USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1 > Part 29
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CHAPTER XVIII.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Formation "First Baptist Society"-Institution of First Baptist Church-Opposition of Lower Village to Locate Meeting House at Upper Village-Pierce Offers Land for Site of Meeting House- Terms and Location-Non-Acceptance-Other Plans-Land Pur- chased of Lieutenant McNiel-Rivalry Between Lower and Upper Villages-House Built-Opening of Services-First Sabbath School -Difference of Views-Certain Opposition to the Pastor-Mr. Atwood-Division of Church-"Independent Baptist Church"-Mr. Atwood Becomes Pastor-Known as "New Church"-Other Styled "Old Church"-Elder Atwood Leaves Town-Mr. Chamberlain, Pastor of "Old" Church Resigns-Both Churches Without Pastors -Millerite Doctrine Interferes With Church Effort-"Old" House Re-opened-The Two Churches Re-united-"New" House Neglected -Bell Removed-Ringers of Bell-Disposal of Old Bell-New Bell -Women Repair Meeting House-Money Raised for New Bell- New Bell Raising-Organ Installed-Regular Services-Church Again Abandoned-Last Meeting Held 1891-Old Meeting House Left to the "Society of Bats and Owls."
Considerable of the material in this chapter was prepared by Dr. John H. Goodell in his work upon a history of the church for a town history.
The early settlers of Hillsborough, in common with those of other towns, were eminently a religious people and the prevailing theological views held by them, were those of the Congregation- alists, the then most common belief throughout New England. Occasional new comers entertained other views, although for many years too few to maintain separate organizations; conse- quently they attended and helped to support (by taxation) the regular organized church of the town. The most numerous of these were Baptists. As their numbers increased they began to hope to be able to hold religious services conducted after their own faith. This sentiment grew, and on the 21st day of May 1813 a few Baptists in the west part of the town established the
333
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
"First Baptist Society" in Hillsborough. They had preaching "occasionally" for seven years by such ministers as they could procure.
Under the services of Elder Charles Cummings of Sullivan quite an extensive revival resulted. In August, 1820, the society adopted a "Declaration of Faith and Covenant," and on the 31st day of that month the "first Baptist Church of Hillsborough" was instituted at the house of David Goodell. Elder Elijah Willard of Dublin gave the right hand of Fellowship and preached a sermon. Elder Cummings delivered an address to the newly con- stituted church. The other members of the Council who assisted and advised to this action were Elder Forces Moore, Bros .; Elias Hemmingway and Jonathan Metcalf of Keene; Stephen Foster and Luther Hemmingway of Sullivan, and Bro. Samuel Gage of Dublin. There were sixteen charter members, seven males and nine females. The candidates were baptised on the day of organization, who subsequently became members. At the first church meeting held September 16, James Howe was chosen Church Clerk, and October 26 following James Eayrs was chosen First Deacon and Fisher Gay Second Deacon. Deacon Eayrs died December 23, 1839, and though there is no record of the fact, it is probable that Sandy Smith was made his successor. By the death of Deacon Eayrs the church lost a man of great execu- tive ability and influence, which was always exercised for peace in all the "tryals" of the church, which were not few.
The society enjoyed a good degree of prosperity for several years, with almost constant preaching by Elders Charles Cum- mings, Thomas Paul, and others. These services were held in private houses, barns and school houses, many members being added to the church by baptism and by letter, an attempt was made as early as 1818 to build a meeting house, according to the following report :
"We the undersigned being a Committee chosen at the annual meeting at the First Baptist Society of Hillsborough for the purpose of finding a spot of ground to erect a Meeting House on, and forming a plan of Constitution for building the same, Report that they have attended to said business and that they have drafted a plan or Constitution which is herewith submitted, and that they
335
RIVALRY IN THE SOCIETY.
can obtain a spot of ground nearly opposite to Nathaniel John- son's Esqr. store, occupied by Mr. Isaac Jones to contain forty six Poles for thirty dollars.
Benjamin Smith
Hillsborough
Charles Pool
April 20th
David Goodell, Jr.
Committee
1818.
James Howe
There is no recorded action upon this report, so it would be useless to give the "Plan and Constitution" submitted. The loca- tion indicated was between the houses now owned and occupied by Mr. Judson Senter and Mrs. Dr. Emerson at the Upper Village. Four years later, in 1822, another effort was made to "build on this spot, enlarged to one and one-half acres for a "Meeting House and Graveyard and convenient Sheads." The plan provided for a "house the size to be forty four feet square on the ground, twenty one feet High in the Body with lower and upper storys containing forty one Pews in the Lower Story and twenty one in the Gallery with Singers and Public seats, the House to be known as the Baptist Meeting House of Hillsborough to be considered for the use and privelege of Said Church and Society." It was further provided that the "whole cost of the House is to be Leved on the Pews and the sale of the Pews to be made Previous to the Purchase of any of the materials to build sd House."
The attempt to locate the house at the Upper Village awoke a strong opposition from those living at the Lower Village, and the following year, 1823, General Pierce (afterwards governor) offered to give the society sufficient land for the site of a meeting house and a burying ground in a convenient locality on the follow- ing terms: "I give to the First Baptist Church of Hillsborough, the society and owners of the Meeting House "The burying yard to be lotted out 34 is to be for the use of the proprietors and owners of the house & 14 to be Left or lotted for the use of those that do not belong to or have an interest in the house and the said Peirce Reserves to himself a family plot and also the write
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
of Mowing and taking of the hay from said ground and that same ground is to be kept always by the proprietors well and decently fenced so as to prevent Cattle Horses or Sheep from going into it and that the land before mentioned to be property of the owners of said Meeting house Forever and the Land where the Meeting house stands while said house is occupied for the use of preaching and public and Religious worship that the Meet- inghouse Common is to be hansomely set out with trees &c. and that the wall on the Road way be used by the society for the, fence the east side of the Common & Burial yard."
The piece of land offered by General Pierce was situated about fifty rods north of his dwelling house on the opposite side of the road. A plan was submitted which called for a house 44 × 54 feet, "a good Brick Building finished in good stile with a Bellfree, the Pews to be arranged and Numbered agreeable to the plan each to contain 8 feet in length and three feet in wedth all to be seated facing the Desk . . . the Pews to be all sold at auction to the Highest Bidder . . . This effort like those preced- ing failed, and another intervale of three years elapsed before any further effort was made toward this desired object. A call signed by seventeen citizens was issued "to meet at Thomas Wilson's in Hillsboro on Thursday the 21st of Dec., 1826, at one o'clock p. m. precisely and to proceed to act on the subject of Building a Meeting house."
At this meeting the following articles were considered and adopted :
Art. 1st. The house shall be known by the name of the First Baptist meeting house in Hillsborough and shall be for the use and privilege of the first Baptist Church & Society in this town at all times when ever they wish to improve or occupy said House for Preaching or for Church or Society meetings provided the Baptist society shall not improve it more than one half the time in equal proportion of the season of the year, if any of the proprietors in said House of diferent sentiments wish to improve the house for the other half of the time, with preaching, and all the time when the proprietors do not suply the house with Preaching the Baptist Society shall injoy the privilege of using the House, and the dores of the house shall not be closed by any of the proprietors when they are alowed to ocupy
1
OLD BAPTIST CHURCH.
Photograph by MANAHAN.
CHAPEL, LOWER VILLAGE.
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THE BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE.
the house if they do not suply the time designated by the Church and Society at the annual meeting of the sd Baptist Society to be holdin at said Meeting house.
Art. 2nd The meeting house shall be erected on the ground which shall be located by a committee to be chosen by the proprietors and to be on the turnpike road between the two villages in Hillsboro and the house shall be built as the proprietors shall chuse, either by an equality on the proprietor or by a subscription, and the proprietors shall each be considered to own the amount of his proportion as such a share in said House and when the house is completed to receive the amount which he has paid in either in pews in said house at their appraisal or in the proceeds from the sale of pews in ratio according as he has paid in, and all other articles necessary to be adopted to Build and govern sd house shall be drawn agreeable to the minds of the proprietors when mett to proceed on the subject of Building.
Art. 3. When ever there shall be subscribers obtained to the amount of forty shares the proprietors shall proceed to chuse their officers and committees in any way the proprietors may think most practicable, not inconsistent with the articles of the Constitution.
Art. 4. This consideration shall be considered to be binding and inforce whenever there shall be a Building committee chosen.
Art. 5. The vote by a majority of the proprietors may alter or amend any articles of this consitution except the second article which may be altered by a unanimity of the whole of the proprietors.
The first article was subsequently enlarged and provided that the house should be-
A good wooden Building finished in good stile the size to be 54 feet in length and 40 feet in wedth, a one story Building with a singers gallery and a Belfry to be built by proprietors upon shares at twenty five dollars each, and proprietor shall be liable to assassment according to their proportion of shares and each share shall be con- sidered and entitled to one vote.
To the second article it was added that:
The care of the House shall be vested in the hands of a committee of three men chosen by the proprietors annually at the annual meeting of the Baptist Society, two of which are to be members of the Baptist Church in Hillsboro.
If further records were kept of the building of the house and the committees chosen the writer has not been able to find them. But with the usual delays connected with such enterprises, the house was built in the course of a year, "a monument to the
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
zeal and public spirit of its builder." The original plan was con- siderably altered, modified so the house was built sixty feet long and forty feet wide, with a twenty-foot portico, a projection of three feet from the body of the house on the south end for two- thirds of its width, which helped to form the ten-foot vestibule. The house stood due north and south ; a belfry rising about fifteen feet above the ridge pole, which was originally surmounted by a tall and graceful spire, with weather vane and lightning rod. It could be seen for miles in many directions, and was a landmark to the travellers for three quarters of a century. In the belfry was placed a deep, clear-toned bell of about 1500 pounds in weight, which could be heard for miles as it summoned the people to worship, or sounded its curfew peals.
The house was built and finished with the best of white pine lumber then plenty in this vicinity. The underpinning was of hewn granite with the stone steps in front, taken from a ledge in Windsor six miles away. The building had two entrance doors to the vestibule, and two from that into the audience room, two aisles running the length of the house, with pews on each side. There were sixty-four pews, each nine feet by two feet eight inches in width, with doors opening from the aisles. These pews would seat five persons comfortably, making the seating capacity of the house 320. The singers' gallery was in the south end and raised some fourteen feet from the ground floor, and was entered by stairs from the vestibules. The gallery would seat forty persons. The pulpit was in front of this gallery, raised about eight feet, both facing the congregation. The house was warmed in winter by two large box stoves in the vestibule and funnels running the length of the house to a chimney in the north end. This arrangement proving inadequate, the stoves were moved inside the room to the open space in front of the pul- pit. It was lighted by three large windows on each side, two on the north end and two in the gallery, all protected by blinds. After completion the pews were appraised at $2,154.00, varying from $20.00 to $35.00 according to location. Premiums were paid for choice of seats which amounted to $164.10, the cheapest pews bringing the highest premiums. There were eight pews
339
A VEXED QUESTION SETTLED BY A DREAM.
which appear to have been sold for much less than their appraised value.
The land upon which the house was built was purchased of Lieut. John McNiel, and deeded by him to "James Eayrs, his associates, his and their heirs, or owners of the House of Public Worship, which is to be built on the land . . . forever ... which land is to be occupied for a House of Public Worship and its necessary appendages and for no other purpose." This location was the result of a compromise between the interest of the Upper and the Lower villages, and was said to have been brought about in consequence of a dream or vision by one of the Baptist sisters, and it was probably the best one of the several suggested to ac- comodate all the people who attended worship here, and even then some of them had to come five or six miles. The average attend- ance was probably larger than that of any church in town to-day.
In its quaint language the church records describes one of the most important events in its history :
Thursday Nov. 6th (1821) this day this Little Church are alowed to witness a wonderfull token of God's mercy, manifest towards his people in this place, the House which has ben erected for a place of worship, to be ocupyed by this Church and people is this day opened for divine worship for the first time and dedicated to the service and worship of God. Elder Joseph Eliot preached on the occasion from Isa 66 Chap and 1 verse. it was truly a solemn and Interesting dis- course to a crowded and listening assembly may the Blessing of God attend the transactions of this day.
James Howe Church Clerk.
No record has been found of the financial standing of the society or the number of the members of the church. In a church letter to the Milford Baptist Association, October 4, 1831, asking for admission to membership in that association, it is stated that "we are still some in debt," and that the church has 81 members, 31 males and fifty females. This shows quite an increase in the eleven years since its formation. Elder Charles Cummings had continued as the most frequent preacher until 1834, when Elder John Peacock became Pastor. During this year a "Protracted meeting" was held and numerous accessions made to the church. His pastorate was closed in less than one year, however, and Elder Moses Cheney succeeded him as acting Pastor, but he
340
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
remained less than two years. A study of the records kept at that period shows that the church experienced "Many tryals and want of union among the Brethren." On invitation Elder John Atwood assumed the pastorate February 5, 1837.
About this time the first record of a "Sabbath School" was made on "May Lord's day 27, 1838 . . . commenced for the Season." This school was held during the noon hour between the services and was discontinued during the winter months.
After a three years' pastorate Elder Atwood, in January, 1840, requested and received a letter of dismissal from the church, but two months later he withdrew it. In this interval he had held a series of meetings assisted by Elder B. F. Remington. A division of sentiment had arisen in regard to continuing Mr. Atwood here. He had proved a useful man in the community, and was generally liked, but he was not a brilliant speaker. The difference in opinion in regard to keeping him, with other dis- sensions of more or less account, awakened the old animosities of feeling. The result was the formation of a new organization November 5, 1840, to be known as the "Independent Baptist Church," and comprising twenty members, of which Elder At- wood became pastor. Soon this division became popularly known as the "New Church," while the other faction was styled the "Old Church." Elder Philip Chamberlain was settled as Pastor of this division in February, 1841. He continued here until August, 1843, or over two years. The two church organizations occupied the meeting house by turns, the New Church three-fourths of the time, and the Old Church one-fourth of the Sabbaths. At the other times each held its meetings in school houses.
In August, 1843, Elder Atwood removed to Concord, having been appointed State Treasurer and Chaplain to the State Prison. The close of Mr. Chamberlain's pastorate was no doubt hastened by the fact that a considerable number of his parishioners had embraced the doctrine of William Miller, who had predicted the final destruction of the world that year. Mr. Chamberlain disap- proved of this belief which gained a remarkable hold upon the people, and he was forced to relinquish his pastorate.
Tradition says that Franklin Pierce read sermons to frequent audiences in the old meeting house.
34I
AN OVER-ZEALOUS SEXTON.
Thus, both churches without pastors, and both too few in numbers and influence to support an organization, the "New Church" ceased to exist without action. In 1846, the "Old Church" by advice of the Milford Association, to which it be- longed, voted unanimously to dissolve. All of which goes to prove the truth of the saying : "United we stand; divided we fall."
If without an organized church the religious spirit had not departed, and the Rev. Levi M. Powers removing here from Boston, Mass., in 1844, the old meeting house was re-opened to him, who preached here as a missionary, rather than as a pastor. Those came to hear him who wished-members of the Old and New Church, and those who had strayed to follow a false prophet. Mr. Powers by his genial manner and good work won the hearts of the community and reunited the people. He was followed by Elder Bond, whose stay was shorter, but equally as effective. In the autumn of 1857, by advice of a council called for that purpose, it was decided to reorganize a new Baptist society. Elder E. H. Smith, under whose guidance the scattered Baptists of this vicinity were brought together, was made Pastor. George E. Hoit was chosen clerk. This reorganized church had twenty-two members, and seven others were united later. Isaac Coolidge and David Smith, Jr., were chosen deacons.
Elder Smith's stay was short, his pastorate closing the fol- lowing April. He was succeeded by temporary supplies, largely from the Methodist Seminary at Concord, more or less constantly for ten years, when this church, like its predecessors, went out of existence without action.
During this period of something more than thirty years the society in whose charge the meeting house was vested had not kept up any organization. The bell which had become cracked during the early 40s, was replaced by a smaller one, but equally good except in size. The accident by which the first bell was cracked is said to have been caused by the sexton tolling the bell to announce the death of a citizen, as was customary at that time. This person had repeatedly said that when he died he wanted the bell to be tolled loud enough so folks could hear it. With this thought in mind the sexton used a much heavier hammer than usual, and thereby ruined the bell.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Among Doctor Goodell's papers the writer finds an account which refutes this tradition, and indicates with apparent certainty that the old bell was broken before 1835, and that the new bell was procured soon after. Apropos of the first bell Mr. James Chase, who was one of the committee to purchase a bell for the meeting house, related many years after that this particular bell was selected on account of its sweet mellow tone. But the makers warned the committee that the bell was not heavy enough to stand a larger tongue. "If complaint is made in regard to its volume, please remember the tongue is as heavy as the bell can withstand. A heavier tongue will crack this bell at once." Despite the warn- ing, so charmed were they with the tone of this bell, the committee decided to purchase it and take the chances.
As foretold by the manufacturers, the bell failed to satisfy all of the parishioners, and the first thing proposed was a heavier tongue. The purchasers stoutly justified themselves by the fact that the bell could be heard throughout the westerly half of the town, and to the very limits of the society. In truth, the tone was so pure and clear it could be heard a great distance. They also repeated the warning of the makers against using a heavier tongue. Still, the dissatisfaction was not allayed, and finally several of the moving spirits of the village made a night raid on the belfry, and removing the tongue temporarily gave it a gener- ous coating of lead or solder, and then returned it to its position: The result was just as had been foretold: the bell was broken at the very next ringing. There is nothing to show that the vandals were punished, except through a guilty conscience.
The new bell was said to have been as harsh and disagreeable as its predecessor had been sweet and pleasant. Perhaps the contrast made the distinction more pronounced. At any rate the bell did not do service very long, for it was removed in 1848, cracked and useless as a bell.
Among the ringers of the two older bells were Mr. Gray and Mr. Parmenter, who was blind for several years and was guided to the church door by a wire stretched from his own premises tto the church door.
The old meeting house was beginning to show its neglect and need of repairs. But factional difference still existed. There
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WOMAN'S WIT AND DARING.
were those who had no sympathy in the movement to improve the old building. The old bell had been pitched from the belfry, which was believed not to be strong enough to support it longer, and was left in the porch for five years.
During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Bond, in the fall of 1852, the ladies of the society formed a social circle for the purpose of making repairs on the meeting house. The leaders in the enter- prise were the Misses Lucy Chase and Emily Hatch. The circle had the following of officers: Mrs. Bond, President; Miss Eliza Brown, Vice-President; Miss Lucy H. Chase, Secretary ; Miss Emily P. Hatch, Treasurer.
Having no regular meeting place the circle gathered at the homes of the members, and began the work of raising the money wholly by subscription. A box was passed by Miss Hatch at every meeting, and during the season of 1852-'53 a sum sufficient to begin the work of repair was realized. The plastering, which! had fallen off in large patches, was restored and whitewashed, the inside work was painted, and other improvements made. The remainder of the fund, in conjunction from the sale of the old bell, was expected to purchase a new one. But this balance proved all too small, while a somewhat unexpected difficulty was raised when the subject of buying a new bell was broached in the spring of 1853. The faction opposed to repairs and a new bell claimed that the old one could not be sold to help buy a new one, as they owned a share in it. Furthermore they declared they would resist any attempt to convert it into a new one of irre- sponsible ownership. Violent measures were threatened if any person or persons should attempt to remove the old bell from the porch.
In this dilemma the two young women already mentioned as the most active, proved themselves equal to the situation. One evening in May Lucy Chase and Emily Hatch, accompanied by Solomon McNiel, Jr., and John Gibson, loaded the old bell into Mr. Chase's farm wagon and conveyed it to the railroad station at the Bridge, no one having had the moral courage to interfere with the young ladies. But the sum realized from the sale com- bined with the balance of the subscriptions was not sufficient to buy a new bell of the size desired, so one weighing 536 pounds
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