USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > History of the town of Rochester, New Hampshire, from 1722 to 1890, Vol. I > Part 11
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The Quakers or Friends were the earliest on the ground, and though not many of his people were drawn after them, save from curiosity, yet he admonished them very plainly against even occa- sional attendance. The following is from a sermon preached March 29,1778 :-
"John 4 : 23. But ye hour cometh & now is, when ye true worshippers shall worship ye father in spirit & truth: for ve father seeketh such to worship him.
This is a text often abused, being bro't to prove yt God does not now
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require or regard external worship but yt of ye spirit only.
To affirm,
as some do, that ye worship of God under ye gospel should be purely spiritual,
without there being anything external required, is not only contrary to ye practice & experience of yº Xtian religion in all ages, but to ye ordinances of ye Gospel itself. If baptism was only spiritual, why was water used in ye days of X & his apostles, as it is evident beyond contradiction it was? If it be said ye spirit is meant by water, it may be ansr'd that can no ways be ye case at all times. And so it is of ye sacrament of ye Lord's supper; that of giving & receiv- ing bread & wine; for it will be very difficult to tell how this can be made only spiritual: for when do we find ye spirit compared to bread or wine ? Or how can we break ye spirit as bread is broken ? . It is plain yt in ye apostolic age, ye outward ordinance of ye sacrament was practiced; yn how can any pretend that this & baptism are only spiritually performed ? I would not have you think I am pleading for external performances as tho' they were in ye least meri- torious; no, nor yet that they will avail anything without ye spirit. But
why do I plead that there must be external duties, seeing there are none who deny it ? I say none; for if any pretend it, even they are more formal than any others & seem to depend more upon their forms. The prophet asks this ques- tion, What doth ye L'd require of thee but to do justly, & to love mercy, & to walk humbly with thy God ? Now are not all these things external in some measure at least? But wt is it to walk humbly with God ? Is it not to pay a strict & reveren- tial regard to all his commands & ordinances ? There can nothing savour more of pride than to set up a way of worship not appointed in God's word: it is prefering our wisdom to yt of God; there is nothing of humility in it, nor can there be a walking with God. . It is ye spirit of God, that makes any worship truely acceptable, & not our renouncing outward ordinances, & pretending to have our worship in spirit only. This sort of worship is no more likely to be spiritual than any other. Where worship is purely spiritual in ye manner some pre- tend, wt is ye preached word good for? Where any pretend to worship in a social manner, & yet there is no appearance of worship, how can it be in spirit & truth ? And how is it profitable for any to attend with such people ? Is a sabbath spent well where there is nothing either to edify or instruct ? Where any meet & ye whole time is spent in silence, & there is nothing to keep one's tho'ts from roving, & being upon vanity, would it not be better to worship in private; or in private to be studying God's word, or some pious author ? Is it a proper time for any to attend such meetings out of a vain curiosity ? I mention these things be- cause there are some who attend meeting where they expect nothing profitable; I mean attend at some particular times. Is it right for us to assemble where there is no marks of the father's being worshipped in spirit & truth, or where ye ordi- nances are not only neglected but denyed? I say, is it right upon ye L'd's day, wch should be spent in his worship? Did the primitive Xtians assemble to be silent ? Did they deny ye ordinances? Was not water baptism practised in ye days of X & his apostles ? And did not X appoint ye ordinance of ye supper, break bread & give to his disciples, & also pour out wine for 'em to drink, & at ye same time command 'em to do that in remembrance of him? Let me warn all not to forsake wt they know to be ye worship of God. It is of importance that
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we be in ye right way; therefore let us not be led out of ye way by those whom we have cause to look upon with pity, as they must be strangely ignorant or blind or they could not so far forsake ye worship of God."
About 1806 Methodism was introduced and in a few years created a great excitement drawing away many from the old church. People of the present day have very little idea of the excesses in language and methods then employed. No description can adequately por- tray the scenes which our fathers beheld. Mr. Haven did not fail to speak his mind plainly. In fact, he was forced to speak in self- defense, as the new-comers openly attacked the church, and the record of his ministry, in unsparing terms. The following is from the closing discourse of a series on the last petition of the Lord's Prayer. It was preached Jan. 10, 1810.
" Math. 6: part of 13th Verse. 'Deliver us from evil.' 1st The evil of sinning. 2ª The evil of suffering." Under the first head, among other sins are named : - " a pretended heated zeal in religion with or without knowledge. Dishonesty in reli- gious pretences; & pride & ostentation in religious worship, as tho' we were ye only holy people on earth, & best favorites with heaven; assuming ye judgment seat in order to pass hasty sentence upon those we suppose good or bad; - con- demning all as heretics but ourselves, as tho' there was no true religion till ours came in fashion; pretended dreams & visions to deceive; - Dying for ye sins of others; pretending to raise ye dead; whether really or fictitiously dead; - Pre- tended secret prayer, when ye design is to be heard & applauded of men: - & superstition of ill founded enthusiasm."
Among various items under the second head, he considered : -
"what we may suffer by divisions & strife in families, in neighborhoods; in, Towns; in States, societies or nations. There may be divisions from religious political or other views, or they may be merely accidental. Divisions have ever been common in ye ; but ye first was a religious one, when Cain rose up & slew his brother Abel; & for no other reason than worshipping G'd in ye most rational & approved way, when Cain, no doubt by an innovation expected to receive ye divine approbation & reward. - A false worship was always ye most apt to inflame ye passions of mankind, & to be attended with ye most heat and zeal: this I could easily point out from history, sacred & prophane. Where divisions are made, it has been common to call it a reformation, let ye sect be wt it may ; & all have been certain they were right, liad G'd on their side & yt he helped in car- rying on ye mighty work; & ye last sects always affect to be ye best & only right ones. But aged people can witness in some measure, how many towns have had these reformations, & their consequences; seldom have they been of any lasting benefit, but have laid a foundation for irreligion; a multiplicity of opinions, lasting confusion, & long divisions. The very remarkable reformation as some call it wch has taken place in this Town, as well as in other places, lately, is matter of wonder & surprise to many, but mostly to ye young who have seen no such thing before. The effects have been good in some things. It has been the cause of introducing family religion into some houses, & at least to check prophane swearing with a number. And if it be a benefit; it has ye appearance of uniting ye converts in ye strongest bonds of friendship; but to cause 'em to stand aloof from others, as tho' their evil habits were dangerous and their morals pernicious. If apparent zeal is a proof they are right; if boasting of their great success, in their instructors; if of
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their humility & love; & if a multiplicity of meetings, of forms & ceremonies; of prayers; of dreams; of religious spasms are evidences in their favor, they have all these. And if it is a proof in their favor, yt they are liberal in censuring others; if in saying there has been no reformation here for more than thirty years, the palm is yielded to 'em. Whether they shew any pride, spiritual, or of any other kind, let others judge. But as to a reformation in ye space of time mentioned, the wisest & best have observed there has been one of consequence. That there has been much less of dissipation; of intemperance; of fornication, wch has become apparent; of idleness; of gambling & of some other vices, wch have too much pre- vailed. This is a reformation wch ye wise are ever pleased with, as a tree is known by its fruits, & not by ye fairness of its leaves. But as to religious zeal, none pre- tend but it has been too cold, & now it may have got to ye other extream with some, & may end in all ye vices we have mentioned; wch may G'd prevent, & cause all to turn out well.
It is more than 34 years since I have been with this people; I have feelingly taken part in all your joys & sorrows; no favor has been bestowed, but I have wished gratefully to remember, & thankfully to acknowledge. I think I have not sought yours, but you. To promote your temporal & spiritual interest; I have endeavored to visit ye afflicted & to pour ye oil of consolation into ye wounded heart. Yet I boast of nothing; wt I say is only in self defence at this period of trial. But I must in justice to many, notice their increased kindness, when it appears most necessary. I dread ye future consequences of ye present divisions, to ye town, when motives wch may now be only suspected will be more fully devel- oped. That there are a number sincere in their professions, none will doubt, tho' they may [fail] 'of correct information in ye true principles of our pure, holy & rational religion ; yet let all endeavor to cultivate charity as far as reason & re- ligion will authorize."
One who understands the condition of affairs can but feel that Mr. Haven was very moderate in his language concerning those who were so actively endeavoring not merely to build up a new sect, but seemed to be even more zealous to tear down and destroy " the standing order." And yet this movement was doubtless on the whole for good. The new sect was called out by Providence just when it was demanded by the general religious deadness of the times. Possessing what has been called " the enthusiasm of hu- manity," the great essential of practical religion, it grew rapidly and became prosperous. Its follies - and like all great reformatory orders and sects, in its beginnings it had its share-were corrected by time, its errors were rapidly outgrown, and when the law was repealed which taxed the people to sustain one denomination, Meth- odism began rapidly to absorb the religious population.
The Baptist Society soon followed, also drawing off large num- bers, so that toward the close of his ministry Mr. Haven surrounded by new and vigorous sects, and involved in controversy with the town concerning the parsonage property, found his meeting-house growing empty of hearers. He was now too old to create any coun- ter sensation, or arouse any fresh enthusiasm. He was never elo-
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quent of speech, and now seemed dull to the younger people. Younger preachers had come in, - not so intelligent, not so edu- cated, not so talented perhaps, - but more zealous, more attractive, and representing ideas considered more progressive and answering a growing demand in the community.
Many good qualities combined to render Mr. Haven a popular man ; but that which particularly predominated was his social and genial spirit, - his inexhaustible humor. The society of those per- sons is apt to be most courted, who are able to bring to the dinner or tea table the best supply of fresh and racy anecdotes. When the more sober and substantial virtues have long been forgotten, witti- cisms will not cease their rounds. A good story is remembered longer than a good sermon. A hearty laugh is better appreciated than money or wisdom, for there are more who share in its enjoy- ment. Few of the humorous sayings of Mr. Haven will bear record- ing, their pith consisted so largely in the peculiar quaintness of his manner. The following will answer as illustrations.
Walking in his garden with a friend to whom he was showing the varieties of fruit which he cultivated, they came to a tree laden with apples fair and inviting to the eye. Mr. Haven picking one of the finest handed it to his friend, saying, " There, I recommend you to try that apple." With expectations excited and mouth watering, the friend took a generous bite. Instead of the rich, juicy flavor he expected, he found only astringent bitterness. As he was recover- ing from the effect, Mr. Haven looked good-humoredly into his puckered face and said, " They need recommending don't they ? "
Measuring some land one day, he carried one end of the chain while a young man of his acquaintance carried the other. Just as they were drawing the chain tight, the young man quoted the old adage, " The Devil can go only the length of his chain." " Pull, pull," instantly replied Mr. Haven, " and we will see." Such things were not studied, but were the spontaneous outflow of a healthful spirit of humor.
The genuineness of the following story is not vouched for, but it has often been related of Mr. Haven and is probably true, though it is not likely the device was original with him, as it is one of those old stories that are ascribed to many different sources. One of the boys had been guilty of a grave misdemeanor, and it was difficult to ascertain which was the guilty party. But Mr. Haven assured them
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that he knew of a way to discover the truth. Accordingly he caught the old crower and put him under the brass kettle in a darkened room. Each boy was then required to go into the room alone and touch the kettle with his finger, with the assurance that when the guilty boy touched it the rooster would certainly crow. One after another passed in and returned with trembling, but no crowing was heard, and they began to think the test had failed, and that the pen- alty would be escaped. But not so easily. Mr. Haven said he was certain the guilty boy had not touched the kettle, for the old crower had always told the truth. So he required them to hold up their hands, and sure enough, one and one only had clean fingers. Of course this was the culprit, whose fears kept him from touching the kettle lest his guilt should be discovered.
Often were the younger members of the family where Mr. Haven visited, astounded to observe him leave off abruptly in the middle of some story, - perhaps a witch story more laughable than refined, - to ask a blessing over the tea-table, resuming the story so suddenly that the thread of the narrative remained unbroken.
We are liable to misunderstand the true character of such a man. The reputation of being an excellent joker or story teller, or even of being fond of lively and mirthful company, is not considered the most desirable for a clergyman. Where there is such an irrepressi- ble vein of humor exhibiting itself on all occasions, a deeper vein of religious sentiment may escape our attention. Not these lighter traits surely, but far nobler qualities made up the character of this excellent man. Not only by nature but on principle, Mr. Haven was affable and cheerful. He regarded cheerfulness as a Christian duty. In his severest trials and afflictions, of which he had a large share, he exhibited extraordinary calmness and cheerfulness.
He was a man of great wisdom and shrewd common sense, which enabled him to manage all sorts of people with peculiar success. Much superstition was prevalent in his day, and he was specially fitted to expose its absurdities, by both ridicule and reason. People then generally believed that witches had power to torment and injure the souls and bodies of those who offended them. Many believed that departed spirits had no better employment than to return to the earth to vex and frighten terrified mortals. From his house on the common, Mr. Haven could frequently see not only youths and maidens, but men venerable with years and reputation,
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making a wide circuit by the meeting-house to avoid passing the house of old Jenny Cook. Many foolish stories were afloat concern- ing her power for evil. It was said that Col. McDuffee had prom- ised her, if she would let her husband go to the army in the Revo- lution, and he should be killed, he would marry her himself. When her husband fell in battle the Colonel refused to fulfill his promise. So the story went that she bewitched his horse till it became neces- sary to cut off the horse's tail and burn it to drive out the witch, and that as the tail ascended the chimney it actually took off the bricks. Such stories and many like it were continually circulating and widely believed. Mr. Haven was well skilled in meeting such superstitions. When some ignorant sufferer from an overloaded stomach would tell how the witches rode him off by night and hitched him in the woods to stand till near morning, and then rode him back, Mr. Haven would suggest some odd and original plan to discover where the witches had their hitching-post, -some plan always sure both to cure the patient and afford the community a deal of fun over a good story.
When Mr. Haven lived in the parsonage on the hill close by the graveyard, he often heard the clattering hoofs go by in the night as if Tam O'Shanter himself were on the road, and more than once stopped the frightened traveler and led him back to the graveyard to convince him that the ghost which had terrified him was only a white rock on the wall with a bush waving behind it. Mr. Piper of Wakefield once requested an exchange with Mr. Haven in order that he might exorcise an evil spirit in a bewitched family of his parish. Always ready to do what he could to relieve the suffering Mr. Haven accepted the invitation. He found one of the daughters and a vagrant girl living in the family, so badly bewitched that the touch of silver or the proximity of a Bible would throw them into fearful paroxysms. The daughter was confined to her bed, and without exciting her suspicions Mr. Haven managed to rub one of his silver knee buckles against her hand. It produced no paroxysm, neither did the Bible which he always carried in his pocket cause her any distress. He thus exposed to the family the folly and wick- edness of the imposition, and then advised the father to send away the vagrant girl who had so effectually duped them all.
Mr. Haven was a man of great benevolence of feeling. It was a common saying that he was a friend of the sick and the poor. No
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one could long be confined to the sick bed before he learned it, and his presence with his kind and enlivening voice was often better than medicine, indeed his long experience had given him an un- derstanding of human ailments equal to that of most physicians. He thus secured a general attachment and regard, and aged people, at his death, recalled his kind attentions with heartfelt gratitude and warm affection. His labors and perseverance, his love for his people, and his zeal for his work among them were constant and unwearied. We thus see that his affability of manner sprang from his heart, -the source of all true politeness. He never passed even a boy or girl on the street without bowing and raising his hat, a compliment sure to be acknowledged by bow or courtesy in return. It was said that he had worn a hole through his three- cornered continental by these frequent salutations.
Few men devoted more time to reading and study, or investi- gated important questions more thoroughly than Mr. Haven. He seldom came into the house without taking a book or paper to read before he sat down. Literary in his own tastes he desired to help others in the same direction, and it was largely through his efforts that the Social Library Association was formed and achieved its lasting success.
He was a man of great native independence of mind and thought. On almost every subject he had an opinion, not received from the authority of others, but formed by his own investigation. He thought for himself, and did not hesitate to avow his conclusions. His independence was not narrow and bigoted, the result of igno- rance, but was broad and enlightened, because it was founded on a basis of intelligent information on almost every subject. To have acted the hypocrite by denying or concealing his convictions, in order to secure public or private favor, would have been impos- sible to the nature which God gave him.
Though well versed in theological lore, he took little pleasure in doctrinal discussions. "Foolish and unlearned questions he avoided, knowing these do gender strifes, and as a servant of the Lord he sought rather to be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing." Unlike many clergymen of his day he avoided " dark and metaphysical disputes" about questions of election and predestination and the like, which he thought only served to " darken counsel by words without knowledge." So he
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preached to his congregation that they should follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. The extracts already given show that his sermons were eminently practical, and as plain as they were practical. None could misunderstand his meaning. He thus hoped to deliver his own soul from the curse denounced against the careless or un- faithful watchman. So he rebuked the sins of the people, and used great plainness of speech in reference to their individual offenses. Did some wild fellows rob his orchard or his melon patch ? They heard the next Sabbath these words from the pulpit :
" What shall I call you ? Shall I call you thieves? This would affront you. Shall I call you friends ? A thief is hardly worthy to be called so by any, for he may soon rob him whom he call his friend. I will call you poor deluded souls. You may think that custom sanctifies theft, and that because it has become a custom among some - a pack of low-lived villains - to rob orchards, vineyards, and the like, that therefore it is no sin."
If the behavior of the boys in church was disorderly, he re- buked them in this style: -
" I am sorry to tell you my young hearers that some of you have got to such a pitch of rudeness in this house, that you disturb many in the worship of God. What if God should now call you out of the world, do you think that your low cunning, or your pretty wit, as you consider it, could save you ? It is shocking to think what you are, some of you, both in and out of God's house. And there are some, if they will not take warning which is friendly, will find to their surprise and shame that the laws will be put in execution against them. This indecency and rudeness is not confined to young people alone. While the benediction is pronounced there is too commonly a noise and stir in every part of the house, but young people in particular are rushing from the house of God, as though they were rushing from a place of confinement. It is some time since any fatal, destructive distemper has in general spread among youth. It is remarkable to see the large number of children and young people there are among us. It is a most pleasant and delightful sight, when they behave themselves well. But have you, my young hearers, no cause to fear that God will soon send some fatal, raging disorder among you that you may be swept as with the besom of destruction ?"
Mr. Haven's religious experience was deep and thorough. When about eight years of age, his elder brother reproved him for some wrong act, reminding him that God would punish such conduct. His heart revolted at the suggestion, and in the mad impulse of the moment he exclaimed, "I wish God was dead." But very quickly he was filled with horror at the thought of his impiety, and had a distressing view of the sinfulness and misery of his heart. This anguish of mind never left him till he found relief
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in the hopes of the gospel through the blood of Christ. In this early experience sprang up the impulse to lead others to the same Saviour in whom he had found deliverance from the burden of sin. He was a man of devout spirit. In the morning, long before others were astir, he was in the habit of rising for private devo- tion and study. One who resided several months in his family says, "I have often seen him by morning candlelight with a large Bible and commentary before him, poring over their contents." His last days were peaceful and happy, giving the most satisfac- tory evidence of his being a true and sincere Christian. When asked, a short time before his death, if he felt resigned to the will of God, " Perfectly resigned " was his answer. And though very feeble and unable to speak much, he repeated the lines,
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