USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Manual of the First Congregational Church, Bristol, R.I., 1687-1872 > Part 9
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wich, Conn., and was soon after called to the Pas- torate which he accepted, and was installed 1786, October 18th. After a highly successful ministry, by which he was greatly endeared to his people, he was dismissed, at his own urgent request, on account of the infirmities of age, 1818, December 1st, but he continued to dwell among his people, and to labor for their welfare as his strength would allow until his decease, 1840, August 27th, at the advanced age
of nearly ninety-five years. In 1792 he received from his alma mater the degree of Doctor in Divinity. In 1816 he was chosen a member of the corporation of Yale College. He had a prominent agency in many of the benevolent movements of the day, and was connected with most of the prominent societies then existing for the extension of the Gospel and the promotion of the great interests of humanity. Dr. Lewis and his wife were the parents of nine chil- dren, six sons and three daughters. Of the five sons who lived to maturity, three were educated at Yale College, two entered the Ministry, and three were lawyers. Their mother died 1829, April 13th.
ZECHARIAH, one of the twin brothers, studied theology at Philadelphia, Pa., and was, at the same time, a private tutor in the family of General Wash- ington. In 1746 he was licensed to preach, but accepted the office of tutor in Yale College, where he continued until a failure of health compelled him to resign in the summer of 1799. Not recovering health sufficient to enter upon the Ministry, he became edi- tor of "the Commercial Advertiser " and "New
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York Spectator," and remained in this employment till about the year 1820. He was subsequently cor- responding secretary of the "New York Religious Tract Society," and of the " United Foreign Mission Society ;" and commenced and for several years edited the " American Missionary Register." He died at his residence in Brooklyn, N. Y., 1840, November 14th, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
DR. LEWIS, our Pastor, pursued his theological studies at New Haven, under both Presidents Stiles and Dwight. He was ordained 1798, May 30th, and in 1800 was installed over the First Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown, N. Y., from whence he was called, in 1806, to the Presbyterian Church in Goshen, N. Y., and from there came to Bristol in 1812. After his brief but fruitful labors here, he officiated as stated supply in the Churches of New Rochelle and West Farms, N. Y., until he was called to succeed his venerable father at Greenwich, Conn., being in- stalled on the day of his father's dismission, 1818, December 1st. After a remarkably successful Minis- try of a few years he resigned his charge, and was soon after settled as the eighth Pastor in the line of succession over this ancient Church.
In 1844 he was honored with the degree of Doctor in Divinity by Delaware College. In 1827 he preached the Election Sermon at New Haven, Conn. Several sermons and public addresses were published, includ- ing the Ordination sermon of Rev. Joshua Knight, at Sherburne, Mass., 1804, two or three occasional ser- mons preached at Bristol, and an address before the Fairfield County Bible Society in 1844.
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A man of excellent talents, of elevated Christian character, of fine expressive countenance, of urbane and gentlemanly manners, and of richly endowed and well furnished mind, he commanded the respect of all. As a preacher he was sound in doctrine, able and eloquent in appeal. As a Pastor he was faithful, and won the hearts of all who received his kind and Christian ministrations. He died at New York, 1854, September 23d, in the eighty second year of his age.
His Ministry in Bristol, though brief, was dis- tinguished by another of those seasons of great spiritual refreshing which characterized this period, resulting in large accessions to the membership of the Church.
THE REVIVAL OF 1830.
Though from advancing years the natural force of Dr. Lewis had in a degree abated, the recollection of his past services secured for him a warm welcome to the hearts of the people who were ready to co- operate with him in every good word and work. The thoroughly evangelical character of his preaching, his fidelity in pastoral labors, the sweet influence of his christian example, the kindly and prayerful co- operation of the Church prepared the way for a third general Revival in 1830, of a similar character and extent to the two which had preceded it. Re- specting this great work of grace, we make no special record of incidents or details, but it is grate- fully remembered by the surviving subjects of it as
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a precious season of interest throughout all the Churches, and affecting nearly every family in the town. The converts, numbered by hundreds, were of all ages and several of them were far advanced in life, who, having passed through the previous sea- sons of refreshing without submitting themselves to God, felt that this was a last call to them, and un- less they now yielded to the Divine claims their day of grace was over.
Thus has God blessed this Church and town with repeated and remarkable Pentecostal seasons, and his blessing has rested upon the community at all times. Surely He is faithful that hath promised, and His mercies are from everlasting to everlasting. With what gratitude should we acknowledge his goodness, with what penitence should we acknow- ledge our sins before Him, with what earnest faith should we consecrate ourselves and all that we pos- sess to His service.
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VIII.
THE BUILDING STILL GOING FORWARD. 1830-1872.
JOHN STARKWEATHER .- NINTH PASTOR.
The ninth Pastor in the succession was the REV. JOHN STARKWEATHER, a native of Worthington, Mass. ; a graduate of Yale College, 1825, and of Andover Theological Seminary. The call, voted on the 21st of November, 1831, was unanimons, and with cordial harmony he was duly installed on the 14th of December following. For a time this unani- mity of feeling continued, but at length there arose considerable dissatisfaction and want of confidence which was expressed in a written communication to the Pastor, signed by twenty-one male members. On the 29th of December, 1834, the matter was mu- tually referred to an Ecclesiastical Council, who advised the dissolution of the Pastoral relation, which advice was accepted.
During his brief Ministry twenty-two were added to the Church, and the Manual which has been in use to the present time was prepared and published.
THOMAS SHEPARD, D. D .- TENTH PASTOR.
Soon after the dismission of Mr. Starkweather, efforts were made to secure the services of the REV. THOMAS SHEPARD, late of Ashfield, Mass., and by a
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unanimous vote of the Church and Society he was called to the Pastoral office, 1835, April 1st. Ac- cepting the call he was duly installed on the 30th of April following.
DR. SHEPARD was a native of Norton, Mass., born 1792, May 7th ; graduated at Brown Univer- sity 1813, and at Andover Theological Seminary 1816 ; was employed until 1819 as a missionary and teacher in the State of Georgia ; and on the 16th of June, of that year, was ordained as Colleague Pastor with the venerable Nehemiah Porter over the Church, in Ashfield, Mass. After a successful ministry of about fourteen years, during which two hundred and seventy- four were admitted to his Church ; he was dismissed 1833, May 8th. After his dismission from Ashfield, he was employed as an agent for the American Bible Society about two years, from which service he was called to the Pastorate here. In 1853 he received from Brown University the Degree of Doctor in Divinity. In 1846 he was elected a corporate mem- ber of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
A Parsonage was early in his Ministry erected on Bradford street, which he has occupied with his family ever since. A few years ago Mrs. Sarah W. Shepard, the sharer of his joys and burdens, was called to her home above. A devoted wife and mother, a faithful friend to all, and especially kind to the poor, a decided Christian in all the walks of life, her memory is cherished gratefully by the people among whom she passed her useful life.
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On the 7th of May, 1865, he resigned the active duties and responsibilities of the Pastoral office, and asked that a successor might be chosen. His resig- nation was accepted, with the understanding that he would continue to live among his own people until called up higher, and the use of the Parsonage was tendered him during the remainder of his life. He still lives among us as the retired Pastor universally respected and beloved.
During his Ministry several seasons of unusual religious interest transpired. In 1837, 1838, 1842, 1846, 1852 and 1858, the Holy Spirit's power was manifested in the quickening of God's children and the conversion of many souls. These seasons are gratefully remembered by all who were participants in them.
ERECTION OF THE THIRD HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
Early in 1855, the subject of erecting a new House of Worship was agitated, and, after some delibera- tion, it was decided to proceed to build. The fol- lowing gentlemen were chosen a Building Commit- tee, under whose supervision the work was success- fully accomplished : William B. Spooner, Messadore T. Bennett, Josiah Gladding, Stephen T. Church, and Nathan Bardin.
The House is located on the corner of Bradford and High streets, fronting on the latter. It has three entrances in front and a rear entrance at the south-east corner leading to the library and pulpit, and also leading to the chapel recently built. It has
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a tower on the north-west corner eighteen feet square with buttresses extending upward about eighty feet, surmounted with belfrey and turrets. The full di- mensions of the house are as follows : Length, one hundred and one feet ; width, sixty-seven feet ; walls, twenty-eight feet high in the clear, and thirty-nine feet from the floor to the apex of nave of the main arch. The style of architecture is gothic. The trimmings and buttresses are of pure granite ; the filling up is of a stone somewhat different in quality, presenting a pleasing variety in figure and color. The roof is covered with slate and tin. The interior is finished with groin arched ceiling with eight pend- ants or corbels for springing the arches, and from which depend the chandeliers. The pews, number- ing one hundred and fourteen on the main floor, are circular, trimmed with black walnut, and neatly up- holstered. 'The pulpit, communion table and chairs are of black walnut, harmonising well with the gen- eral style of the house. The recess back of the pulpit is richly frescoed as are also the arches in the ceiling of the roof. The organ, made by Messrs. Hook, of Boston, is finished to correspond with the interior of the Church. The case is gothic, thirty- four feet high and fourteen feet wide. It has thirty- two registers or stops, and is of superior tone and capacity. The orchestra is dropped within a few feet of the main floor, and harmonizes in style with the pulpit at the opposite end. The entire floor of the Church is richly carpeted, and the whole interior is lighted with gas. The architect was Seth H.
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Ingalls, and the master builder was William Ingalls, both of New Bedford, Mass.
The House stood complete and ready for dedica- tion in November, 1856. On the 23d, farewell ser- vices of an interesting character including an histori- cal discourse by the Pastor, founded on Psalm xlviii. 12-13, were held in the old House, and on the 25th the new House was dedicated to Almighty God with appropriate services including discourse by the Pastor, founded on Psalm lxxvii. 13. These were oc- casions of special interest to the congregation who requested copies of the discourses for publication, which request was complied with. The following extracts from these discourses will show the anima- ting spirit of Pastor and people :
" In taking leave of these venerable walls within which our fathers have sat and listened to the messages of salva- tion for seventy-two years, where venerable men of God, some of whom have ceased from earth and gone to their final reward, have been trained for the kingdom of glory, where the praises of God have been sung by lips which are now responding to angelic harps,around the throne, many affecting thoughts crowd themselves upon our minds. This has been the birth-place of souls. Here, blind eyes have been opened to behold the light of truth, as it shines in the face of Jesus. Here deaf ears have been unstopped to listen with rapture to the messages of mercy through atoning blood. Here multitudes have set out in the christian race, for the prize of an unfading crown. Oh! how hallowed to memory is such a place. But it has done its work, and in the revolutions of time it is meet that it should give place to another, and a more com- modious and more attractive house of worship. And while
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the very dust of this sanctuary will ever remain precious in our eyes, may our united prayers ascend to God, that the glory of the latter house may exceed the glory of the former. The materials of its walls are imperishable. Long, long will it resist the corroding tooth of time. Cen- turies will not impair those granite foundations, scores of generations will worship in its courts, and thousands of the sanctified pass up to the purer devotions of heaven."
" What is this new and stately edifice, this pulpit, these pews, yonder orchestra, these frescoed arches? What but one common passage way to the grave, the judgment seat, the retributions of eternity. If they all could speak to us, would not their united voice be "Prepare to meet thy God?" Oh if these buttresses and turrets and pillars and arches and gildings had a tongue to speak for Him, to whose service they are this day dedicated, they would say to you in tones unearthly, 'let not the novelty of these imposing scenes divert your minds one moment from the great question, What must I do to be saved?' Consecra- ted stone or wood or mortar wrought into the highest state of architectural symmetry and beauty cannot save you. Yonder organ with its deep and silvery tones, this pulpit with the highest eloquence that shall ever grace it, cannot, of themselves, work out your salvation. Except ye repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,-except ye give your heart to God and live to His glory, ye must live and die without hope. No external privileges can super- cede the necessity of the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost."
" See that you refuse not Him that speaketh to you to- day through these scenes and services. Bring no strange fire to offer on this altar. Come up hither with the sacri- fice of an humble and contrite heart. Listen to the Word as those who must give account. Pray with a fervent spirit. Make melody in your hearts unto the Lord. In a word, worship God in spirit and in truth. And after a few
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more Sabbath suns shall have arisen and set, you will have offered your last prayer, have sung your last hymn of praise, joined in your last communion service, your seat be occupied by another, and your spirit, if purified in the blood of the Lamb, will pass away to the Sanctuary above,
Where the assembly ne'er breaks up And the Sabbath ne'er shall end."
CYRUS P. OSBORNE .- ELEVENTH PASTOR.
After the retirement of DR. SHEPARD, several per- sons were heard as candidates for settlement until the 11th of September, 1865, when the Church voted unanimously to call the REV. CYRUS P. OSBORNE, in which action the Society also concurred, and on the 2d of November following, he was duly ordained and installed as the Eleventh Pastor in the succession.
Mr. Osborne was born in East Boston, Mass., graduated at Harvard College, 1859, and at Andover Theological Seminary, 1862. He continued in the Pastoral office until 1870, June 6th, when, at his own request, he was dismissed, that he might avail him- self of a favorable opportunity to visit Europe and the Holy Land.
His ministry, though brief, was fruitful in good results. An interesting revival of religion was en- joyed in 1866-67, during which season a large number of young persons professed conversion, and over a hundred united with the Church on profession of faith.
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PAYMENT OF THE DEBT.
One leading object in the organization of the Catholic Society was to secure a permanent fund for the support of the Ministry. With much self-denial a fund was started which promised to be of very material aid by a prospective increase from year to year. But the event did not justify the hopes thus entertained. Eighteen years later the fund seems to have shrank somewhat, for in the settlement with Dr. Wight a note of one thousand dollars was given by the Society. This beginning of debt was a bad precedent too easily followed in subsequent years, until it rolled up in round numbers to six thousand dollars. On the 22d of March, 1864, a member of the Society, who has since rested from his earthly labors, liberally offered "to pay one-half the debt himself if the Society would raise by subscription a like sum." This offer set the people to thinking, but did not arouse them sufficiently to secure the de- sired end until the fall of 1867, when, at a meeting in " the Hall," on the evening of September 17, about forty members of the congregation being present, the ball was set in motion by a liberal sub- scription, a committee was appointed to canvass the parish, and in a few weeks the requisite amount was secured. Great was the rejoicing over this result, and a meeting of the people for thanksgiving and praise was appointed, which was attended by large numbers and is spoken of as "the Jubilee meet- ing."
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ERECTION OF THE MEMORIAL CHAPEL.
The year following the payment of the Society's debt, the subject of erecting a Chapel was agitated, " the Hall " being thought by many to be too small for the present and prospective need of the Church. The Sabbath School began to make weekly offerings as the nucleus of a fund for this purpose, and plans were discussed of securing a general contribution throughout the congregation, but before arrange- ments were completed, two sisters who had often made the Church their debtor by their unstinted benefactions, desiring to honor their sainted parents and at the same time make provision for the wants of the Church, whose spiritual welfare was dear to them, assumed the entire responsibility of building and fur- nishing a " Memorial Chapel." Arrangements were soon completed, and the work was begun under the supervision of Messadore T. Bennett, William B. Spooner, William H. Church, Stephen T. Church, Mar- tin Bennett, and James E. French, as a building committee. The architect was Seth Ingalls, Esq., of New Bedford, Mass. The corner stone was laid with appropriate services at eleven o'clock, Tues- day, July 6th, 1869, and in the following February the Chapel stood complete and furnished for oc- cupancy.
The Chapel adjoins the Church edifice, with which it harmonizes in material and style. The walls are of rubble stone ; the door, windows and buttresses of dressed granite. The side walls are thirteen feet, and the main gable thirty-four feet high. The ceil-
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ing is finished to the height of twenty-nine feet. A vestibule ten feet by eleven feet joins the Chapel to the Church. A north wing extends across the end of the vestibule and in the rear of the Church twenty- six feet by twenty-two feet two inches. A south wing projects from the opposite side fifteen feet by twenty-one feet eight inches. The main audience room, with which the wings are connected by sliding doors with ground glass panels, is thirty-three feet by fifty feet. These are all inside measurements. The floors are of southern pine laid in mortar. The walls are ceiled up thirty inches from the floor with south- ern pine, having a base and chair moulding of black walnut. The ceiling overhead is finished with trans- verse arches and pendants or corbels for springing the arches to which are attached the gas fixtures. The walls above the chair moulding and the ceiling overhead are neatly tinted with a light color that harmonizes well with the general style of the interior. The western or front gable has a large gothic win- dow of stained glass, and a similar window of ground glass is in the north gable. The other windows are all of ground glass.
The main audience room is furnished with black walnut seats in cast iron frames with reversible backs, a neat black walnut desk made by William O. and Charles Manchester, and gothic chairs of the same material for the platform, a small black walnut table front of the desk, and a Mason & Hamlin organ, valued at three hundred dollars, presented by the Sabbath School. The aisles and the space front
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of the seats and around the platform are covered with neat and durable matting, and the platform with a tasteful carpet. The north room is furnished with settees with reversible backs, and a movable desk and chairs, and the entire floor is neatly carpeted. The south room is carpeted similar to the north room, and is furnished with an extension table and movable chairs. By opening the sliding doors the three rooms are thrown into one, every part of which is in range with the desk of the large room.
Upon the inner wall of the large room is a plain marble tablet, inscribed as follows :
THIS CHAPEL
DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF GOD, THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST, WAS ERECTED IN 1869, IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM AND CHARLOTTE DEWOLF, . DECEASED 1829. BY THEIR DAUGHTERS CHARLOTTE DEWOLF AND MARIA DEWOLF ROGERS. " We have thought of thy loving kindness O God in the midst of thy temple."
The Chapel was dedicated 1870, February 24th, with impressive services, including a dedicatory ad- dress by the pastor, Mr. Osborne, and dedicatory prayer by Dr. Shepard.
The address closed as follows :
" Thus, my hearers, does this occasion suggest to us im- portant duties, too apt to be neglected. Does it not also
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call for grateful acknowledgments; first to God, whose providence has furnished us this gift; next to the human instruments of His benefaction.
" It is pleasant to commend. To praise the patience and wise council of the building committee, the skill of the architect and builder, the fidelity of the workmen in their several parts, the zeal of one who has shown the deepest interest in the difficult work of furnishing the several apartments were a grateful office and not embar- rassing. But worthily to praise the bountiful devotion which has built these walls and given this edifice, with all its comely furnishings, a free-will offering to the Lord,- for this I have no fitting words. I cannot give voice to the grateful sentiments that pervade this assembly. Nor would I if I could. For this would only wound the ten- der sensibilities of natures as modest as they are munifi- cent.
" We will only rejoice that their eyes have been per- mitted to behold their completed offering, and to be witnesses of our joy in its completion ; and pray they may be spared tosee it become according to their fervent wish, ' the birthplace of souls,' and resolve never to forget their frequently expressed desire, that this sanctuary may be hallowed to the service of the Master.
" There is an element in this offering too sacred for our touch. 'In Memoriam' is graved upon its walls, point- ing our thoughts heavenward.
' Oh, it is sweet to think of those that are departed, While numbered prayers sink to silence tender-hearted; While tears that leave no pain, are tranquilly distilling, And the dead live again, in hearts that love is filling.'
"Some will make the dead live again in flowers upon their grave, watered with tears that have their fountains in the heart. Some will keep their name alive by tons of rock heaped over them,-marble from Italy or granite from the hills, carved into elegant but idle forms. But far
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more beautiful is that affection which turns the memory of the dead into a benediction of the living. It was a loving thought of the sainted dead that reared this little temple. It was a happy thought that combined in a single act such honor to the memory of parents long departed, and such devotion to a Redeemer's cause. If the redeemed in heaven can witness earthly scenes, those revered parents must rejoice, as piety and filial love now lay this offering at Immanuel's feet."
JAMES P. LANE .- TWELFTH PASTOR.
On the first Sabbath in November, 1870, the present Pastor began to preach as a candidate for settlement. Receiving a unanimous call from the Church and Society, he accepted the same, and on the 11th of January, 1871, was duly installed in office. The sermon on this occasion was by the Rev. Jacob M. Manning, D. D., of Boston, Mass. The installing prayer was by the Rev. John L. Taylor, D. D., of Andover, Mass.
Mr. Lane was a native of Candia, N. H .; son of the late Isaiah Lane, M. D., who deceased at Meri- den, N. H., in 1855. He graduated at Amherst College, 1857, pursued Theological studies at And- over, and was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in East Weymouth, Mass., 1861, January 10th. After a ministry of nearly five years, during which about one hundred were admitted to the Church, he was called to the pastorate of the Free Church in Andover, and was installed 1866, April 4th. From Andover he removed to Bristol.
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