USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > The old Rockingham meeting house, erected 1787 and the first church in Rockingham, Vermont, 1773-1840 > Part 6
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c. Letter of Rev. Samuel Whiting to his Congrega- tion March, 1798, reviewing the history of the church.
The Chh in this Town was gathered & Organized on the Day of my Ordination October 27, 1773. It was Composed of the Pastor Elect & eleven other Male Members. two of these eleven were residents of Chester. . during the first five years two of the first nine who subscribed the Covenant were removed by Death. Since the first gather- ing 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 principle 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 have not 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 Govern-
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ment, the endeavours & attempts which have been made for Obtaining some Publick funds for providing a decent house & supporting Publick Worship therein, & the disappoint- ments which attended these attempts, & the common Dis- putes 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 Calamity's which we have suffered & been carried thro'. Our present weakness & 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 & Community. 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 depreciation that attends it It had be- come more & more burdensome no decent provisions are made for the Administration of Ordinances but not to en- large upon the peculiar Circumstances of the Town as might easily be done, the Pastor wishes to be encouraged & strength- ened, if it can be done consistent with truth & honesty, otherwise not.
The record of the meeting continues :
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 pro- portion to their doing their part towards Supplying the Pulpit the whole time. Records of the First Church.
D. Investigation by the Town of Charges against Rev. Samuel Whiting in 1799.
To the Gentlemen Selectmen of the Town of Rockingham As their appears to be great uneasiness in the minds of the Church & Congregation of the Rev. Mr. Whiting in regard to his proceedings and nonperformances of Duty in the line of the Ministry &c these are to request you to call a Meeting
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of said Congregation to see what methed can be taken in order to calm the minds and give reasonable Satisfaction to every one so that we may meet and worship together as becomes a Christian people. Samuel Taylor Ely Evans Benjamin Williams John Gilmore and Calvin Webb.
Rockingham April 27, 1799.
Agreable to the above request these are to warn all those who are members of the Revd Samuel Whitings Congrega- tion to meet at the Meeting House in Rockingham on Mon- day the 13th Day of Instant May at 12 oclock at noon to first choose a moderator to govern said Meeting
Levi Sabin
2ly To act on the substance of the Petition. Rockingham first of May 1799 Jona Barron Eliphalet Felt Selectmen.
Rockingham 13th May 1799.
Then met the Members of the Revd Samuel Whitings Con- gregation agreable to the above request & warning and firstly made choice of Jehiel Webb Esqr as Moderator to govern said Meeting.
2ly it was motioned and seconded to see if the Society will choose a Committee to converse with the Revd Mr. Whiting as to his Ministerial performances and is past in the Affirmi- tive, sd committee to make report at the adjournment of this meeting.
3ly Voted and chose Mess. Samuel Taylor Jehiel Webb Samuel Emory James McAfee Levi Sabin Benjamin Wil- liams and John Gilmore for the committee last above men- tioned.
4ly voted to adjourn the present Meeting untill the last Monday of Instant May to meet at the Meeting House in sd Rockingham at one oclock afternoon.
Jehiel Webb, Moderator.
Attest Jona. Burt Town Clerk.
May 27th, 1799.
The Meeting opened according to adjournment and after some conversation the meeting was dissolved.
Jehiel Webb, Moderator Attest Jona Burt T. Clerk. Volume 2, Town Records.
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E. Dismissal of Rev. Samuel Whiting. 1809.
To the Selectmen of the Town of Rockingham Gentlemen I would request you to insert an artical in your warrant for your annual Town Meeting in March .- To See the Town will dismiss me from ministerial Services hear .- And if so to choose committee to confer and agree with me as to measures which may be thought proper and honourable for disolving the pastorial relation between me and the Church and people in this place .-
Gentlemen
I am led to make the above request of the Town for reasons very different and distant from any neglect of the people to incourage in My Services among them altho I confess it is hard on many accounts to use my indevours to keep up any Ministerial dignity and Stated worship of God on the Sabbath When their are so few to attend upon my public ministry .-
But it appears to me that with the utmost exertions my usefullness must be nearly closed and my health and Spirits are considerably impaired .- And I have some wishes to try to repair them by some jorneys and relaxation from business; Perhaps some may suppos their is no need of any formality in my dismission under present Surcumstances and while the civil Law makes no provision (as it is generally understood) for the Support of Settled Ministers, however I allways had and still have some Scruples as to the propriety and duty of a Ministers leaving his people without some formallity and agreemint of parties. When the relation & connection had been formed with so much Seriousness and Solemnity as in our usual ordinations .- And tho their are few among us to remember the great Solemnity affection & Religion which took place in my ordination in this place Since Most of those who were principal actors & Spectators in that early and infant State of the town are dead & I who have Survived, have attended their remains to the Silent Grave: their are some however that survive with me and I trust it will be most agreable to their feelings that their Should be some friendly & formal dissolution of the Con- nection between us as paster & people, & that their should be no appearance of Strife or contention between us .- And I think this would be most honourable to the Town, and most conducive to an honorable and Speedy reestablish- ment of the Ministry of this Town which is now become
in
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numerous and wealthy and I think this at least but a Small degree of honour which the Town will be ready to grant to me when they consider what ferments & Collisions, both in Religion & politicks have taken place and I have been called to pass through them in the course of my Ministry .- And when they consider also that I alone remain in Standing in the Ministry in this State of those who were ordained before me .- the Above are the principle Reasons of My request, to which request I would beg the town to give their friendly and serious attention. Samuel Whiting. Rockingham, Feb. 24, 1809. Town Records, Vol. 4, p. 185.
In accordance with the above, an article was in- serted in the warning for the town meeting held March 13, 1809, on which the following action was taken.
Voted that William Hall Alexander Campbell & Elijah Knight Esqrs be a Committee to wait on the Revd Samuel Whiting & make report at the adjorment of this present Meeting of their doings with Said Mr. Whiting.
Town Records, Vol. 4, p. 180.
The committee made the following report,-
To the Town of Rockingham in town meeting assembled your Committee appointed to unite with the Committee of the Church to confir with the Reverand Samuel Whiting reletive to dissolving the pastorial union between him & the Church & the people in this place .- Report that they have meet with the Church Committee and confired with Mr. Whiting on the Subject and find that he wishes to have the dissolution Carried into effect in a formal and honorable manner as regards himself and the town. he informed your committee that he did not ask of the town any compensation by which his estate would be increased; but requests that a certain portion of his property might be exempt from taxa- tion during the remainder of his natural life. the following were the reasons assigned for the above request that he had been in the Ministerial Services thirty six years: and in the infant State of society in the town had passed through the Strougles of a revolutional war. and Shared many hard- ships in common with his fellow citisons .- and in late times had Suffered by Religious dessintions. that for several years his sallery had been reduced nearly one half .- that
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for a long time he had been Subjected to pay taxes a thing no other clejyman in the State has don. that if the town should exempt on the grand list annually two hundred dol- lars of his property during his life it would be placing him in no better Situation than his brethering of the Clargy Whose property had never been taxed. He also is of opinion that a Council would not readly consint to dismiss a minis- ter in regular Standing. and without any accusations being alleged against him. when a request of this kind had been made and refused. your Committee beg leave to Suggest to the town. that if the Reverind Samuel Whitings request Should be granted and Council be called to dismiss him. that it will be necessary to choose another Committee or enlarge the powers of the present. committee for the pur- pose of uniting with the Church Committee in writting to some of the neighbouring Churches requesting their assist- ance by their pastor & delegate. in disolving the relation between Mr. Whiting & the Church & the people in this place your Committee consider the settling or dismissing the minister a matter of importance to Society .- as good order and a well regulated community tends to the promtion of morallity and religion. while its opisite is often Sub- versive of order distructive to morals and weakens the Social Compact .- your Committee are impressed with the im- portance of treating the Subject with all possable delicacy and order .- much in their opinion depends as it regards the future interest and happiness of the town. on the Manner in which the present relation is disolved. if it is effected in harmony and the town should ever think of Settling another minister they would be more likely to obtain a man of tal- lants who will support the dignity of his Station. than by an opposite proceedure your Committee are fully aware of the difference of opinion in religious sentiments in this place but still they cannot but hope that all party dissentions will Subside. and that the good sence of the town pre- dominate and buisness be taken up coolly debated upon- Candidly .- and measures adopted for the dismission Mr. Whiting honourably .-
All of which is humbly Submitted by .-
WILLIAM HALL JR ELIJAH KNIGHT Committee ALEXANDER CAMPBELL
Rockingham April 10th 1809. Town Records, Vol. 4, p. 183.
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Extracts from the Records
At the adjourned town meeting held April 10, 1809, the above report was acted upon in the following man- ner:
Voted that the report of the Committee appointed on the 13th of March last to confir with the reverend Samuell Whiting reletive to dissolving the pastorial union between him & Church & people be recorded-and also that said Committee be impowered to unite with the Committee of the Church in calling a council for the purpose of dismissing the said Mr. Whiting .-
Voted that two hundred dollars be exempted on the grand list annually of the Reverend Samuel Whitings proper- ty during his natural life from all taxes in case he should be dismissed from being the towns minister by council to be called for that purpose .- Town Records, Vol. 4, p. 183.
The last entry in Mr. Whiting's handwriting in the Records of the First Church, and the only entry after that quoted above as of March 5, 1798, is the follow- ing, rather pathetic in its abrupt termination:
March, 1809
the Chh met at the house of the Revd Mr Whiting agree- able to appointment, when the Pastor made request that he might be dismissed from his Ministerial Labours & after Con- versing 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 Springfield 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.
F. Reorganization as the Congregational Church of Christ in Rockingham, November 5, 1818.
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Rockingham, A. D. 1818.
Be it remembered that Elijah Wollage on the first Satur- day of July A. D. 1818, came first to this town, at the request of Judge Knight, one of the Comt for hiring preaching to supply the pulpit in the north meeting house in sd Rocking- ham. That the said Wollage contracted for four months. that, on the expiration of that term, the Society gave him a call to preach with them four years, beginning the first of July af'd. that he accepted the call on a salary of $425.00 per annum. that as the church of the Revd Mr. Whiting was no longer to be found; but most of the members either dead or removed away or had joined to some other denomination it was thought expedient to look up what few there might be found and in some way organize for the enjoyment of Gospel privileges.
It was, therefore, thought advisable to invite some of the neighboring ministers of the Congregational order to come and assist in reestablishing a church in this place. Accord- ingly, on Thursday, the fifth day of November A. D. 1818, the Rev. Sylvester Sage of Westminster, East Parish, the Revd Mr. Field, of Westminster, West Parish, the Rev. Mr. Smiley of Springfield and the Rev. Mr. Goodale of Grafton, convened at the dwelling house of the Revd Elijah Wollage, in said Rockingham, and, after due examination of Mr. Whitings' records, and that no visible church of Christ could possibly be found: they submitted to the few, who had been professors in the old church, under Mr. Whit- ing, and some others, who had been members of other churches, the following confession of faith and covenant, viz, -*
The foregoing Confession of faith and Covenant, having been read by the Rev. Mr. Sage in the presence of the other ministers and many witnesses, they were both unanimously adopted and subscribed to, by Samuel Ober, Hezekiah Rice, John Stoel, William Sterns, and Nathan'l Clark, and also by Lydia Sterns and Elizabeth Rice.
After the foregoing had been subscribed to, they were again read by the Rev. Mr. Sage, to the subscribing mem- bers, in the Second person, You and each of you &c &c &c and the subscribers having made choice of the Rev. Elijah Wollage for their Moderator, were then declared to be the Congregational Church of Christ in Rockingham.
Attest, Elijah Wollage, Moderator
Records of First Church. of said Church.
*Pages 41 and 92.
SECOND FLOOR DIAGRAM
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Extracts from the Records
G. Ordination of Rev. Samuel Mason, January 3, 1837.
Rockingham Jan. 1837.
About the first of last August a contract was entered into by which I was to Preach in this place three-fourth of the time. After having supplied them two Sabbath I removed to town, and continued to labor accordingly. Application was made to the Vermont Domestic Missionary for assistance about the first of Sept. toward my support, which was granted. The monthly concert and church meeting was held on the first Monday of each month; in Oct. an exchange was effected with Br. Bradford of Grafton and the Church enjoyed a season of communion when two were added to their number.
On the first Monday in December at the regular Church meeting it was agreed that we would have an Ordination the first Wednesday in Jan. following, and that a committee of the Church consisting of Dea John Stoel, Br Asa Lock Br David Pulciphir and Br Hiram Davis unite with the pastor Elect in calling an Eclesiastical council to meet on Tuesday Jan. 4 at the house of Dea Stoel at 6 o'clock P. M. Letters missive were sent to the Churches in Springfield Chester Grafton Sextons River Westminster east Westminster West, and the Rev. Ira Ingraham Cor Sec V M. D. M. S. Agreable to the foregoing The result was as follows
At an Eclesiastical council convened by letters missive from the Congregational church in Rockingham, at the house of Dea Stoel at 6 o'clock P. M. Jan. 3, 1837 were present
From the church in West, Rev. Timothy Field acting Br Atherton Hall Delegate Pas
From the Church in Chester Rev U. C. Burnap Pas. Sextons River Rev Nelson Barber Pastor Br Isaac Ober Delegate
Springfield Rev H B Holmes Pastor Br George Johnson Del. Grafton Br Daniel Wright Del.
The council was organized by choosing Rev. Timothy Field Moderator H. B. Holmes Scribe.
Council opened with prayer by the moderator papers were presented by the committee of the church purporting to be a call to Mr Samuel Mason to settle with them in the work of the Gospel ministry-and his answer to the same.
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Credentials of church membership and certificate of licensure were presented by Mr Mason.
Mr Mason was then examined relative to his personal piety his doctrinal views and motives for entering the minis- try.
Voted-to sustain the examination and proceed to the services of ordination tomorrow at II o'clock.
Timothy Field Moderator H. B. Holmes Scribe
Samuel Mason Pastor Records of First Church.
H. Dismissal of Rev. Samuel Mason, August 22, 1838.
The Pastor and a committe of the church came before the council and made their respective Statements. It ap- peared from them there existed difficulties and Dissensions in the church which greatly impaired Br. Mason's prospects of usefulness and his ministerial influence; which diminished the subscription for his salary, and would probably deprive him of the aid of the Dom. Miss. Society thus rendering his support both inadequate and precarious. In view of these circumstances the council voted unanimously, that the pastoral relation between Rev. Samuel Mason and the Cong Church in Rockingham ought to be and is hereby Disolved.
The council exculpate Bro Mason entirely from any part in the difficulties and Dissensions mentioned, which appear to have existed before his labors commenced, and they cheer- fully recommend him as a faithful Brother in the ministry to whatever field God in his Providence may lead him.
It is with deep regret that the council find themselves constrained to adopt their conclusion: a conclusion which seems not merely to deprive the church of a pastor for the time being, but to put an end to its prospect of enjoying the ordinances of the Gospel. And they entreat the brethren of the church as they regard the welfare of the surrounding community, the eternal interests of their neighbors their kindred and their families; for the sake of Zion and her King, to put away every root of bitterness from among them, to quench the flame of Discord, and to exhibit such an united and lovely aspect that they may hope to obtain and uphold another Pastor to labour more successfully among them.
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Adjourned with prayer by the scribe. Moses B. Brad- ford, Mod. Silas H. Hodges scribe.
A true copy of the original minutes.
Records of First Church.
I. Entries in Church Records bearing on the
Articles of Faith and Covenant of the Church, 1773-1818.
Aug. 30, 1778. Chh tarried & appointed a Chh Meeting to be on Friday following to Consider whether the Chh will receive any to priveledges without Receiving to full Com- munion or in other words whether they will adopt the half way Covenant. Commonly so call'd.
September 4, 1778. Chh Met according to appointment & Voted I. that the Chh Covenant Stand without any Alterations & no Adult Persons be admitted to Priveledges & taken under the Watch & Care of the Chh without promis- ing an Attendance on the Lord's Table.
2. that persons having ownd the Covenant elsewhere Residing among us, may receive Priveledges in this Chh even while they do not come to the Table of the Lord so Long as in the Judgement of Charity, the Chh can suppose 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.
Nov. 14, 1779. Chh Tarried when the Chh were inform'd of the Desire of Doctr Reuben Jones & his Wife to be pro- pounded to the Chh & join in full communion, but that Doctr Reuben Jones would not give an Assent to the Coven- ant, which was Customary to be assented to by Persons before they are receiv'd into full Communion if the Chh insisted upon it as a term of Communion, but if it was only desir'd of him by the Chh as a favour, he was ready to do it, he being present further explain'd himself & gave his Reasons before the Chh, & the Chh Voted that the Matter rest for Consideration. (After several discussions on this subject, Dr. Jones and his wife were admitted to the church Feb. 13, 1780.)
July 6, 1783 Chh Tarried after Publick Worship
I The Question was put, whether the Pastor be directed to Examine particularly all that offer themselves to be pro-
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pounded to the Chh as to their Sentiments respecting Infant Baptism & if they do not hold to Infant Baptism as it is generally held to in the Congregational Chhs, & do not think it their Duty to bring their Children to Baptism in Infancy, that it be mention'd to the Chh when they are propounded, & if they are receiv'd into the Chh be matter of Record. pass'd in the affirmative.
May 6, 1784. 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 Priveledge which they had a right to Demand, as they understood that the Cambridge Platform was to be the Rule by which this Chh was to govern themselves by. After Considerable 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 proceeding to be laid before the Chh, in order for their acceptance, & voting it as a Rule of Pro- ceeding in the Chh. The Chh made Choice of Deacn Peas, Peter Evans Junr & Jehiel Webb, to join with John Herod, Charles Richards & Caleb Church, who were Chosen on the part of the Congregation.
(After considerable discussion of the matter, and several votes, some of them later reconsidered, the following was adopted June 15 "as a Rule of Proceeding in the Chh so long as the Chh perceiv'd any good effects of the same")-
This Chh taking into Consideration the Uneasiness of Numbers of the Congregation & their request that they might enjoy a Supposed Priveledge of having the Ordinance of Baptism administred to their Children, tho they do not Come up to the Table of the Lord & join in full Communion with the Chh-a liberty which is granted in many Chhs of our Communion tho not so generally as formerly
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