USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Amherst > History of the town of Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (first known as Narraganset township number three, and subsequently as Souhegan West) > Part 23
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303
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
XIII.]
ABOLITION TROUBLES.
At this time the rightfulness of African slavery in this country began to be considered in the church.
At a meeting held 17 February, 1841, Dea. David Fisk presiding, Bro. Luther Melendy presented an " abolition resolution," which was accepted for discussion. After which it was voted to dismiss it. Brother Aaron Lawrence then offered resolutions upon the same subject, which, after discussion, were laid upon the table, and the mecting adjourned.
The agitation of the slavery question and the attitude of the church in regard to it, produced an alienation of feeling on the part of some of its members, who refused any longer to assist in the support of preaching, and encouraged the establishment of, and attendance upon, a meeting in the chapel on the Sabbath in opposition to the regular services in the church.
In consequence of these offences, Brothers Luther Me- lendy and Loea Pratt, after having been visited by commit- tees of the church, and refusing to give satisfaction, were, by vote of the church, 18 May, 1841, excommunicated from its fellowship.
Sympathy with the members thus excluded called forth a communication from eight other members of the church, in which, after reviewing the action of the church, they stated that they held the same belief that the excommunicated brethren avowed, and asked that they too might be cut off from the church organization as persons who could no longer fellowship with them as a Christian church.
On the receipt of this communication, at a meeting held 15 June, 1841, a committee was appointed
" To draft a reply, and to visit the signers thereof, and to endeavor to correct their misapprehension and misstatement of the grounds of the church action, and recover them to a proper state of Christian feeling and conduct."
304
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
At a meeting held 29 June, 1841, a series of resolutions, adopted by the Hillsborough County Conference, in relation to the subject of slavery, was laid before the church, and adopted by a large majority.
After deferring action upon the request of the petitioners to be excluded for some time, and hearing statements from some of them in church meeting, it was finally voted that, with two exceptions (one had died and the other had not been visited), the request of the petitioners should be granted.
At a meeting held 15 March, 1842, another of the peti- tioners was excluded, at his own request.
4 April, 1843. Difficulties having arisen between the pastor and some of the members of the church, a mutual council was called, which met, and, after hearing the state- ments of the parties interested, who wished to be heard,
"Voted, that it is expedient that the relation existing between the Rev. William T. Savage and this church be, and hereby is, dissolved."
22 April, 1844. The church voted to give Rev. J. G. Davis a call to settle with them in the gospel ministry, and chose Aaron Lawrence, Daniel Campbell, Daniel Hartshorn, Elijah Putnam, and David Stewart, a committee to join a committee of the society (should the society concur with the church) in giving Mr. Davis a call.
The society concurring with the church, an invitation was given to Mr. Davis, and accepted.
A council was called, and he was ordained 22 May, 1844. The exercises on that occasion were as follows :
Invocation and reading of the scriptures, Rev. Mr. Aiken, of Hollis.
Introductory prayer, Rev. Mr. Warner, of Milford.
Sermon, Rev. Mr. Rogers, of Boston.
Ordaining prayer, Rev. Mr. Savage, of Bedford.
Right hand of fellowship, Rev. James Means, of Concord, Mass.
305
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
XIII.]
Address to the people, Rev. Matthew Hale Smith, of Naslıa.
Coneluding prayer, Rev. Humphrey Moore, of Milford.
2 January, 1845. Barnabas B. David and Richard Boyl- ston were elected deacons. Mr. David accepted, and Mr. Boylston declined, the appointment.
The want of a more suitable room for the social meetings of the church having long been felt, the erection of a new building, separate from the church edifice, was projected by the late Mrs. Robert Means, who licaded the subscription list with a liberal sum, which was followed with equal liber- ality with subscriptions by Mr. Richard Boylston and others, the church contributing $100. After some contro- versy in regard to the location of the building, a site was agreed upon, and the house erected.
The work was performed by Messrs. Jotham Hartshorn and sons in a highly acceptable manner, and the house was dedicated 20 January, 1859, at which time an appropriate discourse was preached by Rev. Mr. Davis from Col. III : 16.
The building is 44 x 28 feet, with 14 feet posts, and cost about §1,000.
The old chapel, formerly the court-house, erected in 1788, was sold to Harrison Eaton, in 1867.
At a meeting of the church, held + September, 1866, leave of absence for six months was granted to the pastor, to enable him to solicit funds for the benefit of Dartmouthi College.
The sunday-school connected with the church, in March, 1873, consisted of 3 officers, 17 teachers, and 160 pupils, and was under the direction of Capt. Geo. W. Bosworth, superintendent.
Public worship, which had been suspended for six Sun- days, while the audience room in the meeting-house was undergoing repairs, was resumed 12 November, 1873.
The sum of $1,400, a legacy left by Dea. Aaron Law- rence for the establishment of a fund to be known as the
20
306
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
" Lawrence fund," for the support of public worship in the Congregational Church, of which he was a member, was placed in the Nashua Savings Bank by his executors, 23 November, 1870. It was provided that the extra dividends on the deposit should be added to the principal, and the regular dividends drawn annually and applied to the pur- poses specified in the will. Should the church at any time become extinct, the fund is to be transferred to the New Hampshire Missionary Society, and its annual income applied in carrying on the work of that organization.
The sum of $700 was donated to the church, 24 November, 1877, by Jotham Hartshorn, Esq., for the establishment of a fund to be known as the " Hartshorn fund." This fund is to be kept at interest, and its annual income appro- priated for the support of preaching in the Congregational Church in Amherst. Should the church at any time become extinct, this fund also is to be transferred to the New Hampshire Missionary Society, and its annual income used in the work of that society.
A fund of $500 for the support of music in the church is now invested in the bonds of the Nashua and Lowell rail- road.
After a long and faithful ministry, Rev. Dr. Davis resigned his pastorate. The letter containing his resigna- tion was laid before the church 19 May, 1879, and was as follows :
" Christian Brothers and Friends :
As you are about to make an arrangement for the support of the ministry for another year, it has seemed to me proper that I should anticipate the communication which would regularly be submitted first to the church, by informing you that I wish to relinquish my pastoral charge at an early day.
I find myself so hindered in my work by certain infirmities of body that I am persuaded that I can not longer fulfill the duties of my office with comfort to myself and with profit to yon. I shall accord-
307
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
XIII.]
ingly invite the Church to unite with me in measures for the dissolu- tion of the pastoral relation.
With Christian love, your Pastor, J. G. DAVIS.
The resignation of Dr. Davis was accepted, and a series of resolutions, expressive of the feelings of the church toward him, was passed at a meeting held 29 May, 1879.
Rev. Win. Clark, D. D., was appointed to act on the part of the church with a committee of the society in procuring supplies for the desk.
At a meeting held 9 December, 1879, the church voted to give Mr. Willis D. Leland a call to become its pastor, which action having been concurred in by the society, a call was given, which was accepted by Mr. Leland 3 January. 1880. A council was called, which, after the usual exam- ination, proceeded to his ordination, 22 January, 1880, when the report of proceedings of council were read by Rev. D. B. Scott.
Prayer was offered by Rev. C. W. Wallace, D. D.
Reading of scriptures, by Rev. K. F. Norris.
Sermon, by Rev. E. B. Webb, from John XVI : 20. Ordaining prayer, by Rev. F. Alvord.
Charge to pastor, by Rev. F. D. Sargent.
Right hand of fellowship, by Rev. E. G. Selden.
Address to the people, by Rev. J. G. Davis.
At a meeting held 8 April, 1880, the church voted to adopt the use of the " unfermented juice of the grape " for sacramental purposes.
A request that the use of wine might be continued to those that preferred it was referred to a committee of the officers of the church, who, being equally divided in their opinions, made two reports,-one recommending that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, and the other being opposed to it. The last named report was accepted and adopted.
308
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
At the same meeting it was voted that the sisters of the church be allowed to vote in the choice of deacons at this meeting, and that they be allowed to vote at all future meetings of the church on the same terms as the brothers.
A change was made in the tenure of the office of deacon, by which it was arranged that there should be four of these officers, one retiring cach year. The change, however, was not to affect those then in office. In accordance with this vote, Daniel W. Sargent and Joseph E. Fowle were elected deacons, the term of the first to expire 1 May, 1883, and the term of the last, 1 May, 1884.
A series of rules for the government of the church was adopted 29 October, 1880.
The whole number of members who have been admitted to the church by letter and profession since 22 May, 1816, is 747. The whole number of members 1 May, 1881, was 189,-56 males and 133 females.
The officers of the church, 1 January, 1882, were
Rev. Willis D. Leland, Pastor.
Barnabas B. David,
Aaron S. Wilkins,
Daniel W. Sargent,
Joseph E. Fowle, Deacons.
PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Daniel Wilkins, ordained and installed 23 Sept., 1741 ; d. 11 Feb., 1784. Jeremiah Barnard, ord. and inst. 3 March, 1780; d. 15 Jan., 1835.
Nathan Lord, ord. and inst. 22 May, 1816; dis. 22 Nov., 1828; d. 9 Sept., 1870.
Silas Aiken, ord. and inst. 4 March, 1829; dis. 5 March, 1837; d. 7 .April, 1869.
Frederick A. Adams, ord. and inst. 15 Nov., 1837 ; dis. 24 Sept., 1840. William T. Savage, inst. 24 Feb., 1811 ; dis. 4 April, 1843.
Josiah G. Davis, ord. and inst. 22 May, 1841; dis. 22 Jan. 1880.
Willis D. Leland, ord. and inst. 22 Jan. 1880.
DEACONS.
Elected,
Resigned, Died, Age,
Humphrey Hobbs,
6 Jan., 1743 1744
1756 41
Joseph Boutell,
3 June, 1743
19 May, 1795 88
309
DEACONS.
Elected,
Resigned,
Died,
Age,
James Cochran,
1744
5 Jan., 1774
Samuel Wilkins,
10 Jan., 1774
1816
27 Dec., 1832 90
John Seaton,
10 .Jan., 1774
1787
1793
Nahum Baldwin,
10 Jan., 1774
7 May, 1788
54
Ephraim Barker,
18 June, 1788
29 Sept., 1800
68
Joshua Lovejoy,
18 JJune, 1788
1794
28 Jan., 1832
Amos Elliott,
3 Sept., 1795
7 April, 1807
52
John Seaton, jr.,
3 Sept., 1795
4 Oct., 1836
80
John IIartshorn,
1 Sept., 1808
28 Nov., 1842
83
Matthias Spalding,
29 May, 1817
22 May, 1865
95
David Ilolmes,
29 May, 1817
1823
1 Nov., 1867
89
Amos Elliott, jr.,
1 Nov., 1823
27 April, 1826
44
Edmund Parker.
15 May, 1832
1836
8 Sept., 1856
73
Abel Downe,
21 .Jan., 1836
28 Sept., 1840
52
David Fisk, 3d,
18 Nov., 1836
186)
22 June, 1873
80
Cyrus Eastman,
30 Dec., 1836
17 Dec., 1862
75
Barnabas B. David,
2 .Jan., 1845
Edward D. Boylston,
12 April, 1860
1878
Aaron Lawrence,
2 Nov., 1860
1 Sept., 1867
62
Charles II. David,
2 Nov., 1871
1874
17 Oct., 1880
65
Aaron S. Wilkins,
9 April, 1874
Zaccheus G. Perry,
9 April, 1874
1880
Daniel W. Sargent,
8 April, 1880
Joseph E. Fowle,
8 April, 1880
THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
9 September, 1819, public notice was given by Israel Fuller, clerk of the society, that Eber Lawrence, Isaac Chickering, and others, had formed themselves into a religious society to be known by the name and style of the " Universalist Society " in Amherst.
THE CHRISTIAN OR UNITARIAN SOCIETY.
Public notice was given, 27 March, 1824, by David Holmes, clerk of the society, that on the 24th day of that month Charles H. Atherton, David Holmes, Ephraim Blan- chard, E. F. Wallace, and others, had associated and formed themselves into a religious society by the name and style of the " Christian Society " in Amherst.
XIII.]
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
310
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Rev. Edmund Quincy Sewall was ordained and installed pastor of the Christian Church and Society ( Unitarian) 26 January, 1825. The exercises on this occasion were as follows :
Introductory prayer and reading of scriptures, Rev. Levi W. Leonard, of Dublin.
Sermon, Rev. John Brazer, of Salem.
Consecrating prayer, Rev. Charles Lowell, Boston.
Charge, Rev. John Pierpont, Boston.
Right hand of fellowship, Rev. John G. Palfrey, Boston.
Address to the church and society, Rev. Nathaniel Thayer, Lancaster.
Concluding prayer, Rev. Elijah Dunbar, Peterborough.
The day was fair and pleasant, and a large audience was in attendance.
Mr. Sewall continued pastor of the society about one year. A church was organized and continued in existence for some time ; but its records, like the carly ones of the First Congregational Church, are lost. In 1834 Rev. Lyman Maynard was employed as pastor by a union of the Unitarian and Universalist societies in town, and continued here until 1838. During his pastorate the new meeting- house (now Baptist) was built by members of the two societies. After the removal of Mr. Maynard, Dr. Amory Gale and others conducted the Sunday services at the church for some time. Afterward the desk was occupied for a year or two by Rev. William Hooper, Universalist.
Finally, the house was sold to the Baptist Society, and the Unitarians and Universalists in town have become connected with other societies.
THE FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY.
An association for the support of preaching on Chestnut hill was organized 6 October, 1828, under the name of the First Baptist Society in Amherst, N. H., by the following persons :
311
THE FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY.
XIII.] Ralph Holbrook,
James Prince,
Ebenezer Holbrook,
Robert Fletcher,
Oliver Mears,
Otis Fletcher,
Franklin Mears,
Benjamin Damon,
Henry Tewksbury,
John Washer,
Joseph Harvill,
Benjamin F. Shepard, and
John Rollins,
Joseph Harraden.
The church was organized 2 July, 1829, ministers from the churches in Londonderry, Milford, New Boston, and Goffstown, being present at the council called for the purpose. Rev. Samuel Abbot, of Londonderry, was mod- erator, and Rev. Simon Fletcher, of Goffstown, clerk of the council.
The society held their meetings for Sunday services on Chestnut hill until 1837, when they removed to the Plain, a large addition made to their number, the result of a protracted meeting held in February, 1835, making such a movement advisable.
Here for a time they had no sure abiding place. Some- times they worshiped in the old school-house north of the court-house, at the east end of the common, sometimes in the court-house, and afterward in a small hall over the old Read store, which stood near where the soldiers' monument now stands. 19 November, 1841, arrangements were made with the proprietors of the Unitarian meeting-house for the use of their house a portion of the time.
Having become proprietors of two thirds of the pews, the house was, agreeably to a condition in the subscription to the shares for building it, transferred to them by the Unitarian society by deed dated 7 April, 1844. It was repaired in 1851, and in 1870. Since the purchase of the meeting-house, a parsonage has been built and fitted up.
A communion set has been presented to the church by Mrs. Mary Twiss and her children ; and a legacy of $250- now amounting to nearly $400-was left by Miss S. Lue Law- rence to purchase a bell to be used on the church.
312
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
The desk was supplied by different persons, for a short time cach, until 1841. Since that time, the ministers have been
Rev. Mason Ball, 1841 to 1844.
Rev. Aaron Hayes, 1844 to 1845.
Rev. Amasa Brown, 1845 to 1847.
Rev. David Burroughs, 1849 to 1854.
Rev. Samuel Jones, 1856 to 1857.
Rev. John 11. Thyng. 1857 to 1858.
Rev. Samuel Cook, 1858 to 1859.
Rev. Amos W. Boardman, 1859 to 1861.
Rev. J. Baskwell, 1863 to 1865.
Rev. John Peacock, 1866, nearly two years.
Rev. Eli P. Noyes, 1868 to 1870.
Rev. Albert Heald, 1870 to 1876.
Rev. J. H. Lerned, 1877 to 1879.
Rev. Gorham W. Estabrook, 1879 to 1881.
Rev. E. J. Coleord, 1881.
The number of members of the church, 1 March. 1882. was-males. 21 ; females, 45=66.
THE METHODIST SOCIETY.
Rev. Orlando Hinds, who commenced his labors here in 1829, is said to have been the first Methodist preacher in Amherst. His immediate successors were A. M. Howe and J. C. Cromack.
The first Methodist society was organized in 1839.
The first quarterly meeting of which any account has been preserved was held 19 September, 1834, at which John Haseltine, Isaac Weston, and William Brown, of Amherst, Freeman Nichols, of Merrimack, and William Coggin, 2d, of Mont Vernon, attended with the presiding elder. At that time the societies in Amherst and Goffstown were united, and the quarterly meetings were held alternate- ly in both places.
Rev. James Adams supplied the desk in 1837 and 1838, and Rev. Levi W. Davis in 1839 and 1840.
313
THE METHODIST SOCIETY.
XIII.]
But little is found in the records from 1834 to 1840. 1840 the record closed. After this, preaching was supplied occasionally by members of the Biblical Institute at Concord.
In the autumn of 1839 the erection of a chapel was com- meneed, which was finished in the course of the following winter, and dedicated to the worship of Gon 22 April, 1840, on which occasion a sermon was preached by Rev. Jared Perkins.
In the afternoon of the same day a temperance lecture was given in the chapel by Rev. Mr. Jones. In 1845 and 1846 preaching was furnished by Rev. A. H. Fullerton, and in 1847 by Rev. Caleb Dustin.
The record is resumed in 1850, when a conference meet- ing was held. In 1852 Franklin Furber supplied the pulpit. After this the prospect was far from encouraging for the society, as we read that
" There was no reason to think that the church was open much of the year, for the cobwebs gathered within it, the blinds were closed and darkness rested on the hearts of many."
In 1854 a social gathering or tea party was held at the residence of Dea. B. B. David to raise funds for renovating the chapel and supporting preaching. The effort was successful, and Rev. Charles Merrill was placed in charge as preacher, and, as a result of his ministry, quite a number of young men were added to the church. During his ministry the communion plate formerly used by the Unita- rian church in this town was presented to the society by Mrs. Charles G. Atherton.
Mr. Merrill remained here two years, and after his departure preaching was supplied for some time by mem- bers of the Biblical Institute.
About 1857 a Mr. Seeley was sent here as a supply. Hc remained one year, and his ministry was a failure. In 1858 and 1859 the desk was supplied by Messrs. Tucker Hammond, Clippenger, and others from the Institute.
314
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
In 1860 Charles Pyke was sent here as a preacher, and the selection proved to be an unfortunate one for the society. From 1861 to 1866 the chapel was closed. After this time it was again opened, and a member of the Boston Seminary supplied the desk a short time. He was followed by Levin P. Cansey, who also remained but a short time, and services were again suspended.
In 1871, mainly through the efforts of Mrs. Mary W. Few, the chapel was painted and refitted, and an effort was made to sustain preaching.
At first, fortunately, as it proved, they were disappointed in not obtaining the preacher they wanted, and the one sent not being acceptable, the desk was again supplied by students in the University.
Rev. B. W. Chase commenced his labors here in the fall of 1871, and his report at the close of the year was a favor- able one. He continued here two years, and his ministry was successful.
He was succeeded in 1872 by Rev. Geo. W. Ruland, who continued here until 1874. Since then the ministers have been
1874, Rev. J. Mowrey Bean, until 1876.
1876, Rev. J. R. Bartlett, until 1877.
1877, Rev. W. R. Dille, until 1880.
ISSO, Rev. James Noyes, until 1881.
1881, Rev. I. Ainsworth.
Mr. Ainsworth relinquished his charge, and left thie denomination before the close of the year, and the church is now united with that in Milford. Present number of members, 44-about a dozen of whom are males.
The chapel was enlarged and remodeled in 1879 at an expense of little more than $1,400.
CHURCH MUSIC.
The music in the Sunday services at the meeting-house in the carly part of Mr. Wilkins's ministry was doubtless of the most primitive kind. After the announcement of
315
CHURCH MUSIC.
XIII.]
the hymn, one of the deacons would read a line or two, and the congregation would respond by singing it, the reading and singing being continued alternately through the hymn. As the gift of music seems to have been hereditary in the Shepard family, we may suppose that Col. John Shepard and his son, Col. John, jr., each in their time took a leading part in these services. After the arrival of the Seatons, they probably assisted, or led, in the singing.
A family tradition relates that when Mr. Boutell was elected deacon, he declined accepting the office, as he said he "could not read very well," probably in reference to reading the hymns in church. His brethren, however, told him they liked him all the better for his confession, and insisted upon his accepting the office, which he filled until his death to the entire satisfaction of his brother church members.
Dea. Ephraim Barker was prominent among the musi- cians in the second meeting-house. Dea. John Seaton, jr., was afterward leader. David S. Eaton, who married one of Mr. Barnard's daughters, was chorister for some time. During his administration it is said that the choir had been making preparations for a grand display on Independence day. Something had taken place during the rehearsals which offended many of the members, and one Sunday morning, just before the fourth of July, the chorister found himself alone in the singing pew. Not caring to furnish the music alone, he too left his seat, and placed himself in one of the gallery pews, near by. Mr. Barnard took his place in the pulpit, and was not long in discovering the state of the singing pew. He conducted the opening exer- cises, and read the hymn as usual; but, getting no response from the choir, laid down the book with some force, and called up the audience to join in the long prayer, which laeked on that occasion neither length nor pungeney. One after another, the singers returned to their accustomed places, and, when the inevitable fusilade of falling seats
316
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
was over, the singing seats were filled, and Jeremiah's heart was gladdened by a hearty response to the next hymn he read. Jonathan Hildreth, a grandson of the first Col. Shepard, was a noted musician in his day, and leader of the choir until his death, 5 July, 1816. He made two or three bass-viols, which were used in the singing seats to aid the vocal performers. Eliab Wilkins, brother of Aaron, was a skilful player on these instruments. Benjamin Kendrick, another grandson of Col. Shepard, was chorister some years. His daughters, also those of his consin Hildreth, the daughters of Judge Claggett and Mr. Ephraim Goss, were connected with the choir, and most of them were excellent vocalists. After the introduction of bass-viols, violins, clarinets, and other instruments, were used to aid the singers in the Sunday services. Mr. Hugh Moore, a dear lover of music, played the violin some years at the old church, and afterward at the Unitarian-now Baptist- church. Those now living, who were boys and girls in Amherst forty years ago, will recall his appearance as he crossed the common, Sunday morning, on his way to meeting, a man of massive frame, erect as a forest pine. His queue -the last one seen in Amherst-nicely combed, and neatly tied with a pink or blue ribbon, hung over his coat-collar. Under his left arm he carried his violin-case, and in his right hand a stout hickory eane to aid his steps. He retained his faculties, physical and mental, remarkably, and when he had seen the snows of fourscore winters, "his eye was not dim," and his natural force but slightly abated. Seven years later age had got the mastery, and he retired to his house to suffer and die. During his last illness, Major Little, thie crippled melodeon player, called upon him, and was introduced by a friend. They talked of the old Scotch songs which the veteran loved, and which Little played and sung to him, while the tears rolled down his cheeks. After an hour of enjoyment the visitor took his leave, and afterward reported that just as the door was
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