USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 13
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"1780, April 27. Chh Met according to appointment and informed Mr. Davis of their uneasiness with him for Continuing his Contention with Deac' Evans & in not resting Satisfied with the doings of the Chh in respect to him after some time, according to the proposal made. Deac. Evans Said before the Chh that if he had injur'd Mr. Davis any way in his Name or Estate he was sorry for it & meant to treat Mr Davis's Character with Brotherly Tenderness which was Satisfactory to Mr Davis. Mr Davis also Said before the Chh and to the Chh that he was Sensible that upon Provocation he had fallen into unbecoming Passions and in his Expressions had broken good Rules, and wherein he had given occasion of offense to the Chh he was sorry therefore
131
Infant Baptism
desird that it might be overlook't and their prayers for him; The Vote was then Called whether it was Satisfactory to the Church, pass'd in the Affirin- ative."
In regard to infant baptism, the following are of interest :
"1779, Dec. 15. Chh met according to appointment at Mr Whitings Put to Vote Whether Brother Ebenezer Fuller might have his Daughter Abigails Children baptized upon his & his Wives account, in the method he desired pass'd in the negative.
"1784, May 6. Chh met according to Appointment, when Some of the Congregation being present, they Made request to the Chh, that there might be a door Open for the Baptism of the Children of Such as had Scruples upon their minds about Coming to the Table of the Lord & yet were willing to enter into Covenant & put themselves under the watch & care of the Chh & offer'd further that they Consider'd this as a Priviledge which they had a right to Demand, as they understood that the Cambridge Platform was to be the Rule by which the Chh was to govern themselves by. After Consider- able Conference, it was agreed upon that for the purpose of Coming to some mutual Agreement three members of the Chh should be Chosen to Join with three persons of the Congregation as a Committee with the Pastor to devise & form some Rule of Proceedings to be laid before the Chh in order for their Acceptance, & voting it as a Rule of Proceeding the Chh. The Chh made Choice of Deac'n Peas Peter Evans Jun'r & Jehiel Webb, to join with John Herod, Charles Richards & Caleb Church, who were Chosen on the part of the Congregation, Which Committee were to meet at the Rev'd Mr Whitings on Thursday, the 27th of May at noon.
* "June 15. * * * * * the Vote Pass'd is as follows. This Chh taking into Consideration the Uneasiness of Numbers of the Congregation & their request that they might enjoy a Supposed Priveledge of having the Ordi- nance of Baptism administered to their Children, tho they do not come up to the Table of the Lord and join in full Communion with the church-a liberty which is granted in many Chhs of our Communion tho not so generally as formerly.
Voted.
1. That the Chh cannot Consider it to be a profession of Faith in Christ & Obedience to him, while a Reserve is made as to Coming up to the Sacra- ment of the Supper, & while there is no profession of Obedience to this Dying Command of the Saviour.
2. That the Chh would Charitably Suppose that such Adult persons as had been Baptiz'd & thereby bro't into the Chh in their Infancy & of good Moral Behaviour, did not mean to renounce their Baptism, reject the Author- ity watch & Discipline of the Chh or disclaim all Priveledges from it; by their neglect in not answering the Design of their early Baptism, even to pro- fess faith in Christ & Obedience to Him & Thereby make it Their own Act & Deed in a professed & publick manner.
3. That the Chh are willing that Baptism be administered to the Chil - dren of all Such of whom they can have this Charitable Thot as mention'd in the preceding Vote & Would desire their Pastor thus to practice.
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History of Rockingham
4. Voted that such as have been guilty of Moral Scandal do make Chris- tian Satisfaction therefor in order to their receiving any Priviledges in the Way above mentioned.
5. That the Applying for any Priviledges in the Chh shall be under- stood as an acknowledgement of the Authority of the Chh over such as Apply & that it be Consider'd as an actual putting themselves under the Watch and Care of the Chh & that they receive Priviledges no longer than they submit to the Authority and Discipline of the Chh.
6. That such as do receive Baptism for their Children or any priveledge in the Way above mentioned do make a Publick Profession of their Belief of the Christian Religion, do acknowledge the Validity of their own Baptism in Infancy, & their Belief of the Scriptural Right of Administering Baptism to the Infants of such as are members of the Visible Chh, & the propriety of the Mode as practised in our Chhs. That they promise to bring up their Chil- dren in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord & will submit to the Disci- pline of the Chh exereis'd in a Reasonable & Gospel method.
7. That the Pastor propound such as apply for receiving Priviledges at least one Week before they are received to Priviledges & he is desir'd & direc- ted to enquire of all applying whether they have for some Reasonable term of time Statedly read Gods Word & pray'd in their Families & carefully attended on the Worship of God with their Families on the Lords Day & unless they can Answer in the Affirmative in these Points not to propound them to Privi- ledges as without the Practice of these things the Chh cannot Consider that there is any kind of Security for the good Education of the Baptiz'd Children or any reasonable Expectation of it.
8. Voted that inasmuch as there may be very particular Caution & Care needful, in directing persons who may apply for Priveledges, and as to pro- pounding them to the Chh : Agreeable to the Desire of the Pastor the Chh do appoint a Committee of the Chh for his help & assistance, whom the Pastor may at any time call to his assistance in any matter of Doubt & to whom he may send any applying persons, to obtain their consent in order to be pro- pounded & it is understood that the Committee assist the Pastor in any other matters ; & that this method be Continued in the Chh so long as the good Tendency and effects of it appear.
9. that Daniel Edson. Jehiel Webb, & Deac'n Jacob Pease be the Com- mittee for Purposes above mentioned so long as they shall be willing to afford their Service to the Pastor & Chh & give satisfaction to the Chh therein."
If a church member absented himself from the Commun- ion Service, the church was accustomed to require that he give the church the reason for such sacrilegious action.
"1778, September 4. Chh met according to appointment & Voted
I. that the Chh Covenant Stand without any Alterations & no Adult Per- sons be admitted to Priveledges & taken under the Watch & Care of the Chh without promising an attendance on the Lord's Table.
2. that persons having own'd the Covenant elsewhere Residing among us, may receive Priveledges in this Chh even while they do not come to the
I33
Church Creed
Table of the Lord So Long as in the Judgement Charity, the Chh can sup- pose they are endeavoring to remove their Scruples as to Coming to the Table of the Lord & in other Respects live answerable to a Christian Profession.
3. Voted that the Pastor desire of Brother Joseph Wood the Reasons of his still absenting from the Lord's Table."
"1779, September 3. Chh met according to appointment Brother Joseph Wood inform'd the Chh that his having absented from the Lord's Table was on 'account of the Difficulties of Public Affairs & that he had tho't it to be a greater evil for him to partake than Absent, but that he was now Sensible of his having no Scripture Rule to Justify his absenting, desiring the Chh to overlook his Neglect & that he might again Commune with us.
Voted that the Chh is Satisfied herewith."
At the time the church was re-established in 1818, the following confession of faith and covenant were adopted. They are of interest now when compared with those of the present day :
" We believe &c &c
You and each of you believe there is only one living and true GOD : that there is One Mediator between God and man, even Jesus Christ, and there is no salvation in any other ; that the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son and is the Renewer, Sanctifier, Comforter and perfecter of his Saints ; and that these three, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, are the one GOD.
We believe &c
You and each of you believe that the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments are the word of GOD, and the only sure guide to direct the tempers, desires and dependance of the soul and the actions of life : that sin is a most deadly evil and unrepented of will issue in endless death. its just wages : while true holiness is exceeding lovely in itself and will produce unspeakable happiness to its possessors, and end in eternal life and blessed- ness in the kingdom of glory.
Thus we (you) profess and believe.
Covenant. We do now covenant-
You and each of you do now endeavor, in the sincerity of our (your) hearts, to take the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, whose being and perfections we (you) have professed to believe, to be our (your ) GOD, and engage to be his willing subjects forever. We (you) take the holy scriptures for the only rule of our (your) life and accordingly covenant to live agreeably to them, a life of repentance, faith and new obedience ; and to renounce every evil & false way. We give (you give) up ourselves (your- selves) to Christ in this his church and engage to attend on all the ordinances of GOD's house and the Gospel discipline here administered, so long as it shall please God to continue us (you) here among you (us).
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History of Rockingham
Thus we (you) and each of you promise and engage, depending on divine grace, to enable us (yon) rightly to perform these our (your ) Cove- nant Vows."
In 1819 numerous rules were adopted by the church for its regulation, from which the following are a few extracts :
"Thirdly. Chose three brethren, to wit, Samuel Gowing, Moses Hill, and David Pulsipher Junior, an informing Committee, whose duty be either jointly or severally, to give notice to the Pastor or the Clerk of all public and open breaches and violations of Christian duty, covenant obligations and regulations of this church which may come within their knowledge or the knowledge of either of them.
Sixthly. That no candidate shall be admitted into the church without giving satisfactory evidence of a change of heart. This evidence to be given to the Pastor, who, for the present, is appointed by the church as their com- mittee for such examination.
Seventhly. That every candidate shall stand propounded, two full weeks, before admission, that any brother or sister may have an opportunity to examine such candidate relative to their hope and every qualification the Gospel names requisite for church membership.
Eighthly. That no candidate shall be required to make any public con- fession for any former sins, crimes or misdemeanors, when his or her repentance and reformation shall evidence a new heart and life : and such. as in the charity of the church, God accepts.
Ninth. That all after offences shall be confessed, if brought before the church or becomes a matter of puble notoriety, before the whole congrega- tion.
Thirteenth. That the church in future will hold a prayer meeting on the first Monday in every month to unite with the general concert of prayer now established in all the churches."
December 30, 1782, the record of a town meeting has the following respecting Mr. Whiting and his position as the town minister :
The town chose "a Committee of seven men to Converse with the Revd Mr Samll Whiting Respecting the obligation the Signers gave him. The above Committee that were chosen Ware Joshua Webb, Oliver Lovell, peter Evans, Jehial Webb, Jonathan Burt William Simonds John Lovell and the above Committee to make Report of their Doings on the Second Monday of Janavary next." The report of this committee, which was accepted by the town, consisted of the following letter from Mr Whiting, which is spread upon the town record .*
*It is probable that the peculiarities of composition are more those of the town clerk who copied the letter than of Mr. Whiting, who was a finely educated man. This is proven by the fact that the church records which are in his handwriting are written much more in accord with the practices of the present day.
I35
Communications from Mr. Whiting
"At the Request of a Committee Chosen to Treat with me in behalf of the Town to Know how I would Chuse to be supported, I would hereby De- clare my Concurance with the Vote of the Town at a meeting on Jan'y 1781 as to the manner of my Support and do consider the sd vote of the town to accept of me as their settled minister and to Give me an annual Salary agree- able to the former Covenant from a number of the inhabitants of this Town as a satisfactory Security for my futer Supportt and am Ready and willing to Give up the Obligation I now have from the subscribers as soon as I am paid or Secured as to what Remains Due. And I thank you Gent'n of this Town for the Regard you have shoon me in accepting me as your minister and Re- joyce with you in the more Equitable Moad that this state has provided for the supportt of the Gospell and it would be agreable if the Town would pass a particular vote to be Recorded that you Quit all Claime and title to that Right of Land which I am now in possession of and that You do Consider it to be secured to me and my Heirs by the Charter of this Town and that you will afford your Endeavors and assistance that I may peacably possess and hold the same. More than which I have nothing to ask at present but your prayers for me and United Endeavors with me for Our Peace Good Regula- tion well fair and Happiness as a Town and Society.
Samuel Whiting (sgd)
To the Gentlemen of the Town of Rockingham
January 13th, 1783"
The town then passed the following vote ; "Voted that this town Haveing Chosen and accepted of the Revd Samll Whiting as their minister and the sd Samll Whiting haveing Concurd with us herein and accepted of the Anavel Supportt offered Do consider the Right of Land Granted in the Char- ter of the Town by the Province of Newhampshire to the first settled minister to be the sd Samll Whiting's and that the Town do Quitt all supposed Right or Title to the same being Knoon and Lotted out upon the plan by the name of the Minister's right and will afford their Endevors and assistance that the sd Samll Whiting Peaceably and Quietly possess hold Injoy the same."
The following recorded in the church record book shows that Mr. Whiting had many problems to contend with requir- ing wisdom and diplomacy of no ordinary character, and that he at one time strongly contemplated resigning.
"March 5, 1798, the Chh met, being notified by a letter sent to each Mem- ber by the Pastor, being met at Mr. Whitings house, & the Meeting being open'd, the Pastor introduced the Conference & business, by reading the fol- lowing Statement of facts & proposals for Consideration.
Brethren.
I have Called you together without any particular request having been made therefor. And it may be expected that I open the Meeting, by Suggest-
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History of Rockingham
ing Some Reasons, & making some Statement of the Situation of the Chh. & the State of Religion among us, & the matters, which may be proper for the Chh to attend to.
The Chh in this Town was gathered & organized on the Day of my Ordi- nation October 27 1773. It was Composed of Pastor Elect & eleven other Male Members, who had made a Christian Profession & had belonged to other Chhs, & most of them had letters of Reccommendation ; two of these eleven were residents of Chester, the others were of Rockingham. Publick Worship & Ordinances were divided between Rockingham & Chester for five years. At the Close of these five years, there was some small additions to the Chh in Rockingham & Chester ; And as they had never practiced much in attending at each others Communions they Considered themselves as Seperate & Dis- tinct Churches.
The Chh in Rockingham however soon called upon Chester members & they by sending us a Copy of their Covenant & proceedings gave us full sat- isfaction that they were duly Organized & regularly separated from us as a distinct Chh. during the first five years two of the first nine who subscribed the Covenant were removed by Death. Since the first gathering of the Chh, about 70 have been received, some of whom have been removed by Death, others have removed from us to other places. Some have so left us in prin- ciple as to have left our Communion, & there remains now about 50, little more than 12 are Males, a Considerable part of the male members are aged, & the active part of the Chh are about as small as when I was ordained.
It pleased Providence to remove from the Chh some years past & soon after each other three Deacons who as it were began with us & were great supporters & helpers to further Religion among us.
The unhappy disputes in Politics which at several times have run so high among us, have evidently been unfavourable to the flourishing of Religion, the Disputes & divisions in respect to Religious principles which have had a great run among us, tho' they may not have lessened the Quantity of Religion, have been unfavourable to the Communion & Numbers of the Chh. The increase of Wealth in this Town & the Introduction of Luxuries the Changes in Civil Government, the endeavours and attempts which have been made for Obtaining some Publick funds for providing a decent house & supporting Publick Worship therein & the disappointments which attend these attempts, & the common Disputes which have arisen in Civil matters, all have evidently appeared unfavourable to the flourishing state of outward Religion among us. the mention of these general things readily reminds us of the great Share of Calamitys which we have suffered & been carried thro'. Our present weak- ness & the frowns of Heaven which are upon us need not be dissembled & every private View may well be swallow'd up in a regard for Religion & Com- munity. At the present populous State of the Town, & its great increase in Wealth no decent provision can be made for publick Worship after repeated trials ; Without any addition to the Minister's Salary under all the deprecia- tion that attends it It has become more & more burdensome no decent provis- ions are made for the Administration of Ordinances but not to enlarge upon the peculiar Circumstances of the Town as might easily be done, the Pastor wishes to be encouraged & strengthened, if it can be done consistent with truth & honesty, otherwise not.
137
Pastor Whiting's Resignation
The above Statement of the Pastor was not objected to or disputed by the brethren. It being requested by the Brethren to hear what the Pastor offerr'd to the People last October, when he left off Preaching the substance of it was read to them & is as follows-
I would mention to the Congregation that it is twenty four years since my being a Minister here the 27th of October next, next Sabbath on which I expect to exchange will be the last Sabbath of the year & whereas my health is such that I cant preach in this meeting house during the Winter season, And as a very Considerable part of those who attend upon publick Worship are Women & Children & such as live at a distance & cant conveniently attend, I think it is my Duty to relinquish my Salary & desist from all ministerial Services during the Winter season. I expect you will be Supply'd next Sabbath with preaching, and I would further add that I do not leave off preaching on account of any disinclination to the business or disaffection to the People, but on account of the peculiar Situation & Circumstances of the Town.
After some Conference upon the above, - no Votes were past, but the Chh meeting was adjourned to the Meeting House on the first Monday in April at One O Clock in the Afternoon.
Met according to adjournment when it was concluded that Mr Whiting make his proposals of beginning preaching again to the people in Town Meeting & thus begin & his salary be paid by those who have not Certificated, in proportion to their doing their part towards Supplying the Pulpit the whole time.
March. 1809
the Chh met at the house of the Revd Mr Whiting agreeable to appoint- ment, when the Pastor made request that he might be dismissed from his Ministerial Labors & after Conversing on the Subject the Chh Voted to comply with the Pastor's Request that a Dissolution of the Pastoral Relation between pastor and Chh & should take place & Chose brother Jehiel Webb and brother John Ellis a Committee to unite with the Committee of the Town to invite an ecclesiastical council to advise & assist in this important transaction. 2dly Voted to send to the Chhs in Walpole, Grafton and Spring- field as a Council.
Letters Missive were accordingly sent to those Chhs, who all of them met at the house of William Hall in Rockingham on the 18th of May 1809 & having formed into Ecclesiastical Council, they united in the following result Viz.
(The end of Rev. Mr. Whiting's records of meetings which terminate abruptly).
February 4, 1809, Mr. Whiting addressed a letter to the selectmen of Rockingham, requesting them to insert in the call for the annual meeting an article to see if the town would dismiss him from his ministerial services, and to choose a
ยท
I38
History of Rockingham
committee to bring about that result in an honorable manner. In his letter asking dismission he says :-
"I am led to make the above request of the town for reasons very differ- ent and distant from any neglect in the people to encourage my services among them, although I confess it is hard on many accounts to use my endeavors to keep up a ministerial dignity and the stated worship of God on the Sabbath when there are so few who attend upon my public ministry ! But it appears to me that with the utmost exertions my usefulness must be nearly closed ; and my health and spirits are considerably impaired. I con- sequently have some wishes to try to repair them by some journeys and relaxations from business. Perhaps some may suppose there is no need of any formality in my dismission under present circumstances, and while the civil law makes no provision, as it is generally understood, for the support of a settled minister, I always had, and still have, some seruples as to the propriety and duty of a minister leaving his people without some formality and agreement of parties, when the relation and connection had been formed with so much seriousness and solemnity as in our usual ordinations.
There are few among us now to remember the solemnity, affection and religious feeling existing at my ordination in this place. Most of those who were the principal actors and spectators in that early and infant state of the town, are dead, and I who have survived, attended their remains to the silent grave. There are some, however, who survive with me, and I trust it would be most agreeable to their feelings that there should be some friendly and formal dissolution of the connection between us as pastor and people, and that there should be no appearance of strife or contention between us ; besides I think this would be most honorable to the town, and most conducive to an honorable and speedy re-establishment of the ministry here, among a people become numerous and wealthy. This appears but a small degree of honor from the town to me when it is considered what ferment and collisions both in religion and politics have taken place, and that I have been called to pass through them all in the course of my ministry here. 1, alone, remain stand- ing in the ministry in this State of all those who were ordained before me."
Mr. Whiting had been deeply interested in this church and town from his coming to it in 1773; he had grown up here with the people; and at this time was an old man, for- tunately possessed of enough property, saved by strict economy from his meagre salary and his ability as a farmer, to support himself and family comfortably during the remainder of his life.
In accordance with his desire the town chose a committee of well known citizens to confer with Mr. Whiting in behalf of the town relative to the dissolution of the relations existing between him and the people of Rockingham, and with power
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Mr. Whiting's Resignation Accepted
to unite with a committee of the church for the purpose of dismissing their minister. They were William Hall, Jr., Elijah Knight and Dr. Alexander Campbell. In their report given to the town upon a later date they say :
"Your committee consider the settling or dismissing of a minister, a work of magnitude ; as good order and a well regulated community tends to the promotion of morality and religion, while its opposite is often subversive of order, destructive to morals, and weakens the social compact. Your com- mittce, therefore, are impressed with the importance of treating the subject with all possible delicacy and order. Much, in their opinion, depends as regards the future interest and happiness of the town, on the manner in which the present relation between minister and people is dissolved. If it is effected in harmony, and the town should ever think of settling another minister, they will be more likely to obtain a man of talents, who will support the dignity of his station, than by an opposite proceedure. Your committee are fully aware of the difference of opinion in this place, in religious sentiments, still they cannot but hope that all party dissentions will subside, and that the good sense of the town will predominate and this business taken up coolly and acted upon candidly and measures adopted for the dismissing of Mr. Whiting hon- orably.
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