USA > Rhode Island > History of Rhode Island > Part 28
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" The conclusion of his life and ministry, was a peaceful and happy death, without those raptures which some boast of, but with perfect resignation to the will of God, and good hope and humble confidence in Christ Jesus, who was the sum of his doctrine, and the end of his conversation."
321
THE REV. MR. CLAP.
. While he was eminently pious, he was at the same time very eccentric. " The administrator of his estate informed the writer, that he found among the papers and dust of his study, which be never allowed to be swept, several hundred dollars, in many little parcels, wrapped in orange peel or paper, which . had probably fallen from his table, without observation or sub- sequent search ; 'and likewise, another sum of considerable amount, on the shelves of his closet, in paper, and orange-peel.
" There was likewise a barrel, almost full of tops, which he had purchased of boys in the street, to show his disapprobation of the vain sport. It was his custom to walk out in a black velvet cap, and in a gown girded about his loins. In one side of it he would carry books, and in the other cakes, and with one or the other of which he would generally succeed in pur- chasing of boys their tops, and would give them kind advice, so that instead of fleeing from him, they loved to see him ap- proach."-Reminiscences of Hopkins.
Their next step, July, 1725, was to propose a colleague, as a means of allaying all uneasiness ; this, Mr. Clap declined. The church and congregation were determined, and the services of Mr. Bass were obtained for a short season, and after him, Mr. John Adams ; this must have been some time in 1727. Mr. Clap, after a while, utterly refused any association with Mr. Adams, and entirely occupied the pulpit on the Lord's day, not giving opportunity to the other to preach. This exasperated the people to such a degree, that nearly half of both churches and congregations withdrew, and met in a separate place, under Mr. Adams' ministry.
In 1728, an ex-parte Council of Churches was convened on the 3rd of April, which, after solemn supplication to God for his gracious presence and direction, came to the following result, unanimously agreed in, upon mature deliberation. The Council then went on to say, " that as Mr. Adams had received a valid call to the colleagueship with Mr. Clap, they affection- ately advised Mr. Clap and his friends to consent to Mr. Adams' ordination ; and if they would not, they recommended the aggrieved party to use the same house of worship, for the time being, one in the morning and the other in the evening, with their respective pastors." Mr. Clap persisted in having no intercourse with Mr. Adams.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
Tradition informs us, that when the Council had assembled at the parsonage, to endeavor to adjust the differences which existed between a portion of the church and Mr. Clap, he came from his study with a plate in his hand, containing as many figs as there were ministers present, and after handing them round, until he came to the last, remarked, " here is a fig for you all;" and immediately retired to his study. This illustrates the moral courage of the ministry at that day.
A new church was organized, and Mr. Adams ordained their pastor, April 11th, 1728. The Lord's Supper was ad- ministered on Lord's day, May 11th, 1728. The place of worship where Mr. Clap then preached, was situated in Tanner-street, and its occupancy by Mr. Adams, contrary to his wishes, was so displeasing to him, that he would not consent to preach in it again. A new house was erected, which at present is occupied by the Unitarian Society, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Brooks. When the house was completed, and they had brought him the key, the first question he asked, was, " Is it paid for ?" On being informed that a small balance remained unsettled, he handed back the key, and not until the debt was cancelled would he consent to occupy the house, which was quickly done. Such was the moral principle of that day.
Mr. Whitfield, in his Journal, in his remarks on Mr. Clap, says, " His countenance was very heavenly, and he prayed most affectionately for a blessing on my coming to Rhode Island. I could not but think I was sitting by one of the patriarchs."
Dean Berkley was intimate with Mr. Clap, and often spoke of his good deeds, and exemplary character. He said, " Before I saw Father Clap, I thought the Bishop of Rome had the most grave aspect of any man I ever saw ; but really, the minister of Newport has the most venerable appearance."
The Rev. Mr. Clap continued his pastoral care over the First Church, until his death, though he abandoned the house, as before remarked, to Mr. Adams and his Church.
1733. This year, the Second Congregational Church built a new meeting-house, in Clarke-street.
The Rev. Mr. Adams was dismissed, February 25th, 1729- . 1730.
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DISPERSION OF THE CONGREGATIONS.
April 21st, 1731, the Rev. James Searing was ordained over the Second Church. He died January 6th, 1755, aged fifty years.
May, 1740, the Rev. Joseph Gardner was ordained co-pastor with Mr. Clap, over the First Church, and was dismissed June 10th, 1743.
June 20th, 1744, Jonathan Helier was ordained co-pastor with Mr. Clap, over the First Church, and died May 27th, 1745. He was a very ingenious and excellent man.
October 30th, 1745, the Rev Nathaniel Clap died, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. His remains lay in the Arnold burial ground, at the rear of the Unitarian Church.
October 29th, 1746, the Rev. William Vinal was ordained pastor of the First Church, and was dismissed September 21st, 1768.
April 11th, 1755, Rev. Samuel Hopkins was intalled pastor of the First Congregational Church.
October 22d, 1755, Rev. Ezra Stiles was ordained pastor of the Second Congregational Church. It was a most curious coincidence that two such minds should have been settled over Newport churches the same year.
At the settlement of these distinguished divines, Hopkins and Stiles, over the churches in Newport, they were in a flourishing condition, and continued so many years, and many additions were made to them ; but, in 1744, the difficulties connected with the relations that existed between Great Britain and her American Colonies, began to give warning of the conflict that ensued. Newport began to decline, commerce forsook her wharfs, many dwellings were emptied of their inhabitants, and the churches were in a great measure forsaken. Dr. Hopkins had removed his family ; and, in 1776, he himself left, and returned to reside with his family in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
On the 23rd of October, 1775, the remnant of the Second Society met, and determined it to be inexpedient to continue public worship during the winter, in consideration of the tumul- tuous and evacuated state of the town. In the following March, their pastor left Newport, and these churches were destitute of ministers, and their members scattered abroad.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
Both the houses of worship, during the war, had been used as barracks for the soldiers. The bell of the First Church was carried to England, and the pulpit, pews, and fixtures, werc demolished. The Second Church fared but little better ; for, though the pulpit was left standing, the.enemy had put up a chimney in the middle of it, and destroyed the pews below, and in the gallery.
In the spring of 1780, Dr. Hopkins returned to his parish, to witness a scene of desolation and misery ; some of the inem- bers of the church and congregation had died, many had sought other homes, and those that remained, were so im- poverished and dispirited, that only a few had the moral courage to think of reviving their church. But they were eventually able to succeed.
It has already been remarked, that the enemy had completely destroyed the interior of the church, and their limited resources prevented their refitting it, only in a plain manner. For years there was no paint on the pews, and the impression was visibly seen in the aisles, where the British soldiers had struck the muzzles of their guns. The people of Taunton very kindly gave them the pulpit, which continued to be graced with Hopkins, and his successors, so long as the place of worship was used by the society.
But although there was no outward adorning, yet an amount of piety existed at that period, which more than supplied its place. The female members of his church were many of them eminently pious. There was Madam Osborne, Susannah An- thony, Hannah Johnson, Mrs. Donely, with many others, " whose praise is in all the churches." The writings of Madam Osborne and Susannah Anthony are to be met with in the Sab- bath School libraries of the land. They were the "poor of this world, but rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath prepared for them that love him." They were to Doctor Hopkins what Aaron and Hur were to Moses, they stayed up his hands, and encouraged his heart under the con- fliets and trials which, as a soldier of the cross, he was called to endure. At that period, there was something witnessed like the primitive times, when love bound the church together as one. The world had not then the complete ascendency in the
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REV. SAMUEL HOPKINS.
human heart. There was a renunciation of "the world, the flesh, and the devil," and a childlike spirit seemed to charac- terize the church.
During the war, Dr. Stiles had accepted the presidency of Yale College, although he was not formally dismissed from the pastoral charge till after the peace ; consequently, on their re- turn to Newport, the Second Church found themselves without a pastor, and continued in that state till the 24th of May, 1786, on which day the Rev. William Patton was ordained their min- ister.
President Stiles was one of the most learned men that our country has ever produced. As a scholar, he was familiar with every department of learning. He had a profound and criti- cal knowledge of the Latin, Greek, French, and Hebrew lan- guages ; in the Samaritan, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, he had made considerable progress, and he had bestowed some atten- tion on the Persic and Coptic. He had a passion for history, and an intimate acquaintance with the rabbinical writings, and with those of the fathers of the Christian Church. As a preacher, he was impressive and eloquent; and the excellence of his sermons was enhanced by the energy of his delivery, and by the unction which pervaded them. His catholic spirit em- braced men of every nation, sect, and party. In the cause of civil and religious liberty, he was enthusiastic. In his discourse on Christian union, he says: " There ought to be no restric- tions on the conscience of an honest and sober believer of reve- lation."
The following appropriate remarks are from the pen of Chan- cellor Kent, one of Dr. Stiles' pupils.
" A more constant and devoted friend to the Revolution and independence of his country, never existed. He had anticipa- ted it as early as the year 1760, and his whole soul was enlisted in favor of every measure which led on gradually to the for- mation and establishment of the American Union. He was distinguished for the dignity of his deportment, the politeness of his address, and the urbanity of his manners." President Stiles was for more than twenty years a resident and distin- guished ornament of Rhode Island.
December 20th, 1803, Rev. Samuel Hopkins, D.D., died aged 82 years. In his death, the church sustained a heavy loss,
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
Though not eloquent, as was Dr. Stiles, yet there was a solem. nity in his preaching which carried conviction to the under- standing and heart, and shewed the sincerity of his mind, as one in whom you could rely. Decision of character was preemi- nently conspicuous in his whole character-a trait seldom to be met with at the present day. His theological views were some- what peculiar, and gave great offence, though his opponents were constrained to admit his honesty.
He was a target at which the arrows of malice were thrown, but he stood, as he remarked, "like a brazen wall, un- hurt." Charles Cahoone, who was skeptical in his views, and rather eccentric, was disposed to annoy the Doctor by sending persons to him to buy brimstone. Such conduct was highly displeasing to the Doctor, but it never deterred him from preaching what he believed to be the truth. Cahoone was a carver, and a specimen of his work may be seen on the roof of the house of Engine No. VI., at the head of King-street. It represents old Breton, an English rigger, dressed in his pet- ticoat, trowsers, and cocked hat, with the pig-tail tobacco hang- ing out of his pocket. It is a fac simile of the person.
" Dr. Hopkins was a distinguished divine. His mind was discerning, and his application was almost unequaled. He sometimes devoted to his studies eighteen hours in a day. One of his peculiar sentiments, was that the inability of sinners is moral, not natural ; but this is only saying that their inability consists in disinclination of heart, or of opposition of will, to what is good. Combining the Calvinistic doctrine that God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, with his views of the nature of sin as consisting entirely in the intention or dispo- sition of the mind, he inferred that it was no impeachment upon the character of the most righteous Disposer of all events, to say, not only that He had decreed the existence of sin, but that He exerted His own power to produce it. The design being be- nevolent, he contended that no more iniquity could be attached to this act, than to the bare permission of sin. This is another of his peculiarities. From his view of the nature of holiness, as con- sisting in disinterested benevolence, he also inferred that a Christian should be willing to perish forever, to be forever mis- erable, if it should be necessary for the glory of God and the good of the universe that he should encounter this destruction.
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MINISTERIAL CHANGES.
" Instead of the Calvinistic doctrine of the strict imputation of Adam's sin, and of the righteousness of Christ, he chose rather to adopt the language of Scripture in saying, that on account of the first transgression, men were made or constitu- ted sinners, and that men are justified on account of the right- eousness of Christ, or through the redemption which there is in him. Another of his peculiarities is, that all sin consists in sel- fishness."
He was a man of large stature, and well proportioned ; dressed in the costume of the age, with a full bottomed wig, he presented an imposing appearance.
Sept. 12, 1804, Rev. Caleb T. Tenney was installed pastor of the First Church, and was dismissed May 29th, 1815.
Aug. 23d, 1815, Rev. Calvin Hitchcock was installed over the First Church, and was dismissed August 23d, 1820.
July 25th, 1821, Rev. Samuel Austin, D. D., was installed pastor of the First Church, and was dismissed in 1826. Dr. Austin, previous to his coming to Newport, had been Presi- dent of Burlington College, Vermont. He was an able exposi- tor of the Scriptures.
. He was succeeded by Rev. William Torrey, January, 1827, who was dismissed in May, 1829, rather unceremoniously.
March 24th, 1830, Rev. William Beecher was ordained pas- tor of the First Church, and dismissed June 23d, 1833.
April 18th, 1833, Rev. William Patten was dismissed from his pastoral charge over the Second Church, after having min- istered to his people for the long period of forty seven years. If great success did not attend his ministrations, if additions were not as numerous as in some instances, nevertheless he was a pious and devoted servant of Christ, and was strongly en- deared to the members of his Church.
Dr. Patten was a fine classical scholar. There was no at- tempt at display in the pulpit ; he delivered the truth, and left it with God to apply it to the hearts and consciences of his hearers. The reason assigned for his dismission, was that the Church had been long in a declining state. This was not of sufficient weight to dissolve a connection which had existed for nearly half a century. Dr. Patten had spent the energies of his youth in their service; he had reared up a large family in their midst and all his dearest associations were there. It was
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
painful to his mind to be under the necessity of turning his back on the people of his charge, and to take up his residence in a spot where the changes had been so great in the period of nearly half a century, that he scarcely knew any of the inhabi- tants.
It would have been far better, had the church and society proposed a colleague, and allowed the venerable servant of God to have lived and died in their midst.
Dr. Patten, though dignified in manners, and commanding the respect of all, was yet very companionable, and at times highly amusing. A Mrs. K., a lady from the South, and con- nected with some of the first families, became insane, and was placed in the family of Rev. William Patten. She was rather disposed to sneer at his pretensions to the ministerial office, which he pleasantly submitted to. Subsequently, Brown Uni- versity conferred on him the degree of D. D. Mrs. K. contin- ued her attacks, when the Doctor remarked, " Why, Mrs. K., I am really surprised that a lady of your rank and dignity, will condescend so low as to insult a Doctor of Divinity." She ap- . peared greatly surprised at the announcement. " You a D. D .? " " Yes, madam ; do you require my credentials ?" "No, sir,"" she replied ; and from that moment, as he informed the author, she was always respectful. The Doctor jocosely remarked that this was all the benefit he derived from the Doctorate.
For many years, the Second Church was destitute of a single male member, and was indebted to the Deacons of. the First Church for the duties which pertain to that office, in the cele- bration of the Lord's Supper. In 1833, a project for uniting these two churches in one began to be talked of, and gradually gained favor, until at length, on the 24th of May, 1833, the work was consummated.
On the 26th of Sept., 1839, the Rev. A. Henry Dumont was installed, by an Ecclesiastical Council, the first pastor of the United Church.
The societies being united in one, deemed it expedient to erect a new house of worship, which was accordingly done. This house was solemnly dedicated to the worship of the Tri- une God, on the 4th of June, 1834.
The present pastor is the Rev. Thatcher Thayer, who suc- ceeded the Rev. Mr. Dumont, and who is highly esteemed by his people.
329
REV. SAMUEL HOPKINS.
The two Congregational Churches, up to the time of the death of Dr. Hopkins, enjoyed the most entire harmony. So pure and deep was the sympathy of the two pastors, that they called each other by the appellations of father and son. The last time that Dr. Hopkins walked out with Dr. Patten, who at that time was comparatively a young man, and accompanied him home, Dr. Hopkins said, " What need have I any more of a cane, since I have your arm ;" and gave his cane or long staff, mounted with ivory, into the hands of Dr. Patten, who used it afterwards, and reckoned it among his choice things. They were like David and Jonathan, "pleasant and lovely in their lives," and in their resting place on earth they are not divided. They repose in front of the Spring-street church.
A strong desire is expressed by the family of the late la- mented Dr. Patten, that a monument be erected to his memory, and we trust, for the honor of the town, that no obstacles will be thrown in the way of the accomplishment of the object.
· At the same time, the' church and society over which Dr. Hopkins presided for so many years, should erect a suitable monument to his memory, or join with the family of Dr. Patten in the praiseworthy undertaking.
The estimation in which Dr. Hopkins' writings were held in Scotland, led the College at Edinburgh to confer on him the degree of D.D. It was a high honor, and showed that they highly appreciated his talents as an able theologian.
Dr. Hopkins' salary, for many years, did not exceed $200 per annum, and the parsonage house, which is still standing. His study would only admit of a table, with just sufficient room to move round it ; it was there he wrote his System of Divinity, which cost him ten years' labor, and for the copyright of which he obtained $800.
A wealthy lady of his church, Mrs. Wright, was in the habit of furnishing himself and wife, which then comprised his fam- ily, dinner three times a week from her own table; and he and his companion would often take tea out, with some of his pa- rishioners, who were always gratified with the visit of their pastor. Dr. Hopkins often remarked that he would not ex- change his situation for an increase of salary, so delighted was he with Newport, and the affectionate church over which he ministered.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
But few such self-sacrificing spirits are to be met with in this world. It was the flock, and not the flecce he was after. He had consecrated himself to the work of the Gospel ministry, and in that service he labored until removed by death. He looked for higher honors than earth could possibly confer, as the reward of his labors and toils in the service of his Lord and Master. A faithful minister will proclaim the truth to both saint and sinner ; he will not shun to declare the whole counsel of God. The commission which he professes to have received, binds him to the faithful performance of this duty. His office is not one of earthly appointment, if well understood-though many at this day seem to view it so, by the cautious manner in which they wield the weapons of the Gospel, lest the minds of their hearers should be disturbed. It was not so with Hop- kins and his associates ; they believed that the investiture was from Jehovah, and that obedience was required of all who bore the vessels of the sanctuary. They put their trust entirely in God, and not in man for a blessing on their labors of love. Such were the divines Clark, Callender, Stiles, Hopkins, Brown, Clap, Thurston, and Patten, who graced the pulpits of that day.
1787 .- Last Saturday night arrived here Capt. Benjamin Pearce, in the brig Elizabeth, sixty-three days from Copenhagen, bringing a bell of about 1,100 lbs. weight, for the Second Con- gregational Church of the City of Newport. "The City of Newport" is cast on the bell. It is now in the belfry of the Union Congregational Church, in Spring street.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEWPORT, AND THE FIRST IN AMERICA.
The First Baptist Church in Providence having arrogated to itself the honor of being the first in the State and in the country, . it was taken for granted that their claim was a valid one, and none attempted to deny to them the honor. But recently the subject has undergone a thorough examination, which has resulted in giving an entire new version to the subject. A com- mittee was appointed by the church at Providence, to investi-
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEWPORT.
gate the matter, of which Rev. T. C. Jameson was Chairman, wherein they report that they " are of the opinion that the Baptist church at Newport was formed certainly before the 1st of May, 1639, and probably on the 7th of March, 1638." In- stead of submitting to the report, which, according to parlia- mentary usages, they should have done, they came out with a review of the doings of their committee, and finding themselves driven to the wall by the weight of evidence furnished of the priority of the First Church in Newport, labored to show that it was not in its commencement Anna-Baptist, but Pædo-Baptist.
May 11th, 1639. The existence of this church was matter of public record in Massachusetts :
" 1639. The people of Aquedneck, gathered a church in a very disordered way, for they took some excommunicated per- sons, and others who were members of the church of Boston, and not dismissed."
" The church of Boston sent three brethren with letters to Mr. Coddington, and the rest of our members at Aquedneck, to understand their judgment in divers points of religion formerly maintained by all, or divers of them, and to require them to give account to the church of their unwarrantable practice, in communicating with excommunicated persons, &c. When they came, they found that those of them who dwelt at Newport, had joined themselves to a church there, newly constituted, and therefore refused to hear them as messengers of our church, or to receive the church's letters. Whereupon, at their return, the elders and most of the church would have them cast out, as refusing to hear the church, but all not being agreed, it was de- ferred."-Winthrop's Journal, 1st month, (March) 24, 1639-40.
From this extract, it appears that this church, from its or- ganization, rejected infant baptism, the supervision of the civil magistrates, &c., and was in fact a Baptist church. On what other ground can we possibly reconcile the conduct of the church at Newport, in thus refusing to receive the messengers which were sent from Boston ? Most certainly, if they had been at this period Pædo-Baptist, they would never have rejected those of the same faith and order, but would have extended the right hand of fellowship to their brethren. It is well-known that infant baptism at that day among Pædo-Baptists, was the sine qua non, and all who differed in this grand essential were
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