USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Dublin > The history of Dublin, N.H. : containing the address by Charles Mason, and the proceedings at the centennial celebration, June 17, 1852, with a register of families > Part 29
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In the second year after the organization of the church, the church in Sherborn, Mass., together with a lady who was an honored member of that church, as a token of their regard for the Dublin brethren, nearly all of whom had emigrated from Sherborn, presented the church in Dublin with a beautiful communion service of exquisite English pewter, which is still in an excellent state of preservation, and is generally used once in each year, as an affectionate reminder of the worthy founders of the church, and as a token of respect to the donors of the service. There is an inscription upon each flagon. The two in- scriptions are here given: -
Given by the Church of Sherburn to the Church in Dublin Anno Dom 1774 The Gift of Mrs Elizabeth Whitney of Sherburn to the Church in Dublin AD 1774
The inscriptions have no punctuation, and "Sherburn" is spelled in the ancient form, instead of the more modern Sher- born. Sherborn records show that 29 families or married couples emigrated from that town to become early settlers in Dublin, N. H. That accounted for the deep interest of the donors of the communion service in the Dublin church.
A new and beautiful silver communion service was presented to the church by SOLOMON PIPER, Esq., of Boston, which was first used, Sept. 4, 1859. On that day, at a meeting of the church, on motion of Deacon Jonathan K. Smith, it was: -
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"Resolved: That, as a token of his continued regard for the welfare of this church and society, we highly appreciate, and gratefully receive from SOLOMON PIPER, Esq., of Boston, the beautiful set of communion plate, now first consecrated to its appropriate service."
MINISTERIAL EXCHANGES, at the time of the separation of the two branches of the Congregational body, were matters of serious consideration. The feeling of that portion of the orig- inal denomination who were Trinitarian Congregationalists towards whose who affiliated with the other wing, known as Unitarian Congregationalists, was quite bitter in the early part of the last century. At the time Mr. Leonard was ordained, and especially in subsequent years, the subject of ministerial exchanges excited much interest. Mr. Leonard had always ex- pressed his readiness to exchange pulpit services with ministers of all denominations, claiming the right of deciding for himself upon the propriety or expediency of an exchange. The First Congregational Society, at their annual meeting, March 20, 1827, after voting to the Second Congregational Society their proportion of Sundays, "to the full extent, according to num- bers," "Voted that the members of the First Congregational Society are willing that the Rev. Mr. Leonard should exchange services with all regularly ordained clergymen in good stand- ing, without reference to particular tenets, sects, or denomina- tions, as his judgment and discretion may dictate." This vote was renewed twice in after years, first in 1830, and again in 1839.
An amusing circumstance connected with one of the early ministerial exchanges of Rev. Mr. Leonard has been com- municated to the writer by an eye-witness. Mr. Leonard (he had not then received the title of D.D.) exchanged with the minister of an Orthodox Congregational church in the county. One of the parishioners, a man of intelligence, who inclined to Unitarian views, was greatly pleased with the sermon. Knowing that the members of the congregation were not aware that Mr. Leonard had cast his lot with the Unitarian wing of the Congregationalists, he thought that he saw a good oppor- tunity to ascertain how much imagination and prejudice had to do in forming a judgment with respect to the value of preaching. As he was passing down the aisle, at the conclusion of the morning service, he asked one and another about the sermon. One man said: "I never heard so good a sermon in my life." Another said: "If we could have such preaching every
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Sunday, I should never be absent from church." Still another asked: "Would it be possible to secure so good a preacher after our minister, who is soon to leave us, takes his departure?" All opinions were highly favorable. There seemed to be a unan- imity of opinion that it was the best preaching ever heard in town; which was quite likely true. Then this man, wishing to witness the effect that it might produce, informed the people that Mr. Leonard was a Unitarian. The result was much as was anticipated. One after another said: "If that be so, it will never do to hear him again." They went hurriedly to the sheds, backed out the old boat-wagons, took them to the door, seated their women, and went rattling over the hills, towards home. The afternoon audience was very small. There is a say- ing that "all's in a name." It was certain that these good- meaning persons had not heard anything that shocked their sense of propriety or good morals or good religion, but their imperfect comprehension of the Unitarian movement, and the terror that the name inspired, drove them home.
It soon came to pass that there were practically no exchanges between Trinitarian and Unitarian clergymen. It took many years to remove the prejudice. At the present time, such ex- changes are quite frequent, and would be much more frequently made, if it were not for the manifold duties which bind a clergy- man to the denomination to which he nominally belongs. It is now quite rare that pulpit courtesies are declined for a purely doctrinal reason. This is more or less true of all denominations, excepting certain ritualistic churches which forbid such ex- changes, but especially true of the so-called Trinitarian and Unitarian branches of the great Congregational body.
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL must be considered here, in connection with other events which either originated or were developed and matured under the ministry of Dr. Leonard. The suggestion to establish a Sunday-school for children and youth in the First Congregational Society was first made to the pastor by Moses Adams, Jr. (really the third of that name in a lineal suc- cession in Dublin), in the spring of 1823. He had retained a con- nection with the said school, as one of the superintendents or teachers, every year after its establishment until Dr. Leonard wrote the former History of Dublin, and for many years there- after. After he was stricken with the illness which terminated fatally, at the annual meeting of the Sunday-school, on Nov. 2, 1873, on motion of Deacon Jonathan K. Smith, it was unanimously : -
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"Resolved: That gratefully recognizing the former long-continued and faithful services of Capt. Moses Adams, as teacher and superin- tendent of this school, the present superintendents, teachers, and pupils desire to express to him their sense of the value of his efforts to promote the usefulness of the school, and to sympathize with him in his present suffering condition, trusting that the promises of the gospel may light up the dark places in his earthly journey, and give him a glimpse of the joys of the Heavenly state.
"Voted that the pastor (Rev. Mr. Rice) be requested to present a copy of the above to Capt. Adams."
At the first organization of the school, the school committee of the town were constituted superintendents. This arrange- ment was continued, in part, till 1839, when the society, at their annual meeting, "voted that the standing committee nominate the superintendents of the Sabbath-school. Nom- inated and chose Rev. Levi W. Leonard, Thomas Fisk, Thad- deus Morse, Jr., Moses Adams, Jr." Besides the persons above named, there were associated with Dr. Leonard, as superintend- ents of the school, Jonathan K. Smith, Ebenezer Perry, and Ransom N. Porter. In 1839, the school was reorganized, and a new classification adopted. The number of pupils increased, and a deeper interest was felt by parents and guardians. In the early period of the school, the number of female pupils ex- ceeded the number of male pupils; but, as the older pupils began to remain in the school after the age in which it had been customary for them to leave, the number of male pupils became at length larger than that of the female pupils. In 1852, the female pupils were most numerous. The case, at the present time, 1916, is reversed, and the male pupils are twice as many as the female pupils. The loss of the old families of the town, by death and removal, has been so serious and so long con- tinued that the number of pupils in the school is much smaller than was formerly the case. Of the children, however, of the usual Sunday-school age, to be found in the families who still remain in the parish, all, or very nearly all, are very regular attendants upon the exercises of the school.
For many years, to the time of the writing of the former history, and much later, books of a suitable character were given to all pupils at the close of each official Sunday-school year. To aid in this project, SOLOMON PIPER, Esq., of Boston, for a long time liberally contributed. For the sixteen years preceding his death, he gave to the school annually ten dollars "for the purchase of books for faithful scholars." On June 1,
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1873, during the pastorate of Mr. Rice, at a session of the Sun- day-school, it was "Voted to procure a photograph of the late SOLOMON PIPER, Esq., of Boston, to be hung in the vestry, in grateful remembrance of his former interest in the school and benefactions to it." Col. J. K. Smith, Rev. Mr. Rice, and Mr. Joseph Morse were appointed a committee for the purpose.
MOSES ADAMS, Jr., J. K. SMITH, and L. W. LEONARD, D.D., were constituted life members of the Boston Sunday School Society, later called the National Sunday School Society, and now known as the Unitarian Sunday School Society; the first by a friend of the Sunday-school, the last two by the pupils of this school.
The custom of giving books, papers, and pictures to the pu- pils of the school still continues. For several years, the pastor has expressed his Christmas greetings to each pupil in the form of some book or booklet, whose contents come within the scope of the appreciation of the one receiving it. Papers of a religious and spiritual character are given to the pupils each Sunday, and to the younger pupils are given beautiful pictures, copies of rare masterpieces, which illustrate the Bible lessons which they study. Elegant pins are also given, which are ex- changed from time to time for still better ones, expressive of fidelity in the work and regularity and punctuality, as well as length, of attendance.
The fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Sunday- school was celebrated, Oct. 27, 1872. An address was delivered by Deacon JONATHAN K. SMITH, followed by briefer addresses by Capt. MOSES ADAMS, Mr. DEXTER DERBY, Mr. DANIEL FISKE, Mr. JAMES G. PIPER, and Deacon JAMES ALLISON. An original hymn was sung, composed for the occasion by Miss EMOGENE L. EVLETH, now Mrs. Taylor of Peterborough. The society voted to print Deacon Smith's address.
THE CLOSE OF DR. LEONARD'S MINISTRY was pathetic. We have deferred an account of it until the events reviewed in the preceding pages had been narrated; because they pertained pincipally to his own ministry, and because the narrative is largely from his own pen, as found in the former History of Dublin. In the fifties, his health began to decline visibly. His second wife was an Exeter lady, and devotedly attached to that place. Not long after his second marriage, Dr. Leonard took up his residence in Exeter, continuing to supply the pulpit, sometimes in person, sometimes through supplies whom he sent. Eventually, he asked for a colleague pastor, and he be-
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came the pastor emeritus, as we shall see in the account of the next pastor.
The close of the active pastorate of Dr. Leonard was marked by a notable gathering in the church, May 25, 1854. He was presented with an elegant service of plate, and appropriate ad- dresses were delivered. An account of those exercises, and an abstract of the addresses afford such an excellent summary of the great work of this remarkable man, so revered in Dublin, that we shall reproduce certain portions of a clipping from some newspaper of that period, which we find in the church records: -
"The friends of Rev. LEVI W. LEONARD, D.D., of Dublin, N. H., having taken measures to procure a service of plate, as a token of grat- itude for his efforts to promote the welfare of the young, presented it to him on Thursday, May 25, 1854. A numerous collection of people of all ages, from the child to the old man of almost fourscore and ten, witnessed the presentation, and evinced the interest and gratification which they felt in this act of love and gratitude towards their venerated pastor. The presentation was followed by a collation and social gath- ering in the vestry of the church. The plate consisted of an elegant and massive silver salver, pitcher and two goblets, with the following inscription on the salver and pitcher: -
"To Rev. Levi W. Leonard, D. D., Dublin, N. H. A memento of affectionate regard for his devotion to the welfare of the young. From present and former Members of his Parish. May, A. D., 1854.
"The goblets were simply inscribed: -
"From the Lambs of his Flock.
"After music by the choir, and prayer by Rev. S. F. CLARK of Athol, Mass., whose youth was passed in Dublin, THOMAS FISK, Esq., chairman of the committee, addressed him as follows: -
"'Rev. Dr. Leonard, your parishioners and other friends here as- sembled are happy to meet you on the present occasion. It affords an opportunity they gladly embrace to acknowledge some of the many favors you have conferred on them, and to tender to you that heart- felt gratitude which your faithful and efficient labors here, for more than one-third of a century, are so eminently calculated to produce. During this long period, your clerical duties have been discharged, not only with fidelity and to the edification of the people of your charge, but the precepts inculcated have been rendered more effi- cacious by corresponding example. To the beneficial influence of such
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precepts and such examples, as we have been constantly receiving at your hands, we cannot doubt that eternity will attest.
"'The young have ever been the special objects of your care and solicitude. Their moral and religious instruction early enlisted your attention. Under your auspices, the Sabbath-school connected with this society, which has been in successful operation for thirty-one years, was organized. And it is to your constant and unremitting efforts to promote its prosperity and usefulness, more than to those of any other individual, - and might we not add than to all others, - that the success of the school and the high rank it holds among similar institutions are to be attributed. And, while we speak of the obligation imposed on us by your zeal and fidelity, in this good work, we would not forget your liberality in a pecuniary point of view. Nearly all the text-books used in the school, as well as those presented to the pupils at the close of each term, have been furnished at your expense.
"'But your efforts have not been confined to the moral and religious improvement of the young. Their intellectual improvement also has received a liberal share of your time and attention. Compare our present public schools with those here thirty-four years ago. From the lowest grade, they have gradually risen until they occupy a posi- tion which is universally admitted to compare favorably with that of any other schools in the county, not to say state.
"'Whence this improvement? I scarcely need say that it is attrib- uted, by universal consent, and justly, more to your wise, judicious, and persevering efforts than to any other one cause, or than to all others combined. Nor has your influence in promoting common school education been confined to this town, but it has been felt and acknowledged throughout the state. Our "Juvenile Library," too, that fountain to which our children and youth have eagerly resorted for pleasure and information, owes its very existence to your munificence.
"'It was commenced by a contribution from you of several hundred volumes, and, since its commencement, you have selected and pur- chased all the books, kept them in repair, and acted as librarian, which must have occupied no small portion of your time and attention.
""' I have briefly alluded to but a few of your many acts of munifi- cence and kindness, for which we feel a deep and abiding sense of our obligation to you.
"'We would not, however, rely upon words alone to express our feelings and sentiments, but would present you some tangible me- morial as evidence that your many favors are appreciated. Please, therefore, to accept from the present and former members of the Sab- bath-school, and other friends, this Plate, as a token of gratitude for your long-continued and efficient efforts to promote the intellectual, moral, and religious improvement of the children and youth of your charge.'
"Rev. Dr. LEONARD seemed almost overcome with emotion. In reply, he said that his parishioners needed no assurance from him
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that this beautiful present, accompanied with such feelings as had actuated the donors, was most gratifying to him. The chairman had spoken of his services to the young in flattering terms. It was true that he had devoted his attention to the youth under his charge to rather an unusual degree, but the circumstances by which he was sur- rounded seemed to call for it. The town had just come into possession of a large fund, for the benefit of common schools, bequeathed by his immediate predecessor. Previous to this he had not thought of turning his labors into this channel, but he perceived at once that the fund would do the schools no good unless it was properly managed and the avails wisely appropriated. He, therefore, took hold of the matter in earnest. But he had then no definite or matured plan of operations for the improvement of the schools; indeed, he never had any very comprehensive plan; the circumstances, at the time, indicated the proper measures, and thus his plans were developed gradually.
"But he was far from attributing the success that had attended his efforts to his plans or labors alone. He was not disposed to disparage himself or his efforts, but he had been associated with others who had almost uniformly seconded his recommendations, and labored effi- ciently to carry out his plans. And they had made suggestions and proposed plans and measures that had materially aided him in ele- vating the schools. To all his colleagues, some of the credit, and to some of them much of it, justly belongs. And the people of the town had justly been ready to adopt any improvement that was proposed. Without their ready cooperation he would have fallen far short of what had now been accomplished. There had always been a good un- derstanding between him and his parishioners, and, indeed, the whole town, in regard to his educational labors. He had labored, it was true, and sometimes he had labored hard, but with the good will of the people and their prompt and active cooperation, he had labored pleasantly and happily, and, through God's blessing, not without effect.
"And in regard to the Sabbath-school, the original suggestion of it came from an individual whom he could name. A meeting was called to consider the subject, which so few attended as to make it almost a failure; but it was decided to give notice that the school would com- mence on a certain day. This was considered rather hazardous at the time, and much discussion ensued as to the propriety of the measure, but, at the time appointed, over a hundred pupils presented them- selves for admission to the school. Thus commenced, it had been continued every year since and, under the several superintendents, had prospered and, he trusted, done much good.
"The 'Juvenile Library' was commenced on a small scale, with the hope of exciting a love of reading among the children and youth of the town. He was sure it had had a good effect, in various ways, upon those who had availed themselves of its privileges.
"Since the writing of compositions had become common in our schools, he had frequently found ideas expressed, of the source of which
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the writers were perhaps unconscious, but he knew, he said, that they must have come from these books, for he had read nearly all of them.
"As he intimated before, his connection with the people here had been a happy one, and it had been attended with a good degree of suc- cess. Over a hundred admissions to the church had been made during his ministry, and the church had never been involved in difficulties between its members. Of all the members of the church, when he came to Dublin, but three or four then survived, and not one of these then attended the church services. Thus one generation passes, and another succeeds.
"Again he expressed his gratitude to those who had honored him with this beautiful and valuable present, and invoked the blessing of heaven upon the beloved people of his charge.
"An original hymn was then sung.
"Deacon JONATHAN K. SMITH was next called to the floor, and responded as follows: -
"'The testimonial, which is the occasion of this meeting, is intended as a token of regard for service rendered to the young. The "Lambs of the Flock" have been specially cared for, and this is merely to show that such services are not unappreciated by the recipients. It is no payment for those services, and would not be were it of gold. It is merely the offering of grateful hearts for unnumbered benefits be- stowed. It comes gushing from the warm fount of youthful impulse, and it comes, also, from the cool, calculating, man of business. The rich man's abundance, the child's spending money, and the widow's mite, are all here represented, all flowing in one channel, and blessing those who give as well as him who receives. And why, let me ask, is this spontaneous, united, and generous movement, in behalf of our beloved pastor? It is because the services which called it forth have been arduous and long continued; have been unusual and unremitted. They have been most faithfully and conscientiously performed, and their effect upon those who have experienced them no human arith- metic can calculate. For a third of a century has this work of elevating the young been going on, quietly, but most efficiently.
"'There has been no standing at the corners of the streets to attract the notice of others, no sounding of trumpets to herald the approach, no running after fame, nor catering for popularity, but humbly and gradually has this great work been performed. Step by step has this long way been traversed, thread by thread has the web of duty been woven, until we who are old enough to review the whole period wonder at the progress made, and our worthy pastor will no doubt "blush to find it fame."
"' This movement had its origin in the Sabbath-school. Its successive sets of pupils have here united to honor the man to whom they owe so much. And where can an instance be found of a Sabbath-school which, for so long a period, has been uniformly so prosperous? Where, in a town of this size, has so numerous and orderly a school assembled
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from year to year to gladden the hearts of their parents, to strengthen the hands of the pastor, and furnish candidates for the church? From what school has a better array of pupils gone forth armed more com- pletely against the trials and temptations of after life? And where can you find a school of the size of this that can exhibit fewer instances of pupils yielding to the power of temptation and falling into sinful courses? And where shall we look for the cause of this uniform suc- cess, but to him whom we have met to honor. His unwearied efforts to make the school attractive and interesting, as well as profitable and improving, have had the effect to retain the pupils in the school to a much greater age than is usual elsewhere. At the time of life when youth is most exposed to evil influences, in most schools the pupils are leaving the Sabbath-school, thus cutting loose from the restraints which bind them to a life of virtue and piety. But here they have usually been retained in the school till their principles and habits have become fixed, and hence there has been far less danger of their yielding to the allurements of vice. The wise counsels and gentle reproofs and earnest exhortations, which have been freely given, from Sabbath to Sabbath, have no doubt sunk deep into many hearts and taken root there and brought forth, in after life, a plenteous harvest of the fruits of righteousness.
"'Our common schools, too, are here represented; and have not they cause for rejoicing that our Oberlin cast his lot among us? Since my remembrance they ranked, and I believe justly, below the schools of other towns in the vicinity. They were not so forward nor so orderly as others. I have nothing to say of their present standing. Here they are, look at them, visit them, judge them. They are not what they might be, nor what they should be, but, "with all their faults I love them still." The teacher's vocation has gone up fifty per cent since my remembrance, and the schools have risen with them at least in an equal ratio. Does anyone say that their prosperity is to be attributed to our pastor's venerated predecessor? I think it can easily be shown that this is not the case, except so far as furnishing the means is con- cerned. He, it is true, had a strong interest in the welfare of common schools. This is evinced both by his conduct in his lifetime and by his generosity towards them at his decease. But it is no disparagement to him to say that he had not the faculty of originating any compre- hensive plan for their improvement, nor the practical talent for carry- ing it out. And had we received nothing but his money, with no one to take the lead in appropriating it to the best advantage, with no one to excite an interest in the schools beyond what existed in town thirty years ago, it is safe to say that they would have probably remained nearly stationary till the present time, or, at most, have gone no farther in the way of improvement than they would have been carried by the current of public opinion abroad. These then are some of the causes of the present movement to show honor to whom honor is due.
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