USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 21
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For several years following 1781 the town took no action in regard to supplying preaching, but at the annual meeting of 1786 Cols. Henry Rust and William Cotton were appointed a committee to ascertain what the town proprietors would donate
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towards building a meeting-house and settling a minister, two matters very intimately connected.
From a letter written to the selectmen of Wolfeborough by John Allen, of Stratham, dated Jan. 28, 1792, it appears that his father, Rev. John Allen, visited Wolfeborough about 1783, and preached some. He attempted to visit the town again in March, 1784, for the purpose of making some arrangements in relation to a settlement, but, setting out from Pittsfield, found the roads in Gilmanton so blocked with snow that he gave up the journey to Wolfeborough, and visited Canterbury. He died previous to the date of his son's letter. Rev. Joshua Cushman, of Dover, preached in Wolfeborough four Sabbaths in the autumn of 1791, being hired by the selectmen.
About 1780 Benjamin Randall, a native of Newcastle, N. H., who had removed to New Durham, organized a church there, one of the tenets of which was that the people should not be taxed for the support of the ministry, but that it should be sus- tained by voluntary contributions. Isaac Townsend, one of Ran- dall's adherents, removed to Wolfeborough in the spring of 1791. He had preached some while residing in New Durham, and after his arrival in Wolfeborough continued the practice, holding meetings in private dwellings. Some of the citizens of Wolfeborough had previously adopted some of Randall's re- ligious views, and consequently affiliated with Townsend, thus maintaining Sabbath worship and other devotional meetings in a humble way. Between 1780 and 1790 several Quaker families had moved into Wolfeborough, among them the Varneys the Bassetts, and the Nowells, men of some means and good business capacity. They, too, were opposed to compulsory methods of supporting ministers.
The time had now come when the larger portion of the more influential citizens of Wolfeborough deemed it proper to adopt measures for settling a town minister, whose support should be legally assured as had been generally the custom in New Eng-
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land, by an assessment of taxes on the inhabitants. In defence of this practice it was urged that while the magistrate was justly supported by the people, as they had the benefit of his services, so the minister, the more self-sacrificing of the two, was entitled to his living from the same source, and as all the inhabitants were benefited by his ministrations, all should be required to aid in sustaining him.
Mr. Ebenezer Allen preached in Wolfeborough during the summer of 1792, and a town-meeting was called by the selectmen, to be held on the twenty-second day of August, "to see if the town will agree to give Mr. Ebenezer Allen a call to settle as a minister of the Gospel in the town, and if there should be an agreement concluded, to adopt such measures as shall be neces- sary."
At the meeting it was voted to give Mr. Allen a call, and a committee of invitation was appointed, consisting of Colonel Henry Rust, Joshua Haines, James Connor, Colonel William Cotton, Andrew Wiggin, Joseph Edmonds, Samuel Tibbetts, Jonathan Hersey, Daniel Brewster, Ebenezer Meder, Captain Reuben Libbey, Isaiah Horne, Jacob Haines, Lieutenant John Martin, Ithiel Clifford, Joseph Keniston, Lieutenant Andrew Lucas, Perry Hardy, Samuel Tibbetts, Jr., Richard Rust, Esq., Jacob Smith, John Fullerton Stephen Horne, Henry Rust, Jr., James Fullerton, James Lucas, Jr., Josiah Thurston, David Piper, James Marden, Jason Chamberlain, Paul Wiggin, Jesse Merrill, Aaron Frost, Nathaniel Brown, William Triggs, Isaac Goldsmith, Benjamin Horne, George Yeaton, Levi Tibbetts, and Benjamin Wiggin, embracing probably all the freeholders in the town favorable to the movement.
Colonel Henry Rust was appointed chairman of the committee, which was to ascertain on what terms Mr. Allen could be en- gaged, and report at an adjourned meeting to be held on the 30th instant. At the adjourned meeting, the committee reported through its chairman that it had unanimously agreed to give Mr.
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Allen a call and an annual salary of forty-five pounds-one- third of which should be cash, one-third grass-fed beef at twenty shillings a hundred, and one-third corn at three shillings or rye at four shillings a bushel or cash, as the payee might prefer. This salary was to increase as the ratable estate of the town should increase until it amounted to sixty pounds, and thenceforth re- main stationary.
Mr. Allen was also to have twenty-five cords of wood delivered annually at his place of residence, and thirty pounds expended on his buildings, to be paid in such articles as should be neces- sary for their completion. A vacation of five Sabbaths a year was to be allowed him during the first three years of his ministry, and afterwards one of four Sabbaths annually.
It was voted to accept the foregoing report, and Colonel Henry Rust, Joshua Haines, and Andrew Wiggin were appointed a committee to convey to Mr. Allen this report and receive his answer. It was also voted to exempt his estate from taxation during his ministry, should he accept the proffered call. The meeting was then adjourned to the twentieth day of September, when the committee was to report Mr. Allen's reply. At the adjournment it was presented and read.
"To the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Wolf- borough, convened in Town Meeting this 20th Day of Sep- tember, A. D. 1792 :-
Men, Brethren, & Fathers : The Call or Invitation which you have given me to settle as a Minister of the Gospel in this Town of Wolfborough has engaged my serious Attention. Wishing to act agreeably to the Pleasure of that God whom I serve in the Gospel of his Son, & considering the Unanimity which you have exhibited in your Proceedings, together with other Circum- stances, as affording a striking presumption what that Pleasure is in the Case now depending, I comply with your Request. To be your Minister, and preach to you the unsearchable Riches of
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Christ according to the Measure of Grace & Ability given, I consent & agree. Great, arduous, important is the Work! How important to you and your Children! How important to me! How important to that spiritual Kingdom which consists in Righteousness, Peace, & Joy in the Holy Ghost! Who is suf- ficient for these Things! But, says the Redeemer, 'Lo! I am with you always, even unto the End of the World.'
Permit to expect, for I shall certainly need, your Love, your Kindness, your Prayers.
Ebenezer Allen."
This answer was acceptable to the meeting, which voted that Thursday, the twenty-fifth day of October, be appointed for the ordination of Mr. Allen, and Henry Rust, Jr., Richard Rust, Reuben Libbey, and Stephen W. Horne were appointed a com- mittee to extend invitations to ministers and churches to attend the ordination services and to provide necessary entertainment for their reception at the expense of the town. It was also voted that Jonathan Allen, of Bradford, Jonathan French, of Andover, Mr. McKean, of Beverly, John Shaw, of Haverhill, Mr. Rowland, of Exeter, Mr. Thayer, of Kingston, Mr. Merrill, of Plaistow, Samuel Haven, of Portsmouth, James Miltemore, of Stratham, Mr. Gray, of Dover, Mr. Haven, of Rochester, Mr. Piper, of Wakefield, Mr. Shaw, of Moultonborough, Mr. Smith, of Gil- manton, Mr. McClintock, of Greenland, Mr. Hidden, of Tam- worth, and Mr. Porter, of Conway, be invited, with their churches, to act in council at the ordination.
At a town-meeting held October 16, 1792, this action was taken :
"Whereas, we, the freeholders and others, inhabitants of this town of Wolfborough, did, in the month of August last, give Mr. Ebenezer Allen a call or invitation to settle as a minister of the gospel in the said town, and whereas, by his answer in writing of the twentieth of September last, he fully complied with the said
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call or invitation, plainly expressing his consent and agreement to be our minister ; and whereas, being then convened in town- meeting, we voted to accept his answer ; we do therefore now re- solve, declare, and vote :
First, That the said Ebenezer Allen, upon giving his answer aforesaid, on the said twentieth of September, and his answer being accepted immediately, became the first minister of the gospel of this town of Wolfborough. Such we then considered him : such we now declare him.
Secondly, That although he was not at that time ordained, yet the civil contract between him and the people being completed, he, the said Ebenezer Allen, was settled, at least so far as respects things of a civil nature ; and therefore immediately had a good and sufficient title to the right or lot of land which was given or reserved for the use of the first minister of the gospel who should settle in said town.
Thirdly, That the said Ebenezer Allen shall have for himself, his heirs and assigns forever, the said right or lot of land, being number eighteen, in what is called the Lords', or Masonian Pro- prietors', quarter of this town of Wolfborough, and consisting of about three hundred and fifty-four acres.
Voted, Secondly, - Whereas it is suspected that Mr. Isaac Townsend designs to be ordained in some part of this town of Wolfborough as a minister of the gospel, before the ordination of Mr. Ebenezer Allen, which is appointed to be on Thursday, the twenty-fifth day of the present October; and whereas, he may entertain some faint hope that he shall thereby be entitled to the whole or a part of the right or lot of land which was given for the use of the first minister of the gospel who should settle in the town ;- we, therefore, the freeholders and other inhabitants of this town of Wolfborough (to prevent difficulty), do hereby declare-Ist, that we have not invited or agreed with the said Isaac Townsend to settle as a minister of the gospel in this town ;
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secondly, that we utterly disown him as our minister ; and thirdly, that we hereby forbid him to be ordained in any part of the said town of Wolfborough, with any view, design, or intention of being considered or acknowledged as a minister of the town."
It was also voted that Mr. Allen's salary commence from the time that he consented to be the minister of the town, and that the constable serve a notice of the second vote passed at this meeting on Mr. Townsend.
A portion of the inhabitants being unwilling to accept Mr. Allen as their minister, prepared a dissent, which was presented to the selectmen by William Rogers and William Lucas, and an informal town-meeting was held, at which it was voted to enter the same on the town records. The following is the instru- ment :-
We, whose names are here underwritten, being inhabitants of the town of Wolfborough, declare that we have considered our- selves of the Baptist persuasion, and have constantly attended to and had a Baptist preacher for the space of seventeen months past, and do now look upon ourselves as a Baptist society ; and understanding that Mr. Ebenezer Allen is to be ordained as a minister of the town of Wolfeborough, we hereby enter our dissent against him as our minister; and declare that we have never called nor desired him, neither will we have any concern in or- daining and settling him, the said Mr. Allen, as our minister, but do make choice of and have called Mr. Isaac Townsend as our minister, and are determined, as the happy government we set under allows us liberty of conscience, according to a previous appointment from the fourth of September, to ordain him as minister the twenty-fifth of this instant October.
Isaac Townsend. William Lucas.
Josiah Evans. William Rust.
Thomas Chase. John Furbur.
Israel Piper. Thomas Cotton.
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William Rogers. Henry Allard. John Snell.
John Warren.
John Edmonds.
Jesse Whitten.
Wolfborough, October 19, 1792."
There were other citizens of Wolfeborough, especially among the Quakers, who were opposed to the ordination of Mr. Allen as the town minister. It is not, however, to be inferred from the strong terms used in the forgoing manifestoes that there were any persons in town really hostile to Mr. Allen or Mr. Town- send. The issue was as to the manner of supporting the town minister, -- the one party claiming that the benefited should reward the benefactor, even though it should require the compulsion of law to do so, the other claiming that a free Gospel did not need enforced contributions to sustain it.
It so happened that, according to previous arrangments, the same day, October twenty-fifth, had been fixed upon for the ordinations of both Mr. Townsend and Mr. Allen, the Baptists dating their notice from the fourth day of the preceding Sep- tember, and the town from the twentieth day of the same month.
Mr. Townsend was ordained in his own dwelling-house in the early part of the day appointed. The ordaining council con- sisted of Elders Benjamin Randall, Samuel Weeks, Joseph Boodey, and John Whitney, Elder Weeks being chosen modera- tor, and Elder Randall, clerk of the council. The sermon was preached by Elder Weeks from the third, fourth, and seventh verses of the sixth chapter of II. Corinthians, "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." Elder Boodey offered the ordaining, and Elder Whitney, the concluding prayer. The charge was
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given by Elder Randall, and the right hand of fellowship by Elder Boodey.
In the afternoon of the same day Mr. Allen was ordained at the meeting-house as the town minister. To Wolfeborough this was the great event of the period, almost the entire population of the town being present, also many from adjacent towns. The officiating clergymen were Rev. Mr. Allen of Bradford, Rev. Mr. Whittemore, of Stratham, Rev. Mr. Shaw, of Moulton- borough, Rev. Mr. Piper, of Wakefield, and Rev. Mr. Gray, of Dover. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Allen, the charge delivered by Rev. Mr. Shaw, and the right hand of fellow- ship given by Rev. Mr. Piper. Here follow copies of these pro- ductions :-
IId COR. Vth Chap. part of the XXth Verse.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.
God hath been pleased to display his goodness to men, in many re- markable ways, from the beginning of the world. But in nothing does the divine benevolence appear with equal lustre, as in those beams of light and truth exhibited to men through the great Redeemer. The reve. lation of this to mankind has ever been the work of God's faithful ser- vants. And the success they have had in their labors is esteemed by many an ample "recompense of reward."
In the infancy of time, when the light of divine truth began to dawn upon the world, it was clouded in, by many obscure representa- tions, which were only figures of things to come. The most enlightened, therefore, of those days, could see no better than "through a glass dark- ly."-But the clouds and shadows have since fled away, and the truths of divine revelation now shine with a radiant lustre a lustre enough, when beheld by faith, to charm and captivate every heart. In such an inviting form the Gospel of Christ comes handed down, through various ages and preceding generations to us. Our ears are now saluted with the glad tidings of peace on earth, and good will towards men.
That mankind might become acquainted with the good news of sal- vation by a Redeemer, many messengers have been, and are still em- ployed as ambassadors from heaven. God hath been pleased to send his angels upon this interesting message. "They are all ministring spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." And they first congratulated the world with the news of a Saviour, and pro- claimed the joyful tidings of peace and reconciliation with God.
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But a message delivered by those exalted beings above, is not always adapted to influence and persuade mankind the best. The superiority of their nature and rank in the scale of being forbids their free and fa- miliar intercourse with men. Those therefore of our own species are much better adapted to the employment of ambassadors from heaven than even the angels themselves. And the probability is, that they will be much more successful, in persuading men to be reconciled to God. The divine grace is likewise much more visible, in the successful influ- ence of the word of truth, than if the interesting business had been as- signed to them. "We have this treasure therefore in earthen vessels, (saith the Apostle) that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." And he likewise says, "all things are of God, who hath recon- ciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation." And immediately upon this, he concludes, as in the words of our text and says, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ."
The Ministers of Christ being engaged in the same employment with his apostles of old, have an equal right to stile themselves his ambassadors that they had. It will not be suspected therefore, that we give them too high a title to call them his ambassadors. Those of us then, who are regu- larly introduced into the sacred office, may without any appearance of arrogance, adopt the stile of the apostle and say, "Now then we are am- bassadors for Christ."
That we may profitably improve and apply these words, upon the present solemnity, we shall consider what we are to understand by an ambassador of Christ; from whence he receives his commission; the dis- position and knowledge requisite; the extensiveness of his office; and how he and his embassy are to be received by mankind.
Ist, We are to consider what we are to understand by an ambassador of Christ.
The word ambassador is most commonly used to denominate a mes- senger sent from one kingdom or nation to another, to negotiate and transact public business. An ambassador of Christ is a person intrusted with his gospel, and sent forth to preach and dispense it to mankind. The design of his commission is to bring men to be reconciled to God. He is employed in this business .- The honor is indeed great! It denotes a very high and important trust! But, important as it is, the Great Je- hovah has thought best to commit it to men. To men who are regularly appointed for that purpose. All such are commissioned according to his direction, and are his ambassadors to transact his business here on earth, and they are to treat with the rest of mankind, and persuade them to be reconciled to God.
In order to illustrate this, we proceed to shew
IId, From whence he receives his commission. This he receives from Christ. It is conferred on him by the solemn rite of ordination. He is thus separated, set apart, and consecrated to the important work.
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It hath pleased God, in some mode or other to appoint certain men, to be his messengers to the rest of their species, in every age from the beginning of the world. In ancient times, Moses and the Prophets were employed in this great embassy. They were animated and commissioned thereto by inspiration, and a divine impulse immediately from heaven. They were sent by a positive command from God, and charged with his messages to men, and they always spoke and delivered the truth as they were moved by inspiration.
After the Prophets, the Son of God himself was sent from heaven, to establish a covenant of peace between God and his rebellious people, -and he came with the olive branch of peace, and authority in every respect, to transact the affairs of his kingdom here on earth, and before he again left the world, "he gave some apostles: and some prophets: and some, evangelists: and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."
Our Lord first called to himself his desiples, and out of these "he chose. and ordained twelve, whom also he named apostles;" and after one of them had proved an apostate, "his bishoprick let another take," said an inspired apostle. And Matthias was accordingly ordained to "take that part of the ministry, from which Judas by transgression fell." The apostles afterwards likewise, by the direction of the Holy Ghost, separated Barnabas and Saul, and ordained them to the same divine employment. "I am ordained," says one of them, "to be an apostle and a teacher of the gentiles." And they thus proceeded and "ordained them elders in every church." Ordination was performe .. "by prayer and laying on of the hands of the presbytery." And it was a standing or- der that such ordinations should be continued, and men thus in the most solemn manner be separated to the work of the ministry. "The same commit thou to faithful men," says Paul in his charge to Timothy, "who shall be able to reach others also." The institution has accordingly ever been practiced by all their followers. And there has been a succession of men thus ordained ever since the days of the apostles. The ordination of every regular minister may thus be traced from Christ himself, and no one is able to point out wherein the succession has been interrupted.
The ministers of our congregational churches have an equal right to the claim of being the successors of the apostles with the bishops of England or of Rome. And although ordination be not performed by men who pretend to any dignity above their brethren in office; yet it is equally valid as if our bishops held ever so large a benefice, or put on ever so many airs of state. We all have as extensive a commission as can possibly be given on earth. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ."-We now proceed
IIId, To consider the disposition and knowledge requisite for an ambassador of Christ. A man who is endued with this important trust,
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and thus undertakes the work of the ministry, ought most undoubtedly to be a man of true religion. The honor of his divine master ought to be very near his heart. This is the most essential qualification for a minister of the gospel. It is so essential, that without it, no one ought ever to take upon him the sacred trust.
For a man to be bound to preach the gospel, the doctrines of which he does not believe, and "to be tied to an employment, while he has not an inward conformity to it (says an excellent author) is both unbecom- ing, and the most unpleasant and uncomfortable state of life conceiv- able." When he undertakes to instruct others in religion, he offers that as a light to them, which has never proved of this salutory efficacy to himself. Such a man is entirely unworthy the sacred profession; and will prove a scandal to religion, or be obliged to live in continual re- straint or hypocrisy, And the one is equally as dangerous to others as the other is to himself. There can be no safety therefore in his undertaking to preach the gospel. He will not be faithful in a cause that he does not view in its real importance. He will not heartily espouse the character of one, for whom he has not a tender regard. And the man who does not entertain a devout love to the great author of our religion, and to mankind, will not deeply engage to promote the glory of the one, or the best interest and happiness of the other. A devout love to God, and an affectionate regard to the souls of men, are the two cardinal and even radical exercises in our holy religion, and are absolutely requisite for a gospel minister. And it is equally necessary also that he should him- self believe those doctrines, which, by his office, it becomes his duty to enjoin upon others. We cannot therefore insist too strongly upon the most hearty sincerity, in one, who professes to preach the gospel. His heart must be impressed with a true and just sense of religion. He must experience the divine influences of it upon his soul, and be trans- formed into the genius and spirit of the gospel.
And it is not only requisite that the ministers of Christ be men of true religion; but men of serious and regular deportment and behaviour. They must carry the visible marks of their regard to Christ in their lives and conversation. They must be an example to their hearers in word, in doctrine, and in the practise of every virtue.
The actions of men, whatever their profession may be, always pass for the real index of their hearts. They are the criterion by which their true character is known. And it is always expected that men of piety; and especially those to whom the care of souls is entrusted, should be holy and exemplary in their lives. In proportion therefore, as they devi- ate from the rules of the gospel, the world of mankind never fail to load them with censures; and reproaches are often heaped upon the whole body of the clergy for their sakes; and even religion itself does not es- cape the infamy of it. How important then is it that the ministers of Christ should be visibly as well as internally holy! The reputation of
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