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 47
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474
SULLIVAN COUNTY.
UNITY .- It took its name from the happy termination of a long controversy between certain men in Kingston and Hampstead who claimed the same tract of land under diffe- rent grants. John Ladd and Moses Thurston were its first settlers in 1769.
It has never had a settled minister, and the town has ap- propriated the land reserved for such minister, to the sup- port of schools. Opposition has been manifested to the set- tlement of ministers there, for fear of the consequences in this regard. But this was "fear where no fear was." Rev. Abel Manning was here in 1829 and 1830, and some relig- ious interest existed ; Rev. Charles Brown one year ; Rev. Mr. White in 1833; Rev. S. Arnold in 1841, and 6 were added to the church, which then numbered 12 members. In 1831 it had 19. A year or two since an aged deacon of the church went to the house of the pastor of a neighboring church and handed him $5, saying, "send that where you think it may do good. If we cannot have gospel privileges in Unity, I want to help those that can have them." The Baptist church here numbers 38; Methodist, about 50, and they have a neat, new Meeting-house. When will the times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord for these wastes of Zion ?
WASHINGTON.
Rev. J. F. GRISWOLD.
The first settlement of this town was in 1768. It was first called Monadnock, No. 8. At the time of its first set- tlement, it was called Camden. It had this name till Dec. 13, 1776, when it was incorporated with its present name. Its first settlers were mostly from the State of Massachu- setts. They had each 150 acres of land for settling. They were men of industrious habits, accustomed to toil and hard- ships, that would now be regarded as intolerable. Great self-denial and strict economy were practiced by them.
The original records of the church in this place for about twenty years were lost. But there are circumstances which show that it was organized on the 9th of May 1789, and that the two first deacons chosen were Ebenezer Jaquith and John Farwell. What was the number of church mem- bers at this time, is not known. Rev. George Leslie was - the first minister of the church in this place. He was brought from Ireland to this country, when but 18 months.
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475
WASHINGTON.
old. His installation was in the year 1780, when he was 53 years of age. The services were performed in a barn of a Mr. John Safford. Mr. Leslie received his education at Cambridge college in Massachusetts, and was first settled in Linebrook, now Ipswich, of that State, when at the age of 21. He remained connected with the church there thirty years. He received his call to settle in Washington in 1780. One hundred acres of land were appropriated to the first settled minister of the town, and this was an inducement for him to accept of the call. His salary was 100 acres of land and £50 sterling. He was a man of correct senti- ments, a good scholar and of studious habits. He was con- scientious, of strict integrity, and had the confidence of the people. Soon after he received his call to settle here, he was invited to accept a professorship in Dartmouth college. He declined the invitation on account of the encouragement he had given the people in Washington to settle with them. He left Linebrook with his family for this place, on the 6th of March. At that time there was no public road through this place, and intelligence from abroad was only occasion- ally received. It was only once in two or three months that news was received from Boston. Mr. Leslie was nine days on the road in coming from Linebrook to Washington-a distance of 80 miles.
His privations, during his first years here, were great .- Provisions, in many instances, could not be obtained with- out going 30 or 40 miles for them. The first winter he spent here, was unusually long. On the 19th of October, snow fell to the depth of two feet and remained till late in the spring. Twenty seven head of cattle died that spring from starvation. Mr. Leslie lost his only cow. A day of fasting and prayer was observed on account of the sad pros- pects of the people. During one whole winter Mr. Leslie's family were without salt, and for one bushel in the spring he paid $5. The people in Washington, in 1785, made their first move for building a Meeting-house. The timber was got out in the fall of 1786. It was finished in 1789 .- The town at the time of its completion, raised £80 for the object. In view of the destitute circumstances of the peo- ple, the undertaking was regarded as a formidable one.
In the early history of the town, laudable efforts were made by the people to attend meeting on the Sabbath .- They rode to church on ox-sleds in the winter, and in the summer there were instances in which two or three were carried on the back of one horse .. Death closed Mr. Leslie's ministry here in 1800, when he was 73 years of age. About
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SULLIVAN COUNTY.
this time, other denominations began to hold meetings here. At the present time there are Universalist, Baptist and Christian societies in town. Rev. John Stoddard was the first minister that supplied the pulpit after Mr. Leslie's death. There was no effort made to settle him. He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Wesson. He did not give satis- faction on account of his Arminianism. The next was the late Isaac Robinson, D.D., who did not unite the people on account of his extreme orthodoxy. In 1803, Rev. John Lord was settled here as pastor of the church, but his min- istry continued only two years and six months.
Rev. Caleb Burge, the author of a work on the Atonement, preached one year after Mr. Lord's dismission. He was invited to settle, but the salary offered was not sufficient .- After him, Christopher Page was employed awhile. The next after him was the celebrated Indian missionary, Cyrus Kingsbury. He gave good satisfaction, but was unwilling to settle.
Oct. 22, 1818, Rev. Broughton White was settled as pas- tor over the church. There had been no settled minister of the Congregational order for twelve years. His ministry continued twelve years. There has been no settled minister since, but the church has generally enjoyed the preaching of the Word by stated supplies. Four young men from this place have been educated for the ministry ; one of whom, a Mr. Safford, preached the first sermon that was delivered to seamen in this country. The Rev. J. F. Griswold came to this place July 1, 1844.
Revivals of religion have been occasionally enjoyed. We have the following account of a revival enjoyed in the year 1818, in which there were 60 or 70 hopeful conversions .- "Forty six, out of fifty six, received the baptismal seal of the covenant in infancy. Of this number forty seven united with the Congregational church." There has been no revi- val since, of so much power. The Congregational church at present is small-40 members only. It contributes monthly for some object of benevolence, although the sum is small .- A weekly prayer meeting is sustained. This church needs aid from above.
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Belknap County.
ALTON.
Rev. F. DAVIS.
Alton was incorporated June 15, 1796. Previous to that time it was connected with New Durham and called New Durham Gore. The gospel was preached occasionally, before the act of incorporation, to the few settlers who had built their log cabins by the clear waters of the lake, the gently flowing stream, or the rapid and noisy brook ; or perchance on the sandy and sunny plains, or upon the side or top of our granite hills.
Congregationalism has never taken deep root here, and yet it would seem that its seeds were early sown. At the first town meeting after the town was incorporated, a vote was passed to build an Orthodox Congregational Meeting- house. The frame was raised in the fall of 1797. The house was never but partially finished. Meetings were, however, held in it more or less until about the year 1840, when it was transformed into a town house.
In 1798 the inhabitants voted to raise $ 166 for the sup- port of the gospel ministry among them. About this time Rev. Mr. Whipple was employed to preach and labor in the gospel, and continued with this people two years. Whether the $ 166 voted for gospel purposes afforded a competent support for the two years, the records of the town do not show. There is no record of any other appropriation by the inhabitants from that time to the present. Nor was there any Congregational preaching in this place except by tran- sient ministers, from the year 1800 to the year 1827. At that time the Rev. James Gooch preached here with con- siderable success, and on the 7th day of Nov. 1827, a Con- gregational church was formed consisting of eight members. Its present number is eleven. The whole number connected with it since its organization, is twenty nine. The church has never had a settled pastor nor constant preaching until Oct. 1854. There have been two other denominations in town, Methodist and Freewill Baptist. In connection with these
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478
BELKNAP COUNTY.
societies preaching has been maintained irregularly. In the south part of the town a Meeting-house was built for the accommodation of the Methodist society, where they wor- shiped for quite a number of years, when their minister embraced the views of Second Adventists, and a large num- ber of his people followed his example.
There are two societies of the Freewill Baptist denomina- tion, one at Gilman's Corner in the east part of the town, and the other in this village, or, as it is generally called, Al- ton Corner. Both these churches have good ministers, and maintain the gospel ordinances according to the faith and rules of that denomination, but, unlike the founder of this denomination, (Elder Benj. Randall, of New Durham,) they receive without any scruples of conscience a stated salary for their ministerial services. One of the early ministers of that denomination who had preached much against receiving money for preaching, but who always carried his saddle bags with him to his appointments and whenever he visited through the week, was at one time nearly starved out, when he had an invitation to go to another town with the offer of some three or four hundred dollars salary-quite a large sti- pend for the times. He of course accepted the offer, not- withstanding he had preached so much against this very thing. Another preacher, who was accustomed to preach much in the same strain, was expecting to visit at the house of a lady who belonged to his flock. The husband, coming into the house before the arrival of the minister, discovered quite an array of butter and cheese and such like articles upon the table, and inquired for what purpose they were there. The good wife replied that they were to be given to the minister. "What !" says the husband, " to pay him for preaching ?" "O no, you know he says he never takes pay for preaching." "Well, then, why pay him anything ? Now I believe," he continued, "in the Scripture doctrine that ' the laborer is worthy of his hire,' and that 'they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel,' but I have no kind of sympathy with double dealing, not even in a minis- ter. If he will confess that he receives your tub of butter and your cheese as pay for ministerial services I am willing you should give them, but I have no patience with a man who raises such an outcry in his preaching against a paid ministry, denouncing them as 'hirelings,' who will at the same time come to my house with long arms, and large sad- dle bags to carry away all we may be induced to give him in consideration of his ministerial labors, and then go away and say he receives no pay for preaching. I do not wish you to
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ALTON.
give him anything unless he will own up." The sentiment that a minister must receive no regular stipend has been very generally entertained in this region. The consequence has been that the ministry has been reduced to a set of men- dicants, and a blight has fastened on the fair fruits of the gospel. With such obstacles as these the ministry of the present day in this place have to contend.
As a specimen of the prejudice that existed on the part of the preachers of that denomination forty years ago toward those of our own, we give in substance an anecdote related of himself by one of the early preachers who is now liv- ing here at nearly the age of fourscore years: "On one of my preaching tours I fell in with a man with whose appear- ance and conversation I was much pleased. We talked of Jesus and salvation and heaven, and he seemed to enter into the spirit of our theme as none but a Christian could. You are a preacher ? said I. 'I am,' was the reply. May I ask, if you are a Freewill Baptist preacher ?- for then I thought about all the goodness and all the piety to be found in the world was with my own denomination. 'I am a Congrega- tional preacher,' he replied. I was astonished ! My coun- tenance fell. And it seemed to me that his fell also as he learned that I was a preacher of the Freewill Baptist order. Our pleasant conversation immediately turned. Our hearts, that but just before seemed knit together in love like the hearts of David and Jonathan, now seemed to withhold their affection and to recede from each other. We continued our conversation, but it was about the decrees and sovereignty of God, election, baptism and free salvation, and we at length separated with great coolness. How unwise he was ! said I. And how unwise I was also!"
Revivals of religion in this town have been like "angel visits, few and far between." There was however a revival in 1835, perhaps more general in its influence than any other that has here prevailed. There have been other revivals more limited in their extent. But on the whole these sea- sons have been few, and few have been the fruits of them. When we consider the character of the early ministers and "their preaching, we should hardly look for much sacrifice on the part of the people in endeavors to support the gospel. The inhabitants of this town, and so may it be said of oth- ers, have even spent more for rum and tobacco many times over than for the support of the gospel. About fifteen years ago when the first Meeting-house was converted into a town house, a Union house was put up in which the people met to worship their common Father. Among Freewill Baptist
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BELKNAP COUNTY.
ministers who labored here were Elders Hezekiah Buzzel, Page, Pinklam, Hurlin and Ezekiel True. Among the Con- gregational ministers, were Rev. Messrs. Enoch Whipple, Ira M. Weed, John Spaulding, James Gooch, Mr. Rich .- The professors and students in Gilmanton theological semi- nary have occasionally preached in this town ; and during the summer of 1854 quite a number of the graduating class of Andover theological seminary preached here. Rev. John Spaulding came to this place directly from the seminary in 1830. He preached in the first Meeting-house. That house was never finished, and in relation to it the language of the Psalmist was strictly applicable-" Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God." As he closed his forenoon sermon, the doctor of the place went to him and wished him to preach in the afternoon without notes ; it would please the people better. He replied he was not accustomed to speak without notes, and that he feared to attempt it then for the first time. " Never mind that" says the doctor, "only keep the mill grinding it is not so much matter what you grind out." He took the doctor's advice, but amid the twittering of the swallows, and the tittering of the children consequent, the attention of the audience was much diverted and the mill with difficulty continued its grinding. But the best of the story is, one of Mr. Spaulding's hearers was converted under his preaching at this time, a fact of which he himself was ignorant until more than twenty years afterwards, when the individual met him at one of his meetings in a distant land and made known the fact. Rev. Mr. Rich used to distribute Bibles and preach as he occasionally visited this town. On one visit he gave a Bible to a man who was intemperate. He soon sold it for rum. The next time he came he learned about the matter and went immediately to the rumseller and demanded the Bible and carried it away and bestowed it where there was a prospect of its doing more good.
Early in the spring of 1853, the portion of the people that were disposed to favor Congregational views, deter- mined to build a Meeting-house. The new house was dedi- cated in March the following year. The other portion of the people, who favored Freewill Baptist views, at once moved to build another Meeting-house, and so the Union house was forsaken, and two beautiful houses of worship at once appear- ed with lofty spires pointing heavenward, the ornament of the village. These houses cost about $ 3,500 each. But not satisfied with this improvement, the inhabitants of the
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481
BARNSTEAD.
village next moved to build a new school house. This was accomplished the same year at a cost of little more than $ 3000. Rev. Franklin Davis has been preaching in this place since October 1854. The new house of worship is beautiful, but the members of the church are few, and few " come to the solemn feasts." Truly "the ways of Zion do mourn." O for better times when these houses shall be crowded with sincere worshipers. From this town have sprung three ministers-all of the Freewill Baptist order.
The early settlers of this town were more constant attend- ants on the means of grace in the sanctuary than the people of the present time. In those days they shut up their houses on the Sabbath, and, taking with them all the chil- dren, they would go from five to ten miles to meeting, and this often on foot. But those days are past.
BARNSTEAD.
Rev. ENOS GEORGE-Pastor 52 years.
This town is pleasantly situated, surrounded by high hills and mountains in the adjoining towns, having no mountain within its own limits. It was granted to Rev. Joseph Adams and others, May 20, 1727. There are four houses of public worship, three occupied by the Congregationalists, and one by the Freewill Baptists. The settlement commen- ced about 1767. The first town meeting was called by war- rant issued by Solomon Emerson of Madbury, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, and held on the 29th of March 1774. John Tasker, the first representative in Gen- eral Court was elected March 29, 1791.
In the summer of 1803, Enos George, a native of South- ampton, born June 2, 1781, was employed as a school teach- er, and also to supply the pulpit. Soon a moral change was apparent, especially as it regarded the Sabbath. The desir- ableness and importance of the settled ministry began to be felt. In November a town meeting was called and a com- mittee was chosen to extend an invitation to Mr. George, to settle as a Congregational minister in the town. As there was no church, he thought it advisable to wait for some indications from Heaven that would encourage him .- In the spring of 1804, some mercy drops fell. Three young ladies professed to entertain hope of having passed from death unto life-one of whom still lives. Five others were revived. These eight were organized into a Congregational
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BELKNAP COUNTY.
church on the 23d of July 1804, by Rev. Isaac Smith, pas- tor of the Congregational church in Gilmanton. The invi- tation given Mr. George by the town committee was renew- ed by the church, and answered in the affirmative. Sept. 26, 1804 he was ordained. A few individuals found their way to the church before the close of 1809, when a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord commenced. By this revival the church was increased in number, 34. There followed an alarming declension-the love of many waxed cold. The political affairs of the nation wore a fearful aspect. Depredations were made upon its commercial interests, by the belligerent powers of Europe. At length war against Great Britain and her dependencies, was declar- ed on the 18th of June 1812. However just the declaration there were many disaffected, and an interchange of thoughts by words was far from being profitable. This state of things had a counteracting influence to the progress of the cause of Christ. But God remembered mercy in the midst of merited wrath. Toward the closing of the year 1814, a blessed work began and continued during the greater part of the following year, and 32 were the subjects of reviving grace, and were received into fellowship by the church. In the summer of 1818 a glorious work began, distinguished for the manifest power of the Spirit of grace. Sinners of all grades and ages, fathers and mothers, children, brothers and sisters were tremblingly inquiring "What shall we do to be saved ? Whither shall we flee from the wrath to come ?: - Where is the Savior of lost men-the Savior of perishing sinners ?" It appeared that the eternal love and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, forbade that they should be left long in such a state of deep solicitude and painful anxiety. Shortly 37 were made to sing a new song-to sing as did the ancient bride,
" The voice of my Beloved sounds, Over the rocks and rising grounds ; O'er hills of guilt, and seas of grief, He leaps, he flies-to my relief."
During the succeeding fall and winter the influences of the Holy Spirit of grace seemed to be withdrawn, and the work to have ceased. But in the spring of 1819 when the earth was loosed from her icy fetters, and the natural sun had smilingly returned to warm her bosom, the glorious sun of righteousness returned with abundant healing in his beams. The revival this season somewhat exceeded that of the last, both in extent and number-resulting in 41 hopefully renewed in the spirit of their minds. These, with those of the previous year made an accession to the church of 78.
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483
BARNSTEAD.
Subsequent to the foregoing outpourings of the Holy Spirit a season of darkness was experienced-darkness that was felt,-iniquity abounded-Zion mourned. The Word was constantly preached, but, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it, profited but a few. The breath of sin was withering as the northern blast to the tender plant .- Yet, notwithstanding the prevalence of the vices of the day for about twelve years, God would not that his church should utterly despair. He manifested himself to be a God of lovingkindness and tender mercies. Here and there a blossom of grace appeared. Twelve were gathered into the church. It is a thought very serious, that so many years should pass in such quick succession-rolling and melting away ; losing themselves in eternity, and all the while death reigning with a mighty hand, more so than at any former period of equal length ; and Christ also set forth evidently crucified and slain before the people,-and yet that so few should lay these things to heart. But it shows the benumb- ing, stupefying influence of sin. However, the set time to favor Zion was approaching. Christians found the angel of the covenant to be at hand, with whom to wrestle for a blessing. The prayer of faith prevailed-the Lord vouch- safed his smiles-the presence of the Holy Spirit graced the meetings of the church. And, in connection with a pro- tracted meeting which commenced in November 1831, the mighty shadows in which the church had been so long envel- oped began to flee away. It was a time of power. There "stood up" 37 into whom the "O breath" had entered, giving them life. They were received to the fellowship of the church. The following year, 1832, many were quicken- ed who had long been dead in trespasses and sin. One instance occurred worthy of record : Mr. John Pitman, sen- ior, was baptized by the pastor upon the stepping-stone of his door, in the presence of a multitude who stood as wit- nesses astonished, on the 6th of May, the day he was 100 years old. He, and his wife aged 90, by the approval of the church, were received as members at the same time. He died Feb. 29, 1834, aged 101 years, 9 months and 21 days. In 1834 an arrangement was made by the members of the Deerfield Association for holding protracted meetings for two or three days in a week in succession, week after week, in each church within its limits. These were held, and well sustained by the ministers of the Association. Heaven approved the plan. The churches were quickened and rous- ed to action. The church in Barnstead acknowledged with gratitude an accession of 28 members, as the result of this
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484
BELKNAP COUNTY.
effort. Individuals followed their example, till the summer of 1838, when the windows of Heaven were widely opened and the effusions of the Holy Spirit richly enjoyed. Many trembled at the foot of Sinai, and fleeing to Calvary on which stood the cross, stained with blood, they there found refuge ; found God to be a present help in time of trouble. A series of meetings were held, day after day and evening after evening for more than a week. Neighboring ministers came in, and professors Rood and Warner with members of the theological seminary at Gilmanton, with hearts full of sympathy, contributed much to the progress of the blessed work. Their pungent discourses and warm exhortations deepened religious impressions ; and their fervent, effectual prayers availed much. The lay brethren cast themselves between perishing souls and utter ruin ; that, if possible, by entreaties, tears and strong cries, with the help of the Lord, they might save the sinners from that state hereafter, where mercy's voice can never be heard. The converts, with an earnestness peculiar to their state of feeling, openly told what God had done for their souls ; having just risen from the dead (dead in sin)-being quickened into life, by the spirit of God ; their invitations to come and yield the heart to Christ were thrilling ; and had a melting, overcoming and joyful effect. The glory of God filled the house, and it was good to be there-it was good to be there. To witness the way of the Spirit, which is peculiar to himself in drawing such a multitude together at an early hour, from day to day, as to fill the house of God to its utmost capacity-to see them chained in their position, with fixed attention-listen- ing with intense interest to the gracious words of the Savior, crying, individually "Lord save or I perish;" led to an exclamation with the Apostle "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how unsearcha- ble are his judgments, and his ways past finding out !" We may suppose, that angels looked down with holy wonder and admiration at what they saw their God could do. As the fruit of this revival, 73 applied for admission to the church, and were received as traveling companions to the "celestial city."
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