USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Westford > Historical addresses delivered at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Congregational Church at Westford, Vermont, August 8, 1876 > Part 2
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II. We pass now to notice the work accomplished by the " labors " performed. The public worship of God has been reg- ularly maintained, by this church, during the seventy-five years; at first, in barns, private dwellings or school-houses, and after- wards, in its houses of worship, erected in 1809 and in 1840. A Christian minister has preached to this people, uniformly,-if an occasional "deacon's meeting" be excepted,-since May 1. 1808; and, all this time, save about a year, the preacher has been also the pastor-living among the people, in his own house, or " his own hired house " ( like Paul,) or, better still, in " the par- sonage, " since 1864. The truth has been preached to the people. No false teachers have taught in this pulpit. I believe there has been no trifling here with lost men by preaching a Gospel that is to them only " as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleas- ant voice, and can play well on an instrument:" but the object has been rather to hold up the Bible, asa light, to discover to men their sin; and to point out its remedy, in Redemption by Jesus Christ. Christian character has been illustrating the prac- tical value of religion, in the life; and effectual prayer has been offered by many, in the church and neighborhood prayer-meet- ings, at the family-altar and in the closet. The young have been taught the claims of God, at home,-" precept upon precept line upon line, here a little and there a little. " The Sunday School-organized in "the old meeting-house, " in 1818, and continued to the present, except during the winter months of the years previous to 1840-has done a valuable work; in stor- ing the memory with the words of Scripture, and promoting a better study of it by the masses. 'The natural consequence ha- been the manifestation of the Divine favor, in revivals. Besides that which has been spoken of, in 1801; there was, in 1808, at the beginning of Mr. Parmelee's pastorate, "an astonishing change in town; " and, the Sabbath after his ordination, " sixty or a little more, came forward and entered into solemn covenant with the church. These were mostly heads of families. " Ten more joined it soon after, and its membership was one hundred. This revival began about the 1st of June and continued through the summer. In 1816, came another one of less power. In 1821, there was another. In 1824, came a revival that moved the whole town.
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and added many to the church. In 1831, came what is common- ly known as "the great revival, " in the history of Westford. It brought between seventy and. eighty . into. this church, and a- bove two hundred into the three churches in town. The Spirit of God manifested his presence in every part of the town. Men were convicted of sin, while at work in the fields. Religion was the common topic of conversation, when people met. This re- vival began about the 1st of June and lasted until winter. Like the one in 1808, it was in progress, during the busiest season of the year for the farmer; but people came together for a religions meeting daily, at the rising of the sun. They came from the hay- field, at 5 P. M., to enjoy social prayer and praise. Prayer-meet- ings were in many different places. Every dark corner of the town was visited by the Divine influences. Mr. Parmelee says: " It seemed as if the work would not stop unless for want of sub- jects. " For the next six years, there were occasional conversions, but no general revival. Then came a time when the minds of the people were much distracted by the excitements and vaga- ries of Millerism, and the unwise measures of such evangelists as Burchard and Truer-employed in other places to promote revivals, with disastrous results- which, after thorough discus- sion, were not adopted by this church. This was chiefly due to the alertness of the pastor, Mr. Woodward, who came to the res- cue with timely and effective argument. He regarded the " new measure " scheme as "a well-intended but mischievous attempt, on the part of some ardent minds, to atone for the absence of the Spirit, and bring men into the kingdom of Christ by human in- strumentalities-an attempt which necessarily overrole the strong, distinguishing doctrines of the Cross. " Then also the ans tislavery conflict began to absorb the attention and divide the opinions of men. Antislavery discussions-by " lecturers, many of whom were exceptionable in character, ultra, extravagant, wild, fierce, fanatical and denunciatory-" sought admission to the sanctuaries of God, on the Lord's day, to turn them into a- renas of political strife. Added to these things, that were not friendly to religious prosperity, were the California gold-excite- ment and the spirit of speculation, seeking unlawful means of es- eaping from honest work.
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But, notwithstanding the spirit of worldliness which came into this church, as into many others, it was never wholly des- titute of the Divine influences, Mr, Woodward speaks of two very pleasant revivals, during his ministry .* And, since the days of its settled pastors, although the church has suffered by reason of frequent changes and internecine strife ; conversions have occurred and additions been made to the church from time to time-twenty-one during the last year of its existence. as part of the fruits of a healthy religious awakening in town --- until the whole number of names on its roll, during the seven- ty-five years is somewhat more than six hundred. This fact- though it furnishes no temptation for man to glory-calls for gratitude to God, If the value of the soul is realized, it is no small thing that God has saved these hundreds; although the faith of this Israel doubtless ought to have prevailed to secure a much larger ingathering.
The growth of this church, like that of a majority of those in Vt., has been retarded by emigration. Great inducements are before the people in small towns to go to larger places for business ventures. Statistics show, e. g., that for the last four- teen years, thirty-four more have gone by letter from this to other churches than have come into it in the same way,
Emigration has also decreased the attendance on public worship in connection with this church, in common with all those in small towns. The reason is obvious. The people of most energy and enterprise, in any community, are those who go to church, more or less ; and they are also those who are most likely to emigrate. Hence it is that, while the census shows that-for the last half century-the number of attendants on public worship and the membership of the churches, in the United States, has been steadily incraasing, in proportion to the whole population of the country ; the attendance on publie wor- ship and the membership of churches, in the smaller towns, has decreased. Nor do figures show the exact truth here : for this process diminishes the small churches abnormally-leaving them "feeble," not only as to numbers and wealth, but also as to youth, vigor and courage for work and discipline.
* Mr. Woody ad's health would not permit him to furnish an account of these revivals.
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The effect of emigration, however, has been to increase the total usefulness of the church. A few years ago, so large a col- ony, from it, went to a town in Illinois, that it hastened consid- erably the organization of a much-needed church there. And many other churches have been strengthened by gaining mem- bers, at our expense. If the small churches in Vt. are, in the Providence of God, continually sending forth more than they receive; let them not think so much of the vacancies at home, as to forget that they are thus doing a great missionary work, which is worth more than it costs.
We ought not to forget also the religious impressions car- ried, by the large number of members of the congregation wor- shipping with this church, to other places ; and there-in con- nection with other impressions-leading them to Christ. The process, by which a person is persuaded to become a Christian, is often going on a long period. - A thousand different influen- ces may be needed ; and what we hastily call the means of con- version, is often only the last of a long series-the tidal wave of influence which brings the soul into the haven of peace. And hence no one can tell the precise number of conversions due to the Gospel, as preached and illustrated here.
Neither can we tell how many have been led to Christ by the personal influence of the members of this church. E. g., look at the following facts :- M. Osgood, Sen., who died in 1855, E. 80 yrs., and his wife, have 36 Christian descendants-34 of them of the 1st and 2d generations. Electa (Powell) Rice,* who died in 1871, Æ. 90 yrs., has 37 Christian descendants-36 of them of the 1st and 2d generations. Dea. Jas. Taylor, who d. in 1844, E. 79 yrs. and his wife, Saloma' Partridge) Taylor, have 48 Christian descendants-most of them of the 1st and 2d gen- erations. S. Parmelee, who d. 1820,E. 79 and his wife, æ. 78, have 94 Christian descendants -- most of them of four generations. A. Partridge Sen., who d. in 1821,2E. 80 yrs. and his wife, .E. 78. have 96 Christian descendants -- most of them of four generations. These five members of this church, together, have a Christian posterity of 311 souls.
The money given by the church for benevolent purposes is * Mrs. Nie's husband is regarded as a Christian though not a member of the church.
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not to be forgotten, in this connection. For the last nineteen years, printed records show an average of $140 } year. Mr. Woodward says the average was quite as much, for the twenty years preceding 1858. The average during the first thirty-six years is believed to be, at least, $100 } year; for, although at first poor, the church had as much financial ability during the last part of Mr. Parmelee's ministry as it ever had-the tide of emigration having then no more than begun its movement. By these estimates, which cannot be far from true, $9,060 have been given, by this church and congregation, for benevolent objects. during the seventy-five years. This is a small sum, unless we compute it by the arithmetic which our Lord used, when he said that the widow's gift of two mites ( about two-fifths of a cent in U. S. money ) was more than the abundant offerings of many of the rich - more in proportion to what she had left. In addition to its work at home, this church has had some part in the great revival of the missionary work, which is the chief glo- ry of our times. We have had some part in the great enter- prise, through which, in Great Britain and the U. S., more than $50, 000, 000 have been devoted to the circulation of more than 100, 000, 000 copies of the Scriptures, or parts of them,-In two hundred different languages or dialects of men ; more than $100, 000, 000, to maintain tens of thousands of men and women of ed- ucation and devotion to Christ in heathen lands, that they might tell men the glad tidings of great joy, and engage in la- bors which have already secured, by the Divine blessing, the conversion of 500, 000 souls, and the enlightenment from the superstition of centuries of nearly four times as many, until " the progress of modern missions, in the last seventy years, exceeds that of the first seventy of the apostolic age. "; and millions of money expended in the circulation of a Christian literature and the establishment of Christian institutions in the newer settlements and among the freedmen of our country. The principal benev- olent institutions of our day have been formed since the organ- ization of this church, and it has had its share in the work un- der their care. It once had a Ladies' Cent Society, and now has a Woman's Missionary Society and a Mission Circle.
A member of it led the " temperance reform " in town, fifty
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years ago. This fact is on record :- " In 1826, intoxicating liquor was first refused public use, on a funeral occasion, by A- pollos Partridge. This was considered a bold step, and caus- ed much talk; but it was followed by others, no less startling, till the liquid fire was banished from all good society and com- mon use to the abodes of darkness, secrecy and unlawful sale." It is impossible to tell how great the power of one or all of the churches in town has been, in promoting moral reform ; the safety of life, reputation, domestic peace, personal rights and property and the interests of education and social progress ; be- cause we cannot fully realize what the condition of the town would have been if no Christian church had ever been planted or had exerted the least influence in it -i. c., if heathenism, without anything to modify it, reigned here : but it is very ca- sy for any unprejudiced person, who looks at the history of the town for three quarters of a century, to see that it has prosper- ed best, in its truest interests -temperance, government, edu- cation &c. - when its churches have been most efficient ; and the lack of public-spirited attention to its best interests has been most conspicuous when its churches have most declined in vigor.
We pass now to the inquiry, Why has this church of to-day entered into the labors of other men ?
(a) To lead us to be grateful to God for prompting, guid- ing and enabling them to accomplish so much. Some have planted, others watered ; but it was God who gave the increase. " So then, neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth ; but Gon that giveth the increase. Let us give Him the praise that is due.
(b) We ought also to be grateful to those who were God's willing instruments in gaining the inheritance which has come down to us. The Jewish elders of Capernaum asked our Lord to heal the centurion's servant, because he loved their nation and had built for them a synagogue, So, other men have pro- vided for us a church, and a house of worship, and, if it needs repairs, they have left behind them money that will make them. Joshua said to the children of Israel : " I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which ye built not, and ve dwell in them ; of the vineyards and olive-yards which ye
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planted not do ye eat. : " so might the former ministers and members of this church say to the youth of its present congre- gation : " We have given you a church, and church-edifice which you did not plant and build, and religious privileges and social advantages for which you did not labor, and you enjoy the fruit of generations of toil and self-sacrifice. " What obligations have been entailed on those who have taken possession of the inheritance ? Is it not due to the fathers that the family estate should not be allowed to go to waste, under our eyes, instead of being preserved and improved and faithfully handed down by us to our natural successors and heirs - the future members of this church and congregation ? The youth in this town have much to say of what shall be its future moral and religious con- dition. £ They may do more to promote it than "other men, " because they begin on the vantage-ground which the fathers gained for them.
(c) One of the uses of this history is to teach us to trust God to take care of his church. How many other organizations for moral reform have had their day and vanished, leaving not even the shadow of a shade behind, in seventy-five years ! God has taken better care of our church. How often have men said of its more useful members, when taken away by death, or re- moval, or infirmity, from the sphere of duty which they had once filled : " We cannot spare them ! " Gob could. He uses means, it is true, but he has plenty of resources. He, who, of stones, could raise up children unto Abraham, can continue his church, in this place, as long as he has for it a work to do.
(d) We learn, from this history, how to secure the pros- perity of our Zion : by making that first and other things see- ond. This is no new discovery. The Psalmist spoke of it a- bout 3, 000 years ago : " Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion : for the time to favor her, yea, the set time is come ; for thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof. " At least, two of the principal revivals, in the history of our church, have been in progress, during the farmer's busy season ; and it has been shown to be practicable to have a religious meeting, well attended, almost daily, from June 1st till winter, if God's Spirit is the . J'y spirit that chooses the time. A time of absorb-
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ing interest in the salvation of souls, on the part of God's peo- ple, is always a time when unsaved persons awake from indif- ference, and, some of them, to an earnest and lasting attention to the claims of Christ : hence Christians are bound not to al- low the change of seasons to interfere with the steadfastness of their Christian labors. Churches ought not, every summer, to practically say to their Lord : - " When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. " The substitution of spasmodie and periodic zeal, in the place of a uniform and regular faithfulness in relying on the promise and power of God, greatly hinders the coming of the kingdom of heaven.
(e) Another of the lessons of the history before us is that, other things being equal, long pastorates are most favorable to the growth of a church.
(f) The inquiry is suggested by the history of this church also, " Why do men become Christians so much less often than women ? " Our roll contains the names of about twice as ma- ny women as men. And this is not far from the usual propor- tion of the sexes, in other churches, and among Christians out- side of churches. The fact is appalling ! Its causes ought to be discovered, if possible. 'I think there is a natural explanation of it. Men, much more often than women, put the intoxica- ting cup to their lips. A majority of those who use alcoholic stimulants, as a beverage, do not indeed drink to the point of drunkenness ; but there are more than the public are general- ly aware of, who drink moderately, - behind the scenes. A sure consequence is a growing insensibility to the power of re- ligious motives and truth ; so that they are gliding along more quietly than others to the grave, and the portion of the unsaved hereafter. The theory of Father Sewall, of Maine, is worth thinking of, that the general use of tobacco by men is a princi- pal reason why there is such a disproportionate absence of men, from the Christian ranks. Is not the situation of human beings, in this world of probation, sufficiently critical, without their be- ing, most of the time, under the influence of a powerful narcot- ic? Men have more temptations than women, and often, from choice -e. g., by their withdrawing from the domestic circle, at night-ft Il, to mingle in scenes that are hardening and demoral-
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izing. The fact that two women are going into the kingdom of heaven, as often as one man, ought to appeal powerfully to un- saved men to watch jealously and keep aloof from whatever is keeping them out of heaven.
(g) . One of the lessons of experience, which this church has before it, is that the conversion of people to Christ depends much upon their being kept within the circle of religious influ- ences, in early life. The facts, stated in this address* to show how large a Christian posterity certain members of our church have had, illustrate this point, -especially when fully under- stood. The results are due, to a large extent, to the definite arrangement of the plans and regulations of the family, with reference to the spiritual welfare of its members. . Let us look at the operation of cause and effect in the families mentioned : - Mr. & Mrs. M. Osgood, Sen. were devoted Christians. Parent- al example and precept combined to lead the children in straight paths. Real government at home prepared the way for obedi- ence to the commands of God. The children were not allowed to spend their evenings in some unknown place, - the prey of such tempters as they might chance to meet. Family-worship was regularly maintained. Special Providences, like a sudden death, were remarked upon, before the household, assembled a- round the family-altar. The Lord's day was religiously observ- ed, - the family motto being "Saturday night for preparation, Sunday night for meditation : " and, hence, a family prayer- meeting was always held, on the first of these evenings, and all repeated the Catechism, on the second. All the household, as a rule, went to the sanctuary, and sat together, every Sunday ; so that God's appointed means of grace might have opportunity to do their work. Forty-one per cent of the posterity of these pa- rents - 19 children, under 2 yrs. of age, not included - have professed to be Christians.
The home of Mr. & Mrs. S. Rice, Sen. differed from that just described, in that religion was less demonstrative. Diffidence kept the father from ever joining the visible church, or erect- ing a family-altar ; but religious principle showed itself before his family, in a decided attachment for the Book and house and
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day of God. "He was a ready and efficient supporter of public worship, and insisted that his children should follow his exam- ple of being within hearing of the Gospel - the means of sal- vation appointed by God - every Sunday, unless valid reasons prevented, very few of which could be found. Family discipline was decided. The Sabbath was " remembered to keep it. " An excellent Christian example was before the household, in the mother. Her habit of reading the Bible, and of retiring to her place of secret prayer - sometimes for a long time - was ob- served by the children, and did much to commend to them a religious life. Thirty-eight per cent of the posterity of these par- ents - 29 children, under 3 yrs. of age, not included - have pro- fessed to be Christians.
Mr. & Mrs. Dea. Taylor brought up their children " in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. " His word was their rule of obedience. Their reading must be choice. Books they were seen reading on Sundays were liable to inspection. The Cate- chism was recited every Saturday evening. The evenings were spent at home by the children, during their minority. Family prayers were attended twice a day. All the family were ex- pected to go to church regularly, and ocenpy the same pew. It seemed as if the very cattle knew when Sunday came ; such a stillness had succeeded the hum of business. Unnecessary noise must " hush, " in that home, while the day of Gop was passing by. In the family administration, justice, in the father, was happily blended with a warmer demonstration of the milder vir- tues, in the mother, - as is often the case, when a godly man marries " a good wife, from the Lord " - the united head of the family thus imperfectly resembling the Head of the human family, in whom all good attributes are blended harmoniously, in one person. Thirty-sic per cent of the posterity of these par- ents -35, who are supposed [without being counted separately by my informant, in the family ] to be under 3 yrs. of age, not included - have professed to be Christians.
The family of Mr. & Mrs. Amos Partridge, Sen. had a sim- ilar training. Decided government; regular attendance at church, 4 miles away, by all the household, as a rule ; careful observ- ance of God's commandments; the Bible and Catechism being fam-
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ily hand-books. One of the stories told of Mr. P. is that he kept a herd of cattle and the drover, in whose charge they were, gratis, until the Sabbath was past, rather than suffer them to continue to journey on that day. Mrs. P. was eminent for spirituality, prayerfulness and amiability. Thirty-eight per cent of the 250 descendants of these parents - or forty-eight per cent, if the uncounted children under 3 yrs. old be supposed to number 50, and be not included - have professed to be Christians.
The household of Mr. & Mrs. Simeon Parmelee, Sen., like- wise, was trained for God. Mr. P. was a man of strict religious principle, believing, with John, that " whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God. " He was careful to cultivate, in his children, reverence for God and respect for the authority of con- science. Mrs. P. was a person of excellent and amiable Chris- tian character. From her life went forth, daily, a quiet but de- cided Christian influence, - all the more powerful, because ex- erted in so amiable a manner. She excelled her husband in receiving John's other doctrine, "Every one that loveth is born of God. ". With a common purpose, these parents united their efforts for the religious welfare of their children. They gave them good doctrine at home, from the Bible, the Catechism and other good books; took care to have them use the means of grace, in the sanctuary ; taught them to make the Lord's days times of special religious improvement, and these lessons they constantly illustrated by a living example. Nearly eighty- two per cent of the posterity of these parents - 14 infant chil- dren not included - have professed to be Christians. Seren of them have been ministers of the Gospel.
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