USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Littleton > History of Littleton, New Hampshire, Vol. II > Part 37
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Ecclesiastical History.
XXXVIII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (Continued ).
BAPTIST, ADVENTIST, AND CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
T HE first minister to locate in this town, the Rev. David Goodall, was followed within two years by the Rev. Samuel Churchill, a Calvinist Baptist minister, who came here about 1798 or 1799, and settled not far from the residence of Mr. Goodall at West Littleton. His previous history is veiled in obscurity, ex- cept that we know he had lived in Lancaster for a few years. The tax-list and tradition are the only sources of information concern- ing him. It appears that he was a man of great energy, who, as a preacher, appealed to the heart rather than to the reason of his audience. To his efforts in arousing the people to a sense of their religious duty is due the first revival in town, which occurred in 1802, just previous to the organization of the first church. There were believers in the Methodist creed, advocates of the Congrega- tional form of government, and a few Baptists before this wave of spiritual awakening swept over the community, but, in the language of one who was living at this period, by the efforts of Rev. Mr. Churchill the number of " Christians was doubled." Nor was his influence confined to Littleton. To his meetings came citizens of Lyman, and of Waterford and Concord, Vt., and many of them were converted. Among these were the Lovejoy family, who subsequently took up their residence here. It is one of the ironies of fate that the denomination for which the energetic and emotional preacher labored should have attracted the smallest number of these converts, while the Methodist and Congregational bodies were largely increased. About 1804 Mr. Churchill went to Cheshire County, and we have not been able to trace his after history.
In 1840 there were nearly a score of Calvinist Baptists in town, several of whom were employed at the Redington Scythe Works, now Apthorp, and near its "Common" a small building was erected, which was void of architectural ornament and resembled a
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schoolhouse of that day more than a church edifice. Anson Alex- ander was the leading spirit in its erection and in promoting the welfare of the little band of believers, and became their first and only deacon. The first pastor was the Rev. Nicholas Bray, of scant learning, but of strong will and fine natural ability ; a very devout man, much respected in the community. In 1842 he went to Whitefield, where he continued to reside until his death. His suc- cessor in the pastorate was the Rev. William Wallace Lovejoy, who remained until 1845. He was a successful preacher in this as well as in other fields; but the conditions were adverse to Cal- vinism in this community, and removals from town so crippled the organization that it was abandoned and the building was turned into a dwelling-house. This denomination has been con- founded with the Free Baptists.1
The society of Christians known as Adventists,2 while numerous in some of our neighboring towns, had no organization here, and few, if any, individual members, until some thirty-five years ago, when there was a considerable influx of people from Sugar Hill in Lisbon to this town, many of whom were members of this denomi- nation. Sugar Hill had, in fact, been for many years the chief . seat of the order in this vicinity, having maintained a strong society through more than three-fourths of a century.
The first organized effort by the people of this faith was in 1883. They held their services in private houses or in halls, having no stated place of worship, until they moved into their present house of worship on Lafayette Avenue. This modest church building was commenced July 23, 1893, and was dedicated the following October.
The following Preamble and Church Covenant give a good idea of the belief of this organization and their object in forming the society : -
" Since 'Order is Heaven's first law,' and God is not the author of confusion, and church organization is sanctioned by Scripture and . general usage : -
" Therefore we whose names follow do hereby agree to associate ourselves in that capacity, that we may be in harmony with the word of God, and for the purpose of promoting mutual knowledge, virtue, and piety ; and with such objects in view, do hereby adopt the follow- ing Covenant and Constitution for the Glory of God and our good.
1 Since this was written we have found that Solomon Whiting referred to Mr. Churchill as "a sort of Baptist" and he may have been of the Free-will denomination.
2 Written by George C. Furber.
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" We believe in Christ, and looking for his future personal appearing and kingdom on earth, believing it to be our duty and privilege to unite together in solemn covenant, to maintain Bible order and duly observe Christ's ordinances as in his word required, do hereby agree that we will watch over each other in love, according to the plain requirements of the New Testament, and the spirit of Christ and his Gospel, and do hereby receive the Scriptures as our only rule of faith, practice, and discipline, and are willing when we violate that rule, in word or deed, to be instructed and corrected by each other, making Christian character our only test of fellowship and communion, cor- dially receiving all as Christians who walk by that rule, as belonging to the one body of Christ, and Church of God."
The Constitution says the church shall be known as the " Advent Christian Church in Littleton, N. H.," and it was organ- ized October 11, 1884. The officers of the church consist of a pastor, who shall preside at all meetings of the church when present, two deacons, ruling local elders as the interests of the church shall demand, and a clerk. All officers are to be chosen annually. Among other provisions of the Constitution that may be of interest is the following : -
"It shall be a violation of the Constitution and Covenant of this Church for any member to indulge in the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage (1 Cor. vi. 10), to use tobacco (Is. lv. 2; 1 Cor. iii. 17), or wear gold (1 Pet. iii. 3)."
The officers elected at the organization of the church were Elder J. A. Magoon, pastor, who resigned March 31, 1888; George M. Little, J. N. Oakes, elders ; R. C. Jackman, O. B. Quimby, deacons ; S. O. Parker, clerk. No change in these officers, with the exception of pastor, was made until December, 1888. The resignation of Elder Magoon having been accepted March 31, Elder A. A. Hoyt was chosen pastor May 31, 1888, and served until December 31 of that year, when he resigned. Elder G. M. Little and others supplied the pulpit from January, 1888, until April, when Elder Little was elected pastor and served until September 9, 1894, when he resigned. During the pastorate of Elder Little Elder George C. Bowles supplied half the time. After the resignation of Elder Little the pulpit was supplied by Elder Bowles and others until April 24, 1895, when Elder John Jeffrey was elected pastor and commenced his labors May 12. The other officers of the church remained substantially the same until December, 1890, with the exception that Carl S. Magoon was elected clerk in February of that year. In Decem- VOL. II .- 23
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History of Littleton.
ber O. B. Quimby and Albert Gordon were elected elders ; O. B. Quimby, Alexander Williamson, deacons ; Carl S. Magoon, clerk and treasurer. December, 1891, William M. Taylor and Albert Gordon were elected elders; O. B. Quimby, Alexander William- son, deacons; Mercy A. Oakes, clerk and treasurer. At the annual meeting, December, 1892, the church voted to adopt the Constitution and Covenant of the New Hampshire Conference, and adopted the name of "The Second Advent Christian Church in Littleton, N. H." The following were elected officers : J. N. Oakes, Albert Gordon, elders ; O. B. Quimby, A. J. Williamson, Charles Jackman, deacons ; J. N. Oakes, clerk ; M. A. Oakes, col- lector and treasurer. These officers were re-elected the follow- ing year and served until April, 1895, when Mrs. S. O. Parker was elected clerk and treasurer. The membership at the com- mencement was small, but has gradually increased and is now twenty-four ; but this does not correctly represent the strength numerically of the organization, for about as many more who have never joined are active workers and supporters.
Mr. Jeffrey labored very acceptably among his people, and won the esteem and affection of many outside his own church. He resigned in 1898, and was succeeded by the Rev. H. H. Churchill, who remained until 1900. He then removed to Lawrence, where he is now engaged in the ministry. A little later the Rev. Mr. Shorey was called to the church and served for a short time. Mr. Shorey was a Socialist, and while he was here cast the only vote for that party in town. Since his departure in 1902 there has been no settled pastor, Elder George C. Bowles and Elder Leslie E. Bean supplying preaching.
The Advent Church had no regular choir until 1895, relying upon congregational singing. The choir organized in that year consisted of J. M. Quimby, chorister; Minnie Bell Aldrich, Elizabeth Jeffrey, soprano; Alice Jeffrey, Mabel French, con- tralto; Ira Quimby, tenor, and E. H. Carter, bass. Under the congregational form of singing the principal ones taking part were William M. Taylor, S. O. Parker, J. N. Oakes, Charles Parker, Judson M. Quimby, Henry H. Parker, Mrs. F. J. Bartlett, Ethel Bowles, and Mrs. J. N. Oakes.
In 1893 differences arose among the members in regard to ad- ministrative affairs in the society, though there were slight doc- trinal disagreements. It seems that there are two branches of the church in this country. In New England one is represented by " Messiah's Herald," the other by the " World's Crisis." The " Herald " advocates the doctrine that the intelligent part of man
ADVENT CHAPEL.
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survives death, and is conscious between death and the resurrec- tion somewhere in some condition ; the "Crisis," the doctrine that man is wholly mortal, dependent on Christ for future life and wholly unconscious between death and the resurrection. With few exceptions the members here held to the view of the " Crisis."
The dissensions were the outgrowth of what was regarded as minority rule. The membership of the society was kept as small as the rules of the State Conference would admit, and this body governed the church. In 1893, however, its membership was enlarged, and what had been the minority became the majority and proceeded to excommunicate th, two members who had ruled the society since its formation.
In October, 1893, the State Conference, or Yearly Meeting, was held here, and efforts were made to harmonize the discordant elements. It was agreed that the matters in dispute should be arbitrated, and the Rev. Joseph Miett, of Concord, president of the conference, the Rev. Daniel Leavitt, of Ashland, and the Rev. Frederick Piper, editor of the " Crisis," were selected as referees. The hearing was without results, and the conference finally held that the majority had, by their illegal action, excommunicated themselves, and it recognized the members who were expelled by the society as the legally constituted Advent Society in this town. This society, however, was without a place of worship, the church building in the village being in the possession of those who held it at the time the two members were expelled, and Elder G. C. Bowles purchased the old school-house at Apthorp, moved it to land of his own, and reconstructed it for use as a chapel. There, under the favor of the State Conference, it has prospered, and now numbers about twenty families of worshippers.
Meetings are still held at the meeting-house on Lafayette Avenue, though that society is at present without a pastor since the recent departure of the Rev. Mr. Shorey.
The Christian Science Society was formed here in April, 1884. Julia S. Bartlett, of Boston, gave talks at different times in Opera Hall, and formed a class for instruction which was attended with satisfactory results, and later other classes were formed. While not greatly increasing in numbers, the zeal of the members has been unabated and meetings have been held for a score of years every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening.
The First Readers of the society have been Mrs. Jennie May Green and Lydia Cobb; the Second Readers Emma Morse and E. E. Eldridge, Miss Cobb and Mr. Eldridge occupying the
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History of Littleton.
positions at the present time. The organists have been Mrs. Emma Cornelia Kinne, Bessie B. Kinne, and Mrs. Persis Green.
The meetings of the society are held in its hall in Rounsevel's Block, and are attended by a larger average attendance of its membership than are those of any other society in the town.
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Young Men's Christian Association.
XXXIX.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
A BRANCH of the Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Littleton, in December, 1873, with John F. Tilton president, and Warren W. Lovejoy secretary and treasurer. The members arranged for a course of lectures to be delivered in the early months of 1874. These lectures, six in number, were given in Union Hall and were well attended. Two of them were by Rev. W. S. Palmer, of Wells River, Vt., and the others by Pro- fessor Robinson, of Tilton, Dr. Cutting, of Lunenburg, Vt., and President Asa D. Smith, of Dartmouth College. Besides the lec- tures, the association held forty-five meetings at their rooms in Tilton Block, and outside meetings every week at Mann's Hill, Farr Hill, West Littleton, and North Littleton. The sum ex- pended this year was $120.40, of which $25 was given to the State association.
The record of this society for its existence of thirty years is replete with earnest labor and satisfactory results. 'Meetings have been held in surrounding towns, including Alder Brook, Dalton, Franconia, Lisbon, Bath, Easton, and Concord, Vt., and in differ- ent localities in Littleton. The second year of its existence, when C. D. Tarbell was president, meetings were held in an old saw- mill at South Littleton. The machinery was moved to one side, and seats, donated by the Congregational Society, were put in place, and every Sunday were occupied by an attentive audience. In 1880, through the efforts of the members, a hall was erected, and the meetings afterward held therein, with continued interest.
The meetings at North Littleton were so successful and aroused so much interest that in 1878 the residents of the community hired a preacher and the association enlarged their field of effort in another direction. The number of meetings held during these years has varied, the lowest being 49 and the highest 248.
The work has not been confined to holding meetings. The need of a reading room where young men could pass their even-
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ings appealed to the members of the association, and efforts were made to establish one. The rooms of the association were in Tilton's Block at first, but after two years it joined with the Reform Club and took rooms in Smith's Block. Here, with the aid of the Woman's Temperance League, a reading room was estab)- lished, but later was abandoned. Interest in the association was quickened by a visit from the State Executive Committee in 1880, and in 1881 a public anniversary of the association was held and $200 raised toward a reading room, which was soon opened in Smith's Block and was well patronized by the young men for whom it was planned. It was supplied with two daily, twenty-five weekly, eight monthly, two semi-monthly United States papers, with magazines, and five foreign papers. A library of forty volumes was also started, which was afterwards increased to one hundred and fifty. Afterward the room was located in Tilton's Block in the store occupied by Carlos P. Day, and later in the Overand Block, but when a reading room was opened in connection with the village library the association gave up this branch of its work for a time. Through the courtesy of the Rev. Mr. Chutter, rooms were subsequently opened in the Boylston, but later were aban- doned for lack of financial support.
As the work of this society has been carried on by voluntary sub- scription, the income has fluctuated from year to year, the amounts varying from less than $50 to nearly $600. In 1886 the ladies raised enough money to purchase new furniture for the rooms, and in 1877 Hosea Patterson raised $85 for general purposes.
The association has at different times supported an evening school, has given aid in illness to homeless young men, and has sent out invitations to commercial travellers to attend church while passing Sunday in town.
This association accomplished much that was of lasting benefit to the community, yet at no time was the working force large or those who contributed to its maintenance numercus. The meetings in each of the outlying districts were held under the charge of two or three persons drawn from this list. Deacon Charles D. Tarbell, Deacon Samuel C. Sawyer, Deacon John F. Tilton, Deacon Warren W. Lovejoy, of the Congregational Church, Henry O. Jackson and Ellery H. Carter, of the Methodist Church, were the reliable men who could be depended upon at all times to attend these Sunday afternoon services. There were others who went when occasion required and did faithful work. In the way of supporting the reading room there were a number who gave generously through many years, but Benjamin W. Kilburn was
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Young Men's Christian Association.
its chief reliance. He believed that much was to be accomplished by providing the young men of the town with a place to which they might resort and pass their evenings in reading or study, and to provide such a convenience he never withheld his hand. The reading room connected with the public library has ren- dered the one connected with this association unnecessary, and it was discontinued in 1902.
If the association is not so active now as in former years, it is largely owing to the fact that the occasion is not so imperative now as it was then for labor of this character. It is true that such a field of usefulness cannot be overcultivated, but it is none the less true that opportunities for labor in the vineyard of the Lord are many, and that each of these can make the same demand upon those who are anxious for work.
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History of Littleton.
XL.
NATIVE MINISTERS.
N TEW ENGLANDERS, with rare exceptions, have great respect for the educated men and women born and reared in their midst. For none is this feeling stronger than for those who have chosen to become " fishers of men." The old reverence for the ministry may not be so strong now as it once was with the multitude, but it still survives in many hearts with the old-time fervor.
With two exceptions the sons of Littleton who have entered the sacred profession were reared on farms, and acquired the educa- tion necessary to qualify them for the work of the ministry under adverse conditions. The eldest of those to make the sacrifice, for such it must be considered, was Andrew Rankin, Jr. He was born on the farm near Lyman (now Monroe) line, which was the gift of Elder James Rankin to his son, who also bore the name of Andrew. The senior Andrew was a man of consequence in the town. He had inherited the sturdy Scotch virtues of strong com- mon sense and thrift. He had also received from the same source the religious convictions of the old Covenanters, and held to them with all the tenacity of the race. He was a good farmer, and when he retired from the active management of his farm, it was esteemed one of the best in town. He had the confidence of his townsmen, and was " called," as Solomon Whiting expressed it, " to hold office against his will " more than once, and was Mod- erator, Selectman, and Representative of the town, and deacon and clerk of the first church. This combination of civic and church preferment is not to be ignored in estimating his character. They constitute a first-class certificate, which may properly be cherished by his descendants.
Andrew, Jr., like all boys in his day brought up under such surroundings, worked on the farm and learned practical things. He attended the district school in the hollow near the residence of " Priest" Goodall both summer and winter until he was four-
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teen. Then his privileges were curtailed to the winter term. His school was in District No. 4, near his home. The education thus obtained was confined to reading, writing, and arithmetic, with such incidental knowledge as the teacher may have been able to impart. He is said to have been studious, persistent, and exceedingly practical in all his ways.
While yet a lad he became hopefully pious, and longed to qualify himself for extended usefulness. This privilege was denied him for a time, but when he reached his majority, he shouldered his pack, and on foot made the journey to Andover, Mass., where he pursued a course in the Academy, and then entered Dartmouth College. He did not graduate, but long after, that institution con- ferred upon him the degree of A.M. His ministerial labors will be found recorded in the genealogy, and need not be restated. While serving his first charge at Colebrook, he became acquainted with Lois, daughter of Jeremiah Eames, Jr., and in 1824 they were united in marriage. The wife bore the name of an aunt who was the wife of Nathan Caswell, Jr. Mrs. Rankin was an ex- emplary woman, of a deeply religious character, and a fitting help- meet to her husband in his chosen work.
A son of this worthy man,1 himself an eminent scholar, teacher, and divine, writes thus concerning his father : -
" In figure Mr. Rankin was tall, symmetrical, and commanding : standing exactly six feet. His features were large and manly ; lis brow high, his eyes blue, his cheek bones broad and high, his mouth well cut and determined. In speech his voice was full and impressive. Though he usually wrote his sermons, he was able to speak fluently without writing, thinking on his feet. His model, so far as he had gone, was Professor Porter of Andover, in whose family he once resided, working for his board.
" His policy, as a pastor, was to seize hold of some work that needed immediate attention and bend all his energies to its ac- complishment. For example, in Chester, Vt., he led the little church to purchase the whole of the edifice, of which another denomination was part owner. His preaching aimed at immedi- ate results. Indeed, during his stay as a student at Hanover, revivals in Reading, and other towns where he taught school, were, more or less directly, the result of his labors.
"He prepared his sermons with the Bible in his hands, always first finding the mind of the Spirit as to the subject. He was especially successful as the representative of benevolent societies, easily awakening enthusiasm, and inspiring confidence in his
1 The Rev. Jeremiah Eames Rankin, D.D., LL.D.
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judgment. He frequently corresponded for counsel with such men as the Rev. R. S. Storrs, Sr., of Braintree, and was a life-long friend of the Rev. George Punchard of the 'Boston Traveller.'
" In his home he believed in the strict training of children. They were taught the Shorter Catechism, and habituated to the work of reporting the sermons they heard on Sundays. As his salary was always limited, he did the duties of a servant about the woodshed and barn, and early taught his boys the same accomplishments ; and having been brought up on a farm, he was very handy in the use of all farming implements, - could guide the plough, swing the axe and scythe. His only musical accomplish- ment was playing the snare-drum, which he had done at trainings and musters.
" He published several sermons. The writer remembers one which was printed during his stay in Thornton, one also in Essex, Vt. He was a frequent contributor to the religious papers. Rev. Nelson Bishop, of the ' Vermont Chronicle,' and Rev. Dr. Stone, of the 'Congregational Journal,' were his confidential friends.
" The great ambition of his life, shared no less by his excellent wife, was to give his children a good education. His residence in South Berwick, Me., Concord, and in Chester, Vt., was partly to accomplish this end. His oldest daughter graduated at Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary; another daughter spent two years there ; his two sons graduated at Middlebury College; and all his children were, at some time in their lives, teachers of public schools and sometimes in higher institutions of learning. He always labored under the disability of being a dyspeptic. Having gone from a New Hampshire farm directly to a life of sedentary habits, the change was unfavorable; and this accounts for the repeated failures in health which he experienced. The protracted illness spoken of by Dr. Bouton in his sketch of Miss Rankin was thus occasioned. His health was always the best when he led a stirring out-door life. He was always a student, an early riser, and an enthusiast in whatever he had on hand. His great mis- take was that he did not know how to recreate ; had not cultivated a taste for light literature, nor, indeed, for any reading not of the severer and more practical kind. In the later years of his life he once represented Chester in the Vermont Legislature. And during his stay in Melbourne, Can., he wrote and published a little volume entitled 'The Jesuits' Estates.' It awakened great interest, and was largely distributed all through the townships. Dying in Danbury, N. H., he was first buried there, and after- wards removed to a family lot purchased by his sons in the
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