USA > Vermont > Addison County > Cornwall > History of the town of Cornwall, Vermont > Part 15
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Having uttered these solemn and appropriate counsels-his last counsels as a Pastor-he proceeds :
" It now remains for me to take my leave of you, as your Pastor, which, all things considered, I readily do. I commenced preaching the Gospel thirty-eight years ago last February. The first five years of my ministry, except a few weeks, I labored in the new settlements of our country, most of the time an itinerant mission- ary in behalf of the Missionary Society of Connecticut. I have always considered that as the most happy and useful period of my whole life. I have been the Pastor of this church and people, thirty-three years, on the day of my dismission. I have generally been happy with my people. I rejoice that I have been located here in providence, and am well satisfied with my dismission at the present time. I think the time has fully come for that event. I thank you for all the respect which you have shown me, through a" long ministry, and for all the assistance you have afforded to my person and family, and to the cause placed under my labors. We
all have had our faults. I have had many. I thank you for the courtesy with which you have overlooked my mistakes through many years. It is true, and not too much to be said at this time, that you have been inclined to bury my faults, rather than hold them up to public view. This has been to your credit, and for my comfort. I thank you, also, for the donation, which you generously voted me at the close of the sitting of the council for my dismission, as expressive of your respect and kindness to me. Suffice it to say that I am entirely satisfied with the adjustment of my dismission, and of all things in the settlement of our affairs, and AM THIS DAY HAPPY.
"I earnestly desire, that our affections may continue to be mu- tual, and our intercourse free and happy while we live. It would be easy for me, though dismissed, to make you some unhappy, and for you to make me and my family so; but I pray God that this may never be the case; but that we may live together, as those engaged in the same holy cause and bound to the same happy world, where so many are gone, who now rejoice in their once mutual fellowship bere below.
" Live, my dear people, together in love. Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Make the satisfaction of the church of God, and the salvation of sinners, your ruling object here below. Subordinate all other valuable interests to that last end of God among men in this world. Let past differences of opinion, if there be any, be forgotten, and all combine in sweet concert to build up the house of the Lord. Associate together, and bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts forward to the salvation of the people.
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" A thousand tender emotions crowd on my mind in parting with you, and mingle with my hopes and fears for your future welfare. Fourteen times within the space of thirty-three years has the Holy Ghost from Heaven been sent down upon this people with divine power. Some of these revivals have been very general through the town. Others of them have been more limited in their influ- ence. But all of them have been very happy in their results .-- During the same period, six hundred and eighty-two persons have been added to the church : some of them by letters, but far the greater proportion of them by profession. Among these there have been some failures, which have caused us grief. But the greater share of them have maintained that consistency of character which has enabled them to pass as believers among men. Many of them have removed to new settlements, and it is hoped, are building up Zion there. In this respect we have swarmed like a bive. Many
others have died, whe, it is hoped, are now in glory. Some of them, in their last moments, manifested a holy triumph, which death itself out-braved. They now sleep in the dust ; let them sleep on, until the Archangel's trump shall raise their sleeping dust and we see them again in body and soul. Many also frem this church have been educated, and have gone into the gospel ministry : all of these, it is believed, have been useful, and some of them have risen to eminence in their work. A large class of others are now in a course of education for the same blessed service. It has long been my opinion that in these streams emitted from this church, she has done more good abroad than at home. How far I have been an in- strument in the hand of God, of promoting these good works, is, at present, unknown. This people, it is believed, have done much. To those who still remain impenitent, I would say, the Lord take care of you, and give you a Pastor who may win you to salvation. My dear people, with whom I have so long labored amidst the frosts of winter and heats of summer, pray for me and my family, and may I pray for you. My brethren of the church and congre- gation, I bid you an affectionate farewell. - And now may the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over this ยท church and congregation. AMEN."
For some months before his decease, he observed with calmness the more rapid inroads of disease upon his system, and conscious that his Lord was eeming, yet uncertain as to the hour of his ap- proach, he set his house in order. " The grave," said he to Mrs.
Bushnell, " has lost all its terrors. I feel that it will be a sweet resting place." The last days of his life were not marked so much by elevated religious enjoyment, as by a steady and unwavering
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peace. " I have not," said he, "so high religious enjoyment as Hannah and David"-(two of his children who some time previous- ly had died in the triumphs of faith, )-and the reason is, they were never so great sinners as I have been. But I have settled peace. The Lord is my Rock, in Him do I trust. My salvation is all of grace." To Rev. Mr. Magill, his Pastor, who, a day or two before his decease, inquired respecting bis health, he replied, " I am lan- guishing into life."
If simple and devoted piety, pre-eminent wisdom and usefulness constitute greatness, as assuredly they do in the sight of God, then in the decease of Father Bushnell, a great man fell in Israel. Like many of the fathers in the ministry, he rests from his labors, and has entered on his reward - like them leaving for our imita- tion, an example, most pure and lovely and of good report.
" Honored and loved, he passed away, ...
As sinks the summer's sun to rest ; The brightest when the radiant clouds Of silent evening gem the west.
"Cross'd is the surging river death, Gain'd is his glorious home on high ; There, free from every earthly ill, He lives to-day ; he cannot die," *
* Lines sung at the funeral of the late Gov. Briggs, of Massachusetts.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY CONTINUED-BUILDING OF VESTRY OR LEC- TURE ROOM -- SETTLEMENT OF LAMSON MINER-JACOB SCALES --- S. W. MAGILL - G. W. NOYES -- J. A. BENT-A. A. BAKER --- LAY OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.
The Congregational Society had for many years, felt the ne- cessity of a convenient room for lectures and occasional meetings religious and secular. In 1832 they erected a building for these purposes, having raised the necessary means by subscription. Permission was given to the young gentlemen's society to add a second story for their use; with the promise that if they declined the offer, individuals might have the same privilege ;- they to hold the room as private property. The young gentlemen's society availed themselves of the offer, and the upper room of the build- ing has been regarded as their property. It ought, perhaps to be added, that in the autumn of 1860, the lecture room was, by the contributions of individuals, thoroughly renovated, -- the walls hay- ing been papered ; the wood-work painted, and the rude seats ex- changed for neat and comfortable settees. The position of the desk has also been changed, and made more convenient for both speaker and hearers.
Mr. Lamson Miner received a call from the church and society in November, 1836, with the offer of $600 salary, which he ac- cepted, and was ordained the 4th of Jan. following-the sermon by Rev. Dr. Merrill. Before the council, which convened for his or-
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dination, a remonstrance growing out of his views in regard to Slavery, was presented by several members of the Church. A conference between a committee of the council, and the remon- strants, resulted in a compromise of their differences, and the council proceeded to the duty for which they were assembled .- Though an invalid when he was settled, Mr. Miner entered on his work with a devotion and energy which promised happy results. Ilope was entertained by himself and his friends that he might surmount his infirmities, and be permitted to guard and feed the flock of which he had been constituted the pastor. But it was soon apparent that his disease, an affection of the throat and lungs, in- stead of relaxing its grasp, was daily gaining a firmer hold ; and after a little more than one year's service, performed amid suffer- ings and interruptions, he was obliged to suspend bis labors ; and he sought restoration among his friends in Castleton, where he hoped to enjoy the best medical counsel. In December, 1838, he addressed to the church a request for a dismission. Averse to the separation, the church, instead of assenting to his request, voted him leave of absence for a further term of six months. To this, however, he objectel, and immediately renewed his request for a dismission, actuated, no doubt, by the conviction that the best good of his people required that they should be at liberty at the earliest mo- ment to settle a successor. The church finally yielded, and & council was convened Jan. 16, 1839, which sanctioned his dismiss- ion, expressing at the same time, " their persuasion that he had been an able, faithful and eminently successful minister of Jesus Christ .??
Mr. Miner was born in Middletown, Vt., June 11, 1808. In his youth he became an apprentice to a jeweler in Rutland, and while engaged in that employment, became hopefully pious in the same revival which witnessed the hopeful conversion of Rev. Professor Meacham, at that time, also, an apprentice to the cabinet making business, in Butlan l. Between the two a tender friendship sprung up, which was interrupted only by death. Mr. Miner graduated at "Middlebury College in 1833, - pursued theological study at Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and was tutor in 1835-6
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in Franklin College, Georgia. He was licensed to preach, by the Rutland Association, a few months previous to his settlement in Cornwall. Soon after his ordination he was married to Miss Nancy M. Pratt, who had been for years a successful teacher in Castleton Seminary, and who, since his decease, has become the wife of Rev. Harvey F. Leavitt, late of Vergennes, now of Middlebury, where she conducts a Female Seminary. Mr. Miner died at Castle- ton, Sept. 17, 1861, aged 33 years. Thus early, one, the opening of whose carcer was full of promise, passed to scenes of higher and holier service and enjoyment, in the immediate presence of the Savior.
It was during the pastorate of Mr. Miner that the congregation, in accordance with a fashion which about that time became preva- lent, adopted the practice of sitting instead of standing during the prayers of the sanctuary. He advocated the change, but after some months of observation, expressed the belief in a conversation with Mr. Bushnell, "that much prayer had been lost by the change."
May 10, 1839, the church and society voted an invitation to Rev. JACOB SCALES to become their pastor, with the same provision for support which was offered to Mr. Miner. The invitation was accepted and his installation took place the 3d of July. Rev. Isaac Knight of Franklin, N.H., preached the sermon on the occasion. At the time of Mr. Scales' installation, there was much feeling among many members of the church respecting slavery. A remonstrance, signed by ten members, was presented before the Council, which, together with the reply of the Council, will be read with interest. With this belief, I present them in full :
REMONSTRANCE .- " To the Council assembled to examine and install Jacob Scales as pastor of the Congregational Church in Cornwall :
Dear Brethren :- We, the undersigned, being a minority of sail Church of Cornwall, believing the sin of slavery to be one which every lover of humanity - every follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, and especially every one who has received his commis- sion from this same Jesus to proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison doors to those who are bound, should pray and labor to bring to an immediate and perpetual end ; and be-
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lieving the principles and measures of the American Anti-Slavery Society to be the only competent means for accomplishing this de- sirable ond ; and having resolved never to support a minister, or any other public man, in any way, who does not subscribe to these principles and measures ; and being fully convinced that Jacob Scales, the pastor elect, although an abolitionist in the abstract, is not a practical abolitionist, has refused, and in all probability will continue to refuse to co-operate with the abolitionists for the over- throw of slavery ; we therefore believe it to be our duty, and do hereby solemnly protest against the installation of said Jacob Scales as our teacher and guide.
If this protest be unheeded, and you proceed to install him, we ask your body to recommend to said church, to permit us quietly to withdraw from their body, and associate as we deem most for the honor of religion.
Cornwall, July 1, 1889."
The Council referred the remonstrance to Rev. Josiah F. Good- hne, Rev. Prof. Hough, and Peter Starr, Esq., with instructions " to report thercon the views of the Council, to be publicly read."
REPORT .- " This Ecclesiastical Council, convened in pursuance of the call of the Church and Society in Cornwall, with reference to. the installation of Rev. Jacob Seales, having had the remonstrance of a minority of the church, together with oral statements of the remonstrants under consideration, have come to the deliberate con- clusion that the reasons urged in the remonstrance, and in the re- marks which accompanied it, are not such as should arrest our pro- ceedings. The remonstrants acknowledge that upon the subject of slavery, Mr. Scales, in sentiment, is correct ; but they allege, that, as a practical abolitionist. he does not come up to the standard of the American Anti-Slavery Society. (Of this, however, no proof was adduced.}
This Council ean recognize no other standard than the Word of God, as the rule of faith or practice for the ministers of that Word, or for private Christians ; and they cannot adinit the principle that the views and measures of any association not recognized in Scrip- ture, are binding upon the conscience as an imperative rule of duty. On the subject of slavery as an enormous evil, inconsistent with our civil institutions. and with the generous spirit of the Gospel, this Council accord in opinion. But with respect to the mode of operation for the removal of this evil, they have no doubt that christians may and do conscienciously differ ; and in their estima- tion, to adopt the rules of any association as universally obligatory, would be an invasion of that freedom of opinion which all chris-
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tians have a right to exercise, in all matters not explicitly enjoined in the Word of God. It would be setting up other associations above the Church of Christ-a course which no enlightened Chris- tian can admit. It would authorize other associations to dictate to the church its principles and its measures. It would authorize as- sociations of fallible men to add to the rules of faith and practice, which Christ has appointed for the instruction and government of his church. And the Council express their solemn conviction that the remonstrants in claiming a right to separate from the church for the reasons expressed by them, are not fully aware of the va -. rious bearings of the views they entertain, and the result to which they would lead. They would tend to rend asunder the Church of Christ. They might tend to the substitution of other standards of belief and conduct for the simple and consistent and spiritual rules of the Gospel of Christ.
This Council, in conclusion, would earnestly and affectionately exhort the members of this church, to cleave to the doctrines of Christ, and the ordinances of his church, and to regard as a sacred principle the position, that on the collateral subjects of benevolence or reform, Christians are bound to exercise an enlarged charity towards those who may differ from them."
Divers attempts had been made by several members to secure the adoption of sentiments on the subject of slavery from which the majority dissented. At length, after much fruitless discussion, at a meeting of the church February 16, 1841, a request was pre- sented from twenty-seven members, male and female, for "a dismis- sion from the church, for the purpose of organizing a new associa- tion, to be called the Free Congregational Church in Cornwall." The first proposition of the church to the petitioners was to submit the whole question to a Mutual Council, to which the petitioners objected. As the church did not feel prepared for action, they adjourned for a week, when they voted to seek, in council, the ad- vice of the pastors and churches in Shoreham, Bridport, Vergen- nes, Middlebury and Pittsford.
The Council, when convened, March 9th, first asked that the pe- titioners would definitely state the reasons for their request, This they declined to do, on the ground that it was undesirable to reopen " the general subject of difference," and it was, by the petitioners, finally left to the Council "to act as the body calling them may
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choose to direct." The result of Council was as follows :- " Resolved, unanimously, that in the judgment of this ecclesiasti- cal Council, the church cannot, in consistency with their Christian obligations, grant the request of the petitioners, unless said peti- tioners shall give to them in writing, satisfactory reasons for so doing." This result was "accepted and adopted by a large major- ity of the church." The record of a subsequent mecting, held April 2d, reads as follows : "The final question on the dismission of the twenty-seven brethren and sisters was called up. They presented no written reasons, nor offered any orally, excepting what they said were known to all the church, viz :- that a differ- ence of opinion and action had long existed on the subject of the abolition of slavery, and thence had arisen alienation of feeling." The final action of the church was in accordance with the advice of Council. The petitioners, however, withdrew and were organized into a church, which embraced, also, several of the former members of the Baptist Church, whose place of worship was occupied by the new organization. After the formation of the Free Church, several members of the Congregational Church, desired dismission and recommendation to it, but their requests were refused on the same ground as those of the original petitioners.
At several times the church expressed its sentiments in regard to slavery,-disapproving the system ; withholding its fellowship from slave-holders and their abettors and apologists ; and discountenancing the occupancy of Christian pulpits by slave-holding preachers .- Their action has been on several occasions somewhat modified, but not essentially changed. It stands, by its record, an anti-slavery church, unwilling to sustain slavery, or to commend its members to pro-slavery fellowship.
During the ministry of Mr. Scales, an arrangement was effected between him and the Society, in accordance with which a parsonage was built, the plan and the means of defraying the expense having been furnished by Mr. Scales, with the understanding that in case of his removal, the Society should take the property at a fair ap- praisal by disinterested men, and pay him its value. His pastorate continued about three years, his dismission having occurred June
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16th, 1842. Ilis situation during his residence in town, was per- haps unfavorable to his usefulness or personal enjoyment, both o" account of the feelings engendered by the separation of the Free Church, and by some diversity of feeling respecting the erection o: the parsonage. Ile endeavored, however, to maintain discipline in the church,-preached the gospel plainly, and deservedly bore the reputation of a faithful minister. After his removal from Cornwall he was settled in Henniker, N. II., where he has since successfully labored.
In the autumn of 1843, Rev. SEAGROVE W. MAGILL who had Jabored some time in the State of Georgia, the place of his nativity, and who was afterward, for several years pastor of a Church in Tallmadge, Ohio, was invited to supply the pulpit of the Congre- gational Church and Society. He intimated his desire to reside among the people with his family, several months as a supply, thus furnishing ample opportunity for mutual acquaintance, before any measures should be adopted with reference to his settlement. Ar- rangements to this effect were made, and his family occupied the parsonage during the winter. In April, 1844, a call was extended to him by both Church and Society, with a few dissenting votes, occasioned by the fact of his being a slave-holder, though involun- tary on his part. As a support, five hundred dollars, payable semi- annually, was tendered to him, with the use of the parsonage .- The terms proving satisfactory, he accepted the invitation, and was installed July 10, 1844. Dr. Merrill preached the installation sermon.
In his intercourse with his people, Mr. Magill appeared the Christian gentleman, and his labors in their behalf, were highly appreciated. Few ministers perform a greater amount of pastoral labor ; mone are more devoted and sympathetic in their attentions to the sick and the afflicted - tendering friendly warning and ad- monition to the impenitent, and consolation to the pious, by day ; and becoming, in addition, the patient and judicious watcher and nurse by night. It may not be amiss to add that I have never met the pastor's wife whose labors as a friend and nurse among the sick, equalled those of Mrs. Magill. These services secured the
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etrong affection of their charge, and rendered them most averse to a dissolution of the pastoral relation.
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Early in the year 1846, measures were initiated by the Congre- gational Society for a thorough repair of their house of worship. Various plans for repairs, more or less extensive, had been previous- ly proposed and discussed, but none had been adopted. The time seemed now to have arrived for action, and prompted by a timely discourse from Mr. Magill, the people resolved to "arise and build." Their legal right to repair the house and to make any changes which they might deem needful, few questioned. The main diffi- culty in their way was to devise some scheme which should do exact justice to non-resident proprietors, and to resident proprietors who had ceased to feel an interest in the society. As the best mode of effecting this, they invited the proprietors to appoint a committee to act conjointly with a committee of the society, in designating dis- interested men to appraise each pew, with the understanding that the owner might have its value, or his proportion thereof in money, or in property in the new house. Such an appraisal was made, and the society took the house at its estimated value, about $650.
They appointed as a building committee, Lyman Matthews, Jesse Ellsworth, Harmon Samson, Harris Bingham and P. W. Collins. Mr. Collins, after attending some of the preliminary meetings of the committee, ceased to act, having determined to remove from town. The chief labor fell upon Mr. Ellsworth, who, with his characteristic promptness discharged it, providing the means to meet every claim when due. The house, when completed, was re-dedi- cated, Mr. Magill having preached an appropriate sermon. The pews were appraised and each had affixed to it the minimum price which would be accepted for it. The. pews were then offered at auction, it being understood that in each case the first bid made must be equal to the price affixed. The first day's sale failed, by a few hundred dollars, to defray the cost of construction, but after the lapse of several months, the balance of the pews were sold for an amount fully equal to the entire cost, principal and interest, with a small surplus.
The plan adopted involved an entire renovation of the building,
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