USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 14
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As to the dependence of the Son on the Father, I believe exactly as I under- stand the greatest and best of Trinitarian writers. I believe, in idea, that the Son is, as we are, without power or sufficiency in himself, for "it has pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." Divine fullness so perpetually and unavoidably dwells in Christ, that he is ever "mighty to save," mighty to do any- thing and everything which the good of his kingdom requires. Trinitarians believe,
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that, in some high sense, the Father is greater than the Son, and so do I, exactly as it is expressed by the great and good Dr. Owen, who, using the words of our Savior, says, "The Father hath life in himself, and he giveth unto the Son to have life in himself," by communicating unto him his "sustenance." And, as another great divine says, "What the Father is he is from none, -what the Son is, he [ is ] from the Father." The Son receives his being and his power from another, other- wise, it could not be said " there are not more Gods than One." At the same time, I believe, as Trinitarians do, that there is a high sense in which the Son is equal with the Father. IIe is equal in power and glory, for "in him dwells all the full- ness of the Godhead."
Likewise, I believe, as I understand Trinitarians in general to have believed, in the Holy Spirit. So far as I have knowledge, they have generally believed, that the "Spirit was not a person, in the same sense that a man or an angel is a person," and many, if not the most, of great and good Trinitarians have supposed the " Spirit to be divine power or divine goodness, or a holy divine energy, in many instances personified, and particularly in the great work of regeneration and sanctification." And such is my own view of this matter.
Thus do I, with all the understanding I have, believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And so, I trust, with all my heart, unite in the worship with the heavenly millions, who give glory to God and to the Lamb who was slain.
THOMAS WORCESTER.
Salisbury, April 31st, 1814.
THE REV. ABIJAH CROSS.
Mr. Cross was settled over the church, December 23d, 1823, and on the 9th of May following the church adopted new or revised "articles of faith and covenant," agreeably to the ortho- dox creed.
At the time of Mr. Cross's settlement there were one hundred and eleven resident members. Also thirty-nine non-resident, making at the time of Mr. Worcester's dismission a total num- ber of one hundred and fifty. Of this number twenty-three absented themselves on the adoption of revised articles of faith. Under Mr. Cross's pastorate there were added to the church seventeen members, and nine were dismissed. He adminis- tered the sacrament of baptism to fifteen. His dismissal was April 1, 1829.
During his ministry an effort was made by Rev. Benjamin Huntoon, a Unitarian clergyman, to organize a Unitarian Socie- ty in town, but not finding a very large congregation of this faith, and only five persons to organize into a church, and no proper place being found to hold religious worship, he con- tinued in town but one year.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
THE REV. ANDREW RANKIN.
Mr. Rankin was settled over the church July 11, 1830, and was dismissed in October, 1832. During his pastorate seven- teen were added to the church by profession, eleven by letter, and about twenty were converted by his preaching.
Mr. Rankin was a son of Andrew Rankin, who came with his father, John Rankin, from Glasgow, Scotland. They landed at Salem, Mass., Boston harbor at that time being blockaded. They eventually settled at Littleton, Mass., where Rev. Andrew was born, November 1, 1795. He died at Danbury, October 22, 1862. He married Lois, daughter of Jeremiah Eames, of East Stewartstown, by whom he had six children, Lucy, (Albee) Cambridgeport, Mass. ; Rev. Jeremiah E., of Washington, D. C .; Andrew E., of St. Johnsbury, Vt .; Lois A., of Boston, Mass., and Caroline L. ( Bartlett,) of Jacksonville, Ill.
Mr. Rankin was a scholarly man, possessed of much energy, was an able and attractive preacher, and thoroughly devoted to his calling. He espoused the temperance cause with great zeal, and was one of the pioneers of that reform in the State.
It required no little fortitude at that time for the minister to step out from amongst the "wine bibbers" who were mem- bers of the church, and demand total abstinence from every- thing which could intoxicate. But he did not fail to declare to them that "Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging, and whosover is deceived thereby is not wise," and that "at last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder." "A drunk- ard cannot inherit the Kingdom of God," was his frequent admonition. He was a fearless and faithful servant of the Most High, -and laid up his treasures where moth and rust could not corrupt them. Of his six children two are now liv- ing : Rev. Jeremiah E., of Washington, D. C., and Lucy, (Albee) of Cambrigeport, Mass.
THE REV. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FOSTER.
He was a son of Richard and Esther (Jewell) Foster, and grandson of Hezekiah Foster, an early settler in Salisbury, and was born June 16, 1803. During his pastorate he resided in
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the house now occupied by P. A. Fellows, which was then the parsonage. Mr. Foster was settled Nov. 13, 1833, and continued his charge thirteen years, being dismissed by mutual council July 23, 1846. He was a good minister, esteemed by his parishion- ers, and respected as a citizen, pastor and friend. Eighty mem- bers were admitted to the church during his ministry in Salis- bury, forty by profession of faith, and forty by letter. Several seasons of religious awakening occurred during his ministry, the most marked being in the winter of 1842-43. For several years he taught the Academy in Salisbury, and his memory is fondly cherished by all who came under his instruction.
November 7, 1846, a call was extended to the Rev. Moses Kimball which was not accepted.
THE REV. E. H. CASWELL
Succeeded Mr. Foster, June 28, 1848, and was dismissed by mutual council the following February. Four were admitted to the church by profession, and one by letter, during his brief labors in the ministry. While at Salisbury Mr. Caswell mar- ried Miss Sarah J., youngest daughter of Dea. William Parsons, a fine scholar and accomplished lady. Mr. Caswell did not possess very firm health, and died young, leaving one son, who resides with his mother in Boston. Mr. Caswell occupied the Congregational pulpit in Hooksett for a time, and is pleasantly remembered by his parishioners in whatever field he was called to labor.
THE REV. ERASMUS D. ELDRIDGE
Was settled as pastor, January 12, 1849, at a salary of $400 and the use of the parsonage, and was dismissed November I, 1854, on account of failing health. During his ministry twenty- six were received into the church. Mr. Eldridge's health fail- ing him, and being of a tubercular predisposition, he was often obliged to seek a milder climate than Salisbury afforded. The labors of Mr. Eldridge were very useful in the church and very acceptable to the people. He was a high-toned gentleman and felt the responsibility of his high calling. Nature had endowed him with an even temper and a gentle spirit, combined with the
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buoyancy of hope, and he was always kind and cheerful. He was born in Dunstable, Mass., March 10, 1804, graduated at Amherst College in 1829, and studied for the ministry, at An- dover, in the class of 1833. He married Mabel Tappan Hill, of Portsmouth, and died at Athens, Ga., April 18, 1876. He was ordained pastor at Hampton, April 4, 1838; dismissed May 7, 1848. Settled in Salisbury, January 12, 1849; dismissed Nov. 1, 1854. He removed to Georgia in 1855, and remained till 1860; installed at Alton, January 24, 1861 ; dismissed Novem- ber 24, 1863 ; installed at Kensington, June 30, 1864; dismissed January 13, 1875. While in Salisbury he built and occupied the house now owned by Hartwell C. Noyes.
THE REV. THOMAS RATRAY
Came from Toronto, Canada, and was installed at Salisbury May 7, 1856, and on account of ill health was dismissed April 15, 1857. He was employed at a salary of $550, and the expenses of moving. After leaving Salisbury he went to Scot- land, the place of his nativity, to revisit early scenes and old friends. Upon his return he built a house in Concord, where he remained for several years, and from there removed to Massachusetts.
THE REV. HORATIO MERRILL
Was a son of Nathaniel and Phebe ( Merrill) Merrill, and was born at Brownsfield, Me., April 26, 1817. Studied at Phillips Exeter Academy, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1840. He studied at Andover Theological Seminary, in the class of 1843. He was ordained at West Newbury, Mass., in 1845 ; dismissed April 11, 1847. He was installed in Salisbury March 17, 1858. A council held March 15, 1864, dismissed him from the pastor- ate, although he had not preached in the church for two years. On his application for a letter of dismission from the church, the church voted to expel him, and the following preamble and resolution were unanimously adopted :
" WHEREAS, a difficulty arose in this church during the ministry of Rev. Horatio Merrill, on political grounds ; and whereas certain members of the church left the
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communion of the church and were subsequently expelled; and whereas the ground of said difficulty has been removed; therefore,
Resolved, That if any such desire to return to the communion of the church, the difficulty alluded to shall be no bar to their returning on the same standing as if no difficulty had ever occurred."
The difficulty above alluded to sprang from a political dis- course, delivered July 4, 1858, in which Mr. Merrill made some gross misstatements, which were very offensive and intended to injure and wound the feelings of members of the church be- longing to one of the political parties. Five persons left the house. When Mr. Merrill was shown where he was in the wrong and asked to correct the error and make amends, he refused to do so. Other things coming up to his detriment, a portion of his congregation withdrew and built a new church on the corner, east of Mrs. Lois Crane's house, and organized as the Methodist Society, which existed until Mr. Merrill left. Then this society sold their building and most of them returned to the Congregational church. July 11, 1849, he married Sarah, daughter of Royal Whitman, of Turner, Me. He died at Hop- kinton, Iowa, September 7, 1878. During his ministry, nine- teen were received into the church by profession, five by letter, and four were dismissed.
Mr. Merrill was an eloquent preacher, and wrote excellent sermons, and for a time was much admired by his parishioners.
THE REV. USAL W. CONDIT
Came to Salisbury from Deerfield, and was installed March 16, 1864, upon the dismission of Mr. Merrill. He was dis- missed by mutual council, January 13, 1869. During his min- istry eleven were admitted to the church by profession, eight by letter, and he administered the ordinance of baptism to seven.
THE REV. JOSEPH B. COOK
Was installed January 13, 1869, and was dismissed May 19, 1876. Mr. Cook was hired at a salary of $500. He was a man of eminent piety and his influence as a scholarly preacher was very marked. He resides at Hebron.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
THE REV. WILLIAM C. SCOFIELD
Followed Mr. Cook, coming here from Newark, N. J., in the fall of 1875, continuing till 1877. During his pastorate between twenty and thirty united with the church.
THE REV. GEORGE W. BOTHWELL
Was born in Ohio, in 1850, of Scotch-Irish parents, his father emigrating form the north of Ireland in 1842, and settling near Marietta, Ohio. He possessed a strong desire for histori- cal information, and a general knowledge of letters. His old- est son, the subject of this sketch, most of the people of Salis- bury remember as a stated supply of the Congregational church, and a man who took a great interest in beautifying the village, and as a worker in every good cause. He was a gentleman in every sense of that word. At the early age of sixteen he began teaching; graduated at Adrian College, Mich., in 1875; had charge of Mission churches until he entered Yale College, from which he graduated, May, 1877, and is now supplying the Con- gregational church in Portland, Mich. Five months of his vacation, between his junior and senior year (1879) in Yale Theological Seminary, were spent in Salisbury, in which time five were added to the church.
THE REV. SAMUEL H. BARNUM
Son of Rev. S. W. and Charlotte ( Betts) Barnum, was born at Springfield, Mass., April 7, 1852, fitted for college at Hop- kins Grammar School, and graduated at Yale College in 1875, and from Yale Theological Seminary in 1879, and removed to Salisbury, November 9, 1879, where he remained until May, 1882, when he received a call to go to Durham, where he was ordained and installed, April 24, 1883. While at Durham, July 13, 1882, he married Miss S. Pauline, daughter of Dea. Thomas D. and Susan E. (Smith) Little, of Salisbury. (See Geneal- ogy.)
THE REV. CHARLES E. GORDON
Son of Jackson and Marcia ( Fish) Gordon, was born at Law- rence, Mass., October 15, 1848. He graduated from Yale Col-
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lege in 1872, and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1875. May 17, 1876, he was ordained pastor of the Congregational church, in Pomfret, Ct., and officiated there for fifteen months. June, 1878, he was installed over the church in East Hardwick, Vt., where he remained until August, 1882. In November of that year, he supplied the pulpit in Salisbury and in Webster, (Corser Hill,) only a few miles apart, and October 4, 1883, was installed pastor over both churches, to which he still adminis- ters. The installation took place in the Webster church.
Mr. Gordon makes Salisbury his place of residence and occu- pies the parsonage. On the 30th of September, 1878, he mar- ried Amy A., daughter of Prof. Edwin R. and Louisa J. (Sumner,) Keys, of Connecticut. They have two children, - Theodore W., born at East Hardwick, Vt., August 13, 1881, and Edwin R., born at Salisbury, February 9, 1883.
CHAPTER XII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, CONTINUED.
" We had straight forward gone To endless death, but Love doth pull And turn us round, to look on One Whom if we were not very dull We would not choose but look on still, Since there is no place so lone
Which He doth not fill."
THE BAPTIST SOCIETIES.
In the long and bitter controversy which resulted in the removal of the meeting-house to the South Road, the people living at the centre, and in the west part of the town, believed that great injustice had been done them and began to discuss measures for the formation of a new society.
On the 25th of May, 1789, a large number of the leading citi- zens met at the school house, near the residence of Mr. Abel Elkins, "to find how many there were of the Baptist faith, and to take some proper steps to procure preaching." The meeting was organized by the choice of Daniel Brottlebank, as modera- tor, and Jonathan Cram, clerk. Lieut. Joseph Severance, Jon- athan Cram and Lieut. Moses Clough were chosen a committee to procure preaching.
On the 23d of June a meeting of those interested in the for- mation of a new church and society was held, when seventy-six persons adopted and signed the following
COVENANT.
Know all Men by this, That we, the subscribers, being conscious of One only independent, supreme, superintending, absolutely perfect, all-gracious Being; and therefore conscious of our dependence upon him, from whence naturally arises our
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obligation to him, as rational creatures, and therefore capable of moral government, as it is expressed in the first and second commandments, which are a compendium of the whole duty of man, " for on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets," without the knowledge of which we are a riddle to ourselves; and since that the heart be without knowledge it is not good; and God, in his all-wise superintendency, has cast our happy lot where, in addition to the manifestations of his own glorious perfections by creation, "he has more abundantly made himself known in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which are able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Jesus Christ, in whom dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily; " and not only so, but has, in said Scriptures delin- eated every character with which we stand in need to be acquainted, in order to glorify God, which is, in fact, to treat all characters and objects according to their worth and excellency ; therefore we ought, stripped of all prepossessions of opinion and sentiment, to search the Scriptures, to find out and know ourselves, what is good, and practice accordingly, realizing we must shortly be accountable to him, that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
We, therefore, in the view of these things, as men, amidst all the controversy of religionists and the errors of the times, would assume our natural rights in the choice of a religious sentiment for ourselves, and do accordingly, having had the opportunity to peruse, examine and determine upon several religious schemes or sentiments, presume voluntarily to choose and prefer what is called the strict Anti- Pedobaptists sentiments of religion, and do hereby make said sentiments of religion our own, taking it upon candid examination, according to our best light in the Holy Scriptures, to be the most agreeable thereto. And we, the subscribers, do hereby mutually covenant and agree to and with one another, that we will for the future exert our persons and disburse of our temporal interest, for the propagation and support of said religion, in equal proportion one with the other, so far as shall be thought prudent and advisable by two-thirds of the whole of us, in matters of the greatest importance having had fourteen or fifteen days' provious notice by a commit- tee chosen for that and other purposes, and in matters of less importance so far as shall be thought prudent and advisable by three-fourths of us who shall be present, having had four days' previous notice by said committee. We do furthermore, by these presents, bind ourselves to the strict observance of all the laws and orders made and enacted by the authority and rules aforesaid for the government of ourselves, promising to behave ourselves civilly one to the other and to the world of our fellow-men, so far as we shall have occasion to be conversant with them. Finally, we do and shall by these presents, consider ourselves as a distinct, separate body from all other denominations of religionists, and would have others take notice of aud treat us accordingly in a religious view only.
Benjamin Silley,
Nicholas Elliott,
Wiggin Evans,
Jonathan Cram, Joseph Severance, Thomas Chase,
Edward Ladd,
Joseph Ladd,
Joseph Kenneston,
John Elliott,
Moses Garland,
Daniel Brottlebank,
Reuben Hoyt,
Benjamin Roberts,
Benjamin Woodman,
Abraham Hoyt,
Jonathan Fifield,
Winthrope Sanborn,
Samuel Atkinson,
Edward Fifield,
Elisha Selley.
John Jerrod,
Abraham Sanborn,
Benjamin Silley, jr.,
Phineas Huntoon,
Joseph Elliot,
Joseph Brown, jr.,
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
David Pettengill,
Benjamin Fraizer,
Nathaniel Brown,
Thomas Sleeper,
Ananiah Bohonon,
Nathan Barttlett,
Peter Sweatt,
Cutting Stevens,
Timothy Sweatt,
Peter Eastman,
Jacob Dudley,
Levi Morrill,
Isaac Blasdel, ( Blaisdell )
Abel Elkins,
Josiah Green,
Samuel Bean,
Reuben True,
Enoch Fifield,
Jacob Flanders,
Jedediah Sleeper,
John Hobbs,
Abraham Fifield,
Joseph Fifield,
Steven Blaisdell,
William Eastman,
Richard Elkins,
John Fifield, 3d,
Samuel Loverin,
Samuel Elkins,
John Kenneston,
Dea. John D. Sweatt,
Benjamin Hoyt,
Jabez Morrill,
Daniel Parker,
John Farnham,
Samuel Quimby,
Peter Severance,
Moses Call,
James Pettengill,
Simeon Conner,
Samuel Eaton,
William Cate,
Josiah Haines,
John Stevens,
Iddo Scribner.
Pelatiah Corliss,
William Marcy, jr.,
BUILDING A MEETING-HOUSE.
For a time the society held meetings in private houses, and in an old school-house, which it appears they had bought of the town. The congregation rapidly increasing, on the 9th of Octo- ber, 1790, it was voted "to build a meeting-house, and sell the house on the south side of the road, on Abel Elkins's land, and that said meeting-house shall be free." On the following 26th of the month it was voted "to build a meeting-house, the same bigness as that at the South Road." This vote was not carried into effect. March 17, 1791, it was "voted to build the meeting-house 52 feet long and 40 feet wide, to be finished throughout as early as 1794." "Chose Jonathan Fifield, Joseph Fifield, John Clement, Benjamin Pettingill and Abel Elkins, a committee to erect the frame." "Chose Benjamin Pettingill, jr., Abra. Fifield, Samuel Bean, David Pettingill, Edward Fifield, William Eastman, Benjamin Pettingill, Reuben True and Bailey Chase, a committee to sell pews."
The house was erected within the specified time, and stood on the south-west side of the road, at the Centre Village, just north of the location of the present house, the main entrance being on the east side. On each end was a porch, supporting small steeples, similar to the one still standing on the north end. In each of these porches was an entrance. In the north tower was a bell. The interior was like most of the churches at that time, box pews, a large pulpit on the west side of the
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house, a gallery opposite and on the other two sides. An upper and lower set of windows furnished the light.
In 1839, Dea. William Parsons had the contract to remodel the church into its present general style. He moved it back, took down the back tower, enlarged the north one, removed the facing side galleries, changed the location of the pulpit, put in new pews and new windows, added blinds, painted, and made other specified repairs, for the sum of $1, 100. He furnished all the lumber and had all the old or unused material. After this Josiah Green purchased a large clock, which he put into the steeple to remain at his pleasure, for the use of the society and the public.
The first minister the society settled, was
ELDER ELIAS SMITH,
Son of Stephen and Irene ( Rawson) Smith, born at Lyme, Conn., June 17, 1769, and died there, June 29, 1846. He was of English descent. He had two brothers,-one a preacher, and the other a distinguished physician. He also had two sis- ters. His father was a Baptist, his mother a Congregationalist. Possessing a love for learning, he improved every opportunity, and though his advantages were limited, at the age of sixteen years he was a school teacher at Woodstock, Vt., where he united with the Baptist church, in 1789, and two years after began to preach. In the spring of 1791, agreeably to a pro- mise, he preached his first sermon in Salisbury. It was the first time religious service had been heard in the new church.
Although the building was finished on the outside, no pulpit or pews had been constructed, and the interior was in an incom- plete state. The speaker occupied a carpenter's bench for a platform. His text was from I Kings, viii, 27, "But will God indeed dwell on the earth ? Behold the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee ; how much less this house that I have builded ?" He first portrayed the greatness and glory of the Creator ; then how he dwelt on the earth, which was through the mediator, and finally pictured to his hearers the mighty work which God had done.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
He visited Salisbury again in November, 1792, and preached on a week day. At that time nine persons came forward, pro- fessed their faith in Christ, and were baptised by immersion in a small stream south of the church, over which a dam had been constructed by Mr. Josiah Green, in order to supply the pow- er to run a saw-mill. In February, 1793, he again returned and was invited to become the pastor of the church.
Relative to this invitation, he wrote to a friend : "They have a new meeting-house, completely finished, the society is large, rich and liberal, and propose to give me two hundred dollars a year, and to find me a home and wood. There is a prospect of doing good in this and surrounding towns, that wish to have Baptist preachers."
About this time an antipedopaptist society was formed in Warner, a room provided for meetings, and Elder Smith was invited to preach, possibly to settle there in charge of the church.
Elder Smith was ordained at Lee, by an ecclesiastical council, the third Wednesday in August, 1792, and came to Salisbury January 7, 1793. He married Mary, daughter of Josiah Bur- leigh, of Newmarket, by whom he had Ursula, born September 28, 1794, and Asa, born June 10, 1797. He also had Matthew Hale, born 1810, who for a time preached in Nashua and elsewhere; was a well known and popular newspaper writer, and was very liberal in his religious belief. He was a brilliant but eccentric man. He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1880.
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