USA > New York > A history of the purchase and settlement of western New York : and of the rise, progress and present state of the Presbyterian Church in that section > Part 13
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ceptable to the people, and they proposed to him to become their stated preacher. On the 5th day of May, 1812, a church was or- ganized at Almond, then a part of the town of Alfred, by Rev. John Niles, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Bath, consisting of twenty-one members, several of whom resided in the adjoining town of Hornellsville. The next day Mr. Niles organized a church in Angelica, consisting of six members, to whom nine others were added on profession within the compass of a year. These churches were organized on the Presbyterian platform of government, and were the first organizations of the kind in the county of Allegany. On the twentieth day of August, 1812, Mr. Hubbard was ordained by the Presbytery of Geneva, and, at the same time installed pastor of the united congregations of Angelica and Alfred (now Almond). The installation services were held at Angelica, in the veranda of the house of Evert Van Wickle, Esq., the female part of the con- gregation been commoded with seats in the house, and most of the males in the open air in front of the house. Such were the accom- modations for public worship, in the early period of the history of the church of Western New York. Mr. Hubbard's connexion with these churches was continued about seventeen years, when he was dismissed and removed to Dansville. He was never again regularly installed pastor of any church, though he preached in a stated manner, in the village of Dansville, for several years, and was instrumental of gathering a church in that place. Mr. Hubbard was a native of Shelburne, in the State of Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Williams' College of the class of 1803. He was probably about twenty years old when he left college, regular in his habits, but not pious. After leaving college he commenced the study of the law, and pursued it, as the author believes, about two years. During this period his attention was called to a conside- ration of the things which concerned the salvation of his soul ; his views were radically changed, and he was led to entertain a hope in Christ. The change in Mr. Hubbard was very visible, and through the remainder of his life was very distinctly marked. When he was brought by the teachings of the spirit and personal experience to know the value of an interest in Christ, he ardently desired that his fellow-men might be partakers of the same benefit. The ministry of reconciliation appeared to him a most desirable employment. He relinquished the study of the law, and com- menced the study of Theology under the tuition of Dr. Packard, the pastor of the church of Shelburne, his native place. His licen- sure took place, probably, in 1809, or 10. He is known to have been recently licensed, when he came into Western New York in 1810. During the period in which he resided in the county of Allegany, his labors were by no means confined to the congrega- tions from which he received his support, but were extended through all parts of that county, and the western part of the county
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of Steuben. He was the only minister of the Presbyterian deno- mination in the region. He was unwearied in his labors, and in attending to his ministerial appointments was utterly regardless of the vicissitudes of the weather. But it was impossible for him to cultivate so extensive a field in any thorough manner ; hence he was not distinguished for great success and remarkable results. He formed a number of churches and kept them alive; but it was impossible for him to bestow upon them the amount of labor need- ful to cause them to flourish. He undertook to cultivate too large a field, and would probably have been more useful, had his field of labor been more circumscribed. Mr. Hubbard was through life distinguished for a devotional spirit. He evidently lived near to God. He was remarkable for his indifference to the things of the world, and for his extensive charity. At any time he was ready to divide the last loaf with any destitute person. He was not, however, always judicious in his charities, but suffered himself to be imposed upon by the worthless and designing. During the last years of his life his health was feeble ; consumptive symptoms manifested themselves ; but to the extent of his power he continued in the work of the ministry, although he had no particular charge of any congregation. Death overtook him at Canisteo, where he had gone to perform the work of the ministry, on the 24th day of May, 1840, and in the fifty-seventh year of his age.
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CHAPTER IX.
Ontario Association. Convention of Delegates from Associations in the State of New York at Clinton. Deliberations in the Convention ; different opinions; failure of forming a General Association. Reason for a Union of the Presbyterian and Con- gregational denominations. Dissolution of the Ontario Association. Union of the Ministers and Churches with the Presbytery of Geneva : favorable results of this Union. Harmony of Ministers and Churches in Doctrine and Practice. Character of the doctrines generally preached. Labor of the Ministers of the period. Bene- fit of Ministers having much labor. Harmony between Resident Ministers and Mis- sionaries. Presbytery of Geneva divided into four Presbyteries, Geneva, Ontario, Bath, and Niagara. Enlargement of the Presbyteries. Presbytery of Rochester constituted. Presbytery of Genesee formed. Synod of Genesee erected.
THE Ontario Association has been noticed as the oldest ecclesi- astical connexion of ministers and churches, with which our history is concerned, in Western New York. In 1804 the ministers who were connected with it, were, as has been stated, Rev. Messrs. Joseph Grover, John Rolph, Reuben Parmele, Timothy Field, Elea- zar Fairbanks, James H. Hotchkin, and Ahijah Warren. Mr. Hunn had previously deceased. The churches at that time con- nected with the Association were, South Bristol, Boughtontown (now Victor), West Bloomfield, North Bristol, Canandaigua, East Bloomfield, Charlestown (now Lima), Augusta (now Rushville), Pittstown (now Richmond), and Middletown (now Naples). At a meeting of the Association, Jan. 10th, 1810, the church of Canan- daigua gave notice of their secession from the Association, declar- ing themselves independent of all ecclesiastical jurisdiction as a church. In this state of independence that church has stood to the present time. On the 8th day of January, 1805, the relation of Mr. Fairbanks to the Association was declared to cease, he having united with the Baptist denomination, and received ordination anew from an ecclesiastical council of that denomination. On the 12th of June, 1805, Mr. Field was dismissed from his pastoral re- lation to the church of Canandaigua, and soon afterwards left the . country and returned to the Eastern States. From Mr. Rolph the Association withdrew fellowship, October 14th, 1812, on account of unchristian conduct on his part. The ministers who became mem- bers of the Association, subsequent to 1804, were, Rev. Solomon Allen, pastor of the church of Middletown, Rev. Aaron C. Collins, and Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman, who were received Jan. 15th, 1806; Rev. John Niles, received by ordination, June 11th, 1806; Rev. Howell R. Powell, received June 10th, 1807; Rev. Simeon R. Jones, received June 14th, 1810 ; Rev. Silas Hubbard, received by
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ordination, October 10th, 1811 ; Rev. Allen Hollister, pastor of the churches of Murray (now Bergen) and Riga, received May 27th, 1812. Mr. Jones, at his own request, was dismissed from the con- nexion, October 10th, 1811; and Mr. Niles departed this life, Lord's Day, September 13th, 1812. The churches that became connected with the Association, in addition to those already men- tioned, were those of Northfield (now Pittsford), received June 10th, 1806 ; Prattsburgh, received at the same time with the preceding ; the second church in Pittstown (now Livonia), received Jan. 13th, 1807 ; Palmyra received June 14th, 1807; Phelps, Williamson (now Marion), and Stonetown (supposed to be the present church of Penfield), received June 13th, 1809; Newtown (now Elmira), received June 11th, 1810 ; Geneseo (now the church in the village of Geneseo), received October 8th, 1811 ; Murray (now Bergen) and Riga, received May 27th, 1812. The ecclesiastical acts of the Association, in addition to those already noticed, which seem worthy of record, are, the licensure of Mr. Noah Crane to preach the gos- pel, January 12th, 1802 ; the ordination of Mr. Daniel W. Eastman, a licentiate of the Morris County Presbytery, and a resident of Upper Canada, to the work of an evangelist, June 9th, 1802 ; the dismission of Rev. Ahijah Warren from the pastoral charge of the church of South Bristol, June 12th, 1805 ; the installation of Rev. John Niles, by a committee, as pastor of the church of Bath, July 6th, 1808 ; the installation of Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman to the pas- toral charge of the church of Lima, January 12th, 1809 ; the disso- lution of the pastoral relation between Rev. Solomon Allen and the church of Naples, June 13th, 1810 ; the installation of Rev. Aaron C. Collins to the pastoral charge of the church of Honeoye (for- merly Pittstown), June 4th, 1810.
At a meeting of the Association held at Honeoye (now Richmond), June 13th, 1810, Rev. Messrs. James H. Hotchkin, John Niles, and Howell R. Powell, were appointed delegates on the part of the As- sociation, to attend a Convention of delegates of the several Con- gregational bodies in the State of New York, to be convened at Clinton in the county of Oneida, on the first Thursday of July of that year, for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of forming a General Association for the State, and if deemed ex- pedient, to take the preparatory steps necessary to such organiza- tion. This convention was attended at the appointed time and place by all the delegates appointed by the Ontario Association, with others from the Oneida Association, the Black River Associa- tion, the Union Association, the Luzerne Association, the Northern Associated Presbytery, and an ecclesiastical body in the county of Saratoga and vicinity, the name of which is not recollected. The Middle Association, having previous to this united with the Synod of Geneva, declined sending delegates to the convention. The sub- ject to be acted upon had been discussed to some extent in the dif-
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ferent bodies represented. It appeared that considerable diversity of opinion prevailed as to the expediency of forming a General As- sociation of all the Congregational bodies in the State of New York. Some were of the opinion that the interests of religion would be pro- moted by such an organization. Others thought that the terms on which the Middle Association had been received into connexion with the Synod of Geneva and the General Assembly of the Pres- byterian Church, laid a foundation for a general union of the Con- gregational and Presbyterian churches throughout the State of New York, and that as these were to such a degree intermixed with each other, the cause of religion would be to a greater degree advanced by a more strict union between them. Those of this opinion thought, that instead of forming a General Association on strictly Congregational principles, it would more effectually subserve the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, should the several Associa- tions seek a connexion with the Synod, within which they were severally located, of the same tenure as that by which the Middle Association was connected with the Synod of Albany, or, which perhaps would be preferable, that the Associations should be dis- solved, and the ministers and churches composing them, severally unite with the Presbytery within the bounds of which they were located, the churches stipulating for the liberty to manage their in- ternal affairs in accordance with Congregational principles. In their opinion such a union of the two denominations would consti- tute a strong barrier against the inroads of error ; preserve the churches from being deceived by impostors and unauthorized men, professing to be ministers of Christ, and who were frequently en- deavoring to palm themselves on the churches in the new settle- ments ; and enable those churches which had the same common faith, and entertained similar views of the ministry and ordinances of the church, to act with more united energy in their endeavors to advance the cause of Christ in the wilderness. The Oneida Asso- ciation had instructed their delegates in the convention to take no steps towards the forming of a General Association. The delegate from the body in the region of Saratoga, stated that a majority of the ministers of that body were in favor of a union with the Pres- bytery of Albany. Under these circumstances it was deemed ex- pedient to take no steps for the formation of a General Association. The result of the meeting of this convention undoubtedly hastened the union of the Congregational ministers and churches with the Presbyterian church. All idea of forming a general organization for the State or for any considerable part of it, on Congregational principles, was entirely relinquished. The importance of a more general organization, in the growing state of the country, to pro- more unity of action, and to prevent collision between its different parts, was strongly felt. Such an extended organization in the ex- isting state of things seemed unattainable in any other way than by
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UNION OF CONGREGATIONALISTS WITH PRESBYTERIANS.
a union with the Presbyterian Church. Some of the ministers of the Ontario Association were already connected with the Presby- tery of Geneva, and felt that it was altogether unnecessary that two ecclesiastical organizations so nearly agreed in faith and prac- tice, should exist on the same ground. They complained of the waste of time, labor, and expense of attending the meetings of two ecclesiastical judicatories, when one was sufficient to perfect all the business. The Presbyterian and Congregational denominations under separate organizations, existing on the same territory, must appear to the world as rival parties, and, in fact, could not be other- wise than such, to a considerable extent. In the settlement of new places, members of both denominations would locate themselves in the same neighborhood ; two separate churches must be organized, or the members of one denomination must succumb to the other, a circumstance not likely to occur. But the whole strength of both denominations, perhaps, was not more than sufficient to enable them to support the preaching of the gospel for half of the time. Under these circumstances the formation of separate churches would be ruinous. The entire union of the two denominations appeared to many reflecting minds, a very desirable event. Many of the Con- gregational brethren, especially among the ministry, thought that the general principles of Presbyterial Government were better cal- culated to preserve unity of action, and purity of doctrine in the church, while in a forming state, and to a great extent destitute of a stated ministry, than the Congregational form.
At the semi-annual meeting of the Ontario Association, in October, 1812, the subject of union with the Presbytery of Geneva was taken under consideration, and discussed at considerable length. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Geneva, in April of the following year, the subject was brought before that judicatory, and the fol- lowing minute was adopted, viz .- " The Presbytery are of opinion that a union with the ministers and churches of the Ontario Asso- ciation is highly important, as it will combine their influence in promoting the great interests of the Redeemer's kingdom ; and they cordially invite the said ministers and churches to unite with the Presbytery, by adopting the Confession of Faith and form of government of the Presbyterian church. But should any of the said churches find it most for edification to continue the practice of receiving and rejecting members by a vote of the brethren of the church generally, instead of a session of ruling elders, the Presbytery do not consider that any bar to the contemplated union, and are willing they should continue that practice as long as they should deem it expedient." On the twenty-fifth day of May following, at a special meeting of the Association, convened for the purpose of final action on this subject, and held at Prattsburgh, the following reso- lutions were passed, viz .- Whereas, it appears from the Holy Scriptures of immense importance that all those who love our Lord
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Jesus Christ should be united in the strictest bonds of Christian 1 fellowship, that they may with one heart and voice unite in oppos- ing error, and in disseminating the knowledge of divine truth ; and whereas in the view of this Association there is no reason why those denominations of professing Christians, usually called Pres- byterian and Congregationalist, should not receive each other as brethren, and be united as one body in the strictest sense ; and whereas, there exists in this country a Presbytery connected with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church .- Therefore,
" Resolved, that it is very desirable that this Association become united with the Presbytery of Geneva.
" Resolved, that as a means of forming this union, it is expedient that this Association be dissolved, and the Moderator is hereby directed to declare it dissolved at the close of the session." In accordance with these resolutions, the Moderator, after prayer, declared the Association dissolved, and it ceased to have any fur- ther existence as an ecclesiastical judicatory.
Previous to the dissolution of the Association, all the ministers who were connected with it, had become members of the Presby- tery of Geneva, except Messrs. Grover, Warren, Allen, and Hol- lister. Mr. Grover was at this period superannuated and blind, and in consequence, incapable of performing the duties of the ministry, or of going from home. Though his life was prolonged a number of years after this event, he never again became a member of any ecclesiastical judicatory. Messrs. Warren and Allen, after a con- siderable period, united with Presbyteries. Mr. Hollister, accord- ing to the best of the author's recollection, died soon after this, and never united with any other ecclesiastical body. The churches generally, sooner or later, united with the Presbytery, most of them on what was called The Accommodating Plan ; that is, reserving to themselves the privilege of managing the government of the church by the vote of a majority of the brethren, instead of a bench of ruling elders. Numbers of them have, since their union with the Presbytery, adopted the Presbyterian form of government in full, and elected ruling elders, who have been set apart to office, in ac- cordance with the provisions of the Book of Discipline.
Previous to the dissolution of the Ontario Association, the Mid- dle Association had become extinct as a separate organization, by the formation of the Presbyteries of Onondaga and Cayuga in 1811. From the period of the dissolution of the Ontario Association, for a number of years, no Congregational organization of ministers and churches existed in the State of New York, west of the east line of the Military Tract.
The union of the ministers and churches to whom this history relates, in one ecclesiastical organization, was a circumstance in a high degree favorable to their prosperity. The ministers were very happily agreed in their sentiments in relation to the great and fun-
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damental doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and of their importance to promote the conversion of sinners, and the spiritual improvement of Christians. Not that there were no shades of difference in their theological views. Two or three of the ministers, probably, in their preaching would speak of the atonement as made exclusively for the elect, and on some other points would use that phraseology which is generally connected with the doctrine of limited atonement. Among the remainder might be found the shades of difference which existed among the divines of New England, who would have been acknowledged as strict Calvinists. The published writings of Doctors Dwight, Strong, and Smalley, would probably be as correct an exhibition of the theological views of the clergy of Western New York as could be given. Some of them embraced the peculiar sentiments of Doctor Samuel Hopkins, and a few, those of Doctor Emmons. But they did not consider these shades of difference as any bar to Christian fellowship, or ministerial union. They set a higher value on those great truths in which they were entirely agreed, than on those minor points in which they were disagreed ; nor did their difference in doctrinal views create any disturbance as to the harmony of their ecclesias- tical action. In their sentiments respecting the qualifications for the ministry and for admission to the sealing ordinances of the Gospel, they were entirely agreed. So also respecting the reality and desirableness of special revivals of religion, the sovereignty of God, and the special and direct agency of the Holy Spirit in producing them, together with the instrumentalities which were to be employed by ministers and Christians, they were entirely har- monious in their views. The course of preaching best adapted to produce awakening, the treatment to be exercised towards the awakened, and towards new converts, were subjects concerning which there was no controversy. As the ministers were harmoni- ous, so also were the churches. If the brief summaries of Christian doctrine, and the covenants to which each member was required to give his assent on admission to sealing ordinances, differed in mode of expression, they were substantially the same as to sentiment. If the government of one church was administered by a bench of ruling elders, and that of another by a session composed of all the male members of suitable age ; it was still the same government, administered with a reference to the same ends, and on the same general principles. As there was great harmony in doctrinal views among the clergy, so there was also among the laity. The preach- ing of the ministers of that day was mostly doctrinal. They dwelt much in their preaching on those great truths which distin- guished the Gospel of Christ from every other system of faith. Of course their hearers who embraced the truth were generally well indoctrinated, and thus a foundation was laid for Christian union
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among the members of the churches. The ministers and church members of that period had more important concerns to engage their attention, than to contend about minute points of difference in sentiment respecting those things not essential to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
At the period which we are now contemplating, the Presbytery of Geneva embraced all the ministers and churches of the connexion in the State of New York west of the Cayuga lake, and meridians drawn from each end of the lake, north and south, to the lines of the State. On this territory at that time there were probably not less than 140,000 inhabitants, and the number rapidly increasing. The Presbytery was composed of twenty-two ministers, and had under its care thirty-one churches, and four licentiates. A consi- derable number of churches had been formed, which had not as yet become connected with any ecclesiastical body. To provide for these numerous churches, to attend to the organization of others as exigencies demanded, to attend on the meetings of the Presbytery and Synod, always at a very considerable distance from a large share of the members, and to do what they could to supply the destitute with a preached Gospel, devolved a labor on the ministers equal to their ability to bear. They had no time to spend in con- troversy about minute matters. But these were to the Presbyterian church in Western New York blessed times. It is desirable that ministers and Christians should have their hands full of labor of the right kind. When this is the case their hearts will be right with God; they will look to him for aid in their work, and they will feel the value of the assistance of their fellow laborers, and they will love one another, and seek the things which make for peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another. The missiona- ries sent from the different missionary organizations, were of a like spirit with the resident ministers. Those who were in the employ of the General Assembly, and those from the Missionary Society of Connecticut, by the plan of union adopted by those bodies, were strictly charged to endeavor by all proper means to promote mutual forbearance and accommodation between those inhabitants of the new settlements who held the Presbyterian, and those who held the Congregational form of church government. The missionaries generally acted in the spirit of these instructions. Their terms of service were generally short; the field was immense; its destitu- tions were great ; and labor was demanded. Under these circum- stances they had neither time nor disposition to contend with fellow laborers who were preaching the same glorious Gospel, and endea- voring to convert the wilderness into a fruitful field. At this period the writer was himself a resident in the country, a laborer in the moral vineyard, and took an active part in effecting the union of the two denominations in one organization. On this subject he
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