USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > Willey's semi-centennial book of Manchester, 1846-1896, comprised within the limits of the old Tyng Township, Nutfield, Harrytown, Derryfield, and Manchester, from the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 17
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There is likewise recorded upon this window the name of Col. Robert MacGregor. He was the son of Rev. David Mac- Gregor. In the war of the Revolution he was on the staff of Gen. John Stark. His wife, Elizabeth Reid. whose name is placed with his on this roll of honor, was the daugh- ter of Gen. George Reid. On the lower part of this same window - so brilliant in both its beauty and its names -we find commemorated the Rev. John Ripley Adams, D. D., and his wife, Mary Ann MacGregor ; also Mrs. Adams's two sisters. Maria MacGregor Cogswell, and Elizabeth MacGregor Hall. Dr. Adams, born 1802. in Plainfield. Conn., graduat- ing from Yale College in 1821 and from Andover Seminary in 1826, was for seven years -from 1831 to 1838 - pastor of the Presbyterian church in Londonderry. He was afterward pastor of churches in Great Falls, Brighton, Mass .. Gorham. Me. In the War of the Rebellion he was chaplain for three years of the Fifth Maine Regiment, and for one year of the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York Regiment. He died at Northampton. Mass., in 1866. He was an accomplished man. genial and sym- pathetic, an able preacher. and much beloved. Mrs. Adams and her two sisters, Mrs. Cogswell and Mrs. Hall. were daughters of Col. Robert MacGregor and Elizabeth Reid. Their grandfather on their father's side was Rev. David Macgregor. son of Rev. James MacGregor, and their grandfather on their mother's side was Gen. George Reid. Noble and cultured women were these. and worthy of the honored name they bore. All the grand memories of this town and of this church of their fathers were dear to them, and they themselves are tenderly remembered by many now living.
The new memorial windows are five in number. All of them are costly and beautiful, It is believed that there are no
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such windows in any church outside the cities in New England ; and probably those in the cities that excel them in magnificence are not numerons.
The MacGregor window was given by Mr. James Mac Gregor Adams of Chicago, Ill. On the upper half of it, at the left, is seen the family coat of arms, with the Scotch motto : " E'en do bait spair nocht." Beneath this are the names, Rev. James McGregor : his wife, Marion Cargil. And helow these are the names, Rev. David MacGregor ; his wife, Mary Boyd. On the lower half, at the left, are first a dove as an emblem, and then the names, Maria MacGregor Cogswell, Elizabeth Mac- Gregor Hall. On the upper half of the window, at the right, are seen as emblems the Stars and Stripes and a sword. Beneath these are the names, Gen. George Reid ; his wife, Mary Wood- burn. And below these are the names, Col. Robert Mac- Gregor ; his wife, Elizabeth Reid. On the lower half, at the right, is, first, the emblem of an open Bible with two swords crossed ; and then below the emblem are the names, Rev. John Ripley Adams, D. D .: his wife, Mary Ann MacGregor.
A resplendent window has also been placed in these walls, " In loving memory of James and Persis Taylor." These names are too familiar and dear to us all to need any words of praise from me. But permit me to say, that Deacon James Taylor was a member of the church session when I assumed the pas- torate of this church in 1851. I knew him well. He was a good man and true. He had in his character the old-fashioned Scotch honesty and steadfastness. He always made himself understood, and everybody knew where to find him. A man of sound, practical judgment, he was often appointed arbiter in the settlement of disputes. Always calm and self-possessed, he was yet a man of deep feeling and had a large and kind heart. He was beloved in his own family, a true friend, public-spirited, greatly respected and honored in the town, and always faithful to his trust as an office-bearer in the Church of Christ. He loved this church, and to the promotion of its interests he was thoroughly devoted.
His beloved wife, Mrs. Persis Taylor, while like her husband possessed of strong and sterling traits of character, was also a woman of tender heart and far-reaching sympathies. The chief arena of her power and life work was her home. There she reigned supreme. And as her reward, she had every right to glory in her children, and her "children rise up and called her blessed." Though the mother of a large family, she was also a mother in Israel. Ardently loving her own household and kin- dred, and always laboring and praying for their highest welfare, she yet took an affectionate interest in her neighbors, in the church of which she was a member, in her pastor, in all Chris- tian institutions and service, and in every person to whom she could be helpful. She never seemed despondent. She carried good cheer with her wherever she went. Never shall I forget the motherly and encouraging words she repeatedly spoke to me during the first years of my pastorate. Many of the noblest traits of Deacon and Mrs. James Taylor were reproduced in the character of their distinguished son, Samuel Harvey Taylor, LL.D., so long the principal of Phillips Academy, Andover. How pleasant it is to see these two names honored in this house of prayer, where they together for so many years, and with such regularity and devoutness, worshipped God.
This window was the gift of Mrs. Mary E. (Taylor) Fair banks of St. Johmsbury, Vi. The symbols in the upper part are, at the left, flowers, and, at the right, the cross and crown. Beneath these, but far down on the window is the inscription : " In loving memory of James and Persis Taylor, by their children."
We read upon another of these memorial windows the name of Deacon Henry Taylor, by the side of the name of one of his own dear kindred. He was a John-like man. It is diffi- cult to believe that he ever had an enemy in the world, so sweet, gentle, and loving was his disposition. Having no family of his own to care for, he took everybody into his capacious heart. All the people in the town fondly called him " Uncle Henry." He greatly loved Christ, and was the true friend of the church and of his pastor. Very tender is the memory of his benignant face and of his reverent, trustful prayers. The donor of this memorial window is Mr. James Calvin Taylor. For placing it in the house of the Lord, in honor of his beloved uncle, he will receive the gratitude of all his kindred and of the many friends of Deacon Henry Taylor. The window bears upon its upper part simply the Greek, symbolic letters, Alpha, Omega. In the lower portion, at the left, we read the name, Deacon Henry Taylor, and at the right, Family of James Calvin Taylor.
Two sisters, maiden ladies, Jennette and Sarah Humphrey, sisters of the venerated and beloved Deacon John Humphrey, dwelt together for many years quietly and lovingly in their little cottage in this Upper Village. Like Mary and Martha of Bethany, the one silent and thoughtful, the other not less thoughtful but more energetic and demonstrative, they were well mated, each supplying the lack of the other. Little had they to do with the great and wide world. They lived alone in their own loved home, and yet not alone, for the Lord Jesus was with them as with the sisters in Bethany, speaking his words in their ears and breathing his spirit into their hearts. They were ac- customed to speak evil of no one, but abounded in kind words and deeds, ready always to minister to the sick and needy, the bereaved and troubled. They were frugal, yet saved not for themselves, but for Christ and his Kingdom. Their names were never sounded abroad in the public prints, but their Christian benevolence has reached round the globe.
Now these two humble disciples, living apart from the world, so contentedly and lovingly, hardly known beyond the limits of this church and parish, were about the last persons to have ever dreamed that their names would be emblazoned at some future day in the midst of indescribable splendors of color in the house of God. And had some prophet told them that this honor awaited them, they would have been as much surprised as they will be when Christ at the last day shall recount before the universe all their little deeds of kind ministration and love, and they shall reply: " When did we do all these things ?" But this glory which has come to them, as well as that which will be the spiritual and eternal halo of their names in heaven, is explained by those words of Jesus : "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." This window was presented by Mrs. James Calvin Taylor. On the top, at the left, 's the emblem of the dove, and at the right, of the harp. At the bottom of the window are simply the two
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names, Jennette Humphrey, Sarah Humphrey. Deacon John Humphrey, the brother of those two Christian women, was the father of Rev. John P. Humphrey of Winchendon, Mass., and of Rev. Simon J. Humphrey, D. D., of Chicago, Ill.
Since leaving the pastorate of this church I have known many good people, God's saints on earth, the prospect of meet- ing whom beyond this life helps to a better understanding of heaven. But none have I met, who, so far as I can judge, sur- passed in unselfishness and kindness, in sincerity and honorable- ness, in unfailing geniality and good will, in Christian simplicity and trustworthiness, in genuine goodness, in unaffected piety, and in all real worth of character, Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Parker. Living in their happy home five years, I yet have no recollection of hearing either of them speak a single angry or improper word. If compelled to listen to hard or uncharitable speech, they either gently demurred or were silent. They knew the worth and sacredness of friendship, and how to be them- selves true friends. They made advances cautiously, but having once given their friendship they would sooner have cut off a right hand than have proved false. Mr. Parker had lived so long in a minister's family, and was so familiar with all the labors and anxieties of a pastor for his people, that he seemed to take the entire care of this church and parish upon his own mind and heart. And his wife had learned to bear her full share of the same burden. They were never tired of thinking, talking, and planning for the good of this people. And had they been my own brother and sister, it is difficult to see how they could have been more anxious for the success of my ministry. Wholly unacquainted as I was with the parish, and utterly inexperienced in the ministry, their counsels, so kindly and courteously expressed, were invaluable. From whatever mistakes I was saved, and if there was any wis- dom or worth in my pastoral service here, the people were in- debted for it more to them than to me.
Their house was a house of prayer. Christ had long made his abode there, and all the rooms seemed to be the realms of gentleness and love. It is well that the names of these two friends of Christ and of his church should be made conspicuous in this house of God, that those who worship here may often look upon them, and receive the inspiration that must come from the sweet memory of their Christian kindness and fidelity, their friendship and piety. This memorial window was placed in the church by their son, Frank W. Parker. At the top of the win- dow, on the left, is the representation of an open Bible, and on the right the symbol is the anchor. At the bottom of the
window are the two names, Charles C. Parker, Sarah Taylor Parker.
With all these appropriate memorials, now making this place of worship so beautiful, there would still be a sad lack here, were one more name not honorably inscribed upon these walls. True, many are the departed worthies who might fittingly be commemorated in the house of God. I should wish, for instance, as doubtless you all would, to see illumined upon some of these windows, instead of the names of two, the names of all -the members of that church session which I found here in 1851. They were rare men, and eminently worthy of such honor. Still every one of you will agree with me in saying that no name has any clearer right to have honorable place in this sanctuary than that of Rev. Edward L. Parker. I need not speak of him in this preser ce. Words better than any that I can utter you can read from the tablet of marble placed upon the wall at the right of the pulpit, and which now so appropriately com- memorates his character ard his ministry of forty years with this church.
MAIN STREET, EAST DERRY - WINTER SCENE.
The inscription upon the tablet is as follows: " In memoriam. The Reverend Edward L. Parker, born July 28, 1785, graduated at Dart- mouth 1807, died July 14, 1850. For forty years the faithful and beloved pastor of this church. He possessed in a high degree sound judg- ment and discretion, remark- able wisdom and prudence, shrewdness and tact, con- bined with kindness of man- ner, humility, perseverance and untiring industry. Plain, practical preaching, crowned by ardent piety, and devo - tion to his work, made him a man of mark and great use- fulness. ' They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.' "
Dr. Wellman narrates an incident of his or- dination which finely illustrates the sturdy charac- ter of the board of deacons in 1851. He says :
Deacon James Taylor and his brother, Deacon Henry Taylor, were for many years members of the church session. Associated with them in office were Deacons Matthew Clark. Robert Morse, John Humphrey, Joseph Jenness, the two brothers, James and Humphrey Choate, William Ela, Robert Montgomery, and William Cogswell, eleven in all. When full the session consisted of twelve elders or deacons. In IS51, all the above named men were living, and enrolled as members of the session. Two of them, however, Deacons Morse and Clark,
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by reason of age and infirmity, were not active members. Prac- ator, the desire of the session is, that this council proceed at once to examine the young man whom we have called to be our pastor ; and if he shall be found fitted for the office, we desire that he be ordained and installed. And if this council does not do this, we shall call a council that will." tically, at that time, the session consisted of nine members. A few years later Deacon Cogswell removed to Manchester, and Mr. George Shute was elected a member of the session. All these deacons, save Deacon Cogswell and Deacon Shute, have now entered into the goodly fellowship of the church triumph- Slowly Deacon Humphrey resmined his seat. Some of the members of the council smiled. . The deacons did not smile. They meant business. They knew their rights and liberties, and that such things were sacred, and not to be trifled with by any- body. Nothing more was said upon the question raised by the remonstrants. The council proceeded at once to its appointed work, according to the directions given by the nine venerable men who sat in the corner of the church. ant. They were noble and godly men. Sturdy in character and honorable in life, wise in counsel and of grave and devout spirit, they were much respected in both the church and the town. Of positive convictions, strong will, and of great decision of character, they were yet remarkable for their Chris- tian gentleness and courtesy. Very beautiful was their treat- ment of one another. Their mutual love and Christian fellow- ship were not demonstrative, but were real and abiding. It is pleasant to bear this testimony, that in all the numerous and often protracted meetings of the session during five years, to the best of my recollection, the deacons were never, in a single instance, divided in voting, and not a single unkind or bitter word was ever spoken. They were not always of the same mind at the outset, and not unfrequently a long debate, or rather conference, preceded their final decision ; but when they variances of the New England theology from other systems. came to the vote and to action, their harmony was per- The New England theology was accepted by them because they believed it to be scriptural, and also because they believed it to be substantially that interpretation of the Scriptures which through the ages has stood the test of being judged by its fruits. The Bible they accepted as the Word of God. The modern glib talk about the mistakes of Moses and the prophets, and the blunders of Paul and the Evangelists, would have shocked them beyond measure. The statement now made with such nonchalance in limited circles, that Christ was either in error in some of his religious teachings, or was incorrectly reported by the Evan- gelists, would have been regarded by them as blasphemous. If; even a theological professor had said to them, You must accept my view of the utter untrustworthiness of the Bible in some of its religious teachings, or you must stand convicted of being bent on ignorance, he probably would not have said that to them a second time. fect. They were not timid or vacillating men. When need required they acted with great boldness and energy. 'This was illustrated by an incident which occurred at the meeting of the ecclesiastical council on the day of my ordination. Some of the good Presbyterian brethren on the council erroneously supposed that the church was a strictly Presbyterian church, and under the care of the Londonderry presbytery. They therefore made a formal remonstrance against the action of the church in calling a council instead of the pres- bytery, and against the proposed examination and ordination of the pastor elect by the council assembled. Rev. Amos Blan- chard, D. D., of Lowell, was moderator. A large congregation filled the church. The excitement was intense. All the active members of the session were present, and sitting together in pews at the left of the moderator. When the remonstrants had fully presented their case the moderator turned to the deacons But while they were bold and persistent in maintaining the truth, and in standing for what they knew to be right, they were yet men of rare tenderness and kindness of heart. They were also reverent before God. Sincere humility was a prominent ele- ment in their piety. Their prayers abounded in confessions. They had profound convictions of sin. In their view, dis- obedience to God was appalling wickedness. They were always solemn and afraid at the thought of sin. They believed that " God is love," but they also believed that " Our God is a con- suming fire." They accepted without a doubt the scriptural teaching that the just punishment of sin is the abiding wrath of God, death everlasting. These profound views of sin and of its demerit determined their personal relation to Christ. With great joy and gratitude, and with a deep sense of their inex- pressible obligations to him, they believed on the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and for the life everlasting. They hun- gered and thirsted after righteousness, and therefore attached the highest value to all means of grace, especially to the Sabbath and the sanctuary as appointed of God to aid men in the attain- ment of holiness. . The farthest possible were they from and said : " You hear the objection which has been made to the action of your church and to the proposed action of this council. What is the desire of the session ?" The deacons, without leav- ing their seats, consulted together for a moment. Instantly they appointed Deacon John Humphrey their spokesman. Deacon Humphrey, a man of great weight of character, of perfect self- command and of imposing presence, being over six feet in height, rising slowly and with solemnity from his seat, and stretching himself up to his full length, with a calm, firm voice and great courtesy of manner, said, as nearly as his words can be remem- bered : " Mr. Moderator,- This is not a strictly Presbyterian church. Though governed by a session, it is not under the government of any presbytery. This council has been called in exact accordance with certain 'Articles of Agreement' by which this church in a few important particulars is governed. Our late pastor, the late Rev. Edward L. Parker, was ordained forty years ago by a council, and not by the presbytery. We have taken the same course that was taken then. A council was called then, a council has been called now. And, Mr. Moder-
This incident discloses, in several particulars, the character of that board of deacons. They had the Scotch staunchness, decision, and energy. It was sometimes said of them that they were slow men, but in emergencies they moved swiftly and with irresistible force. They were not educated in the higher school-, but they were intelligent. The Bible was their study. Some of them were versed in theology, and could define sharply the
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being stern and gloomy men. They were delightfully social in disposition and habits. Their words were often playful, and they told and relished good stories. Of despondency they knew little. Their hearts were full of courage. In carlier years they may have had spiritual conflicts ; but now their kindly, cheerful faces, and all their external bearing told of the peace of God that reigned within. They were thoroughly possessed of the spirit of worship. One of them at least seldom or never entered the house of God without pausing for a moment, after passing the door of the auditorium, and lifting his eye heavenward, as if he were saying : "This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." And immediately upon entering his pew he bowed his head in silent prayer. The devoutness of those aged and venerable deacons was not official, not assumed nor formal ; it was in the heart, and therefore in the life. They were men of lordly will, but in the presence of God they had the spirit of little children. Those members of that church session did not seek personal influence, it was theirs before they knew it. But they shrunk from no obligation, were faithful to every trust, and lived in humble but joyful hope of the promised inheritance of the saints in heaven.
The First Church has been one of the strong- est in the denomination. At a sacrament in 1734, fifteen years after the settlement of the town, 700 communicants were present. This number, how- ever, must have included many non-resident mem- bers and friends. Several other congregations have been formed from the parent church. In
1739 a company was dismissed to constitute the West Parish (Presbyterian) in Londonderry. In 1797 the Third Society (Congregational) was or- ganized in the East Parish, and in 1837 forty more were dismissed to form the First Congregational Church in Derry Village. In 1809, however, the Third Society rc-united with the mother church, forming what is now known as the First Church in Derry. June 8, 1810, the joint society formally adopted articles of faith, which, in spite of all theological upheavals of the last half-century, are, still the ereed of the church. Their reproduction here, in view of the current discussion of ereeds, may not be without interest :
I. We believe that there is but one God, the sole creator, preserver, and moral governor of the universe ; a being of infinite power, knowledge, wisdom, justice, goodness, and truth ; the self-existent, independent and unchangeable fountain of good ; that there are in the unity of the Godhead a trinity of persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that these three persons are in essence one, and in all divine attributes equal.
II. We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God ; that they are profitable for doctrine, contain a complete and harmonious sys-
tem of divine truth, and are our only perfect rule of doctrinal belief and religious practice.
III. We believe that the first parents of our race were orig- inally holy in the image of God; that they fell from their original state by voluntarily transgressing the divine command ; and that in consequence of this first apostacy the heart of man in his natural state is enmity against God, fully set to do evil, dead in trespasses and sins.
IV. We believe that Christ the Son of God, equal with the Father, has by his obedience, suffering, and blood, made infinite atonement for sin ; that he is the only redeemer of sinners, and that all who are saved will be indebted altogether to the sovereign grace of God through this atonement.
V. We believe that those who embrace the gospel were chosen in Christ to salvation before the world began ; and that they are saved not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to the distinguishing mercy of God, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
VI. We believe that for those who once believe in Christ there is no condemnation, but they will be kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation.
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