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 36
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years since was sold by the town, and the avails of the sale, amounting to some $ 1500, were divided equally between the Congregational and Freewill Baptist societies. A legacy of about $2000 was bequeathed by an individual some years ago for the support of Congregational preaching in a section of the town where there is a Union Meeting-house, about seven miles from the Congregational Meeting-house. Two Congregational ministers have been raised in this town .- The average number attending worship with this church may be set down at 150. The spirit of emigration that prevails tries the faith of the church, and it is hoped it will "fail not." We give the following in "father Patrick's" own words : "About the year 1832 a difficulty arose between certain members of the church, belonging to respectable families. Disciplinary steps were taken on both sides, and complaints were laid before the church. A number of church meetings were attended and efforts made in order to bring about a reconciliation, but in vain. As a protracted meeting was appointed, the church came together feeling it their duty to make a decision. A complaint was taken up and the question put,-Is the brother guilty ? and decided in the negative. A deacon of the church then turned to this brother and said, we have exonerated you, do you clear yourself. After a moment's pause, he replied, 'No : I know that I was far from possessing a right temper of heart at the time.' The scene instantly changed. Their criminations of others were dropped, and followed by humble confessions of their own faults. The whole church seemed to be melted down into a sympathetic union. This was viewed as a pre- lude, and was followed by a revival of religion in the town." Many such facts are with the fathers in the ministry, and they would be worth much if placed on the page of history. No martial achievements are so worthy to be remembered.
CHICHESTER.
Rev. S. M. BLANCHARD.
The town did not enjoy the stated ministrations of the gospel before 1791, Votes were often passed to raise money for the support of "Gospel preaching," but there is reason to believe that but few of those sums were actually appropri- ated, since such votes were often re-considered at a subse- quent meeting. During this time, eleven baptisms are re- corded. The date of a church organization does not appear,
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but probably it was about this time, for a new religious in- terest was awakened by the arrival of Rev. Josiah Carpenter. A Meeting-house was built. A day of fasting, humiliation and prayer to Almighty God for the Divine " blessing on us in all our undertakings as a Christian people," was observed; and a committee was raised " to call a number of neighbor- ing ministers and churches." And Mr. Carpenter was or- dained. These things occurred in 1791.
That the town had some just appreciation of the principle of ministerial support, appears from the call given Mr. Car- penter. For the first year he was to receive £ 50, and each succeeding year an increase of £5, until it reached the sum of £ 65, which was to be the stated amount ; one third of the same was to be paid in specie ; the remaining two-thirds in beef, pork, corn, grain, each article to be valued at a fixed rate. Besides this, the town voted to furnish yearly 25 cords of wood, and English hay sufficient to keep one horse, two cows, and six sheep. They also pledged the sum of £ 55 towards building him a house; £15 of which was to be in lumber of various kinds, and £40 in labor. What was the size of the church, or what was the state of religion during the first pastorate, cannot be told, for very few records were kept for 36 years. Mr. Carpenter records the baptism of about 543 persons, of which number 30 were adults. The passage of what is called the toleration act, repealing the law to raise a tax for religion, and bringing into vogue the vol- untary system of supporting the gospel, occasioned the dis- mission of Rev. Mr. Carpenter, July 24, 1827. But the final adjustment of this matter between the parties did little to- wards restoring harmony in the church, since Rev. Mr. Car- penter continued to reside in town, and seems never to have been fully reconciled to the new order of things. It was dur- ing this transition period, which continued some 12 years, that Arminianism obtained a foothold here. Two Freewill Baptist meetings, and a Methodist, were established. The Freewill Baptist societies are extinct, but the Methodists erected a house of worship in 1833, and still live. During the above named period, the church did not grow, either in graces or numbers.
On Aug. 29, 1832, Rev. Rufus A. Putnam was installed. The next year the old creed was revised, and rules of disci- pline adopted. A Sabbath School, the first in the town, was organized, and the church which had been much depressed now arose to new conquests over the kingdom of darkness. Protracted meetings were held in 1832, 1835 and 1838, each of which were followed by results apparently glorious. Nearly
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100 persons professed Christ, as the result of the second and third. In 1838 a new Meeting-house was erected, and dedicated to the worship of the Triune God. But the re- cords show that bad as well as good were gathered into the gospel net, for many were suspended or cut off from the church. But the measures employed to purify the church, especially in connection with the sins of hypocrisy, intemper- ance, and the system of American slavery, were a "rock of offence and a stone of stumbling." Therefore the relation of pastor and people, for want of pecuniary support, was dis- solved by mutual council July 11, 1843.
Mr. Charles Willey succeeded as pastor, being ordained Oct. 15, 1845. But, for want of support, was dismissed after a settlement of five years, Dec. 3, 1850. The church had now become reduced by removals and death, so that for the three following years a blank occurs in the records. Little effort was made to secure a permanent ministry, the relig- ious education of the youth, and family prayer, had gradually fallen into neglect.
About 1817, it is said, an addition of 120 persons was made to the church. The number who professed Christ during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Putnam was 117. The number under Rev. Mr. Willey was eight. In 1833 the number of resident church members was 136. In 1855 the number is 76 resi- dent and 34 non-resident members. In November 1853 the services of Rev. S. M. Blanchard were engaged, who contin- ues to this time to minister the word of life to the people.
The following description of a meeting on the evening of the Sabbath after a protracted meeting of four days, one of a series through the Association in 1835, will call to mind, among those who were in those days active in Christian labor, many similar "tokens" of God's power and love, all over the land :
" In the evening a meeting was attended at the Center School house ; at which all inquirers were particularly invited to be present. It is difficult, if not impossible, to conceive of a scene of more solemn and intense interest than was wit- nessed at that meeting. The theme of discourse was-"My Spirit shall not always strive with man." The sinner was pressed on the point, that God's Spirit was beyond his con- trol-God had now given it-He might at any moment take it away-eternal death would follow his total withdrawal- Now, then, O NOW cease to strive with the Spirit-let Him come a Conqueror into your hearts, and be ye converted and saved ! After the discourse was closed, a short prayer was offered for the breathings of the Holy Ghost on dying
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souls. The moment the prayer was ended, a young man, strong in body and mind, yet agonizing under a sense of guilt in the sight of heaven, rushed to the desk, seized with a violent grasp the hand of the preacher and implored with a trembling voice prayer in his behalf. His whole frame was agitated and literally shook. To the question-' How do you feel ?' he replied in substance-' I hardly know, I am greatly distressed.' Prayer was offered, while his hand still grasped that of the suppliant in his behalf. During the prayer he became more calm. The awful strugglings and agonies of his soul appeared to cease. A peaceful serenity dwelt on his countenance. After the prayer, he was asked -' What are your feelings now ?' he replied-' I feel much relieved.' 'Are you willing to give up all for Christ who died for you-your soul and body and all your eternal inter- ests, and be at his disposal forever?' 'I think I am.' He sat down on the step by the desk; and from that time has appeared to be a new creature, and is now a member of the church. No language can describe the effect produced on the audience by this incident, or rather overruling event of divine providence. There was breathless stillness, except the beatings of the struggling heart, and the deep sigh which could not be repressed, escaping in unutterable prayer, or bursting from the bosom burdened with a sense of guilt. O the indescribable, the inconceivable, the glorious power of the Most High God when he comes by his Spirit to work in men the salvation of their souls ! Angels, we may suppose, were present at that meeting. They gazed on its transac- tions with rapturous emotions. They went up to heaven and reported there that some hearts had given up the con- test with God, and sweetly bowed to the Saviour's dominion. And heaven rejoiced at the blessed news. Yes, some, we humbly trust, submitted on the spot before they left the house-some on their way home lost their burden and walked in the light of a Redeemer's reconciled countenance-and some during the night ere they retired to rest sought in prayer the forgiveness of sins, and believing in Jesus rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory."
CONCORD.
FIRST CHURCH .- Rev. N. BOUTON, D.D.
The grant of land which now constitutes the city of Con- pord, was made by the General Court of Massachusetts in
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1725, under the name of the "Plantation of Penacook."- Among other conditions of the grant, were these : That the lands should be divided into one hundred and three lots ; that one hundred families, able to make a settlement, should be admitted ; each settler be obliged to build a good house for his family within three years; and that they should completely finish a convenient house for the public worship of God, within the same term :- Of the one hundred and three lots, one was to be laid out to the right of the "first settled minister," one for a parsonage, and one "for a school forever."
On these conditions the settlement was commenced, in the spring of 1726, by persons from Andover, Bradford, Haverhill and Salisbury, in Massachusetts. These were all men selected by a committee of the Great and General Court, as men of substance and character, and able "to bring for- ward" the settlement. Some of them were men of the first respectability in those towns-three of the original proprie- tors were ministers of the gospel, viz .: Rev. Samuel Phillips of Andover-father of John, and grandfather of Samuel, the founders of the academies at Exeter and Andover ; Rev. Bezaleel Toppan, and Rev. Enoch Coffin of Newbury. Almost one-fourth of the settlers were from Andover, mostly descendants of the Puritans, and all of them were united in their views of religious doctrine, of church order and govern- ment. When surveyors and chainmen, with others, came to lay out the land, Rev. Enoch Coffin accompanied them, as chaplain, and preached twice on the Sabbath, in a tent pitched on what is known as Sugar Ball plain.
The first Meeting-house was built of logs, 40 feet long and 25 in breadth, and the first minister Rev. Timothy Walker of Woburn, a graduate of Harvard college, was ordained pastor, on the 18th Nov. 1730, (O. S.) and the church, of eight male members, was organized the same day. The ordination sermon was preached by the Rev. John Bar- nard, of North Andover, from Prov. 9 : 1, 2, 3. Rev. Samuel Phillips gave the charge, and Rev. John Brown of Haver- hill gave to the pastor and church the Right Hand of Fel- lowship. In his sermon the Rev. Mr. Barnard remarked,- "There is this peculiar circumstance in your settlement, that it is in a place where Satan some years ago had his seat, and the Devil was wont to be invocated by forsaken Sava- · ges ; a place which was the rendezvous and head-quarters of our Indian enemies." The members of the church-Mr. Walker being one-when organized, adopted and subscribed a covenant, in which they did "solemnly devote and dedi-
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cate themselves to the Lord Jehovah, who is Father, Son and Holy Ghost," and did "promise by divine grace to endeavor to observe all things whatsoever God in his Word has commanded."
For about twenty years, public worship was held in the og Meeting-house-which also, during the period of trou- oles with the Indians, served the purpose of a fort: the people carried their guns to meeting, stacked them in the entry with a sentinel to watch, while the pastor, who it is said had the best gun in the parish, carried it into the pul- pit and proceeded with the order of worship. Mr. Walker's salary was fixed at £ 100, to be increased 40s. a year till it amounted to £ 120, which in the currency of that period was equal to about $156. Besides, he improved the "par- sonage," and had in his own right, the lot laid out to the first minister. The salary with a few exceptions was promptly paid every year, till the close of his ministry. He continued in the ministry as pastor of the church, fifty two years. He was a man of native good sense, sound judg- nent, of agreeable manners and exemplary life. He was 'orthodox,"-that is, received the Westminster Assembly's Catechism and the Cambridge Platform ; but in his advanc- d age he was opposed to what were called "New Lights," ind claimed to be a "moderate Calvinist." He preached wice on the Sabbath, and the Preparatory Lecture once a nonth in the summer, and once in two months in the win- er. Under his ministry a large portion of the people became members of the church, either in full, or "owned the ovenant" and had their children baptized. The latter mode vas the more common. The salutary influence which he xerted during his long ministry, justly entitles him to the ppellation of Father of the Town. He was greatly vene- ated, and his memory is precious to this day. He died sud- enly on the morning of the Sabbath, of apoplexy, Sept. 1, 782, in the 78th year of his age, and 52d of his ministry."
After a trial of several candidates, the Rev. Israel Evans, graduate of Princeton college, N. J., and a chaplain in the Army during the Revolutionary war, received a call both from he church and town, and was installed pastor, July 1, 1789. The installation sermon was preached by Rev. Joseph Eck- ey of the Old South Church, Boston,-a copy of which in nanuscript is still preserved, in the New Hampshire Histor- cal Society. Rev. Mr. Evans was a gentleman of polished nd dignified manners, a fluent and sometimes eloquent
* For a full account of his character and labors, see Rev. Dr. Bouton's History f Concord.
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speaker, and evangelical in doctrine; but his habits and style of living were so different from those of his predecessor and of his parishioners, that the connection did not prove either very happy or lasting. He tendered a resignation of his charge, which was accepted by the town, and his pasto- ral relation was dissolved by a council July 1, 1797, after a ministry of eight years. Mr. Evans' wife was a sister of the late Col. Wm. A. Kent of Concord. By will, he left the chief part of his property-about $4000, on the decease of his widow,-to Dartmouth college, to endow a Professorship of Oratory. He was a zealous patriot and a devoted friend and admirer of Washington. In his last sickness he was visited by his successor in office, the Rev. Dr. McFarland, who in prayer for Mr. Evans, asked "that, after the trials of this life were over, he might sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God," to which Mr. Evans audibly added, "and with Washington too." H died March 9, 1807, in the sixtieth year of his age.
The Rev. Asa McFarland, a native of Worcester, Ms., and a graduate of Dartmouth college in 1793-having been previously employed in Concord, as a teacher of music-was immediately engaged to preach as a candidate, and received a call to settle. To the "call" 22 persons entered their dissent upon the town records, "on account of the salary," which was $350 yearly, with the use of the parsonage !-- Mr. McFarland was ordained March 7, 1798. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. John Smith, professor in Dartmouth college. In 1809, Mr. McFarland was chosen a Trustee of the college ; in 1811 President of the New Hampshire Missionary Society, of which he was one of the founders ; in 1812, he received the degree of Doctor of Divin- ity from Yale college ; and for twenty seven years was clerk of the Pastoral Convention of this State. Dr. McFarland possessed a vigorous and active mind; was discriminating and sound in judgment ; his sermons were instructive, plain, direct, and delivered with a full, powerful, yet agreeable voice. His labors in the ministry were very arduous, and the fruits abundant. He published a volume entitled "View of Heresies," containing 276 pages, (12 mo.) ; six- teen sermons, and an oration before the Phi Beta Kappa of Dartmouth college. He left two thousand and fifty four manuscript sermons-which made an average of seventy six a year.
Under his ministry the church was greatly increased, par- ticularly, by means of three extensive revivals ; the first in the years 1811-12, in which time 95 were added ; the second
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n 1816, when 108 were added ; and the third in 1820, when 35 were added. Previous to the ministry of Dr. McFarland lo articles of faith, but only a covenant, had been used, in he admission of members. In 1807, he drew up twelve articles, embracing the substance of the orthodox belief, which were subsequently used in the admission of members, vith consent of the church, though never adopted by vote. He never practiced or allowed the "half way covenant," xcept to baptize the children of those who were already connected with the church on that principle.
On account of growing infirmities, Dr. McFarland thought he best interests of the church and society would be pro- noted by resigning his charge; which he accordingly did ; nd was dismissed from his pastoral relation to the church, by the same council that ordained his successor, March 23, 825. From this period-retired from public labors, ntertaining the most friendly relations with the church and is successor-his health and vigor more rapidly declined .- From December 1823, to February 1827, he experienced even strokes of paralysis-all except one on the Sabbath. - He expired on the morning of the Sabbath, Feb. 18, 1827, the 58th year of his age, and 27th of his ministry. His uneral sermon was preached by Rev. Walter Harris, D.D. f Dunbarton, from Heb. 9: 27.
Before and during this ministry the town constituted the arish ; the salary was assessed and collected as a part of he town expenses- under the name of the Pulpit Tax .- Hitherto also the inhabitants of the town had remained lmost entirely united in their religious views. Under the ministry of Rev. Mr. Walker, only two families are known o have separated from the parish. In 1803 a " Society of 'riends" was gathered, and a small Meeting-house built ; h 1817 an Episcopal society was formed under the name of st. Thomas' Chapel, which supported worship till 1823; in 818, a Baptist church was organized of five males and nine emales, and there was occasional preaching in town by Methodist preachers, about the same time.
Agreeably to a new law of the State, the First Congrega- ional Society was formed July 29, 1824, which society, pon after its organization, consisted of 223 taxable mem- ers, embracing the names of nearly all the heads of families escended from the original settlers. Dec. 24, 1824, the hurch presented an unanimous call to the Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, a native of Norwalk, Conn., graduate of Yale col- ge, 1821, and of Andover theological seminary, 1824,- ho had preached seven Sabbaths as a candidate-to settle
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as their pastor ; with this call the society unanimously con- curred Dec. 30, and he was ordained March 23, 1825. The Rev. Justyn Edwards, D.D. of Andover, preached the ser. mon, from 2 Cor. 5: 17. Under the ministry of the present pastor there have been repeated "seasons of refreshing' from the presence of the Lord,-the most precious of which was in connection with the meeting of the General Associa- tion, in September 1831. Many and fervent prayers for the Divine blessing preceded the meeting. On the first day, the impression made by the public exercises was highly salutary and hopeful ; on the second, more deep and solemn ; on the third, tears flowed abundantly from many eyes. On the afternoon of the third day, the Lord's Supper was administered to about 850 communicants, occupying every seat on the lower floor of the old North Church and benches in the aisles ; while the galleries were crowded with non- communicants, for the most part standing, but with silent and tearful emotion, looking on the solemn scene below, and listening to the affecting appeals which were addressed to them. Many afterwards said "that the scene was to them like the day of judgment." In the evening Rev. Joel Fiske, then of New Haven, Vt., preached from the text John 7: 37-" If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." Towards the close of the sermon the preacher most patheti- cally urged sinners then to come and give themselves to Christ ; one, a leading man of the town, rose, went forward, and kneeling in front of the pulpit, asked for prayers,- whereupon the pastor said, "an opportunity is now given for all who desire prayers, to come forward,"-when persons seated in every part of the house, below and in the gallery, moved, as by a spontaneous impulse, towards the broad aisle of the church, and filled the entire space from the pulpit to the front door! Then the "glory of the Lord filled the house." Ministers and Christian brethren stood in joyful wonder at the sight. After prayer and a few words of exhortation, the meeting closed ; and all, awed and subdued by the power of the scene, retired to their homes, not to sleep, but to converse, and praise and pray. The great work of God's spirit, thus begun, rapidly advanced ; a general religious interest pervaded the town, which continued till the next spring-the result was the addition of 101 mem- bers to the church, embracing many heads of families as well as youth.
In 1834, a protracted meeting of three days was held, during which two or three sermons were preached each day ; accompanied with earnest exhortations and prayers ; the
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fruit of this was an addition of 54 members. Similar meet- ngs, of longer continuance, were held in 1836 and in 1842, which were also followed with highly beneficial results.
In consequence of the growth of the town in population, nany and great changes have taken place in religious or- ter and sentiment, since 1825. Besides the rise of other eligious denominations-Unitarian, Episcopal, Universalist, nd Freewill Baptist-the First Congregational church and ociety has been divided so as to form, at the present time, our churches and societies, each with its pastor, all harmo- iously united in doctrine and walking in fellowship: The First church, in 1832, consisted of 527 members, viz. 166 nales and 361 females. In 1833, 88 of these were dismissed o constitute the West Congregational church. In 1837, 67 nembers were dismissed and recommended to constitute the South Congregational church; and in 1842, 44 members vere dismissed and recommended to organize the East Con- regational church. The action of the First church in these everal cases was unanimous. After all these changes, the irst church consists at this time of 260 members-70 males nd 190 females. In the fall of 1842 a new Meeting-house as built for the use of the society, at a cost of about $ 6600 -to which an addition has since been made at an expense f about $1600 ; the house is very commodious, and will seat bout 650; the average attendance is not far from 400.
It is interesting to add, that from the first organization f the church till the present time, there has never been any ifficulty or misunderstanding between the pastor and hurch, or between the pastor and parish or society, or be- ween the church and society, which has required an ecclesi- stical council to settle ; and no council has ever been called y the First church, except to settle and dismiss a minister ccording to Congregational usage.
It is not known that public worship has ever been sus- ended even for one Sabbath since the ordination of the first minister in 1730; and there have been only seven years in which the church has been destitute of a pastor. In the ast thirty years only three male members have asked to be ismissed to other denominations.
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