USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Meriden > One hundredth anniversary of the Congregational Church at Meriden, N.H. : May 2d, 1880 > Part 2
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The first preacher of whom we have any account after the or- ganization of the church was Rev. Nathaniel Merrill. He was here a few weeks in the summer of 1781, and received a call to settle. The salary offered was £40. about $135, for the first year, to rise year by year until it should reach £70. It was the custom in those days to increase the salary of the minister. The salary was to be paid one-third in money, two-thirds in grain. Furthermore, with a delicate waiving of their right to the minister's wife as well as to the minister himself, the parish voted "that the Rev. Mr. Merrill be at his own Election either to bring Mrs. Merrill with him into this Parish or not as he thinks it to be his Duty." He was not settled here. Probably he did not think it to be his duty to bring his wife into the wil- derness, nor to come without her.
The next summer a Rev. Mr. Foster preached here ten Sab- baths at "One Pound four shillings pr Diem estimating wheat at six shillings pr bushel." Wheat rather than money was the circulating medium.
In the summer of 1783, Rev. Peter Powers preached four- teen Sabbaths receiving one pound and six shillings per Sab- bath, estimating wheat at six shillings. Can this mean that the minister was actually paid in wheat, and that he had to carry away this bulky material, or exchange it for something more convenient to carry ?
There is no account of preaching again until February, 1785,
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when Mr. Thomas Russell is supplying the pulpit. In the warn- ing for a parish meeting called February 28, 1785, the second arti- cle is as follows : To see if the "Parrish will apply to Mr. Thomas Russell to preach in ye Parrish any longer." It was voted to ask Mr. Russell "to preach on probation after going his journey." There is no further record of him, not even that he received his pay, whether in wheat or any other circulating medium. Again for some time there is no record of preaching, nor of any attempt to procure it. Late in 1786 the church vot- ed a call to Mr. Nahum Sargeant, but the parish refused its concurrence.
March 22, 1787, the church called Rev. Experience Esta- brook, and with the concurrence of the parish he was installed the 6th of the following June. The salary voted was £45, "to rise with the List to £60, and there to remain." The parish also voted to give Mr. Estabrook a "settlement" of £100 ($330.00 in silver) on his "Quitting his right to the Ministerial Land"-the land given by the town charter to the first settled minister. It may be presumed that he accepted this condition, as his right to the ministerial land was of very flimsy texture. The land in Plainfield had in 1779 been given to Mr. Carpenter, settled fourteen years before, and without shadow of doubt the first settled minister in town. Still less claim had the Meriden minister upon any lands in Grantham, because he was not set- tled over a church in that town.
These ministerial lands the parish tried hard to secure. May 31, 1784, they "chose Abel Stevens, Esq., an ajent for ye Par- ish for the purpose of Petitioning the General Court for ye Pro- portion of ministerial Land belonging to the Parish in ye Towns of Plainfield and New Grantham." This attempt failed. Three years later, despairing of favorable legislation on the subject, they tried an appeal to the legal owner of this land in their own town. November 15, 1787, they appointed a committee to "treat with Mr. Abraham Capenter concerning the Minis- terial Land in the Town of Plainfield." This appeal was in vain. Mr. Carpenter believed in his undoubted right to the land which had come into his possession by vote of the town,
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and refused to share it with those who had no such right. The parish now grown desperate, perhaps at the thought of the hun- dred pounds already voted away, "chose Lt. Joseph Kimball, Agent to get the Ministerial Land." Now it is not to "peti- tion," nor to "treat ;" it is to "get." But Lt. Kimball was not able to do that for which he was chosen. The parish never got any of the land. All the time and money they used for this purpose was utterly lost.
On account of the unfinished and dilapidated condition of the meeting house, the installation of Mr. Estabrook took place in the open air.
He found the church in a sad state. Matters of discipline were pending, which had been dragging along for years, and much ill feeling had grown out of them. From the old church rec- ords one would almost suppose that their chief use was to re- cord votes in cases of discipline. Fellowship was withdrawn from one brother on account of some wrong growing out of a settlement with Dr. Oliver Baker, father of the late Dimick Baker. Then there was trouble about the burning of Benjamin Kimball's mill, and the utterance of suspicions that a certain member of the church "had a hand in it." One member "made confession to the Chh for his mess conduck in a Chh con- fornce." Many absented themselves from public worship and the communion. One prominent brother, at a church confer- ence, "Exhibited a lengthy Piece in which he attempted a vin- dication of his leaving the church and neglecting Public Wor- ship." And there was the case of one who "Expressed views against the Morality of the Sabbath"-that is, I suppose, the duty of keeping the first day of the week-"and against In- fant Baptism." He was evidently a stout Seventh-day Baptist, whose opposition was aroused, perhaps, by the baptism of some children, which is on record at about that date. And his op- position was so great that he called the church "an Anti-chris- tian Body." Then good Micaiah Adams had his confession read publicly, in which he acknowledged that he "was much to
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Blame in being in so warm a Dispute and Contradiction on the Sabbath, and that he was Mistaken in saying the Presbytery was so much above the Assosiation that there was a right of appeal from the Association to them." Here crops out another trouble about doctrines. There was collision between Congre- gationalism and Presbyterianisni in this little church with its new, yet dilapidated meeting house. Mr. Estabrook was a member of the Londonderry Presbytery, and it is quite possi- ble that he became involved in these discussions. Perhaps this had something to do with that "uneasiness with the Pastor," mentioned in the records some three years after his settlement, and. that "general dissatisfaction between Minister and Peo- ple," which appears a little later in the parish records.
May 30, 1791, a committee of the society was appointed to treat with the pastor "concerning a Separation and reconcil- iation." This is a peculiar phrase, but there is wisdom in it ; for there are many quarrels, in which there can be no reconcili- ation, no restoration of kindly feeling, until the parties are separated. The "separation" did not take place then, nor did the "reconciliation." April 9, 1792, a year later, the parish "voted by a large majority that this People are Dissatisfied with their present minister and that they wish for a Commida- tion of Difficulties." Here almost for the first time in the rec- ords the word minister begins with a small m, while large and people and dissatisfied and difficulties begin with capitals.
Mr. Estabrook was dismissed by a mutual council May 7, 1792. That after the separation there was something of recon- ciliation, is indicated by the fact that he remained in town for some years after his dismission, preaching frequently, and by invitation of the church "administering the ordinances occa- sionally." He is described as "a mild-tempered, long-favored, good man." He was not covetous. He did his duty as he un- derstood it, quietly and faithfully. His ministry was not a suc- cessful one, but this was not his fault so much as that of the times and the discordant elements in church and parish. There were few additions to the church during his ministry, and these
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were probably balanced by deaths, dismissions and excominu- nications. But it was something to have preached the gospel and administered the ordinances of the church. This at least was done. During this period we find recorded several votes like the following : "Voted that each Member of the Church give to the value of a Peck of Wheat to provide for the Lord's Table." "Voted that each member shall give sixpence in mon- ey or in flax," for the same purpose.
One other fact in this earliest history of this church should be noticed. They paid attention and honor to singing as a part of worship. Under date of May 29, 1788, we find this record, "The Church chose Mr. Eliphalet Adams Chorister." And this is added : "Voted that thanks of this Church be giv- en to Messrs. D. Baker, Phil. Spalding and Eliphalet Adams for the pains 'they have taken in instructing the People of this Society in the Art of Singing, and likewise to those Persons in the Society who have taken pains to obtain skill in that useful and delightful Art."
At Mr. Estabrook's departure the church probably num- bered about forty or fifty, many of these practically withdrawn from fellowship.
For several years it seems to have given little sign of life. Nothing is said of preaching, or of any other meetings. Prob- ably some were held, but they were "few and far between."
In 1796 the parish at least came to life. The first signs of life were an earnest effort to raise a fund for the support of the gospel, and a vigorous attempt to build a new meeting house. The former effort failed, the latter succeeded. Now the parish will do what it has been sixteen years trying and sixteen years failing to do. It was not in any sense a church enterprise. It was to be a union meeting house on the most liberal plan. January 2, 1797, the parish voted, "That the Meeting House when completed Shall be Equally free for all denominations of Christians, as a house of Publick worship and any Proprietor Shall have a right to introduce a preacher of his own denomi- nation into the desk any Sabath when not supplied by the par-
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ish provided he does it at his own Expense, and any proprietor Shall have a right to Introduce a Preacher of his own Senti- ment on any weak Day unless taken up by a previous appoint- ment." This vote was especially designed to secure the help of the Baptists, of whom there were quite a number in the par- ish. Nearly five years before, and directly after Mr. Esta- brook's dismission, in one of their spasmodic attempts to build the parish had voted "That the Baptists Shall have an Equal right and privilidge according to what they pay with any other inhabitant, in the Meeting house & preaching and Shall have Liberty to Supply the pulpit in their turn with preachers of their own choosing." And at that time a Baptist was added to the committee on preaching. But these promises proved delu- sive. The house built was not large enough for two families. The minority found little opportunity to supply the pulpit with their own preachers, and there was much ill feeling and trouble for many years. In 1816 the principal Congregational mem- bers of the society purchased the pews owned by the aggrieved proprietors. Thus these difficulties were adjusted.
The meeting house, as finally decided, was to be erected on the spot occupied by this house, to be fifty feet by sixty, with a steeple at the west end and and a porch at the east, with doors on the south side and at both ends. The pulpit was op- posite the south door, and had a huge sounding board above it. The room was very high, including the whole space now occu- pied by this room and the town hall below. There were fifty square box pews on the floor, and twenty-one in a narrow gal- lery on three sides of the house. All these seventy-one pews, except three, reserved, were sold for sums ranging from $20 to £35.
With Daniel Kimball, Esq., Chorister Eliphalet Adams, no doubt singing at his work, and William Huntingdon, as building committee, the work went rapidly forward, and early in July the frame was ready to be raised. That raising was a great occasion. The parish voted "$100 to make the Necessary provision for the Spectators," chose two additional members on
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the building committee to assist in making provision, and pledged the credit of the parish "to indemmify the committee," if the funds should fall short. I am glad that I did not find among the parish papers the committee's account of the dis- bursement of that $100. I am more glad that I have not learned the condition in which the spectators, for whom such generous provision was made, went home that night ; and also the workmen, who, presumably, had their share of the "neces- sary provision." There are some things connected with "rais- ings" in those old days, over which we prefer to draw a veil, when we connect them with a great religious undertaking.
It is said that during the year between the raising and completion of the meeting house there was so much interest in public worship, that the people erected temporary seats and held meetings in it occasionally on the Sabbath. And, doubtless, those who for sixteen years had longed for a comfortable house of worship, took great delight in watching Sabbath after Sab- bath the advancement of the work toward completion.
The house was finished at a cost of $4,400, including, I presume, the cost of the "raising." The work was faithfully done, as proved by the fact that the house with only ordinary repairs braved the storms of fifty years ; and the additional fact, that the frame of the house raised with so much interest and so much "necessary provision" eighty-three years ago, is the frame of the house in which we worship to-day.
In 1846 the meeting house was turned about into its pres- ent position and thoroughly repaired at an expense of nearly $3,000. At that time it was divided into main room and base- ment, the latter to be used as a town hall, for which the town paid the society the sum of $700.
In 1873-4 the house was again repaired, the repairs consist- ing mainly in replacing the old belfry, which had begun to lean somewhat threateningly, with the present taller and more grace- ful spire. These repairs cost $2,730.
That word belfry suggests one thing in connection with the
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old church, which requires mention-one that was of the ut- most importance to the people of that generation. In 1798 a bell was procured and hung in the church tower. This would not arouse much interest now, but then it was a wonderful event. At that time and for many years afterward there was no other church bell in all this region. It was rung not only on Sunday, but twice every week-day, and this continued for at least twenty years. Most of the young people in the parish had never before heard a church bell, and it is said that, as the hour for ringing it approached, the children for miles around would swarm about the doors of their homes to catch its first peal and drink in with delighted ears its every clang. Nor was it a matter of less interest to older people. It is mentioned in almost every annual parish meeting for twenty years. The last vote at the foot of page after page is, "Chose Messrs
and - - and a committee to procure the Bell rung." The word bell always begins with a capital B, and almost al- ways three men are needed to see that it is rung through the year. It had a rest for a few months in 1802-3. By hard usage it had been so injured that there was no music in its voice ; so it was sent back to the foundry to be re-cast. Far into the present century it was the only church bell in this town, and this meeting house in distinction from all others was called "the bell house." This regard shown the bell became so well known in the surrounding towns, that our bell was known far and wide as "the Meriden Idol." Perhaps there was just a shade of jealousy in this, because these towns had no bells.
Mr. Siloam Short was ordained and settled as pastor of the church Nov. 7, 1799. The salary voted was $260, and noth- ing said about wheat, or any other "specie." It is greatly to be regretted that there are no records of the church during this period of its history. All traditions, however, agree that this was its age of gold. Mr. Short is said to have been "an emi- nent Christian and a devoted minister." His preaching was earnest and solemn, commending the Gospel to all hearers, and so attractive that this large house was full on the Sabbath ; and it was so effective through the power of God, that multitudes
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were converted and about seventy added to the church in a very short time. He was an excellent and beloved pastor, drawing all hearts to himself. Twenty-five years ago aged members of the church, and others, whose memory reached back to the pe- riod of Mr. Short's ministry, spoke of him with an affection that the lapse of half a century had not weakened. He found here a church of about forty members,-a weak, troubled, dis- couraged church with hardly a name to live. He saw it grow to be a strong and active church of one hundred members, and such he left it.
In the midst of his usefulness, and with the fairest prospects before him, he was cut down. To the great grief of his church and people, in the fourth year of his ministry, death came to him suddenly, and he was buried in yonder cemetery. I have stood beside his grave and thought of the piety and zeal and hope and goodness deposited under that falling and scarcely legible tablet ; and I thought that this church could not better mark its centennial year, than by honoring the dust of the only pastor buried within its borders-by re-building his tomb and beautifying the place where he sleeps.
The successor of Mr. Short, ordained and installed July 4, 1804, was David Dickinson.
The parish voted him a salary of $300 "as encouragement toward his support." The phrase is felicitously chosen, and might sometimes be used in our day, when the salary is hardly a support, but only an "encouragement" toward it. But wheth- er with a support, or only an encouragement, Mr. Dickinson was able to take care of himself. He is said to have been a superior judge of property of most kinds-a good man at a trade-presumably honest-sometimes trading horses, and al- ways driving a good horse. While here he secured considera- ble property in land, and during the last of his pastorate occu- pied the place this side the Baptist church, which, with the land back of it, known as the Frost farm, he sold to Dr. Elias Frost for $1800. He is said to have been a pleasant man socially, and very tall-taller even than our present pastor-rising to an
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altitude of six feet three or four inches. He had been a phy- sician. He was not highly educated, but a man of fine natural talents. There are few records during his ministry of fifteen years. The one noteworthy event of that period-the purchase of property in the meeting house, owned by non-Congregation- alists, has already been referred to. Some thirty-five members were received by Mr. Dickinson ; the losses were probably quite as large. He was dismissed June 25, 1819.
Mr. Dana Clayes was ordained and installed as pastor of this church, July 4, 1821. Is it a mark of great patriotism in this church, that two pastors have been ordained on the Fourth of July? Mr. Clayes is said to have been a faithful student, and a growing preacher. With some troubles towards its close, his ministry of sixteen years was yet a successful one. He re- ceived into the church about one hundred members. With re- gret and expressions of affectionate regard on the part of the church, he was dismissed by a mutual council, October 17, 1837.
Rev. Amos Blanchard was installed as his successor Jan. 8, 1840. His pastorate of nearly twenty-six years was the long- est in the history of the church, and added one hundred and sixty-six to the roll of its membership. He was a sound and instructive preacher, and a faithful pastor-a man of strong convictions, and fearless in the expression of them, if not al- ways judicious in the manner of their expression. Until nearly the close of his pastorate, he held the esteem and regard of his people to a remarkable degree, and was a very useful man. In the autumn of 1865, on account of "failing health and the growing infirmities of age," he asked for a dismission, and was released from his charge October 4 of that year.
Frank P. Woodbury was installed April 18, 1866. "A pros- pect of greater christian usefulness opening before him at the West," he resigned the next year, and with most earnest ex- pressions of regret on the part of the church, was dismissed July 16, 1867. This brief pastorate added thirty-seven to the church.
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E. E. P. Abbot was ordained and installed May 6, 1868. April 21, 1872 he offered his resignation. The council called to consider this, decided, in accordance with the desire of both church and congregation, that the pastoral relation should not be dissolved, but that Mr. Abbott should take a vacation of one year in which to carry out his cherished purpose to visit the old world. But Mr. Abbott still desiring it, he was dis- missed by a council March 27, 1873. The same council in- stalled Rev. C. M. Palmer, our present pastor. From Mr. Woodbury's departure to that of Mr. Abbott, there were added to the church fifty-six members, and what is unusual in the history of the last fifty years, a large proportion of them were residents of the place.
From Mr. Abbott's departure to the present time, forty-four have joined the church.
Since the organization of this church it has enrolled about six hundred and fifty members. Yet it has never numbered much over one hundred ; for its losses have steadily kept pace with its gains. Its seasons of religious interest since 1820 ·have mostly been enjoyed in connection with the academy, and those who have joined it from this source have soon transferred their relationship to their permanent homes. So while it has been the good fortune of the church to have excellent material to work upon, in the large body of young persons in its congre- gation, it has been its misfortune to do that work for other churches. The present number of its members is about ninety. If it were proper to take more time, I should be glad to speak of the Sabbath School, and its predecessor-the meeting for cat- echizing the children-and of the early attitude of the church on the side of temperance. I should be glad to pay a tribute of honor to some of its departed worthies as well as to some yet living-to Champion Spalding and Israel Ballard, who appear from the records to have been its first deacons-to Dea. Zadok Bloss, "a very earnest and good man, and an efficient helper" -to Eliphalet Adams, long time deacon and chorister, who gave the funds for the purchase of the parsonage-to Dea.
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Daniel Morrill. "long esteemed one of the most devoted and consistent members of the church,"-to Samuel B. Duncan, "long the main dependence of our church and society,"-to Dea. Hen- ry Wells, of meek and quiet spirit,-to Dr. C. S. Richards, so long a deacon and clerk, and a leader in all good enterprises, -to the "faithful women, not a few," who have here adorned their profession ; among them, Dorinda P. Freeman, to whom we are indebted for the beautiful communion set with which we are this afternoon to celebrate the Lord's Supper,-to Mrs. Mary A. Bryant, Mrs. Hannah Smith, Mrs. Lucia Wells and Mrs. Catharine Farnum, who have each given more than fifty years of service to this church, and to the sweet singers and players on instruments, who have led in the "Songs of Zion." But I may not take the time.
Let us gather up the lessons of this history, adopt the good it offers, avoid the errors it discloses, praise the God of our fathers for His manifest guidance and support thus far, and pray that He may gird us and go before us as the church enters upon its second century.
CENTENNIAL HYMN.
BY M. W. PALMER.
Oh Lord, our God, this church to-day To Thee her vows would gladly pay, And, with this opening century, raise A reverent song of grateful praise.
We thank Thee for the men of God, Who reared this altar to their Lord, And that Thy care its flame doth keep Alive, although the fathers sleep.
We thank Thee that the preached word, Through all these years has here been heard ; That faithful men, with hearts aflame, Have loved thy message to proclaim.
We thank Thee for the help received From men and women who believed Thy word, and for the memories rare, That cluster round this house of prayer.
For all Thy care these hundred years, Mid joy and sorrow, hopes and fears, We praise Thy name, and ask that still Thy presence sweet, our hearts may fill.
We walk by faith, for, though we see Not yet the glory that shall be, We know the path our friends have trod Will lead us homeward to our God.
So bring we all our past to Thee : Help us more consecrate to be ; Forgive our sins, and may this place Still know the blessings of Thy grace.
Guide Thou this church in years to come, Till all Thy hosts are gathered home And in Thy blessed presence stay, Whose thousand years are as a day.
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