USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Westford > Historical addresses delivered at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Congregational Church at Westford, Vermont, August 8, 1876 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 5813
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https://archive.org/details/historicaladdres00cong
HISTORICAL ADDRESSES
DELIVERED AT THE
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 75 th
OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
THE NEWBERRY libY-RY
.
WESTFORD, VERMONT, AUGUST, 8, 1876.
Vt.
PUBLISHED BY THE CHURCH.
WESTFORD: 1876
1822066
284395 .9 D
WESTFORD, V2. CORRECT Historical addresses enty-fifth and. versary of the C. church at Westford, Vermont, .: Published by the church. 60p.
THMP CAKL
Westford, Vt. ": p. 16.v.
4010
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
As this pamphlet may fall into the hands of some who were not present at the Anniversary, a few words of explana- tion are necessary. On one of the most perfect days of summer. in response to circulars announcing the Social Reunion and Me- morial Service, and inviting " former residents of Westford, for- mer members of this church and congregation, and all persons interested in the occasion; " an audience of more than five han- dred assembled at the meeting-house, at 10 80 A. M.
The opening Anthem, by the choir, was: " Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth." Rev. E. B. Chamberlain read Ps. 48 and part of Jn. 4. Rev. Alvah Sabin offered prayer. The choir sang: "() how lovely is Zion. " . The Historical Address was delivered by Rev. Geo. P. Byington, after which the congregation joined the choir in singing a hymn, prepared for the occasion by Mrs. By- ington. Rev. J. H. Woodward, of Milton, then addressed his former people, after which the hymn : " All hail the power of Jesus' name" was sung with trembling lips, by some of the old singers, led by Mr. Tyler Chase. One of them, Mr. Thomas Rog- ers, was in his 82nd year. Rev. C. C. Torrey; of Charlotte, a former minister of this church, next addressed the audience. At 1 P. M., the procession was formed and marched to the grove, where a collation awaited it, spread on improvised tables.
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After the refreshments,-which were free to all and enough for all,-and the company had spent an hour in social enjoy- ment; addresses were delivered, from a platform in the grove, by Rev. E. B. Chamberlain,* of Sharon-once a minister of this church ;- by Rev. Alvah Sabin, of Georgia, who gave some his- tory of the Baptist church in town, of which he was the first pastor ;- by Rev. John Chase, who gave some history of the M. E. church in town, of which he is the present pastor.
Music by the choir and the Westford Cornet Band was in- terspersed, during all the open-air exercises; and added much to the occasion.
The Social Reunion was a very pleasant and successful af- fair. A thousand persons, according to the estimate of many- eight hundred, by the soberest estimate known-more than sev- enty of whom had come back to their native place, journeying hither on purpose, and in some cases a long distance, to meet old friends and revive old associations, did not spend seven hours together for nothing. Impromptu speeches were made by Hon. Torrey E. Wales, of Burlington; N. P. Bowman, Esq .. of St. Johnsbury; Mr. Geo. Wood, of Wataga, Ill .; Mr. John Sib- ley, of Colchester, and Mr. John Woodruff, of - -, St. Law- rence Co., N. Y. Others were ready to speak, if time had not failed us. The reading of letters also from Dea. A. B. Partridge, Dr. M. Swain and Mr. H. R. Stebbings, of Englewood, Ill., had to be deferred to another time. It was such an opportunity for an informal and hearty interchange of friendly greetings, as too seldom occurs in this busy age. It was a perfect holiday-a scene of general joy: though, of course, shaded in the back- ground by the regret that many, whose memory was brought back vividly by the occasion, could not visibly join in our reun- ion. The following is from the account by " X," in the Burling-
* Rov. B. W. Smith, was not present to speak before Mr. C. 2. Mr. Woodruff, spoken of a- bove, was the carly one prevent, who was also present, 75 years ago, at the organization.
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ton Free Press :- " Among these, [former residents present] we mention Noah Tyler; John Woodruff; Judge Wales; Amasa Osgood; Silas Beach; John and Timothy Sibley; James Morse and several of the family; J. K. Drury; N. P. and Elliot Bow- man; C. Williams; Mrs. E. Hart, daughter of Dea. Jas. Taylor; L. L. Lawrence; D. H. Macomber, who led the choir twenty years ago and now recognizes only four who were then in it; El- der Sabin; the surviving members of the Wood family, mother, Hannibal, Solon, George, and the sisters, with their wives and husbands, gathering at the old homestead, and sitting in the pews they were formerly wont to occupy in the church; the see- ond pastor of this church, who, in the overflow of his joy at the unexpected meeting with this family, followed the Apostolic in- junction, 'Greet the sisters* with an holy kiss.' The reunion of these and other families and old residents was a happy one. The occasion will long be remembered by the renewal of old ac- quaintances; the meeting of friends long separated; the revisit- ing of the scenes of childhood, and the worshipping of friends and neighbors together in the church of their fathers. "
The company separated, after prayer and the benediction by Mr. Woodward.
This pamphlet is published by the church, for the better preservation of its history. Its authors allow it to go forth to serve the church, in whose welfare they have long had a spe- cial interest. Most of it needs no apology, although prepared amid the pressure of other duties. Of the defects of my own part of it, I am sufficiently conscious to be willing to offer an apology, if it could atone for them. As its value lies wholly in its record of facts, I have added to those found in my MS., as it was delivered, others which have come to my knowledge since.
* "X " had access to a New Version of the Scriptures, apparently.
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or which were omitted through fear of trespassing on time be- longing to other speakers at the Memorial Service. My address is confined exclusively to one church, because other speakers had engaged to represent the others in town. .. The address by Elder Sabin on the Baptist church? will be welcomed, in print, by all who. heard it. i.I regret to say that Mr. Chase's. address on the M. E. church ; could, not be obtained for publication: and that the impromptu speeches cannot be reproduced.
, A The Parsonage,. October 23, 1876. .1
1 I. G. P. B.
DATES. 1.1
1 ,
Simeon Parmelee, P., from Aug. 31, 1808 to Aug. 8, '37.
J. H. Woodward, " 'Jan. 31, 1838 to Feb. 25, '64. "
Peter Nutting, * A. P., " Dec. 1, 1861, about nine mos.
Charles C. Torrey,*
Sep. - , 1862 'to Feb. 25, '64.
Buel W. Smith, "
"
-- , 1864 , -. - , '65. --- Nov. 1, 1865 "
S. Parmelee D. D., " "
Geo. P. Byington, " Nov. 20, 1869 " 11 " Benajah Case, Deacon , Aug. 7, '01 -
" Martin Powell, " 1 "
'01
Amos Partridge, Jr. "
James Taylor,
William Bowman, "
"
July 30, '37(?) ,,
A. B. Partridge,
Dec. 27, '37 "
Martin P. Rice, " Jan. 18, '45 "
this time.
B. F. Lawrence, "
May 5, '71 " " "
Charles O. Brigham, "
June 30, '76 "
-
"
-
Sep. 1, '65. Oct. 15, '69.
E. B. Chamberlain, " " Sep. 1, 1868 "
this time.
Aug. 7, " death, in '28. "
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"
Jan. 23, '44 May 22, 76. Aug. 22, '44.
* These were in Westford, during Mr. Woodward's chaplaincy in the army, Ro- The date of Dea. Bowman's election is not recorded. He is first styled "Dra.," in the church records, Ju- ly 30, 1837. H . joined the church, May, '34, For "P.," read Pastor; for "A. P.," Acting Pastor.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
On this Centennial year, in accordance with ity rerwin mendation of the President and Congress of the United Sen. historical addresses have been delivered in many of the cities and towns of our country. No such address has been given in West- ford. But we take advantage of the fact that one of our church (, this year complet's three quarters of a century of its histo ry. to gather the people together, both those who live in town. and those interested to come from other town --- all of whom de cordially welcome to-day for a Memorial Service, in which the history of the church might be reviewed And it is beliey ed to bea thing fortunate, rather than otherwise, that the only Historical services in town, this Centennial var are thus compel od with the church of Christ. For, is not the church the be uler in whatever progress we have made as a nation? Do not the- institutions which we prize mose and which maken favorably known among the nation of the world-do not our civil wil social, our educational and reformator: institutions-owe then efficiency, and even their existence, to the influence of the Christian church, in the land - in every small town even in the hans -so that it's power is everywhere filt by the people? ! would that we could have before us, this year, the history of this country for a hundred years, as it would have been, if the Re formed Church of Holland had not been planted by Watch ful- onist: on Manhattan Island in 100% if the church in nl come in the dayflower to Plymouth, May., in 1020; and through Re: Villiving and histerociate do Providence h.
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in 1686; if the French Huguenots had not come to Florida. in 1662, and the Quakers to New Jersey, in 1675; the Scotch Cove- . nemters to South Carolina, in 1683; the Episcopalians to Virgin- ia, in 1693; the Presbyterians to Virginia, in 1699, and the We- leys to Georgia, in 1786-if this land, which welcomed to its shores the representatives of all nations, had not received, among them, those who sought here an asylum from religious persecu- tion, and a place for religious worship and work ; and the church of Christ had not been almost the earliest of our national in-ti- tutions, and had a formative influence on all the rest! All the people in the world, whether they can go to Philadelphia this year or not, may see the principal part of our Exhibition dile: and that is, the power of the American church to keep the gates of the Exhibition grounds closed, on the Lord's day; in spite of all the clamor and rage of those who have brought from Europe the idea that Sunday is only a holiday, and the covetousness of those who are bent upon making of it the high day for the worship of Mammon. And so we may say of each town in the land-so of Westford-the chief thing that is worth looking at, in its history, is the coming and power of the kingdom of her- en in it.
But, when it was decided that the history of the churches in town should be reviewed, at this time; unfortunately, two of the old pastors of the Congregational church, who, together ministered to it fifty-five years, were found to be physically un- equal to the part, which, on account of experience and ability, naturally belonged to them : and an undue proportion of the work of giving the history of this church has fallen on' the list and least of its ministers. This fact is sincerely regretted by him, as it is by all. He sincerely rejoices, however, with all others here, and many not here, that the venerable first pastor of this church still lives ; and, in the 95 th year of his age, is so far exempt from the infirmities of life. We all rejoice also, to-day! in the good Providence that permits so many of the former ministers and their people to take part in these Services.
The historical materials, at hand, for this address, were an extract from private records of the church, kept by one of its original members, the daughter of bea. Benajah Case; the
records of the church, kept by its clerks, for the last sixty-three years ; a manuscript address by Mr. Parmelee, written in IS5S. with subsequent additions, giving a history of the church, from the beginning of his ministry ; a historical sketch of Westford by Mr. Woodward, written for the Vt. Historical Gazetteer, m 1862; reminiscences by members of the church, and descendants of former members, and inscriptions in the cemeteries.
As a safe guide through this mass of materials, I have chosen a passage of Scripture, found in JOHN IV. 38 :- " (1/- er men labored, and ye are entered into their labors. "
Our attention is first directed to the " other men, " in-
I. to whose labors, we of to-day have entered . The Congregation- al church in Westford, like others, had a missionary origin. In the year 1795, about three miles south of this village, stood a building, known as the Stewart school-house. It was near the present residence of Mrs. Samuel Rice. Here, for six years he- fore the organization of the church, religious meetings were held. The persons who sustained them had come from Massa- chusetts, Connecticut and elsewhere. There may have been, or- casionally, a missionary in those meetings. Those who sup. ported them, had found Christ in other places; and, when they heard the marvelous stories, told in those days, about the for- tility of Vermont-stories equal to any that have since been told of the West-they came to Vermont, and finally settled in this town, bringing their religion with them. They were among the pioneer missionaries here ; and we have entered into their labors. Who can tell how much we are indebted to them ?
On the 7th of August, 1801, Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, of the Connecticut Missionary Society, came and organized the church, with a membership of thirteen persons. The place chosen was a barn, which stood where the residence of Albert Partridge now is. On Sunday, the 9th of Aug., the Lord's Sup- per was celebrated, after a sermon on 1 Pet., 2 22, " Who did. no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." At the Lord's table. a hymn was sung, beginning with the following stanza :
" We are a garden, walled around , Chosen and made peculiar ground ;
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A little spot, inclosed by grace, Out of the world's wide wilderness. "
In the P. M., Mr. Bushnell preached from Lu., 12: 32,-" Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. " This was the fifth Congregational church formed in the county,-the others being at Hinesburgh, Jericho, Essex and Charlotte,-and the second formed in town,-the Baptist church being formed, at a house five miles further north, in 1798. Mr. Bushnell and Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, also from Conn., labored with the church a part of the Autumn, and twenty-one more persons were added to it . Thus we have entered into the labors of Mr. Bushnell, who, as Rev. Dr. Williston says,* was one of the most successfull missionaries, he ever knew; and those of Mr. Hallock, who, in his own parish, West Simsbury, Cont., was sometimes styled " the Apostle John, *" on account of the rare combination of Christian graces, in his character. The lat- ter was not here many weeks, for his absence from his par- ish, for missionary work in Vt., lasted only four months; and the former organized a church at Waterbury, Vt., July, 10, 18- 01; and, in the last part of the year, he was in Addison county. laboring to promote an extensive revival there. There were al- so two other missionaries, Rev. Messrs. Marshall and Leonard, who had some part in the work of those early days, who are en- titled to a grateful remembrance by us; but, of whose work, I cannot speak definitely, Of the next six years, after Mr. Bush- nell went away, I find no record; but we may safely infer, from the record of the six years before his coming, that meetings were regularly held in " the Stewart school-house. "
In Feb., 1808, came Rev. Simeon Parmelee, then a mis- sionary, and preached two sabbaths. And on the 1st of May, of that year, he returned, and remained more than twenty-nine years. His ordination occurred Aug. 31st, 1808, in a barn, now standing, two-thirds of a mile south of the village, near the pres- ent residence of Mrs. Mary Henry. Mr. Parmelee was fitted, in a remarkable degree to be the first pastor of this church; for, iu addition to the other qualities requisite, he possessed great phys- ical vigor. He once told me that he never knew what it was to be * Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. II., pp. 233, 426.
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exhausted by his pulpit labors, when he preached three times a day. He had a spirit of self-sacrificing devotion to the work of the ministry, which led him to task his powers of endurance to a degree that would be simply impossible, for a man of ordi- nary vigor, to do for so long a time. During an active ministry of more than sixty-one years, he says, "he preached ten thou- sand sermons; attended one thousand funerals; administered the sacrament of the Supper three hundred times, and met with his people, on the holy Sabbath, three thousand, one hun- dred and seventy-two times." He was an able and faithful preacher of Christ, and shepherd of his flock. The Lord delight- ed to work with him in the conversion of men. After an ab- sence of thirty-two years, he was employed by the church to preach during the last year of his active ministry. Always, when he visits the church, his presence is like a benediction to it. And, when he too shall go over to the majority; he will be mourned for on earth, and welcomed to everlasting habitations in heaven, by those whom he has won to Christ.
Another of the men, into whose labors we have entered, is Rev. J. H. Woodward. He came, immediately after the close of Mr. Parmelee's ministry; was made pastor of the church, Jan .. 31st, 1838, and remained its pastor until Feb., 25th, 1864. Hle has given the best years of his life to the service of this church. He was here in stormy times. They were unfavorable to reviv- als, and were not marked by those of great power. But, while the special work which God assigned the pastor then, seemed to be, to shield and defend the church against influences that threatened it, and which almost wrecked not a few of the other churches in this vicinity; and, though, in the service of the church, Mr. Woodward was conspicuous for the use of those qualities, the use of which, in the war of the Rebellion, gave him the title of "the fighting Chaplain: " yet he brought the Gospel to bear on the consciences of men, with such directness and energy; that, by the blessing of God, his ministry was al- so successful in leading many souls to Christ. And the manner in which the people whom he served show their appreciation of his visits, is something beautiful to behold.
After the who were so long pastors of the church, came
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Rev. Peter Nutting. He remained about nine months and died, much loved and lamented. No other of those who have minis- tered to the church, except its missionaries, has died.
After Mr. Nutting, Rev. C. C. Torrey; Rev. B. W. Smith, and Rev. E. B. Chamberlain, served the church, for brief peri- ods, but so well, that they did much good, and are warmly wel- romed by the people, whenever they can revisit Westford.
And, let us not forget the "other men " and means, which, though they did their work outside the boundaries of our town, have none the less contributed to the welfare of this church. There was the great revival in Addison and Rutland counties, in 1801 and 1802-of which Mr. Bushnell was a promoter-in which Mr. Parmelee became a Christian. There were the influ- ences of his Christian home, in Pittsford, and the schools and ministers' studies, each of which did its part to give this church its first pastor. Its other ministers also, came to it, not by chance, but by the diligent care of the many persons who helped to fit them to do whatever good they have done here. The Com. Missionary Society, too, ought to be remembered by us to-day, for its benevolent zeal toward this place, at an early day. And it would not be difficult to see how this church has had a for- eign missionary origin. Some of the influenees which have con- tributed to the welfare of this church, came through the Pil- grims. Not only do some persons, whose names are on our roll, inherit some of the spirit, and others carry, in their veins, some of the blood, also, that came in the Mayflower; but those who came to Plymouth, brought the Gospel to those who brought it to us. And there has been a long line of missionaries, run- ning back to the time of our Lord; who carried the Gospel from country to country, until it came here.
But we have not alone entered into the labors of the min- isters, but also into those of the former members of this church. Of these, I can, of course, mention, by name, only a few. And here, I quote Mr. Parmelee's words: " This church has been blessed with many pious men, who have stood to serve tables. It is becoming that I mention those that sleep. Benajah Case and Martin Powell were first chosen, after the organization of the church. Mr. Powell soon obtained a good degree, and was
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sent forth to preach the Gospel; which he continued to do, with faithfulness, until years and infirmities dismissed him from that office, and he at length returned to this place, to make his grave among the people whom he served in early life. Deacon Case was old and infirm, when I became your minister; and died a few years after. But he was a man, like old Stephen, one of the seven, full of faith and love. When I came here, he could do little more than sit in his easy chair and pray. This he did with a full heart. He once said to me ' I have long been praying for three things: a minister, a revival and a meeting-house. My prayers have been answered, in the first two, and the people have agreed to build a meeting-house ; and, when that is done.' I can say, with Simeon: Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. Deacon Amos Partridge comes next. He was here when I came, and greatly beloved. As all who remember him will agree, he was a man of fine appearance, retiring and modest. always pleasant, social and kind .. He loved the sanctuary and the prayer-room, and you might always expect to find him there. He loved his minister, his church and his family-altar. Ifa labor was to be taken, or one to be reclaimed, this always fell on him; because, by him, it would most certainly be well done. God never told us why He took him from us, and we could not see why, and we mourned, and sometimes, I fear. murmured, we needed him so much. His colleague was Deacon Taylor. He was a man of example, a mighty reader, a sound theologian, mighty in the Scriptures, gifted in prayer and ex- hortation, an exemplary Christian and a faithful prop in the church of God. His want of health kept him from the house of God for years, but he left a blessed remembrance behind him." The following is from Mr. Woodward : " In August, 1837, when entering upon my ministerial labors at Westford, the two act- ing Deacons of the Congregational church, were William Bow- man and Addison B. Partridge. They were men in the vigor of life, active, sympathetic and devotional-men of good abilities. strong feelings and wills-having opinions of their own, which they held with tenacity. They might be termed progressive men. a little fond of new and untried things, not always in perfect ac- cord with the sinister and the majority of the church, but loyal
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to Christ-lovers of the church, of hospitality and good men.
Within five or six years of the commencement of my min- istry, Dea. Partridge left for the West; where he still resides, in 1876-well advaneed into the sear of life-having done a noble work for the cause of the Redeemer, in that section of our coun- try. Bro. Martin P. Rice was advanced to the deaconship, thus vacated; which he held, with great acceptance to the church, to the close of my ministry there in 1864. Dea. Bowman died, in a good old age, May 22d, 1876, at St. Johnsbury, where he had lived for some ten years; and his remains are interred, be- side those of his estimable wife, in the cemetery, at Westford. He was an acting deacon of the church more than thirty years, a period somewhat longer than the ministry of either of its first two pastors. He was a man of many excellences, and will long be held in grateful remembrance by the church and the com- munity; as he ever has been by his two Westford pastors."
The limits of this address permit the mention of only a few of the names on the roll of the church. Some of its officers, who have passed or are passing away, have been selected, as, at least, fair representatives of the long array of good people who are worthy of honorable mention, by us to-day. Very much of what has been done is due to the power of character and faith, exerted by members in the rank and file of the church, who are apt to be forgotten by those who count converts. on earth. There have been many men and more women, who, in unofli- cial ways, have done their part. Mr. Parmelee says : " I used to think that God had blessed this church with a precious band of sisters, whose prayers and kindness furnished a living ( Gun- ple to those without; and did much to support the church and to stay up the hands of the minister of Christ. Some of them have gone to their rest, but there is a precious band of them left " Every minister of this people could bear similar testimony. There have always been in the church the true successors of the " Phebe " of Paul's day-quite as good " deaconesses, "as if they had been chosen by ballot. Much credit is also due to members of " the society, " and friends, for their valuable aid in paying the current and extra expenses of public worship for so long a time. Into the labors of so many "other men," we enter to-day.
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