USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton Falls > History of Hampton Falls, N.H., Volume II > Part 7
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On December 15, 1803, Mr. William Brown requested to be dismissed from the church (probably he had become a Baptist). The church voted not to dismiss him. On December 18, a com- mittee was appointed to converse with him for his neglect of the Lord's table, and to enquire respecting his intention of being re- baptized and to warn him against it. Mr. Brown said he did not consider that the pastor preached the gospel, and he objected to several things which the pastor had delivered in public. Mr. Brown had objected to Mr. Abbot at the time of his settlement, considering him an "Arminian" and unsound in the faith, and not a proper person to be the pastor of the church, and had with- drawn from attendance of Mr. Abbot's meetings and attended
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meeting at Hampton Congregational Church, until he became converted to the Baptist belief.
The term Arminian was frequently applied to Mr. Abbot dur- ing his ministry, and it may be well to define the term. It takes name from Arminius, a Dutch divine, who lived in the latter part of the sixteenth century, and was conditional election and repro- bation, in opposition to absolute predestination, universal re- demption, or that the atonement was made by Christ for all man- kind, though none but believers can be partakers of the benefit; that man in order to exercise true faith must be regenerated and renewed by the operation of the Holy Spirit, which is the gift of God; that man may resist divine grace; that man may relapse from a state of grace.
The Baptist movement appears to have started here about 1802, at the time of the controversy with Mr. Brown, and to have · grown with some rapidity during the next few years, for in 1804 it was recorded that others were found in the Baptist error. In 1805 the difficulty with the Baptists increased. Elder Abner Jones of Lyndon, Vt., was active and a leader in this movement. In 1808 twenty-one persons, calling themselves the Baptist Society, petitioned for a parish meeting to be exempted from pay- ing tax to support the town ministry. The selectmen, who were opposed, refused to call this meeting. A meeting was called by Thomas Leavitt, a justice of the peace. At this meeting the re- quest of the Baptist was voted in the negative.
In 1808 Elder Ebenezer Leavitt was ordained to preach in this denomination, but not over any particular church. As the meet- ing house was too small to accommodate those who came, he was ordained out of doors on a hill in Jacob Brown's pasture. The hill has since been known as Ordination Hill.
Elder Elias Smith of Portsmouth was very prominent in or- ganizing and promoting the Christian Baptist movement in this town. In 1808 Elder Smith began the publication of the Herald of Gospel Liberty at Portsmouth. This was said to have been the first religious newspaper ever published in the country. It is still published, in Dayton, Ohio, and is the official organ of the Christian denomination.
At first the society was small and held its meetings at private houses. As the numbers increased larger accommodations were needed. In 1805 a meeting house was built between what is now
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the town house and the Creighton house. The expense of building this house was borne principally by William Brown of this town, Theodore Coffin of Hampton, and John Lamprey of Kensington. A number of others contributed small sums. In 1806, Mr. Brown and Mr. Coffin bought a tankard and two communion cups, sharing the expense equally. There was nothing compulsory in the amount that anyone should pay for the support of preach- ing. "Each one paid what seemed right in his own eyes."
We have seen by the record that it was seldom that more than one dollar was paid per Sabbath for preaching. Those attend- ing meeting here found it much cheaper than to pay rates for the support of the parish church. This may have been an inducement for some to attend meeting here. Elder Jabez True preached a. majority of the time this meeting house was in existence, and ap- pears never to have received over one dollar per Sabbath. He did not look at his congregation while speaking, but looked stead- ily out of a side window while delivering his discourse. One of his expressions, which used to be quoted, was that "Hard and honest and hardly honest were sometimes hard to distinguish from each other." Sometimes some of the more prominent brethren agreed to furnish one or two Sabbaths each year at their own expense, the remainder of the year was paid for by the con- tributions which had been paid in. and it was seldom more than one dollar was paid per day. A large number from Hampton, Kensington and Seabrook came to meeting here and were baptized.
Those whose conduct was not becoming their profession, the church withdrew from, and it was voted at one time that any of the families whose members did not attend meeting for a year, if in health, should be disowned.
Mr. William Brown was the society's most active promoter and supporter until the new meeting house was built in 1834 when he withdrew and became affiliated with the Calvin Baptist church at the hill where he continued to worship for the remainder of his life. Mr. Brown acted as a lay preacher during his connection with the Christian church, often going to other towns to speak. He was very familiar with the scripture and in making quotations would give the chapter and verse where it could be found. He was very zealous in his religious work and probably had more in- fluence in religious matters in the early part of the nineteenth century than any man in this section of the state.
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When he left the parish and became a Baptist convert, he was so earnest to be baptized by immersion that it was done in Janu- ary when it was necessary to cut through thick ice to perform the ceremony. He continued steadfast in his religious convictions until his death in 1856. When from any cause he felt drowsy or sleepy in meeting time he would rise and remain standing until the inclination to sleep had passed.
A new meeting house was built by the society in 1835, and dedi- cated soon after. Elder Mark Fernald, one of the most able and respected preachers, delivered the dedication sermon. Before the new meeting house was built no minister was ever ordained over this church. Elder Leavitt had been ordained in this town in 1808 to preach in the denomination but not over any particular church. After the new meeting house was built Elder Daniel P. Pike, a native of Hampton Falls, was ordained over this society and preached for a short time. He afterward settled in New- buryport, Mass., where he built up a large society and was promi- nent in the temperance cause.
Elder Thomas F. Barry was ordained March 20, 1839, and re- mained a little more than a year. On April 14, 1841, Elder George Moore Paine was ordained and preached about three years. He preached again in 1862 and 1863 for a year or two, and at various other times for short intervals. He came frequently to attend funerals of members of the church and others until his death in 1882. He was held in fond remembrance by the society as a re- spected and beloved pastor and enjoyed the respect and confi- dence of the entire community. Elder Jeremiah W. Marsh was ordained April 28, 1853, and preached for a year or two. Elder Charles P. Smith was ordained December 1, 1858. February 8, 1876, Elder Joseph H. Graves was elected pastor and continued for two or three years. In 1886 Elder A. H. Martin supplied for a time. During his ministry the meeting house was repaired and remodeled inside, after the modern methods. Quite a por- tion of the time of its existence the preaching was by supplies, and not by regular settled ministers, among whom were Elders Warren Lincoln, George Pierce, James Pierce, Moses Polly, Tib- bitts, Hinckly, Asa Merrill and Julius C. Blodgett.
After 1860 this society, which was once quite strong in num- bers, began to dwindle. Loss by death and other causes reduced its numbers until it finally ceased to hold meetings. This society
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in 1832 represented about one-fourth of the taxable property of the town. In the division of the parsonage money they received about that proportion of the money received from the sale.
The town meetings were held in this meeting house from 1844 until 1877, a period of thirty-three years. The old meeting house built in 1805 was removed to Kennybrook where it was used for a blacksmith shop. At some time the following constitution or covenant was adopted:
"We the undersigned agree to unite ourselves together as a church of God and take the scriptures as our rule of faith and practice .- We agree to watch over each others spiritual good, to admonish each other in love, and use all possible exertion for building up each other in our most holy faith. A clerk shall be chosen by the church whose duty it shall be to keep a faithful record of all important transactions, to register the names of members received, removed by death, withdrawn from, dismissed, and rejected. Deeming it the duty of churches to assemble in conference, we agree to meet on the first Saturday of each month or present a reasonable excuse, and this shall be called a church conference, in which all the members shall give a relation of a state of their minds. We deem it our duty and will use all proper means to have the Lords Supper administered once each month. We agree to choose a committee of five persons annually, whose duty it shall be to oversee the spiritual affairs of the church. New members shall be received after giving a reason of hope by a vote of the church at any regular church meeting. Elders bap- tizing without knowledge of the church shall be deemed or con- sidered subjects of admonition."
At the last religious service held in this house just previous to its being remodeled and converted into a library building, Rev. Horace E. Hovey of Newburyport, Presbyterian, Rev. David Frazer of Kensington and Rev. Mr. Evans, both Congregational ministers, officiated. The writer was surprised that no minister of the Christian denomination had been invited to the farewell service in a house and before the remnant of a society which had so long been steadfast and loyal to the faith of their fathers. Rev. Dr. Hovey, after reading the constitution, pronounced it all that was necessary for salvation, and embodying all the vital essentials of, or required to lead a religious life. One hundred years before the Congregationalist and Presbyterian clergy had denounced the Baptist movement as belonging to Anti-Christ, and its fol- lowers doomed to destruction. The lapse of time in this case ap- pears to have worked wonders.
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One serious mistake made by the Christian denomination was in not having an educated ministry. While some of its unedu- cated ministers were men of brains but having had only a limited education did make tolerably successful preachers, there were others, ignorant but well meaning men, who felt called upon to preach, whose labor tended to injure and not increase the pros- perity of the denomination. The demand for ministers who could interest and lead the people up higher was not answered here. And not meeting this demand many of the Christian socie- ties in the eastern part of the country ceased to exist.
The services of the Christian Baptist churches were conducted with a great deal of liberty and freedom. The minister's remarks were frequently interrupted by enthusiastic hearers shouting "Amen" and "Glory to God." This was prompted sometimes by something the speaker had said, and at other times by the en- thusiasm of the hearer, and would come in at an inappropriate time, some of the shouters not having intelligence enough to know where such things should come in. A loud voiced preacher with several zealous persons continually shouting affirmation to what was said, had the appearance of enthusiasm and earnest- ness, and, during such performances, great progress was supposed to be made on the heavenly journey. In times of quiet those who had been the most zealous often backslid. Some of the preachers and talkers in the denomination apparently never heard the saying that no souls were converted after the first hour's preaching. It was the exception when the services were not too lengthy. After the preacher had wearied his hearers and had at last concluded his talk, he would announce that there was liberty for remarks, when some long-winded individual would talk for an indefinite length of time to the disgust of those who were com- pelled to listen. There were men who would walk a long distance on the Sabbath if they could get an opportunity to practice ex- tempore oratory upon those present who would be compelled to listen.
After a clock was placed in the meeting house, this practice of long service was remedied to some extent. Many who were noted for prolixity had not the cheek to keep talking when the audience paid more attention to the clock than to his preaching, and he would bring the service to a close to the great relief and satisfac- tion of his hearers. As people became more intelligent and did
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their own thinking this kind of service became unpopular and is now almost unknown in this part of the country. The noisy talk of ignorant persons has small influence and attracts little attention.
In 1901, the society having become small and holding meetings only at intervals, John T. Brown of Newburyport, Mass., bought the house and had it remodeled, and presented it to the town for a library building, the society reserving a right to hold meetings in the house on the Sabbath if they desired to do so. A few meet- ings have been held, but probably no more will be held as the society has been dissolved and its effects divided among its members.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
In 1828 eight persons, all named Dodge, were dismissed from the Baptist Church in Exeter, which had been organized in 1800, to organize and constitute what has since been known as the Baptist Church, but at that time known as the Baptist Society of Seabrook and Hampton Falls. They were generally known and spoken of as Calvin Baptists to distinguish them from the other so-called Baptists in the vicinity.
On the evening of October 28, 1828, they were organized into a church at the house of Richard Dodge. On December 2, the same year, the church was recognized in proper form and the Rev. Timothy P. Ropes was installed as its pastor. The Baptist Church in Portsmouth was organized in 1826, two years before the organization in this town.
The new society held its meetings in the old meeting house in Seabrook which was built by the Presbyterians in 1764. This continued to be their place of worship until 1834 when they transferred their meetings to the Rockingham Academy hall, and remained here until the new meeting house was dedicated in September, 1836. From that time until the present the pulpit has been occupied by many different ministers as pastor or supplies.
On the occasion of occupying the new meeting house Rev. Baron Stowe of Portsmouth preached and presented the church with a Bible which was in constant use until destroyed in the academy fire in 1875. Mary and Nancy Dodge presented them with a communion service which is still in use. The dimensions of the house were forty and one-half feet by sixty-five feet. The cost of the house was $2,117.58. The building com- mittee were William Brown, Richard Dodge, Joseph H. Weare, Aaron M. Gove and George H. Dodge.
In 1859 the meeting house underwent extensive repairs. The roof was slated, the tower replaced by a spire, the high gallery was taken down, the pulpit lowered, the walls frescoed, the pews upholstered, at an expense of $2,000; about the whole of this amount was contributed by Hon. George H. Dodge. In 1892 the house was moved back and raised up and a vestry built
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under it. Horse sheds were erected for the comfort of the horses. Mrs. John W. Dodge presented this church with a bell in memory of her late husband. In 1894 John T. Brown, Esq., of New- buryport presented the town a clock which was placed upon the church tower. In 1836 the church was reported as a strictly tem- perance church.
In the earlier history of the church the ministers often had charge of the academy as principals, and many of them found the double duty too much for their health and strength, which ac- counts for the frequent changes at that time. We should have been pleased to have been able to present sketches of some of these men, but with the exception of Rev. Zebulon Jones we are unable to do so. He became pastor of the church in 1843, and continued until June 1851, which was the longest pastorate this church ever enjoyed. He was principal of the academy during all the time of his residence, and attended to many other addi- tional duties during his residence here. Twenty-six were admit- ted to the church during his ministry.
Rev. Zebulon Jones was the son of Deacon Amzi Jones of Cornwall, Vt., where he was born September 5, 1812. He labored on his father's farm until he was eighteen years of age. He fitted for college at Newton Academy, Shoreham, Vt., and graduated from Middlebury College in 1836. Immediately after graduation he became principal of Hancock (N. H.) Academy, and at the same time pastor of the Baptist Church in the same town, having been ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. He remained here until 1839 when he became pastor of the Baptist Church in Peterboro. In 1843 he removed to Hamp- ton Falls as pastor of the Baptist church and principal of Rock- ingham Academy, in which relation he continued until 1851. While living in Hampton Falls he was county school commis- sioner for Rockingham County, and a member of the State Board of Education, and was chairman of that body. His interest in educational work in the state at large was great, and fruitful of much good. After leaving Hampton Falls he was for a time pastor of the churches at Monkton and Cornwall, Vt. After this he was for a time engaged in secular business, and for a year or two colporteur of the American Baptist Publication Society. About 1868 he resumed his work in the ministry as pastor of the Baptist Church in East Hubbardton, Vt., and continued in that
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relation until his death, March 2, 1883. Mr. Jones was a ripe scholar, a thorough and successful teacher, a strong and vigorous writer, and an acceptable preacher.
In 1845, while principal of Rockingham Academy, Mr. Jones issued a small treatise upon arithmetic, containing forty-six pages, which was printed by Francis Grant of Exeter. This work em- bodied certain ideas in handling and manipulating figures which had commended themselves to him in his experience as a teacher. This book treated of simple values, their notation, addition, sub- traction, multiplication and division, and the same of compound numbers, fractions vulgar and decimal, money tables, propor- tional values, loss and gain. All of these were treated by methods of his own, which he claimed, as an expert in such matters, to be more simple and easy to understand than the methods and rules laid down in the text-books then in use. Jones' Arithmetic was never introduced to any great extent into the schools, but was used for a time in this town. There are copies of this book still in existence. During Mr. Jones' residence here he was usually a member of the school committee, and the thoroughness of his examinations were much dreaded by both teacher and scholars. In the autumn of 1851, the year he left Hampton Falls, he was located at Exeter, where he had a boarding school, and adver- tised to fit young men for college, business, or for teachers. How long he remained there or with what success we have no knowl- edge. So far as we can learn he never revisited this town after removing his family.
Rev. Mr. Ropes resigned his pastorate in 1830. From then un- til 1835 preaching was by supplies, among them Rev. J. W. Poland. Rev. Samuel Cook was pastor for three years from 1835. Mr. Cook was afterward chaplain of the New Hampshire State Prison at Concord for a number of years. Rev. Otis Wing succeeded Mr. Cook for two years. A good number were added · to the church during that period. There were baptisms on eight successive Sabbaths. Mr. Wing's last settlement was at Newton, N. H., where he died in 1897, at the age of ninety-nine years. At the time of his death he was the oldest known Baptist minister. Mr. Wing represented the town in the legislature during his residence here. Rev. Messrs. Stearns and Briggs were each at times principal of the academy and supplied the pulpit before Mr. Jones came. Mr. Jones was succeeded by Rev. John E.
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Wood for two years. Several were added during his ministry. Rev. Samuel E. Brown took charge of the church for two years, ending September 1856. Rev. E. B. Law remained one year. Eighteen were added during his stay, making a membership of ninety-eight, a larger number then had ever been reached before. In 1859 twenty-three were dismissed to form the Baptist Church at Seabrook. Rev. Alfred Colburn was pastor until May 1863. Frank K. Stratton supplied until March, 1864, Rev. William H. Walker from 1864 until 1867, and John M. Driver for one year, until 1868. The church was closed until 1870. What services there were were carried on by students and others as supplies. Rev. Mr. Beaman was settled over the Hampton Falls and Sea- brook church for four years, until 1876. The joint pastorate was continued by Mr. Burgess and Rev. Charles R. Bailey until 1889. Rev. W. W. Wakeman was settled over the joint societies until 1897. Rev. Mr. Snell was settled in 1897. Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Parker have occupied the pulpit until the present time. The joint pastorate with Seabrook has been discontinued.
This church took a decided stand upon the temperance question before the Washingtonian movement in 1840. It is the only church in the town at the present time which maintains religious service and it is active and vigorous in its church work. The last surviving original member, Mrs. Miriam Dodge, died in Dover in 1879. Among those who did much to lay the founda- tion for the future prosperity of this church were William Brown, George H. and Richard Dodge.
In 1832 the Baptist Society appears to have represented about one-ninth of the taxable property of the town, as that was about the proportion they received from the sale of the parsonage prop- perty. They received $351.77.
Sometime about 1900 this church ceased to practice close communion.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
The first Congregational Society was organized April 30, 1827, about five months after the dismission of Rev. Jacob Abbot, and consisted of twenty-nine persons. Of this number Dea. True M. Prescott, who died 1899, aged ninety-five years, was the last sur- vivor. When a few years later the orthodox portion of the society withdrew, in 1834, this society was left in possession of meeting house, records and all other property belonging to the church, which had come down from the original church formed in 1712. Among other things which came to them were the three commun- ion cups presented the church by Rev. Mr. Cotton in 1726, which was the year he died. These cups are still in existence and in possession of the church. There is no reason for organizing the first Congregational church given upon the record, nor have we any knowledge from any other source as to the motive which led to the movement at that time.
It was probable that it was apparent that a separation must soon take place between the orthodox and the more liberal portion of the church, and that an organization would prove beneficial to those who formed it. Mr. Abbot, during the later years of his pastorate, had become a Unitarian and the majority of the church had been led to embrace that belief and were in sympathy with him. After Mr. Abbot's connection with the church ceased, Unitarian ministers occupied the pulpit until 1834 when the orthodox portion withdrew, leaving the more liberal, which were the majority, in possession of all the church property. Before the division of the society it represented about one-third of the taxable property of the town as they received more than one-third of the proceeds from the sale of the parsonage property, $1,151.91. Some time after $450 of this was paid the Line church as the por- tion belonging to those who had gone away. After the Unitarians came into the possession of the society a new meeting house was built which was dedicated January 1, 1839.
Rev. Stephen Farley preached for a time for the society and probably before the new meeting house was built. He was gener- ally known and spoken of as "Priest Farley." During his stay he
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taught the Cock Hill school. As a teacher he lacked in discipline and had little control over the scholars. His daughter, Harriet Farley, did some literary work as a writer. At one time she was one of the editors of the Lowell Offering, a magazine which was published by the mill girls in Lowell and made up by contribu- tions from them. It was a work which possessed considerable literary merit.
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