b'\ny \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1 \xc2\xa5>\xc2\xa3\xc2\xa3 >Pi ^^4\xc2\xa3 i"v> v \n\n\n\n: \n* > \n\n\n\nu \n\n\n\n\n\n\n3&U>3^ \n\n\n\n*3*3%r- \n\n\n\n\n\n\nV \n\n>>:\xc2\xbb. o <\xe2\x96\xa0 >^ x&^> >* ^ v-x \n\n\n\nj^\xc2\xbb >> > > > \n\n*3* >>ZT) i \n\n\n\no ; > : \n\n>. .>: > \n\n\n\ni > > .: \n<\xc2\xa3>3 Z \n\nm> z \n\n>j \xe2\x80\x9e \n:y>o\xc2\xbbo : \n\n>> \n\n\n\n> \n\n\n*> > -\xe2\x96\xa0 > -* 3i \n\n\n> \n> \n\n\n\n\n) \n\n\n> o ) 0^53 \n\n\n\n\n:> T> OCT \n\n\n\n\n^> >v ?>OT \n\n\n,> \n\n\n\n\n\n\xc2\xbb U> > > \xe2\x96\xa0 \n3>3^>0 O ^: \n\n>> ;>\xc2\xbb3 ? \xc2\xbb \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\xc2\xbb \n\n\xe2\x96\xa0 ^ is \n> > >"> >>^3>o* \n\n^> 1 > f \n^ > > \xc2\xbbig_ \n) > >.i 1 \n\n> O >r ^> \n\nzy > .>>?X \n\n\n\nLIBRARY OF CONGRESS. \n\n(SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT.) \n\n\n\nONITED.STATES OF AMERICA \n\n\n\n1 ^ \' > \n\n\n\n\n\n\n^ T> 5 \nr O>\' >> -> \n\n\n\n\n\n> > ) \n\n>\'\'\xc2\xbb ^ jfe \xe2\x96\xa0,,:\xe2\x96\xa0 > - \n3> \xc2\xbb ^ ^s> ^> ^\xc2\xbb 3 \n\n\xc2\xbb >> >0>^ >-.; > _>^ \n\n^> ^>o>> > > : \n\n\n\n823R \n\n\n\n>^>> \n\n\n\n\n\n\n^\xc2\xbb- ^ \n\n\n\n> > \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n^ ? Jg \n\n\n\n3> >X* 3 . ^i J* . \n. 3 3>3> 3 3> 1\xc2\xa9 \n\n3>H>3 ^ 3\xc2\xa3> ^> 3> >\xc2\xbb \n\n* ^> ^ ^?>> >^>3* 3>3Sxz\xc2\xbb \n>3 j&i^jB* 3\xc2\xbb3 \n\nr ) >> > >3> >> > .> \xe2\x80\xa2 \n\n-o:X>X>33 >\'|>>^\' _. \n\no \xc2\xbb ^= v~>-*, >\' >^\xc2\xa3\xc2\xbb \' 3t<?> ^ > ", \n\n> 3 3> 3 33^3 > <3> \xe2\x80\xa2 \xc2\xbb 33 3^1\xc2\xa3 \n\n> 3 33 > 333 3 ?> >> ^ 33 >\xe2\x96\xa0> ~ae \n\nID > >:> > "> >3 > 333; \xe2\x80\xa2 33 > ~ \n\n$j oM > d 33 ;> 3>j>j 33 >y \n\n\xc2\xbb. > >^> > ^> >^> >. !>>><*? j =:- ^._ \n\n\xc2\xbb 03 3 ^ 3 > 3 V5>>^ > \xe2\x96\xa0> 3>3 o \n\n~ 3 >3>3 >3>>3:> 3 -*&> r \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2\xe2\x80\xa2>>.\xc2\xbb -^\xc2\xbb > >33 \n\nv> ^3\xc2\xbb> > > v 3 3 J>^> 3 ; \n>> ->\xe2\x80\xa2\xc2\xbb. >^> > \xe2\x80\xa2> >^> > \n3>3> >>3 3 3 33 \n\n>>>-!>.) Oi> 3 3 3 3 \n\n\xc2\xa3> \xe2\x96\xa0\xc2\xa3>\xe2\x96\xa0> ^33 > > 3 > \n\n\n\n) > \n\n\n\n^ \n\n\n\n)J> ^ \n\n\n\n\xc2\xbb : \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n>3 3 J \n\n\n\n> > > > * \n\n\n3 \n\n\n\n\n>3 \n\n\n\xe2\x96\xba >>"!\xe2\x80\xa2 - \n\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 ^ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ns\xc2\xbb ^^ \n\n\n\n\' . > > > > \n\n\n\n03\xc2\xbb \n*J> 3) >3 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n>^ \n\n>3> } \n\n33 > \n\n>3 ) \n>> 3 \n\xc2\xbb ~X \n\n^33 3 \n\n\n\n>>^33> " \n\n\n\n^^ >> ^^>3 \n\n\n\n> > > 3! \n-^3> 3^3; \n\n> :^^ 33T \n\n\xe2\x80\xa2\xe2\x80\xa2 >\xe2\x96\xa0> 3^ \n\n>S> 3^3: \n\n\n\n> ^ r* \n\n\n\n\xc2\xbb":\xe2\x80\xa2 3J \n\n^x^yy\'%^ \n\n>3 3D \n\n>3 3D ^ \n\n>3 ^K> f \n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xba33: \n\n\n\n; ^\xc2\xbb > V3^r^ \n\n^ 3S m \n\n^ ^> ,9 - r>3 ) ) ^r> \n\n>>\xc2\xa3>;\xe2\x96\xa0> OD\')^ \n;^> >.\\--> \xc2\xbb ))] \n\n33 ) ^.3 \n\ni^ps* v ^ 3 " - >3 > \' y _ \n\n\n\ns >3 >;3^ \n\n>3 >0 " \n\n3;3-3~3 1 \n\n33 > > ^ \n\n\n\n>3 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n^%.^w -X\'\' ->-\xc2\xbb 3>>\\ \n\n\n\n3? 3>v ^m \n\n\n\n\n1738 \n\n\n\n1 888 \n\n\n\nTHE \n\n\n\nGreenville Baptist Church, \n\n\n\nIN \n\n\n\nLEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. \n\n\n\nREV. THOMAS GREEN, M. D. \n\n\n\nFIRST PASTOR. \n\n\n\nI \n\n\n\n\nl\xe2\x80\x94l \n\n\n\ns \n\no \n\n\n\n1738 i 888 \n\nTHE \n\n\n\n\n\n\nGREENVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH <\xc2\xb1\xc2\xa3 \n\n\xe2\x96\xa0 \n\nIN LEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. \n\n\n\nEXERCISES \n\n\n\nON THE \n\n\n\n150th Anniversary \n\n\n\nOF ITS FORMATION, \n\n\n\nSEPTEMBER 28, 1888, \n\n\n\nINCLUDING A HISTORICAL DISCOURSE BY THE PASTOR \n\nAND ADDRESSES COMMEMORATIVE OF ITS FIRST \n\nPASTOR, Rev. THOMAS GREEN, M. D. \n\n\n\nWORCESTER: \n\nC. F. Lawrence & Co., Printers, 195 Front Street. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n.L^VG*7 \n\n\n\nCONTENTS. \n\n\n\nPage. \n\nMural Tablet, Frontispiece. \n\n\nPrefatory Note, \n\n\n3 \n\n\nProgramme, \n\n\n5 \n\n\nAddress of Welcome by the Pastor, . \n\n\n7 \n\n\nPresentation of Mural Tablet, Samuel S. Green, A. \n\n\nM. 9 \n\n\nHistorical Discourse, H. C. Estes, D. D., . \n\n\n13 \n\n\nJubilee Hymn, Rev. D. F. Estes, . \n\n\n6 9 \n\n\nAddresses \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\n\n\nHon. Andrew H. Green, .... \n\n\n7i \n\n\nSamuel S. Green, A. M. ... \n\n\n7* \n\n\nRev. Leighton Williams, .... \n\n\n83 \n\n\nRev. David F. Estes, .... \n\n\n90 \n\n\nRev. A. H. Coolidge, .... \n\n\n96 \n\n\nRev. Samuel May, \n\n\n100 \n\n\nMr. Caleb A. Wall, \n\n\n105 \n\n\nHon. Charles A. Denny, \n\n\nno \n\n\nAppendix, Sermon by the Pastor, \n\n\n115 \n\n\nErratum, \n\n\n127 \n\n\n\nPREFATORY NOTE. \n\n\n\nAt a meeting of the Greenville Baptist Church, in \nLeicester, November 27th, 1887, it was voted unanimously \nthat the church celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth \nanniversary of its formation, on Friday, the 28th day of \nSeptember, 1888 ; that the pastor be invited to deliver a \nhistorical discourse on that occasion ; that the Green \nfamily, descendants of the Rev. Thomas Green, M. D., \nwho was the first pastor of the church, be invited to join \nin the commemorative services ; and that H. C. Estes, \nDaniel F. Draper, Franklin B. King, John D. Clark, \nRufus H. Newton, John R. Nichols, George F. Campbell, \nEmory B. F. Draper, and Frederick A. Blake, be a \nCommittee of Arrangements, to carry out the wishes of the \nchurch in the proposed celebration. \n\nIn accordance with this action, commemorative exer- \ncises were held in the forenoon and afternoon of the \nappointed day ; with a goodly attendance on the part of \nthe church and the descendants of Dr. Green ; members \nof the family being present from Worcester, Providence, \nNew York, St. Louis, and other places. \n\nMuch interest was added to the occasion by the unveil- \ning of a very beautiful brass tablet, which had been \nplaced on the wall at the right of the pulpit, in memory \nof Dr. Green, a view of which is given in the frontis- \npiece. \n\nNear the close of the exercises, on motion of the Hon. \nAndrew H. Green, a copy of the historical discourse was \nrequested for publication. At a later time, in accordance \nwith a general desire, the Committee of Arrangements \n\n\n\n4 PREFATORY NOTE. \n\nrequested all the addresses delivered on the occasion for \npublication with it, and, with a single exception, they \nhave been furnished, and are here given a wider hearing. \n\nThe sermon preached by the pastor on the following \nSunday, has also been added in an appendix, as in \nkeeping with the proceedings, and a completion of their \nretrospect. \n\nIn consequence of the length of the historical discourse, \nonly portions of it were read on the occasion of its \ndelivery, but the whole is now printed with some facts \ndiscovered since the commemoration day, inserted in \ntheir places. \n\nMuch care and painstaking have been given to the \nverification of references ; and they are here presented ad \nverbum et ad liter am, in order that the reader may be \nplaced as near as possible to the original documents. \nNumerous foot-notes have been added to the historical \ndiscourse, sometimes to show the authority on which \nstatements have been made, sometimes to give further \ninformation on certain points than is given in the text, \nand sometimes to indicate sources of still ampler \ninformation. \n\n\n\nOrder of Exercises. \n\n\n\nCall to remembrance the former days.\'\'\'\' \xe2\x80\x94 Heb. x.: 32. \n\n\n\nFRIDAY FORENOON. \n\nIO o\'clock. \n\n\n\n1. Organ Prelude and Doxology. \n\n2. Invocation. By the Pastor. \n\n3. Reading of the Scriptures. \n\nRev. T. W. Nickerson. \n\n4. Prayer. Rev. J. J. Miller, of Worcester. \n\n5. Presentation of Mural Tablet, in memory of \n\nthe first pastor, Dr. Thomas Green. Samuel \nS. Green, A, M., of Worcester. \n\n6. Hymn. Tune, Bond, \n\n" Oh, where are kings and empires now, \nOf old that went and came." \n\n7. Historical Discourse. \n\nBy the Pastor, H. C. Estes, D. D. \n\n8. Original Hymn. By Rev. D. F. Estes, of Holden. \n\nTune, Migdol. \n\n9. Prayer. C. M. Bowers, D. D., of Clinton. \n10. Benediction. \n\n\n\nORDER OF EXERCISES. \n\nFRIDAY AFTERNOON. \n\n1.30 o\'clock. \n\n\n\ni. Organ Prelude. \n\n2. Anthem. " Before Jehovah\'s Awful Throne." \n\nDenmark \n\n3. Prayer. Rev. Leighton Williams, of New York. \n\n4. Addresses. \n\nHon. Andrew H. Green, of New York. \nSamuel S. Green, A. M., of Worcester. \nRev. Leighton Williams, of New York. \n\n5. Anthem. " Glorious things of thee are spoken." \n\nStonghton \n\n6. Addresses. \n\nB. D. Marshall, D. D., of Worcester. \nRev. D. F. Estes, of Holden. \nRev. A. H. Coolidge, of Leicester. \nRev. T. W. Nickerson, of Leicester. \nRev. Samuel May, of Leicester, \nMr. Caleb A. Wall, of Worcester. \nHon. Charles A. Denny, of Leicester. \n\n7. Anthem. "Be joyful in God all ye lands." \n\n8. Prayer. Rev. A. H. Coolidge. \n\n9. Benediction. By the Pastor. \n\n\n\nADDRESS OF WELCOME. \n\n\n\nBY THE PASTOR. \n\n\n\nBrethen, Sisters, and Friends : \n\nIt is my privilege, on behalf of the church, to bid you \nwelcome. Welcome this auspicious, magnificent autumn \nday. Welcome its grateful, soul-inspiring memories. \nWelcome all those who share them, or take pleasure in \nthem. To all her children and all her friends here \ngathered, from near and far, this church extends a most \ncordial welcome, and hearty congratulations. With desire \nshe has desired to see this day, and seeing it, and seeing \nyou, she is glad. \n\nSuch occasions as this come only seldom, \xe2\x80\x94 like golden \nweddings, only once in a life-time. Not many of us have \never before had the privilege of attending a celebration \nof the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the \nfounding of a church ; nor shall we ever attend another \nsuch celebration here, though some of the children and \nyouth may be here in fifty years. Therefore we wish to \nmake the most of this occasion to-day, and putting all \nour heart into our greeting, we bid you welcome to the \nold ancestral home, \xe2\x80\x94 to friendly and fraternal greetings, \n\xe2\x80\x94 and to the quickening memories and inspirations of the \nday, hoping that it will be such an occasion of joy and \nthanksgiving to you all, that you will always delight to \nremember it. \n\nI now bid you welcome to words that you will be \npleased to hear from Mr. Samuel S. Green, of Worcester, \nto whom as a descendant of our first pastor, Dr. Thomas \nGreen, and to all who bear that honored name, or are \nkindred to it, we extend an especial welcome. \n\n\n\nADDRESS OF MR. SAMUEL S. GREEN. \n\n\n\nPRESENTING THE MURAL TABLET. \n\n\n\nPastor, deacons, members of the church and society of \nthis venerable parish : The descendants of Thomas \nGreen join with you to-day joyfully in celebrating the \none hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of \nthis society and of the beginning of the ministry of their \ndistinguished ancestor. It is with pride and gratitude \nthat we remember that the blood of so able and good a \nman flows in our veins. That it does so has been evident \nfor several generations. Thomas Green was an eminent \nphysician as well as a successful clergyman. It is very \nnoticeable that a large proportion of his descendants have \nbeen doctors or druggists. I can speak now of only one \nbranch of the family. John Green, his son, the first Dr. \nJohn Green, of Worcester, while inheriting the aptitude \nof his father for the practice of medicine, was known also \nas a man of marked piety. His grandson, the second \nphysician of the name of John Green, in Worcester, was \na skillful practitioner, but, according to the testimony of \nhis biographer, Oliver Fisk, his delight in the practice of \nmedicine came even more from the consciousness of the \ngood he was doing to his fellow-men than from enjoyment \nin trying to penetrate the mysteries of medical science \nand in practising the art of medicine. \n\nThe great-grandson of Thomas Green, the founder of \nthe Free Public Library in Worcester, was, perhaps the \n\n\n\nIO ADDRESS OF SAMUEL S. GREEN. \n\nmost capable medical man in central Massachusetts. He \nwas esteemed, however, for the possession of other \nqualities besides those which made him an able doctor, \nand it seemed natural to many of his patients to speak \nof him as the "good physician." To come down one \nmore generation, my brother, Dr. John Green, of St. \nLouis, Missouri, is the most distinguished practitioner in \nrespect to diseases of the eye, and the ablest opthalmic \nsurgeon in that portion of our country of which St. Louis \nis a centre. I am sorry that he is not here to-day to \nperform the duty which has been assigned to me. He is \nrepresented here, however, by his family, and among \nothers by his son, who bears the name of John Green, \nand whose tastes and capabilities seem to show that \nshould he become a physician, he would keep up the \nmedical reputation of the family. The youngest member \nof my branch of the Green family, the son of my younger \nbrother, James Green, has been named Thomas, in \nmemory of the man whose virtues we commemorate \nto-day. \n\nThat one of the descendants of Thomas Green who, \nperhaps, reproduced most conspicuously features of his \ncharacter, is his great-grandson, the late Samuel Fiske \nGreen, of Worcester. After graduating at the College \nof Physicians and Surgeons, in New York city, moved by \na strong desire to follow in the steps of his Master, and \ndo service as a missionary, he became a missionary-doctor \nand spent almost a quarter of a century in ministering \npersonally to the wants of both the bodies and the souls \nof the Tamil population of the island of Ceylon. After \nhis return to Worcester, he continued to translate medical \ntreatises into the Tamil language until the time of his \ndeath. Besides practising extensively while in Ceylon, he \nalso established there a medical school, whose pupils were \nvery numerous. Their services have been of the greatest \nvalue in Ceylon and portions of India. But I must refrain \nfrom saying more at this time, for an hour later in the \n\n\n\nADDRESS OF SAMUEL S. GREEN. II \n\nday has been assigned to members of the family of \nThomas Green, to mention facts and express thoughts \nand sentiments naturally called up by this occasion. \n\nIt remains for me to perform the duty which has been \nassigned to me, and as the great-great-grandson of \nThomas Green, to present to you the memorial tablet \nnear me, in the name and as the gift of his great- \ngrandson, Andrew Haswell Green, of New York city. \n\nOn the occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of \nthe naming of the town of Worcester, I had the pleasure \nof sitting on the platform in Mechanics Hall by the side \nof Professor Francis A. March, a distinguished son of \nWorcester, a well-known Anglo-Saxon scholar and a \nformer instructor in our own Academy here in Leicester. \nAfter Senator Hoar had pronounced the noble oration, \nwhich was so prominent a feature in the celebration, I \nturned to Professor March and asked him how he liked it. \nHe expressed himself as having been much interested \nand pleased, and remarked that he had been particularly \nstruck by the feeling of filial piety which animated it. \nWe all think more of a man who to other qualities adds \naffection for the town in which he was born or lives, and \ninterest in the place which was the home of his ancestors, \nand in his ancestors themselves. May the descendants \nof Thomas Green never cease to remember with interest \nthis village of Greenville, or to be proud and grateful for \nhaving had an ancestor to whom they can trace so much \nof whatever is good in their intellectual and moral and \nspiritual tendencies. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\n\n\nBY HIRAM CUSHMAN ESTES, D. D. \n\n\n\nOn occasions like this, the field of discourse, though \nnot unlimited, is wide. That part of it in which I have \nchosen to glean to-day, is the history of this church, \nuneventful as it has been. Many things that I would like \nto say, must of necessity be left unsaid. As Chaucer \nsaid, at the beginning of the Knight\'s Tale, \n\n" I have, God wot, a large feld to ere ; \nAnd weke ben the oxen in my plow. \nThe remenant of my tale is long ynow." \n\nOne hundred and fifty years ago, our good old town of \nLeicester was young. Only twenty-five years had passed \nsince the General Court had confirmed the title of the \noriginal proprietors of the township, and voted that the \ntown should be called Leicester, after an ancient and \ninteresting town of that name in Leicestershire, England. \nTwenty-four years had passed since, within half a mile \nof the place where we are now assembled and met \ntogether, the first settlement in the town had been made, \nand the first clearing opened, to let in the sun. Twenty- \none years had passed since the Greens, \xe2\x80\x94 followed in a \nfew months by the Dennys and Southworths, \xe2\x80\x94 had come \nto do their part in bringing in civilization, and making \ngardens and palaces in this wilderness of the Nipmucks. \n\nThe town was fortunate in the character of its first \nsettlers. They were men fit to lay foundations for such a \n\n\n\n14 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\ntown as Leicester. They were men of intelligence, \nforesight, courage, endurance. They had iron in their \nblood. They had the faith of the Pilgrims in their souls. \nThey believed that they were in a world that had a " God \nin it, over it, and under it," and that they were called \nand girded of him to do his work. \n\n" Ah, what intrepid souls were they, \nWho cleared these trackless woods away ! \nWhat tireless sinews, bone and brawn, \nThat smote the trees from early dawn \nTill daylight\'s latest rays were gone ! \nNo whining eight-hour men were they, \nWho feared the chill of early day ! \nThey kept the pinch of want away, \nWith industry and watchful care, \nTill these had brought them generous fare, \xe2\x80\x94 \nElse had these mighty forest trees \nStill stood to buffet storm and breeze." \n\nCapt. Samuel Green settled in this part of the town, \nnow called Greenville. Here he built his house, a grist- \nmill and a saw-mill, all within a stone\'s throw of this \neminence on which our church edifice stands. He was \nan able, enterprising, influential man. At the first town \nmeeting of which we have any record, he was chosen \nmoderator, first selectman, and grand juror ; and he held \nsuch offices of trust and responsibility till his death, in \n1736, at the age of sixty-five years. Of him the historian \nof our town, Gov. Emory Washburn, says: " Among \nthose to whom the town of Leicester owed its progress \nand character, the memory of Capt. Green ought ever to \nbe held in grateful respect." 1 \n\nAt his death Capt. Green left seven daughters and one \nson. The son is known in our traditions and history as \nDr. Thomas Green. Gov. Washburn says that he " was \na more prominent and leading man than his father;" 2 and \n\n\n\n1 Historical Sketches of the Town of Leicester, Massachusetts, during the first century \nfrom its settlement. By Emory Washburn, p. 367. \n\n2 Historical Sketches, p. 367. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 1 5 \n\nwe may especially say that to him our church is more \nindebted than to any other person ever connected with.it, \nor friendly to it. This church was formed largely through \nhis influence. \n\nOf the circumstances that led to its formation, and of \nall its early history, but little is known. The earliest date \nin our oldest book of records is this, " in the year 1783, \nMay." Therefore, so far as our records are concerned, \nthe history of the church during its first forty-five years \nis a blank ; and other sources of information concerning \nits fortunes in those years are few and scattered, \xe2\x80\x94 not \neasy to find, nor fruitful when found. But we know that \nthere were persons of Baptist sentiments in Massachu- \nsetts from very early times. \n\nCotton Mather says, that \n\n" Some few of these people [antipedobaptists] have been among the \nplanters of New England from the beginning." l \n\n\n\nGov. Winthrop says, that in 1643, \n\n" The lady Moodye, a wise and anciently religious woman, being taken \nwith the error of denying baptism to infants, was dealt withal by many of \nthe elders and others, and admonished by the church of Salem, (whereof she \nwas a member,) but persisting still, and to avoid further trouble, etc., she \nremoved to the Dutch against the advice of all her friends. Many others, \ninfected with anabaptism, removed thither also. She was after excommuni- \ncated." 2 \n\nAlso he says that in the next year (1644), \n\n" Anabaptistry increased and spread in the country, which occasioned the \nmagistrates, at the last court, to draw an order for banishing such as \ncontinued obstinate after due conviction." 3 \n\n\n\n1 Magnalia Christi, Americana; or the Ecclesiastical History of New England from its \nFirst Planting in the year 1620, unto the year of our Lord 1698. By Colton Mather, D. D., \nF. R. S. First American Edition, 1820: Vol. II., p. 459. \n\n2 The History of New England from 1630 to 1649. By John Winthrop, Esq., first \nGovernor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay. With Notes by James Savage. Vol. \nII., pp. 148-9. \n\n3 History of New England, Vol. II., p. 212. \n\n\n\nl6 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nHubbard says, that \n\n" About the year 1644 the Anabaptists increased much in the Massachu- \nsetts Colony of New England." x \n\nIn 165 1 John Clarke and Obadiah Holmes had an \nexperience which Cotton Mather may have had in mind \nwhen he wrote the words, \n\n"Some of our churches used, it may be, a little too much of cogency \ntowards the brethren, which would weakly turn their backs when infa?its \nwere brought forth to be baptized, in the congregation." 2 \n\nIn 1654, the first President of Harvard College, Henry \nDunster,* had become a Baptist, and, for that reason, was \ncompelled to resign his office. Cotton Mather says, \n\n"His unhappy entanglement in the snares of Anabafitism, filled the \noverseers with uneasie fears, lest the students by his means, should come to \nbe ensnared : Which uneasiness was at length so signified unto him, that on \nOctober 24, 1654, he presented unto the overseers an instrument under his \nhands, wherein he resigned his Presidentship, and they accepted his resigna- \n\n\n\na President Dunster was born in England, probably in 1612, and he was \neducated at the University of Cambridge, Magdalen College, at the same \ntime that Milton, Cudworth, and Jeremy Taylor, were students at that \nUniversity. He received his degree of A. B. in 1630, and that of A. M. in \n1634. He came to New England in 1640, and is placed by Cotton Mather \nin his "first class" of ministers, or "such as were in the actual exercise of \ntheir ministry when they left England." He became President of the \nCollege on the 27th of August, 1640, and during fourteen years his \nservices were, President Quincy says, "well directed, unwearied, and \naltogether inestimable." He was spoken of by Edward Johnson as " one \nfitted from the Lord for the work." Cotton Mather calls him "an able \nman ; " a " learned and worthy man ; " a " good man," and a man of " ex- \ncellent spirit." Plainly it grieved him much that such a man should become \nentangled in "the snares of Anabaptism," or be "unaccountably fallen into \nthe briars of Antipedobaptism," as once his form of expression is. In \nanother passage he says, that "wonderfully falling into the errors of \n\n1 A General History of New England, from the Discovery to MDCLXXX. By the \nRev. William Hubbard, p. 347. \n\n2 Magnalia, Vol. II., p. 459. See also Article on "Dr. John Clarke." By Rev. C E. \nBarrows, in Baptist Quarterly, Vol VI. (1872), p. 481-502. \n\n3 Magnalia, Vol. II., p. 10. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 1 7 \n\nBut, in 1663, a Baptist church was formed in Swansea, \nthe first in Massachusetts. Two years later, another was \nformed in Charlestown, but soon removed to Boston, \nwhere it is now known as the First Baptist church in \nBoston. In 1693, a third church was formed among the \nIndians, at Chilmark, Martha\'s Vineyard. From that \ntime it was almost forty years before another was formed \nin Rehoboth in 1732. Three years later, in 1735, another \nwas formed in Sutton. The next year, in 1736, another, \nknown now as the church in Wales, was formed in \nBrimfield. Again, the next year in 1737, another was \nformed in Bellingham. And again, the next year, in \n1738, this church, the eighth in Massachusetts, was \nformed here in Leicester. \n\nBetween this church and that in Sutton, there was a \nconnection not indicated in what I have said. Some of \nthe members of that church lived here in Leicester. The \nmembers here were regarded as a branch of that church. \nOne of the members residing here was ordained as its \nassociate pastor ; and three years after its formation the \nmembers here were formed into a distinct and independ- \nent church. This we learn from Isaac Backus, who was \npersonally acquainted with the first pastor of this church, \n\n\n\nAntipedobaptism, the overseers of the college became solicitous, that the \nstudents there might not be unawares ensnared in the errors of their presi- \ndent. Wherefore they labored with an extreme agony, either to rescue the \ngood man from his own mistake, or to restrain him from imposing them upon \nthe hope of the flgck, of both which, finding themselves to despair, they did \nas quietly as they could procure his removal." And this, President Quincy \nspeaks of, as the consummation of " Dunster\'s Martyrdom." It is only in \nrecent times that men have been disposed to do justice to his great ability, \nlearning, and moral excellence, though, as Dr. Palfrey has said, " His \' life,\' \nno man doubted, was of the noblest and purest." * \n\n\n\n1 See History of New England. By John Gorham Palfrey, Vol. II., pp. 397, 398. \nHistory of Harvard University. By Josiah Quincy, LL.D., pp. 14-22. Mather\'s Magnalia, \nVol. I., p. 367, and Vol. II., pp. 10, 78. Chronicles of Massachusetts Bay. By Alexander \nYoung, pp. 552, 553, note. Annals of the American Pulpit. By William B. Sprague, \n\nD. D., Vol. I., pp. 125, J 26. A History of the Baptists. By Thomas Armitage, D. D., \nLL.D., pp. 697-698. Life of Henry Dunster. By Jeremiah Chaplin, D. D. \n\n\n\n1 8 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nwho had visited him here, and who had abundant oppor- \ntunity to know the facts in the case. He says, \n\n" On September 16, 1735, a Baptist church was constituted at Sutton ; and \nSeptember 28, 1737, Benjamin Marsh and Thomas Green were ordained \njoint pastors of it. The former was from Salem, and the latter from Maiden ; \nbeing an early planter in Leicester. And September 28, 1738, by mutual \nagreement, the brethren at Leicester, became a church by themselves, and \nGreen their pastor." 1 \n\nFrom a paper now in possession of the church, it \nappears that Thomas Green was one of the constituent \nmembers of that church in Sutton. It is a covenant \nentered into at the organization of that church. It is \ndated September 16th, 1735. It is signed "Thomas \nGreen, &c.," the " &c." indicating that other names were \nattached to the original paper, but omitted by the copyist, \nfor <though perhaps made from the original, it is evidently \na copy and not the original paper. The paper reads as \nfollows : \n\n"(A CHH. COVENANT, &c.) (A. D. 1735.) \n\n" Wee the Subscribers holding only to Believers Baptism : and having \nbeen so far agreed in the first Principles of the Doctrines of Christ, that we \nhave submitted our Selves unto Christian Baptism ; and do now Consider \nthat we have, by our baptismal Vows, laid our Selves under strong Obligation \nto Serve God, and one another. And that we might be under better \ncapacity to Serve God, and to be helps one to another, we now Imbody our \nSelves into a Particular Church : that we may have the Power of Church \nGovernment : That we may by a major vote in the Church, Chuse Church \nOfficers, and take in Members ; and by the same Power, upon sufficient \nReason, may Put them out of Office in the Church again : and lay Members \nunder Suspension, or Cast them out of the Church. And for these reasons, \nWe now make a Solemn Covenant one with another, in the Presents of the \nEverlasting God, First) to take the one, true, and living God, Father, Son, \nand Spirit, to be our God, and to look unto him at all times, for help and \nassistance, that we may perform all those Duties that he has enjoined upon \nus : and that we may be kept from all Sin and Error. (2ly.) We take the \nScriptures of the holy Prophets, and Apostles, to be our Rule of Faith and \nObedience. (3ly.) We Promise, one to another, to Worship God, according \n\n\n\n1 "A History of New England, with Particular Reference to the Denomination of \nChristians called Baptists. By Isaac Backus. Second Edition, with Notes by David \nWeston. Vol. II., p. 31. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 19 \n\nto the Rules of the Gospel. (4ly.) We Promise, that in the Church \nwhereunto we do belong, we will endeavor to keep the Worship of God pure \nfrom human inventions. (5ly.) We Promise, to take the watch care, and \nOver-sight one of another : That if a brother, or sister should be overtaken \nin a Fault, to Restore Such an one in the Spirit of meekness. (61y.) We \nPromise, that as much as in us lays, we will indeavor to keep the Unity of the \nSpirit, in the Bond of Peace. And that, we will indeavor to live together in \nLove, Peace, and Charity, So long as God in his Good Providence shall \nkeep us together. These, and all other Christian duties, we Promise, by \nDivine assistance to perform ; Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher \nof our Faith. \n\nDated September 16th, 1735. \' THOMAS GREEN, \n\n&c." \n\nWe are thankful for that old, worn, time-yellowed scrap \nof paper. We prize it as some prize Anglo-Saxon or \nEtruscan monuments, or Assyrian or Babylonian records. \nIt shows that Thomas Green was a leader in the work of \nforming that church in Sutton, one hundred and fifty- \nthree years ago. But we would like to know how many \nand who they were that entered into that covenant with \nhim. The wish though is vain. There is no Oedipus to \nsolve this riddle of the sphinx. There is no record of \nearth to tell what names are veiled and hidden by this \ntantalizing "&c.;" nor shall we know until we know what \nnames are "written in heaven." \n\nBut when that church in Sutton was formed, Dr. Green \nwas not alone in holding Baptist sentiments here in \nLeicester. Of this fact we have proof positive, though it \ncomes from a remote and unexpected source. It is the \ntestimony of a young preacher, who visited these towns \nand baptized in each of them, three years before that \nchurch was formed. He is a good witness. His name was \nJohn Comer. He was born in Boston, in 1704, and was \neducated partly at Harvard college and partly at Yale. \nWhile at Harvard he made profession of religion, and \nunited with the Congregational church in Cambridge. \nAbout four years later, he became a Baptist, and joined \nthe first church in Boston, having been baptized by his \nuncle, Rev. Elisha Callender, January 31st, 1725. In the \n\n\n\n20 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nsame year he began to preach. The next year he was \nordained as colleague pastor of the first church in \nNewport, R. I. Six years later he gathered the church in \nRehoboth, where he died in 1734, when he was not yet \nthirty years old. As a scholar and preacher, he was a \nman of great eminence and promise, and his early and \nlamented death gave him a place with John Summerfield, \nJoseph S. Buckminster, William Bradford Homer and \nKingman A. Nott, for whom thousands wept when they \ndied untimely. \n\nMr. Comer left a diary, which consists of two thin folio \nmanuscripts of about sixty pages each. From that diary \nwe learn that, on the 18th of June, 1732, he baptized four \npersons in Sutton, whose names were Thomas Richardson, \nDaniel Dennie, Elisha Nevers and Martha Green ; and \ntwo days later, on the 20th of the same month, he \nbaptized four persons here, in Leicester, whose names \nwere Joshua Nichols, Abiathar Vinton, Bathsheba Nevers \nand Lydia Vinton. So much we learn from Mr. Comer\'s \ndiary. 1 And from Gov. Washburn\'s History of our Town, \nand a Genealogical Sketch of the Green Family, we learn \nthat these eight persons were all residents of this town of \nLeicester ; \xe2\x80\x94 that they were living here at the time of Mr. \nComer\'s visit, and also when this church in Leicester was \nformed. Farther, of those eight persons, four, Thomas \nRichardson, Elisha Nevers, Joshua Nichols and Abiathar \nVinton, were brothers-in-law of Thomas Green ; two, \nBathsheba Nevers and Lydia Vinton, were his sisters ; \nMartha Green was his wife; and Daniel Denny was the \nperson who is known and honored as "the common \nancestor of all of that name in Leicester." If Mr. Denny, \nneeds any identification, it is given by Backus, who says \nthat he was " brother to Mr. Prince\'s wife of Boston ;" \xe2\x80\x94 \nand Gov. Washburn says that " Rev. Thomas Prince, . . . \nminister of the Old South Church in Boston, married \n\n1 Backus\' History, Vol. II., pp. 10-31. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 21 \n\nDeborah, sister of Mr. Denny in Leicester." a From our \ntown records it appears that Daniel Denny was Town Clerk \nthree years, Representative, three years, and Selectman, \nseventeen years ; Joshua Nichols was Town Clerk six \nyears, and Selectman three years ; and Thomas Richard- \nson was Selectman eight years. This shows what was \nthe kind of material used in the making of this church, \nand the class of persons who were ready to band them- \nselves together in its fellowship, one hundred and fifty \nyears ago to-day. \n\nAt the time when this church was formed, and for a \nlong time before and after, the Baptists were suffering \nmany disabilities and distresses. From 1692 to 1728, they \nwere, with the exception of those who lived in Boston and \na few other places, taxed to build the meeting houses and \nsupport the ministers of the Standing Order settled by the \ntowns, as if they had been attendants on their meetings. \nFrom 1728 to 1770, provision was made from time to \ntime, by exemption laws, to relieve them, on certain \nconditions, from these burdens ; but that relief was only \npartial and very unsatisfactory, and not till 1833 was our \nBill of Rights so amended that church and state were \ncompletely separated, and liberty of conscience was \nsecured to all. It was the misfortune of the " Standing \nOrder," in those times, to occupy a position that led them \nto manifest the spirit of the age in resisting the demands \nthat were made for religious liberty by the Baptists ; and \nnow that liberty of conscience is secured to all and \nrespected by all, the old position of the State authorities \nand their treatment of the Dissenters of their day, \nBaptists and Quakers, is regretted and deplored by \n\n*" Deborah Denny came to America in 1717, andkept \n\nhouse for her brother Daniel in Leicester, Mass., until her marriage with \nRev. Thomas Prince, the New England Annalist and Pastor of the Old \nSouth Church in Boston. They were married in Leicester, Oct. 20, 17 19." * \n\n1 Genealogy of the Denny Family in England and America, p. 215. \n\n\n\n22 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nCongregationalists no less than others. This was shown \nat the Centennial of the Warren Association, in 1867, \nwhen the pastor of a Congregational church in Providence, \nR. I., Leonard Swain, D.D., said: "You Baptists fought \nthe battle of religious liberty, and we all enjoy the fruits \nof the victory." \n\nHere in Leicester the Baptists seem to have been less \ndistressed than in any other part of the Commonwealth. \nIf any member of this church was ever subjected to \narrest or the seizure of his goods, for the payment of \nchurch rates, the fact has not come to my knowledge. \n\nIn January after this church was formed, the attention \nof the town was called to the fact that " Doctor Green \nrefused to pay any rates," and the question was raised \nwhether the constables should be directed "to execute \ntheir warrants to recover the same or other ways what \nthey would do in that affair ;" and it was " voted not to \nabate Dr. Green\'s rate," but two and a half years later, on \nthe 27th of June, 1741, the town, in town meeting "voted \nthat all Doctor Green\'s rates be abated for the time past." \nSo that question was quickly and finally settled by \nLeicester, in a way that gives her native born and her \nadopted children, pleasure and pride. But our town \nrecords contain several exemption certificates filed in \nlater years by persons connected with Doctor Green\'s \nchurch and congregation. There are fifteen of them, a \n\n\xc2\xab These certificates are as follows : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nLeicester, february 7, 1744-5. \xe2\x80\x94 tr " s ma y Certify that William Wickor \nand Benjamin Pudney & Thomas Jones and Joseph Trumbel and Nathaniel \nJones profess themselves to be anabaptists as it appeared from two prin- \ncipal members of that denomination. \n\nLeicester, December, 6, 1745-6. \xe2\x80\x94 this may Certify That Josiah Powers \n& Jonathan Pudney profess themselves to be anabaptists. \n\nLeicester, May, 12, 1748. \xe2\x80\x94 This may Certify that Ebenezer Toleman \nprofest himself to be anabaptist. \n\nMay i: 1752: \xe2\x80\x94 These may Certify whome it may Concern That Those \nwhose names that are under written do Conciancusly attend the Baptis \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 2% \n\nbearing different dates from 1744 to 1761, each declaring \nthat the persons therein named, " profess themselves to be \nanabaptists," or that they " do usually and frequently \n\nMeeting att Elder Thomas Green\'s (Joseph Trumbel, James Trumble, \nSamuel Green, Samuel Stower junr., Joseph Trumble jun., Andrew Morgain. \n\nSeptember, 23, 1752. \xe2\x80\x94 Thomas Newhall, Jonathan Newhall, Joseph \nWashburn, Joseph Shaw, Daniel Denny, Nathanel Green, jun., Richard \nSouthgate, junr., Benjamin Sanderson, Benjamin Dix, Jacob Briant, Jacob \nWickor, Samuel Caul & Thomas Denny. \n\nApril, 30, 1753. \xe2\x80\x94 this may Certify whome it may Concern that Robart \nCrage of Leicester is entred a bapitis who attends Elder Thomas Green\'s \nMeeting. \n\nJune 22, 1754. \xe2\x80\x94 these are to inform all people whome it may Concern \nthat we the subscribers do attend the annabaptis meeting under the pastoral \nCare of Elder Thomas Green and desire the Liberty the law gives. \n\nTHOMAS GREEN, jun. \nTest SAMUEL GREEN. ABIATHAR VINTON, \n\nJAMES TRUMBEL. EBENEZER LAMB, \n\nTHOMAS WHITTEMORE, \nSOLOMON ROOD. \n\nOctober, 4, 1754 : these are to Certify that Abijah Stower has profesd him- \nself to be annabipts by the approbation of Samuel Green & James Trumbel. \n\nMarch, 18, 1755 these may Certify whome it may Concern yt Jonathan \nStone has proffesed himself to be annabipts by the approbation of James \nTrumbel & Samuel Green. \n\nThis may Certify whome it may Concern that Erasmus Babbit has profest \nhimself to be anabaptiss by the approbation of Samuel Green & James \nTrumbel. \n\naugust, 14, 1756. \n\nLeicester, October 31, 1758. \xe2\x80\x94 This may Certify whome it may Concern \nthat John Parish and Jonathan Pudney of Leicester Doth usaly & fre- \nquntly attend the annebaptis meeting under the pasteral Care of Elder \nThomas Green & do desire the liberty the Law gives in being clered from \npaying Rates to those of other way of thinking attest we who are chosen \nby the Church to give Receits to Cary in the names. \n\nElder THOMAS GREEN, \nJACOB WHIPLEL, \nSAMUEL GREEN. \n\nLeicester august 21, 1759 this may Certify all peopel to whome it \nmay concern that Samuel Richardson Doth yousaly & frequenly attend the \nanebaptist meeting under the pasteral care of Elder Thomas Green & Doth \ndesire the liberty the law gives to be clered from paying of Rates to those \n\n\n\n24 \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\n\n\nattend the anabaptist meeting under the pastoral care of \nElder Thomas Green, and do desire the liberty the law \ngives in being cleared from paying rates to those of other \n\n\n\nof other way of thinking attest wee who are chosen by the Church to give \n\nReceipts. \n\nElder THOMAS GREEN, \nSOLOMON HOLDMAN, \nSAML GREEN. \n\nThis may Certify all Parsons to whome it may Concern that Nathaniel \nTolman & Soloman Green do usaly & frequntly attend the annabaptis \nmeeting under the pastral Care of Elder thomas Green & do Desire the \nLeberty the law gives in being cleard from paying of Rates to those of \nother ways of thinking attest we who are chosen By the church to give \nCertificates to those ho carry in the names. \nLeicester, September, 4 1760 Elder THOMAS GREEN, \n\nTHOMAS HOLDMAN, \nSAMUEL GREEN. \n\nThis may Certify all People whom it may Concern that Joseph Trumble, \nRobert Craig, Samuel Green, Thomas Green, Solomon Green, Abel Torrey, \nJoshua Smith & Samuel Richardson, all of Leicester do usually & fre- \nquently attend the anabaptists meeting under the Pastoral Care of Elder \nThos. Green. \n\nSignd, \nLeicester august 28th 1761 Elder THOS GREEN, \n\nTHOS HOLDMAN, \nSAML GREEN. \n\nWee the subscribers Inhabitants in the Town of Leicester being of the \nPersuasion called anabaptists & constantly assembling with a society of such \nDesire that our names may be entered in the Towns Book & Desire that wee \nmay be exempted from being Taxed in the Rates to the Ministers in said \nTown. \n\n\n\nSignd, \nLeicester august 20 1761 \nTo THOS. STEEL, Esq., \nTown Clerk. \n\n\n\nTHOS NEWHALL, \nJONAT NEWHALL, \nBENJ. SANDERSON, \nRICHARD SOUTHGATE, \nBENJ. DIX, \nJACOB BRIANT, \nJOSEPH SHAW, \nTHOS DENNY, \nBENJ. SANDERSON, jun. \nNATHANL GREEN, \nJACOB WICKER, \nNATHAN SNOW, \nSAML CALL. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 25 \n\nways of thinking." The word "anabaptist" was not one \nthat the Baptists chose or used in speaking of themselves; \nthey rather disclaimed and repudiated it as inappro- \npriate and offensive. A protest against the name was \nmade in the records of the First Baptist Church in Boston, \nwhich begin with these words, viz. : \n\n"The 28th of the 3rd Month 1665, in Charlestowne, The Churche of Christ, \nCommonly (though falsely) called Anabaptists, were gathered together, And \nEntered into Fellowship & Communion each with other, Ingaiging to Walke \ntogether in all the appointments of there Lord & Master the Lord Jesus \nChrist as Farre as hee should bee pleased to make known his mind & will \nunto them by his word & spirit." \n\nSuch protests against the name had been made by the \nBaptists long before, a and they were made afterwards. \nBut the offensive term was used in the exempting \n\n\n\na " They [the Swiss Baptists] are commonly characterized as \' Anabaptists \' \nby friends and foes ; yet this name was especially offensive to them, as it \ncharged them with ^-baptizing those whom they regarded as un-baptized \n\nand because it was intended as a stigma The London Confession, \n\n1646, protests that the English Baptists were \' commonly though unjustly \ncalled Anabaptists.\' " * \n\n"To the governor, who [in 1651] had upbraided him, [John Clarke] with \nthe name of Anabaptist, he replied, \' I am neither an Anabaptist, nor a \nPedobaptist, nor a Catabaptist.\' " 2 \n\n" The name \' Baptists \' is both a protest against the misnomer \' Anabap- \ntists,\' and a euphemism, for \' Baptized.\' \' Commonly, but most \n\nfalsely, called Anabaptists,\' say our English progenitors, in their Persecu- \ntion for Religion Judged and Condemned, published in 1615. \'Unjustly \ncalled Anabaptists,\' say they in their address to the king, 1620. What- \never their baptism might be to others, to them it was no ana-baptism. \nThey did not re-baptize, they simply baptized; they were not Anabaptists, \n\nbut only Baptists. The title \' Baptists,\' so far as I can judge, is of \n\nuncertain date \' Once a member among the Baptists, , appears on \n\nthe title of a book or pamphlet published in 1655, which is my earliest trace \nof the name. It is here, however, without any appearance of novelty." 3 \n\n1 History of the Baptists. By Thomas Armitage, D. D., p. 327. \n\n2 Baptist Quarterly, Vol. VI., p. 491. Art. " Dr. John Clarke," by Rev. C E. Barrows. \n\n3 Historical Vindications. A Discourse on the Province and Uses of Baptist History. \nBy Sewall S. Cutting, D. D., pp. 105-107. \n\n\n\n26 \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\n\n\nact," and our brethren were compelled to use it, if they \nwould have the relief which it offered. Attached to these \ncertificates are sixty-two names, of which nineteen are \nrepetitions, the same persons filing their certificates in \ndifferent years, and forty-three are the names of different \npersons, namely : \n\n\n\nWilliam Wicker, \nBenjamin Pudney, \nThomas Jones, \nJoseph Trumbel, \nNathanael Jones, \nJosiah Powers, \nJonathan Pudney, \nEbenezer Tolman, \nJames Trumble, \nSamuel Green, \nSamuel Stower, Jr., \nJoseph Trumbel, Jr., \nAndrew Morgain, \nThomas Newhall, \nJonathan Newhall, \nJoseph Washburn, \nJoseph Shaw, \nDaniel Denny, \nNathanael Green, Jr. \nRichard Southgate, Jr., \nBenjamin Sanderson, \nBenjamin Dix, \n\n\n\nJacob Briant, \nJacob Wicker, \nSamuel Call, \nThomas Denny/ \nRobert Craig, \nThomas Green, Jr., \nAbiathar Vinton, \nEbenezer Lamb, \nThomas Whittemore, \nSolomon Rood, \nAbijah Stower, \nJonathan Stone, \nErasmus Babbitt, \nJohn Parish, \nSamuel Richardson, \nNathanael Tolman, \nSolomon Green, \nAbel Torrey, \nJoshua Smith, \nBenjamin Sanderson, Jr., \nNathan Snow, \n\n\n\na The Title of the Act of 1757 was this: \xe2\x80\x94 "An Act further to exempt per- \nsons commonly called Quakers and Anabaptists from paying Ministerial \nTaxes." x \n\nb Thomas Denny was the son of Daniel, the first of the name who settled \n\nin Leicester, He must have been a man of more than ordinary \n\nability, and of an education superior to most of his contemporaries, who \n\n\n\n1 The Charters and General Laws of the Colony and Province of Massachusetts Bay, \np. 782. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 2? \n\nand these names copied from those certificates in our \ntown records, furnish nearly all the information we have \nas to the persons who were connected with this church \nand congregation during almost all the first fifty years of \nits history. \n\nMany of our older churches suffered much in their \nearlier history, from the want of suitable places of \nworship. It was the business of the towns, as such, to \nbuild the meeting-houses of the Standing Order, but not \nfor the Baptists. Therefore they were compelled, often \nfor years, to hold their meetings in private houses, barns, \nschool-houses, and wherever they could. But this church \nwas blessed with a convenient house of worship almost \nfrom the first. As early as 1747 there was a meeting- \nhouse standing on this spot which has been thus occupied \never since. How much earlier it was built we do not \nknow. But I have seen an old record in which under date \nof May 1, 1747, were written these words : \n\n" At a properrietes metting of the Baptis church it was voted that every \nman that has a pue shall pay the elder Thomas Green for building of his \npue. \n\nAttest, SAMUEL GREEN, Clerk." \n\nAlso, on the same page was a memorandum of the \nparticular pews chosen by Elder Thomas Green, Josiah \nPowers, John Thompson, Dea. Nathanael Jones, Thomas \nJones, Joseph Trumble and Henry Merritt. Still further \non the same page, was a declaration bearing the same \ndate, and signed by these seven persons, as follows : \n\nwere brought up, as he was, in a country town. He held many places of \nresponsibility and trust in the town and county, and early engaged in the \ncontroversy with the mother-country. Some of the spirited and statesman- \nlike resolutions and instructions adopted by the town, .... were from his \npen. He was, too, in correspondence with the leading public men in Boston \nand its vicinity, and was regarded by them as a wise and patriotic counsellor. \nFor five years in succession, next previous to his death, he represented the \ntown in the General Court, and was a member of the first Provincial \n\nCongress in 1774 \'. Soon after its convening, Col. Denny was \n\nobliged to return home on account of sickness ; which terminated his life, \n\n\n\n28 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\n" Wee whos names are under written do covenant and agree Not to \nDispose of the pues we own to any out of the society without giving the \nsociety the offer of them first paying as much as another man will. \n\nWitness our hands, &c." \n\nFrom this and other evidence in the case, it appears \nthat Doctor Green was the principal proprietor of the \nhouse, that its grounds were given by him, and its frame \nwas raised and covered at his expense ; and that those \nwho desired pews in it, were, in accordance with a custom \nof the time, allowed to have them on condition of paying \nhim for building them in such places as they might \nchoose around the walls, the remaining space in the \ncentre being filled wholly or in part with other seats. \n\nIt also appears that originally the house was very \nnearly square, thirty feet long by twenty-eight feet \nwide; "with the gallery beams fraimed crosswise," and a \ndoor opening into the house from the side. After having \nstood thirty-two years or more, that house was repaired, \nfor I have seen an account of " What was don on the \nmeeting house in the year 1779," amounting to upwards \nof three hundred and fifty pounds. Again, after much \ndeliberation, it was repaired in 1824, with an addition of \neight feet in front, and the inside was finished in a style \nthat must have been very good for its time. \n\nBut with the lapse of time all things earthly grow old \nand decay. After three generations had worshipped \nwithin its walls, that house became old, dilapidated, and \nunfitted for its use. In 1857, the question of repairing it \n\nOct. 23, at the age of forty-nine. He seems to have been a ready and popu- \nlar debater as well as writer, and his death was a public loss, and lamented \nas such. He had held the office of colonel of a regiment of militia, which \nwas then regarded as a mark of distinguished honor. From his qualifica- \ntions for public life, and his experience and familiar acquaintance with the \naffairs of the Province, there is every reason to believe, that, had he lived, \nhe would have filled an important part in that drama of which he saw only \nthe opening scene." 1 \n\n1 Washburn\'s History Leicester, pp. 245, 6. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 29 \n\nagain was before the people, but very soon it gave place \nto another question ; and at a meeting of the society held \nFebruary ist, 1858, a committee was appointed "to \nsolicit subscriptions for the purpose of erecting a new \nmeeting house." On the 28th of November of the same \nyear, a building committee was appointed consisting of \nseven persons : Asa W. Clark, John L. Wheelock, Francis \nStiles, Jr., Homer Cunningham, Milton Rockwood, William \nW. Woodruff and Ashley Graves. They were " empowered \nto build such a house as they should in their judgment \nthink best for all concerned." It was also voted that the \nnew house "be located on the present site;" and the \ncommittee was authorized to dispose of the old house as \nthey should "think best."* This committee entered at \nonce upon its work, and pushed it vigorously. In the \ncourse of the next year the old house was removed and \nthis was erected in its place ; the vestry was finished and \nused for meetings ; the organ was set up ; the pulpit and \npews were in their places, as you see them here to-day ; \nand the house was ready for its carpets and upholstery ; \nbut the people were unwilling to occupy it till it should be \nentirely free from debt. I have nothing to show what was \nthe cost of the church, or of the organ, but in May, i860, the \nbuilding committee reported an indebtedness of $1,749.29, \nof which sum Mr. Stiles, who had previously contributed \nlargely, and to whom, as chairman of the Building commit- \ntee, much of the convenience and tastefulness of the edifice \nis due, offered to pay seven parts, or $941.92, whenever the \nsociety would pay the other six parts, or $807.37. This \namount was soon raised, and the house was dedicated to \nthe worship of God on Thursday the twelfth day of July, \n\n\n\n^The building was sold to Mr. Stiles, and removed to a lot owned by \nhim a few rods north of the meeting-house lot. There it stood unused \nthree or four years, a striking relic of the past. It was then sold to parties \nengaged in business in Cherry Valley, removed to that village, and con- \nverted into a woolen mill, which was called the Chapel Mill. As such it was \nused till it was burned on the 15th of June, 1887. \n\n\n\n30 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\ni860. The sermon on the occasion was preached by \nJ. G. Warren, D.D., of Boston, from the text Haggai, ii: 9, \n\n"The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, \nsaith the Lord of hosts ; and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord \nof hosts." \n\nThe prayer of dedication was offered by R. E. Pattison, \nD.D., of Worcester. \n\nThe work had been done not without much labor and \nsacrifice, and only because "the people had a mind to \nwork." To aid it a Sewing Society had been formed in \nOctober, 1857, and on the 21st of June, i860, its financial \ncommittee reported that the society had held forty-nine \nmeetings, and raised $728.00, with which they furnished \nthe house, and their society was then dissolved. \n\nThree years later it was thought advisable to have a \nbell and a clock for the church tower; and they were \npurchased and put in place at a cost of $442.00 for the \nclock, which was paid for by the society, and $710.50 for \nthe bell, which was paid for by Mr. Stiles. \n\nWhen this house was finished and dedicated, the hearts \nof the people were filled with joy and gratitude to God. \nThough small, it was larger than the house that it \ndisplaced. Though nothing more than was becoming in \na country church of its time and in such a town as this, \nstill it was of better architecture, plan and workmanship \nthan the other, well suited as that had been to its time. \nInstead of a plain, unattractive, old-fashioned meeting \nhouse, upon whose plan and finish no architect or artist \nhad ever laid a hand or bestowed a thought, and whose \nangular features were unrelieved by spire or belfry, this \nhouse with its finer proportions and workmanship, curved \nlines, and graceful walls and tower, simple in their \nNorman neatness, attracted the eyes of all beholders as to \na "gem of churches." Instead of bare pine floor and hard \nwooden seats, it had its carpets and softly cushioned \npews. Instead of bare walls of unsoftened, dazzling \nwhite, the subdued and grateful tints and figures of \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 31 \n\nwalls frescoed in panel work with no gaudy colors greeted \nthe eye. Instead of windows that let in the full, garish \nlight of day, its windows, though not " richly dight," \nadmitted only the "dim religious light " that Milton loved. \nAnd in addition to all else, was " the pealing organ," \nconsecrated as the one great instrument of religious \nworship, not itself vocal, yet when touched by skillful \nfingers, powerful to aid the singers\' voices in lifting the \nhearts of men up to God. But while we rejoice in our \nprivileges, and are thankful for them, we should never \nforget that true and acceptable worship, the soul\'s panting \nafter God, the spiritually seeing eye and hearing ear, the \npraying heart and the obedient will, are the same in those \nwho meet in barns and school-houses, Puritan log-meeting- \nhouses, Scottish glens where Covenanters worshipped in \nopen air, Roman catacombs unvisited by the light of day, \n\xe2\x80\x94 not tombs only but chapels and baptisteries, \xe2\x80\x94 as in \ngreat cathedrals on which have been lavished the richest \ntreasures of wealth and art. \n\nThe first minister of the church was Thomas Green, \nof whom mention has already been made more than once. \nHe was born in Maiden in 1699 ; was with his father \nhere in Leicester in 171 7 ; was received as a member of \nthe First Baptist Church in Boston, November 7th, 1731 ; \nwas dismissed with others from that church to form the \nchurch in Sutton, August 3d, 1735 ; was ordained at \nSutton, September 28th, 1737 ; and was pastor of this \nchurch from its formation till his death \xe2\x80\x94 a period of \nthirty-five years. a \n\na After the delivery of this discourse, Mr. Samuel S. Green called the \nauthor\'s attention to an interesting and significant fact in the genealogy of \nDr. Green. It is the fact of his descent from a niece of President Dunster \nof Harvard College. His sister, Rose Dunster, was the first wife of Joseph \nHills of Maiden, \xe2\x80\x94 " one of the first lawyers in the colony," and one to \nwhom " the jurisprudence of the colony is said to have been specially \nindebted." Their daughter, Rebecca Hills, was the wife of Thomas Green, \nfather of Capt. Samuel Green, and grandfather of Dr. Thomas Green, the \nsubject of this memoir. This fact is plainly significant of the influences \n\n\n\n32 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nThe stone that marks the place where he was buried in \nour cemetery bears this inscription : \n\nMemento \n\nmori \n\nErected in memory of \n\nDoc tr Thomas Green he was \n\nPaftor of the Baptift Church in \n\nLeicefter & a noted Phyfician \n\nhe departed this life Auguft 19 th \n\n1773 aetatis 74 \n\nThe juft behold with fweet delight \n\nThe blefsed three in one \nAnd ftronge affections fix their fight \n\nOn Gods incarnate fon \n\nOn the stone adjoining that of Dr. Green\'s, is this \ninscription : \n\nIn memory of Mrs Martha \n\nGreen wife of Do tr Thomas \n\nGreen who died June 2 d 1780 \n\nin the 80 th year of her age \n\nHere I lye \nAnd reft my head \nTill Chrift appear \nAnd rais the dead \n\nMrs. Green was the daughter of Capt. John Lynde, of \nMaiden. She was married to Dr. Green in that town, \n\nthat led Dr. Green, and others of his family, to be Baptists, and to found \nthe Baptist church in Leicester. He had come with his father from Maiden, \nthe town where Joseph Hills had lived with his wife Rose Dunster, and \nwhere the grandfather and namesake of Thomas Green had married their \ndaughter Rebecca. President Dunster\'s influence as a Baptist was very \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 33 \n\nJanuary 13th, 1726. She was a woman of much excel- \nlence, many virtues, and strong, positive influence for \ngood. Gentleness and strength, sweetness and light, \nwisdom and grace, were prominent elements of her \ncharacter. She was truly a helper meet for her husband \nin all of their married life. One of her brothers, John \nLynde, came to Leicester as early as 1721 ; and was "a \nleading man in the town, a large landholder, and a man \nof wealth." \n\nThe story of Dr. Green\'s first experience here in \nLeicester, as told in Gov. Washburn\'s History of the Town, \nin the Genealogical Sketch of the Green family, and often \nelsewhere, has much of pathetic, and almost tragic, \ninterest. As told by Gov. Washburn, it is this : While \nhis father was preparing to remove his family to this \ntown, he came here, bringing his son with him, and left \nhim here to look after some cattle, that he had driven \nfrom Maiden and turned out upon his lands here. " It was \nsummer ; and, as he expected to return in a short time, no \ndanger was apprehended in leaving the young man \xe2\x80\x94 then \nseventeen or eighteen years old \xe2\x80\x94 thus alone in the \nwilderness. He, however, was soon attacked with a fever ; \nand his father was unexpectedly prevented from returning \nas he had intended, and he was left to battle with the \ndisease as he best could. His only shelter was a kind of \ncave under a rock, near the stream on which his father \nafterwards erected his mills. His only sustenance con- \n\nstongly felt after the affair of Dr. John Clarke and Obadiah Holmes in \nCharlestown, of which Maiden had been a part till two years before. The \nlatest historian of the Baptists says : " In the very heart of the Puritan \ncommonwealth, Dunster had planted seed that was indestructible. Cambridge \nand the adjoining town of Charlestown had been filled with these principles, \nand out of that centre of influence came the First Baptist Church of \nMassachusetts Bay proper." And Dr. Gieen himself was once a member of \nthat First Baptist Church in Boston. 1 \n\n1 Genealogical sketch of the descendants of Thomas Green[e] of Maiden, Mass. \nBy Samuel S. Greene of Providence, R. I. pp. 9 and 71. A History of the \nBaptists. By Thomas Armitage, D. D., LL. D., 1887, p. 699. \n\n\n\n34 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nsisted of the milk of one of the cows, which he contrived \nto obtain by tying her calf to a tree near his cave ; which \nled her to visit the spot several times a day, and brought \nher within his reach. The water he used, he obtained by \ncreeping upon the ground to the stream. In this deplor- \nable condition, some of his former neighbors who were \nlandholders, and about to remove to Leicester, and had \ncome there to look after their cattle, found him. He \nappealed to them for aid to return home ; but they were \nunable to afford it, and left him. On their return to \nMaiden, they informed his father of his condition ; and he \nimmediately came to his relief. But he had no other \nmeans of removing his sick son through the new and (a \nconsiderable part of the way) wilderness country between \nLeicester and Maiden, except on horseback ; and, after \nfour days\' travelling, he accomplished the journey." It is \nsaid that young Thomas Green\'s courage sank for the first \ntime, when those neighbors of his father\'s, two of them, \n" refused to take him home with them, and he wept at \ntheir unkindness." 1 \n\nThanks to God, he survived that sickness and exposure, \nand the story of his long, active, and useful life is \ncondensed and told in the few words engraved on this \nmural tablet, which, shown to-day for the first time, has \nbeen placed here by one of his descendants, who honors \nhimself in thus honoring his father\'s honored grandfather. \nHe is worthy for whom thou hast done this, for he built \nus a synagogue, and gave us a place in these grounds \nadjoining the church, wherein to bury our dead. The \nchurch is grateful for the token thou hast given ; and \nas often as we see it on this wall, we shall remember \nhim who was indeed our "benefactor," and who in his \nlife and character left a monument more enduring than \nbrass. \n\n\n\n1 Historical sketches of the town of Leicester. By Emory Washburn, pp. in, 112. \nGenealogical Sketch of the Descendants of Thomas Green[e] of Maiden, Mass. By \nSamuel S. Greene, p. 22. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 35 \n\nDr. Green lived three lives, and did the work of three \nmen in one. \n\nHe was a man of business, active, energetic, and suc- \ncessful. His operations in real estate are indicated by \nthe Indexes in the Registry of Deeds at Worcester, where \nin the years from 1735 to 1773, his name appears as \ngrantee fifty-seven times, and as grantor fifty-nine times. \nOne particular investment which he made sixteen years \nafter this church was formed, shows his admirable good \ntaste, foresight, and judgment. It is his purchase of the \nmagnificent estate in Worcester which is now known as \nGreen Hill, and which has been in possession of the \nfamily ever since he bought it. The deed was given by \n" Thomas Adams to Thomas Green of Leicester, for and \nin consideration of Three Hundred and Thirty Pounds \n6-8 by him paid," and is dated " the 28 day of May Anno \nDomini 1754." To see that deed as I have seen it, is to \nsee his character outlined on its business side. At \nhis death his estate passing through the probate office \nwas appraised at .\xc2\xa34,495 4s. 3}(d., equivalent very nearly \nto $22,476.76, an estate said to have been larger than \nany " that had been entered at the probate office at \nWorcester previous to his death." \n\nHe was also " a noted physician." His practice was \nextensive in Massachusetts and beyond the borders of \nthis State in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hamp- \nshire. He had medical students under his instruction. \nIt was said by Nathan Craig, who was his grandson, that \n" Dr. Green had in all one hundred and twenty-three \nstudents," his father, Dr. Robert Craig, having been one \nof them. In Thatcher\'s Medical Biography, to have a \nplace in which is no slight honor, Dr. Green is spoken \nof as a physician who " rose to great eminence." \nIn an English periodical of the last century, he was \nspoken of as " a physician distinguished for his success \nin the healing art." And here when he is spoken of, he \nis quite as often called " Dr. Green," as " Elder Green." \n\n\n\n36 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nHe was also a preacher of the gospel, quite as eminent \nin this as in his other spheres of life. His work in \npreaching seems to have been co-extensive with his prac- \ntice as a physician, each aiding the other. In Rippon\'s \nRegister, he is spoken of as " eminent for his useful labors \nin the gospel ministry ;" and in illustration or confirma- \ntion of the statement, the writer there added the words, \n" It is said that in the course of his ministry Mr. Green \nbaptized not less than a thousand persons." 1 \n\nBut many-sided, influential, and eminent as he was, \nvery few incidents of his ministry are known. On \nthe 7th of September, 1743, at Warwick, R. I., he \ntook part with two other ministers, in the ordination of \nJames Bound,* the first pastor of the Second Baptist \nChurch in Boston, which came out that year from the \nFirst, on account of the doctrinal unsoundness of its \npastor. The fact that Dr. Green took part in that ordi- \nnation shows plainly that he held firmly to "the doctrines \nof grace," and had no sympathy with Arminianism. \n\nIn 1756 Isaac Backus made a visit to this place, and \nmade two entries in his journal, which are of much \ninterest to us. They are the following : \n\n" Oct. 18th. Came over (from Sutton) to Dr. Green\'s in Leicester ; and \nthey were earnest for a meeting. So I tarried and preached, the Lord giving \nme special assistance. \n\nOct. 19th. I can but admire how the doctor is able to get along as he \ndoes ; having a great deal of farming business to manage ; multitudes of sick \nto take care of ; several apprentices to instruct in the art of physic ; and a \nchurch to care for and watch over ; yet in the midst of all he seems to keep \n\na " Mr. Bound\'s ordination was a matter of some difficulty, as no minis- \nters could be found to assist on the occasion. The church applied to the \naged Mr. Wightman, of Groton, Connecticut, but he was too old and infirm \nto undertake such a journey. Finally, Mr. Bound went to Warwick, Rhode \nIsland, where he met the venerable elder from Groton, and was ordained \nby him, Dr. Green of Leicester, and an Elder Whipple." 2 \n\n1 Rippon\'s Baptist Register, [London] 1793, Vol. II., p. no. \n\n2 A General History of the Baptist denomination in America and other parts of the \nworld. By David Benedict, A. M. First edition, 1813, Vol. I., p. 407. See also Backus\' \nHistory, Vol. II., pp. 421, 422. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 37 \n\nreligion uppermost, to have his mind bent upon divine things, and to be \nvery bold in Christian conversation with all sorts of company." 1 \n\nIn the last year of his life he received a paralytic stroke \nfrom which he partially recovered, but soon receiving \nanother he yielded to it, and ceased to be mortal, when he \nhad been pastor of the church just thirty -five years, want- \ning forty days. \n\nHis funeral was attended by great numbers of people \nfrom this and other towns, and the occasion was one of \ngreat solemnity. His funeral sermon was preached by \nRev. John Martin, of Thompson, Conn., and eight clergy- \nmen, "were his bearers to the silent mansion."* \n\nAt his death he left seven children, five sons and two \ndaughters, through whom he was the founder of a goodly \nline of descendants, who in private and public life have \n\na Among the oldest records of the church is a loose leaf, which contains \nthe following record, but without signature : \n\n" In the Year 1773, the Revd Thomas Green deceast Aug. 19, being in the \n74 Year of His age. His Funeral Seremonies was attended with Great \nSolemnity. A Suitable Sermon was deliver\'d upon the occation by the \nRevd Mr. Martin. Thompson. \nThe Revd Mr CONKLIN. Leicester, / wer his bearers, \n\ndo. ALDIN. Bellingham, [ to the Silent \n\ndo. BOWMAN. Oxford, \\ Mantion! \n\ndo. LEDOYT. Woodstock, \n\ndo. MARTIN. Thompson, \n\ndo. RANSOM. N. London, \n\ndo. CURTIS. Chalton, \n\ndo. GREEN. Chalton, \nThese clergymen were pastors of churches as follows : Rev. Benjamin \nConklin, Leicester, Congregational, 1763-1794; Rev. Noah Alden, Belling- \nham, Baptist, 1766-1796; Rev. Joseph Bowman, Oxford, Congregational, \n1764-1782; Rev. Biel Ledoyt, Woodstock, Conn., Baptist, 1768-1790; Rev. \nJohn Martin, Thompson, Conn., Baptist, 1773\xe2\x80\x94 1797 ; Rev. Caleb Curtis, \nCharlton, Congregational, 1761-1776; Rev. Nathaniel Green, Charlton, \nBaptist, 1763-1791. Rev. Mr. Ransom of N. London, was probably the \nRev. Elisha Ransom, Baptist, who, having been ordained in Sutton, in 1778, \nwas pastor at Woodstock, Vt., from 1780, more than twenty years. \n\n1 A Memoir of the Life and Times of the Rev, Isaac Backus, A. M. By Alvah \nHovey, D. D., p. 131. \n\n\n\n38 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nhonored their lineage and the name they bear. Among \nthem are Dea. Samuel Green of this church\'; doctors John \nGreen ist, 2d, and 3d, \xe2\x80\x94 all physicians of high eminence \nin Worcester; Rev. Thomas Green, M. D., of North \nYarmouth, Me.; Samuel Dana Green, born here in \nLeicester, a resident of Cambridge, and a merchant of \nBoston ; Timothy Green, born in Worcester, a lawyer in \nNew York city, and lost at sea in a vessel that sailed \nfrom Charlestown, S. C, but "never came to shore;" his son, \nTimothy Ruggles Green of New York, who was one of \n" those whom the gods love," though for us he died \nuntimely, at the early age of thirty-four, and to whom, on \nthe occasion of his death, a most appreciative and grace- \nful tribute was paid by his pastor, and early and intimate \nfriend, William R. Williams, D. D., from the text, " How \nis the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod ;\'" Samuel \nFiske Green, an eminent medical missionary of the \nAmerican Board in Ceylon, whose biography is now \npreparing ; and others, some of whom are here, and some \nare not here to-day. \n\nAnd so, take him for all in all, Dr. Green was no com- \nmon man. He was fortunate in his great natural ability, \nin the circumstances that attended his entrance upon life \nand business, in his manifold and successful life-work, in his \npersonal character and influence, and in his descendants ; \nand fortunate was the church that had him to its minister. \n\nThe next minister of the church was Benjamin Foster. \nHe was born in Danvers, June 12th, 1750. He was \neducated in the public school of that town, and at Yale \nCollege, where he completed the course of study in 1774. \nIn that year, on the 4th of September, he was baptized \nand received into the fellowship of the First Baptist \nChurch in Boston. On the 5th of the next February, \nhe was licensed to preach, after having preached before \nthe church several times. On the 16th of January, \n1776, he was married to Elizabeth, the youngest daughter \n\n1 Miscellanies. By William R. Williams, pp. 148-168. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 39 \n\nof Dr. Thomas Green. In October, 1776, he was \ndismissed from the First Church in Boston, to this in \nLeicester, and on the 23rd of the same month he was \nordained as pastor of this church, the ordination sermon \nbeing preached by Rev. Charles Thompson, a of Warren, \nR. I. \n\nHis ministry here was eminently successful. In five \nyears from his settlement the church increased from \nthirty to seventy-six members, and some of its most \nexcellent and useful members were baptized by him. But \nin 1782, he resigned his office and withdrew from the \nfield. After that he preached two years in Danvers, \nfour years in Newport, R. I., and then ten years as pastor \nof the First Church in New York, where he died of \nyellow fever on the 26th of August, 1798. Several \nbiographical sketches of him were published, all com- \nmending his good character, learning, ability, and faith- \nfulness in all he had to do. He was the author of several \nmeritorious works, two of which "The Washing of \nRegeneration," and " Primitive Baptism denned in a \nletter to the Rev. John Cleaveland," were published while \nhe was here in Leicester. He received the degree of \nD. D., from Brown University in 1792, in consequence of \na learned publication entitled, " A Dissertation on the \nSeventy Weeks of Daniel." Benedict said of him : "Dr. \nFoster, as a scholar, particularly in the Greek, Hebrew, \n\na Charles Thompson was born in Amvvell, N. J., April 14th, 1748. He \nwas a graduate of Brown University, in the class of 1769, the first class ever \ngraduated from that Institution. He was ordained pastor of the church in \nWarren, R. L, July 3rd, 177 1. After a successful ministry of four years in \nthat place, he served three years as chaplain in the American army ; and \nwas settled as pastor of the church in Swansea, October 7th, 1779. His \nministry there continued through twenty-three years, and was greatly \nblessed. Early in 1803, he became pastor of the church in Charlton, but \ndied of consumption, in the same year, on the 4th of May. " As a preacher \nhe held a very high rank." 1 \n\n1 Annals of the American Pulpit. By William B. Sprague, D.D., Vol. VI., pp. 133, 134. \nAlso Life, Times and Correspondence of James Manning, and the Early History of Brown \nUniversity. By Reuben Aldridge Guild, pp. 103, 104. \n\n\n\n40 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nand Chaldean languages, has left few superiors. As a \ndivine, he was strictly Calvinistick, and full on the doctrine \nof salvation by free grace. As a preacher, he was inde- \nfatigable. In private life, he was innocent as a child and \nharmless as a dove, fulfilling all the duties of life with \nthe greatest punctuality. The following inscription on \na handsome marble over his grave, in the Baptist \nburying-ground in New York, written by an eminent \nPresbyterian clergyman of that city, is an encomium \njustly due to his memory : \'As a scholar and divine he \nexcelled; as a preacher he was eminent; as a Christian \nhe shone conspicuously ; in his piety he was fervent ; the \nchurch was comforted by his life, and it now laments his \ndeath. ,,, 1 \n\nThe next minister was Isaac Beall. He was born in \nEngland, but the time of his coming to this country is \nnot known. He came to Leicester from the western \npart of the state, and at the recommendation of Rev. \nNathaniel Green. The earliest entry in our church \nrecords is in these words : " In the year 1783, May. \nThen our beloved Brother Isaac Beall Came by desire of \nthe Church to Labor with us in the Gospel." He was \nordained here December 1st, 1784. Six churches were \nrepresented in the council by pastors and delegates. The \n" Council of Churches, Convened at the House of Deacon \nSamuel Green," and the churches represented were \nthose of Charlton, South Brimfield, Woodstock, Medfield, \nCambridge, and Sturbridge. The sermon was preached \nby Rev. Thomas Gair of Medfield, the charge was given \nby Rev. Elijah Codding of South Brimfield, and the hand \nof fellowship was given by Rev. Thomas Green of \nCambridge. \n\nHe was a man of devout spirit, in company with a \nstrong mind and much native shrewdness, which com- \npensated in part for his want of education. At first his \n\n1 History of the Baptist Denomination, by David Benedict, A. M., Vol. II., pp. \n301-304, edition of 1813. Sprague\'s Annals, Vol. VI., pp. 191, 192. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 4I \n\nministry here was quite successful ; but after two years \nserious troubles growing out of Shay\'s Rebellion were \nencountered, and they proved so great a hindrance to his \nwork that he asked his dismission, which, in terms credit- \nable to him and to the church, was granted on the 18th of \nSeptember, 1788. Soon after that he removed to Ver- \nmont, and there preached many years in Clarendon and \nPawlet, and finally died in Clarendon. The inscription \non his gravestone there is in these words : " Rev. Isaac \nBeall and his wife Prudence Died Aug. 1833, she on the \n9th and he the 14th, in their 81st year." \n\nThe next minister was Nathan Dana. He was here \nand acted as moderator of a church meeting September \n19th, 1792 ; and he was ordained at Newton, November \n20th, 1793. In the council four churches were repre- \nsented by their pastors and delegates, and each of the \npastors had a part in the services of ordination, Dr. \nStillman of the First Church in Boston preaching the \nsermon, Elder Grafton of Newton offering the prayer of \nordination, Rev. Thomas Green of Danvers giving the \ncharge, and Rev. Thomas Baldwin of the Second Church \nin Boston giving the right hand of fellowship. He \nbecame pastor of this church the next year after his \nordination. The record of his call to the pastorate is in \nthese words: "July 20 1794 the chh met and Voted \nTo Give and Gave Brother Nathan Dena a Call to take \nthe speical Charge of this chh and to Administer all \nspeical ordinances in Compliance here of he Gave his \nanswer in the afirmative Samuel Green Moderator \nSamuel Parker Clerk" \n\nWhen nearly three years from the time of his settle- \nment had passed, he resigned his office, and the record of \nhis dismission is in these words : \n\nELDER DANNAS DISMISSION. \n\nThe Baptist Chh of Christ at Leicester Being Convened In Chh Meeting \non the 24 Day of July 1794 Did then and there Vote To Give our Well \nBeloved Brother and Elder Nathan Dana [a call] to take the Special Care and \n\n\n\n42 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nCharge as an under Shepherd of said Chh and To Administer Speical \nordenances amongst us and where as God in his providence has opened a \nDoor for his Removel from us and at his Request we have in our Chh \nMeeting Votted him a Dismission from that special Charge Earnestly wishing \na Divine Blessing may Attend him Wherever God shall Call him to Labour \nin his Vineyard Dun in Chh meeting at Leicester Feb 5 1797 \nIn Behalf of the Chh \n\nSAMEL PARKER} Chh Scribe \n\nAfter leaving this church he preached at Pittsford, and \nelsewhere in Vermont, and died in Pittsford in 1833, \nat the age of seventy-six years. \n\nThe next and fifth minister was Peter Rogers. Under \ndate of May 14th, 1803, our records say : " Voted Elder \nPeter Rogers to take the watch care of this church, and \nhe being present excepted the same." He brought letters \nof dismission and recommendation from the church in \nKillingly, Conn., where he had preached seven years, and \nhe was received as a member of this church on the 4th \nof June, 1803. His pastoral service here continued \nthrough ten full years, till at his own request it was ter- \nminated on the 5th of August, 1813. He, with his wife \nand daughter, was dismissed, to " the Baptist Church of \nChrist in Bernardston," on the 19th of October, 181 5. \nBefore he left this place, he and the church suffered from \nreports injurious to his reputation as a man of honesty \nand fair dealing, but a committee of eight persons, \xe2\x80\x94 John \nPrentice, James Sprague, Samuel Denny, Samuel Green, \nDavid Bryant, Daniel Livermore, Benjamin Bond, and \nEphraim Copeland, \xe2\x80\x94 after careful and thorough investi- \ngation of all the charges made against him, reported that \nin their " solemn opinion " he was and ought to be \nconsidered by all mankind as absolutely acquitted and \nclear from all manner of criminal and immoral conduct \nrelative to each and every one of the charges made \nagainst him ; and they suggested that their report \nshould be made " as public as the nature of the subject \ndoth claim." But even now after the lapse of seventy- \nseven years, there are some who hear of those charges, \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 43 \n\nwithout hearing of his vindication from them ; and so \nwhat I am saying is simple justice to a man who is not \nalive to vindicate himself again. \n\nThe next settled minister was Benjamin N. Harris. \nHe was born in Brookline, July 19th, 1782. His early \nlife was spent upon a farm. He was converted, in 1809, \nwhile living at Orford, N. H. There he made his profes- \nsion of religion, and joined the Methodists. After a time \nhe was licensed by them to preach, and then ordained \nDeacon in June, 18 19. After preaching twelve years \namong the people with whom he first connected himself, \nhe became a Baptist, and joined the church in Wrentham \nin November, 1823. In May of the next year, he came to \nLeicester, and was ordained here on the 3d of July, 1827. \nHis pastorate continued till May, 1830, when he was dis- \nmissed with expressions of confidence and commendation. \nHe afterwards preached in different parts of New England, \nin New Ybrk, and in Canada, and became widely known \nas " Father Harris," greatly esteemed and beloved. \nAfter a long and useful, but unostentatious, life and \nministry, he died in Bolton on the 3d of March, 1859. \n\nThe next and seventh minister was John Greene. He \nwas a descendant of Thomas Green, the great grandfather \nof the first pastor of this church, but through another line. \nHe was a son of Ebenezer Greene, of Belchertown, and \nbrother of Samuel Stillman Greene, LL. D., for a long time \nProfessor in Brown University, and one of the most dis- \ntinguished educators of our country. He was born in \nBelchertown, June 1st, 1801. He was educated at the \nHamilton Literary and Theological Institution, now Mad- \nison University, and was graduated in 1830. \n\nHe came to Leicester at the suggestion of Dr. Going \nof Worcester, soon after the resignation of Mr. Harris ; \nwas received as a member of this church, August 14th, \n1830, and at the request of the church, was ordained at \nthe meeting of the Worcester Association at Princeton, \non the 19th of the same month. His work in the ministry \n\n\n\n44 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nhere continued till September 6th, 1840, when he asked \nand received his dismission. His ministry was successful \nin many ways. Under it, the church entered upon a new \ncareer of life, peace, and prosperity. Through his wise \nguidance, troubles that had been vexing it for sixteen \nyears, were overcome and removed, and in seven years \nfrom the time of his coming, the church increased in \nnumbers from forty-two to eighty members. \n\nIn the latter part of his ministry occurred the centen- \nnial of the church. It was observed on Sunday, the first \nday of January, 1837, at the usual time of public worship. \nAfter the reading of the Scriptures and prayer by Rev. \nC. O. Kimball, Secretary of the Massachusetts Baptist \nState Convention, the pastor preached a historical sermon \nfrom the text, 1 Samuel vii., 12, \n\n" Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and he \ncalled the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." \n\nHis sermon, in which he passed in review the history \nof the church during the century then closing, was the \nresult of much diligence, care, and painstaking in his \nsearch for facts, and in his presentation of them ; but it \nwas not published, and when the manuscript was last \nseen, I do not know. It is much to be regretted that the \nauthor of these historical sketches has been compelled, in \nthe past year, to go over all that ground without the \nguidance of his predecessor. \n\nAfter leaving Leicester, Mr. Greene preached with good \nsuccess in Shutesbury five years, in Bernardston three \nyears, in Florida four years, in Chester Village two years, \nin North Leverett two years, and supplied other churches \nat different times. He died in Montague, October 12th, \n1865. \n\nThe next minister was Moses Harrington. He was \nborn in Weston, March 23d, 1792 ; and he was ordained \nat Sutton, November 16th, 1825. He was pastor of that \nchurch till 183 1. After that he was pastor at Spencer \nfour years, and at Leominster three years. He became \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 45 \n\na member of this church, and its pastor December 6th, \n1840, and his ministry here continued till April 1st, \n1849. Afterward he resided in Framingham, and died \nin that place June 14th, 1866. \n\nThe next pastor was Lorenzo O. Lovell. He was born in \nthat part of Rowley which is now Georgetown, October \n24th, 1809, and was graduated at Brown University in 1833. \nHe was licensed to preach by the First Baptist Church in \nFall River, and ordained at West Boylston, June 3d, 1835. \nAt his ordination the charge was given by his father, \nRev. Shubael Lovell, of Fall River, and the Hand of \nFellowship by his brother, Rev. Nehemiah G. Lovell, of \nPrinceton. After leaving West Boylston he was settled \nfirst at Fitchburg, afterward at Utica, Norway, and Troy, \nN. Y., at Central Falls, R. I., and at West Sutton in this \nstate, from which place after a four years\' pastorate, he \ncame to Leicester, and was received as a member of this \nchurch, July 5th, 1856. Here as elsewhere he was known \nas an eloquent, brilliant preacher, and his ministry here \ncontinued till May, 1858. On the 4th day of that month, \nhe baptized thirteen persons, and in the following week, \nhis extremely sensitive and delicate organization gave \nway, mental aberration supervened, and he was withdrawn \nfrom his work. After several years he removed to \nRochester, Minn., where, with his family, he passed the \nlast fourteen years of his life in quietness and peace. He \ndied September 3d, 1880. \n\nThe next minister was Hiram C. Estes. He began \nhis work May 1st, i860, and closed his first ministry in 1862. \n\nThe next minister was Nathaniel B. Cooke. He was \nborn in Cambridgeport, February 26th, 18 16. He was \neducated at Phillips Academy, Andover, and at Brown \nUniversity, where he was graduated in 1840. Afterward \nhe studied medicine and received the degree of M. D. at \nYale College. In consequence of a throat disease he had \nbeen turned aside from his cherished wish to enter the \nministry, but after practising medicine and teaching \n\n\n\n46 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nseveral years, in Bristol, R. I., and elsewhere, he received \nand accepted a call to become pastor of this church, and \nwas ordained here November 13th, 1862. He continued \nhere till 1868, when he resigned and removed to Lonsdale, \nR. L, where he was settled about three years, and where \nhe died, April 14th, 1871. He was a good man, faithful in \nhis work, and much esteemed by all who knew him. \n\nThe next and twelfth minister was Lewis Holmes. He \nwas born in Plymouth, April 12th, 18 13. He was a \ngraduate of Waterville College, now Colby University, in \nthe class of 1840. The next year he was ordained at \nEdgartown, where he preached two years. Then he \npreached two years in Canton, four in Groton, five in \nBarre, four in Edgartown the second time, six in Middle- \nfield, three in Scituate, and then seven in Leicester. He \nentered upon his work here in July, 1869, and he closed \nit on the first of September, 1876. From this place he \nremoved to Plymouth, and there he died, the 24th of \nMay, 1887. He was one of whom it may justly be said \nthat "an excellent spirit was in him." He was a good \npreacher, quiet, thoughtful, unambitious, conscientious, \nstimulating, and improving to his hearers. He was \nthe author of a work entitled " The Arctic Whaleman \nand Whaling," and of a " Biography of Rev. Thomas \nConant." \n\nThe next minister was John Sawyer. He was born in \nDorchester, 111., September 5th, 1836. He united with \nthe church in that place in 1853. He was graduated \nfrom Shurtleff college in i860, and from the Rochester \nTheological Seminary in 1863. In November of that \nyear, he was ordained at Virden, 111., where he was settled \ntill 1864. He was afterwards settled at Lawrence, Kan., \nat Hudson, 111., and at North Tisbury in this State. He \npreached in this place the next Sunday after Mr. Holmes \nclosed his labors here, and in the following month he \nreceived and accepted a call to become pastor of the \nchurch. At once he won a large place in the hearts of \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 47 \n\nthe people, and his promise of usefulness was great. But, \n\n" Not seldom, clad in radiant vest, \nDeceitfully goes forth the Morn." \n\nFor some time he had been suffering from ill health, \nwith a marked tendency to consumption ; but, at this \ndistance from the sea, he hoped to improve and be well. \nInstead of improving, however, he rapidly grew worse, \nand was compelled to resign and close his labors on the \n4th of the next February, when he had been here only \nsix months. He went at once to Denver, Col, where he \ndied February 20th, 1878. He was buried with his \nkindred in Dorchester, 111., and one who knew him well \nsaid of him, " He was unobtrusive and retiring, studious \nand devoted to his work. . . . \' He rests from his labors \nand his works do follow him.\' " \n\nOf these thirteen persons, concerning whom I have now \nspoken, as pastors of this church between the time of its \nformation and 1877, twelve have ceased from their earthly \nlabors. Their names brought together and presented at \na single view, with the periods of their ministration here? \nthe years in which they departed this life, and their ages, \nare as follows : \n\nThomas Green, 1738 - 1773 1773 74 \n\nBenjamin Foster, D. D. 1776 - 1782 1798 48 \n\nIsaac Beall, 1783 - 1788 1833 80 \n\nNathan Dana, 1794 - 1797 1833 76 \n\nPeter Rogers,* 1803 - 18 13 1849 95 \n\nBenjamin N. Harris, 1827 - 1830 1859 7& \n\nJohn Greene, 1830 - 1840 1865 64 \n\nMoses Harrington, 1840 - 1849 l8 66 74 \n\nLorenzo O. Lovell, 1856 - 1858 1880 70 \n\nNathaniel B. Cooke, 1862 - 1868 1871 55 \n\nLewis Holmes, 1869 - 1876 1887 74 \n\nJohn Sawyer, 1876 - 1877 1878 41 \n\na " Peter Rogers was born in New London, Conn., in 1754. His father \nwas Peter Rogers, the fourth in descent from James Rogers, the earliest of \n\n\n\n48 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nTheir work is done. Its record is sealed, \xe2\x80\x94 but open for \nus to study. They differed from each other in the out- \nward conditions and circumstances of their earlier and \nlater life, and they differed quite as much in personal \ncharacteristics, endowments, attainments, modes of influ- \nence, and apparent results. They were different, as the \ntwelve apostles were different from each other, showing \nhow, as the great thinker of their " glorious company " \nsaid, \xe2\x80\x94 " There are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit. \nAnd there are differences of administration, but the same \nLord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is \nthe same God which worketh all in all." But different as \nwere the departed pastors of this church, it may not \nunfitly be said of each one of them, \xe2\x80\x94 from the first to \nthe last, \xe2\x80\x94 that \n\n" Christes lore, and his apostles twelve, \nHe taught, but first he folwed it himselve." \n\nMy study of their lives, works, and characters, has \nled me to think better, instead of worse, of men, of \nchristians, and of ministers. \n\nThe next minister, after Mr. Sawyer, was James W. \nSearll. He was born in Providence, R. I. ; studied at the \nNewton Theological Institution, and was ordained Feb- \nruary 25th, 1858. After pastorates in New Hampshire, \nat Richmond, West Swanzey, East Weare, and South \nHampton, he became pastor here July 5th, 1877. After \na ministry of four years, he resigned, and his labors \nclosed the last Sunday in September, 1881. \n\nthe name who came to New England, and who claimed to be a great grand- \nson of John Rogers, the Martyr. Peter Rogers, in the early part of the \nRevolutionary War, was a famous privateersman. He afterwards entered \nthe army, and won distinction in the Washington Life Guard. In March, \n1790, he was ordained Pastor of the Bozrah Baptist Church. His first wife \nwas a Green, but he afterwards married a daughter of Elder Zadoc Darrow, \nand died in the State of Illinois, in 1849, m tne ninety-sixth year of his age, \nand the sixtieth of his ministry." * \n\n1 Annals of the American Pulpit. By William B. Sprague, D. D., Vol. VI., p. 109. \nSee also Backus\' History, Vol. II., pp. 524, 525. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 49 \n\nThe next minister was Albert W. Spaulding. He began \nhis work here while a student at Newton ; received a call \nto become pastor on the 22d of January, 1882, and was \nordained here July 18th of that year, though he continued \nhis studies at the Institution till his graduation in the \nfollowing year. He resigned and closed his labors in \nJanuary, 1886. \n\nThe present pastor entered on the work of his second \nministry here on the 1st of March, 1886. \n\nBesides these who have thus been settled here as \npastors, some others, who have preached as stated sup- \nplies, deserve mention. \n\nIn 1799, Nathaniel Price preached several months, and \nin that year fifteen were added to the church. \n\nEbenezer Burt preached from September, 1802, till the \nnext May, and again, for perhaps a longer time, in 1824. \nAt many other times his aid and counsel were of much \nbenefit to the church. He was born in Weston, March \n9th, 1766, and ordained in Hardwick in 1798. He was \npastor of the Hardwick and Ware Baptist Church more \nthan forty years, and in all this region his labors were \nabundant. He died in Athol, November 25th, 1861. \n\nBenjamin M. Hill preached here two years, from April, \n1816, till March, 1818. He was born in Newport, R. I., \nApril 5th, 1793. He studied at the Newport Academy, \nand at the University of Pennsylvania. His course of \nstudy was interrupted by the death of his father, but he \ntook two courses of medical lectures. He was converted \nin 18 1 2, and baptized into the church in Thompson, Conn. \nThree years later he was licensed to preach. While he \nwas preaching here, the church took some steps towards \nhis ordination, but the church in Thompson, of which he \nwas a member, advised against it, because his mind was \nnot settled in regard to his future residence and field of \nlabor. Afterward he was ordained at Stafford, Conn., \nwhere he preached two years. Then he was pastor at \nNew Haven nine years, and at Troy, N. Y., ten years. \n\n\n\n50 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nIn 1840 he was called to a service which proved to be his \nlife work. It was that of Secretary of the American \nBaptist Home Mission Society, a work which he con- \nducted, with signal ability and success, for twenty-two \nyears. He received the degree of D. D. from Madison \nUniversity in 1852. He died in New Haven, Conn., \nJanuary 15 th, 1881. \n\nWhile he was preaching here, he acted as clerk of the \nchurch, and his record shows the same carefulness and \nfaithfulness which, later, marked hi? administration of the \naffairs of the Home Mission Society. One vote of the \nchurch, recorded in his handwriting, has reference to the \nduties of the church clerk, and is as follows : \n\nVoted That it is the duty of the Church Clerk to keep a Correct list of \nnames of the members of the Church of Additions, Dismissions, Exclusions, \n& Deaths, To write letters of Recommendation, Admonition, &c when \nVoted by the Church unless there is a special vote otherwise ; To keep a \ncorrect statement or record of Chh transactions in the Book of records ; & a \ntrue copy of letters in the letter Book. & to read in Church meeting the \nrecord of proceeding in the preceding meeting. & in case of repeated \nneglect he is liable to reproof & in case of no reformation, to a dismission \nfrom his office. \n\nIn 1 82 1, Luther Goddard, of Worcester, supplied the \npulpit several months, and six were baptized that year. \n\nFrom March 2d, 1850, till the close of the next year, \nthe pulpit was supplied by Otis Converse, of Worcester, \noften called "Father Converse". He was born in Spen- \ncer, December 4th, 1796 ; began to preach in 18 18 ; \nafterward studied with Abiel Fisher, D. D., a at Belling- \n\n\n\na Abiel Fisher, D. D., was born in Putney, Vt., June 19th, 1787. Having \nbeen graduated from the University of Vermont in 181 2, from which he \nreceived the degree of D. D. in 1852, he pursued the study of theology under \nNathanael Kendrick, D. D., then at Middlebury, later the first President of \nMadison University, and was ordained, in Brandon, June 15th, 18 15. He \nhad pastorates in Bellingham, in this State, West Boylston, and Sturbridge, \nPawtucket, R. I., Swansea and Sutton, and died at West Boylston, in 1862. \nThe Baptist Encyclopaedia says of him : " He rendered the best service to \nthe Baptist cause in the central sections of Massachusetts. He was a lover \nof learning, and quite a number of young men enjoyed the benefits of his \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 5 I \n\nham ; was ordained at Grafton, June 25th, 1823, and was \npastor of that church twelve years. From the close of his \nministry in Grafton till his death, December 1st, 1874, he \nmade his home in Worcester, but preached for many \ndifferent churches, a short time in each. His interest in \nthis church, as also in others, was deep and tender, and \nhis work was helpful. \n\nMr. Converse was succeeded in the supply of the pul- \npit by John F. Burbank. He was born in Standish, Me., \nDecember nth, 1811, and was baptized into the fellow- \nship of the First Baptist Church in Portland, June 19th, \n1 83 1. After studying three years at Waterville College, \nand another year at Columbian College, he was graduated \nfrom the latter institution in 1837, and from the Newton \nTheological Institution in 1840. He was ordained, at \nTaunton, on the 3rd of February, the same year. He was \npastor there two years, and at Webster four years. In \n1846 he removed to Worcester, which from that time was \nhis home. He continued to preach, for various churches, \ntill the close of his life. His labors here began April 1st, \n1850, and ended with his death, November 20th, 1853. \nHe was highly esteemed for his character and for his \nwork\'s sake, and his death was much lamented. \n\nThe next supply was that of Nathaniel Hervey. He \nwas born in Newburyport in 1808. He studied at the \nSouth Reading Academy, and was a graduate of the \nNewton Theological Institution, in the class of 1833. In \nthat year he was ordained pastor of the First Baptist \nChurch, in Meriden, Conn. After preaching there one \nyear, he was settled at Marblehead two years, in East \nCambridge, three years, and afterwards in Andover and \nWestboro. He entered upon his labors here in January, \n1854, and closed it, on account of long continued ill health, \nin 1856. In that year, on the eleventh of December, he \n\ninstruction We may justly claim Dr. Fisher as having been one \n\nof the most useful ministers of the denomination in the State of \nMassachusetts." \n\n\n\n52 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\ndied of consumption, in Worcester. He is remembered \nand spoken of as a faithful minister of Christ. \n\nThe names of the Deacons of the church, with the years, \nso far as known, in which they were chosen, and in which \nthey resigned or deceased, have been as follows : \n\nNathaniel Jones. \nThomas Holman. \n\nSamuel Green, 1810 \n\nIsaac Choate. \n\nJames Sprague, 1799 - J ^ 2 4 \n\nDavid Bryant, 181 1 - 18 19 \n\nJeremiah Pratt, 18 19- 1822 \n\nElkanah Haven, 1825 - 1846, \n\nDavid Parker, 1827 - 1838 \n\nMoses W. Maynard, 1836 - 1855 \n\nSumner Bridges, 1836 - 1843 \n\nAsa W. Clark, 1843. \n\nLoren Lyon, 1843 - 1867. \n\nDaniel F. Draper, 1874. \n\nEmory B. F. Draper. 1885. \n\nTwo of these, Samuel Green and James Sprague, deserve \nespecial mention, as having attained " a good degree, and \ngreat boldness in the faith ". Samuel Green was deacon \nof the church more than fifty years, and one-fourth or \nmore of that time was during his father\'s ministry. His \nability and wisdom were of special value to the church \nwhen it was destitute of a pastor, and always he was its \nwatchful and faithful servant ; so that he left a good \nexample of what a christian man of business, and a deacon \nin the church, should be. \n\nTwo others, Moses W. Maynard and Sumner Bridges, \nwere inducted into their office by ordination. The ser- \nvices were held on Saturday afternoon, December 31st, \n1836. A sermon was preached by Rev. Charles O. \nKimball, from the text, Acts vi., 2-4, \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\n\n\n53 \n\n\n\n"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and \nsaid, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables, \nWherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report \nfull of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this busi- \nness. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry \nof the word ". \n\nMr. Kimball also gave the charge. The consecrating \nprayer was offered by the pastor of the church, Rev. John \nGreene, and the right hand of fellowship was given by \nRev. Moses Harrington, of Spencer. \n\nAn unusually large number of persons have served in \nthe office of Church Clerk. Their names and terms of \nservice have been as follows : \n\n\n\nSamuel Parker, \n\n\n\n\n1783. \n\n\nIsaac Beall, \n\n\n1783- \n\n\n1788. \n\n\nJohn Lyon, \xe2\x80\xa2 \n\n\n1789- \n\n\n1790. \n\n\nSamuel Parker, \n\n\n1790- \n\n\n1799. \n\n\nJames Sprague, \n\n\n1799- \n\n\n1813. \n\n\nSamuel Green, \n\n\n1813- \n\n\n1817. \n\n\nBenjamin M. Hill, \n\n\n1817- \n\n\n1818. \n\n\nJames Sprague, \n\n\n1818- \n\n\n1825. \n\n\nLebbeus Turner, \n\n\n1825 - \n\n\n1827. \n\n\nEbenezer Dunbar, \n\n\n1827- \n\n\n1827. \n\n\nBenjamin N. Harris, \n\n\n1827- \n\n\n1829. \n\n\nEbenezer Dunbar, \n\n\n1829 - \n\n\n1841. \n\n\nMoses Harrington, \n\n\n1841 - \n\n\n1849. \n\n\nMilton Rockwood, \n\n\n1849- \n\n\n1859. \n\n\nHiram C. Estes, \n\n\n1860- \n\n\n1862. \n\n\nAsa W. Clark, \n\n\n1862- \n\n\n1863. \n\n\nNathaniel B. Cooke, \n\n\n1863- \n\n\n1868. \n\n\nJohn D. Clark, \n\n\n1868- \n\n\n1871. \n\n\nLewis Holmes, \n\n\n1871 - \n\n\n1876. \n\n\nJohn D. Clark, \n\n\n1876. \n\n\n\n\n\nIn the course of its history this church has been con- \nnected with three different Associations, the Warren, the \nSturb ridge, and the Worcester. It joined the Warren \nAssociation in 1774, seven years after the formation of \n\n\n\n54 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nthat body. At that time some of our churches doubted \nthe wisdom or propriety of association al organizations, \nfearing lest in time they might assume some ecclesiastical \ncontrol of the churches, and so invade and violate their \nindependence ; the doctrine of their absolute independence \nbeing one of our fundamental principles. Probably the \ndelay of this church in joining the Warren Association \nwas due to this fear. After having been a member of \nthat body twenty-eight years, the church was one of those \nwhich united in forming the Sturbridge Association, in \n1802, and in 18 19 it was one of those that formed the \nWorcester Association, with which it has ever since been \nin happy fellowship. \n\nFive associational meetings have been held with this \nchurch, those of the Warren Association in 1778, the \nSturbridge in 1807, and the Worcester in 1842, 1872, and \n1885. At the meeting of the Warren Association here, \none hundred and ten years ago, President Manning, of \nBrown University, was present, and preached a sermon \nfrom the text, Ephesians iii., 8, \n\n" Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, \nthat I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." \n\nWhen the church joined the Warren Association, in \n1774, Backus called it "the First Baptist Church in \nLeicester " ; and in a letter of commendation, given to \nPeter Rogers, in 18 13, it was spoken of as "the First \nBaptist Church in this place ". No change was made in \nits name till 1853, when it took the name of "the Green- \nville Baptist Church in Leicester ", by which it is now \nknown. \n\nWe have no means of determining the membership of \nthe church, previous to its union with the Warren \nAssociation in 1774, when its members were twelve. In \nthe following year there was an addition of twenty, of \nwhom nineteen were received by letter. During the six \nyears of Dr. Foster\'s ministry, the additions were fifty- \nnine. In 1 8 10, twenty-three were added by baptism, and \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 55 \n\nthe next year four, making the whole number at that \ntime seventy-eight. During the ten years of Rev. John \nGreene\'s ministry, the additions were ninety-seven, fifty- \nseven being by baptism. In one of those years, 1837, \nthe additions were thirty-one, and the membership was \nincreased to eighty, the largest ever reported. In sixty- \nfive of the years since 1774, the number of members has \nbeen less than sixty. At the present time it is fifty-four. \nOf this number seven have been members more than \nfifty years, though one of them, for a time dismissed, has \nrecently reunited with us. Their names, with the manner \nand dates of their admission to the church, are as follows : \n\nDea. Asa W. Clark, Letter, June 4th, 1837. \n\nMrs. Lydia W. Clark, Baptism, Oct. 23d, 1831. \n\n" Betsey G. Dimmick, " Mar. 30th, 1822. \n\n" Mary K. Draper, " Oct. 2d, 1836. \n\n" Eloise Leithead, " Aug. 12th, 1832. \n\nMiss Roxana Sprague, " Aug. 18th, 1822. \n\nMrs. Roxana Whittemore, " Nov. 2d, 1827. \n\nThey are all present here to-day, with two exceptions, Mrs. \nDimmick, who resides in Illinois, and Mrs. Whittemore. \nBeyond this, it should be said that one of our former \nmembers, Miss Rhoda Hatch, baptized by Dr. Foster on \nthe 4th of April, 1779, continued in the fellowship of the \nchurch till her death, on the 10th of June, 1843, a period \nof more than sixty-four years. Also Ebenezer Dunbar was \nbaptized on the 30th of March, 1822, and continued a \nmember till his death, on the 4th of November, 1877, at \nthe age of one hundred years, seven months, and six days, \nhe having been a pillar in the church more than half a \ncentury; and three of the seven persons just named as \nhaving been members of the church more than fifty years, \nMrs. Clark, Mrs. Dimmick, and Mrs. Draper, were his \nchildren. \n\nIt has been suggested, and with no little reason, that \nthe small number of members belonging to the church in \n\n\n\n56 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\n1774, was due to the dismission of a number of members \nto form a church in Spencer, twelve years before. That \nchurch was formed July 13th, 1762. After a time its meet- \nings were held in the west part of this town, and finally \nthey were removed to Charlton. In 1768, it joined the \nWarren Association, when Backus called it "the Second \nBaptist Church in Leicester." In the minutes of that \nAssociation, from 1768 to 1772, it has a place in the list \nof churches as the "Leicester" Church; after that it \nappears as the " Charlton " Church. It was under the \npastoral care of Rev. Nathaniel Green, a from the time of \n\na Nathaniel Green, born in " Charlestown-end ", April 16th, 1721, and \nfor many years a resident of Leicester, was a man of note in the latter part \nof the last century, active, influential, and honored in our churches. " For a \ntime he supplied a vacant church in Boston. He was noted for firmness and \ndecision of character ; was an earnest christian, a plain, evangelical preacher, \nand was greatly beloved by a large circle whose spiritual wants had been sup- \nplied by his ministrations. He was a strenuous asserter of religious liberty, \nand did much towards bringing about that change of public sentiment, which \nwithin the memory of many living, resulted in the entire separation of \nchurch and State." x \n\nOnce Mr. Green had an experience of distress, on account of the payment \nof church rates, from which our members here in Leicester were happily free. \n\n" Mr. Green was arrested for ministers\' rates, and taken to Worcester to be \n\nimprisoned. By the advice of Colonel Chandler, \'he paid the \n\nfine and was released, after having been in custody six hours. The consta- \nble gave him the following receipt. \n\n\'""Leicester, February 13, 1769. \n\n" \' " This day I made distraint upon Mr. Nathanael Green\'s body, of Leices- \nter, for his rate which he was rated in the year 1767, and received of said \nNathanael Green, seventeen shillings, nine pence, one farthing, so much \nbeing in full for his province rate ; and also of said Nathanael Green, three \nshillings, nine pence, one farthing, being in full for his town and county rates \nfor the year 1767 : I say, received by me, \n\nBenjamin Bond, Constable for the year 1767." \n\n" \' Mr. Green brought an action against the assessors for damages. The \ninferior court gave judgment in his favor, and allowed him forty shillings \nand costs of suit. The assessors appealed to the superior court, and the \ncase was again decided in Green\'s favor. He was allowed all the money he \nhad expended in the law and lawful costs.\' " 2 \n\n1 A Genealogical Sketch of the Descendants of Thomas Green[e], pp. 36, 37. \n\n2 Rev. S. Hall\'s Collection of Papers. Editor\'s Note in Backus\' History. Vol. II., \np. 460. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 57 \n\nhis ordination, October 12th, 1763, till his death in Charl- \nton on the 2 1st of March, 1791. In 1783, that church \nhad one hundred and fifty-five members, but now it has \nbeen for many years extinct. \n\nIn 1767, a Baptist church was formed in Grafton, with \nfour members, Joseph Whipple, Jacob Whipple, Ebenezer \nWheeler, and Robert Leathe, all dismissed from our church. \n\nIn 1 8 19, twenty-eight members were dismissed from \nthis church to form a church in the north part of Spencer, \nwhere there had been a branch, called the north branch of \nthe church. \n\nOn Sunday, July 5th, 1786, the pastor of this church, \nIsaac Beall, preached in the south part of Princeton, near \nHolden. There was no private house that could hold the \ncongregation, and therefore the meeting was held in a large \nbarn. After the service, the people repaired to a small \nriver, where the minister baptized two young men, one \nseventeen, and the other twenty years old. The name of \none was Sylvanus Haynes; that of the other was Abel \nWoods, a brother of the distinguished Professor and \nTheologian, of Andover, Leonard Woods, D. D. 1 Soon \nthose young men began to preach, at first in and near \ntheir native place. By their preaching, they did some- \nthing in the way of preparing material from which, years \nafterward, the church was formed in Holden. In the \ncourse of time, both were ordained and became useful \npreachers in Vermont, Mr. Haynes dying there in 1826, \nand Mr. Woods dying at Hamilton, N. Y., in 1850, \nboth leaving the precious memory of those who are wise, \nand who turn many to righteousness. Through them \nand their work we catch a glimpse of the far reaching and \nbeneficent influence exerted by this church in years gone \nby, though most of that influence is to us entirely \nunknown. \n\nIn all the first forty years of the history of our church, \nthere is only one person, of whose baptism and admission \n\n1 Sprague\'s Annals. Vol. VI., pp. 311-316. \n\n\n\n58 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nto it we know the date, and whose subsequent life we are \nable to trace. That person\'s name was Asaph Fletcher. \nHe was born in Westford, June 28th, 1746. He was \nbaptized here May 15th, 1768. In 1776, he married a \ndaughter of Capt. Jonathan Green, of Stoneham, a distant \nrelative of our Dr. Thomas Green. In 1780, he was a \nmember of the Convention which framed the Constitution \nof this State; and in that Convention he made an earnest \neffort to have the principle of religious liberty grafted \ninto the fundamental law of the commonwealth, so that \n"no man should be compelled to pay taxes for the support \nof preaching, but that all such contributions should be \npurely voluntary and according to the dictates of \nconscience." In that effort he did not succeed, but he \nlived to know that that principle was incorporated into our \nConstitution more than fifty years later. In 1787, he \nremoved to Cavendish, Vt., where he was distinguished \nas a physician, for the part he took in civil affairs, and for \nthe support he gave to the cause of religious liberty. In \n1 79 1, he was a member of the Convention called in \nVermont to adopt the Constitution of the United States ; \nhe was a member of the Convention called to revise the \nConstitution of that State, in 1793 ; and he was one of the \nPresidential Electors in 18 16. He died on the 5th of \nJanuary, 1839. From the day of his baptism to the day \nof his death, a period of more than seventy years, he was \nan active and devoted christian man ; and he had the joy \nof seeing his children walk in his ways, and do honor to \ntheir name and parentage. Three of them were in public \nlife, and widely known and honored ; Horace Fletcher, \nD. D., first a lawyer fifteen years, and then converted and \na preacher more than twenty-five years ; Ryland F] etcher, \nGovernor of Vermont, 1856-8; and Richard Fletcher, \nMember of Congress, 1837-9, and Judge of the Supreme \nCourt of Massachusetts, 1848-53. \n\nDuring all the early years of our history, the members \nof this church were widely scattered, but how widely, and \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 59 \n\nwhere, we cannot often tell. They were living in Paxton, \nSpencer, Charlton, Grafton, Princeton and Westford ; but \nthese were not the only towns in which they might have \nbeen found waiting, consciously or unconsciously, for \nchurches to grow up and absorb them. Of the thousand \nand more persons baptized by Dr. Green, we can trace \nbut few. Some of them however lived in Newton. From \nthe Rev. Dr. S. F. Smith\'s recent history of that town, \nwe learn that on the first day of July, 1753, Mrs. Sarah \nParker, of that place, was received as a member of the \nSecond Baptist Church in Boston, then under the pastoral \ncare of Rev. Ephraim Bound, in whose ordination Dr. \nGreen had taken part ten years before; and that she had \npreviously been baptized by Dr. Green. More than this, \nthe historian says : \n\n"The town Records contain an attested certificate, signed by Rev. Mr. \nGreen of Leicester, and dated September 9, 1754, affirming that he had \nbaptized Messrs. John Hammond, Noah Wiswall, and Thomas Parker. \nThe certificate reads thus : \n\n"\'Newton, Sept. 9, 1754. This may certify whom it may concern that I, \nThomas Green, baptized John Hammond, Noah Wiswall, Thomas Parker, \nall of said town. I say baptized by me, \n\nTHOMAS GREEN, \nPastor of the Baptist Church of Christ at Leicester.\' \n\n"The year before this, May 14, 1753, Mr. Wiswall and others addressed \na memorial to the town meeting, praying that they might be exempted from \npaying a ministerial tax for the support of the clergyman of the town, \nbecause they were conscientious Baptists, and paid a tax elsewhere. The \ntown voted that their petition be not granted. Three years later, March 15, \n1756, some of the Baptists, it would seem, had fallen into arrears in respect \nto the payment of their ministerial rates to the town, hoping that the \ncitizens would abate the demand. But the matter, being brought up in the \n\ntown meeting, was summarily disposed of [the town refusing to \n\nexcuse them \' for the time past \' or * for the future \'] \n\n" Seven years after this, a certificate given by his pastor to Mr. Joseph \nBartlett, of Newtown, defining the position of the latter, proves that the \nBaptists were still under oppression. The certificate is as follows : \n\n"\'Leicester, June 20, 1763. This may certify all people whom it may \nconcern, that Joseph Bartlett, of Newtown, doth belong to the Anabaptist \nchurch of Elder Thomas Green, of Leicester, and is under his pastoral \n\n\n\n60 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\ncare ; and doth desire the privilege the law gives, in being cleared from \npaying of rates to those of other ways of thinking. Tis we who are chosen \nby the church to give certificate to those. \n\nELDER THOMAS GREEN, \nTHOMAS HOLMAN, \nSAMUEL GREEN.\' " 1 \n\nThis passage from that History, with its extracts from \nthe Records of the Town of Newton, is of especial interest \nto us, because it shows the great extent of Dr. Green\'s \nfield of labor ; the interest which he took in the members \nof his church ; and the oppression which they suffered in \nother places, while they were free from it here in \nLeicester. It also enables us to see in one of our early \nmembers something more than a mere name, for, in \nour oldest list of members," the sixth name is this \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n"Joseph Bartlet, deceast 1787, Newton." \n\nFrom this it appears that the person named in Dr. Green\'s \nexemption certificate was a member of this church till his \ndeath, twenty-four years later. \n\nThree times in this discourse, and twice as taking part \nin the ordination of ministers of this church, mention has \nbeen made of a second Thomas Green. He took part in \nthe ordination of Mr. Beall here, and in that of Mr. Dana, at \nNewton. He was a grandson as well as namesake of our \nfirst pastor, and a son of the first Dr. John Green, of \nWorcester. He was born June 3d, 1761. He studied \nmedicine with his father, and practised for a time in \nLexington. Then having decided to preach the gospel, \nhe studied Theology with Rev. Joseph Avery, an emi- \nnent Congregational minister in Holden. He was \nordained pastor of a Baptist church in Cambridge, on \nthe 26th of November, 1783. That church had been \n\na The first four names of this list of members, are these : \nBenj. Foster, Pastor. \nThomas Holman, ) \nSamuel Green, > Deacons. \nIsaac Choate, ) \n\n1 History of Newton, Massachusetts. By S. F. Smith, D. D., pp. 288-289. \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 6l \n\nformed in 1781, in the part of Cambridge then known as \nMenotomy, afterwards West Cambridge, and now Arling- \nton, and it is now the church in Arlington. He was pastor \nof that church eight years; and then he preached four \nyears in Danvers. From the latter place he was called, in \n\n1797, to be the first pastor of the church in North Yar- \nmouth, Me. His ministry there continued seventeen \nyears, though in his last years, on account of his failing \nhealth, he had the assistance of a colleague. He died on \nthe 29th of May, 18 14, and was buried in the cemetery \nadjoining the meeting house in which he had preached \nso long. While at Cambridge, in 1790, he published a \ndiscourse on the subject of Baptism; and, on the nth \nof November in that year, he gave the Right Hand of \nFellowship to the Rev. Thomas Baldwin, on the occasion \nof his installation as pastor of the Second Baptist Church \nin Boston. While at North Yarmouth, Me., he was \nModerator of the Bowdoinham Baptist Association, with \nwhich his church was at first connected, four times, \xe2\x80\x94 in \n\n1798, 1800, 1802; he preached the Introductory Sermon \nbefore that body in 1800, and again in 1808 ; and he was \nthe author of the Circular Letter, published in the Minutes \nof 1798, on the subject of Original Sin. He was also one \nof a committee of seven, appointed by the newly-formed \nCumberland Association, in 181 1, to sign a petition to the \nLegislature of the Commonwealth, for the incorporation \nof a Literary and Theological Institution, in the District \nof Maine, which in due time was established at Water- \nville, and has now become Colby University. In 1798, he \nreceived the honorary degree of A. M. from Brown \nUniversity. Throughout all his ministry he continued \nhis practice of medicine, and so, like his grandfather, he \nwas a "physician for soul and body both." As a medical \npractitioner, he was skillful, active, and successful, "in \ndiligence not slothful ;" and he had, in fullest measure, \nthe confidence of his people. As a gospel minister, he \nexcelled both as a preacher and as a pastor. He was \n\n\n\n62 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nendowed by nature with a commanding personal presence, \na fine voice, one of the sweetest and richest ever heard, \nand intellectual gifts, reason and imagination, sensibility \nand sympathy, taste and judgment, of a high order; and \nthey were all so admirably cultivated and used that, when \nhe spake, men liked to listen, and were moved as he \nwished to move them. In the intercourse of social life, \nhe had such ease and grace, good sense and kindliness, \ndelicacy and courtesy, that his presence was always \nwelcome, his speech attractive, and his influence quick- \nening and elevating; and, in addition to all his other gifts \nand graces, he had the force which comes from a good \nman\'s life and character. In his latter years, he had an \nasthmatic trouble, which made the effort of walking \nalmost suffocating, so that "he was, for a long time, \n\ncarried into the meeting house in a chair, to \n\npreach to the people, who thought his presence alone, \nwas a good part of a good sermon." Such was this Dr. \nGreen, and when, years after his death, I was a student \nin the Academy in that village where he had lived, \nlabored, and died, I found that his name and memory \nwere fresh and fragrant in the church which he had done \nmuch to build up and make strong. Whether he was \never a member of this church or not, I cannot positively \nsay, but certainly his connection with it was not remote.* \nThe church has had two parsonages. The first came \ninto its possession so long ago, and so long before parson- \nages began to be common among our churches, that it \ndeserves especial mention. It was a farm of " thirty-four \nacres more or less," with suitable buildings, situated about \nhalf a mile north of the meeting-house, on the street now \ncalled "Green street." The deed of conveyance was \ngiven by Benjamin Foster and his wife Elizabeth, of \nNewport, R. I., to Samuel Green, Isaac Choate, and \n\n* While these pages have been passing through the press, a new house of \nworship, erected by the church of which Dr. Green was pastor those seven* \nteen years, has been finished and dedicated, and back of the pulpit \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 63 \n\nSamuel Richardson, committee of the Baptist Church and \nSociety, " known by the name of Doct. Thomas Green\'s \nChurch and Society in Leicester," and " to their succes- \n\nthere has been placed a stained glass window, in the centre of which is this \ninscription : \n\n^rectet* fcs Mb gnmtt clifttrren \nftt mentors of \n\njFCrst pastor, \n\nInstalled Jan- tstli, t?97. \n\n& pvmthtv eloquent ants tefthful. \n\n\xc2\xael\\x Ignore* JJftsisfcfcnt. \n\nHe Me& ftelobeft ml* lamented, \n\nM%12 29tft 181^, %e& 52 grsL \n\n"Eo ifbe m fiearts toe leabe fceMn*! \n\nIs not to Me-" \n\nThis inscription is so wrought in the window as to have the effect of a \ngold tablet bordered with jewels. The legend, with which it closes, is \ncopied from the simple inscription on Dr. Green\'s grave-stone, which, \nbesides these words, contains only his name and age. The words of the \nlegend have been spoken of by one of his grand daughters, Mrs. Pike, as "so \nbrave, so full of feeling, they must have been an utterance of his cheerful \nand loving heart." \n\nAll the surviving grandchildren of Dr. Green, Mrs. Mary Hayden (Green) \nPike, Mrs. Emma Sophia (Green) Smith, Mrs. Maria Archibald (Hobbs) \nScott, and Mrs. Mary Green (Jewett) Haskins, have had a part in the erection \nof this memorial window. Mrs. Pike is the daughter of Elijah Dix Green, who \nfor twenty-five years was deacon of the First Baptist Church in Calais, Me., \nand widow of the late Hon. Frederick A. Pike, of Calais, a member of \nCongress eight years, 1861-1869, and deceased December 2d, 1886; Mrs. \nPike is known in the literary world as the author of "Ida May." Mrs. \nSmith is also the daughter of Deacon Elijah Dix Green, and wife of Charles \nHart Smith, of Baltimore, Md. Mrs. Scott is the daughter of Salome \nBarstow Green and George Hobbs of Eastport, Me., and wife of Capt. \nPeter A. Scott, R. N., of Halifax, N. S. Mrs. Haskins is the daughter of \nRebecca Hammand Green and Jesse Jewett, and widow of the late Henry \nHaskins, of Gardner, Me. ; she now resides in Dorchester, Mass. \n\n\n\n64 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\nsors in office for the sole use and benefit of sd \n\nchurch and society forever, so long as grass grows and \nwater runs" ; and it was dated the 23d day of September, \n1785. The consideration named in the deed was "one \n\nhundred and thirty-five pounds lawful silver money \n\npaid by Capt. Jonathan Newhall, Gentleman, and Doct. \nIsaac Green, Physician " ; and the conditions of the con- \nveyance were that " the yearly income of the said premises" \nshould be " appropriated for the maintenance and support of \nRevd. Isaac Beal, Pastor of sd church and society during \nthe term of his ministry, and for all succeeding ministers \npreaching to said church and society, regularly approved \nof by sd church and society." The farm was thus \nused till, leave having been obtained from the General \nCourt, it was sold in 1856, for fifteen hundred dollars, \nwhich sum was invested as a permanent fund, "so as not \nto impair the intention of the original donors." The \npresent parsonage, near the church, was built by subscrip- \ntions, in 1870. \n\nThe church has had a Sunday School since 1821. In \nthat year from ten to twenty persons are known to have \nmet in a school-house not far distant, after the services in \nthe meeting-house, on the Lord\'s Day, for the purpose of \nSunday School instruction. At the approach of cold \nweather, the school was suspended for the winter, as \nwere most Sunday Schools of that time. In its first few \nyears the school was not very promising; but in 1829, a \nstudent from Newton, Mr. Byram Lawrence, spent a few \nweeks here, visited most of the families, and awakened an \ninterest in Sunday School work, such as had never been \nfelt before. The next year, after Rev. John Greene had \nentered on his work, the school increased from twenty-five \nscholars in July to eighty in October, and it was continued \nthrough the winter. The next year, 1831, there were one \nhundred scholars in the school; and in 1834, the number \nrose to one hundred and sixty, the largest number ever \nreported. Since then, according to published reports, th e \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 6$ \n\nnumber of scholars has exceeded one hundred only three \ntimes. In those early years the school had the charm of \nnovelty, but soon that charm faded, "faded into the light of \ncommon day," and for fifty years the school has been \nsustained only by the painstaking and effort of those who \nlove it, and prize its beneficent influence. During the \nlast ten years, the number of scholars connected with the \nschool has averaged eighty-two, with ten teachers, and an \naverage attendance of fifty-five. \n\nIn the benevolent objects of the churches, \xe2\x80\x94 Home and \nForeign Missions, Ministerial Education, and the like, \xe2\x80\x94 \nthe church became interested quite early ; and for a \nchurch of its numbers and pecuniary ability, its known \ncontributions for these objects have not been stinted. \nSince 1821, its reported contributions have averaged \n$53.30 a year ; in the last twenty-five years, the average \nhas been $85.50 ; and in the last twelve years, the \naverage has been $109.60, though in several of these \nearlier and later years reports of contributions are wholly \nlacking. \n\nMore than fifty years ago, the church said in one of its \nletters, "We live in a temperance community"; and it \nhas always been remarkably free from a vice, which once \nwas common, and from which many other churches, " in \nthe good old times," suffered much. \n\nThe church has had its troubles, alienations of feeling, \nneglect of covenant obligations, cases of discipline, and \nthe exclusion of members ; but the records show that \nonly seldom has it suffered from gross offences against \ncommon morality, or from the violation of any of the Ten \nCommandments. \n\nSome incidents in the outward life and fortunes of this \nchurch have now been recounted ; but nothing has been \nsaid of the inner life and experience of the more than six \nhundred and fifty souls, whose names have been enrolled \nin its lists of members, \xe2\x80\x94 would that I could also say, with \nequal confidence, written in the Lamb\'s Book of Life. \n\n\n\n66 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. \n\n\xe2\x96\xa0 This inner experience is veiled and hidden from our sight, \nawaiting the revelations of the Last Day. \n\nThis church has seen four generations of men live and \npass away, and she is living with the fifth. She shows \nhow churches, like towns and states, live on, while \nindividual men and generations come and go like the \nleaves of forest trees, that are renewed and scattered on \nthe ground year by year. She is like the river that flows \nthrough our village, and is flowing still, though for ages \nits waters have been flowing past, hasting away and \nmingling with the waters of the sea. \n\nThis is a little church. It has always been a little \nchurch. It has been one of the least among the thousands \nof our denomination. Daniel Webster said of Dartmouth \nCollege, " It is, as I have said, a small college. And yet \nthere are those who love it." So I may say, this is a \nsmall church, and " yet there are those who love it ". \nThere have been some who have loved it, and prayed for \nit, for a hundred and fifty years. There are some who \nlove it, and pray for it now, with the feeling that cries, \n\n" My soul shall pray for Zion still \nWhile life or breath remains." \n\nAnd there is another who loves it,\' \xe2\x80\x94 he who holds the \nstars in his right hand, who walks among the golden \ncandlesticks, and wears the names of all his churches, and \nof all his saints, of .earliest and of latest time, engraved \nupon his heart. He knows our works. He sees and \nrebukes the evil, and commends the good. He knows \nto exalt the humble arid to abase the proud. He says to \neach, "Be watchful and strengthen the things that \nremain." And of all who walk, as some of this church \nhave walked, in this world, with garments undefiled, he \nsays, " They shall walk with me in white, for they are \nworthy." \n\nMay our observance of this day make it a Red Letter \nDay in the history of the church. May new life, inspira- \ntion, aspiration, and consecration, come to its heart, and \n\n\n\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 6? \n\nbe ever renewed as " the days go on ". May its history \nin all the years to come be an ever fresh illustration of \nwhat the Psalmist said of the righteous, " They shall \nbring forth fruit in old age ." May its banner always be \nthe banner of the Cross, borne aloft and known of all men, \nas that sign, by which the sacramental host of God\'s elect \nshall conquer. And may " Holiness to the Lord " be \nenstamped on the heart and character of all the members \nof this church, and in all their life and conduct may they \nbe ruled by none other motto than this, \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n"For Christ and the Church." \n\n\n\nORIGINAL HYMN. \n\n\n\nAt the close of the historical discourse, the following hymn, written for \nthe occasion by Rev. David F. Estes, of Holden, was sung to the tune of \n"Migdol." \n\n\n\nEach fiftieth year, in Israel\'s land, \nThy people, Lord, kept jubilee ; \n\nThe Trumpets sounded holy joy, \nFrom Eastern desert to the sea. \n\nThrice fifty years behind us lie, \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nOur jubilee we keep to-day ; \nWith praise past mercies we recount, \n\nAnd future blessings humbly pray. \n\nFor all the grace of all these years \nOur songs of gratitude we raise, \n\nFor wisdom, patience, strength and love, \nFor faith, and deed, and hope, we praise. \n\nUnto this church in years to come \nMay all thy gifts continued be, \n\nAnd farther yet thy power extend, \nTill all the earth keep jubilee. \n\nThen to the Father, \xe2\x80\x94 throned in heaven, \nAnd to the Son, \xe2\x80\x94 love\'s gift of love, \n\nAnd to the Spirit, \xe2\x80\x94 Three in One, \xe2\x80\x94 \nBe endless praise, below, above. \n\n\n\nADDRESSES \n\n\n\nDr. Estes, introducing the speakers of the afternoon, \nsaid: "Among the descendants of Dr. Green, whom we \nwelcome here to-day, there is one who has taken a lively \ninterest in this celebration, from its inception. He has \nshown his interest in many ways ; especially by erecting \nthis fine Tablet in memory of his distinguished ancestor, \nand letting us see it unveiled here to-day. To him we will \nnow gladly listen, \xe2\x80\x94 the Hon. Mr. Green, of New York. \n\nADDRESS OF HON. ANDREW HASWELL GREEN. \n\nWe listened this morning with great pleasure and \ninstruction to the story of the foundation and fortunes of \nthis church, from its present learned and much respected \npastor. \n\nOf the Society and of its first minister, so thorough has \nbeen the research of Dr. Estes, and so admirable the \nmode of its presentation, that nothing remains to be said \non those subjects. He has led us back through the past \none hundred and fifty years, and wherever he has reaped, \nthere is little for another to glean. \n\nThe praises of Dr. Thomas Green have been sufficiently \nsounded. To avoid repetition, I will ask you to accompany \nme nearly a century farther into the regions of the past, \nto the times of his remote ancestry in this country. \n\nMore than a quarter of a thousand years ago there \ncame to our shores a lone emigrant. From what part of \nEngland he came, or in what garb, or whether under \n\n\n\n*J2 ADDRESSES. \n\ncontract for service or labor, we know not, and of his \nproportions, his height, weight, or the color of his hair, \nwe are equally ignorant. \n\nHe was synchronous with very active and troublesome \ntimes in England, whose monarch was already framing \nthe timbers for his own scaffold. He doubtless left his \nhome partly on account of a desire for exemption from \nreligious constraints, and perhaps with some curiosity to \nsee what was going on in the new world. He may have \nbidden John Milton farewell at his father\'s law office in \nBread Street, London, or helped " waste a sullen day " \nwith him at his country retreat, at Horton, while he was \ngiving the finishing touches to a mask, Comus, prepara- \ntory to its presentation at Ludlow Castle. He may, too, \nhave visited Shakespeare at Stratford, or applauded his \ndramatic capacities from the pit of some London theatre. \nOf all this we really know but very little ; it is chiefly \nguesswork. But on the other hand this we do know, \nthat our emigrant was named Thomas Green, and that \nhe lived at the same time with the illustrious persons \nwhom I have mentioned. \n\nTo bring the best proof we have of kinship with \nthem, which it must be admitted is not very conclusive, \nI may mention that Benjamin Green was one of the \nsubscribing witnesses to that agreement by which, for \nfive pounds, the great Milton, poet, statesman, scholar, \ntransferred his immortal epic to the printer, Symons. \nAnd this further history affirms, that Thomas Green was \na relative of, and fellow comedian with, William Shake- \nspeare, and that Shakespeare\'s father possessed an estate, \nknown as Green Hill. \n\nCan it be counted strange therefore that all of the \nname of Green should set their faces in determined \nhostility to the insidious attempts of the Wisconsin man, \nwho would deprive our relative, the " divine William," of \nthe glory of the authorship of his own works ? And we \ntake to ourselves this added merit, that with singular \n\n\n\nHON. ANDREW H. GREEN. 73 \n\nforbearance and rare disinterestedness, in this day, we \nmake no claim whatever to the estates, real or personal, \nof these eminent relatives, however great they may have \nbeen, nor do we propose to contest any of the dispositions \nthey may have expressed in their respective last wills or \ntestaments. \n\nIt is scarcely worth while on this occasion, when this \nchurch is uppermost in the mind, to mention other \neminent characters of his time in church and State, in \narms and letters, with whom our emigrant ancestor may \nhave had some intimacy. We republicans care little to \nspeak of kings and princes, but there were then active \nin office, Bacon, Dr. South, Cromwell, Laud, Edmund \nSpenser, Hooker and Ben. Johnson. \n\nWhen the first Thomas Green set foot on this conti- \nnent, Roger Williams was already here, then enjoying the \nsociety of his afterward persecutors. The same Williams, \nwhose life and services have been so well and so sympa- \nthizingly recounted by that able historian and distin- \nguished citizen of Rhode Island, my earliest friend, the \nlate Honorable Samuel Greene Arnold, whose near \nrelatives honor this occasion with their presence, side by \nside with collateral relatives of that apostle of liberty, who \nfounded a government on the fundamental principle that \nthe civil power should have no control over the conscience, \nand also by the side of the worthy sons of that other of \nthe same name, the Reverend William R. Williams, the \nmost distinguished of the denomination of which he was \nalike the ornament and exemplar. \n\nOur immigrant and his descendants dwelt in this \ncommonwealth, along the shores of the sea, for nearly a \nfull century. We find him and them in Maiden in 1650, \nand cannot say that we know very much about them. \nThey probably led the average life of the period, \nwhich, though somewhat dull and monotonous, was \noccasionally enlivened by the scream of the war-whoop, \nand the gleam of the scalping knife. Those differences \n\n\n\n74 ADDRESSES. \n\nbetween the Puritans, the Pilgrims, and the Baptists had \nbegun to crop out, which culminated in the founding of \nRhode Island. \n\nIn 1717, a grandson of our immigrant, Captain Samuel \nGreen, started with his only son for the high and pic- \nturesque lands of the interior, making his way through \nthe wilderness of the forests and taking his chances of \naboriginal hospitalities. As were the Lambs, the Lyndes, \nthe Dennys, Kings, Clarks, Soutbgates, Earles and Hen- \nshaws, so was he one of the early settlers of this ancient \nand beautiful town, of Leicester, originally known as Straw- \nberry Hill, as he was also an original proprietor of the \nneighboring town of Hardwick. The house just over the \nlittle river that tumbles along in the rear of this edifice, \nwas built by him as a garrison, where the settlers could \ngather in defense against the savages. \n\nHere on the banks of this river which turned his father\'s \nmill, settled and lived the son, Thomas Green, the \nfounder and pastor of this church. He was alike clergy- \nman and physician, practising both professions with \ngeneral approval and satisfaction. On Sunday he preached \non this spot, while at his home across the way the pot \nwas kept boiling, to supply the needed sustenance to the \nlittle flock who came from all directions to attend upon \nhis ministrations. Here he set the candlestick, and may \nhe perish who would with sacrilegious hand extinguish its \nlight. \n\nSkilled in the medical art, travelling far, for those days, \nhe became celebrated in that noble profession of healing, \nwhich is worthy, in its worthy members, of the highest \nesteem, honor and reward. Here he lived, here he died, \nrevered and respected, at the age of seventy-four, having \nministered in this place for thirty-eight years. Among \nhis descendants not a few have become eminent in both \nthe professions that he united in his person. \n\nThe air is just now full of politics, and important ques- \ntions are justly claiming public attention, but this is not \n\n\n\nHON. ANDREW H. GREEN. 75 \n\nthe place for their discussion. Looking, however, through \nthe simple annals of this settlement, I can but be struck \nwith the truth of what has often been said, that things \nmove in a circle, each epoch repeating itself in some \nother period, not always in equal extent and importance, \nbut the same in substance and principle. \n\nIn the days of which we have been speaking, there was, \nit is true, no occasion for an assembly of wise men to \ncudgel their brains, month after month, to find a way to \nbe rid of surplus moneys in the treasury, when we have \nthousands of miles of unfortified coasts, millions of \nuneducated citizens, and no end of unimproved channels \nof communication. That occupation may be deemed \npeculiar to this age, and not likely to occur with frequency. \n\nIn the colonial days the mother country imposed duties \nand restrictions on trade that kept manufacturers within \nher own borders. We hope that she finds no agencies in \nour day that would aid her to bring about similar results. \n\nBut take the question of immigration, which is now \nbrought to the front, and of which our respected fore- \nfather was an example. Suppose immigration had been \nforbidden a couple of hundred years ago, where should we \nall be? Who but savages would occupy Greenville, and \nwhat but bears and wolves the beautiful hills of Leicester ? \nShall we prohibit the stranger coming to this land ? \nThat is what the Indians would have done. It is simply \nbut a proposition to repeat what was and is made a criti- \ncism of the Puritan, that he began very early to send \naway those who did not agree with him in his religious \nviews, and in their relations to the civil government. \n\nAlready, in our day, the enforced return of poor immi- \ngrants who have just lifted their eyes upon the promised \nland, has been the occasion of hardship and cruelty. It \nwould be interesting to know from those who propose to \nrestrict immigration, to whom they would commit the \ndelicate duty of determining who shall come and who shall \nbe stayed. Shall it be to some obscure consul, whose only \n\n\n\ny6 ADDRESSES. \n\nqualification for his office lies in the service he has ren- \ndered in magnifying the power that appoints him ? Is the \ninquisitorial power of determining upon the social and \nmoral fitness of those who shall be permitted to come to this \nland of freedom, to be left to an arbitrament of this sort? \n\nIn this day of progress and enlightenment, when the \nocean is fairly corrugated with the tracks of multiplied \nsteamers, bringing thousands to this land of their hopes, \nwhen railways innumerable are inviting them to the fertile \nunoccupied millions of acres of our domain, is it possible, \nif it were desirable, to stay the voluntary movements of \nthe race ? \n\nRather, say I, let men and women go where they please, \nand stay as long as they please on the face of the earth, \nwhile they submit themselves to the laws, and strive \nto maintain those moral, economical and social standards \nupon which the permanency of our institutions depend. \n\nEven the great fishery question, which is just now being \nmade the basis of a policy of retaliation and unfriendliness \ntoward our neighbors, had its counterpart in the pre- \nmature times of this little village. \n\nIt is related that an early settler, whose name is said to \nhave been Green, possessor of a small lake in this region, \nprobably at what was called "Wolf Pit Swamp," being much \ndissatisfied with the Boston traders by reason of the high \nprice they put upon their salt fish, inaugurated, or threat- \nened to inaugurate, a policy of retaliation, much to the \nsatisfaction of his worthy neighbors who also wanted fish. \nWhereupon he proposed to import a sufficient quantity of \nsalt to make a brine of his lake, and raise salt fish right \nhere at home, unless the Boston sharks would deal with \nhim on more reasonable terms. \n\nDoubtless his threatened policy of retaliation soon \nbrought the Boston merchants to their senses. A striking \ninstance is this of the advantages that may accrue from \ndisturbing friendly relations with neighbors. \n\nWould it not be somewhat more consonant with the \n\n\n\nHON. ANDREW H. GREEN. 7/ \n\nspirit of this age, instead of nursing for political purposes \na policy of retaliation, to avoid all occasions of needless \nirritation that do so much to disturb business affairs ? \nRather let us cultivate friendly relations with all peoples, \nand do what we may to hasten the day when a nation \nshall be something more and better than a mere camp of \narmed soldiers. \n\n" One generation passeth away, and another generation \ncometh : . . . . The thing that hath been, it is that which \nshall be ; and that which is done is that which shall be \ndone: and there is no new thing under the sun." \n\nThus it appears that events do repeat themselves in \ndifferent eras and upon different stages, and lest the too \nfrequent spectacle of one having but little to say, and \nwanting in that rare perception that teaches when to stop, \nshould occur at this juncture, I will at once apply the \nbrakes, not however till I have joined in high hopes and \ngood wishes for the prosperity of this interesting com- \nmunity, and for the peace and permanent usefulness of \nthe little sanctuary which it has so long maintained. \n\n\n\n78 ADDRESSES. \n\nDr. Estes : \xe2\x80\x94 Another of the honored decendants of \nDr. Green, here present, is widely known as one of the \nmost eminent librarians in the country. He has won this \ndistinction by his work in connection with the Free Public \nLibrary of Worcester. He has been deeply interested in \nthis celebration from the first. We listened to him for a \nfew moments this morning, but we wish to hear him speak \nagain, and more at length, \xe2\x80\x94 Mr. Samuel S. Green, of \nWorcester. \n\nADDRESS OF SAMUEL SWETT GREEN, A. M. \n\nAs I stood, not long ago, on an elevation behind the \nmansion on Green Hill, Worcester, looking at the differ- \nent villages that were in sight, I glanced towards the south \nand, seeing before me the spire and buildings on Leicester \nHill, could not help thinking that Thomas Green, when \nhe brought his son, the first Dr. John Green, to Worcester, \nat the age of about twenty-one years, selected Green Hill \nfor his residence, in order that his native town might \nalways be in sight from a spot near his house, and that \nthe recollections of his home might continually call to \nmind the lessons in right living he had there received. \nThe existing house is a pleasant reminder of the original \ndwelling occupied by John Green the first. With a fitting \nreverence for antiquity, when changed requirements called \nfor a larger house, the present proprietor, Mr. Andrew H. \nGreen, instead of pulling down the old house, cut it in two, \nand moving one portion back, built a stately mansion \nbetween the two halves of the old house. You enter a \nhall with a low ceiling and passing through a portion of \nthe old house, go into the lofty hall and large decorated \nrooms of an elegant modern dwelling, and, going through \nthese apartments, pass again into the rear of the old \nhouse. \n\n\n\nSAMUEL S. GREEN. 79 \n\nIn front of the dwelling stands a venerable locust tree, \nwhich, tradition avers, grew from a whip-switch given to \nthe first Dr. John Green, in Leicester, and planted by him \nin front of his house. The giver is said to have been the \nwealthy and hospitable Aaron Lopez, whose advent in \nLeicester and life here, and whose sad and peculiar death, \nadd picturesqueness to the revolutionary period of the \nhistory of the town. \n\nAs I rode up to Leicester with my father, a few years \nsince, to take part in the one hundred and fiftieth anni- \nversary of the settlement of the place, he gave me another \nreason for the selection of Green Hill as the residence of \nthe first Dr. John Green. He told me that the tradition \nwas that Thomas Green placed his son on Green Hill \nbecause there he would be far away from taverns and \ntheir temptations. When the character of John Green \nis considered, the precaution seems to have been unneces- \nsary, although the alleged care for his son by Thomas \nGreen is admirable. \n\nI like to think of Thomas Green as the brave pioneer, \nas the doctor-preacher, and as the itinerant physician. I \nfeel a great respect for the courageous men who, in the \ndays of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, and in the earlier \ndays of the Province of Massachusetts, bravely faced \nprivations, and dangers from wild animals and the equally \nwild Indian, and took up their residence in frontier towns. \n\nMany of the ministers and other professional men who \ncame to Massachusetts Bay colony at the time of its \nsettlement, had studied medicine in anticipation of the \nneed of physicians in the new plantations. In some \nstudies which I made regarding early church history \nin the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, it became \nevident to me that the first Pilgrim doctor, Doctor Fuller, \nwhile he failed (when he went to Dorchester, Mattapan, \nand let the blood of twenty patients) to convince Rev. Mr. \nWarham of the correctness of his views regarding the \ntrue constitution of a church, yet exerted considerable \n\n\n\n8o ADDRESSES. \n\ninfluence in favor of the congregational order of eccles- \niastical government by presenting the arguments for it to \nGovernors Endicott and Winthrop. \n\nJohn Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts \nBay colony, had a useful knowledge of medicine, and \nJohn Winthrop, the governor of Connecticut, was quite \nfamous for his knowledge of medicine as practised in his \nday. Charles Chauncey and Leonard Hoare, two presi- \ndents of Harvard College, and several children of Chaun- \ncey, were clergymen and doctors at the same time. The \n"angelical conjunction," as Cotton Mather quaintly styled \nthe union of the two latter professions, was common \nin early times among us. \n\nDr. Thomas Green lived in the time of the two \nMathers, Increase and Cotton, and like them engaged at \nthe same time in the duties of two professions. \n\nAn interesting relic of the times of Thomas Green may \nbe seen in the museum on Green Hill. It is a pot in \nwhich beans were stewed in his house to serve as a meal \nbetween services on Sunday to parishioners whose homes \nwere distant. \n\nIt reminds us of those little houses that were sometimes \nbuilt near churches to serve as places of rest and refresh- \nment at noon on Sunday. \n\nIn Greenville, Thomas Green\'s own house seems to \nhave been open to worshipers from a distance for shelter \nand food during their nooning. \n\nIn the library of the American Antiquarian Society in \nWorcester is an unpublished manuscript of a medical \ntreatise by Cotton Mather, which gives information of \nthe most interesting kind regarding the remedies in use \nin his day and the time of Thomas Green. It is entitled \nThe Angel of Bethesda. Many extracts were made from \nthis manuscript by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, for a \nlecture which he delivered several years ago at the Lowell \nInstitute, Boston, under the auspices of the Massachusetts \nHistorical Society. \n\n\n\nSAMUEL S. GREEN. 8 1 \n\nRobert Southey, in that inimitable piece of literary \nwork known as The Doctor, introduces in one of the \nchapters a character whom he styles Dr. Green, and who, \nlike Thomas Green, acted the part of an itinerant doctor. \n\nThe Doctor Green of the story, like judges on circuit, \nor like Methodist clergymen in sparsely settled portions \nof our country, went from place to place to give advice \nand attend to patients. He is represented as a good \nphysician and as one whose services were valuable. How \nimportant must have been the services of Thomas Green \nas he went from town to town in Massachusetts, and to \ntowns in New Hampshire and Connecticut, from Leicester \nas a centre, and ministered to wants only commonly \nsupplied by the advice and remedies of old women of both \nsexes, or by traveling quacks. \n\nThe skilful physician went from town to town, and as he \nhealed the body of a patient, comforted him in his trouble, \nor gently stimulated him to correct living. \n\nThey were giants in the days of Thomas Green. Tradi- \ntion tells us that the early members of our family of \nGreens had to stoop as they passed under the lintel of the \nfront door of an old fashioned house. When the bones of \nSamuel and Thomas Green were disinterred from the \nburial ground here and transported to their present resting \nplace in the Rural cemetery in Worcester, it was noticed \nthat they were of very unusual size. \n\nLet me pause here to say that it seems to me that the \nremains of those distinguished residents of Greenville \nshould be brought back to their original burial place near \nthis church. \n\nIt is said that one of the exciting and interesting \nspectacles in Worcester in the time of my grandfather, the \nsecond Dr. John Green, was the sight of that worthy man \nas, tall of stature and mounted on his horse, with saddle- \nbags behind him, he galloped along Main street followed \nby a pack of hounds to visit his patients. \n\n\n\n82 ADDRESSES. \n\nTradition states that on the occasion of one of his visits \nat the house of Governor Lincoln, one of the accompany- \ning dogs seized a piece of meat that was roasting on the \nspit and made off with it. His master chased him, but I \nhave always understood that he did not recover the stolen \njoint. \n\nGovernor Washburn, in his history of Leicester, says \nthat the family of Greens was the most numerous of the \nfamilies in this town. But even at the time when he \nwrote, few only bearing the name remained here. The \ndescendants of Thomas Green are scattered over the land. \nThey would send you greeting to day if they knew of this \ncelebration. Can we not send them a printed record of \nour proceedings ? In many places members of the family \nhave made themselves a distinguished place ; generally \nthey have been useful citizens. Wherever the descend- \nants of Thomas Green are to be found, some members of \nthe family undoubtedly remember with interest the home \nand the virtues of their ancestors. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nREV. LEIGHTON WILLIAMS. 83 \n\nDr. Estes : \xe2\x80\x94 Of these gentlemen who have now \naddressed us, the former had among his friends for many- \nyears, the late William R. Williams, D. D., than whose \nname none has been more honored, in our own, or any \nother christian body of the land. At one of our great \nnational anniversaries, I once heard it said at the election \nof its officers, " There is but one William R. Williams." \nIt was a deserved tribute to his great ability, his sound \njudgment, his singular wisdom as a counsellor, his vast \nlearning, and his marvellous grace of diction, such that \nwhile we speak of Milton\'s " cloth of gold/\' Macaulay\'s, \n" Tyrian purple," and Channing\'s "vesture of light," \nwe may fitly speak of Dr. William\'s " grace abounding" in \nhis speech, as if St. Paul had said to him alone, " Let \nyour speech be always with grace." He has passed away, \nbut he has left a successor, a son who, like himself, was \nfirst a lawyer, and then a preacher and pastor of the \nAmity Church. I am glad that he is here present, and \nthat we can listen to him to-day; the Rev. Leigh ton \nWilliams, of New York. \n\nADDRESS OF REV. LEIGHTON WILLIAMS. \n\nMr. President and Christian Friends : \n\nIt is a privilege which I highly appreciate to participate \nwith you in this commemorative service, an honor to be \ninvited to address you on such an occasion. I am at a \nloss to know to what I owe it, other than that I am a \nfriend of the distinguished member of this distinguished \nfamily who first addressed you this afternoon, and that I \nam a son and a grandson of men who were ministers of \nthe same faith and order as this church. \n\n\n\n84 ADDRESSES. \n\nI have listened, sir, with the keenest interest to the \nbrief but comprehensive and admirable account which you \nhave given us of the history of this church. And as I \nhave listened, I have more clearly understood what was at \nfirst to me a marvel, the continued history of this church \nthrough one hundred and fifty years of unbroken exist- \nence. In our country the one hundred and fiftieth anni- \nversary of any organization is noteworthy, but when I \nlearned that at no period of its history had this church \nnumbered more than eighty .members, and had been \nreduced at another time to twelve members, yet had never \nceased to exist, but had maintained its regular succession \nof services, rarely been without a pastor and never \nwithout a home, it appeared to me marvellous. Back of \nthe fewness, and the feebleness of the outward appear- \nances, had been the unfailing supplies of divine grace to \nfeed the flame and hold the candlestick unshaken in its \nplace, and the question arose to my mind, why has this \nchurch been thus richly blessed ? \n\nBut, sir, as I listened to your narrative of its history, \nsimple as that narrative was, devoid of eulogy and scanty \nof comment, I gleaned from the statement a fact here \nand a fact there, till there grew in my mind a picture of \nthe faith that founded and the faith that has maintained \nthis church, and I understood at length the secret of its \nvitality and strength. \n\nI learned, sir, that it had always been a missionary \nchurch, yielding no grudging share of its own slender \nresources to the calls of those yet more needy, and I \nrecognized a brilliant illustration of the promise that \nthose that water others, shall themselves be watered. \n\nI marked, sir, the consistent fidelity of the church to \nthe cardinal principle of our denominational polity, the \nindependence of the local church and its protest against \nany usurpation of power on the part of the association of \nsister churches, a protest involving at times, doubtless, no \ninconsiderable sacrifice on the part of a church not rich \n\n\n\nREV. LEIGHTON WILLIAMS. 85 \n\nas the world estimates riches, and a fidelity difficult to \nmaintain against the allurement of proffered aid and \nsupport, and as I marked this unwavering steadfastness to \nprinciple through a long cycle of years, I heard the \nvoice of that unseen one who walks among the golden \ncandlesticks, saying, " Because thou hast kept the word of \nmy patience, I also will keep thee." \n\nNot that before an audience numbering many of the \ndiffering branches of the one universal church drawn here \nto rejoice with us, it would be seemly to boast of those \ndistinctive principles of our denomination in which we \ndiffer from them. To none is it given to see truth in its \nentirety and we make no claim to infallibility ; but to the \ntruth, as each of us sees it, it is our duty to hold fast, and \nso this church has done, and has been blessed in doing. \n\nAs we glance back to-day over the roll of those who \nhave served this church from the honored present pastor \nto him who first founded it, through the long vista of the \nintervening years, no name shines with a higher lustre \nthan that of him who gave to it its beginning. And rec- \nognizing the truth of the saying that grace made the \nheroes of the christian church what they were, not found \nthem so, we rejoice and thank God for what Thomas \nGreen was and for what he accomplished, for to Him who \nendued His servant with such excellent grace, and sent \nhim forth, our thanks are chiefly due. \n\nSingular it seems, that we who knew him not, a hundred \nyears or more after he had passed from the earth, should \ngather to do honor to his name. What great thing did \nthis man do that generations then unborn rise up and call \nhim blessed ? What exalted positions did he fill? He \nwas a country doctor, and pastor of a village church \nin the wilderness. Do these words seem to you ill \nchosen ? I hope not justly so, for in the contrast between \nthe humble stations, as men view them, which he filled, \nand the memory that he has left, is the great interest \nand lesson of his life to us. \n\n\n\n86 ADDRESSES. \n\nWhat a pleasing picture of him is that which is pre- \nserved for us in the diary of Dr. Backus, the historian of \nour denomination in these New England states. The \nphysician, devoted to a large practice through a wide \ndistrict, and surrounded by students ; the man of business, \noccupied constantly with a multiplicity of affairs demand- \ning accurate and minute attention, \xe2\x80\x94 yet not so absorbed \nin the matters of this world as to give little thought to \nthose of the world beyond, \xe2\x80\x94 nay, pre-eminently the \npreacher of that kingdom to come; a pilgrim here, seek- \ning a better country, that is a heavenly, hereafter. \n\nThomas Green was not unmindful of present duty, not \n" slothful in business " \xe2\x80\x94 an idle dreamer in the world\'s busy \nmart ; but above the concerns of earth, he held those of \nheaven, and though, for the time, he tarried and bartered \nin Vanity Fair, he never mistook its tinsel and glitter for \nthe jeweled walls of the Celestial City. \n\nAs we review at this distant day, the story of his simple \nlife, there is something especially interesting to us in the \nunion in him of the medical and ministerial professions. \nThe christian world is much agitated at the present junct- \nure with the question of medical missions, and much is \nsaid of the work and the worth of the medical missionary. \nWe deem ourselves to have, as it were, discovered anew \nin our day, the natural, appropriate connection between \nthe works of healing the sick and preaching the gospel, \nand quote the example of the Master and His disciples no \nless as our warrant for uniting them, than as the condem- \nnation of our fathers in suffering them so long to be \ndivorced. But by Thomas Green, and such as he, we find \nourselves forestalled, and our fancied invention in antique \noperation. And thus we discover a new lustre, throwing \na halo, as it were, about the prosaic pursuits and unpre- \ntending figure of the village doctor of a century and a half \nago, unknown to himself, unsuspected by those about him. \nAs the planets reflect back a portion of the light they \nreceive from the sun, and thus, unconsciously, shine in his \n\n\n\nREV. LEIGHTON WILLIAMS. 87 \n\nreflected glory and give light to others, so does such a \ncharacter reflecting the likeness of the Master, shine with \na glory of which he is himself unconscious. \n\nIt was a striking example of the perpetuation of \ninfluence, that to which our attention was called by the \ngentleman who immediately preceded me upon this plat- \nform, himself an honored representative of this honored \nline : namely, that the medical profession had been \nrepresented in every generation since that of Thomas \nGreen, and that the two professions had been again united \nin the person of Dr. Samuel F. Green, so long a devoted \nmissionary in Ceylon. Truly this ancestral lustre, like \nthe glory of the setting sun flashing from peak to peak, \nhas illumined a long and noble succession. \n\nNor have the descendants of Thomas Green been distin- \nguished in the ministerial or medical professions solely or \nchiefly. The wide and influential work accomplished in \nthe field of education by two ladies of his family, sisters \nof the honorable gentleman who first addressed us this \nafternoon, and who are themselves present with us to-day, \ncalls for special mention. Allusion has been made to the \neducational labors of Thomas Green, so remarkable at that \nearly day, in fitting upwards of one hundred young men \nfor the medical profession. The work of the Misses \nGreen in New York, a was carried through a longer num- \nber of years, and during the period of their conduct of it, \ntheir school for young ladies graduated something like \nten times that number. When we think of the influence \nof the mother and wife in the formation of character, the \nvast importance of female education conducted on a sound \nmoral and religious basis must be fully admitted, and the \nwork accomplished by such schools as theirs is not to be \nlightly estimated. \n\nBut Thomas Green\'s highest claim to our remembrance \nis as a soldier of the cross of Christ, and the weapons of \n\na Miss Lucy Merriam Green, and Mrs. Mary Ruggles (Green) Knudsen. \n\n\n\n88 ADDRESSES. \n\nhis warfare, though not carnal but spiritual, were mighty \nto the pulling down of strongholds and to the establish- \nment of his Master\'s kingdom. The profound utterance \nof the first Napoleon is familiar, doubtless, to many of \nyou : that that Kingdom differs from every other in that \nits basal principle is not force but love. So, also, is it true \nthat each warrior of that Kingdom conquers by the power \nof love. Not by force and fear, but by love and persuasion \ndid Thomas Green win new trophies for his Master\'s \ncrown. And who can resist that power and justify his \ncontinued rebellion ? For those who remain unconvinced \nby arguments addressed to the reason there may be \nexcuses, but what shall be said of him who fights against \nlove ? Is it not to convict himself, to judge himself \nunworthy ? \n\nWisely, therefore, did Thomas Green choose the instru- \nments of his warfare, not from the arsenal of controversy, \nbut from the abundance of charity. Of his success we \nare ourselves, even at this remote period, the witnesses, \nand well may we envy the honorable reputation which has \nsurvived five generations of mortal men. Such renown \nappeared to George Eliot the highest goal of human \nachievement. If so, let Thomas Green teach us how, in \nthe simple ways of life and in the due performance of \nordinary affairs, it may be won. We come here to-day to \nrear a brazen tablet to the name and fame of one we never \nsaw, \xe2\x80\x94 whom our fathers saw not, \xe2\x80\x94 a country physician \nand a village clergyman, the fragrance of whose memory \nwe would thus commend to those who shall come after us. \nBut the pagan historian Tacitus reminds us, in one of \nthe loftiest passages to be found in classical literature, the \nclose of his eloquent, tender portraiture of his father-in-law \nAgricola, that brass is not the noblest nor the most lasting \nmonument which we can rear. These are his words, if I \nrightly recollect them, \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" I urge upon the wife and daughter that they should so venerate the \nmemory of the husband and father, that all his deeds and words they ponder \n\n\n\nREV. LEIGHTON WILLIAMS. 89 \n\nover, and cherish the form and figure of the mind rather than of the body. \nNot that I judge that images formed of brass or of marble are to be inter- \ndicted, but as the features of men are perishable and mortal, so also are the \nsemblances of them, while the form of the mind is eternal. And this is to \nbe preserved and set forth, not by means of an alien material and art, but in \none\'s own conduct." \n\nBut rejoicing as we do in a brighter and clearer hope \nthan that permitted to the pagan historian, we look for a \nbetter immortality than that of influence, and while echo- \ning the same desire to transmit to those who come after \nus the escutcheon and the inheritance bequeathed to us \nby these heroes of the past, untarnished and unwasted, \nwe know that their reward rests on a surer and a more \nenduring basis, even the faithfulness of their Master and \nours ; as the welcome plaudit falls on the ear of each, \n" Well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the \njoy of thy Lord." Such, we doubt not, has \'been the \nirreversible verdict on the work of Thomas Green. Well \nand worthily has he wrought ; well for his Master, well for \nhis country, well for his family, and, therefore, well for \nhimself. God grant us grace, each and all, to fulfill our \ncourse as valiantly, and at length to share the same \nblessed reward. \n\n\n\n90 ADDRESSES. \n\nDr. Estes : \xe2\x80\x94 I had expected that Dr. Marshall, who \nfor fourteen years was pastor of the largest church in \nour Association, the First Church, in Worcester, would \nbe with us to-day, and speak for the Association with \nwhich, from its origin more than sixty years ago, his church \nand ours have been connected, \xe2\x80\x94 but we are disappointed. \nWhen he was informed some weeks ago that we were to \nobserve this anniversary, he sent a word of congratulation \non the age to which the church had attained, and said that \nhe would gladly be with us if he could. His engagement, \ntherefore, was not absolute, and his absence is no violation \nof a promise; but I regret it much. \n\nIt was also our wish that some minister who has been \nraised up in the church, licensed by it, and sent forth into \nthe field that has need of reapers, might be here to speak \nto-day ; but, so far as we know, none such are now living. \nThere is, however, one present who was once a member \nof our Sunday School, who is a son of the present \npastor, and who, for this two-fold reason, may be regarded \nas a son of the church. We will hear from him, the \npastor of the church in Holden. \n\nADDRESS OF REV. DAVID FOSTER ESTES. \n\nMr. President : My part in these exercises is peculiar. \nOthers represent the honored family, which shares the \nmemories of the day ; others speak for neighboring \nchurches ; I alone may claim towards this church a filial \nrelation. Having been taught in the Sunday School and \nin the other services of the church, I may count myself a \nson of the church, while at the same time I represent a \nchurch which owes much in its origin to this ancient \n\n\n\nREV. DAVID F. ESTES. 9 1 \n\nbody. As a son, returning to the old home, something of \nreminiscence may perhaps be pardoned me. More than \ntwenty-eight years have passed since I first came here. \nThough earlier recollections of home and of school, of \nplay and of books, abound, yet my recollections of church \nand of Sunday School substantially, if not absolutely, \nbegin here. Place, seats, surroundings, persons, my own \nfirst religious emotions, come freshly before me now with \nthe vividness of boyhood\'s impressions. And it is by a \nwinding road, by a strange network of Providences, that \nI come back to sit with you, fathers and brethren, at this \nfeast of memory to-day. The ocean of circumstance \nseems shoreless, tideless, currentless, as we toss hither \nand thither upon it. Yet in it are gulf streams which \nbring us the gracious warmth of God\'s tropics, there are \npolar currents which chill us as they seize us, but bear us \nbodily to the place of his nearer and brighter shining. \nI was anchored far from here, after many a voyage to and \nfro. By ordering as strange as wise, after three homes in \nthree states, my father, your pastor, found his home \nagain among you. Through that link of events I \nhappened, as men count hap, \xe2\x80\x94 being brought into the \nneighborhood, \xe2\x80\x94 to be invited to work in the sister town \nand daughter church of Holden. \n\nThe relations of these towns and churches seem diffi- \ncult and distant. To come here to-day I have climbed up \nand down the hills of three townships. Yet my father\'s \nresearches have uncovered, as you have heard to-day, a \nchain of connection, long covered with the dust of a \ncentury, and forgotten. Mousing among the records of \nthe Holden church, I have been struck with the Minerva- \nlike birth of the church. The body seemed strong from \nthe beginning. In 1804 the Holden interest was a branch \nof the Templeton, now Baldwinville Church, with more \nthan a score of members, and was served by its pastor. \nIn 1807 it set up housekeeping for itself with about fifty \nmembers. I was puzzled to understand this harvest, \n\n\n\n92 ADDRESSES. \n\ngathered seemingly without sowing. The story of the \nconversion of one of the original deacons I heard. It \nwas by means of the preaching of a certain brother Paul, \na colored man and minister from Boston. Yet such \ninfluences, known and unknown, seemed insufficient. \nWhence this harvest ? \n\nOn a July day, 1786, at the hands of Isaac Beall, the \npastor of this little church, two young men of Princeton, \nliving near the Holden line, Abel Woods and Sylvanus \nHaynes, were there buried with Christ in Baptism, and \nenrolled among the members of this flock. They were \ntoilers and combatants for the truth, and to their influence \nis due, to an extent we cannot now trace, the establishment \nof the Baptists in that region. The church in Holden \nwas not formed for twenty years, but these young work- \nmen helped to prepare the material for it, \xe2\x80\x94 Davids to \nmake ready for the spiritual temple another should rear. \n\nBut the church in Holden does not abide alone. The \nchurch in West Boylston is a direct offshoot. The \nchurch in Princeton, later formed in part at least from its \nmembership, though now extinct, was a mother of \nchurches. Leominster, Fitchburg, and others still, in \nways that we can and cannot trace, owe much to the \nfostering care of the Princeton church, thus owe much \nindirectly to your members, your pastor, your influence. \n\nBut the circle widens as we watch, like the ever \nenlarging circles of the placid pool. These young \nPrinceton disciples became ministers of the gospel, and \nestablished churches far and wide. And further yet we \nmay watch for influence. When Abel Woods related his \nChristian experience in the barn in Princeton, before \ngoing to the baptismal stream, a younger brother of his \nclimbed on one of the beams and listened to his brother\'s \nstory. He later became the honored Dr. Leonard \nWoods of Andover, an eminent professor of theology, \na stalwart champion of orthodoxy, "emphatically the \n\'judicious\' Divine of New England Theology". What \n\n\n\n&EV. DAVID F. ESTES. 93 \n\ninfluence Abel Woods had upon his brother Leonard \nWoods, it is impossible to know. But who doubts that it \nwas strong and helpful ? \n\nDoes not this remind us of the vast extent of human \ninfluence ? Out from every soul, out from every life, runs \npower, power to draw, to mould, to make. Still more \nfrom every church goes out power in endless ramifications. \nFrom a single center may go out influences to the world\'s \nend. A few years ago a volcano belched forth clouds of \ndust. Farther and farther yet they streamed, filling the \nupper air, and painting the sunset sky with unknown \nbeauty of carmine tints. From a single spot of earth \nmay proceed moral power which shall likewise encircle \nthe globe, and paint the train of the Sun of Righteous- \nness with beauty hitherto unknown. From the little \ntown of Holden eleven missionaries of the cross have \ngone forth to their work. Who can compute their power? \n\nAnd spiritual power is imperishable. The "red \nsunsets" have faded. The volcanic dust has ceased to \nshine. Sometime earth itself shall be changed, the \nelements melt with fervent heat, the heavens be rolled \ntogether as a scroll. But moral and spiritual influence \nshall still endure. Church work is not for time but for \neternity. Slaves in diamond mines toilsomely search for \nstones whose beauty they shall never see, but which shall \nshine resplendent on the brow of a king. We are slaves \nof Christ (the name is not mine but Paul\'s), and we \nsearch out diamonds for the brow of our king whom we \nshall see in his beauty. Think you not that in the three \nJubilee periods which have passed, many have been \nfound by Christ\'s servants, who shall be his when he shall \nmake up his jewels ? \n\nWhen time is done, and earth is gone, and \n\n" The sun grows cold \nAnd the stars are old, \nAnd the leaves of the judgment book unfold," \n\nthen shall begin to be manifest the imperishability of all \n\n\n\n94 ADDRESSES. \n\ntrue Christian work. Then shall be tested the work, and \nall that has been ill built, shall perish at the test, and the \nwell built shall endure. That this church has seen its \none hundred and fiftieth year completed, testifies to me, \nthat upon the one foundation Christ Jesus, faithful \nworkers have built, not of wood, hay, and stubble, but of \ngol 1, silver, and precious stones. Verily they shall \nrejoice in their work, and shall also according to the \npromise receive a reward. \n\nThere is another promise whose verification our eyes \nbehold. "These things saith he that is holy, he that is \ntrue, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and \nno man shutteth ; and shuttcth and no man openeth ; I \nknow thy works : behold, I have set before thee an open \ndoor, and no man can shut it : for thou hast a little \nstrength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my \nname." Could more appropriate words be written to the \nangel of the church in Greenville ? Do they not sum up \nthe whole story of the century and a half ? A little power, \nunvarying faithfulness, an open door. Circumstances \nhave kept its numbers small, and yet, though its \npower has never been great, it has always had at least \n"a little strength." It has through all these generations \nkept the faith and has not denied the name of Christ. \nBefore it has always stood an open door of privilege and \nof opportunity. Before it still stands, and none can shut, \nthe door divinely opened. Privilege, enjoyment, attain- \nment, peace, virtue, character, Christlikeness, these \nstill stand invitingly near. Opportunity and activity \nopen still. Here is a community singularly compact and \nharmonious, still a field for Christian service, conflict, \nachievement, victory. God grant that every jubilee may \nfind this old church still faithful and still active, until the \nangelic trumpets shall sound the universal jubilee ! \n\nFrom the history of this church I learn a lesson of \npromise and hope for the church universal. The fire \nburning unquenchably in spite of water cast upon it, \n\n\n\nREV. DAVID F. ESTES. 95 \n\nmight have been used by the immortal dreamer as a \nsymbol of the church as well as of the work of grace in \nthe single soul. "The gates of hell shall not prevail \nagainst it". It shall endure, it shall prosper, it shall \nconquer, it shall be crowned at last. \n\nThere come back to me to-day two special memories of \nmy life in this church. The first hymn which made a \nplace for itself in my mind, was the hymn beginning \n\n" Saviour, visit thy Plantation ! " \n\nOne evening in particular a number had tarried after \nthe evening meeting, as those interested will often linger. \nAt last a movement was made to separate. But first he \nwho was then the pastor as he is now, said, "Let us sing \nCoronation ", and voices you still may hear, with voices \nthat sing in heaven to-day, rolled out the measures of the \ndeathless hymn, wedded to deathless music, \n\n" All hail the power of Jesus\' name ! " \n\nTo these hymns my thoughts set themselves to-day, to \nprayer for continued prosperity for this dear old church, \n"Saviour, visit thy plantation!" and to praise, which, \neven if unworthy, shall yet be unending. \n\n" Oh, that with yonder sacred throng, \n\nWe at his feet may fall ! \nWe\'ll join the everlasting song, \n\nAnd crown him Lord of all ! " \n\n\n\nAt the close of this Address, the choir sang the \nhymn, "All hail the powerof Jesus\' name", to the tune \nof " Coronation ". \n\n\n\ng6 ADDRESSES. \n\nDr. Estes : \xe2\x80\x94 At the time when this church was \nformed, there was another older church in town \xe2\x80\x94 the \nCongregational \xe2\x80\x94 formed full sixteen years before. I have \nknown two of its ministers, Dr. Nelson, who was its \npastor from his ordination in 1812 till his death in 1871 ; \nand the present pastor, who has now passed the thirty- \nfirst anniversary of his ordination as Dr. Nelson\'s asso- \nciate. We will hear from him, the Rev. Mr. Coolidge. \n\nADDRESS OF REV. AMOS HILL COOLIDGE. \n\nMr. President, and Friends of the Greenville Baptist \nChurch in Leicester: \n\nIt is my special privilege and pleasure to extend to you \non this rare and happy anniversary, the Christian saluta- \ntions of the mother church, for such we claim to be. For \nalmost a quarter of a century after the incorporation of \nthis town, so far as it had an incorporation, there was but \none church in Leicester. Its simple, significant, and \nsufficient name was " The Church of Christ in Leicester." \nThe date of its organization is not known. The first \nsettlers took their deeds in 17 14, and it is not probable \nthat they very long neglected to provide themselves in \nsome way, with the means of grace, and the institutions \nof religion. When this church was organized, in 1738, \nLeicester was still a wilderness. The town extended from \nWorcester on the east, to Brookfield on the west, and \nfrom Oxford line on the south, two miles into Paxton on \nthe north. It thus embraced the whole of Leicester and \nSpencer, a considerable portion of Paxton, and a small \npart of Auburn. The people from the scattered farms in \nall this territory went up, some on foot, some doubtless \nwith ox teams, and others on horseback, the women \nbehind the men on pillions, to the meeting house on \n" Strawberry Hill." There, in the small, unadorned, un- \n\n\n\nREV. A. H. COOLIDGE. 97 \n\npainted house of worship, without porch, without belfry, \nwithout ceiling, without pews, except such as individuals \nhad built for themselves on "pew ground", and without \nfires, they assembled on that bleak hill, to worship God. \nThey went from this part of the town, at first, in mere \nbridle paths, and then over a road marked by chopped \ntrees, which at the Leicester end " began at a heap of \nstones, and a birch stake", "just over a slow, westerly of \nthe pound", passed southward, "and so along to Capt. \nSamuel Green\'s corn mill." Wild beasts were then \nhowling in the forest. The boys as they passed " Green\'s \nwolf pit," on a Sunday morning, hoped to find an unlucky \nwolf caught there, and the girls shied by, fearing they \nmight. There were times too, when the liability to Indian \nambuscade made the journey one of fears. There has \nbeen repeated to me to-day the tradition that Indians \nwere seen skulking in yonder woods, and that they were \ndeterred from making attack only by the sight of the \nfortified houses here. There is little doubt that there \nwere times when here, as elsewhere, the men carried \ntheir fire-arms with them to the house of God. With \nthat one church, upon whose services they waited with \nsuch difficulty, the people of these several towns and \nsections were associated. It was their one centre of \nassembly, \xe2\x80\x94 they all went up to it as the Jews did to \nJerusalem. \n\nBut with the change of circumstances, and in religious \nviews, there came at last a separation. I have been \nhappy to hear to-day, in the admirable address of the \nmorning, so rich in historical interest, that the withdrawal \noccasioned, so far as we can now know, so little division \nof feeling. I am only sorry that the town should have \nwaited even one year before voting to abate the taxes of \nthose who desired to attend the Baptist Church. But, \nMr. President, that was not very surprising, considering \nthe times, and all the circumstances. \n\nThere were other than sectarian reasons which made \n\n\n\n98 ADDRESSES. \n\nthe church on the hill reluctant to part with these \nbrethren and sisters. It must have seemed to them like \nweakening the power of the church, by division. We \nmust remember, also, that the lives of these families, on \ntheir scattered farms, in homes in the wide forests, with- \nout a neighbor in sight, were very lonely. They were \nlocated miles apart. They could seldom see each other, \nbut there was one place where old friends could meet, and \nlook each other in the face ; and where they could lift up \ntheir hearts together to the God they loved, \xe2\x80\x94 it was the \nold meeting-house on the Hill. The separation was a \nparting from friends. It was the surrender of their \nprincipal and most sacred social privilege, associated with \nthe place where they had thus far remembered Christ \ntogether. There were doubtless mutual tears at that \nparting. Nothing but the firm conviction of duty on the \npart of the founders of this church could probably have \ninduced them then to take that heroic step. As I have \nlistened to-day to the story of their lives and characters, \nI have seen another reason, on the part of the First \nChurch, for reluctance in giving them up. Mr. \nPresident, is it strange that they were sorry to part with \nsuch men, aye, and such women too ? They were some of \nthem foremost families of the town, \xe2\x80\x94 its most valued and \ntrusted citizens. They were the Greens, descendants of \nthat Samuel Green whom Washburn styles the " Nestor \nof this little community", who held nearly all the offices \nin town, civil and military, and by his enterprise secured \nall the "mill rights"; and others of similar standing; \na strong, able, energetic, patriotic, and christian body of \nmen. The old church honored them, and honored itself \nin proportion to the degree of its regret at losing them. \n\nThis church was born of the church on the Hill, and \nthe mother church to-day lovingly recognizes her child. \nThe lineage is direct, the likeness is true. We can trace \na single peculiarity, there is a single difference in the \nmode and time of a single ordinance, but the deeper, the \n\n\n\nREV. A. H. COOLIDGE. 99 \n\nvital qualities and characteristics are the same, wrought \nby the same Spirit, through the same gospel of the Son of \nGod. Between these churches, so far as my own knowl- \nedge extends, there has ever been the fullest harmony, \nand fellowship of heart. \n\nAs I stand here to-day, in this most beautiful house of \nworship, I remember the old meeting house. I am glad \nthat I had the privilege of preaching in it. It was in the \nfirst years of my ministry, when I was less accustomed \nto speak in public than now. I wound my way up the \nflight of stairs, and stood in the little box pulpit, high up \nthere, somewhere, feeling myself, like Piul, lifted up into \nthe third heaven, whether in the body or out ot the body \nI could hardly tell. But the memory of that old church \nlinks me with the early days of which we have heard \nto-day. \n\nBut in such an hour as this we may not confine our \ngaze to the past. The future opens before us. The \nseparation of this church, as well as that of the Congre- \ngational Church in Spencer was no doubt, at the time \nregarded by many as a misfortune. But God seeth not as \nman seeth. Apart from all denominational reasons, we \ncan see now, in view of the changed condition of society, \nand the local growth of communities, as well as of the \nhistory of the church, spread before us so graphically \nto-day, that this church was needed here. It had, and it \nhas done, a work which no remote organization could do. \nAnd, as we look around, to-day, on this growing village, \nand the surrounding region, who can doubt that it has a \nmission still, and a future. That, under the influence of \nthis inspiring anniversary, you may move on with renewed \ndevotion and courage, to its accomplishment, none will \nmore sincerely pray than the old Mother Church. \n\n\n\ntOO ADDRESSES. \n\nDr. Estes : \xe2\x80\x94 Sixty-five years ago, the oldest parish of \nthe Protestant Episcopal Church in Worcester county \nwas organized in this part of our town. The rector of \nthat parish, the Rev. Thomas W. Nickerson, is present, \nand we will listen to him. \n\nMr. Nickerson responded in an address expressive of \nhis interest in the occasion, congratulating the church \nand the Green family on their history, and wishing for \nthem long continued prosperity ; but the address has not \nbeen furnished for publication. \n\n\n\nDr. Estes : \xe2\x80\x94 Fifty -five years ago a Second Congrega- \ntional, or Unitarian, Church was formed in this town ; and, \nthe next year, a young man, fresh from the schools, came \nfrom Boston and was ordained its pastor. Since that \ntime he has been a resident of the town, deeply interested \nin its various interests, its schools, its Public Library, \nand all that pertains to the welfare of the people, and now \nhe shows how \xe2\x80\x94 notwithstanding the flight of years \xe2\x80\x94 the \nheart may be always young and aglow with youthful hope \nand fervor. We will hear from that young man, the \nRev. Mr. May. \n\nADDRESS OF REV. SAMUEL MAY. \n\nI desire, sir, to acknowledge, with my hearty thanks to \nyourself and to the committee of this church, the invita- \ntion to be present on this occasion. I cannot fail to \nrecognize the large courtesy which has been evinced in \nall the arrangements for this meeting. I think that I \n\n\n\nREV. SAMUEL MAY. IOI \n\nsaid to you, sir, when I accepted the invitation, that I \nanticipated an occasion of unusual interest. There was \nsomething quaint and pathetic attending the first settle- \nment of this part of the town, and the planting of this \nchurch, well fitted to attract attention and awaken \nsympathy. What I have seen and heard to-day has \nexceeded my expectation. Fresh interest has been \nimparted to historical and biographical facts ; and there \nhas been so much variety in the treatment of the subject \nas to make the occasion to me really exhilarating. I \ncannot but think that a very valuable contribution to the \nhistory of Leicester has been made here to-day ; particu- \nlarly of this portion of the town, which was called South \nLeicester when I first knew it. \n\nOf the long list of ministers of this church, who have \nbeen mentioned to-day, I have personally known several. \nWith three of them I was associated in the town\'s School \nCommittee, and had with them an agreeable and valued \nfriendship. These were Rev. John Greene, Rev. Moses \nHarrington, and Rev. Lewis Holmes. With Rev. N. B. \nCooke I had an especially pleasant connection, as fellow- \nmembers and officers of the Leicester Freedmen\'s Aid \nSociety, in the years of and following the War of the \nRebellion. I remember to have heard, when a boy, my \nhonored father, who was a member and officer of the \nchurch of Dr. Holley and Rev. John Pierpont in Boston, \nspeak of the kindness and friendship he had experienced \nfrom Rev. Dr. Baldwin, of the Second Baptist Church of \nBoston, and of his high respect for that excellent man. \nOne of my own intimate friends, from boyhood to this \ndate, is the Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Smith, one of the \nscholarly lights of your church, and the author of the \nuniversally known national hymn, \n\nMy country, \'tis of thee, \nSweet land of liberty, \nOf thee, I sing. \n\nSo, if not a Baptist myself, I may claim to be here in \n\n\n\n102 ADDRESSES. \n\ngood faith and in sincere good will. And it is in accord- \nance with the principle of the freedom of the individual \nconscience \xe2\x80\x94 the great principle, I believe, upon which the \nBaptist order is founded \xe2\x80\x94 that I stand here and say, in \nwords whose spirit is too often disregarded, "After the \nway which some call heresy, so worship I the God of my \nfathers." \n\nThe great name of Roger Williams has been but \nincidentally mentioned here to day, though the popular \nimpression is that the Baptists regard him as the founder \nof their order in America. When he left the colony of \nthe Massachusetts Bay, 1635-6, he was in full accord, in \nmatters of religious doctrine, with the Puritan churches. \nBut he was a more complete Separatist from the English \nchurch than were even the Puritans of Boston and its \nneighborhood ; and he was of too independent nature to \nsubmit to what he regarded as the severe Puritan rule. \nHe denied their right to the land they occupied ; and \nthought they should send back their charter. He with- \nstood them to their face. He would not " communicate ", \nas the phrase was, with their churches. The mildest \npossible result of such antagonism, in those days, was his \nenforced departure from the colony. Even with regard \nto baptism, he came to believe, in later life, if I rightly \nunderstand it, that there was no one upon the earth \nqualified to administer it. 1 By such fearlessness of spirit, \nby such consecration to his highest idea of right, by what \nJohn Quincy Adams has called his "conscientious \ncontentiousness ", Roger Williams has won for himself \nthe name of The Apostle of Soul-liberty. It is a most \nhonorable distinction of the Baptist churches that they \nhave so fully accepted him as a chief leader and exponent \nof their order. \n\nFrom this point I may not improperly refer to the \ncontest with the Romish Church which seems to be at \nhand, on account of its apparent hostility to our national \n\n1 See Ellis\'s Puritan Age and Rule in Massachusetts. Page 270. \n\n\n\nREV. SAMUEL MAY. 103 \n\nfree school system. I hope the question will be met on \nnational grounds and in a purely American spirit, \nasserting always the superiority of the American consti- \ntution and law to any and all ecclesiastical organizations \nwhatever. In this country, the Catholic church has no \nexclusive or special rights. It is one sect among others. \nIts equal rights, of course, should be fully respected. Its \nclaim for more than that must be, and I believe will be, \nfirmly and steadily resisted. If it chooses to establish \nprivate schools for its children, it has the clear right to do \nso ; and to maintain them ; but never at the public cost. \nNor should the members of that church ask or expect to be \nreleased from the obligation, which all citizens are under, \nto aid in sustaining the schools established by law. \n\nThere is something very touching in the experience of \nThomas Green, afterwards the founder of this church, \nwhen, left as a lad alone in the wilderness here, in charge \nof a few cattle, he was attacked with a prostrating fever, \nwithout a human hand to aid him. The founders of Rome, \nso long the world\'s great centre, when they were exposed \nin their infancy, on the Tiber, and cast upon its shore \nnear the Palatine Hill, are said to have been preserved \nfrom perishing by the motherly care of a she-wolf. \nThomas Green, when exposed to death, in his sickness, at \nthe foot of this hill, \xe2\x80\x94 his only shelter a shelving rock on \nthe river bank, \xe2\x80\x94 owed his life to the more suitable nourish- \nment furnished by one of the gentler and more beneficent \nof the brute creation, which came from time to time to \nher calf, which the young man had mustered strength to \ntether to a tree within his reach. No wonder that the \nsaving of his life, afterwards so useful and eminent, \nshould be regarded as providential. Let it also serve \nto teach a lesson of our duty to the patient and willing \nanimals who serve us so constantly, and who surely are \nentitled to our considerate care in return. \n\nNothing has given me more pleasure to-day than the \naddresses of the two young men who have spoken here. \n\n\n\n104 ADDRESSES. \n\nTo such earnestness and faith all things are possible ; and \nthe elders may, in much hope and trust, see their own \nwork passing into such fresh hands. It is of infinite \ncomfort to remember, in the limited view that any of us \ncan have of the ways and purposes of God, that we can \ndo nothing against the truth, but for the truth. I offer \nyou, sir, in conclusion, my best wishes for the prosperity \nof this venerable church and of all connected with it. \n\n\n\nCALEB A. WALL. IO$ \n\nDr. Estes : \xe2\x80\x94 We have with us to-day a gentleman, \nwho has been connected with the press more than fifty \nyears ; and who has an interest in this occasion different \nfrom that of any who have yet spoken. He was born in \nthis part of our town ; and has never lost his interest in \nhis native place. He is also a representative of the \nQuakers, who had a society established in this town \nbefore this church was formed, and whose experiences in \nearly times were much like our own.\' 2 We will hear from \nhim ; Mr. Wall, of Worcester. \n\nADDRESS OF MR. CALEB ARNOLD WALL. \n\nAmong the pleasantest recollections of our lives, are \nthose of our early years, when everything is newest and \nfreshest to us. The first fourteen years of my life were \nspent in this place, on these hills, in these valleys, and \nalong this running stream, within sight and hearing of \nthe majestic water-fall whose music is sweet to my ears \nto-day, sweet as of yore, reviving many a memory of the \npast. My father\'s estate, including the mills, comprised \na portion of that which belonged to the original proprietor \nof this section of the town, Capt. Samuel Green, whose \nson was the founder, and first pastor, of this venerable \nchurch. My father\'s house, just at the foot of this hill, \n\n\n\na The records of the town of Leicester contain exemption certificates filed \nby Quakers, resident in the town, as follows : \n\n" What Is here under writen is what I Received from those People Called \nQuackers : also Signed by the assessors on July the Nineteenth 1732. \n\n" This may Certify all whome it may Concern yt we the Subscribers are of \nthe Presuasion of those Commonly Called Quakers & do frequently and \nusually assemble our Selves togeather for ye worship of God according to \nLaw : and we do alledge a Scruple of Contiance as the Reason of our \nRefusall to pay any part of the Tax for the Seport of the minister or \nministers Established by the Laws of this province and do Lay Claim to : \n\n\n\n106 ADDRESSES. \n\nwas built by Deacon Samuel Green, for his nephew, \nElias Green, who occupied it before my father purchased \nit. \n\nIn the time of my boyhood, many aged people were \nliving here, whose recollections went back to the times of \nthe first pastor of this church, and many of their fathers \nhad taken part in forming this church, and building the \nfirst house of worship, whose humble appearance, as it \nlooked fifty or more years ago, I well remember, contrast- \ning strangely in architectural appearance with this \nbeautiful structure, which has taken its place. \n\nThe first pastor, whom I remember here, was Rev. \nBenjamin N. Harris ; and with him I remember his \nindustrious and thrifty helpmeet, who was ever ready, \nwith the results of her handiwork, to make up for the \nlimited amount of her husband\'s salary, necessarily small \nin those days of inadequate ministerial support as \ncompared with present times. The next pastor was Rev. \nJohn Greene. With much pleasure do I call to mind \nincidents connected with his pastorate here, and with his \nsainted brother, the late Samuel Stillman Green, who was \n\nand do Desire yt ye proper and Regular steps for our obtaining the \nPriveleges Granted to ye people Called Quakers may be proceeded in and as \nSuch : in Testimonie theirof we Subscribe our names being Inhabitants of \nthe Town of Leicester. \n\nTHOMAS NEWHALL, RALPH EARL, \nWILLM. EARL, \nTHOMAS SMITH, \nROBART EARL, \nDANIEL HILL, \nNATHANIEL POTTER, \nJOSEPH POTTER. \n\n"July 18, 1738. Benjamin Earl Declared him Self a Quaker and Desired \nhis name might be entered as such \xe2\x80\x94 Benjamin Earl. \n\n" June 30, 1758. These are to Certify that the parsons here under named \nBeing Inhabitants of the town of Leicester Pursuant to an act of this \nProvince are those that are Commonly Called Quakers (viz.) William Earl, \nNathaniel Potter, Dudley wate [Wade] Swan, Steward Southgate, Robart \nEarll, Benj\'a Earll, Benj\'a Wheater, William Earll jun., John Potter, \nNathaniel Potter junr." \n\n\n\nCALEB A. WALL \n\nmy first teacher, in the old red school-house, which stood \nat the corner of the road just below the then parsonage. \nIn tribute to his memory I cannot do better than endorse \nthe sentiment of the lines written after his decease in \n1883, by a fellow Professor, and one of his former \nstudents, in Brown University, T. Whiting Bancroft : \n\nA consecrated life, in purpose true, \n\nHas come, untiring, to its very end, \n\nApt both to teach and learn, and ever spend \nIts best endeavor, at the first clear view \nOf duty, on the humblest task that waited. \n\nWhile others, selfish sought their own advance, \n\nAll eager for the world\'s approving glance, \nThou never wast with swelling pride inflated. \nThy voice is hushed, thy willing hands are folded, \n\nThy burden thou didst carry to the last. \n\nThou from thy daily toil at once hast passed \nTo thy reward. The minds thy skill has moulded \n\nRise to bless thee. Consecrated life of trust ! \n\nThou leav\'st behind the memory of the just. \n\nAmong the worthy successors of Rev. John Greene, with \nwhom I was acquainted, were the late Rev. Otis Converse \nand Rev. John F. Burbank, both of whom died in Worces- \nter, and are well remembered there for their many virtues. \nAnd there is another, under whose administration the \npresent church edifice was finished and dedicated more \nthan twenty-five years ago, and whose work was so well \nand justly appreciated, that he was recalled about \ntwo years ago ; and it is to him that the church is \nindebted for the inauguration and management of these \nsesqui-centennial proceedings, over which he has presided \nwith so much ability and dignity, and for the admirable \nhistorical address to which we all listened with so much \ninterest this morning. \n\nIn the old burial ground of this church repose the \nashes of my sainted father and mother, and four elder \nbrothers, as well as the remains of the pioneer settlers of \nthis section of the town, including the first settler, Capt. \nSamuel Green, whose headstone still marks his place of \n\n\n\n108 ADDRESSES. \n\nburial one hundred and fifty-two years ago ; and when now \nI walk among these graves, as I was wont to do in my \nchildhood days, I am forcibly reminded of the lines of \nGray, " written in a country church-yard," \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nBeneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree\'s shade, \nWhere heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, \n\nEach in his narrow cell forever laid, \n\nThe rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. \n\nIn this connection I cannot help referring to the \npresent condition of many of our oldest burial grounds, \nand the desirableness of preserving, as nearly as possible, \nin their original condition, the headstones and monuments \nof the early settlers. They are precious and instructive \nmemorials of our ancestors, as well as of the generations \nof the past, reaching back to the first settlement of our \ntowns and villages. As such they should be kept sacred. \nIn place of the neglect, of which we see the signs in many \nancient cemeteries, not to speak of the desecration of \nothers, increased attention should be given to the work of \ncaring for them, resetting the monuments which have \nfallen, replacing those which have been broken by others \nas much like the originals as possible, relettering those \nwhose inscriptions have become worn and almost \nobliterated, thus doing all we can to transmit to our \ndescendants the memorials which we have of our \nancestors. It was a " pious task " in which Walter Scott \nrepresents " Old Mortality " as engaged, " cleaning the \nmoss from the grey stones, renewing with his chisel the \nhalf defaced inscriptions, and repairing the emblems of \ndeath " with which the simple monuments of the old \nCovenanters were usually adorned. Therefore I rejoice \nin the great improvements which have been made in this \nancient cemetery ; and I hope others still more important \nin the lines I have suggested, may be made hereafter. \n\nAs a representative of a religious denomination, whose \nancestors, like the Baptists, were driven from Massachu- \nsetts in the early period of her history, because of their \n\n\n\nCALEB A. WALL. IO9 \n\nreligious views, I cannot close without offering this \nsentiment : \n\nThe Baptists and the Quakers, the disciples of Roger \nWilliams and of William Penn ; however much they may \nhave differed in their theological tenets, either in the past \nor in the present, they have always been agreed in the \ngrand cardinal principle of " Soul Liberty ", " the right of \nevery man to worship God according to the dictates of his \nown conscience, untrammelled by written articles of faith, \nand unawed by the civil power"; a principle of moral \nscience and political philosophy, in which the Quakers \nand the Baptists were at least two hundred years in \nadvance of the persecuting age, in which they first \nappeared. \n\n\n\n1 10 ADDRESSES, \n\nDr. Estes: \xe2\x80\x94 Mention has been made, more than once \nto-day, of Mr. Daniel Denny, a prominent and influential \nman among the first settlers of the town, and one of the \noriginal members of this church. He came from England \nto this country in 171 5, when he was twenty-one years of \nage, and he came to Leicester two years later. He was \ndescended from a godly ancestry in England, where the \n" family had been devoted to the church for centuries." \nSome of his mother\'s letters, written from her home there \nto him here, have had for me a marvellous interest. In \none of them, written the same year in which this church \nwas formed, she said, "I hope I and all mine are of the \nseed and offspring of God\'s people." x In him dwelt the \nunfeigned faith of his mother Grace, as in Timothy dwelt \nthat of his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois : and \nhis descendants have cherished the faith and walked in \nthe ways of their ancestors. One of them, a resident of \nour town, and one of our men of business, whom his \nfellow citizens have delighted to honor, is with us to-day. \nWe will now listen to him, \xe2\x80\x94 the Hon. Mr. Denny. \n\nADDRESS OF HON. CHARLES ADDISON DENNY. \n\nMr. Chairman : \xe2\x80\x94 I thank you for your very kind \nintroduction of myself as representing the decendants of \none of the early settlers of this town and one of the first \nmembers of this ancient church. \n\nI congratulate you on this interesting anniversary day, \nboth you as the pastor of this church, and the members, \nfor this day celebrates one hundred and fifty years of \nactive Christian work here in this community and \ntown. \n\n1 Genealogy of the Denny Family in England and America. Page 73. \n\n\n\nHON. CHARLES A. DENNY. ill \n\nI stand here to-day simply representing the business \nmen of Leicester, and I bring words of cheer for the good \nwork accomplished by you. \n\nWe appreciate the influence of the Christian Churches \nThey are of great value to us, helping to train up good \nand faithful men and women, and having the advantages \nwhich church and school give, we are able to retain as \npermanent citizens, the best class of persons to engage in \nthe various enterprises in our town. \n\nI have always felt a deep interest in this church, both \non account of its present members, and because so many \nof my ancestors have been active members here, who \nnever in their lives ceased to feel that affection for it, \nwhich is characteristic of the true New England men and \nwomen. \n\nThe pastors of this church have not only been faithful \nto their church, but have been useful helpers in the cause \nof education in the town. \n\nThis beautiful house shows the successful efforts of \nthis people to have an attractive place of worship, and who \ncan calculate the wide spread influence that has gone \nforth from this single church in Greenville. \n\nMany of us know well the deep christian character of \nsome of its members and the quiet work that has been \ndone by them in this portion of the town. \n\nI cannot but feel that it is one of the precious privileges \nof those of us who live in New England, to help sustain \nthese churches in the country towns, for it is here that \nhe young are trained up who in later years are to go to \nthe city, and help make up those large communities, and \nif early their principles shall become fixed and right, they \nwill generally exert an influence for good wherever they \n\ngo- \n\nThe business men as well as the politicians know well \n\nthe value of the country life. In our elections the vote \nof the large cities is generally cast against temperance \nand good morals, while they look to the country to cast \n\n\n\n112 ADDRESSES. \n\ntheir votes for the right, and thus give balance in the \nState and Nation far differently from what the cities \nalone would do. \n\nSo in closing, I wish to bespeak for the country \nchurches sympathy (and pecuniary aid, if that be needed) \nso that they shall be carried on with cheerfulness and \nvigor, and in all the future be as living streams flowing \nfor the good of the nation. \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA SERMON \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPreached in the Meeting House of the Greenville Baptist \nChurch in Leicester, September 30, 1888, on the Sunday \nafter the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the \nformation of the church. \n\n\n\nBY HIRAM CUSHMAN ESTES, D. D., PASTOR. \n\n\n\n" Call to remembrance the former days." Hebrews, x : 32. \n\nThe former days are worth remembering. We have the \npower of memory that we may remember them. Tradition \nhas always been telling stories of what was done or suf- \nfered in them. From the time when history first took up \nher pen, she has been busy making records of events and \ndeeds, that distant generations may know of them, and \nthat their lessons may not be lost. The father of history, \nin the first words of his great work, said : " These are the \nresearches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, which he pub- \nlishes, in the hope of thereby preserving from decay the \nremembrance of what men have done, and of preventing \nthe great and wonderful actions of the Greeks and the \nBarbarians from losing their due meed of glory." When \nMoses was about leaving the children of Israel, to go to \na better land than that of Canaan, he said to them, \n"Remember the days of old, consider the years of many \ngenerations : ask thy father, and he will shew thee ; \nthy elders, and they will tell thee." And the unknown \nauthor of the epistle to the Hebrews said to Jewish Chris- \ntians, " Call to remembrance the former days." It was \n\n\n\nIl6 APPENDIX. \n\nwell that he said this, for to them the former days had \nbeen days of trial and distress. They, like the early \nChristians at Philippi and elsewhere, had known not \nonly what it was to believe on Christ, but also to \nsuffer for his sake. They could remember, not only \nthe morning glow of their conversion, but tempta- \ntions to apostacy, and persecutions bravely borne ; and \nthe remembrance of their past trials, and of their \nsteadfastness and faithfulness in times that tried their \nsouls, might strengthen them for trials yet to come. \nTherefore, their wise instructor and counsellor in this \nepistle said : " Call to remembrance the former days, in \nwhich after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight \nof afflictions ; partly, whilst ye were made a gazing-stock \nboth by reproaches and afflictions ; and partly, whilst ye \nbecame companions of them that were so used." So it \nwas well for them, and it is well for all, in their ever- \nvarying and widely diversified experiences, to remember \nthe "former days/\' \n\nWe as a church have recently been doing this more than \nis our wont. Last Friday was given especially to the \nremembrance of the earlier days of our history. I hope \nthat it was with profit no less than pleasure, to all. But \nmany things that might have been said that day, were of \nnecessity left unsaid. The historical discourse delivered \non that occasion was not a sermon. Its object was to \ntell the simple story of our history, without dwelling \nupon its significance, or mentioning any of the things \nthat it suggests. But some of those things deserve to be \ndwelt upon, and may properly be dwelt upon, by the \npreacher in the pulpit. He would not do well to neglect \nthem. Therefore what I say to-day will be in the line of \nour recent meditations, and a continuation of them. My \nwish is to let the former days of our history speak to us ; \nto give a voice to some thoughts which they awaken and \nsome impressions which they make ; and to draw out some \nof their lessons and suggestions. \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 117 \n\nI. The remembrance of the former days of our \nhistory as a church reminds us of the dense obscurity in \nwhich the beginnings of things are, for the most part, \nenwrapped. No man knows how many persons joined \nwith Dr. Green in the formation of this church one \nhundred and fifty years ago ; nor who they were ; nor in \nwhat house they met ; nor on which side of the river, the \nvoice of whose falling water we hear ; nor any of the \ncircumstances under which their meeting was called and \nheld. So of the older Congregational church in our town. \nWe know that it was in existence here on the 30th of \nMarch, 1721 ; but no man knows how old it then was, \nnor under what circumstances it was formed. And this \nshows how God hides the germs of things, and veils their \ngermination \xe2\x80\x94 how the beginnings of things are veiled and \nhidden from our sight. Banquo\'s words to the witches on \nthe " blasted heath," \n\n" If you can look into the seeds of time, \nAnd say which grain will grow, and which will not," \n\nremind us that it has not been given to mortals to " look \ninto the seeds of time." No one knows when the seed of \nthe Charter Oak, or of the Washington Elm was planted, \nor when they began to grow. No man can tell when \nEgypt or Assyria, Greece or Rome, France or England, \nbegan to grow. The beginnings of Tyre and Carthage, \nAthens and Rome, are wrapped in mist and mystery, \nsuch that no man can tell when their first foundation \nstones were laid. The great Universities of Oxford and \nCambridge were founded, no record tells us when, \n\n" Earth proudly wears the Parthenon, \n\nAs the best gem upon her zone ; \n\nAnd Morning opes with haste her lids, \n\nTo gaze upon the Pyramids ; \n\nO\'er England\'s abbeys bends the sky, \n\nAs on its friends, with kindred eye ;" \n\n\n\n" These Temples grew as grows the grass ;" \n\n\n\nIl8 APPENDIX. \n\nthe beginning of whose growth, it has not been given to \nman to see. \n\n" When Nature tries her finest touch, \n\nWeaving her vernal wreath, \nMark ye, how close she veils her round, \nNot to be traced by sight or sound, \n\nNor soiPd by ruder breath ?" \n\n" The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest \nthe sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, or \nwhither it goeth : so is every one that is born of the \nSpirit." We know when Dr. Green joined the First \nBaptist Church in Boston, and had his name written in \nits list of members ; but no one knows when he joined \nthe church invisible and universal, or had his name written \nin heaven. You, my christian brother, and my sister, \nhave passed from death unto life, but the "passing" \nwas seen only by Him " who seeth in secret." "It is \nthe glory of God to conceal a thing;" and the begin- \nnings of things, from the beginning of the creation to \nthe beginning of life on this planet, and in every living \nthing, the polyp and the spiritually quickened soul alike, \nare veiled and hidden from our sight. This is one of the \nteachings of our third jubilee. \n\nII. Again, from our remembrance of "the former \ndays " of our history, we see how it was that, though the \nBaptists in this goodly town of Leicester escaped the \ndisabilities and distresses which were common to the \nBaptists and Quakers of those days, \xe2\x80\x94 "the spoiling of \ntheir goods " and imprisonment often, \xe2\x80\x94 still our brethren \nhere were " the companions of them that were so used." \nFifty-eight years before this church was formed, the doors \nof the First Baptist meeting house in Boston were nailed \nup by order of the civil authorities, and a notice was \nposted on them in these words : " All persons are to take \nnotice, that by order of the Court, the doors of this house \nare shut up, and that they are inhibited to hold any \nmeeting therein, or to open the doors thereof, without \n\n\n\n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 119 \n\nlicense from authority, till the General Court take further \norder, as they will answer the contrary at their peril. \nDated in Boston, 8th March, 1680. By order of the \nCouncil, Edward Rawson, Secretary." 1 The owners of \nthe house asked for a copy of the marshal\'s warrant, \nbut were refused. The next Sunday they met in their \nyard. In the week following they built a shed in which \nto meet. But when they came together the next Sunday \nthey found the doors of their meeting house open. They \ndid not stop to ask how the doors had been opened, \nwhether by the marshal or by an angel ; but they went in \nand occupied their house of worship, and since that time \nthe doors have not been shut against the Baptists of \nBoston. \n\nNineteen years after that was done in Boston, Thomas \nGreen was born in Maiden. When he was thirty-one \nyears old he joined that First Baptist Church in Boston. \nSeven years later he took part in forming this church in \nLeicester, of which he was pastor thirty-five years. And \nthe freedom of this church from persecution or oppression \nis a singular exception to the common lot of Baptist \nchurches in all their earlier history. There is no record, \nthere is nothing in history or tradition, to show that any \nperson in Leicester was ever distressed on account of his \nconnection with this church, though for a long time after, \nas well as before its formation, the distresses of the \nBaptists in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the colonies, \nwere very great. The story is a sad one, from the whip- \nping of Obadiah Holmes, to the unjust taxation, harsh \nenforcement of the laws in collecting rates, arrests, \nimprisonment, and vexatious lawsuits, that were familiar \nthings in many towns. Backus says of the exemption act \nof 1757, which "was continued in force thirteen years," \nthat " no tongue nor pen can fully describe all the evils \nthat were practised under it." At the meeting of the \nWarren Association at Sturbridge, in 1788, there was \n\n1 Backus\' History. Vol. I. p. 390. \n\n\n\n120 APPENDIX. \n\n" collected, by several of the churches, and paid into the \nhands of Rev. Mr. Gair [pastor of the Second Church in \nBoston], the sum of six pounds, eleven shillings and three \npence, to be transmitted to our brethren at Cambridge, in \naddition to what they have already received toward defray- \ning the expense of their late lawsuit." 1 That church "at \nCambridge" was the one where Rev. Thomas Green, grand- \nson of our first pastor, and afterwards of North Yarmouth, \nMe., was preaching, and from which, in 1784, he came \nhere to take part in the ordination of our third pastor, \nRev. Isaac Beall. And so, if our fathers of this church \ndid not suffer distress and "the spoiling of their goods," \nthey were " the companions of them that were so used." \nI speak of these things not to reproach our Congregational \nbrethren on account of them, because they are not to \nblame for them, \xe2\x80\x94 unless, perchance, they justify them, \nand by justifying them make themselves partakers of the \nevil deeds. It was the spirit of the age that did those \nthings, through the standing order as its instrument, a \nspirit which the spirit of the present age condemns ; and \nthis church, with its first pastor, had some part in the \ngood work of bringing in this better age. Let us be \nthankful for this. In the words of one in Homer, let us \nnever fail to "give thanks that our condition is infinitely \nbetter than that of our fathers." \n\nIII. Once more, in our remembrance of the former \ndays, we are reminded of the great changes that have \ntaken place in the world in the last one hundred and fifty \nyears ; changes in the arts of life, in methods of educa- \ntion, in social usages, in the habits of the people, in forms \nof government, in our knowledge of nature and of the \nScriptures, in the terms used in giving expression to \nphilosophic and religious thought. In all things how \ndifferent is the world that now is from that which was \nwhen this church was formed. Then we were a depen- \ndency of the British crown. Then almost all of North \n\n1 Minutes of the Warren Association, 1788, pp. 6-7. \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 121 \n\nAmerica, from Quebec to St Louis and New Orleans, \nwas in the hands of the French, and subject to the papal \npower, which promised to control the continent for all \ntime. Then the lightning had not been brought down \nfrom heaven to be an obedient servant of mankind, \nputting a girdle round about the earth in less than " forty \nminutes," but its ways were as mysterious as when \nAdam first saw it flashing its zigzag course in the sky. \nWhen this church was formed, Franklin was only thirty- \none years old, Washington only six, and James Watt was \nonly two \xe2\x80\x94 not yet old enough to wonder at the mystery \nof the escaping steam of the boiling tea-kettle. Then \nthere was not a cotton mill, nor a cotton-gin, nor a steam \nengine, nor a mowing machine or reaping machine, nor a \nsewing-machine in the world; and men had more than \nfifty years to wait for vaccination, and more than eighty \nfor the daguerrotype and the photograph. Indeed, with \nthe exception of the mariner\'s compass, gunpowder, and \nprinting, almost all the great inventions and discoveries \nthat have made the present age, in respect of its material \ntriumphs, the most wonderful of all the ages, have been \nmade since this church was formed. In this time, the \nprogress made in the physical sciences has been as won \nderful as that of the industrial arts and inventive genius. \nNew sciences like geology and comparative anatomy have \ncome into being ; botany has been reformed and the three \nkingdoms of natural history reorganized by Linnasus ; \nchemistry has marvellously enlarged its borders, and been \nrevolutionized more than once ; the most important dis- \ncoveries and generalizations of electricity have been \nmade ; and discoveries in astronomy have pushed the \nflaming walls of the world far back in space. \n\nW T hen this church was formed there were no Baptist \ninstitutions of learning in the country ; no theological \nseminaries, no Brown University ; and there were only \nseven Baptist churches in Massachusetts ; not more than \nthirty-six in all the colonies, and only one Association of \n\n\n\n122 APPENDIX. \n\nchurches, \xe2\x80\x94 the Philadelphia ; while now there are, in the \nUnited States, more than thirty-one thousand Baptist \nchurches, with almost if not quite three million mem- \nbers ; and we have our schools, colleges, theological \nseminaries and missionary societies, doing much for the \neducation of our land and the evangelization of the world. \n\nWhen this church was formed the means of education \nwere very narrow, and within the reach of but few ; now \nthey are broad and within the reach of all, \xe2\x80\x94 our high \nschools giving a better education now than the colleges \ngave then, or half a century later. b \n\nTen years before this church was formed, as we learn \nfrom Franklin\'s Autobiography, "there was not a good \nbookseller\'s shop in any of the colonies to the south- \nward of Boston, Those who loved reading were \n\nobliged to send for their books from England ; M1 and \nsixteen years after it was formed, there were only nine \nnewspapers published in the colonies, while now books \nand newspapers are scattered everywhere, like the dew- \ndrops of the morning. The post-office is now one of the \nwonders of the age, though the beginning of its organiza- \ntion in the colonies was only twenty-seven years before \nour church was formed, and Franklin was not appointed \nPostmaster-General till fifteen years after it was formed. \nNow the industry of the country has been revolutionized \nby machinery such as no man of Dr. Green\'s time could \n\na According to the latest statistics published, the number of churches was \n31,891, with 2,917,315 members. \n\n*" When I entered Harvard University [in 1789] no knowledge even of \ncommon arithmetic was a pre-requisite ; nor were we required to know \nanything of geography, but simply the place of our nativity. It is my firm \nconviction, that the young ladies of this Academy now acquire more know- \nledge of the mathematical and kindred sciences, to say nothing of the belles- \nlettres, than was then attained, take them as they arise, by the graduates of \nour first universities." 1 \n\n1 "The Centenary of Leicester Academy," p. 51, the passage being an extract from \nan unpublished address delivered before the Academy, in 1849, by Rev - J omi Pierce, D. D. \nSee also the letter of Judge Story in " Memoirs of William Ellery Channing," Vol. I., \npp. 43-44. \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 123 \n\nhave dreamed of. Now the land is covered with a \nnetwork of iron roads and telegraphic wires ; and swift \nsteamships on the seas, with telegraphic cables under them \nhave brought the continents and " the ends of the earth " \ntogether, so that now there are no foreign lands, but the \ninhabitants of India, China and Japan are our neighbors. \nThese marvels and triumphs of inventive genius and the \nmechanic arts achieved in the latter half of the period \nembraced in the history of our church, with the sewing \nmachine, the typewriter, the telephone and the phono- \ngraph, are familiar things, and are improvements and \nadvances such as Dr. Hopkins thought men might make \nin the Millenium,* though he could only see them as \n"through a glass, darkly." In view of the marvellous \nchanges that have been wrought in the world since this \nchurch was formed, who will not exclaim, in the words of \nthe first message sent by telegraph from Washington to \nBaltimore in 1844, "What hath God wrought"? \n\nIV. Yet again, our remembrance of the former days \nreminds us that there is something stable in the midst of \nchange. Allusion was made last Friday, and more than \nonce, to the steadfastness of this church in the faith of \nChrist. I was glad that it could receive such commenda- \n\na " There will, doubtless, be great improvement and advances made in all \nthose mechanic arts, by which the earth will be subdued and cultivated, and \nall the necessary and convenient articles of life, such as all utensils, clothing, \nbuildings, etc., will be formed and made in a better manner, and with much \nless labor than they now are. There may be inventions and arts of this \nkind which are beyond our present conception. And if they could be now \nknown by any one, and he could tell what they will be, they would be \nthought by most to be utterly incredible and impossible, as those inventions \nand arts, which are now known and familiar to us, would have appeared to \n\nthose who lived before they were found out and took place And \n\nways may be invented, perhaps something like the short hands which are \nnow used by many, by which they will be able to communicate their ideas, \nand hold intercourse and correspondence with each other who live in \ndifferent parts of the world, with much less expense of time and labor, perhaps \na hundred times less, than that with which men now correspond." * \n\nx The Works of Samuel Hopkins, D. D., edition of 1854. Treatise on the Millenium. \nVol. II., pp. 286, 290-291. \n\n\n\n124 APPENDIX. \n\ntion, for it is a good thing that churches, like individual \nmen, should have some sound convictions, some fixed \nprinciples, and some stability, so as not to be " tossed to \nand fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by \nthe sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they \nlie in wait to deceive." There is a system of moral and \nreligious truth that is often called "the truth as it is in \nJesus." There is a faith once delivered to the saints, \ndelivered by the Lord, and delivered once for all. It is \nfound in the Bible, \xe2\x80\x94 in its general drift and in its special \nteachings. Just as there is a certain line of thought and \nform of faith in the writings of Plato or Pascal ; just as \nthere is a certain line of thought and theory of govern- \nment in the Constitution of the United States, so there is \nsome certain form of faith, and not its opposite, in the \nBible. There may be, indeed there have been, different \nopinions as to what the Constitution teaches concerning \nthe bond of union between the States, \xe2\x80\x94 the doctrines of \nnullification and secession, for instance, \xe2\x80\x94 and other \nmatters ; but the framers of that instrument meant \nsomething by its words, clauses and articles, and it is our \nbusiness, as those whose dwelling-place is in the Union \nunder it, to find out what it means, and to conform our \nviews and actions to it. What the Constitution is to the \nNation, that the Bible is to the Church. This has \nalways been a fundamental article of our faith as Baptists. \nWe stand, as we have always stood, for the rights of a \nfree mind and liberty of conscience, under this divine \nconstitution of the Bible. \n\nBeyond this there is a system of Christian doctrine \nthat has been held from the beginning, with more or less \ndistinctness and positiveness, sometimes with a theory \nand sometimes without a theory as to its particular \ndoctrines, but so held through all the Christian ages that \nwe may say that the faith of the fathers is the treasure of \nthe church. We often speak of it as the orthodox or \nevangelical faith. It is found in the writings of the early \n\n\n\nj APPENDIX. 125 \n\nj \n\nChristian fathers, and in the early Christian creeds "; in \nAugustine ; in Tauler and his associates ; in Wy cliff e, \nand other reformers before the Reformation ; in the \nReformers themselves ; in the Jansenists and others of \nthe Romish church ; in the Scottish Covenanters and \nEnglish Puritans ; in the fathers of New England ; in the \nleaders and apostles of the Great Awakening in New \nEngland, under Whitefield and others, in 1740 ; and in \nthose who formed this church in 1738. The substance of \nthis evangelical faith \xe2\x80\x94 its view of " God in Christ recon- \nciling the world unto himself," and of man as a sinner \nneeding that reconciliation and salvation \xe2\x80\x94 is held and \npreached here now, as it was in the days of Dr. Green and \nDr. Foster, however much many of the terms used in speak" \ning of it may have changed in these four generations that \nhave passed away, \xe2\x80\x94 the forms of speech changing while \nthe substance of thought remains, \xe2\x80\x94 and from this faith \nmay the church never swerve, but always deserve the com- \nmendation of the apostle, who said in his epistle to the \nelect lady, " I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children \nwalking in the truth, even as we have received a command- \nment from the Father." \n\nV. Still further, our remembrance of the former days \nof our church is one to expand our thought of time and of \neternity. Some one last Friday spoke of this church as \n"an ancient church." As children, to whom the years \nseem long, look at it, and as we from our maturer years \nlook at it, it is an ancient church, \xe2\x80\x94 its history covers one \nhundred and fifty years. But from another point of view \nthe church is young and its years are few. The families \nof the Greens and Dennys, who were among our \nconstituent members, had had a history of many genera- \ntions before this church was formed. Westminster Abbey \nhad then been standing full six hundred and fifty years. \nThe Pyramids of Egypt had watched the coming and the \ngoing of more than three thousand years. And the long \ngeologic aeons of the history of our globe, while it was \n\n\n\n126 APPENDIX. \n\npreparing to be the fit place for man\'s earthly life and \nexperience \xe2\x80\x94 we have no power to measure them! but \nfrom them our thought darts in an instant to Him who \nis " from everlasting to everlasting," whose days have \nno end. \n\n" What babble we of days and days ? \nThe Dayspring He, whose days go on. \nHe reigns above, He reigns alone ; \nSystems burn out and leave His throne; \nFair mists of seraphs melt and fall \nAround Him, changeless amid all ! \xe2\x80\x94 \nAncient of Days, whose days go on." \n\nBut for every soul renewed and formed into His image \nby His Spirit and Word, leaving its frail tenement of clay \nin our churchyard, or on some distant shore, or, like \nJudson, in the far-wandering sea, there is " an inheritance, \nincorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, \nreserved in heaven", and for this inheritance the church \nhas been established as a training-school in all righteous- \nness and true holiness. Therefore let us all say, " Pray \nfor the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love \nthee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within \nthy palaces. For my brethren and companions\' sakes, \nI will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the \nhouse of the Lord our God I will seek thy good." \n\nIn the Epistle to the Hebrews, from which the text was \ntaken, mention is made of a great cloud of witnesses by \nwhom we are encompassed. If from among them, the \nfaithful preachers, and others who have passed from this \nchurch to their reward, could speak to us to day, what \nwould they say ? What would be the burden of their \nexhortation ? What but this : " Hold fast the profession \nof your faith without wavering; for he is faithful that \npromised ;" and "Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always \nabounding in the work of the Lord." \n\n\n\nERRATUM. \n\n\n\nPage thirty-six, line fourteen, for James, read Ephraim, \nas on page fifty-nine, line twelve. \n\n\n\nQ,. V y \n\n\n\n\' \n\n\n\nccccc co \n\n3 CC C C CC \n\nQCCccjCC \n\nslLcccc cc * \n\nl c c C\xc2\xab \n\n,<.<-. cc c < cc < \n\nCI CCCCCC < . , \n\xc2\xabc ccc \xc2\xab- <c c \n\n: \xc2\xabccccc < e\xc2\xabt \n\n\n\ncC<X UC \n\ncc < c c \n\xc2\xab - I \n\n: c c cc c c c \nCC C C < \nj; c - CC < < \n3L*C C C CCCCC \n\nj \xc2\xabBjC c c c< < \xe2\x96\xa0 \n\n"" ccc: cc c \n\nC C c \n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xa0^\xc2\xabr r-\'c^^jrc c< co \n\xe2\x80\x94 ccc c \xc2\xabc cc * \n\njcccc<^4. \n\nr ,<c cc \nxcc. C \n:CCC C cc \n\nccc \xc2\xabGl-c\xc2\xab \n\nLC C d <\xc2\xa3 \n\npccc CC \xc2\xab \n\ncccc <\xc2\xa7c ~ccc c \nX<( mz \xe2\x96\xa0.< cc c \n\nr < n c c & &\xc2\xabtc. c- c c > \n\netc c ,c cs c *gpcc Jt^\'cc \n\ni?:f c c CC \xe2\x96\xa0 \xe2\x96\xa0\xe2\x96\xa0 c C-\'IKKC. CC c <;. - \n\nclc \n\ne\xc2\xabccccx (,, c <^:\xc2\xabr ^k^ ccc c . \n\n\xe2\x96\xa0-\xe2\x96\xa0.C,\xc2\xab:.<lc<^c c^c C:-^gc CC" c c cc \n-CC - - CC, 4^.7" ^C C v C- C \n\n\n\n^ C \'X c C^;CCjC "\'\xc2\xab.\'<:-\' C< \n\nC trc CcWCC CCC cc \n\nC ..cC C. CC CC ccc O: \nCCCCC CiC^rCC CcC Cv \xe2\x96\xa0 \nC - <i CC C 2^C -.. \n\n\n\ncc <r c <ic \n\n\n\n\xc2\xa3:C\xc2\xabCcO \n\n\n\n[ <L c C( \xc2\xab\xc2\xa3.CC- < jt C C < \n\n- <j c \xc2\xab:c \xc2\xbb-c etc C \xc2\xab-\' \xe2\x80\xa2 \n\n. cc "cc a^<ci \n\nl <^r cc cc cc \xc2\xab^\xc2\xabr: c \n\xc2\xa3 C CC c c \xc2\xab C ftMC C \nICC" CO.cC: ca\xc2\xab( \nx cc *c.c cc CC cc Cl^KLC \n\nLC c< CC\' \xc2\xab\xc2\xab C C\xc2\xab * \n\n< \xc2\xab \xc2\xabKc<c <c<^k:( \nre cr ^gc c (jr #aac c \n\n\xc2\xabi\xc2\xabCi C cc <\xc2\xabc. m~ c c \xe2\x96\xa0 : .c \n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 <acrc cc cs\xc2\xab? \xc2\xab: cc c \n\n, ccci c: .^C\' c cc \n\n\n\nCCS ^ \n\ncc^ : ^ \n\n\n\n\n\n\nMM \n\n\n\n"d -c. cc c cc \n\n\xc2\xab: 4T C cc^ C C6 \n\n\n\nICC CCc CX \n\n\n\n\n\n\nCC CI CC \n\n. C C <J c c < \n\nKCCC CC \nk , c r c <: \n\n\n\nc c c c \n\nccc c c c \n\nrecce \n\nc c \n\n< cc c c_ <l < \n\n; ccc < cc \nr cccc cc \n\n\n\nC <Z\xc2\xabrJi \n\nsec cas- cc \n\nCC CC-CC \nVCC CC\' CC \nr CCjOc C \n\xe2\x96\xa0v \'C \xc2\xab^Ci. c \n\nc \n\n\n\nC "CC \nC CC \n\n\n\ncC cccc \nr ; c^ s \n\n3C <S \' \n\nCCSCC \n\nCC CC \n\n\n\nCr ^c \n\ncc c< \n\ncc CC \n\n\n\n\n\n\nv:CC\xc2\xab \n\n\n\nr S\' ccc \n\n: mLcccc cc\xc2\xabc \ncc: <3\xc2\xbb \n\n\n\n, CCC \xc2\xab \n\nc \n\n^C C CCC C^ \n\n\n\n:<c c \n\nc, C \ncC C \n: CC1 t \n\nCv c \n\n\n\n: cc c \n\nCcc< " c \nCCCC iCci\'CB \nCCCC C C5CC \n\'CC CC ; "<CT\' C \nF C< CC < \'CC\' c \n^C CC C CC1\xc2\xab- c \n\nc \n\n\xc2\xabtr^-C ccc cC<\' C \n\nSElccccccc c \n\n^\xe2\x96\xa0C" C C CC C CC \xc2\xab \n\' ST" CC CCc CC \' C \n\n\n\n~\xc2\xab cc \n\n\n\n^C CC C \xe2\x82\xacT4 \niCCCC C - r C \n\n. <s..\'C c c \xc2\xab c-t: \xc2\xabl i \n\xc2\xab\xc2\xab: ^: c c : c < \xc2\xab:. \n\n<t:c ccccc_c:ccccc \n<ic c<: c \n\n\n\nC C CCCC \n\nc c cc \n\nV\'V .W< c c \n\nc c ccc e \n\nC c . c c * \n\n:<i.c (\xe2\x82\xac\' \n\nL < <: \xc2\xab\' <ic <C \n\nCC c <tc: cc: c_ < c \n: c c c G8DCC c c .< \n\n: cc c"<c. c- \n: ccccirvcsc \n\nt c cc cccc \nt c <- c cc< c \nr c c c co C: \n\n^CCC CCC C- \n: C C C CCC: o* \n""CCC CCClCC^> \n\nCcc ccco . ^ \n\nfCCC CCtCC^C^: \n\' v c C CCCC C \n\n\n\nu \n\n\n\n\n\n\nCccC CTcc. \n\n\'\xc2\xa3\'\xc2\xab: \xc2\xabcc c< \n\nCC\'CC \n\n\n\nC C*3Ci \n\n\n\nCcC wT \n\n\n\n\n\n\nC< \n\nc \n\n^&-C^ c >. \n\n\n\nOR- cc \n\nv cc <c , \'\xe2\x80\xa2 \n\n^C \'" ; < \n\ntec \n\n\n\nc C\xc2\xabC \n\nC ^tl.5 \n\n\n\nCc c- \n\nCC \n\n^cc - \n\n\xe2\x96\xa0 \n"c c.C \n\nccc C<. \ncc cc ^ \n\n\n\nC C\xc2\xa3 C \n\n\n\nCCC C \n\nCi^c.>., \n\n\n\netc < \n\n"CC? CcCC C \n\' c c <S \n\n\n\n\n\n\ncue \n\n\n\nCC C <B< \n\nx c c cm \n\n\n\nX < CX \n\nr cc \nC CC \n\xe2\x82\xac cc \n\n\n\n. sc \xe2\x96\xa0< \xc2\xab\xe2\x96\xa0 cc c* c \n\n-< CCCC \n\n\n\n\n\n\n"CC C-C/CXfHr C \n\n\n\nc^CcccC c c \nC*< cc CC C C \n\nC<CCCC C \nC \'-.\xe2\x82\xac r.<c; \xc2\xabx,c \nC c CT c C \n\n- C vi , c< <: \xe2\x96\xa0 - < \n\nc ! cc\xc2\xab -<c \xe2\x96\xa0 \n\n< < r ccc c \n\n\n\nc c ; -c\' c \n\n\n\ncoffins ice <<c c \xc2\xab c^.cx \n\nc, CC^(\xe2\x82\xacC1 CC^ J c c;.< \n\nc , c^C^\xc2\xabX CC .\xc2\xab C.C CX<& \n- ,^\\r Cvc*C c cC cc r< c \n\no<f<rx<k-\xc2\xabc</cc. <%c< c\xc2\xabc \n\ncr<r c\xc2\xabcd<:c c^ c/ <\xe2\x80\xa2 \xc2\xabxtr- - \n\n-\xe2\x80\xa2cc cctXCC <r cc coc?< \ncc ccccxc cc ccc.c cccc \ncc cccs \xc2\xab cc <tc xx w r \n\n\n\ncc \n\nc c \n\n\n\n< \xc2\xabCl CC* \n\n\n\nCC*C C CCx \n|C c \xc2\xab. <\xe2\x96\xa0 \n< C r \n\ncc <ccc cc \n\n\n\nXC ccircLCc CC <t< .a \n\n\n\nctccc cccc \n\n\n\ncc \n\n:CC \n\n\n\n\n\n\nv < \xc2\xabc <J?S5*X \n\nx cc c&c <cc \n\n&\'\xc2\xa3\xc2\xa3$\xc2\xa3 \n\n^ ccccjtc \nCC (*CCi< \n\n<C cc* <\xe2\x80\xa2; \n\nct C< \'Cft\' \n\n\n\n5 cc<t \n\nV c C \nc c <KSL- \xe2\x96\xa0 \n\nCC^\xc2\xab.. \xc2\xabfc^ \n<CO<C \' \n\n\n\nc \n\n\n\ncl\xc2\xab c c c < \xc2\xab \n\nCcc( CCO \nCC(C c< cc cc \n\nncc< < co?c?c * \n\nc: cccxxc "^ \n\nr l < c Citc.CC\' \n: c c cccc cr,c \n\n3 c c cc c : c:c \n\n\n\nX- C C ccX \nC t CO c \n\n< CC\xc2\xabfJ \n\nx..C C C< C \n\nc C CA^cj \n\nC$ CC-CC \n\nCO \n\n\n\nV ^ c 5 <^ c CC \n\n\xe2\x96\xa0C C cc <c < CX \nCC CC CCCC CC \n\n\n\n_v x cc \n\n^ S c< ^ < Tc c ^ \n\nMC < CC *^x c CC \n\n: x c cc \n\nC\'-CCC- \n; r c cc \n\n\xe2\x80\xa2^- - - -C 7 >" C X \n\n\n\n\n\n\n^CCCSC cc c \nrcc c\xc2\xabo .^cv \n\n\n\nr^rr- re CC \n\n\n\n\n\n\n:cxc/\xe2\x82\xac \n\nx, e c^ c^a \n\nCxcc \xc2\xab: \n\nc c O < c \n\n\n\n\\\'CO \n\nEJ : X *LC \n:< t \' < < \n\nc CC\xc2\xabCGC cc \n\ncj ^ <:c c *z*\xc2\xa3:<c< cc \n. CL CCC1C CC \n\n%tc true cc \ncs OL cc CC CCC CC \n\nCCC(C$tCC \n\nLCC CvCC cc \n\n-" ^c \xc2\xabf xx c c \n\nJcT <SCCC CC \n\ntCC ^CXC cc \n\n:c\xc2\xab V cc x \xc2\xab \nxc cc c ccc < \n\n^ <r cr \xc2\xabC? < c C. \n\n\n\nUc\xc2\xab&\'v \n; c ; ^>^ \n\n<\xc2\xa3:x -- X iirr \n\nIf \n\n\n\nc c C : ^ \' ^ \n\nre <. \xe2\x80\xa2 \n\n:c 5 \n\nc c \n\n\n\nc. ^crc\xc2\xab \n\n\n\nc \xc2\xab \n\n\n\nW.\xc2\xab- 1 \n\n\n\nLIBRARY OF \n\n\n\nCONGRESS \n\n\n\n021 898 7l7 ffl 5 \n\n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xa0d \n\n\n\n\n'