USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire > Part 10
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BENJAMIN BRIGHAM, Moderator.
Attest, EDWARD GODDARD, Scribe.
The town voted on the 30th of December to accept of the result of the venerable council, and to concur with the church in having the pastoral relation between Mr. Cum- mings and the church and town dissolved.
108
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
The difficulties growing out of Mr. Cummings' connection with the church did not end with his dismission, but con- tinued for a long time. Mr. Cummings, after waiting a reasonable time, failing to get a settlement, had recourse to the law in order to recover £91 19s. 10d. of his salary, which remained unpaid; also another like sum which he claimed was due him from the town; and also another sum of £108 for damage sustained in not having his land cleared as the town agreed.
The case was brought to trial at the October term of court, 1782, and was decided in favor of Mr. Cummings. The town, not satisfied, appealed to the next term of the Supreme Court, which was held in May, 1783; but the case never came to trial, for the town, on mature deliberation, decided that it was better to settle the matter in some other way. Accordingly, in June they voted " to concur with the Committees of church and town in bringing the Difficulties Between mr Cummings and the town to a happy issue."
" Voted to chuse a Committee to Joine with Mr. Cummings in providing for the Counsel. Chose Abjiah Tucker, Silas fife, and Deacon flood for the aforesaid purpose."
" Voted to Chuse a committee of five men to act in Behalf of the town in the Dispute against Mr. Cummings. Chose Lt James Brewer, mr Samuel Soper, mr Daniel Cutting, Lt. Phinehas Farrar, and mr. Reuben Ward a Committee for the afore Said purpose."
" Voted that this committee Get such Evidence in the town or out as they shall think proper for the Defence of the town against mr Cummings."
We regret that we cannot produce the names of those who composed this council, or give an account of their pro- ceedings ; but we presume it was satisfactory to the town, as they voted at their next meeting "to accept of the award of the late arbitrators between Mr. Cummings and the town committee," and subsequently we find that they voted to " Raise the money the arbitrators Brought in to pay mr Cummings which is forty pounds."
That this council was not allowed to deliberate on such
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
weighty matters with empty stomachs is fully proved by the following accounts which were subsequently brought in and allowed by the town : -
Voted to allow Lt. Collins for four pounds of Butter for Counsil, £0:2:8
Voted to allow Jedediah Tayutor for fifty nine pounds and half of Veal for the Counsil, £0:11:10
Voted to allow Ebenezer Rhodes for half Bushel tunnups and seven pounds Butter for the council,
Voted to allow Richard Robberts for service and in finding Rum and sugar for Counsil, £0:13:8
£0:5:8
allowed to Lt. Eliphalet Stone to four Nights horse keeping and one pound and half tobacco for Counsil, £0:3:8
allowed Reuben Ward for five pounds and three quarters of a pound pork and six candles for Counsil, £0:6:2 allowed to Lt. phinehas farrar for thirty two pounds wt of Lamb for the Counsil, £0:8:6
allowed to John mcBride for two pounds & half Butter, £0:1:8
The protracted controversy with Mr. Cummings proved a great injury to the cause of religion. For more than nine years there is no record of any additions to the church ; and for nearly thirteen years there was no settled pastor, and preaching only a part of the time. Ten were at different times admitted to the church, and a few were dismissed to other churches. There were sixty-four baptisms, the number being swelled by the adoption of the "half-way covenant," as it was called, in 1783. This covenant allowed parents, publicly, to give their assent to the creed of the church, which allowed them the privilege of presenting their children for baptism, but not that of communion. This custom prevailed only a short time, being set aside soon after the settlement of Mr. Fish.
For the first few years after the dismission of Mr. Cum- mings, the people were so taxed to procure their quota of men, and their share of beef and rum for the continental army, that they raised but little money for the support of the Gospel.
The ministers of the surrounding towns occasionally occu- pied the pulpit. We find that the following clergymen also
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
labored here for a longer or shorter time during this period : -
1785. Rev. J. Dammon.
1786. .. John Remmington.
1787. Elijah Leonard.
" Caleb Blake of Wrentham, Mass.
In 1789, Rev. Ebenezer Hill supplied the desk for several months, giving good satisfaction, and was invited to settle. but having, only a short time previous, received a similar call from the church and town of Mason, N.H., he declined the call, and was ordained in that place, Nov. 3, 1790, where he remained in the work of the ministry for the unusual period of sixty years, and died May 20, 1854, aged eighty-eight years.
In a letter written to a friend, under date of May 5, 1790, he writes, " I have tried to think it was my duty to settle at Marlborough, but it appears quite plain to me that Provi- dence has pointed out Mason as the place." Notwith- standing his declination to settle here, he ever entertained for the people of Marlborough an affectionate regard.
Mr. Hill was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Cutler) Hill of Cambridge, Mass., and was born at that place Jan. 31, 1766. He entered Harvard College at the age of sixteen, graduated in 1786, and after this he studied theology with Rev. Seth Payson of Rindge.
In 1790, the town and church invited the Rev. Solomon Adams to settle with them, but Mr. Adams declined. The Rev. Nathan Underwood supplied the pulpit for some time in 1791, and was invited to settle, and probably would have accepted the call, had they been able to agrée upon his salary. As it was, he, like the others, went his way ; and the church, at the elose of this year, found itself as before without a pastor, and no immediate prospect of obtaining one.
In 1792, a Mr. Walcott preached for a short time. In the course of the summer, Rev. Halloway Fish of Upton, Mass., commenced his labors here. The first mention made of him
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
on the records is under date of November 16, at which time the town voted "to hire Mr. Fish twelve Sabbaths Longer." On the fourth day of the following February, the town voted to concur with the church in inviting Mr. Fish to settle with them in the work of the gospel ministry, voting him at the same time a settlement of one hundred and seventy pounds. with a salary of seventy pounds a year so long as he con- tinued their minister. The settlement was to be paid one- half in three months and the other half in twelve months after his ordination.
Mr. Fish did not immediately reply to this call, but con- tinued to supply the pulpit. In May, another meeting was called, "to see if the town holds of a mind to settle mr. Hallow Fish in the work of the Gospel ministry for it hath bin Reported to him there is not so Good a unión now as there was when the Town Gave him his Call, and for that Reason he Desires to know your minds in full."
It was voted "for mr. Fish to tarry with us in the min- istry" The result of this meeting having been conveyed to Mr. Fish, he made the following reply : -
To the Church of Christ and Congregational Society in Marlborough greeting.
I have taken into view the circumstances of the case before me; your broken situation for many years I have seriously considered and your goings toward your former minister and toward Candidates and their treatment of you. I have seen the situation of the Chh. I have viewed it is small and I fear that that dissipline which is absolutely necessary to preserve a Chh. from contempt and reproach has not been observed in this place. Your offer I have taken under serious Consideration. To the union I have been an eye witness, and it is not so good as I could wish that it was. I have endeavored to let every circumstance have its proper weight. and to discover what will probably be the consequences of muy accepting or rejecting your invitation. As for the Scriptures of truth I know of no particular direction in them which will apply to my situa- tion unless it be Christ's general rule, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them.
By placing myself in the situation of an inhabitant of this town and by my placing him in my situation and then inquire what I should wish that he would do, affords me some light or assistance to understand my own way. In addition to these things I have represented the situation of matters in this place in as just a light as I possibly could to those who I
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
have reason to suppose are friends to me and friends to religeon, and who are experienced, and judicious, and the best, and almost the only advice which I can obtain from them is this. Act like an honest man consult the good of the cause in which you are engaged. And to the throne of Grace I have often repaired for wisdom to understand my own way and a heart to do those things which shall be for the Glory of God and the interest of Zion. And what shall I do more, that I have not done in order to understand my own way. Shall I delay the matter ? this will be disagreeable to you and to me for a state of suspense is a disagreeable situation and delays are often dangerons, though in some cases they are suitable and proper, but as almost four months have past since you gave me an invite to tarry with you, it appears necessary that matters should be brought to a point and if I understand my own way, or know what is snitable to be done, it is my duty to comply with your request. I there- fore accept of your invitation to become your stated minister in Divine things, yet I must say it is with a trembling heart sensible of the work which is before me, sensible of the difficulties which always fall to the lot of ministers, and sensible of my own insufficiency for these things. But if I am one of Christ's ministers. He will always be with me according to His promise to His Appostles and to His ministers, " Lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world" and by Ilis assistance I shall be enabled to do all things which shall be incumbent on me as one of His ambassadors.
What shall I say more ? will it be improper to pray that the relation which will probably ere long be formed between us, may be lasting happy and profitable for Time and Eternity ? may we live together in peace and be helpers of each other in the way to Glory ? This I present yon as my answer with the following exceptions, viz. That I should have the liberty of being absent from you two Sabbaths in the course of every year during my ministry with you.
IIALLOWAY FISH.
Marlborough, May, 19th, 1793.
The town selected the last Wednesday of September as the day for the ordination, and voted to send to the churches in Upton, Northbridge, Westborough, Keene, Swanzey, Fitz- william, Rindge, and Dublin.
Voted to choose a Committee of three men to provide for the Council.
Voted that the committee provide for the Council and keep an account of the cost and lay it before the Town.
Voted Deacon Stone, Lt. Reuben Ward, and Mr. Silas Fife, be a Com- mittee to provide for the Council.
The pastors of the above churches were present, with the exception of Westborough and Rindge, which were repre-
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
sented by their delegates. This council convened at the house of Peletiah Cummings on the 24th of September, 1793, at three o'clock P.M. The examination of the candidate was interrupted by Daniel Cutting who presented a remon- strance against the ordination of Mr. Fish, signed by Richard Roberts and twelve others. The council voted that it was not a sufficient bar to prevent the ordination.
At this time, the distinction between the Orthodox and what afterwards became the Unitarian elements of Congre- gationalism was becoming marked. Although there was no actual division, yet it was clearly understood on which side each minister belonged, and the controversy frequently cropped out at councils. Mr. Goddard of Swanzey was the leader of what was then called the " Armenian " element. The Fishes, father and sons, were stanch Calvinists. Rev. Elisha Fish of Upton, the father of Halloway, was moder- ator of the council, and of course the strong points of Cal- vinism were clearly brought out in the examination. When the council were by themselves, led on by Mr. Goddard who was scribe, a minority of four voted against ordaining. This was in the evening, it being the custom to examine one day, and ordain the next. The next morning, when. the council assembled, the moderator, having consulted previously with his Calvinistic brethren, proposed a reconsideration of the vote which had passed by a strong majority to ordain the candidate. On reconsidering, all voted not to ordain; thus yielding the ground entirely to the four " Armenians." But to this they dared not consent, knowing that it would raise a storm of indignation against them. Accordingly, Mr. Goddard immediately moved another reconsideration, and the vote was made unanimous in favor of the ordination. Mr. Goddard said he voted for it under the circumstances, but " with fear and trembling."
Mr. Fish was born in Upton, Mass., Aug. 2, 1762. Grad- uated at Dartmouth College, 1790. His father, Rev. Elisha Fish, was pastor of the Congregational Church in Upton for many years. Mr. Fish was a very different man from Mr. Cummings, serious and devout in spirit, exemplary in his
17
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
life, being faithful as a minister of Christ. He was a man of sound judgment, but not of popular pulpit talents. He was not a natural scholar, like his brother Elisha, who settled in Gilsum; but he was a much better manager of business. Their father once said of them, " Halloway must teach Elisha farming, and Elisha must teach Halloway theology."
Although a very blunt man in his speech, he was friendly toward other denominations, and always remained on good terms with them. He was a most vigilant and sagacious watchman on the walls of Zion. Very few men, if any, of his times, were possessed of keener discernment as to truth and error. He defended the truths and exposed the errors of his times with boldness and strength, to an extent not common to his contemporaries in the ministry. At one time, he preached against dancing; and some of the gay young people who were accustomed to attend balls took offence, and sheared his horse's mane and tail. To this he paid no attention, but rode his horse everywhere just as before. When any questions were asked, he replied "that it was not exactly to his own taste, but it was to the taste of some of his people, and so he submitted to it." He was a sound, sensible preacher ; and people who liked sound doctrine, and plain, practical sense, always enjoyed his preaching.
After the death of Rev. Mr. Hall of Keene, the neigh- boring ministers, as was the custom, supplied the pulpit in turn, for the benefit of the widow. The church in Keene, at that time, was composed of both the Calvinistic and Unitarian elements, and of course there was much com- paring of the preachers of the different views. When Mr. Howe of Surry (who was a decided Armenian) preached, he was thought very dull and weak. Elijah Parker, Esq., meeting Hon. John Prentiss on Monday, rallied him on the dulness of his Armenian preacher. " Well," says Mr. Prentiss, "he will do to offset Father Fish, of Marlborough." " Pool!" says Mr. Parker: "I'd rather have Father Fish's great coat stuffed, in the pulpit, than Mr. Howe."
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
During the ministry of Mr. Fish, the church greatly in- creased in membership. The years of 1813-14 were seasons of special ingathering; thirty-two being received into the church by profession of faith. The largest increase in any single year was in 1822, when forty were added, all by pro- fession of faith, seven of whom still survive. The whole number of members added to the church during the term of Mr. Fish's pastorate of nearly thirty-one years, was one hundred and seventy-eight, and three hundred and three children were baptized. Mr. Fish died Sept. 1, 1824, aged sixty-two years and one month.
The wife of Mr. Fish was Hannah Brigham of West- borough, Mass., to whom he was united previous to his settlement in Marlborough. To her few acquaintances who still remain, no words of eulogy are necessary, to add to their estimation of her life and character. Her pure and useful life, her consistent example, winning deportment, and earnest piety, shed a beautiful halo and a gentle radi- ance over her husband's long pastorate. To that beloved and venerated pastor, she was truly a helpmeet in all home duties, and a most efficient aid in winning souls to Christ. Many rise up to call her blessed. She remained in Marl- borough until 1840, when she returned to Westborough to reside with her nephew, Halloway Brigham, where she died a few years after.
At the death of Mr. Fish, the union which had existed between the town and church was dissolved, and a society formed, September 25th of the same year, which was known by the name of "The First Evangelical Congregational Society of Marlborough." Thirty-seven persons affixed their names to the constitution, only two of whom are now living; namely, Rev. Luther Wiswall of Windham, Me., and Benjamin Whitney of Littleton, N.H.
May 25, 1825, the church and society united in extend- ing a call to Rev. Salmon Bennett to become their pastor, with a salary of $300 per year, which call was accepted ; and he was installed September 28th of the same year. Mr. Bennett had previously been settled in Winchester, where
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
he remained eight years, and had also labored one year in Roxbury. His pastorate here was only about five and a half years. The church and society being unable to make up his salary for a whole year, he was dismissed, April 5, 1831. During his pastorate, twenty-five united with the church, only five of whom remain.
At this period, the church suffered much inconvenience for the want of a stated place in which to hold their meetings on the Sabbath. There were four other denominations that claimed a right to the centre meeting-house; and the Con- gregationalists being few in numbers could only occupy it occasionally, holding their services in school-houses and private dwellings the rest of the time.
After the dismission of Mr. Bennett, Rev. Erastus Curtis labored for them one year, and from that time until 1835 they had no stated preaching.
June 25, 1833, the society having disbanded, a new one was formed, which took the name of the Trinitarian Congre- gational Society of Marlborough. At an adjourned meeting of this society, June 29, 1833, it was voted to build a meet- ing-house, to be under the control of the society, which should be built by subscription, giving to all the subscribers the choice of the spot on which the house should stand, and the materials of which it should be built, and the choice of the committee or agents to build the same.
There were numerous locations spoken of as the site for the new house. Of the two most prominent, one was near Esquire Sweetser's estate, and the other near Charles Hol- man's, where it was finally located.
Soon after the above meeting, the following subscription paper was circulated under date of Aug. 17, 1833 : -
The subscribers taking into consideration the inconvenience of having but one house of worship for several denominations wish to build a meeting house on the following conditions, to wit : -
1st. The house shall be for the use of the Trinitarian Congregational Society of Marlborough, and shall be legally secured to said society or to persons appointed by it, to hold in trust for the society, and no other denomination shall have any right to use said house without the consent of the society.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
2d. The subscriptions shall be paid to Wm. Farrar, treasurer of the society, or his successor in office.
3d. The house shall be located in that place of those mentioned below for which the greater number of shares shall be subscribed, taking into consideration the price of the building spot; and no person shall be obliged to pay subscription except the house be placed on the spot for which he subscribes.
4th. The estimated expense of the house shall be divided into shares of ten dollars each, and each subscriber shall have the right of one vote for each share he may own, provided always that this right of suffrage shall not be so construed as to effect the right of said society to control the pulpit.
Names.
Near Charles Holman's.
Near Esq. Sweetser's.
James Farrar,
20
0
David Wilkinson, Jr.,
20
0
William Farrar,
6
3
Luther Wiswall,
6
3
Calvin Stone,
1
3
Charles Holman,
01
0
Abner Boyden, .
20
0
Ebenezer Hemenway,
2
1
Simeon Whitcomb,
6
3
Jonas Woodward, .
2
2
Phinehas Farrar,
0
5
Benjamin Whitney,
0
5
Charles Collister,
1
0
John Joslin,
1
0)
Asa Frost,
20
10
Josiah Woodward,
0
2
Jacob Woodward,
0
1
Ziba Nason,
3
0
Allen Clapp,
1
0
Daniel Buss,
1
0
John Wiswall,
4
0
Joseph Frost,
2
0
121
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By many it was considered a foolhardy undertaking to build a meeting-house on its present site, and the society, being few in numbers, found it up-hill work ; but each one took hold in earnest, and did with his might what his hands found to do. Some aid was also received from neighboring churches and friends abroad, and the work went steadily
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
forward; and the new meeting-house was dedicated, Oct. 29, 1834.
At this time there were not more than six or eight dwell- ing-houses, a store, blacksmith-shop, grist-mill, and tavern, in what now comprises the village; and the building of the brick meeting-house was, no doubt. one of the determin- ing causes of the beautiful village which has sprung up around it.
Rev. Moses G. Grosvenor was installed pastor of the church, May 20, 1835. Mr. Grosvenor was a graduate of Dartmouth College and Andover Theological Seminary, and had before labored as settled paster in Acworth, N.H., and Barre, Mass. Thirty-two united with the church during his pastorate. Difficulties growing out of a case of discipline, which came before the church, led to his dis- mission, Dec. 2, 1840. He afterward removed to Troy, Ohio. He died in Boston, Mass., in the summer of 1879.
Rev. Giles Lyman was born in Belchertown, Mass., March 16, 1802; son of Giles and Mary (Hubbard) Lyman. Graduated at Amherst College in 1827, and Andover Theo- logical Seminary in 1831.
Mr. Lyman maintained a high standing in college and seminary as a scholar and a most conscientious Christian man. He was ordained at Jaffrey, N.H., Jan. 11, 1832, and installed colleague of Rev. Laban Ainsworth, over the Con- gregational Church, as the first colleague this church settled in connection with Mr. Ainsworth. Mr. Lyman thoroughly indoctrinated this people, and thus shielded them against any temptation in the future to settle a pastor of too lax views. This pastorate was dissolved, May 3, 1837. After this, he was acting pastor at Fowlerville, N.Y., 1837-38, and at Ashburnham, Mass., 1838-39, and at Gardner, Mass., 1839-40.
He commenced to labor in Marlborough, Dec. 13, 1840. The distressing and disheartening malady which afflicted him, making it problematical in his own mind whether he could long discharge the duties of a permanent pastorate, led him to decline a settlement during the twenty-eight years he continued to labor in this town.
119
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
He found the church, at the beginning of his ministry among them, in a seriously distracted condition, with little influence in the community.
The prejudice growing out of its establishment as the town church during the first forty years of its history, had abated but little, if any. Another cause of disturbance, the removal of the place of worship from the middle of the town to the village, had alienated many of the inhabitants, and they had not yet forgotten their grievances. In addi- tion, internal dissensions had brought the church to the very verge of ruin.
Among these contending brethren, Mr. Lyman came ; and by his wise course, unaffected piety, and unmistakable interest in the real good of all, he gained the confidence · even of those who were most at variance in the church, and thus was enabled in time, by the blessing of God, to so heal the differences that prosperity smiled upon the society.
The church became independent of missionary aid, mainly through his self-denying efforts. He voluntarily relinquished what was justly his due, that others might receive its benefit.
A revival among the young people, in 1842, cheered the heart of the pastor, and greatly aided in the work of recon- ciliation. 1852-58 and 1864 were seasons of revival in his ministry.
Mr. Lyman continued as acting pastor until May 10, 1868, long enough to see a new generation come upon the stage. During his ministry, one hundred and thirty-eight were added to the church. After his retirement from the min- istry, he remained in town and in the parsonage until the spring of 1870, greatly assisting his successors by his counsels and his prayers, and was much respected and beloved by the people of his former charge.
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