USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > History of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont. Vol. II > Part 7
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On the 25th day of May, 1802, was organized the first Universalist Society in Reading. This is the centennial year and almost the centennial day, and is worthy of a special gathering, congratulatory words, and the recital of whatever of good has been accomplished in Reading and elsewhere in the upbuilding of Christianity.
Universalism has struggled and triumphed. From the little gathering in New Jersey to listen to Rev. John Murray, it has fought its way against criticisms and op- position, to a prominent rank, and now has its academies,
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colleges, and theological seminaries, its newspapers, its denominational books, its numerous churches, and its learned clergymen. Prior to the advent of Samuel C. Loveland to Reading, about 1819, I have not been able to learn who the preacher of this faith in Reading was. His arrival was a red letter day in its history. Here he lived and labored for about forty years, and for a large part of that time, was the only clergyman resident in the town.
That Universalism has grown and expanded in the 19th century, shows that it has had in it much of good. The 19th century has been the most remarkable in the world's history for the great advancements made in all branches of learning. It is needless here but to remind you of the great discoveries in the Arts and Sciences, that have changed the whole trend of human affairs.
I believe in the survival of the fittest. The world is growing wiser and better. The average duration of hu- man life is being lengthened by the observance of sani- tary laws. Creeds that are essentially wrong, are being set aside, or modified and re-written. By means of dis- passionate investigation and discussion, and the higher criticism, the ancient creeds are being modified, and Christians are learning to set aside non-essential, and seek for the essential truths.
The seven years' struggle in America, had resulted in the Independence of the United States ; the Revolu- tionary Army had disbanded, and those patriotic soldiers had been absorbed into the great mass of the people, and had exchanged the sword for the plough share. The old flint lock muskets had been hung up over the mantel as trophies of the patriotic war. These discharged soldiers were poor indeed, in dollars, but rich in indomi- table energy, as they turned to the task of subduing the primeval forests, and building homes in the wilderness.
The first settlement in Reading was made in 1772 by Andrew Spear, and it is not known that any one then
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resident of Reading was in the Army of the Revolution. But many of the patriot soldiers subsequently settled in Reading, and became thrifty and industrious citizens. Their names are to be found upon one of the tablets in the Public Library, a tardy tribute indeed, to their pa- triotic virtues.
The early settlers of Reading were religious people and we find that a Congregational church was organized on June 26, 1787., and Rev. Nahum Sargent settled as its first pastor. His services were held in the log church then situated on the hill southerly of the center on a road long since abandoned. He secured one share of land as the first settled minister.
A Baptist church was organized in Reading in 1788.
The Reformed Catholic Society was organized Dec. 12, 1796, and the curious can find an account of its terms of organization, by reference to the first volume of the History of · Reading.
Universalists believe that their distinctive tenets are as old as the bible-that it was the faith of the Greek fathers; that it is in the words of Jesus and the Apostles, and that all through the history of the Christian Church, it has had its champions. But in the technical sense of the term, it had no distinct denominational existence prior to the coming to this country, of Rev. John Murray, in 1770. Murray had led a somewhat ro- mantic and checkered career in England, and at one pe- riod had been a clergyman of the Methodist denomination, having been converted by the preaching of George Whit- field, and the Wesleys ; but subsequently, under the preaching of John Relly, had changed his views, and be- came a believer in the doctrine of the final salvation of all men, I do not learn that Murray ever preached in Vermont.
Ballou's "Treatise on the Atonement" was an epoch making production.
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In 1800, the Universalist preachers in this country did not exceed twenty, and all lived in New England ; and there were societies or preaching stations in Ver- mont, Mass., N. H., R. I., and Conn.
In Oct., 1793, John Murray had become pastor of "The First Universalist Society" in Boston, and it is said, was greeted with a shower of stones when he first began to preach in Boston.
Andrew A. Miner was one of the great lights of Uni- versalism. He was a teacher for one year, in the Acad- emy at Cavendish, Vt., being associated with Mr. John Garvin as Principal in 1834. His ministry was begun in North Chester, Vt., in Feb., 1838.
The New England people up to the arrival of Mr. Murray were largely Congregationalists, with a respect- able percentage of Baptists and Presbyterians, and a few Quakers. Those of the Middle and Southern States were largely Presbyterians, and of kindred denominations. The doctrine of Universalism, or Restorationism, was a radically new departure, and met with united opposition of the Orthodox Churches. To stem this tide, and make headway along a new line of thought, and to establish a new interpretation of the Scriptures, required a bold mar- iner, and such John Murray proved to be. He was a hero in religious life. He had the courage of his honest convictions, and brought to his task great learning, in- domitable perseverance, and very much of eloquence. I am not here to give a detailed account of the rise and spread of Universalism in the United States. That could not be accomplished within the time limited for my paper.
The doctrines advocated by John Murray, were caught up by the public press. were discussed at the fire- side, and soon gained many adherents, developed preach- ers and teachers, and. grew apace. The new doctrines were adopted by some of the intelligent settlers in Read-
REV. SAMUEL C. LOVELAND. .
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ing, and we find that at the meeting house on the hill, south of the center, and north of the log meeting house, the adherents to the doctrine of Universalism assembled and organized a society, May 25, 1802. That faith has had many faithful followers from that time to this, among the citizens of Reading. The records of that early so- ciety are not known to me to be in existence, and our in- formation about it is quite meagre.
About the year 1819, Samuel Chapman Loveland ar- rived in town, and preached his first sermon, according to one tradition, in the "Amsden tavern", now occupied by B. D. Hawkins for his garden seed industry, but ac- cording to another tradition, in the Amsden dwelling house, which stood where Merritt Amsden's dwelling house now stands. He was not a college graduate, but a self educated man. He was born at Gilsum, N. H., Aug. 25, 1787.
It was my privilege to meet Mr. Loveland in the 50's at Chester academy, when I was a student there, and at that time, Mr. Loveland was pastor of the Universalist church in Weston, Vt., and came to Chester on foot, as his custom was, to attend the Commencement exercises. He was a large man, of commanding appearance, and robust health. Mr. Loveland was pastor of the church at Reading Center, until about 1840. His residence was for a long time at the Center, where he maintained a school for training young men for professional life.
Samuel Chapman Loveland, was an honest boy and everybody loved him. His early opportunities for ed- ucation were very limited, including only the common school, and one term at an academy, and in his search for knowledge he was beset with difficulties unknown to the youth of the present day. His zeal and perse- verance however triumphed over all obstacles. He had a special aptitude for the study of language, and eagerly embraced every opportunity for gratifying this
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taste. Through the preaching of the noted Elhanan Winchester, his parents had accepted the doctrine of Universal Salvation.
Early imbibing these views, he was impressed with the duty of devoting himself to their propagation in the work of the ministry.
To this end he first desired to be able to study the original Scriptures. A neighbor, who had been three years a member of Dartmouth College, had a few Latin and Greek books, among them a part of an old Latin bible, which he had procured, and with a grammar and dictionary plodded through several chapters. He then commenced the Greek, with old Scherelius, and a grammar, and tumbling back and forth in search of roots of words, changes, syncopation, and construction of sentences, he was able generally to read out a whole verse in the space of half a day. Words that he could not trace were carefully noted down for further develop- ment to bring to light. This course was pursued with indefatigable industry, employing every moment that could be spared from the labors of the farm, till 1811, when he devoted a year exclusively to study in direct preparation for the ministry.
He received a letter of fellowship from the general Convention at its session in Cavendish, Vt. in 1812, and was ordained by the same body at Westmoreland, N. H., in 1814. About this period he commenced the study of Hebrew with such facilities as he could get, but was able to make but little advance till 1823, when he took hold of it in right earnest. In 1828 he prepared and published a Greek and English Lexicon of the New Testament. This was highly commended, and considering the cir- cumstances in which it was prepared, is truly a remark- able production. He studied also the Chaldee, the Syriac. the Arabic, the Anglo-Saxon. French, Spanish, German, Modern Greek, Danish, besides others to some
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extent. He wrote of himself, "I have loved the study of languages on account of their relation to each other, and it seems I have some real specimens of what men have done, and thought, and are, when I know some- · thing of their forms of speech."
Mr. Loveland was a man of kindly disposition, greatly interested in his studies, fond of young men, and it is said that in some instances, taught his students the languages, mathematics, and theology, while they follow- ed the plough, and assisted him about the farm work. Being a self taught man, without the benefit of a colleg- iate or theological school training, he delighted to assist ambitious young men.
He had accumulated a large library, and was espec- ially strong in his knowledge of Greek, Latin, and He- brew. He had a critical knowledge of the Greek lan- guage. His Greek Lexicon was printed at Woodstock, and entitled "A Greek Lexicon, adapted to the New Testament, with English definitions", and this was ap- proved by the General Convention of the Universalists of New England, held at Cavendish, Vt., Sept. 17-18, 1828. Middlebury college conferred on him the honorary degree of A. M., in 1829.
He was a poet of much originality and force. He was the representative of Reading, in the Vt. Legislature in 1824, and before the joint committee, His Excellency, C. P. Van Ness in the chair, made the famous speech in favor of electing the Rev. Robert Bartlett, a Universalist clergyman, then the representative from Hartland, to preach the next election sermon. He won his point and Mr. Bartlett was elected. The General Convention of Universalists was held at Claremont, N. H., Sept. 20-21, 1820, and this included representatives from churches in Mass., N. H., Vt., Philadelphia, New York, Maine, and Conn. Mr Loveland attended. In the year 1821, the Northern Association of Universalists convened at Read- ing, and were in session Sept. 27-28. The clergymen
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present were :-
Russell Streeter of Springfield, Robert Bartlett of Hart- land, Aaron Kinsman, Levi Briggs, Jonathan Wallace, Samuel C. Loveland, of Reading, and two other mem- bers were received into fellowship, Mark Stiles of Graf- . ton, and Jarvis Davis of Springfield. 24 associates then formed this association, including the territory from Barre, on the north, to Wardsboro on the south, all in Vermont, except the society of Queensburg, N. Y. On Oct. 30, 1821, Mr. Loveland preached a sermon before the same association at Kingsburg, N. Y. Sept. 18-19, 1822, he attended a session of the General Convention of . the Universalists of the New England States, at Warner, N. H. In Sept., 1823, he preached before the Northern Association, at Whiting, Vt., and was moderator of the same. This Association was organized in 1804. In 1824 Oct., he preached before the same Northern Association, at Whitehall, N. Y. In Oct., 1825, he attended the meet- ing of the same Northern Association, at Danville, and again preached a sermon. June 12, 1827, he attended, and was clerk of the N. H. Universalist Association, at Washington, N. H., and preached the sermon.
The Christian Repository was commenced in July, 1820, and edited at Reading, by Mr. Loveland, but print- ed by David Watson, at Woodstock. It was a bi-month- ly publication. Its columns were devoted to doctrine. morality, and religious intelligence, mostly original from the pen of the editor, but to some extent from others. Its primary design was to inculcate the Universalist faith. Among the contributors were Russell Streeter. Its publication was continued for nine years, and all of the time under the editorship of Mr. Loveland, except three years, by Rev. Robert Bartlett, of Hartland, Vt. The columns were largely occupied with sermons, and the discussions of theological themes by Mr. Loveland, and they show him a man of ripe scholarship, and argu- mentative ability of high order. It was issued in duo-
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decimo size, and at the close of the year, bound in book form. Nine volumes thus bound are now in the State library at Montpelier, and I have had the loan of them for examination.
On its pages are found critical illustrations of Greek words of the New Testament, whose meaning have been discussed and investigated, as laying the foundation of the creeds of Christendom, and these display a thorough knowledge of the original Greek, and doubtless were em- bodied in the Greek Lexicon which Mr. Loveland wrote and published in 1828, a volume of 376 pages.
Mr. Loveland obtained eminence as a controversa- list. He was necessarily such, because he was contend- ing for a new faith; and so he wielded the pen with mighty force to meet the resolute arguments of the ortho- dox clergy. Paul and Barnabas, and the other apostles had similar battles to fight, against the established insti- tutions, and the standard lines of belief and thought in Palestine, and throughout the Roman Empire in the first century. In 1814, Mr. Loveland published a book of 32 pages, entitled, "The Wrestler, who found an Evil "Beast, contended with him and threw him", being an answer to Mr. Peck's poem, "Descant on the Universal "plan." `This was printed at Weathersfield, by Eddy and Patrick.
In John Peck's poem, to which Mr. Loveland replied, occurs the following :--
" O charming news ! to live in sin,
" And die to reign with Paul ;
" 'Tis so, indeed. for Jesus bled,
" To save the devil and all."
In 1815, Mr. Loveland had issued from the same press of Patrick & Eddy, another work of 27 pages, in prose and poetry composition, entitled, "A Plain Answer" to a sermon delivered at Rutland West Parish, in the year 1805, entitled, "Universal Salvation,-A Very An- cient Doctrine," by Rev. Lemuel Haynes, a colored
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clergyman of the Congregational church, of great force and eminence. I have in my library the book of Mr. Haynes.
In Dr. Eddy's Bibliography are the following notices of works by Mr. Loveland --
1814. "The Sin and Blasphemy Against the Holy Ghost, Carefully Examined and Faithfully Illustrated in Two Discourses." (Windsor, Vt., 32 pages. )
1817. "An Elegy on Mrs. Rhoda Caryl, wife of Mr. John Caryl, of Stockbridge, who Departed this Life April 23, 1817. (No imprint, 8 pages. )
1819. "Six Lectures on Important Subjects." (De-
livered in Bethel, in the year 1819, 162 pages.)
1823. "A Sermon on Christ's Sheep." ( Woodstock, Vt., 12 pages. )
1824 (?) "On the Words Forever ; Forever and Ever, Everlasting, and Eternal." ( Woodstock, Vt., no date, 12 pages.
1824. (?) "Duration of Future Punishment by Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D., Considered." ( Woodstock, Vt., no date, 12 pages.)
Also a pamphlet entitled, "A Discussion with J. Larrabee."
Mr. Loveland's library was given to St. Lawrence University, of Canton, N. Y. It was originally kept by itself. but subsequently the books were scattered, and the librarian of that institution is unable to tell the number of volumes that it contained or the date of its reception.
His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. J. N. Parker, of Troy, N. Y.
The "Trumpet and Freeman," of Boston, in an issue in April or May, 1858, quotes some obituary items from the "Repository."
In this connection it may be of interest to state that Mr. Loveland was at one time a member of the Eastern Star Lodge of F. & A. M., that was organized at Read-
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ing, in 1815, but in the excitement following the ALLEG- ED abduction and murder of Wm. Morgan, Mr. Loveland seceded from the order, and was one of a company who went about the country claiming to expose the secrets and denouncing the tenets of that order.
"The American Whig" was established at Wood- stock, about 1830 by Hemenway and Sherwin. "The Whig" was started under the direction of the Anti-Ma- sonic County Commitee, Joseph Hemenway being the nominal editor although much of the work was done by others, among whom was Rev. S. C. Loveland. The "Whig" came to the end of its existence about 1836. Elder Loveland's journalistic ventures brought him into notoriety and he received some of the kicks of po- litical campaigning ; and in B. F. Kendall's "Doleful Tragedy of the raising of Joe Burnham, or The Cat let out of The Bag," in 5 acts, illustrated with engravings by Timothy Tickle. Esq, a pamphlet printed at Wood- stock in 1832, Mr. Loveland came into notice under the sobriquet of "Elder Lovely" and Mr. Hawkins of Read- ing, as "Hawkeye." The story of Joe Burnham is a very interesting narration growing out of the anti-Masonic excitement, but I have not space or time to recite it.
The "Christian Repository" was published at Woodstock until 1829, when it was sold to Wm. Bell, and changed to a weekly newspaper, and called "The Universalist Watchman, and Christian Repository", and its publication continued for about seven years, when its office of publication was changed to Montpelier. Under Mr. Loveland's editorship and management, it obtained quite a large circulation.
From an examination of the nine bound volumes at Montpelier, I find it contained about 20 sermons preached by Mr. Loveland at Reading, and a large amount of comments upon religious themes, together with numer- ous accounts of Ecclesiastical conventions. Mr. Love- land uniformly traveled on foot, and in that way, travel-
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ed over a large part of New England, in attending con- ventions, and in keeping his appointments to preach the gospel as he understood it. These 20 sermons are mod- els of concise statements, clear cut arguments, and apt illustrations, and reveal an intimate knowledge of the Sa- cred Scriptures, and in all these points, will compare fa- vorably with the modern sermon. These sermons were ar- gumentative as the times demanded. Mr. Loveland rep- resented opinions that must be maintained by strong ar- guments, and herein we find them. He wielded sledge hammer blows against the old creeds. The perusal of these sermons has been of interest to me, and though I could not in many cases, give consent to the conclusions reached by the preacher, I admired the learning, logic, and earnestness of the man. These early settlers, who had blazed their way through the forests, and had level- ed, and burned the great trees, had toiled and struggled to clear up farms, and build log houses and churches, demanded strong arguments and resolute doctrinal ser- mons. Modern sermons may be more classical and pol- ished, may smack more of the schools, but they are no more argumentative and convincing than these twenty sermons of Samuel C. Loveland.
Since the departure from town of Mr Loveland, there has been no settled pastor at the Center. The old brick meeting house was standing in 1860, when I arrived at Reading, but since that time was used only for the hold- ing of town meetings, until some time in the 60's the steeple dropped through the roof, and the building be- came untenable, and after remaining unoccupied for some time, was torn down by the neighbors with the de- sign of rebuilding it near Bailey's Mills ; but the project ended after the foundation for the new structure had been builded. The village at Reading Center gradually went to decay with the old church, the inhabitants died or moved away, and with these changes, the interest in religious discussions of the inhabitants that remained,
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ceased ; and for 40 years it has been a rare and notable event, to have a religious service in Reading, north of Felchville and South Reading, except upon some funer- al occasion.
While residing in Reading, Mr. Loveland won the confidence of the people, and was elected representative in 1824, 1825, 1827, 1828 .. He served as town clerk in 1833, 1834, and 1835. In 1831, 1832, and 1833, he was a member of the Council, an august body, composed of 12 members, elected on a general ticket by the freemen of the State. The Council was superseded in 1836 by the Senate, of 30 members. In 1832 and 1833, he was assist- ant judge of Windsor County Court.
Elder Loveland was a man six feet tall, of large frame, and quite portly. His manner was suasive and pleasing. He was rather moderate in his speech, but had a classical diction ; and his published sermons are models of thoughtful argument, and show a deep study of the subject in hand. For many years he maintained a theological and classical school at the Center. He was a very learned mathematician, and spent many hours in working out intricate problems. In his study was kept a large blackboard on which he worked out his theories, and made elaborate calculations. Quite a large number of young men resorted to this school, and afterwards be- came eminent in the different professions. Its influence was long felt in the upbuilding of Universalism. Rev. Wm. Balch was a student here in about 1829, and he afterwards held pastorates over Universalist churches in Winchester, N. H., New York City, Providence, R. I., Dubuque, Iowa, and Ludlow, Vt., and has often preach- ed in this church, here in Felchville.
I have found 21 of his publications.
He traveled extensively in the Orient, and lectured upon his travels with great popularity.
Rev. Dolphus Skinner was another clergyman who was trained by Elder Loveland, here in Reading at his
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school, and he held important pastorates over Universa- list churches, and was very influential in the spread of that doctrine.
Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Sawyer was a native of Read- ing, born in 1804, almost at the same time with Univer- salism in Reading. He was reared under the preaching and theological instruction of Mr. Loveland, and became one of the most eminent preachers and teachers of the faith. He was a voluminous writer in defense of the faith. Ten of his books upon this subject have been published, and a large number of magazine articles, and he was for many years a professor in Tuft's College, and was one of its founders. I have found nine of his publications in defense of Universalism, besides many tracts.
Among other distinguished men who were students of Elder Loveland, at the Center, were :--
Jonathan Forrester, who became a. Universalist clergy- man, and afterwards preached at South Reading, and then removed to Aurora, I11 .;
Orestes A. Brownson, who was born in Stockbridge, Vt., Sept. 16,1803. In 1825 he became a Universalist minis- ter, preaching in Vermont and elsewhere, writing for and editing various periodicals of that denomination. In 1832 he joined the Unitarians, and in 1836, organized an Independent Society, in Boston, to which he preached until about 1843, when he became a Roman Catholic, en- tering that communion in 1344, where he ever after con- tinued ;
John L. Buck, who became an eminent lawyer at Lock- port, N. Y .;
· Mason Hulett, a lawyer at Towanda, Pa., Israel Boyn- ton, Zenas Wood, and Solomon Kimball, who became a physician ;
Elhanan W. Loveland, son of Samuel, Asa Priest, a clergyman, Judson Fisher of Walpole, N. H., and Rev. George Severance, who afterwards located in Maine, and
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