USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Sanbornton > History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, Vol. I - Annals > Part 11
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the ministerial
ing between myself and the Town. This contract engages me coulracl. a stipulated sum annually so long as my ministerial relation to the Town shall conthune. liereby provision is made for my support, in case I should be taken off from my publie labors by sickness or by age. This I conceive to have been the original design of the contract. in this light I have always considered it. I sincerely and earnestly desire to continue in
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HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
love and nulon with the Church and Society to which I have for so many years ministered. It Is my earnest desire and fervent prayer that love, aulon and peace may be enltlvated and prevall In the Church and Society and the slated administration of the word and ordinances quay be continued among you, although I should be deprived of the satisfaction and pleasure of further suinistering to yon. For the attainment of so desirable an object, I feel dis- posed to make every sacrifice, which i consider to be consistent with my duty to myself and family, and to propose terms of settlement which appear to me such as every hupartial, disinterested mind will judge both reasonable and generous. Ist, In case of the settlement of a colleague I will relinquish two thirds of my sulary ; or, 2d, I am willing to refer it to three disinterested men of' established charneters for ability and integrity to be mutually chosen from the nelghboring towns, and I pledge my word to abide their deelston, the Town passing a vote to do the same, and to pay the cost of the reference; or, 3d, to receive any proposals which the Town muy see fit to make. May the Fountain of wisdom and God of love direct your measures and dispose you to follow the things which make for peace, and thlugs whereby one may edify another.
(Signed) "JOSEPH WOODMAN."
Neither of the two first proposals made by Mr. Woodinan were accepted by the town ; but a committee of five was chosen to make proposals to him in turn, consisting of Josiah Emery, Esq., New proposals Moses Thompson, Dea. Samuel Lane, Nathan Taylor, Esq., for settlement.
and Lieut. Nathaniel Grant. At an adjourned meeting, Dec. 9, this committee reported, after the contract between the town and Mr. Woodman had been produced and read in the meeting. One of their proposals was that " Mr. Woodman give up his salary for six months from Nov. 13 previous, the Town passing a vote to supply the desk during that time." To this Mr. Woodman acceded, substituting four months instead of six ; which was accordingly accepted by the town, and the selectmen were directed to furnish the supply. It was during this period, and a few times previously, that Rev. Dauiel Staniford was employed, with much acceptance.
But the town was not disposed to indulge in that " generous " treat- meut towards its old pastor which his appeal had invited ; still refusing, March 11, 1806, to leave his contract to a reference, and voting the l'arsonuge fand next day to " sell the Parsonage land, and put the money
al last to be thus arising at interest, to be divided annually between the suld. Cong. Society and the Baptist Association, according to polls and ratable estates in each for the use of the Gospel Ministry " : the selectmen to sell the land at public auction and secure the pay- utents by mortgage, or otherwise, as they see fit. At a special town uteeting, however, April 22, Dea. Samuel Lane, Dr. Samuel Gerrish, and Maj. Jere. Tilton were chosen as a committee again to treat with Mr. Woodman respecting the settlement of the contract between huu
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
and the town. They returned from " waiting on him" with the fol- lowing communication : -
"TO THE INHABITANTS OF SANBORNTON; MORE ESPECIALLY TO THE CONG. CHURCH AND SOCIETY :
" Men and Brethren, - In the wise, righteous, und sovereign providence of God, my health has been greatly impaired, since the severe sickness with which he has been pleased to visit me, aud for nine months past I have been unable to supply the desk. There appears but little prospect of my being able to discharge the duties of the ministry among you for the future. Under these circumstances measures have been taken for the settlement of the Second con-
munication contract subsisting between que und the Town, but without ste- Trois Mr. cess. Aud, although the proposals which I made appeared to me
Woodman.
to be reasonable and equitable, and I believe do and will appear so to all impartial, disinterested persons, yet they were not accepted. Your present situation is alarming, affectlug, and, to mne, very distressing, - desti- tute of the stated administration of God's word and ordinances - the meeting- house nnopened - the desk unoccupied on the holy Sabbath. Apprehensive of the evils which will be the probable consequences of continuing in sach at state, and desirous to do all in my power to prevent them, and to promote the peace and prosperity of the church and society to which I have so long minis- tered, I have been juduced to give up that which I have ever considered as
Final propo- entitling me to support In case of slekness, or of age. [ there-
bilion. fore propose to give up the contract with the Town, on the fol- lowing condition, viz., that my poll and estate be exempted from taxes during my life.
" Friends and Brethren, - Having ministered unto you more than thirty yent's, it is reasonable to suppose that I feel an affection for you, and a desire for your best, even your spiritual and eternal interests. My being taken off from my public labors among you, I regard as a token of God's righteous displeas- ure. It becomes me humbly to adore his holy hand in the various and sore afflictions and trials with which he has been pleased to visit me, and submit. It becomes us, on the present occasion, to reflect upon what is past, and to inquire how we have discharged the duties of our respective relations. And here I find abundant eanse for deep huruiliation before God : for, although my conscience bears the witness that I have endeavored to preach unto you the true doctrines of the Gospel, und now leave my testimony to the truth of the general system of doctrines which I have preached from my first coming to this place; yet I have great reason to lament my many sinful deficiencies alul shortcomings in the discharge of my duty, and the little snecess which has attended my ministry, and to implore forgiveness through that precious blood which was shed for the priesthood and the people. And is It not suitable for yon, my brethren, to consider how you have improved the privileges which you have enjoyed? How you have heard, received, and profited by a preached Gospel? And will you not tid much cause for humiliation and repentance, under a sense of your fruitfulness in God's vineyard? Let me carnesthy recommend to you, to make every suitable and prudent exertion to have con- stant preaching among you, and, as soon as may be, to settle a Gospel Minis- ter. While destitute, you will be exposed to great temptations, and to many evils. Gnard against instability aud flekleness, fondness for novelty and vain enriosity, in the things of religion, and with respect to religious teachers. Be
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HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
cautions of receiving strangers who como without reguiar credentials, and especially those who labor to promote malmositles und divisions among you, und to introduce new doctrines contrary to the form of sound words taught us in the word of God, and the doctrines which you have received and learned, and which have been generally received by the regular Orthodox churches in this land. Cuhivate a spirit of love and union among yourselves. Guard against the artidces of those who seek to disuffect and divhle you. You will fud frequent occasion for the exercise of funnility, muntuni consideration, and forbearance. Every one cannot expect to be sulted in every thing. We must labor to please others, so far us is consistent, as well as ourselves, and thus follow the things which make for peace, and things whereby one may edify another. Cultivate in your minds an high esteem for the Gospel of Christ, und its sacred institutions, and grudge not the expense necessary to support the public administration of them. Ever consider those who would represent them as unnecessary and useless, as enemies not only to your own personal Interests, but also as enemies to the pence and happiness of society.
"Let me also recommend to you the due observation and sanctification of the holy Sabbath. When destitute of public worship, you will Pastoral advice be under peculiar temptations to misspend and profane the Sub- and recom- bath, either in idleness or in visiting from house to house : such
mendations. a practice will be productive of great evils to yourselves, and have a pernicious influence upon the rising generation. Let heads of families make couscience of sanctifying the Sabbath, and use their authority and indu- ence that all under their care sanetify it also.
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and the word of his grace. Muy he preserve you from the evils to which you are exposed, - pour out his Spirit, - and unite your hearts in Christian truth, love, and hoflness, - build up his cause and interest among us, - smile upon and succeed your exertious to obtain an able and faithful minister of the New Testament, wlto may be a rich blessing to you and your children. Finally, brethren, be perfect, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of peace shall be with you.
(Signed) "JOSKIN WOODMAN. "SANDBORNTON, Apr. 22, 1806."
The Rev. Dr. J. C. Bodwell, in his centennial address, well says of this "noble epistle" : "If the reading of it did not touch the hearts and moisten the eyes of the strong men in that special town
meeting, then we have judged wrong as to their character." Happy luilu- euce of the letter.
That it made a happy impression is shown from the facts that " being read in open meeting," its terms were unani- monsly accepted ; and being afterwards printed as an elegant . broad- side " for that time by George Hough, of Concord, it was distributed through the town as one of the moral influences which tended to make the Saubornton of subsequent years.
The town also voted at that meeting to " raise $200 for supplying the desk in the Congregational Society the present year" ; soon after which the services of Mr. Abraham Bodwell must have been secured, since his three months' " time of probation " must have commenced in
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
June : and we accordingly find the town, in meeting of Sept 15. 1806, voting, -
"To give Mr. Bodwell a call to settle in the Gospel ministry in this Town,"
Towu's con- with a committee of live to " treat with him on the terms of set-
tract with Mr. tlement." These were reported, Sept. 30, as follow : " That the Bud well. Town of Sanbornton pay Abraham Bodwell $450, annually, for preaching and attending to all the duties incumbent ou a settled minister of the Gospel in s'd town, until two thirds of that part of the town generally denominated Congregationalists shall wish to discontinue the sal- ary"; when either party, "the Town " or "said Bodwell," shall be released from this contract only " in one year after a regular notitleation in writing " from the other.
The town, having accepted this contract, reappointed the same con- mittee to wait on Mr. Bodwell, and make arrangements for his ordi- nation, Nov. 13. (For fuller accounts, see " Congregational Church ITis ordination. Ilunkins, has told us that at that town ordination the gal- Centennial," pp. 48, 49.) An eye-witness, Mr. John leries of the old meeting-house had to be " shored up" ; that the crowd could not nearly all be accommodated within doors, their appearance being " like that of bees hanging from a hive on a hot summer day"; that himself, then a lad of thirteen, could only get to the door for the press, and afterwards repaired to a house occupied by Benjamin Colby, now Mr. Wilson's, to witness a " show " which was then going on !
The " Toleration Act" of 1819 had for years been peacefully antici- pated in old Sanbornton, no one being obliged (after the
The " Tolera-
tion Act." " controversy " alluded to on page 70) to pay taxes for the support of a denomination to which he did not belong, and the avails of the " Parsonage Fund " being equitably divided. This find arose from the "selling of the Parsonage Land," which was
Rules for seil- effected in 1806, in the following manner : The selectmen, ing the parson- by vote of the town, appointed a " Public Vendue," at Dr. age land. Benaiah Sanborn's, May 27, with certain " articles" or rules for regulating the sale, among which were these : that -
"The bids should be so much per acre, and no bid less than 20 ets. per acre ; that any person refusing to comply with his bid, and subscribe his name thereto, in half an hour, should pay to the auctioneer $2, and the land be set up again; that the purchaser should receive a lease for the term of 999 years, he paying the cash, or mortgaging the land to the town, giving his note for the purchase sum, with sufficient surety, on legal interest, which interest should be paid on Nov. 15 of each year; and finally, that no sum of the Prin- cipal less than $50 should be paid at one time, unless the last payment shoukl be a less sum."
On these conditions, Lot No. 1 of the one-hundred-acre lot ( No. 77. First Division), 25+ acres, was struck off to William Harper for $13
78
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
per acre ; Lot No. 2 of amme, 287 neres, to Capt. Ben. Colby, for $8. 10 per acre ; Lot No. 3 of same, 28+ acres, to Jona. Gove,
Hurted. for $13.80 per acre ; and Lot. No. 4 of same, size not stated, being the balance of the lot, to Cupt. AAsa Currier, for $16.60 per acre The Great Lot ( No. 12, Second Division) was parcelled into five divisions, of which No. 1, " adjoining Ens. Kast. man's land," was struck off to Capt. Ben. Colby, 49+ acres, at $20.48 per acre ; No. 2 to John Taylor, Esq., 49+ acres, at $13.10 per acre ; No. 3 to William Sunborn, Jr., 21++ acres, at 87.40 per acre ; and at the adjourned sale, July 1, Nos. 4 and 5, size not given, being bal- ance of the lot, to Israel Adams, for $5.40 and $4.20 per acre. Some few of these lots afterwards reverted to the town, and were resold (as July 17, 1811. " about 43 acres, lying at the south end of the great parsonage lot, to Andrew Lovejoy, at $0.20 per acre, by whom released to John Lane, 3d") ; the security of others was from time to time inquired into by the town, but the whole has, from the first,
The " Parrot- age Fund."
continued to be safely and profitably invested as the per- manent .. Parsonage Fund " for the support of the gospel ministry, no portion of whose avails, as is universally conceded, can ever rightfully be applied outside of the original limits of the town. In 1807, it was voted, on petition, -
"That persons not belonging to either Cong. or Baptist Societies have the privilege of making it known to the Select men in writing in which of the Societies their names shall be used in dividing the Parsonage interest money."
In 1825 the actual division of the whole sinn ($179.98, at that time) was as follows : " 1st Baptist Soc., $75.96 ; Cong., $58.49 ; 2d Baptist.
Dividing the $25.14; Union, $20.39 "; and in 1827 the parsonage parsolaye interest money began to be disposed of precisely as at interest. present, it being voted that -
" The Select men, when taking the Inventory, shall enquire of each individ- ual paying a poll tax, which of the incorporated religious Societies in this town, shall draw his proportion of said interest money, and to note it down in their Inventory books, in a separate colmun; . . . and should any individual neglect or refuse to designate, his proportion to go into the counuon stock from which the division is made, and from which the several Societies may draw a number of shares of the money equal to the number of persons who shall designate in their favor."
Affairs ecclesiastical had been happily adjusting themselves between the two principal societies. Town collectors were to collect the Bap- tist Society's tax in 1807, " provided said Soc. shall pay over to the Town a sum in proportion to the sums to be collected"; but in 1811 it was " voted that the Congregational and Baptist Society each pay their own expense, and that the Town have no concern in that
.
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ECCLESIASTICAL. HISTORY.
matter." Between 1805 and 1823 there are several entries upon the town records of " voluntary changes " from one society to the other,
Town still in or of secession from either. The town still retained its charge of meet- voice in the care of the meeting house ; voting, in 1811, ing . house. "to sell the spaces on the floor, excepting the two front seats, for private pews," four in number, which were afterwards " struck off" by the selectmen, the two front to Jeremiah Sanborn, Esq., for $52.50 and $50.50, the two others to Joshua Lane, for 240, aud to Richard Hazelton, for $41.50, - appropriating this money to the repairs and painting of the house, but politely adding, in their vote of March 14, 1816, " that the Cong Society may raise money to finish painting the Town meeting-house "! Meanwhile, the tie which Mr. Budwell's bound the town to Mr. Bodwell as its minister, though contract relin- weakening, was still recognized. The auditors' report for quished.
1826 shows us that $328.75 (only) was that year paid him by the selectmen. But finally, on " June 20, 1829," we have this entry : " Rev. Abraham Bodwell relinquishes the contract between himself' and the Town, which was entered upon Sept., 1806"; and thus the wise and beneficent " Act, passed June 8, 1692," The " Act of during the reign of good William and Mary, by which the 1692 " finally
olUspended. towns of New England were to settle their Congregational ministers, in the town of Sanbornton forever ceased to operate, - the entire separation of church and state, in our town affairs, was at last effected !
CHAPTER X.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. - CHURCHES AND MINISTERS.
"Oh, where are kings and empires now, Of old that went and came! But, Lord, thy church is praying yet, A thousand years the same." - CoxE.
" But Christe's lore, and his apostles twelve He taught, but first he followed it himselve." - CHAUCER.
Tins chapter, as supplemental to the last, shall be devoted to brief historical " sketches " of the several churches or religious organizat- tions (eleven in number) which have existed or still exist within the limits of the original town. We shall aim at variety in these sketches, - not framing them all on precisely the same model, but seeking to illustrate as fully as may be the different aspects of the town's religions history. Of those church organizations Classification and summary. now existing which were not originally formed in town, or, being in the outskirts, have drawn their material in part from the neighboring towns, the record will be briefer. There are at least six of this latter class, while two others are no longer in exist- enee ; leaving but three, those first upon the list, - viz., the Congrega- tional and the First and Second Baptist Churches, - still surviving as exclusively Sanbornton institutions.
In connection with each of these churches which are Congregational as to their goverment, there is also a " society " often incorporated to manage the affairs of the parish, financially and otherwise ; while- those churches which are under an Episcopal form of government are supposed to have each their board of stewards, or vestry and church- wardens, for a similar purpose ; and the Methodists have also a .. Board of Trustees " - a corporate body - which has sole control of their church property. Those organizations which are still existing will be first described, nearly in the order of their establishment on Sanborutou soil, leaving the two no longer existing in town to be men- tioned last.
RELIGHOUS SOCIETIES. - CHURCHES AND MINISTERS. 81
I. - THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The date of the organization of this church, and the counection of its first two pastors with the town, are shown in the last chapter. The seven individuals whose names are found subscribed to the First Church covenant, in November, 1771, and who were therefore the earliest pro- fessors of religion in the town, were James Cate, Nathaniel Original mem- bers. Tiltou, Daniel Sanborn, Benjamin Darling, Josiah San- born, Aaron Sanborn, and Abijah Sanborn. The first con- fession of faith bears date "Jan'y ye 2d, 1772," at which time Mr. Darling and Mr. Tilton were chosen as the two first deacons. At the commencement of Mr. Bodwell's ministry the church consisted of eighteen males and twenty-eight females ; but in connection with his labors there were several revivals of greater or less extent, and during his ministry three hundred and seven were added to the church, sev- enty-five were dismissed, one hundred and nineteen died, and five were excluded. The number of baptisms during the same period was four hundred and eighty-four, a small portion of which were adult. The
The great most remarkable of these seasons of awakening was in
awakening 1816 ; a year, as elsewhere shown, of great trial from the
of' lolo. cold and scarcity. Says Dr. J. C. Bodwell, in his cen- tennial address : -
"Without any revival measures, or any special means, through the faithful preaching of the word by the ordained pastor, and in answer to his earnest prayers, the Spirit was poured upon them from on high, and the whole town was shaken. Quietly and powermlly the work went on until more than a hundred were hopefully converted to Christ, many of whom were fathers and mothers, among the most respectable and influential members of the congre- gation."
From July to the end of the year 1816 the " records of the church are of exceeding interest," no fewer than seventy-seven uniting with the samme ou profession of their faith. Mr. Bodwell continued pastor of the church nearly forty-six years, being dismissed; June 24, 1852, by the same council that installed his successor, Rev. James Boutwell. The latter, after an able ministry of nearly thirteen years, was removed
Long pastor- by death ; and it is worthy of note that up to that time, for a
ales. period of ninety-three and one half years, the church, with only three incumbents, had never been without a pastor for a single day, and had " never called a council or reference for advice or aid in the exercise of discipline or the adjustment of difficulties." During Mr. Boutwell's ministry, sixty additions were made to the church by profession and letter; and during the first fourteen years of the subsequent and last pastorate there were ninety-nine similar accessions.
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HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
A historical " sketch " of the church was prepared by Mr. Bontwell, and printed, with the articles of faith and a catalogne of the members, in 1858. Mr. Bodwell, on the 13th of November, 1856, preached a fiftieth-anniversary sermon of his settlement, which was full of interest and afterwards published; and on the same date of the Contenuti celebratlous. one hundredth anniversary of the formation of the church, in 1871, the centennial celebration occurred, extending over two days, Nov. 12 and 13. The sermon on the 12th (Sab- bath) was preached by Rev. F. T. Perkins, from 1 John iv. 8, and a memorial communion service was enjoyed. On the following day a historical discourse was delivered by Prof. J. C. Bodwell, D. D., with other exercises, in the Town Hall, a full report of all which was after- wards compiled and published by order of the church. The Sabbath school was first organized in May, 1819, with John S. Lane ns " con- ductor " ; and about the saute time, branch schools on Sabbath evenings were started in Franklin, on Calef Ilill, and in the Rollins School- house, near Union Bridge, by different members of the church, which were kept up with profit for many years. The benevolent contribu- tions of this church during the last fifteen years, 1866-1880, have averaged $23-4.55 annually. The church is aided by an
Auxillary societies. efficient "society," organized June 20, 1829 (signed by one hundred and fifty-one individuals up to 1881), whose committee hold themselves personally responsible, in the society's name, for the full and prompt payment of the pastor's salary year by year. Another and older incorporated body, "The Congregational Fund Association," has existed since June 20, 1811. Its invested funds now ainount to more than $2,000, and it annually affords sub- stantial aid for the support of the gospel ministry of this church.
We add another brief extract from the centennial address of Dr. Bodwell, which holds up in pleasing colors the church-going habits of a former generation : -
" The meeting-honse was tilled on the Sabbath with a congregation of Church-going sober, carnest, and intelligent men and women, coming from all parts of the town, and none were more constant than those who habita. drove five miles up and down these invigorating hills. How full those great square pews used to be, morning and afternoon, summer and winter ! Many of us remember what a merry sight it was to us children, at a more recent period, when, on bright cold winter days, the congregation poured out from that old meeting-house, in which there had been no tire save what onr mothers and grandmothers brought in their little foot stoves, and packed themselves by families in their ample sleighs, single and double, and went down the hill to the music of their many bells, in long procession, at a rate of speed which made it plain that the horses were as glad as the children, who had sat shivering ou the cold, hard seats, that meeting was done."
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