USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Campton > The Centennial celebration of the town of Campton, N.H., September 12th, 1867 > Part 4
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Centennial Celebration.
and received the truth in the love of it. Some of the texts from which he preached that winter will be remem- bered by many while they live. One young man in after years was able to recall every text which was preached upon that winter and in the order in which they were brought forward. Many families were largely blessed. Parents and children were made the subjects of renewing grace. There were a number who united with the church on the first Sabbath in January, 1816. A larger number on the first Sabbath in March. The whole number added in the course of the year, as fruits of that revival, was about seventy ; and others were added afterwards to the number, in the whole of about one hundred.
REMARKS OF MR. MARSH.
The following are the remarks of Rev. Christopher Marsh, at the ordination of Rev. Worcester Willey, a missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in 1844 :
" Twenty-nine years ago at this time, I was inquiring what I must do to be saved. The second Sabbath in Jan- uary, following, I was one of thirteen, who in this house publicly professed Christ before the world. An interest- ing revival of religion was then in progress, which brought a large number into the church. From all my knowledge of that revival, its origin, its progress and re- sults, and from all the experience I have had in revivals in other places from that time to this, I am in the habit of thinking of the revival in this town in 1815-16, as the most precious and the freest from anything spurious or exceptionable, of any revival which has fallen under my observation. I ascribe this to the ever to be remem- bered fact, that the families connected with this church and congregation so habitually observed the Sabbath and attended public worship, and so generally read Baxter's,
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Rev. Mr. Brown .- Parsonage.
Davies, and Emmons' sermons, Edwards' works and other kindred books from the library of the town.
From this revival, six young men entered the ministry, and another with the ministry in view, died while a mem- ber of College. Since that revival this church has ex- perienced other seasons of refreshing, and converts have been multiplied. We can now say that not less than eight, among the rocks and hills and everlasting moun- tains of this obscure town, have been counted worthy to be put into the ministry. Other towns may be more beau- tiful for situation, may have more sons at the bar, on the bench and in the councils of the nation. But this town will not be wanting in beauty so long as she raises up from her sons, pastors and churches and missionaries to the heathen. This town will not be wanting in fame so long as she sends forth heralds to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, and furnished men to lead onward and upward the sacramental host of God's elect."
Rev. Mr. Hovey, a man advanced in life, preached for a time after Rev. Mr. Day left, and faithfully instructed those who had entered upon the christian's life. Rev. Mr. Fairbank of Plymouth, aided much in this work.
REV. MR. BROWN.
In the fall of the year, Mr. Amos P. Brown, who had studied Theology with Rev. Dr. Wood of Boscawen, was invited to labor here, and in January 1, 1817, was settled as pastor of the church. A general prosperity attended his ministry of five years.
PARSONAGE.
During this time the land for the present parsonage was given to the society by Col. Samuel Holmes. It con-
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Centennial Celebration.
sisted of twelve or sixteen acres in an uncultivated state. He gave also fifteen dollars towards the erection of a dwelling house and also boarded the workmen while at work upon it. The old men of the parish undertook to build the house and the young men the barn. When the whole was completed, it was found that there was a debt of one hundred and fifty dollars. Colonel Holmes said to the leading men of the parish, " You become obligated for one-half of it, and you may put the other half to my account." It was done in a few minutes. Rev. Mr. Brown was dismissed at his own request in June, 1822. He removed into the western country and there spent a useful ministry, mainly in the State of Illinois. There succeeded a period of two years in which the church had no settled pastor. But there was such ability in the church, that when they had no preaching upon the Sab- bath, the worship of God was sustained with interest, and also the meetings of the week.
REV. MR. RANKIN.
During this time, Rev. Mr. Rankin for a season, preach- ed on alternate Sabbaths in this town and in Thornton. Both parishes made advances towards securing him as their minister. But the people of Thornton moved first, and he became a useful minister there for a time.
NEW CHURCH ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER.
In 1824, the people on the west side of the river, who had been accustomed to attend worship at Plymouth, united in forming a second Congregational Society in this town. They built a house of worship not far from where the road now crossing the river meets the road upon the west side. Christian people there united with the church on the east side and worship was maintained on both sides of the river on alternate Sabbaths.
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Rev. Mr. Hale .- A New Bridge.
REV. MR. HALE.
In the Spring of 1824, Rev. Jonathan L. Hale from Connecticut, who had been laboring with much success in Colebrook in Coos county, was invited to this place. His services were highly acceptable to the people and he was installed here June 23, 1824. The presence of God was specially present with his people as they entered the new house of worship. The men who had built it, the larger portion of whom were young, had made great efforts for the purpose, and a large uumber of them and their fami- lies embraced the offers of the gospel and yielded them- selves to the services of their Lord. Others on the east side of the river were interested, and some thirty were added to the church. There were still, as there always had been, many difficulties experienced in crossing the river to attend meeting. They could ford the river in Summer, and pass over it in Winter upon the ice. But there were seasons when to do this was dangerous.
A MAN IN THE RIVER.
On one occasion, as the people had begun their worship in the new house, a man who was a little late, saw a man break through the ice and sink in the water. He rushed into the church and exclaimed that a man was drowning n the river ! The house was soon emptied and the man was found clinging to the breaking ice, as one piece after another gave away. He was at length rescued in an ex- hausted state. He proved to be the beloved physician, Dr. Kimball. . He had attended meeting in the forenoon, and was called away in the afternoon.
A NEW BRIDGE.
This and other like perils, led the people to feel the importance of a bridge across the river. A subscription
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Centennial Celebration.
of one thousand dollars was raised for this purpose, of which Rev. Mr. Hale gave one hundred dollars. The bridge was built in 1829. Now the people wonder how their fathers could ever have done without a bridge in that place.
PROSPERITY OF THE SOCIETY.
The Church and Society were now able to sustain their own institutions and to aid the benevolent enterprises abroad. Rev. Mr. Hale stated that his parish made up of about forty families, promptly furnished him his salary and contributed annually about four hundred dollars for the various benevolent objects of the day.
CHURCH DIFFICULTIES.
After some six or seven years, from the settlement of Rev. Mr. Hale, difficulties grew up in the church. Breth- ren became alienated from each other, and we fear were not in a condition to receive a blessing ; and that in con- sequence that favored year of 1831, which brought such large blessings to the churches of our land, failed to se- cure to this church the good which it might otherwise have received. A protracted meeting of three days was blessed to the awakening of the people, and twelve be- came hopefully christians and united with the church.
MR. HALE'S REMOVAL.
In 1832 Rev. Mr. Hale buried his wife, and afterwards sought a release from his pastoral charge. He had three children who lived to years of maturity, two sons and one daughter. The two sons went down to the grave in early manhood, leaving cheering evidence of their pre- paredness for the kingdom of God above. The daughter survives, - the wife of Rev. Lauren Armsby of Can- dia, - from whom we have the following facts :
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Dr. Stone's Ministry .- Deacons' Meetings.
MRS. ARMSBY'S LETTER.
" My father, Rev. Jonathan Lee Hale, was the son of Judge Nathan Hale of Goshen, Connecticut, and was born May 31, 1790. He graduated at Middlebury Col- lege, in the year 1819. After completing the theological course at Andover Seminary in 1822, he labored one year in Colebrook, New Hampshire, under the auspices of the Home Missionary Society. He was ordained in Campton, June 23d, 1824; dismissed April 18th, 1832. His second settlement was in Windham, Maine, in 1832.
In the summer of 1834 he took a violent cold, while returning from an exchange with a brother minister. His lungs became seriously affected and he was advised by physicians to spend the ensuing winter at the South. In October, 1834, he sailed for Savannah, Georgia, in com- pany with Rev. Mr. Pomeroy of Gorham, Maine.
The following notice of his death, I copy from a paper published in Savannah, Georgia :
DEATH OF REV. MR. HALE.
" Died January 15th, 1835, on the Island of Skidaway, near Savannah, at the house of David E. Adams, Esq., Rev. Jonathan Lee Hale, aged 44. He had repaired, at too late a period of a pulmonary complaint, to this salutary climate for the benefit of his health, and died in the bosom of christian sympathy and kindness. His body was brought to the church at White Bluff, and after an appro- priate sermon by the Rev. Willierd Preston of Savannah, and fervent prayers for the far distant widow and three orphan children, it was committed to the grave in the church burial ground of White Bluff, seven miles south of the city of Savannah."
Thus passed away from earth this beloved father
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Centennial Celebration.
whose memory is still fresh, though I was but a child of eight years at his death.
ELIZA LEE ARMSBY."
DR. STONE'S MINISTRY.
The following year Rev. Benjamin P. Stone, D. D., was installed pastor of this church. He was settled for the limited time of five years. During this time the diffi- culties were removed, and the church enjoyed again har- mony and spiritual prosperity. About thirty were added to the church. Had it not been for this unfortunate limi- tation, this order of things, so far as we can see, might have continued, and a long pastorate been enjoyed ;- a blessing of which this church has never known, the long- est being that of Rev. Mr. Church, the first minister.
OTHER · MINISTERS.
The other ministers of this church who have served them for a time, have been Rev. Thomas P. Beach, who removed to Ohio and died there; Rev. Charles Shedd, now in active service in Minnesota.
DEACONS' MEETINGS.
There have been times when this church has been with- out a minister for months, and for years together. Re- ligious services were conducted by the Deacons and other leading members of the church. Deacons Baker, Wyatt, Bartlett and Burbank have been long held in esteem for the part they took in these services. It required much care and labor to procure and select suitable discourses, to read them and to perform the other services in the ap- propriate manner in which they were performed. This, from his situation in the parish, and from his qualifica- tions, devolved much upon Dea. David Bartlett. To no
55
Without a Church.
other man has this church been so much indebted in all its interests as to him, for more than forty years. Anoth- er fact of interest is that these services, upon the Sab- bath, were encouraged and attended habitually by the principal families of the town, and their importance in its past history can hardly be over-estimated.
THE PRIVILEGE OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.
At the altar of this church have been made vows which have been recorded in heaven, covenant engagements which have not been violated, and by its mutual aids and sympathies a goodly number in their pilgrimage of trials, have been comforted, supported and nourished up to eter- nal life, and
When God makes up his last account Of natives in his holy mount, 'Twill be an honor to appear As one new born and nourished there.
THE CHURCH A BLESSING.
The history of this church for a period of a little more than sixty years, which has now been under review, shows abundantly its earthly connections, its human infirmities and also its heavenly origin and its spiritual life. No impartial observer can fail to see that it has been connect- ed with all that has been good and valuable in this com- munity,-the intelligence, the enterprise and the civility which has characterized the people of the place from the beginning, as well as with the religious and eternal inter- ests of men.
WITHOUT A CHURCH.
Without the church there would have been no general and proper observance of the christian Sabbath,-no re- ligious worship maintained either in the church or in
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Centennial Celebration.
families,-there would have been no such successions of pious men and women as there have been, and no such peaceful and triumphant deaths as have been known here. Without a church the christian ministry could not have been sustained and there would have been no one to have attended funerals. The whole town is, therefore, indebt- ed to the church for much more than we have ever sup- · posed. Without a church, a Sabbath and a christian peo- ple, God the Saviour would not have dwelt with this com- munity as he has for the two generations under review.
DIFFICULTY OF SUSTAINING IT.
It has required effort and sacrifices from the beginning to sustain the interest of this church. Families in moder- ate circumstances have not known how to meet the expenses which, from this cause, have come upon them. But in view of the past we ask what money has been better appropriat- ed, what expenditure has turned to better account? Who have been the prosperous and happy families for a course of years? They who have neglected the house of God or they who have come up fully to their proportion in sup- porting the institutions of religion? We court examina- tion on this subject. May the present generation learn wisdom from the past and as they would secure the good order and prosperity of the community, the virtue and intelligence of families, and the eternal welfare of all, let them cherish their pious people. Let them seek the welfare of the churches ; let them sustain and attend up- on the preaching of the gospel, and bring their children to the Sabbath School.
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PAST.
The experience of the past dictate this as the course of wisdom. Let the following be the sentiment of each
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Other Churches .- Baptist Church.
family in town, in reference to its own church : " If I for- get thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cun- ning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." Then may we expect that God will have a people here, that he will be with them and bless them in generations to come. "Happy is that people that is in such a case, yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord."
NOTICE OF OTHER CHURCHES.
The early history of this ancient church has been some- what minutely given, because of its intimate connec- tion with the history of the town, and because the mate- rials were at hand, as they might not be again. Other churches of importance have since arisen, but their his- tory comes mainly within the modern history of the town which it is not the present purpose to give.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Of the Baptist church in the village in the north part of the town, it should be said that it was formed in 1811 and that worship has ever since been maintained there. Rev. Mr. Tripp was the first pastor and continued nine years. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Barron, Rev. Mr. Lovejoy, Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, Rev. Mr. Huntley and others. This church has embraced many valuable christian people, whose influence has been felt for the benefit of the town. Her ministers have done important services in town. Several interesting revivals have been enjoyed there and the church has been a blessing to the region around. It has now a good house of worship and must be held re- sponsible for furnishing religious instruction to the peo- ple in that vicinity. May the presence of a common Saviour be with them.
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Centennial Celebration.
FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
A Freewill Baptist church was formed in the west part of the town in 1835, with seven members. Rev. Horace Webber was the first pastor. Several seasons of revival have been enjoyed in this church and additions made to its numbers at different times. The house of worship was built in 1853, and the church now consists of eighty- eight members. These three churches, now named, are well situated to meet the religious wants of the town. Though of different denominations, may they in their several fields seek the honor of their common Lord, and the salvation of their fellow men, and have a part in the coming of the kingdom of our Lord.
FUTURE PROSPERITY.
Our thoughts are drawn to the future of the town. The territory is to be occupied by generation after generation in all time to come. These fields, hills and plains are to be theirs after we sleep in our graves. We welcome them to this occupancy and would have them know that all this land has been worked over by busy hands. Some portion of the land, which was valuable and productive when new, has become barren and many barren places, nnder cultiva- tion, have become fertile.
ANCIENT APPEARANCE OF THE HILLS.
Fifty years ago these hills, now covered with so luxur- iant a foliage, were covered with the dark spruce and pine, with their sharp tops pointing to the skies, and af- ter a time they were one after another burned over, the green growth killed to dry in the sun and decay. Another fire would then occur at the dry season and the people were in this way often reminded of Mount Sinai, when
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Campton Hills.
the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mountains. In this way, in successive years, every vegetable substance upon these hills decayed and was burned up and nothing but the bald and rugged rocks of different colors appeared. The whole scenery of the place was rough and unsightly. Had this general aspect remained, your town would hardly have been sought as it now is for the beanty of its scenery. The grandeur was here, but not the beauty.
THEIR PRESENT BEAUTY.
The vast piles of rocks are now covered with a foliage which surpasses in luxuriance and beauty almost any part of the land. An article in a newspaper of the day has the following :
" Campton has often been termed the rival of Conway. The two have been compared to a pair of scales, of which the intervening mountains form the beam. The beautiful intervales, broad meadows waving with grain, the grace- ful grouping of the elms and maples, all seem as if fitted and placed in the most desirable position that nature may exhibit her treasures in the loveliest forms. No wonder that artists linger here and attempt to transmit the beau- ties of these scenes to canvass. There are views from different places in this town, which are hardly equalled any where else.
WELCOME TO COMING GENERATIONS.
The coming generations are welcomed to all that is grand and beautiful among our hills, and also to the in- stitutions established by the fathers of the town, - to the schools, to the churches and to our puritan Sabbaths. But we admonish you that if you would live and prosper here, habits of stern industry and of the closest economy
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Centennial Celebration.
must be adopted. If your object be ease, and wealth for your children, you will turn to our cities or to the west. But if you would bring forward a family to be respected and honored and who can live anywhere, let them come forward with the virtues and habits of industry and economy practised among this people. Such are the men who are making their mark abroad, and who are first and foremost in the enterprises of our times, and New Hamp- shire has sent forth more of them than any other State in the Union.
CARE OF THE GRAVE YARDS.
To the care of coming generations in all time, we com- mit the graves of our fathers and mothers and dear ones. To each generation we commit this sacred trust. The burying ground upon the hill near the place of the old church was procured and established by vote of the town in 1776, and at the same time the burying ground upon the west side of the river. These and other places of sepulture within the town, are God's acre, and we trust will be properly cared for. From these graves are to come forth glorious forms at the final consummation of all things. Let no sacrilegious hand be laid upon them.
SONG COMPOSED BY E. PRONK,
SEPTEMBER 12th, 1867.
This town was all a forest deep, One hundred years ago, The vales were low, the hills were steep, And rivers wandered through.
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Song.
A few brave men, a pilgrim band, Sought this far-off location,- They saw it was a goodly land, And here they fixed their station.
From time to time more settlers came, And many a spot was camped on ; At length the town must have a name, And so they called it Campton. Now wake the harp, and tune the lyre, To sing of ancient days, This rural theme the song inspire, To sound old Campton's praise.
In homespun were the people dressed, Of woolen, tow or linen, Their Sunday suits, which were the best, Were neatly made by women. And women then could wash and bake, And also were good spinners, The maids could ply the hoe and rake, While matrons cooked the dinners.
Our fathers' raised a house of prayer, When few there were to build it, And every Sabbath, foul or fair, The people nobly filled it. To meeting went, both young and old, 'Twas then but little trouble, For none would keep a horse we're told, That would not carry double.
So all on horse-back then did ride, Unless they went by sledding. And e'en the bridegroom and the bride, Rode double to the wedding,
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Centennial Celebration.
And though the girls, we're told 'tis true, Could not then dance cotillions, We know that all the country through They used to ride on pillions.
And now the times, we say, improve, And learning is more plenty, At railroad pace the people move, And when they're five and twenty. They've gone the rounds of learned lore, Are fit for any station,
Then quickly pass, are seen no more, And thus goes on the nation.
This season be a land-mark strong, To guide us on our way,
And as we pass through life along, Let us not go astray. To good old days we'll bid adieu, And so we'll travel on, We'll wish for all, good hearts and true, And now wind up our song.
CLERGYMEN OF CAMPTON.
BY REV. DANIEL PULSIFER.
MR. PRESIDENT-Ladies and Gentlemen :
Gladly would I speak of those, who, from the early settlement of the town, have preached the gospel in Campton, and to the credit of the early settlers, for in- telligence and piety, mention him, who was subsequently
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Clergymen of Campton.
known as DR. EMMONS, as the person who was called to be the first minister of the town. I would also speak of him who actually was the first settled minister of the town, and whose benevolent regard for the good of the people, after he was dismissed from a pastorate of near twenty years, prompted him to get up a social library consisting of the most valuable books then extant, and which had great influence in forming the minds and moulding the character of the community. I should be pleased to speak of Rev. Daniel Staniford, an excellent minister, and of Rev. Warren Day and Rev. Jonathan L. Hale, men of much prayer, and who could not rest without success in their ministry, and of others also to whom the words of the poet were applicable :
Whose hearts are warm, Whose hands are pure,-whose doctrine and whose life, Coincident, exhibit lucid proof, That they are honest in the sacred cause.
But these have been mentioned already, and I must confine my remarks to natives of Campton who have en- tered the ministry. But, Mr. President, is the juror al- lowed to sit upon a matter in which he is interested? Or is the jurist's argument relied upon when his interest is identified with that of his client? But with one excep- tion, perhaps I may be allowed to speak of these men.
I am not aware that any native of Campton entered the ministry till after the revival of religion in 1815. Not very far from this time, events occurred in this town worthy of particular note. As far back as that when the laws of New Hampshire required males from sixteen to forty years of age to be enrolled in the militia, and all military companies to meet in the month of June, annual- ly, for inspection and drill. And custom, almost as bind- ing as law, required soldiers to visit their officers on these occasions, burn powder and drink rum in honor of
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