USA > New Hampshire > The New Hampshire churches : comprising histories of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in the state, with notices of other denominations: also containing many interesting incidents connected with the first settlement of towns > Part 30
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Rev. Abraham Jackson was installed Jan. 10th, 1838- was dismissed Jan. 6th, 1845, at his own request. He was followed by Rev. E. H. Barstow, who was ordained Aug. 6th, 1845-and dismissed Dec. 30th, 1851. The same day, Rev. A. Goldsmith was installed in his place. Mr. Goldsmith was dismissed March 7th, 1853. From this time to Jan. 31, 1855, the church was without any stated supply. On that day Rev. J. M. Stow-the present pastor-was ordained. The whole number of church members from the beginning, has been 685-the whole number of baptisms 1260. Three young men have prepared for the ministry. There have never been any extensive revivals in the church. At several
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times there have been refreshings of the Holy Spirit. The number of church members now is less than at some former times. The church numbers from 90 to 100. Both church and society enjoy a good degree of prosperity. Congrega- tion numbers from 200 to 250 in good weather. The society has a very good house of worship-no parsonage, but a house is being built by one of the members, to be reserved for this purpose.
WESTMORELAND.
Rev. STEPHEN ROGERS.
This town, sometimes called Number 2, or Great Mea- dow, was first granted by Massachusetts. It was settled in 1741, by four families. The first settlers were very much annoyed by the Indians. The Congregational church was organized Nov. 7, 1764. The same day the Rev. William Goddard, a graduate of Harvard in 1761, was ordained its pastor-was dismissed at his own request Aug. 7, 1765. Rev. Messrs. Davis and Mills supplied the church two years each, and Rev. Mr. Farrington one year after the dismission of Mr. Goddard.
The Rev. Allen Pratt, a graduate of Harvard in 1785, was settled by the town. The following is from the town book : 'voted to give Mr. Allen Pratt a call to settle in this town, n the work of the gospel ministry. Voted to give Mr. Al- en Pratt one hundred pounds salary, so long as he shall re- main our minister. Voted that Mr. Pratt's salary shall be paid one fourth in cash. The other three fourths in grass ed beef at sixteen shillings and eight pence per cwt .; or grain, wheat at four shillings eight pence per bushel, rye at three shillings four pence, corn at two shillings and eight bence per bushel." Mr. Pratt was ordained pastor of this church Oct. 6, 1790.
Jan. 1, 1828, after the dedication of the new house of wor- ship in the South village, a fraction more than a mile from this place, by request of some of the members of this church, Mr. Pratt invited three ministers then present, and such members of this church as wished for consultation, to repair o his house. Mr. Pratt had before stated his intention to reach in the new house, but the church had voted to remain n the old house in the village. The three ministers then present at the house of Mr. Pratt resolved themselves into a council, and advised Mr. Pratt to ask a dismission, and at
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this informal meeting of the church Mr. Pratt did ask, and the members present voted his dismission, and the coun- cil declared the connection dissolved ; eleven persons while members of this church, then present, under the advice of the council, resolved themselves into a new church, and the coun- cil declared them a church. They then gave Mr. Pratt a call and he accepted it, and was by the council declared its pas- tor. All this was done in one evening. Thirty six were soon added to this church by letter from the old church. Mr. Pratt died at Westmoreland, June 5, 1843.
The church records show that twenty two were added to this church in 1812. In the winter of 1821-2 there was the most important revival of religion ever enjoyed by this church. As the fruits of this work of grace eighty were received to this church in one year, and ninety four persons were baptized the same year ; some of the fruits of this revi- val remain to this time; its influence was highly salutary upon this church and community.
Mr. Pratt was dismissed from the new church in 1827, and by the request of the members of the new church they re- turned and became members of the old church. During Mr. Pratt's ministry he received to the church 273 members, bap- tized 289 persons, married 419 couples, and during the same time 1043 died.
The Sabbath after Mr. Pratt was dismissed, the Rev. Otis C. Whiton, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1815, commenced his ministry in this place, and was installed pastor of the church May 21, 1828. During his ministry several were added to the church. His memory is blessed. At his own request, he was dismissed Jan. 1, 1833. He died at Harris- ville, Oct. 17, 1845. The records of the church are lost from 1828 to 1841.
From 1833 the Rev. Ebenezer Chase supplied the pulpit for two or three years; his labors were much blessed, and of pleasant memory. Thirty six by profession were brought into the church in his brief time of labor. In 1835 Rev. Clark Perry is found laboring here, and seven persons entered the church.
The Rev. Thomas Riggs began to preach here in 1836, and was installed pastor of this church Dec. 30, 1838. At his own request he was dismissed June 1, 1839. The Rev. Alanson Alvord supplied the church in 1840.
The Rev. Robert W. Fuller was ordained pastor of this church June 16, 1841, and at his own request was dismissed Jan. 11, 1843. During his ministry in this place there was a revival of religion of considerable interest, and a valuable
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accession was made to the church. Nearly fifty members were added to it as the fruits of the blessing of God upon his labors, and upon a protracted meeting. The Rev. George W. Ash was ordained Oct. 25, 1843, and at his own request was dismissed March 11, 1846. During his ministry two were received to the church, and five persons were baptized.
The present acting pastor, the Rev. Stephen Rogers, com- menced his labors in this place Aug. 6, 1846. During his ministry 67 have been received to the church-81 have been baptized, and 243 have died. There was a revival of religion in 1850-1. It commenced in the church, and for months manifested itself in attendance upon prayer meetings and a general spirit of prayer. During this work of grace there was no preaching except upon the Sabbath, but hundreds attended the prayer meetings from week to week. The pe- culiar features of this work were, stillness and solemnity. The church as a body came up to the help of the Lord. Af- ter this refreshing season, the society remodeled their house of worship, and made it one of the most convenient and tasteful houses in the county ; the slips are annually rented for the support of the gospel. They also purchased and paid for a parsonage ; and for sometime there were few churches in this region that exerted a greater or better moral influ- ence than this, and but few societies gave greater hope of permanency or usefulness. But days of trial were near. A few persons, believed to be unfriendly to this church, built a new house of worship in the South village, and on Nov. 22, 1852, a petition was presented, signed by nineteen members of this church, to which four or five other names were soon added, asking a dismission and recommendation to be organ- ized into another Congregational church in this town. The church having matters of difficulty with a part of them for breach of covenant obligations, and not wishing to take the responsibility of saying whether or not the interest of religion required another Congregational church in Westmoreland, proposed to refer the whole matter to a mutual council, to be chosen from Congregational churches in this county. To this the petitioners agreed, and each party chose a committee to carry out the arrangement. But the petitioners, instead of carrying out the plan in good faith, soon employed the Rev. Robert W. Fuller, and, without the advice of council, estab- lished separate worship from the church. Here is the com- mencement of the alleged schism. After the petitioners had held separate worship a short time, instead of carrying out their previous agreement, on Dec. 30, 1852 they presented a second petition on the same subject. The church again took
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action on their request, and, still wishing advice on a matter of such grave importance, proposed to refer the whole subject to a mutual council, provided no person should be on the council, that had pre-judged the case, given advice, or was connected or related to either party. The petitioners declined this, and still continued separate worship. Under these cir- cumstances, the church felt that something must be done. On Jan. 13, 1853, they commenced a course of discipline with the petitioners for schism, breach of covenant obliga- tions, &c., and the petitioners having been notified of the time and place when their several cases would be called up for action, and they having failed to be present, the church suspended them from its fellowship. On Jan. 25, 1853, the petitioners assembled an ex parte council. The church was notified and present by committee, and objected to the juris- diction of the council in the case. The parties were then heard. After which the council made no more claim to have control in the case. And proposed themselves to the parties as mediators, and recommended a mutual council, named the churches to be sent to, made out the letter missive, and adjourned sine die. It was then to be submitted to the church, and, if adopted by them, was to be binding on the parties. At a subsequent meeting of the church, the result and recommendation was adopted, provided the result should be used for no purpose but to collect the council to determine the whole matter. This was rejected by the petitioners, and on Feb. 9, 1853, they re-assembled a portion of the ex parte council, not sending to all the members, and inviting one man that was not a member of the ex parte council. This was done without notice to the churches, or to this church. This so called, re-assembled council organized the petitioners into a church while they were under a course of discipline, and without due notice to the church. Still, they were not fellowshiped by the churches. And on Dec. 13, 1853, the petitioners called a third ex parte council to examine the foundation of their so called church. The old church were notified and present by committee. This council required the petitioners to offer to the old church a mutual Reference, with power to nominate a mutual council, and say what should be submitted to them, and for this purpose they gave the petitioners a prima facie recognition. The Reference met on Jan. 21, 1854, named the mutual council, prepared the letter missive, and proposed for the consideration of the council : an alleged schism-discipline in the church-and the organization of the new church, so called. The mutual council met Feb. 21, 1854. This venerable council mistook
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the prima facie recognition by the third ex parte council for a bona fide one, and thus failed to try and issue on the main things submitted, regarding themselves as bound by the re- cognition of the last mentioned council, whatever they might have thought of the expediency of another church in this place in the first instance-one of the most important things submitted. Of this the church complain, and do not feel themselves bound by their result. And if such decisions are sustained, as Congregational, they weaken confidence in the stability and soundness of our church polity, and involve the peace and safety of our churches.
WESTMORELAND SOUTH.
Rev. R. W. FULLER.
The Evangelical Congregational church in Westmoreland was organized on the ninth day of February 1853, in accord- ance with the advice of an ecclesiastical council, composed of pastors and delegates from five of the neighboring church- es, and convened by certain members of the United Con- gregational church in said town, after the said members, while in regular standing, had repeatedly solicited of said church letters of dismission, or a mutual council, and both had been denied them. The first church refusing to recog- nize this body as a church, and having represented to the conference of churches in the county that its organization was irregular and invalid, the Conference recommended to the two churches at variance, to unite in calling a mutual council, and submit to the same "all their difficulties," with a view to their settlement. Accordingly, a mutual council was, at length, agreed upon, and convened at the old Meet- ing-house, on the twenty first day of February, A. D. 1854, consisting of the following pastors with their delegates, viz : Rev. Samuel Osgood, D.D. of Springfield, Ms., Rev. Jona- than Clement, D.D. of Woodstock, Conn., Rev. Silas Aiken, D.D. of Rutland, Vt., Rev. Charles Walker, D.D. of Pitts- ford, Vt., Rev. John Richards, D.D. of Hanover. This council resulted in affirming the validity of the organization of this church, and declaring it "entitled to the confidence and fellowship of all Congregational churches." The old church, however, contrary to previous professions and pledg- es understood from its acting pastor and leading members, refused to acquiesce in this result. This church was, by a unanimous vote, received to the Conference of churches in
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this county, at their meeting in June 1854, against the remonstrance of the old church, which, at the same time, withdrew from the Conference. Eighteen members united in its organization ; its present number is twenty six. In the spring preceding the organization of this church, a relig- ious society was legally formed, to sustain Congregational preaching at the South (more properly central) village in the town, and proceeded to erect a neat and commodious house of worship, which, having been completed, and, by the ladies of the society, handsomely furnished, was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, by neighboring Congregational ministers, Dec. 26, 1852. The causes alleged for the for- mation of this new society and church, were, the inconven- ient and uncomfortable location of the Meeting-house of the old society, the want of a spirit of accommodation on their part in regard to the location of a new house of wor- ship, and a conviction of the moral necessities of the town. Rev. R. W. Fuller commenced preaching to the new con- gregation on the Sabbath following the dedication of their house, and has continued his ministration to them to the present time. In March 1853, Mr. Fuller received a unani- mous invitation from this church and society to become their pastor, and gave an affirmative answer, but on account of ill health his installation has not taken place. The society have, thus far, exhibited a commendable degree of liberality and zeal, in sustaining the gospel, and great consideration and kindness towards their minister ; have experienced as much success in their new enterprise as could reasonably be expected, in a community which had been so long given up to the teachings of error, and they still feel encouraged to " go forward."
WINCHESTER.
Rev. J. P. HUMPHREY.
The town of Winchester, first called Arlington, was set- tled as early as 1733, by families from Northfield, Lunen- burg and other towns in Massachusetts. The first public record of the doings of the inhabitants was made in April 1733, and is the copy of a grant from the General Court of Massachusetts of a tract of land six miles square, lying on the east side of Connecticut river between Northfield and the Truck house. This grant was made to Josiah Willard and sixty three others. One of the conditions on which the
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grant was given, was, "that within three years after the con- firmation of the grant they build a convenient house for the public worship of God and settle a learned and orthodox minister." Another condition was "that three of the 67 lots of the town be for public uses with all future divisions belonging to such-one lot for the first settled minister, another for the ministry, another for the use of the schools, otherwise, for the first three settled ministers successively."
A Meeting-house was erected in 1735 at the "Bow" of the Ashuelot river, on a hill which was afterwards called "Meeting-house hill" and around which has grown up the central village of the town. This Meeting-house was 40 feet long, 32 wide, and 18 high. The first preaching in town of which any record is found, is that of a Mr. Billings in 1735, to whom the proprietors voted & 16 for preaching eight Sabbaths.
Nov. 21, 1736, a church was gathered and on the same day Rev. Joseph Ashley was ordained and set over it. The seriousness with which the early settlers took this step and their general religious character may be seen in the follow- ing vote, previous to giving Mr. Ashley a call : "Voted that the committee, Col. Josiah Willard, Jeremiah Hall, William Symms, wait upon some of the neighboring minis- ters, three or four at least, to ask their advice, who may be a proper person to give a call to, in order to settle with them in the work of the gospel ministry, and to request the assistance of some of them to assist in a day of fasting and prayer, to ask the direction and blessing of God in this affair, and not defer their waiting upon the ministers, for the ends aforesaid, farther than sometime next week." As the result of these inquiries they gave a call to "the worthy Mr. Joseph Ashley." They offered for his encouragement to settle among them "to give him £150, money or bills of credit, towards his settlement, as also the ministerial lot of land and £130 annually. This was a liberal salary for those days in which the Governor of the Province, we learn, received but £ 100 salary, and the minister of Portsmouth, the capital, but £130. The original number of church members was 12. To these 39 others were added, making in all during Mr. Ashley's ministry, 51. Mr. Ashley contin- ued his connection with the church about nine years, or to 1745 at which time the town including the Meeting-house was burned in the Indian war, the settlement broken up, and the church scattered. There is no account of the dis- mission of Mr. Ashley ; he appears, however, on the council twenty years afterward, nearly, at the ordination of the second
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minister of the town, from Sunderland, Ms., and gives him the charge. It is understood that he was for many years the minister of Sunderland, and died there. The set- tlement of the line between Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire threw this town within the limits of New Hampshire, and it became necessary to obtain a charter from this Prov- ince, which was effected by the returning inhabitants in 1753.
In 1760, a house of worship was erected on the site of the old one, and stood till near the close of the century. A call to settle in the ministry was given to a Mr. Wingate in 1763, and to a Mr. Phelps in 1764, but without effect.
At length, after having been destitute of a permanent minister nineteen years, Rev. Micah Lawrence was ordained over the church Nov. 14, 1764. The church was now gath- ered anew consisting of 20 persons, many of whom, however, belonged to the original church. They adopted the same articles of faith as were used under Mr. Ashley, and nearly the same covenant. These articles of faith continued in use till about the year 1826, at which time the fuller "articles" recommended by the Monadnock Association were adopted. The old covenant was replaced by the present one during Mr. Porter's ministry about 1807. The town "gave Mr. Lawrence for a settlement the right of land throughout the town reserved for that use in the grant and also gave him 50 pounds sterling, money of Great Britain. Then voted to give him 45 pounds sterling for the first year's salary, to increase until it should be 50 for the fourth year, and then to give him 50 pounds and 40 good loads of wood at his door every year, until such time as there shall be 100 fami- lies living in town, and then to give him 60 pounds sterling so long as he shall continue a minister in this town." This indicates that the population of the town was under 600 inhabitants. The ministry of Mr. Lawrence, extending as it did into the midst of the Revolutionary period, partook somewhat of the agitations of that time. One objection brought against him before the council that dismissed him, gives us the key to the opposition he met with from the town, viz: "They were willing to bury all their complaints against Mr. Lawrence except that of his unfriendliness to his country." He was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council Feb. 19, 1777. But notwithstanding the troublous times of his ministry, the church was considerably enlarged and its purity and order maintained. He admitted to its com- munion 97 members during thirteen years-more than seven per year. Judging from some manuscript productions of his, still extant, he possessed good abilities as a writer and
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was evangelical in his views, and, so far as can be known, was exemplary in his life as a Christian minister.
After the dismission of Mr. Lawrence, the town was des- titute of a stated ministry for eleven years. During this period the services of a large number of ministers were secured for three and six months at a time; among whom we find the names of Reed, Tracy, Hutchinson, Alexander, Murry, Walcott, Foster and Wilkins. To each of the last three a call was given, but was declined.
Finally, Rev. Ezra Conant was ordained and set over the church Feb. 19, 1788. The town voted to give Mr. Conant £ 200 for a settlement, voted also to give him yearly £75 in silver money and twenty cords of wood. His theological views may be gathered from the doctrinal standing of the greater part of the ministers elected to be on the council .- They were Arminian. Into this scheme of belief a vast number of the churches sank, after the Revolutionary war which had so blighting an effect upon vital religion through- out the country. Many went over from this to Unitarian- ism; others were saved from this extreme only by the outpouring of the Spirit, and the revivals of religion at the commencement of the present century. The ministers called Arminian opposed the revivals of that day. The dis- tinctive doctrines of Calvinism dropped out of their preach- ing. Their public ministrations, which were confined almost exclusively to the two services of the Sabbath, lacked the fervor of earnest men. There was little zeal for the conver- sion of sinners and few were converted. Mr. Conant came into this class of ministers. The result was that during his ministry vital piety declined in the church ; few were added by profession ; discipline was neglected and the distinction between the church and the world was nearly obliterated. The church was composed of the old or the middle aged only. The young, finding none of their age in the church, were repelled from joining it even when disposed to do so .- It is probable that the vitality of the church, though essen- tially orthodox, sank lower at this period than at any time before or since,-46 only were received to the communion during this pastorate of nineteen years. Upon agreement with the town to receive $500, Mr. Conant resigned his pastoral charge and was dismissed Nov. 12, 1807.
Mr. Experience Porter was ordained over the church the same day. A new Meeting-house was built in 1794-5-6, a short distance from the site of the old one. Mr. Porter, coming at a time when the spirit of revival was beginning to descend upon the churches at the opening of the century,
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was like "life from the dead." He appeared like the old prophet entering the valley of dry bones-exceeding dry. His voice came upon the ears of the dead multitude like the trumpet of the resurrection. His words fell as the fire and the hammer breaking in pieces the flinty rock. With great boldness and pungency he proclaimed the distinctive doc- trines of the gospel without softening his phrases, and with- - out fear or favor. While the older members of the church were ready to take their pastor in their arms, as is said, for ( joy at having again the truth in its plainness and power, such preaching was new and strange to a town that for a score of years had listened to a very different style of minis- tration. The cry was virtually renewed, "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also." Others were asking "What must we do to be saved ?" A deter- mined and unrelenting opposition on the part of the town was, however, raised against him chiefly on account of his doctrines. The often repeated calumny about the damna- tion of infants was revived as having come from his lips .- Opposition was made to some of his modes of promoting the revived interest of the church, especially to his evening prayer meetings. One of his records on the church book is aimed at this opposition and it is probably characteristic of the man : Voted "to continue and support conference meetings as a privilege and duty which we cannot relinquish to gratify the malicious and unreasonable clamors of ungod- ly men." But a majority of those who joined in his settle- ment desiring him to withdraw, he, according to previous agreement, asked for a dismission, which took effect Feb. 20, 1810. In the result of the council which dismissed him, written probably by Dr. Seth Payson, it is said "The rea- sons exhibited in the paper brought before the council as the foundation of the desire for the pastor's dismission, are stated to be, Mr. Porter's imprudences-among which they mention in the first place and of principal importance, his introducing and striving to continue night meetings or con- ferences, and his laboring to establish party or Hopkintonian principles among them, which they assert has been attended with lamentable consequences, and it is in vain to expect regular order in society while he continues their minister .- This paper, which needs no comment, save what may be found in the tears of the friends of Zion, Mr. Porter con- sented to receive as evidence of the will of the majority."- After declaring the connection dissolved, the result says, "While we lament the event which has such an unpropi- tious aspect on the interests of religion in this place, we
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