USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Littleton > History of Littleton, New Hampshire, Vol. II > Part 21
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or four Sabbaths, as I find it necessary, at such portions of the year as will be most convenient to myself without diminution of salary, agree- ing to do what I can at such times by way of exchanges and otherwise as will be for the welfare of the people.
Please accept my thanks for the cordial manner I have everywhere been personally received among you, and for the very friendly greet- ings of your church and society.
Hoping that the relations thus formed may prove mutually profitable, may tend to my own growth in grace and to the spiritual advancement of church and people in Littleton, I remain,
Very truly yours, C. E. MILLIKEN.
JOHN FARR, JOHN MERRILL, AND OTHERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
Mr. Milliken entered at once upon his duties, supplying the pulpit in various ways during the summer, and actually beginning his ministry in September. He was ordained and installed by a council September 27, 1860.
The council consisted of Rev. Z. S. Barstow, D.D., Keene ; Rev. J. Eastman, Danville, Vt. ; Rev. J. D. Emerson, Haverhill ; Rev. S. Page, delegate; Rev. S. M. Plympton, Wells River, Vt .; Rev. William S. Sewell, Lunenburg, Vt .; Rev. E. I. Carpenter, Barre ; Deacon Willard King, delegate; Rev. F. H. Johnson, Bethlehem ; F. Winch, delegate ; C. B. Allen, Lancaster ; Rev. H. W. Burton, Newbury, Vt .; L. D. Hazen, delegate. Dr. Barstow was chosen moderator, and Rev. Mr. Burton, scribe. The candidate was examined "in regard to his church membership, his license to preach the Gospel, his Christian experience, his motives in enter- ing the ministry, and his doctrinal views." His examination being regarded satisfactory, it was voted to proceed with the exercises of the ordination and installation as follows: Convoca- tion, Rev. M. Brunnell ; reading the Scripture, Rev. F. H. Johnson ; prayer, Rev. William Sewell ; sermon, Rev. Z. S. Barstow, D.D .; ordaining prayer, Rev. J. Eastman ; charge to the pastor, Rev. H. N. Burton ; fellowship of the church, Rev. J. D. Emerson; address to the people, Rev. E. I. Carpenter ; closing prayer, Rev. S. M. Plympton ; benediction, the pastor, Rev. C. E. Milliken.
The new pastor took rooms with Mr. Franklin Tilton. The deacons of the church were John Merrill, Marshall D. Cobleigh, and Allen Day. Deacon John Merrill was superintendent of the Sunday-school, as he had been for many years. The choir, who sat in the singing-seats in the high gallery at the end of the church opposite the minister, were Wesley Alexander, leader ;
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bass, Major Aaron Brackett and Franklin Tilton ; soprano, Louella Gould and others ; alto, Emily E. Gould and others.
Mr. Milliken was something of a singer himself, and could also play a cabinet organ, so that when occasion demanded he could be preacher, chorister, and organist at the same service. Indeed, it did occasionally occur that when he had read the hymn, he stepped down to the small organ, played it, and led the singing.
The work to be done by the pastor was not easy ; it was to be incessant, difficult, as religious work had ever been in the town ; but in the church were some good helpers who stayed up the hands of their pastor ; some men and women who were indeed spiritually minded and who were encouraged by seeing a little gain year by year. No doubt Mr. Milliken soon learned the temper of the people, and with much wisdom entered upon his work with no other desire than to do his Master's will and be a benefit to the whole community. Zealous and enthusiastic with this his first settlement, he relied upon vigorous and steady rather than spasmodic effort. From the first he endeavored so to walk and live among the people that his daily life should be a daily sermon, ever drawing men to more holy living. He brought to the people a personality all his own. He was not " all things to all men," and held aloof from what he thought was not con- ducive to the furtherance of the great work in which he was engaged.
Though the anti-slavery agitation had passed its climax, and the resultant Civil War was on, attempts were made here and there throughout the North to define or coerce opinion. Littleton had been, as the town continued to be for years after, the stronghold of Jacksonian democracy in Northern New Hampshire. Many members of the parish and of the church, and at least one of the officers of the latter, had been Democrats politically "from their youth up." To have committed the church to the then advanced doctrines of Phillips and Garrison would have divided it, no doubt. While it is remembered that considerable discussion and some feeling were aroused as to the matter of slavery on the part of the church, there are but three items of record on the church books. This is the first : -
" At a weekly meeting of the First Congregational Church of Little- ton, N. H., holden at their vestry in the afternoon of Friday, 20th day of June, A. D. 1862, Mary Carleton made request of said church through her father to be informed what was the position of said church relative to the subject of slavery. At the same time and in the same manner she communicated to the church the fact that for a considerable length
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of time she would have been pleased to unite with the church provided it had not declined to exclude from its communion slaveholders and those who fellowshiped with slaveholders. Whereupon John Farr, Esq., William Bailey, Esq., and Deacon Marshall D. Cobleigh were appointed a committee to ascertain and report upon the subject at the next Friday meeting of the church."
The second item is the report of this committee, which appears elsewhere in this history, and partakes of the nature of a state- ment. The hand and the mind of the chairman of the committee, then in his prime, are seen through it all.
The report was not satisfactory to the anti-slavery people and served to alienate rather than conciliate them, as we judge from the third item of record, as follows : -
A statement read before the church on December 31, 1869, and by vote of the church here recorded.
Whereas on the 27th day of June, 1862, the subscribers in connec- tion with the late Deacon Marshall D. Cobleigh having been on a pre- vious day appointed a committee of the First Congregational Church to ascertain and report what was the position of said church relative to the subject of slavery, made their report, which was then and there adopted.
And whereas they have been informed that certain members of the church have felt that injustice was done them and the great body of anti-slavery people by said report, they would cheerfully say that they did not intend to censure any person or persons belonging to said church nor the great body of anti-slavery people. And that speeches of misguided and indiscreet philanthropists, was intended to refer to a few of the most extreme anti-slavery men and women in the country.
They cheerfully made these statements in the hope of removing any misunderstanding or occasion for feeling between any members of the church.
Signed JOHN FARR. WILLIAM BAILEY.
Littleton in 1860 was not the Littleton of to-day. One has said of the town at that date: "The moral tone was not high. Liquor flowed freely. The war broke out, and war excitement with politics absorbed every energy." Something of the state of affairs existing then is graphically described in the chapter on the anti-slavery agitation in Littleton. Speaking of one Sabbath in April of this year, it is said, "Flags were floating in the breeze and nothing but war was talked of." The sound of the church-going bell calling people to the house of God seemed more like a call to arms. At the church-going hour, instead of
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the quiet tread of devout people wending their way to the house of prayer, could be heard the heavy tread of marshalled soldiers and the shrill strains of warlike music. The Littleton Brass Band was out in uniform and escorted the volunteers to the Con- gregational Church. A sermon by the Rev. Charles E. Milliken, pastor, on the present crisis followed from the words found in 2 Sam. x. 12, " Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God : and the Lord do that which seemeth him good." The discourse was eagerly listened to, and very generally well received by all in sympathy with the war.
With the coming of the new pastor came a sister next older, who lived with him till her death, March 3, 1867. About a year after his engagement as pastor, June 18, 1861, he married Sarah W. Dunklee, of Francestown. She was a most estimable woman, just suited for a pastor's wife. Her amiable disposition, entire sympathy with her husband's work, and quiet participation in the interests of the church and community made her influence deeply felt as long as she lived, and left a blessed memory to all who were privileged to know her. They began housekeeping in the building now owned by Fred H. English, then moved into the house now the home of Phineas R. Gould, where they lived sev- eral years, until they bought the property opposite the church now owned by Henry F. Green. There were born to them, October 12, 1863, Charles D. and Addie M. Milliken. The former is now pastor of a church in California. Mrs. Milliken died of consump- tion December 3, 1875.
The year book giving the report of the church, January 1, 1860, shows resident membership as follows : males, 30; females, 75; absent, 15; total, 120. Additions by profession, 1; deaths, 1; dismissals, 1; adult baptism, 1; Sunday-school, 150. Of those who were members then, and still living with us, may be men- tioned Mrs. Almera Clark, Mrs. Betsey C. Millen, Mrs. John C. Quimby, John W. Farr, Mrs. Susan J. Gould, Mrs. Frank With- erell, Mrs. Mary B. Redington, Mrs. A. J. Church, Mrs. Charles Nurse, and Mrs. B. W. Kilburn.
The first admissions under Mr. Milliken of which there is record occurred November, 1860. They were Nelson Farr Cobleigh, Ezra Alonzo Day, Comfort Day Farr, Elizabeth Cobleigh, now the wife of Rev. Royal M. Cole, missionary in Turkey, Helen M. Morse, by profession ; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Closson, Alanson Closson, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Adams, by letter.
March 2, 1862, Mr. M. L. Gould was received, and till his death was one of the burden-bearers. At May communion came Mrs.
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M. D. Walker from the church in Bethlehem. In July, 1863, came Mrs. Condon, who testified to her love for the church by making it a sharer of her estate. In September the same year from Bethle- hem came Mr. and Mrs. Nelson C. Farr, - he for so long a time until his death an honored officer, and she still with us. In Novem- ber were received Myra A. Farr, Elinor Merrill, afterward the wife of Rev. William R. Terrett, Caroline Farr, now Mrs. B. F. Page, Martha Ann Eastman, Sarah A. Cushman, on confession of faith, and Mrs. Josiah Kilburn, by letter. In July, 1864, James Quimby was received ; Josephine E. Millen and Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Brooks (both deceased) came by letter from Bethlehem. March 3, 1865, came by letter from Lyndon, Vt., Levi B. Dodge, one of our oldest members, but having one of the youngest hearts. At the same time from the church in Lunenburg came Mrs. Amilda P. Farr. At the May communion, 1866, were received Laura B. Eastman and Stella Redington, two young friends whose friendship, thus sacredly strengthened, grew stronger and stronger till the death of the lat- ter severed the tie. In May, 1867, there had been no marked sea- son of especial interest and ingathering of souls. The gospel had been faithfully preached and lived by the pastor, and to the spirit- ual profit of his people, no doubt. Such admissions and dismissals came as usually come to a country church. The growth had been steady though slow, as is usually the case in a consecrated pastor- ate. The years had been those of preparation and seed-sowing, and when, in 1869, the assistance of Rev. J. W. Tarlton was called in, the field was found to be already white for the harvest, and at the July communion twenty united with the church on profession of their faith : namely, Mrs. Emelie E. Thayer, Alice . B. Parker, Sarah A. Farmer, Mrs. Sarah Quimby, Elizabeth M. Kilburn, Isabella Merrill, Mrs. Elizabeth K. Lovejoy, Elmira L. Cate, Sophronia K. Hale, Ellen I. Bailey, Philena A. Farr, Alice H. Gould, Clara E. Clough, Florence S. Bowman, Mrs. Emma M. Farr, Marshall C. Dodge, Caroline A. Brackett, Charles A. Farr, Mary F. Redington, Ellen Lucinda Blake ; and by letter Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Marsh. In 1870 came Frances Carleton, Mrs. Goodwin, on confession ; Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Burton, Capt. John Pierce and wife, by letter from the church at Bethlehem. In 1871 there united Harriet D. Merserve, Ellen Cobb, Mary Ann McCoy, Mrs. S. J. Eaton, Mrs. Alpha Goodall, Mrs. Nellie B. Hatch, Frank Glazier, Frank Martin Hatch, Fred Gilman Hatch, and Ada P. Hatch.
As far as the records show there were no accessions during 1872. In the winter and spring of 1873 there was a union
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revival effort on the part of the Baptist, Methodist, and Congrega- tional churches. Meetings were held daily for eighteen weeks. The pastors were assisted by Rev. C. J. Fowler, a young man endued with spirit and power. There was great interest in the meetings, and many souls were saved and became identified with the churches of the town. Among the converts were four young women who became wives of ministers, - two Methodist, one Baptist, and one Congregationalist ; one of the first, as the wife of a second husband, is now a missionary in Western Africa. Among those uniting during the year on profession of their faith were William D. Thompson, Warren W. Lovejoy, Alfred Carleton, Sylvester Marsh, Jr., J. Harvey Quimby, John E. Weeks, Anna McIntire, Mary B. Tilton, Harriet J. Miner, Mrs. Caroline Weeks, Mrs. Bernice Goodall, Mrs. Eliza C. Cheney, Luther C. Wilkins, William Jackson, Jr., Martha Cobb, Marietta P. Farr, E. Adaline Kilburn, Ella Parker, Mrs. Farmer, Mary Tarbell, Nellie Closson ; and Martha M., Annie, and Flora French came by letter from Bath.
No man could be more interested in his work than Mr. Milliken ; during these years he was always in harmony with the other pastors of the village, and ready to co-operate with them for the advancement of Christ's kingdom in Littleton, and when a helper came he was ready to step aside and let him do the harvesting work, content with having done the seed-sowing and having borne the burden of preparation, only anxious that somebody, anybody should do the work. To Mr. Milliken is due the starting of neigh- borhood meetings as a regular system, which has been kept up more or less all these years. Soon after coming to town he noticed so many men, especially at the town meetings, whom he never saw in church, that he felt the desire to reach them in some way, and if possible to do them good ; but not much could be done outside as long as the pastor had to preach twice on the Sabbath and hold a prayer-meeting in the evening. He says it was in 1874, when the church gave up the second service, that the neighborhood meetings were begun in earnest, and they have had a marked influence in the subsequent religious history of the town. "I at once," he writes, " started a meeting at North Lit- tleton, and another at West Littleton. During all the summer I preached in the morning, then drove to North Littleton and preached at three, then went to West Littleton and preached at five, returning to preach in the church in the evening. I always attended the Sunday-school, and once in two months the com- munion service was included. By the latter part of the summer
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I got some of the young men to go together and alternate with me, and by the second summer three meetings were carried on at the same hour, two of them under the young men."
It was about this time that the Young Men's Christian Associ- ation was formed; that organization took un and has carried on the work ever since. In 1874 the church was remodelled as we now see it, at a cost of $8,000 ; but before this was accomplished an immense amount of work was done by the pastor in preparing for it, in the way of getting the pew-holders in the old house to give up their holdings. Mr. Milliken undertook this task, and came nearer making a complete success of it than probably any other man could have done.
Our fathers were as tenacious of their pews in the church as they were of their lots in the cemetery, and apparently to part with the former seemed like selling their birthright; however, by that persistency of purpose which was a marked characteristic of Mr. Milliken, he finally succeeded in getting all but two persons to give to the society their pews. When the church was remodelled these two pews were finished with the others and remain to this day, I suppose, the property of somebody. I doubt if any one can tell which the particular pews are, but they are somewhere near the centre of the east side of the house. After the house was refitted, the revenues of the society were raised by selling sittings to the highest bidder. The writer recalls his first services as auctioneer at one of the annual sale of seats about 1880 or 1881.
During the pastorate we are considering, " the annual deficit," to which we of the present time are so accustomed, was frequently putting in an appearance. It seems that the majority of the membership of this church and society never gave with great liberality or freely, nor in proportion to their ability to give ; systematic contribution had not been learned when Mr. Milliken came, and whatever proficiency we have made in that direction as a people is largely due to his efforts to educate the church in this principle of Christianity. More and more frequently the contribu- tion-box went round, until, notwithstanding frowns and even remarks of objection, it became a part of the regular service of every Sabbath. There is no record of contributions to outside benevolence when Mr. Milliken came, but during his last year they amounted to $320.23.
In 1875, at the May communion, George C. Furber, was received by letter, and on profession Mr. and Mrs. Noah W. Ranlett, Mrs. Esther Brown, Mrs. H. H. Stoddard, and Lydia A. Cobb; at
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the July communion, Mrs. Ianthe Cleora Sangar and Marian L. Gould.
In July, 1877, Mr. Milliken married Mary F. Redington, a young woman of lovely character and many accomplishments, who was destined for a few brief years to adorn his home. In the mean time he came to feel that a change after his long service might be desirable for both pastor and people. For nearly eighteen years they had labored together in the Master's vineyard without the semblance of strife or discontent, when he finally concluded to sunder the peaceful bonds that united them and transmitted to the church and society the following letter: -
TO THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF LITTLETON :
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, - For something over eigh- teen years we have walked together in the tender relation of pastor and people. It has been an unusually long pastorate for these days of uncertainty and change, and generally free from the dissensions that sometimes mar the pastoral relation. We have taken sweet counsel together in the house of God, have knelt at a common altar, enjoyed tender seasons at the table of the Lord, have wept together in the house of mourning, and amid it all have felt the blessing of a common Father.
Many mistakes have been made by your pastor during these years, but the forbearance of his people has been such as to endear and not to estrange, and he would take this opportunity gratefully to ac- knowledge their uniform courtesy and kindness.
The time has now come for the severing of this pastoral relation. If such a step should be in accordance with the wishes of some and the judgment of others, I will say in response that it accords with my own prayerful conviction of what will be both for my own interest and for the welfare of this church and people. It is therefore taken unhesitat- ingly and without mental reservation.
If I may withdraw from this parish so as to leave a continuation of good will, a people wholly united, free from internal dissension, and hearts untrammelled for the welcome of him who may, in the provi- dence of God, be chosen as my successor, it will be the desire of my heart.
I do therefore herewith resign my office as pastor of this church ; and I appoint a meeting of the church on Tuesday evening next to act upon this resignation, and to appoint a committee of the church for the pur- pose of uniting with the pastor to call a council to dissolve the pastoral relation ; to take effect at such time as in the judgment of the church will be for its own welfare.
In Christian fellowship, C. E. MILLIKEN.
October 27, 1878.
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His farewell sermon was preached December 29, 1878. An ecclesiastical council was called, which met December 31, 1878, and formally approved of the dissolution of the pastoral relation.
During Mr. Milliken's residence in Littleton he was a member of the Orange Association of ministers.
Second to his work as a pastor of the church were his interest and participation in the educational matters of the village. He was elected on the Board of Education of Union School District the year the present high school building was erected, 1867, and served as president of the board till 1875, and as a member in 1876, 1877, and 1878, ten years in all. To him more than to any other member of the board were due the selection of teachers, arrangement of the courses of study, and the separation of the grades. The high attainment to which our schools have reached must be attributed to the excellent foundation laid by him and his associates. The scope and influence of his work for the schools can never be known, but it is safe to say that every pupil who attended the schools while he was on the board bore away in- wrought in his character the impress of Mr. Milliken's interest and thoughit.
It is impossible to describe in words the effect of the life of any man on the community in which he dwells ; no words of ours can give the least definite idea of the extent and pervasive influence for good of this preacher and teacher of righteousness throughout this region, for his influence was felt far beyond the limits of his parish ; neither can we sum up all the qualities of mind and heart that made him beloved by so many and his pastorate so success- ful. " He was," however, "a thoroughly good man ; his heart was always warm;" he was an excellent preacher, and one of the best of pastors, - two things which are essential to make an " all round minister." To the sick and suffering he could carry the balm of comfort in a way that "doeth good like a medicine."
He had a rare faculty for helping the afflicted, as his presence carried with it light and sunshine ; pain and distress were for the time alleviated. Above all, he was " no respecter of persons ; " the rich and the poor, Catholic and Protestant, each received a share of his attention, without distinction of birth, rank, nation- ality, or religion. In one house, at least, of old-country people of Catholic faith, his name is held in almost sacred remembrance, because of his ministrations of tender sympathy and generous help- fulness in their time of distress and affliction. What greater re- ward can a man have, what nobler testimony of his true manliness,
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than that exhibition of character which causes his fellowmen to rise up and call him blessed ?
Referring to his work as a whole, he modestly writes : " When I left Littleton in January, 1879, I thought I could see evident im- provement all along the line of morals, education, religion, and the general tone of almost everything. It would be folly to claim very much ; only this I can say, that I put in nearly nineteen years' hard work of the best part of my life."
At the close of his pastorate in Littleton Mr. Milliken received a call from the Congregational Church at Maynard, Mass., whither he at once removed. Here for three years and a half he labored successfully, beloved by his people. Sweet content abode with the family. But from the birth of Edward Redington Milliken, December 9, 1881, the young mother and wife did not recover. She passed away January 13, 1882. It was a life for a life. March 8 following, Addie, the beautiful daughter of nineteen years, was taken, and the home, a short time before so domestic and happy, was desolate and broken. Mr. Milliken sought to gain some relief from his great burden of sorrow by a trip abroad. He sailed July 8, 1882, and returned May 1, 1883, visit- ing nearly all the countries and principal cities of Europe, Egypt, and Palestine. March 16, 1884, he again took up his ministerial work, this time at Penacook, N. H., where he remained seven and one-half years. Once more the home was established when, on August 20, 1888, he married Ellen Augusta Folger, of Concord, a helpmeet indeed in all the work and interests of her husband.
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