation.
" Art. 10. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment, when the wicked will go into punishment, and the righteous into life; both of which will be without end.
" Art. 11. Moreover, we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has a visible Church in the world; that the terms of membership are a credible profession of faith in Christ, and of that holiness which is wrought by the renewing grace of God; and that none but members of the visible Church, in regular standing have a right to partake of the Lord's Supper; and that only their households, and believers, can be admitted to the ordinance of baptism."
At this meeting William Farrar was chosen deacon, and it was voted to organize the church on the sixth day of October, 1836. [This date was changed to October 12, as clergymen to form a council could not attend on the sixth.] Horace Whitcomb was instructed to invite the singers to at- tend on that occasion.
October 12, 1836, it was voted "to proceed and form said church;" also, that the first meeting of " The Orthodox Congregational Church in Lan- caster, N. H.," be held on Thursday, October 20, at the court-house in Lancaster, at one o'clock afternoon. To show the sterling integrity and high character of the formers of this society, we copy this article from the covenant :-
"In view of the evils brought upon the community, and upon the church, by the use of dis- tilled liquors, we promise to abstain totally from the use and sale of them, except as a medicine."
The council consisted of Rev. E. Buxton and Rev. William E. Holmes. (Rev. Drury Fairbanks and J. Glines were invited, but did not attend.) At 11 A. M. the council proceeded to form the church. Rev. Mr. Holmes preached a sermon. after which the Lord's supper was administered.
The original members were William Farrar, Porter G. Freeman, John Willson, Horace Whitcomb. John C. How, John Wilder, Ephraim Wilder, James Stone, Samuel L. Whidden, Gilman Wilder, Edmund C. Wilder, Daniel Stebbins, Edward Spalding, John Stalbird, Sarah Cady, Persis Ev- erett, Edna Porter, Elizabeth Smith, Olive B. Holkins, Mehetable Willard, Mary S. H. Stickney, Martha B. Stickney, Tryphena Farrar, Abigail A.
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TOWN OF LANCASTER.
Bergin, Lucinda Baker, Catharine J. Whitcomb, Lydia How, Mercy Free- man, Mary N. Whidden, Rhoda Wilder, Sophronia Denison, Rebekah Den- ison, Ruth C. George, Harmony Moore, Mary Jane Moore, Sarah White, Lydia Bellows, Martha Phillips, Anna Bergin, Louisa Stebbins, Sarah Ann Moore, Amanda Stebbins, Persis Fayette Weeks, Julia J. Joyslin, Sally B. Stalbird, Ann L. Whidden, Clarissa Hemmenway.
At a church meeting held October 25, 1836, it was voted " that William Farrar be a committee to form a preamble or caption to the records, stat- ing some of the most prominent reasons, as a justification for forming this church." (It would be interesting to present this paper here, but it was not incorporated with the records, and the seeker is referred to " Document No. 1, 'Reasons for seceding from the Old Church' on file," and we know not where they can be found.) Gen. John Willson, Gilman Wilder, and Samuel L. Whidden were chosen to circulate subscriptions to raise money for the support of preaching and defraying some expenses for board of Rev. Mr. Buxton.
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